activa-t Chapter 5 Destroying the Corpse and Covering Up the Evidence
Chapter 5 Destroying the Corpse and Covering Up the Evidence
Hearing Li Chong ask this question, Cui Shi's hope was immediately rekindled.
It seems like this matter has a chance, otherwise why would Li Chong ask such a question?
He scrambled to his feet in a few quick movements and exclaimed, "Yes, yes, yes! I have proof! The official document, the almanac, the postal voucher—they're all here, along with my master's seal and documents. They're all intact. Just take them, and you're the one!"
With that, Choi Sil started running towards the spot where the two had first met.
Li Chong quickly followed.
Cui Shi ran to the spot in a few steps, not caring about being dirty, and started digging with his hands. In no time, he had brought out a large pile of odds and ends.
There were documents, seals, and some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Cui Shi carefully wiped the items a few times, then placed them in front of Li Chong: "These important items are things I always carry with me. After waking up, I originally intended to bury them, but fortunately I met Brother Li, and they can still be of some use."
Li Chong looked through the items, unsure of their purpose. He looked up at Cui Shi, waiting for an explanation.
Cui Shi bent down slightly and explained solicitously, "This is called a 'certificate of appointment,' and it's the most important thing. With this, you can take up your post."
Li Chong looked down for a closer look, and sure enough, it was a "galaxy of stars".
The first line reads: "Imperial edict from the Secretariat: Li Chong, Registrar of Yangcheng County, Luzhou, is hereby appointed as an official."
It seems that this "Li Chong" previously served as an official in Luzhou.
The following was a bunch of polite, flowery phrases, which Li Chong skipped over.
Further down, those are all familiar names.
Even a county magistrate's appointment required a document issued by the Secretariat and signed by the Ministry of Personnel, with each procedure requiring the signature of a high-ranking official.
Grand Tutor, Duke of Lu, Cai Jing; Junior Tutor, Duke of Chu, Cai You; Grand Chancellor, Vice Minister of the Chancellery, He Zhizhong...
Apart from a few people Li Chong was unfamiliar with, they were all historically renowned figures. With such a "prime minister" team, how could the Northern Song Dynasty not perish?
Li Chong shook his head helplessly.
Further down, you'll find the specific appointments of official positions.
Li Chong, appointed as Chengshilang, Prefect of Yanggu County, and Supervisor of Education, was granted the title of Scarlet Fish Bag.
The imperial edict is as follows; the warrant shall be carried out upon receipt.
Below was a row of signatures from officials of the Ministry of Personnel, which Li Chong was not familiar with, so he skipped over them.
After reviewing the official document, Cui Shi handed over the calendar and post station voucher.
"This calendar records the experiences of my master's predecessor. Brother Li, please remember it well. As for this post station voucher..."
At this point, Cui Shi was somewhat troubled again.
"What should I do?" Choi Sil spun around in place, deep in thought.
When Li Chong opened it, he found a record of the number of people accompanying "Li Chong" on his new post, as well as the route. With this record, he could eat and stay for free at the post stations along the way.
It's no wonder Cui Shi was in a dilemma; he was the only one left alive among their group of dead, which didn't match the records, and that was a huge flaw.
Li Chong pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "That's not urgent. Let me see the other things first."
After reviewing the documents one by one, Li Chong found no problems. With this complete set of documents, he felt that he could really impersonate the county magistrate.
Moreover, it just so happens that his name is Li Chong, and the person who died was also named Li Chong. Isn't this a stroke of luck?
"If Heaven grants me this opportunity and I don't seize it, I'll suffer the consequences. I'll pull this off!" Li Chong made up his mind.
Anyway, he's just a rootless duckweed in this world, and he doesn't need to change his name or identity, so there's no need for him to feel guilty about impersonating someone else.
Having made up his mind, Li Chong gripped Cui Shi's hand tightly: "Brother Cui, I've thought it over carefully. This might be my only chance in this lifetime to soar to great heights. If I don't do it now, when will I? I want the wealth and status you're talking about!"
Upon hearing that Li Chong had actually agreed, Cui Shi was initially delighted, but then his face quickly fell.
He shook his head, holding the postal voucher in his hand: "This doesn't match up. How am I supposed to explain this? If someone sees through it, I'll probably be arrested on the spot."
Li Chong waved his hand dismissively: "See through it? They don't need to see through it, I'll just tell them directly!"
Meeting Cui Shi's bewildered gaze, Li Chong looked at him intently and said, "Remember this: this time, apart from the two of us, master and servant, who were lucky enough to escape, everyone else was killed by the bandits. That's why we are in such a sorry state."
Cui Shi was intimidated by Li Chong's imposing presence and subconsciously nodded.
But soon, he pointed to the pile of buried corpses in the distance and said, "But, but..."
"I know!" Li Chong interrupted him. "Therefore, we must do a good job of cleaning up the mess."
"The cleanup work?" Cui Shi still didn't quite understand.
But soon, Choi Sik completely understood what Lee Chong was planning to do.
Before the same long ditch, Li Chong and Cui Shi stood by the ditch, but their feelings were quite different.
Cui Shi stammered, "Brother Li, I've cleaned up all the grass and trees around here, but do we really have to do this?"
Li Chong carefully blew on the tinder in his hand, shielding it from the wind with one hand to prevent it from being blown out.
"Otherwise what?" Li Chong glanced at him calmly. "If we don't destroy the evidence, and someone discovers we look alike, then we're all doomed."
Cui Shi glanced at the corpse in the ditch, which was covered with branches and weeds, so the dead body was no longer visible.
However, the clothes peeking out from the gaps still reminded Cui Shi that there were more than a dozen corpses below.
Among them was his master, whom he had served for several years.
With a worried and fearful expression, Cui Shi glanced at Li Chong, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Seeing Li Chong's decisive decision to burn these people's corpses to eliminate future troubles, he suddenly regretted that he had chosen the wrong person.
The ancients believed that burial was the best way to ensure peace, so it was hard for Cui Shi to suddenly accept the idea of so many people being reduced to ashes.
But he also knew very well that if he wanted to accomplish this important task, there was something Li Chong had to do.
"Huff! Huff!"
After blowing on it a few times, Li Chong started a fire, and then used the fire to ignite a piece of wood.
"Brother Cui, come on, throw it in, then we'll be in the same boat."
Li Chong handed the wood to Cui Shi.
Choi Si hesitated for a moment, gritted her teeth, reached out and caught it, then closed her eyes and threw it in.
Soon, a fire broke out, and smoke billowed into the sky.
Seeing that he had pledged his loyalty, Li Chong felt much more at ease.
Li Chong picked up the box of books in his hand, glanced at the account books inside, and threw them down without a second thought.
Now that I've decided to become "Li Chong," I naturally don't need to do the debt collection work anymore.
Li Chong slowly pulled out two official documents from his pocket, and threw down his newly issued identity certificate as well.
From today onwards, he is still Li Chong, only he is the same Li Chong who entered officialdom in the second year of the Zhenghe era and is now the magistrate of Yanggu County.
Seeing the fire raging ever stronger, Li Chong turned and walked towards the official road: "Let's grab our luggage and head to our new post in Yanggu!"
Cui Shi snapped out of his daze, hurriedly bent down to sling his bundle over his shoulder, and followed Li Chong's retreating figure.