Chen Nan's scalp tingled.
He knew the Ma family would definitely transport contraband in the future. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to appease him.
However.
He never dreamed that Ma Sanyuan would transport contraband on the very first day. And it was the supreme form of underworld contraband.
"Ma Sanyuan, what exactly do you want?" Han Zongyuan's face was ashen as he watched the onlookers suffer casualties. "If you want to die, don't drag this official down with you. Guards, quickly, quickly, rescue the injured!"
Ma Sanyuan was filled with terror. He stared at the merchant ship engulfed in flames, listening to the miserable screams echoing in his ears, and remained stunned for a long time. How could this happen? How could his ship be carrying gunpowder? This was a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan! Although he had planned to profit greatly from transporting contraband in the future, he had never thought of transporting something like gunpowder. Because if something went wrong with this, even the powerful figures behind him couldn't protect him.
Sensing Chen Nan's murderous gaze, Ma Sanyuan stammered in fear, "Lord Chen, please listen to my explanation, please listen to my explanation. Someone must be trying to frame our Ma family, it must be like this."
Chen Nan ignored his explanation. "Guards, take Ma Sanyuan and his son to prison. I will investigate this matter after I've dealt with the situation here!"
"Yes!" The yamen runners immediately cuffed Ma Sanyuan and his son. Even though they were both cultivators, they could not break free from the specially made handcuffs and shackles.
Afterward, Chen Nan participated in the rescue efforts. Thirty-five boatmen died on the first cargo ship. Besides one constable, the rest were all boatmen. In addition, over sixty boatmen were severely injured. Fortunately, they reacted quickly and jumped into the river, otherwise, they would have died on the spot. Fifteen civilians on the dock died instantly, and over two hundred and sixty were injured. Frankly speaking, this was a major case. No one could cover it up; it would surely reach Fengdu City.
After dealing with the scene, Chen Nan ordered Wu Jiu, "Seal the remaining four merchant ships and await the imperial court's judgment." Wu Jiu and his men immediately affixed seals to the other four merchant ships.
Han Zongyuan sighed, a hint of helplessness and anger in his eyes. "Lord Chen, such a major case occurred on the very first day the waterway docks were opened. The nature of this incident is exceptionally grave. You must handle this impartially and severely punish the Ma family to give the court an explanation! And to comfort the souls of the deceased!"
Chen Nan said earnestly, "Your Excellency, please rest assured. This subordinate will definitely thoroughly investigate this matter, not fail His Majesty's grace, nor the expectations of the citizens of this city!" Although he had evidence to bring down the Ma family, Chen Nan's heart was heavy. After all, fifty innocent citizens had died tonight, and over three hundred were injured.
Han Zongyuan nodded slightly and then turned to leave. He needed to write a memorial to report the night's events to the imperial court.
"Let's go! Accompany me to the prison!" Chen Nan, with a grim expression, led a group of constables to the county yamen's prison. There, he met Ma Sanyuan and his son, Ma Jun. The father and son had already become prisoners.
"Lord Chen, injustice, injustice!" "Please vindicate our Ma family!" Seeing Chen Nan appear, Ma Sanyuan seemed to have found his last straw of hope, his eyes filled with pleading. Ma Jun also said, "Yes, Lord Chen, today is the first day the dock is officially in use. Even if you gave us Ma family a hundred more guts, we wouldn't dare to transport contraband! It must be someone framing us Ma family, you must vindicate us!" The father and son's mental states had collapsed. They never expected such a thing to happen on the first day.
Chen Nan's expression was grim. "I naturally believe you!" "But will the citizens of the city believe you? Will the fifty innocent citizens who died believe you? Will the over three hundred and twenty injured citizens believe you?" Ma Sanyuan and his son naturally believed Chen Nan believed them. But as he said, did the citizens of the city believe them? Would the fifty who died believe them? Without further thought, Ma Sanyuan quickly said, "Lord Chen, please show mercy and spare us father and son a way to live!"
*Bang!* Chen Nan drew his saber and chopped open the lock on the prison door, saying expressionlessly, "Even if I open the prison door, do you dare to walk out?" Looking at the opened prison door, Ma Sanyuan instinctively swallowed. He desperately wanted to leave. The prison was damp and dark, filled with foul odors. Chen Nan's voice sounded again, "The moment you dare to step out of the prison door, it means you are fleeing from justice!" "It will solidify your previous crime!" "At that time, your Ma family will be exterminated!" "Conversely." "If your Ma family is truly framed." "Staying here still offers a sliver of hope!" "I will personally investigate this matter and give your Ma family justice."
Hearing this, Ma Sanyuan took a step back and knelt before Chen Nan. "Ma bows to thank Lord Chen for his heavenly grace. I hope Lord Chen can help our Ma family clear our name!" Ma Jun also knelt on the ground, hoping Chen Nan would help the Ma family clear their name.
"You stay here with peace of mind for now. I will investigate this matter thoroughly." Chen Nan sighed. "However, before that, you must tell me, whom have you offended, and who are your enemies!"
Ma Sanyuan hesitated, then clenched his fists and said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be Lin Yuan." Chen Nan raised an eyebrow. He was not unfamiliar with the name Lin Yuan. This person was a ninth-rank Yin Messenger, possessing great influence and power in the imperial court. He served as the Left Prime Minister. Even Yuan Zun revered this person. If he were indeed framing the Ma family, then this case would be much more complicated. Ugh... Why did it have to be so complicated? Who the true culprit was behind it had nothing to do with him. All he needed to do was to bring down the Ma family. That was all. Even if they were framed, as long as he could get rid of the father and son, wouldn't that suffice? Yes. As long as he could find a charge against the father and son, a charge that would lead to their deaths. Even if they were innocent, the crime of transporting gunpowder could be imposed upon them. As for who the true culprit was, that could only be investigated slowly.
Thinking this, Chen Nan turned and left the prison. He said to Wu Jiu, who was waiting at the entrance, "Tomorrow at dawn, go and see Ma Sanyuan and his son. Tell them that someone wants their lives and that they need to be transferred immediately." "When you bring them out, I will personally step forward and kill the father and son!"
Wu Jiu was stunned for a moment, then understood Chen Nan's intention. However, a deep shock flickered in his eyes. "My lord, this matter is of great importance. A slight mistake could lead to utter destruction. Are you truly going to do this?" He knew the Ma family was merely puppets of the powerful figures in Fengdu City. If Chen Nan used this method to kill the Ma father and son, it would surely provoke dissatisfaction from those powerful figures.