Xu Jing was shocked. "Lord Lin, you are too kind. I am not worthy of your life and blood."
As for Jin Zhubu, he hesitated for a long time but finally agreed.
Now that everyone has agreed, things will be much easier.
After the meeting, Xu Jing compiled a series of implementation measures based on the meeting minutes compiled by Bai Shinian, and printed three copies using movable type. After giving them to his three subordinates to read, he began to implement the plan.
Xu Jing asked Bai Shinian to lead the yamen runners managed by Shi Dianli to the street to capture several Jiannu merchants.
The common people hated the Jiannu people to the core. Seeing this, they said nothing and scattered like birds and beasts.
However, a few Jiannu merchants thought they had committed some serious crime. When they saw Xu Jing, they trembled with fear and said in broken Chinese: "Your Excellency, I am innocent."
Xu Jing looked at the five vendors kneeling on the ground and winked at Bai Shinian. "What happened, Shinian?"
Bai Shinian asked knowingly, "To answer the magistrate, they were selling leather on the street, acting suspiciously and didn't look like good people. I asked around and found out they were Jiannu. The imperial court has issued a clear order prohibiting Jiannu from entering our Muhe County. These people must be Jiannu spies. They're not here to sell leather in the city, but to gather information."
Xu Jing echoed Bai Shinian's words. "In that case, then we'll detain him and await the magistrate's decision."
The five men were terrified upon hearing this. Ordinary cases were decided by the county magistrate, but only cases involving the death penalty were submitted to higher authorities and reported to the Dali Temple. The emperor would then make the final decision, and only with the emperor's imperial seal could the county magistrate decide the execution.
Of course, the emperor, residing in the capital, didn't have the luxury of constantly scrutinizing people with his imperial edict. Therefore, lower-level officials handled the executions. Generally, beheading cases were handed over to the prefectural or provincial government offices for review before execution could take place. Only major cases, involving officials engaging in favoritism and corruption, would be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court before being handed over to the emperor for disposal.
Xu Jing said this deliberately to scare the Jiannu people. No one would not cherish their own life, especially these businessmen who traveled all over the country and were only interested in profit.
The five merchants looked at each other in bewilderment. The bravest of them kowtowed and cried, "Your Excellency, please be wise. We are only selling leather for a living. We have never done anything out of line."
"Yes, yes. I just look like a Jiannu, but I am not a Jiannu."
The other few people were even more unscrupulous in their quibbling, almost turning black into white.
"My mother was a member of the Jiannu army, and I have always been a citizen of Dayan. Your Excellency, please understand."
Bai Shinian was covering his mouth and laughing, but he recovered after Xu Jing glared at him. "Do you have any evidence?"
The merchant with a crimson complexion said, "I am indeed a citizen of the Great Yan State. My name is Zhang San, and I live in the east end of Hejia Village. Your Excellency can send a bailiff to inquire. Everything I say is true."
The others were chattering and calling out their names. Xu Jing slammed the gavel and said, "Silence. Zhang San, I want to ask you, is this leather from the local area?"
Zhang San kowtowed profusely. "Yes, yes. Your Excellency is right. It's local leather."
"You're lying. According to me, most of the people outside the city make a living by farming. How can they afford to raise livestock? Did you smuggle this fur?"
How could Zhang San dare to tell the truth? He insisted that he got it from hunting.
Xu Jing knew that unless he showed the scoundrels some power, they wouldn't confess. "How dare you, Zhang San, deceive me! My men, drag him out and give him twenty lashes of the cane. The rest of you, follow me and see for yourself: this is what happens when you deceive me."
County court proceedings could be observed by the public, or held in private. Xu Jing, wanting to profit from the Jiannu merchants, did not assert his authority.
The two yamen runners on the left and right happened to be the servants who had killed the enemy from the city wall that day. Seeing the Jiannu people, they were extremely jealous. As Xu Jing threw a red stick in his hand, the two yamen runners, one on the left and one on the right, carried the person outside.
Soon, the sound of wooden boards hitting flesh rang out, followed by Zhang San's hysterical screams. The sounds were overshadowed by the other, and the screams came one after another.
The other four people felt their legs tremble and were extremely frightened after hearing this.
The twenty strokes of the board were quickly completed, and by the time the bailiff had dragged the man in, there was not a single piece of intact flesh left on Zhang San's lower back or below. The bloody mess wasn't the worst of it; as the bailiff dragged the man in, a winding line of blood followed, sending a chill through the other four men.
Xu Jing sneered, "Zhang San, why don't you tell me the truth?"
Zhang San didn't even have the energy to cry anymore, and his voice was barely audible. The gavel rang, and Zhang San shuddered with fear, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm a Jiannu. I bought the skins from the Jiannu. I took this risk to make a living, and I hope the magistrate will understand. I have no intention of rebelling."
The others felt even more grief-stricken, and kowtowed, saying, "We are definitely not the lackeys of the Jiannu army. We hope that the magistrate will forgive us."
"Whether you are spies for the Jiannu is still unknown. In consideration of your honesty, I will give you a chance to mend your ways."
Xu Jing gave Bai Shinian a look, and Bai Shinian immediately took out the contract and handed it to the others one by one. "Read it carefully and sign it."
Aside from Zhang San, who was beaten half to death, the others took a look at the contract. Li Ming's face turned pale after reading it. He was the only one of the five businessmen present who could read, and they all whispered to each other. "What does it say?"
The idiot magistrate actually asked them to go to Jiannu to transport the furs, asking them to take such a risk. The profit they offered was too low, only 10%. What profit would they make from 10%? It wouldn't even cover their losses.
Li Ming was about to say something when he saw Zhang San, panting heavily on the ground, and immediately understood the magistrate's intentions. He was killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. He claimed to have captured a few spies, but in reality, he wanted them to work for the magistrate. If they didn't comply, their fate would be even worse than Zhang San's.
"Sir, how much leather do you want?" Li Ming asked tentatively.
Xu Jing smiled and said, "Of course, the more the better. I believe you won't let me down, right?"
If he didn't agree, Zhang San would be a lesson for him. Between life and money, Li Ming would definitely choose the latter. He gritted his teeth and risked his life. "I agree."
"Come here, have them sign and seal."
After watching several people swiftly sign their names, Xu Jing's expression changed. "You'd better keep your meeting with me today to yourself. If I find out you're spreading rumors among the Jiannu, I'll kill you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
