Chapter 139 Killing in the Street
That’s right, although there are fewer people now and there is no phenomenon of forming cliques, Mo Jinchun still divided them into circles in his mind.
There are about sixty or seventy people in their team, who are considered veterans. They have followed Xu Zhenying for a long time and are the most trusted and valued by Xu Zhenying.
For those like them who are classified as part of Lao Liao's team, there are not many opportunities for them to stand out unless they volunteer or are extremely short of people.
Seeing that although Ming Xiaoshuang had an ordinary appearance, she had an aura that could not be ignored when standing there, Mo Jinchun couldn't help but look at Ming Xiaoshuang again in his heart.
When Ming Xiaoshuang saw someone looking at him, and it was a new face, he was a little surprised, but nodded slightly as a greeting.
Fang Xun knew Xu Qingying wasn't a stickler for rules. She preferred to be straightforward and direct, never fussing about office settings. So, upon entering, he reported the situation: "City Lord, a day has passed, and there's been no movement from those families. The Chen family even wanted to send a letter, requesting Jinzhou send troops to suppress us, but we've intercepted the letter. What do you think we should do?"
"I heard there's someone in the Chen family's court. What? Is he a high-ranking official?"
Fang Xun knew that she didn't really care about the other party's official rank, so he smiled and said, "Anyway, it's enough to make the Jinzhou Guards send troops."
"He really didn't accept my invitation. I wanted to spare his life, but some people value money more than their own lives. There's nothing I can do." Xu Zhenying quickly wiped his face clean and put the handkerchief on the shelf. Only then did everyone see the narrow couch behind the shelf.
It turned out that Xu Zhenying slept in the county government office last night.
Jiang Yongkang said, "They probably saw that the city lord didn't kill anyone when he entered the city yesterday, so they think we are weak and easy to bully."
"That's right. Is the stage set up?"
Fang Xun, who was in charge of this matter, immediately said, "It's all set up, and the guillotine has also been put up."
“Who did the people vote for first?”
"Chen Zhangyi of the Chen family. It's said that this man, relying on his connections in the imperial court, is tyrannical and overbearing in Lan County. The people jokingly call him the second county magistrate of Lan County."
Sun Qingchen behind him looked a little embarrassed when he heard this.
Xu Zhenying smiled and said to Sun Qingchen, "Sir Sun, you haven't done your job well."
She continued, "Is the evidence clear and concise?"
"It's a done deal." Fang Xun looked around, then took a half step forward. "Does the city lord really want to make an example of someone and force the wealthy to pay up?"
Xu Zhenying nodded. "You said to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. If I don't kill the chicken, how can the monkeys listen to me?"
"But if the city lord kills Chen Zhangyi, it will confirm our identity as bandits. If the imperial court pursues us in the future, I'm afraid none of us will be able to escape..."
Xu Zhenying has also thought about this issue.
She was very relieved that her subordinates did not completely follow her and at least retained the ability to think independently. She looked at Fang Xun with appreciation and said, "The fact that you can raise this question shows that you are sincerely considering us. I have thought about this problem too. We have no food, no food, and we cannot supply food to these 5,000 refugees or even more than 10,000 civilians in a short period of time. If I want to prevent anyone from starving to death this winter, I can only kill the fattest sheep. Fang Xun, I don't want to kill anyone. Killing is the last resort and the worst means. But if killing a dozen people can save 15,000 people, then I think it is worth doing. As for the consequences, I will leave it to my future self to bear. I have to get through this hurdle now before I can talk about the future."
Fang Xun was slightly startled, then he bowed and said, "I understand."
"Alright, it's daybreak now, it's time to start the show. Jiang Yongkang, quickly take your men and arrest the entire Chen family. Fang Xun, go notify all the people to gather at the city gate. Today, we're going to kill people as a sacrifice to the heavens!"
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At this moment, in the Chen Mansion, even though there was a shortage of food in the city, there was still a bowl of noodles on Chen Zhangyi's table, a few slices of pickled duck, half a plate of shrimp and corn, candied green plums, anchovies and shark fins, and Buddha's hand golden rolls. The table was full, showing the wealth of the Chen Mansion.
