137. Tao Qian's Death

Cai Yong on the other hand, gives this to Lie Fan to handle. He actually knew Tao Qian and can be considered an acquaintance, He even somewhat admired Tao Qian due to his stellar reputation but now after what he had done to his daughter, there's only bad blood between them.

Today Lie Fan is in his office, receiving both Jia Xu and Xun You who are assigned to make fabricated claims and evidence to capture Tao Qian.

They still don't know who is behind Tao Qian, they at least needed to make something up that can be trusted to convict Tao Qian. If it's He Jin behind Tao Qian, then with a single Emperor decree Lie Fan's position as a Governor can be in jeopardy.

Lie Fan: " How is the progress on the fake claims and evidence we made against Tao Qian?"

Jia Xu: "It's going great My Lord, the earliest tomorrow we will be finished, and the longest is the day after tomorrow."

Lie Fan: "Good, do it carefully so that Tao Qian doesn't have the chance to deny the accusations. What kinds of fake evidence and claims you are making against Tao Qian?"

Xun You: "We have planted evidence that Tao Qian is involved in kidnapping Little Madam, receipt of him receiving 200,000 taels in exchange for becoming a distraction. There's another one where he received many bribes, in exchange for allowing Yellow Tuebans to attack a small village nearby where we have collected 'survivors' to testify against him as he is seen in the location."

Lie Fan: "Great! Also, put a real one as he is the mastermind behind the kidnapping attempt for Cai Wenji."

Jia Xu: "Of Course My Lord, that's the biggest evidence that we will use against him alongside the fake evidence that he is involved in kidnapping Little Madam."

Lie Fan was satisfied with the efficiency of Jia Xu and Xun You's work, then he asked Jia Xu if the Oriole at Luoyang under Xu Kai's leadership managed to find the noble who was backing Tao Qian.

Jia Xu replied that they hadn't found who is the mastermind behind Tao Qian, but Xu Kai managed to eavesdrop on a conversation where He Jin was summoning Doing Zhuo to the outskirts of Luoyang to pressure Empress Dowager He.

Lie Fan who was silently hearing Jia Xu answer, suddenly stood up when he heard that He Jin was summoning Dong Zhuo to Luoyang. This means that next year, He Jin has a very high chance that he will die because of the eunuch's plot and Dong Zhuo will fill the power vacuum because of the military power he brought alongside his secret weapon Lu Bu.

Jia Xu and Xun You were surprised that Lie Fan suddenly stood up from his seat, Jia Xu who was sensitive began to process the information he received again and suddenly he was enlightened.

Jia Xu: "My Lord, isn't this move too reckless for He Jin to do? Inviting Dong Zhuo a power-hungry, greedy, and conceited man with a large army is like trapping himself!"

Xun You: "Ah so that's why My lord is surprised, from a Military perspective Dong Zhuo's 100,000 soldiers alone can usurp power through force of course with heavy casualties."

Lie Fan: "He Jin that idiot only cared about consolidating his own power, not realizing that inviting Dong Zhuo is the same as letting a tiger enter his house. Tell Xu Kai to keep an eye on He Jin's movements, and also The Eunuchs. Looks like Luoyang will enter another period of unrest soon."

The news that He Jin will summon Dong Zhuo surprised Lie Fan, it means that he has to accelerate some of his plans. The soap and shampoo project needs to be completed very soon, as his money has been invested and he needs it back to find his other projects and productions.

Two days passed by in the blink of an eye, Lie Fan was informed by Jia Xu that the fake claims and evidence were ready. Lie Fan ordered Taishi Ci, who had been appointed as Commander of the City Guards to capture Tao Qian accompanied by Jia Xu.

Taishi Ci who has been learning under Huang Zhong, finally received his first official duty. This past few months, he felt that his position was just a decoration for him due to the low crime rate in Xiapi, and during the Wannian Incident Lie Fan led the investigation himself.

Finally receiving an assignment, Taishi Ci was fired up to prove himself even though it was an easy assignment. When he reads the evidence and claims that he doesn't realize that some of it is fake, Taishi Ci resents Tao Qian and brings many City Guards to capture him at his residence.

Tao Qian who was resting in his residence, hired mercenaries to guard him as the security forces in Xiapi were all in Lie Fan's hands.

Afraid to be spied on, he decided to hire mercenaries. Not knowing that the mercenaries will be his ultimate downfall, when Taishi Ci arrives to capture Tao Qian the mercenaries arrogantly stop him and even spit on him.

Taishi Ci who was filled with righteousness immediately became angry, he grouped up this mercenary as Tal Qian's evil minions who do his bidding.

Taishi Ci personally killed the mercenary who spits on him, and then he sent the City Guards to capture all of the mercenaries. The one who fights back is killed on the spot, and the servants and maids who see this scream at the top of their lungs.

