kvmb Chapter 448: Trapped in a cocoon
Chapter 448: Trapped in a cocoon
The mob had long harbored resentment and even deep hatred towards Feng Zhihuan.
If Feng Zhihuan hadn't exploited them and cut off their livelihood, how could they have rebelled?
Now they are branded as a mob, and everyone has the right to kill them.
But they had no other choice.
The only way to survive is to rise up in rebellion, escalate the situation, and alert the emperor.
Zhao Yi's arrival ignited hope in them.
Who knew that today they received news that the prefect was going to send officials to surround them in the village and starve them to death.
They panicked, which is why they came to rob the grain merchant, hoping to see Zhao Yi again.
To everyone's surprise, the corrupt official actually arranged for his men to kill them.
If they hadn't come to steal our food, we probably would have been dead long ago.
The mob grew increasingly enraged, unable to contain their fury, and surrounded Feng Zhihuan tightly.
Feng Zhihuan was intimidated by the mob's anger, and fear showed in his eyes. He said in a fierce but weak voice, "You audacious scoundrels, if you dare to lay a hand on me, your crime will be doubled, and you will all lose your heads!"
These words undoubtedly added fuel to the fire. The mob's eyes were filled with hatred, and they clenched their fists, swinging them at Feng Zhihuan.
Feng Zhihuan pulled the people around him to block them, and shouted loudly, "Guards! Shoot these rioters!"
The soldiers guarding the city gate wanted to go forward and rescue Feng Zhihuan.
A group of people suddenly appeared out of nowhere, intentionally or unintentionally blocking their way, preventing them from taking a single step forward.
Li Yong, standing to the side, looked at Zhao Yi and saw that Zhao Yi was standing in the chaos, yet he had a majestic aura, and no one dared to disturb him.
As one of Feng Zhihuan's men, he naturally knew that Feng Zhihuan harbored deep hostility towards Zhao Yi and wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
The scheme set up today is to eliminate Zhao Yi.
Little did anyone know that Zhao Yi was acquainted with the mob.
Zhao Yi is now watching coldly, clearly having seen through Feng Zhihuan's tricks, and even wants to use the mob to get rid of Feng Zhihuan.
They shot themselves in the foot.
Looking at the group of people blocking the soldiers, Li Yong knew they were Zhao Yi's men. Suppressing his panic, he pleaded with Zhao Yi, "Your Highness, Lord Feng is the head of a prefecture, and now he's fallen into the hands of traitors, at their mercy. If this gets out, it will damage the dignity of the government and might embolden these rebellious officials. In the future, whenever the people are dissatisfied with officials, they might dare to rise up and kill them."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi glanced at Li Yong indifferently. After just one glance, he turned back to look at the chaotic crowd. The mob was punching and kicking Feng Zhihuan, one of them wielding a wooden stick and striking Feng Zhihuan hard on the back of the head.
Feng Zhihuan fell to the ground, his head hitting a stone with a dull thud.
The mob's fists pounded on him relentlessly. He instinctively curled up, clutching his head tightly, and touched his hand, which was covered in sticky blood.
Feng Zhihuan didn't even have the strength to open his eyes. He had difficulty breathing, and despair welled up in his heart. He was afraid that he would die here today.
He struggled, trying to beg Zhao Yi for help, when he heard Zhao Yi say, "Stop, everyone." Then he instructed the soldiers, "Go and maintain order. Do not harm a single civilian."
Soldiers stepped forward to stop the mob from committing violence.
The mob was still not satisfied and kicked Feng Zhihuan hard before turning to Zhao Yi with resentment: "Your Highness, this corrupt official killed many people. He deserves to die!"
Zhao Yi looked at Feng Zhihuan lying on the ground, barely alive, opened his mouth as if to explain something, but couldn't utter a single word.
He said to the mob, “Lord Feng’s massacre of the people is a crime for the Northern Qi law to decide. Even if he is guilty of heinous crimes, you will be charged with murdering a court official if you kill him. I promised you that I would give you justice. If you trust me, then leave this matter to me.”
The mob looked at each other, realizing that Zhao Yi had helped them and allowed them to vent their anger on the corrupt officials, and understood that Zhao Yi was on their side.
However, some of the mob remained wary of Zhao Yi and were inclined to say something.
The mob leader stopped them with a look, then turned to Zhao Yi and said, "We believe you will give us justice."
Zhao Yi instructed Jiang Chao: "Take your men and detain Feng Zhihuan and his gang. Begin investigating his case of massacring civilians."
Upon hearing Zhao Yi's words, Feng Zhihuan felt his blood surging, his vision blurring, and his head throbbing with unbearable pain.
He realized he had fallen into Zhao Yi's trap.
After all, his goal was to take Zhao Yi's life, so why would he arrange for someone to suppress the rioters at this critical juncture?
It is highly likely that Zhao Yi saw through his scheme, turned the tables on him, killed the people pretending to be mobs, and then framed him.
These mobs had no ability to distinguish right from wrong. When they saw that the dead man was dressed as a "mob," they assumed that he had ordered the killing of their comrades and came to attack him in a fit of rage.
Zhao Yi then seized the opportunity to arrest him, taking control of Yongqing County and subsequently investigating his crimes.
His numerous crimes were all readily verifiable upon investigation.
Feng Zhihuan looked at Zhao Yi's gentle face, but a chill ran down his spine. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he burst into a cough and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zhao Yi waved his hand: "Take him away."
The soldiers dragged Feng Zhihuan away.
The mob breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Zhao Yi's men had basically wiped out Feng Zhihuan's men. However, they also knew that Zhao Yi was a decisive and swift man who kept his word.
“Your Highness, if you can give us a peaceful life and stop exploiting us by the government, we brothers will not cause any more trouble. We will confess our crimes.”
The mob left after saying this.
As Zhao Yi watched the rioters leave, he ordered his soldiers to lift the ban and allow them to enter the city.
The soldier wanted to say something, but remembering that Zhao Yi had arrested Feng Zhihuan without hesitation, he suppressed his doubts.
As Zhao Yi was preparing to return to the prefectural governor's mansion, a guard approached him and said, "Master, our men were a step too late. Those pretending to be rioters were wiped out by a group of officials first. I investigated and found that they were not real officials."
Zhao Yi paused, then immediately thought of Prince Yu.
Could it be him?
Feng Zhihuan ordered his men to impersonate a mob, attempting to kill him amidst the chaos. Prince Yu, however, saw through Feng Zhihuan's scheme and arranged for men to impersonate government officials and kill the "mob," framing Feng Zhihuan in the process.
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Meanwhile, the royal guards sent by the Northern Qi emperor followed the guards sent by Zhao Yi and witnessed the officials suppressing the rioters.
He discerned something amiss from the officers' skill and followed them to a mansion.