The sky was gradually getting brighter, and there seemed to be a noise in the distance. Chen Zhangyi was unhappy. He slammed the bowl down and asked the servant beside him, "Has the messenger left?"
"In reply to your question, we set out yesterday and are probably halfway there now."
"Very good." Chen Zhangyi clapped his hands and laughed. "Only when the enemy is at the gates will Xu Zhenying realize the power of my Chen family. It's one thing for a brat who hasn't even come to pay his respects to me, Chen Zhangyi, after entering the city. Now he's trying to force me to pay grain and even dares to incite the people to oppose me. Ha, I want to see who dares to go against me, Chen Zhangyi!"
"Master is right. They are just a bunch of ignorant ruffians. They are so arrogant because they rely on the refugees under their command. As the saying goes, people should not fight against officials. They must be very bold to dare to cause trouble for me. Master, be patient for a few more days. When the officers and soldiers from Jinzhou Prefecture arrive, they will all kneel before you and beg for mercy."
Chen Zhangyi was in high spirits after receiving the compliment from the servant.
But the next second, a servant stumbled in from outside the door and said, "Master, this is bad! That mountain king has surrounded our yard with his men and wants to take us to the city gate to be executed!"
"What?!" Chen Zhangyi dropped the silver chopsticks in his hand. He stood up suddenly, angry and anxious, "Did you tell them that I'm the Jinzhou prefect's brother-in-law?"
"Oh my goodness, they won't listen at all. They just barged into the yard and are almost here! Should we run or stay? Madam, please tell me..."
"Run? Why should I run? Let them catch me! I'm going to have a fight with this mountain king. He probably doesn't know my origins and identity. If he does, I'll see if he dares to touch me!!"
Chen Zhangyi did not wait for Xu Zhenying.
Jiang Yongkang's men surrounded Chen's house and tied up all 17 or 18 people in the house on the spot. They didn't even go through the county government office and were taken directly to the high platform of the city gate.
All the people in the city came out.
At this moment, the sky was bright and the main road in the city was blocked by traffic, especially the city gate, where people were rushing around and talking.
"What are we going to do? Is it true that the mountain king wants to kill the rich people in the city?"
"It's true, I live in the alley next to the Chen Mansion. I saw them arrest Chen Zhangyi with my own eyes."
"Isn't it said that Chen Zhangyi is a relative of the prefect? Is this mountain king crazy? He even dares to kill the relatives of a high-ranking official of the imperial court?"
"After they kill the rich, will they kill us?"
"Chen Zhangyi has been a tyrant in Lan County for so many years. If he gets beheaded, it's because of God's will. Common people like us have never done anything wrong, so what do we have to be afraid of?"
"That doesn't make sense. The king just said he wouldn't kill anyone, but now he wants to kill Chen Zhangyi's entire family. Will we be next?"
"I don't think so. I just asked the leader, and he said we don't have to be afraid. Chen Zhangyi has committed many evil deeds, and the people have exposed him. The evidence is irrefutable, and his crimes are unforgivable. As long as the people in our city obey them, not only will they not have to worry about being beheaded, but they will also be given food later!"
"Is this true?!" This immediately attracted the attention of the people around him. As the issue of food became a hot topic, everyone started talking non-stop. "Are we really distributing food? Where will it come from?"
"Yes, I heard that many people in the countryside have fled for their lives. The crops haven't been harvested this year. Lan County is considered to be doing well. Every household still has a little surplus food, so we can still get by if we save on food."
"No, that's because your family is rich. My family is so well-off that we're afraid we won't survive the winter if we only eat porridge every day."
"Why is your family like this? I remember your husband used to work in the government office and his salary was not low."
"Alas, his uncles and aunts' families suffered a disaster and couldn't make ends meet in the countryside, so they came to us for refuge. But not long after they arrived, Magistrate Sun ordered the city gates closed, so they have been forced to stay with us forever. I have so many more mouths to feed here, and no matter how much food I have stored, it won't keep up with the consumption. I worry all day about where the food will come from. If this king really does send us grain, I would recognize him as the county magistrate!"
"Women's talk!" someone shouted. "They're just a bunch of bandits, roving bandits. What bandit doesn't burn, kill, rob, and commit atrocities? Don't be fooled by them! Just wait and see. If they kill the Chen family, will the remaining three families be able to escape?!"