Tao Qian who was having a nap was woken up due to screaming happening outside, He became angry and when he went out to scold them he saw the Citu Guards butchering the mercenaries he hired.

Tao Qian was scared shitless and immediately fall down on his buttocks, Taishi Ci who was leading the capture saw Tao Qian and approached him with 2 city guards to arrest him.

Taishi Chi: "Inspector Tao Qian you are under arrest for the crimes of receiving bribes, being involved in the kidnapping of Xu Province Governor Little's sister, and the master in beginning the kidnapping attempt of Lady Cai Wenji."

Tao Qian: "What?! That's all lies! I have never received bribes and was involved in kidnapping Lie Fan's sister!"

Taishi Ci: "No retort for becoming the master behind Lady Cai Wenji's kidnapping attempt are you? No matter it shows that your words are not credible, men arrest him and confine him in our solitary jail."

Tao Qian: "No this is absurd! I want to meet Governor Lie Fan! I'm innocent! This is a conspiracy against me!"

Tao Qian is held on both sides by the City Guards, he is shouting asking to meet Lie Fan, and that he is falsely accused while being escorted to a prison wagon.

While it's true some of the evidence is false, he is the mastermind behind Vai Wenji's kidnapping, and his foolishness now used by Lie Fan to take him out of Xu Province for good.

Lie Fan is in his office, waiting for the news of Tao Qian's capture. Jia Xu entered his offices, informing him that Tao Qian had been captured and was now being held in a solitary jail.

Lie Fan ordered a public trial to be held for Tao Qian, with all the evidence used against him and Chen Gui as the Judge. He wanted it to be done tomorrow, as gas as they could to kill this pest that informed the people of Luoyang what's happening in Xu Province right now.

The next day, a public trial was held at the public square. Tao Qian's appearance is messy, his eyes are bloodshot and his mouth is stuffed with a cloth. Chen Gui as the judge held the trial, he asked Jia Xu who became the prosecutor for the evidence.

Jia Xu brought up all the fake evidence, claims, and eyewitnesses. Tao Qian who saw this was furious, trying to defend himself but only a muffled sound came out from his stuffed mouth.

Chen Gui: "What a beast! Prosecutor Jia, what punishment do you ask for the defendant Tao Qian for the crimes he committed?"

Jia Xu: "Dead Your Honor, this criminal needs to be sentenced to a beheading to pay. for all the crimes he committed!"

The people who heard all the 'crimes' Tao Qian committed, especially against Wannian and accepting bribes from Yellow Turbans immediately supported Jia Xu's motion.

Some people even throw rotten eggs and vegetables at Tao Qian, Lie Fan is watching this scene from the 3rd floor of Serenity Inn facing directly to the Public Square.

Beside him are Cai Yong, Xun You, and Taishi Ci, they are seeing this scene together, and except for Taishi Ci everyone knows that this is a plot to take out Tao Qian and also revenge for Cai Wenji.

Taishi Ci: "Humph! This animal deserved what he received, Governor Lie Fan your administration is truly fast in eliminating corrupt officials!"

Lie Fan: "Of course, we have to be fast, they are a pest that takes the money of our people and destroys Xu Province from the inside. Commander Taishi Ci you have made a great contribution, successfully capturing Tao Qian!"

Taishi Ci: "Governor if it's not for Mastsr Jia Xu's guidance and General Huang Zhong's teaching, I would never have received the knowledge I have now thanks to them!"

Taishi Ci wasn't happy to be 'lent' to Lie Fan, as his lord was Kong Rong but he obeyed Kong Tong's order. Now he is grateful that accepted this assignment, spending time with the likes of Jia Xu and Huang Zhong truly broadened his mind and horizon.

Many people are smarter, stronger, and more honorable than him, for example, Dian Wei who can defeat him easily, and Jia Xu who without martial might can defeat him either with his genius strategy or terrifying plot.

Back to Tao Qian, Chen Gui 'solemnly' read the list of evidence, and after hearing many eyewitnesses, he sentenced Tao Qian to be beheaded immediately throwing 2 sticks with the words beheading and execution.

Tao Qian who heard this began to struggle, he had never thought that his decision to become Xu Province Inspector would be his biggest mistake.

Two City Guards held Tao Qian and brought him to the designated execution spot. There his head was covered with a sack, and his head was put on the board. The executioner picks up his blade and drinks a wine before sprouting it into the blade.

At Chen Gui's order, the executioner raised his blade and chopped it down to Tao Qian's neck. The people who saw this cheered instantly, thinking that another corrupt official had fallen to Lie Fan's hand. Lie Fan who saw this only thought that other historical people fell down on his quest for supremacy.

_________________________________

Name: Lie Fan

Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator

Age: 20 Years Old (187 AD)

Level: 14

Next Level: 412.000

Renown: 215

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 5)

SP: 706.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 775

VIT: 349

AGI: 343

INT: 361

CHR: 93

WIS: 299

WILL: 207

ATR Points: 0