(To avoid unnecessary details, I won't describe the entire interrogation process.)
Outside the county government office, countless people watched. Each person, after being interrogated, was dragged out by constables. Their crimes were read aloud, followed by the verdict, and finally, the execution was carried out in front of the entire crowd. Those with minor offenses were severely flogged and then thrown into prison; everyone received a very harsh sentence. Those sentenced to death were dragged out by Wang Han's soldiers and beheaded in public, without regard for the time. Seven or eight heads rolled off the walls outside the county government office.
The people felt a sense of satisfaction watching these people being dragged out to be executed or even beheaded.
Inside the county government office, Wang Han slowly sipped his tea, listening to the magistrate's verdict. He then used his mind-reading ability to list the misdeeds of those involved, requiring no evidence whatsoever. If the magistrate's sentence was too lenient, Wang Han would glare at him. A single glare from Wang Han would nearly make the magistrate's heart leap out of his chest, prompting him to immediately double the sentence. The events at Shaohua Mountain were now widely known, and no one dared to defy this powerful, god-like General Shenwei. Although the trials were simple, even if a wrong judgment was rendered, no one dared to say anything.
"General, I know my crime. Please show leniency. I am willing to make amends for my mistakes." Ximen Qing had just been brought in by the officials when he knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to Wang Han as he spoke. He didn't mention any evidence; the Divine General didn't need any evidence to kill him.
“Make amends first, read out the evidence of his crimes, and then tell me how you will make amends,” Wang Han said.
"Bribing officials, colluding with local bullies...harassing respectable women." Upon hearing this, an official immediately stepped forward and read out one by one the evidence against Ximen Qing.
"Tell me, how do you intend to make amends?" Wang Han asked Ximen Qing after the official finished reading.
"I am willing to donate all my wealth to atone for my mistakes," Ximen Qing quickly replied, offering all his possessions.
“Write it down!” Wang Han said, gesturing for an official to give Ximen Qing some paper money.
"Phew!" Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began writing on the paper, finally affixing his fingerprint. The official then handed the paper to Wang Han for review.
"That's right, it can indeed make up for some of it, but only some. Your family's crimes will not be investigated, but you still cannot escape the death penalty. Take them away and execute them." After reading it, Wang Han instructed Yang Zhi.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi immediately led Lu Da forward, picked up Ximen Qing, and walked out of the county government office.
"No, General, you can't do this!" Now Ximen Qing understood. Making amends was futile; it was merely compensation. He struggled to speak. Unfortunately, although his martial arts were good, he couldn't possibly break free from Yang Zhi and Lu Da's grasp. Before long, another head appeared outside the door.
Next was Yun Ge, who was accused by Wang Han of having close contact with Ximen Qing and leaking information. He received sixty lashes, but was not imprisoned; after the beating, he was thrown out. Although Wu Dalang wanted to plead for him, he was held back by Wu Song and Pan Jinlian.
A full hour later, the interrogation of the captured prisoners was over. Just when the people thought it was all finished, one by one, the officials were dragged out, and their crimes were read aloud in front of them. One after another, they were flogged, even the two officials who had done the beatings received dozens of lashes. However, none of them went to jail. Finally, the county magistrate was dragged out and flogged, and only then was the matter considered closed. It was truly a great relief to the people.
"It's about time, let's head to Mengzhou." After finishing the interrogation, Wang Han looked at the sky; it was exactly noon, so he said.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi immediately responded and ran to make preparations. Before leaving, he did not forget to call Wu Song and the other two and tell them to put their valuables in the carriage.
Just as Wang Hancai led his troops out of the county government office, a hundred-strong imperial guard followed an old eunuch to the entrance. Upon seeing Wang Hancai emerge, the eunuch and the imperial guards immediately dismounted. Except for the eunuch, all the imperial guards knelt on one knee and shouted loudly, "Greetings, Great General Shenwei!"
“Great General Shenwei, I am carrying an imperial edict and it is inconvenient for me to pay my respects.” The old eunuch said to Wang Han, then took out the imperial edict from his bosom and loudly proclaimed, “Great General Shenwei, receive the edict.”
Upon seeing the imperial edict, the surrounding people, the county magistrate and officials who had come to bid farewell to Wang Han, including Yang Zhi and others, all immediately knelt on the ground. Only Wang Han remained standing and said, "Read it!"
Seeing this, the old eunuch remained expressionless, knowing that Wang Han was not required to kneel. He quickly read aloud: "In recent years, the Western Xia have repeatedly invaded our borders and plundered our people. Now, the Western Xia have once again raised an army to attack. I hereby request the Divine Might General to go to the border between the Western Xia and our Great Song Dynasty to take over the border defense and stop the Western Xia's invasion. However, it is only right to retaliate. The Western Xia have been invading for many years, and it is time to teach them a lesson. After stopping the Western Xia's invasion, I hereby request the Divine Might General to lead an army of 200,000 to conquer the Western Xia. The general may appoint any military officers below the fifth rank."
After the imperial edict was read aloud, the old lady respectfully handed over the edict, along with two boxes. One box contained the tiger tally for the border troops, and the other contained the appointment letter.
"You're quite polite," Wang Han said with a smile, accepting the imperial edict with one hand and saying to the old eunuch, "Tell His Majesty Emperor Huizong that I will depart from Yanggu County immediately."
The old eunuch showed no reaction or expression to Wang Han's disrespect, but simply smiled and said, "His Majesty asked me to convey his gratitude to the General. Thank you for your help, General Shenwei."
“Alright, go back and report. Tell Emperor Huizong that I will destroy Western Xia within two years, and ask him to start preparing to take over Western Xia’s territory now,” Wang Han said.
"Yes, this old servant will certainly convey the message." Upon hearing this, the old eunuch said, and then quickly left with the Imperial Guards.
"Oh my god, war is about to break out."
"The Divine General is about to lead an expedition against Western Xia."
After the old eunuch left, the people immediately became lively and started discussing it.
"Finally, we're going to fight!" Yang Zhi and the others were also full of anticipation. They had been waiting for this day. Of course, the best way to gain merit in suppressing bandits was to go on a campaign. They were finally going to have military ranks.
"Let's go. We're not going to Mengzhou anymore. Let's go straight to the border," Wang Han said. Then he instructed Yang Zhi, "Kill those few. We originally wanted them to testify against certain people, but since we're going to the border anyway, there's no point in taking them with us."
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Yang Zhi and the others immediately responded, dragging Tai E and the others out of the prison cart and beheading them with a single stroke of their swords. The magistrate of Yanggu County, who was watching from the side, felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Tai E; a magistrate had been beheaded just like that. Judging from Wang Han's behavior when the imperial edict was announced and the politeness in the edict itself, he knew that beheading a magistrate would be no problem for the Divine Might General.
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