When the gong was struck, the people's eardrums were shocked. They immediately stopped talking and stretched their necks to look at the platform.
Xu Zhenying slowly walked towards the platform, followed by her core team.
All the Chen family members had been tied up, with their shoulders held down and kneeling on the ground.
Chen Zhangyi continued to shout, "You bandit! I'm the brother-in-law of the Jinzhou prefect. How dare you kill me? I advise you to untie the ropes right now, kneel down and kowtow to admit your mistake, and I will spare your life! Otherwise, the Jinzhou army will arrive at the city gates, and all of you refugees will die!"
The woman beside him was already begging for mercy: "Master, give them the granary key. Why should we fight with these bandits..."
"Why are you panicking? I'm sure they're just pretending and don't dare to kill us!"
Xu Zhenying prepared himself mentally before setting off.
This is the Great Zhou Dynasty, where the law of the jungle prevails and the strong prey on the weak. She cannot maintain her previous moral standards in her conduct.
By killing Chen Zhangyi's family, we can obtain thousands of grains, and the food for the 15,000 people in the city will be provided.
Since Xu Zhenying traveled through time, she has killed Liu Jieshi and several refugees with her own hands. She couldn't sleep at all in the few days before the killings, but as time went by, the bloody and disgusting feeling gradually faded.
She confirmed one thing: she didn't like killing, nor did she like the feeling of life and death.
She just needs to ensure that she has enough motivation for every murder, or even more cruelly, enough benefits.
Xu Zhenying waved his hand and did not intend to do this himself, but handed it over to Fang Xun.
Fang Xun took the order, took a step forward, and looked down at the people below from a high vantage point.
At this moment, Fang Xun suppressed his inner excitement, as if something had taken root in his heart. Looking at those pairs of expectant, fearful and uneasy eyes, he felt a sense of being in charge.
Is this what it feels like to be the best?
It's so fascinating——
"Everyone," Fang Xun said, his voice low, but clear enough for everyone in the square to hear. "We have over 15,000 people in the city. 5,000 of them are refugees, and 10,000 are from Lan County. But regardless of their status, Lan County's food shortage is a foregone conclusion. Lord Sun has closed the city gates, and you haven't heard from the outside world for a long time, so you don't know what the situation is like out there."
Everyone looked at Fang Xun with some curiosity.
"Jinzhou was severely affected, especially Sanjiang County, which is now in ruins. Almost all the farmland and houses were washed away. Only one in ten people survived. Some died in the floods, some died while fleeing, and some starved to death. Many people sold their children just for a small bag of food. Our Lan County is only slightly better off than the other counties."
Fang Xun changed the subject, his face stained with grief and indignation. "Yet even in this situation, the Chen family is still sending people everywhere to buy up grain at low prices and hoard it. According to the people, the Chen family has a secret granary in the nearby mountains and forests, and the grain stored in it is enough for the people of Lan County to eat for a month! County Magistrate Sun has repeatedly begged him to open the granary to provide relief to the people, but he refused. He even asked him to sell it to the people at a fair price, but he still refused. What do you think...why is this?"
The common people below were extremely excited and shouted, "What else could it be? This old guy wants to sell it at a high price and make a fortune from the national disaster!"
"That's right, we ordinary people are almost starving to death, but the Chen family still eats delicious food every meal!"
"Right!" Fang Xun struck the gong, and the people fell silent. "This is what they call 'freezing to death on the road, while the rich feast and feast!' When our city lord entered the city, he repeatedly declared that he would not kill a single person, but are the Chen family and their ilk human?"
The people below shouted in unison: "No!"
Xu Zhenying was listening on the side, with a stern face that showed his intimidation without being angry, but he was thinking in his heart that Fang Xun was a good material for inciting people. Look at the people of Lan County, they all share the same hatred and can't wait to rush onto the stage and kill Chen Zhangyi's entire family!
