As soon as Song Yanqing sat down at his desk, An Shi moved a stack of registers in front of him.

Then, he took a step back and said, "Your Highness, your subordinate and Lord Ma have checked the lists from the past three years and found that two years ago, many people in the new capital were punished and sent here."

In my limited understanding, I believe there are several instances where the judgments were unjust or miscarriages of justice.

Song Yanqing looked through the register and made a mark on some of the places where he had doubts.

Therefore, a quick glance at the document reveals the whole story.

When he saw some familiar names, he was shocked by what An Shi had said about the wrongful conviction and misjudgment.

These people were all stepping stones in the power struggles of the factions, and now they are being used as pawns to be exiled here for forced labor.

Song Yanqing asked, "Find out where those people have gone?"

Then, the middle-aged man surnamed Ma, twitching his beard, bowed to Song Yanqing.

Lord Ma replied, "Your Highness, these people are scattered throughout various labor service locations, infiltrating every labor service. The number that can be confirmed now is one thousand."

This number is astonishing, but Song Yanqing does not believe that the newly appointed Tatar king has gone to such great lengths and effort to only fill the labor force with a thousand people.

There must be many remnants that haven't been found yet.

These Tatars infiltrated the arduous and demanding labor service, enduring hardship and biding their time; surely they have even greater schemes in store for them.

He said, "Keep these thousand people under surveillance in secret, and thoroughly investigate all those in the labor camps as well. Do not let a single one slip through the net!"

Upon hearing this, An Shi and Lord Ma accepted the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I obey!"