usatvline Chapter 49 Difficulty
Chapter 49 Difficulty
Seeing Wu Dalang's troubled expression, Li Chong raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong? Having trouble?"
Wu Dalang straightened up and quickly shook his head: "No! No!"
After saying this, he glanced cautiously at Li Chong: "Sir, may I ask a question? What crime has the person you're trying to bail out committed?"
Li Chong casually agreed, then gestured for Wu Dalang to sit down: "Since I need your help, I will naturally tell you the whole story. As you may know, this man's name is Wu Song, a true hero. I feel bad for him being sentenced to exile, so I would like to ask you for a favor."
Wu Dalang sat on the chair with only one buttock in his seat, not daring to sit down completely.
After hearing Li Chong's explanation, he understood a little.
Although he didn't know Li Chong's true purpose in saving Wu Song, since Li Chong had given an explanation, he could only believe it.
However, this matter is still difficult to handle.
"Since you have given the order, sir, I should certainly do my part." Wu Dalang looked troubled. "But to be honest, sir, we really can't get our hands on things inside the prison. If we brothers want to break him out, we really can't do it."
"Who gave you permission to break out of prison?"
Li Chong rolled his eyes at him: "I am the county magistrate, a high-ranking official appointed by the imperial court. How could I do such illegal and disorderly things?"
Wu Dalang quickly got up, bowed his head, and nodded obsequiously.
But he couldn't help but mutter a few complaints in his heart, thinking that he could never learn the master's skill of lying through his teeth.
Li Chong waved for Wu Dalang to sit down and continued, "The prisoners in the jail all need to be reported to the prefectural government for approval, especially serious crimes like Wu Song's, which require repeated review. If the review comes down and our county can't hand over the prisoners, I'll inevitably be reprimanded."
Wu Dalang tentatively asked, "So, what does the master mean...?"
"People are definitely necessary, but that doesn't mean they can't die. The weather outside is getting warmer, which is a time when diseases thrive. It wouldn't be surprising if a couple of prisoners died in jail at this time, would it?"
Wu Dalang suddenly realized and nodded repeatedly: "It's not surprising, it's not surprising! With the conditions in our prison, how many prisoners don't die every year? As long as the number matches up, no one above will have the time to check."
"By the way," Li Chong gave him an approving look, "Now that you know what I mean, go and figure out a way. I've already made the necessary arrangements. Figure out how much money you need, and I'll reimburse you for everything after you've done it, plus a bonus."
Wu Dalang stood up solemnly: "I understand, I will take care of it as soon as possible!"
Li Chong nodded in satisfaction, picked up his teacup and took a sip. Wu Dalang immediately took his leave, knowing the situation.
Li Chong's expression remained unchanged as he watched Wu Dalang leave.
"Let's see if Wu Song can handle things. But what about Zhong Mei and her group? What should we do?"
Li Chong tapped his fingers on the table, his mind racing with calculations.
After a long pause, he suddenly looked up: "Guards, bring me Clerk Sun!"
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Li Chong was proceeding with his next plan, but Wu Dalang walked out of the back office with a worried look on his face.
Despite his confident assurances to Li Chong, this was his first time getting someone out of jail, so he had no confidence whatsoever.
Moreover, judging from Li Chong's words, he wanted Wu Song to fake his death and then get him out of prison.
This isn't a martial arts novel; there's no magical fake death pill that makes it impossible for others to detect after you take one.
The prison guards there deal with dead people all year round. How could they not tell whether someone is dead or alive?
This is a difficult matter, a really difficult matter.
But since Li Chong had spoken, Wu Dalang knew he had no choice but to accept, even if it meant forcing himself to.
He might only have this one chance in his lifetime, and he really didn't want to give it up.
Staggering out of the yamen gate, Wu Dalang's brothers were still waiting to divide the money.
"Wu Tou! Here, right here!"
Someone called out from the tavern next door. Wu Dalang looked up, then turned and walked over.
After glancing at the food and wine on the table, Wu Dalang sat down and said, "You guys are really generous, with such good wine and meat."
"This is all thanks to you, Wu Tou," the man beside him said with a grin. "If it weren't for you leading our brothers to follow the master, Wu Tou, we wouldn't have been willing to spend so much money!"
As they spoke, the wine cup in front of Wu Dalang was filled with wine.
"Hey Wu, how's it going? What did the master order this time? And what about our brothers' reward money..."
Several people looked at Wu Dalang with expectant expressions.
But Wu Dalang had no time for jokes and banter. He picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, his face full of sorrow.
The group unconsciously lowered their voices, exchanged glances, and immediately sensed something was wrong.
Someone asked cautiously, "Boss Wu, did the master give us too little? Should I return these things?"
Wu Dalang shook his head and took out the note approved by Li Chong from his pocket: "Who is this 'master'? Would he shortchange us on our reward money? Take it, go and withdraw the money when you have time, and share it with the brothers."
The group looked at the numbers and couldn't help but be delighted, praising Li Chong in unison.
But one of the clever ones noticed that Wu Dalang was still frowning. He beckoned the others to be quiet and then asked with concern, "Since the master is so generous, what is Wu Dalang worried about?"
"I……"
Wu Dalang hesitated, as this was a difficult matter to bring up.
However, after hesitating for a moment, he remembered that Li Chong had also praised them highly today, so he stopped worrying about it.
Even three cobblers with their wits combined can outwit Zhuge Liang; with so many of them, surely they can come up with a solution?
Looking around and seeing no one else nearby, Wu Dalang lowered his voice and said, "You all better keep your mouths shut. If I hear any nonsense outside, the master won't forgive him, and I certainly won't! Understand?"
After everyone gave their assurances, Wu Dalang then recounted Li Chong's request.
Hearing that Li Chong wanted to get someone out of prison, the constables were stumped. If even the head constable Wu Dalang couldn't do anything, they were even less able to.
Wu Dalang was getting anxious: "Have you all become mute? Weren't you all quite talkative when we were drinking? Now you can't speak at all?"
"Wu Tou, it's not that we don't want to talk about it, it's just that this matter is too... too difficult. Even the magistrate is having trouble with it, what are we supposed to do?"
Faced with his subordinates' questions, Wu Dalang couldn't help but feel a headache.
But he still insisted, "I don't care. I promised the master that I would do this. If I fail, all of us will be implicated."
Now, all of them had worried expressions on their faces.
Among the crowd, one man remained calm and composed: "Chief Wu, I may not have many ways to break someone out of prison, but if it comes to getting a dead man out of jail, I have plenty of ideas."
Wu Dalang's spirits lifted: "You have a good idea?"
The man whispered a few words in Wu Dalang's ear, and a light gradually appeared in Wu Dalang's eyes.