"Yes, we didn't kill people, we killed animals! Not only that, but yesterday some righteous people reported to our people that Chen Zhangyi has been a tyrant in Lan County for many years and has committed more crimes than just this one. His eldest son robbed two farmers' daughters as concubines this year, and his wife beat a maid to death last year and had her thrown into a mass grave. Chen Zhangyi is even more bullying and will not tolerate anyone taking his business. Anyone who dares to do the same business as him will either find someone to cause trouble, or frame others and cause lawsuits, or set up traps for others to make them lose their fortunes and separate their families. His evil deeds are too numerous to list. Our city lord really can't stand it. In order to maintain fairness and justice in Lan County, he decided to execute Chen Zhangyi's entire family and give everyone justice! The city lord said, kill the Chen family, open the granary, and distribute food!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Qingchen's face changed.
Chen Zhangyi's eyes widened in shock.
The other three family heads were also invited to the stage to watch the entire execution process. At this moment, all three of them were pale and had cold sweat on their foreheads.
The people have always been easily instigated, and the Chen family was also notorious. However, what was most touching was Fang Xun's last sentence.
Kill the Chen family, open the granary, and distribute food!
The people were instantly excited, all shouting: "Kill the Chen family, open the granary, and distribute food!"
The people at the back couldn't hear what Fang Xun said, but after everyone shouted, they all followed suit and shouted, "Share the food! Share the food!"
For a moment, the noise in the square became louder and louder.
Only then did Chen Zhangyi realize how tricky the situation was, especially when he looked at Xu Zhenying's face. The man stood there calmly, his face expressionless. Seeing the executioner approaching him with fists clenched, Chen Zhangyi was so frightened that his face turned pale. He almost peed the floor and began to beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me. I was ignorant. You want food, don't you? I'll have someone lead the way. I'll give you all the food. I don't want it anymore!"
His eldest son also cried and wailed: "My king, please spare our lives. If you only spare us, I will give you not only the food, but also all the silver and jewelry of my Chen family. Please let us go--"
Jiang Yongkang sneered, "It's too late to say this now! Once we chop off your heads, everything in your Chen family will be ours!"
Xu Zhenying showed no mercy and raised his hand slightly.
The word "kill" was shouted in unison on the stage, with an awe-inspiring momentum. The executioners stood in a row, raised their swords, and instantly chopped off the heads of more than a dozen people in the Chen family.
Blood splattered and the ground was covered in red.
At this moment, everyone in the square fell silent.
They seemed to wake up from a terrible dream. Some screamed, some closed their eyes, and some stepped back!
This king... actually killed people just like that?
Mo Jinchun and Sun Qingchen's eyelids twitched.
There was a deathly silence, the cold wind was howling, and the huge square was suddenly so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Xu Zhenying said, "Hang their heads on the wall for everyone to see. If there are still those who disobey, think about what will happen to the Chen family!"
Jiang Yongkang went there with his head held high.
This scene shocked everyone, including the Xu family.
Everyone thought that Xu Zhenying's move was nothing more than to intimidate the Chen family and force them to hand over grain, but they didn't expect that she actually ordered the killing.
There were twelve people in total, young and old.
This cruelty frightened everyone in the Xu family, and no one dared to respond for a while.
At this moment, everyone realized that Xu Qingying was Xu Qingying and Xu Zhenying was Xu Zhenying.
Xu Qingying is the shy and quiet girl who hides behind her parents.
Xu Zhenying is the one in power who can kill or give life with a swift move.
Xu Lezhi was frightened silly. She dared not move at all. She stared at the frail figure of that person and even dared not breathe freely for a moment.
The heads of the Wang, Liu and Gu families witnessed the whole process. Xu Zhenying deliberately arranged their positions in the front, so that when the executioner killed people, the blood of the Chen family splashed on their faces.
They didn't dare to wipe it at all.
The head of the Gu family vomited with a "wow".
The head of the Liu family was trembling all over and didn't dare to look into Xu Zhenying's eyes.
This is a threat and also a signal to force the three families to pay grain to save their lives!
"Speaking of which, I have to praise the Wang family. This time, the head of the Wang family opened the granary overnight and sent us a full 3,000 dan of grain! I heard that the Wang family participated in the construction of bridges and roads in Lan County, and in setting up porridge stalls. No wonder most of the people praised you, the Wang family. It's true that you must be honest in everything you do, to give yourself a chance of survival."
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