Song Zhenping is now twenty years old, but all his past has been spent living for others.
He couldn't imagine what purpose he would have if something happened to his younger siblings.
The chubby boy was stunned when he saw Song Zhenping suddenly start crying.
He assumed he had caused trouble and quickly slipped away to his young master's side, not daring to say another word.
Zhao Tingduo, dressed as a soldier, remained silent, observing everything that was happening in the Song family.
Song Zhenping really couldn't take it anymore.
During this period, he has been doing his best to make himself more capable and responsible.
But he still couldn't bear everything that happened.
Song Liyun also felt helpless and could only comfort him gently: "Brother, it's good that we're all okay. Everyone has their own way of living and their own strengths. You can't expect yourself to do everything perfectly."
Six months ago, Song Zhenping was a boy who had never even left his village and worried about half a coarse grain bun every day. Now, he not only has to accept the treasure bag book, but also ride a warhorse and encounter murder and arson every day.
From being a despised ingrate to having to reject his sister's marriage proposals one after another, the difference in his mindset and the pressure of deciding other people's fates are immense. It's already quite remarkable that he has persevered until now.
The distance between them would be overwhelming and devastating for anyone, let alone a young man like Song Zhenping who has just come into contact with the world.
When Song Zhenping first started living a good life, he was happy and joyful, but now he is in so much pain.
He was so eager to become stronger that he never considered that everything he was experiencing might be the pinnacle of someone else's entire life, something that was not so easy to achieve.
He still needs enough time to grow.
The people who have been captured from Tianxianglou still need to be dealt with. Although the whole matter is overseen by Luo Baihu, the head of the garrison, the Song family, as the aggrieved party, also needs to be present.
Song Liyun comforted Song Zhenping and asked him to stay and do what he could.
For example, clean up the damaged items inside and outside the house and comfort Xiao An.
He then accompanied Commander Luo to the Broken Gold Guild Hall to handle matters concerning the rice manager and the county tax collectors.
The Broken Gold Guild Hall was packed with people again.
This time, Luo Baihu sat at the head of the table, with Old Master Zhang and the trembling tax collector Sun sitting on either side.
Xue Zhuang, Hu Qing, and the aggrieved party Song Liyun stood further back.
In the middle of the ground, Manager Mi, bound hand and foot, and several men disguised as yamen runners were kneeling.
Apart from Han Ming killing one and Hei Jin scratching another, Manager Mi and the other eight were all captured.
He impersonated an official to deceive merchants, broke into private residences with malicious intent, and was caught red-handed. He was convicted of multiple crimes and had no way to defend himself.
However, punishment must be carried out according to procedure; one cannot simply "wrongfully accuse" someone.
At this moment, Manager Mi was no longer as arrogant as before; he knelt on the ground and cried his heart out.
"Lord Centurion, there must be some misunderstanding here."
Brother Xue promised to sell the vermicelli to Tianxianglou, but he broke the contract and sold it to someone else. I, a humble citizen, am indignant and have come to inquire about this."
Knowing he couldn't escape punishment, Manager Mi could only put aside the matter of the "yamen runners" and talk about his contract with Xue Zhuang first.
This changed the charge from impersonating an official to a business dispute.
"Misunderstand!"
Seeing that he was still arguing, Luo Baihu was so angry that his eyes widened. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. "Fine, since you're talking about a contract, then go ahead and explain it clause by clause."
Show me your contract, and I'll clear your name.
When Manager Mi heard that Commander Luo wanted a contract, he was dumbfounded.
He had already torn up the contract when he threatened Xue Zhuang, so now that Luo Baihu wants to see it, he certainly won't be able to produce anything.
Seeing that Manager Mi was just staring blankly and was obviously lying, Luo Baihu was furious: "You're treating me like a fool! Men, give him ten lashes so he'll remember this lesson and know what the ruthlessness of military law is."
A soldier immediately pulled out a wooden stick thicker than an arm, and Manager Mi's face turned pale: "Commander, I am a commoner, not a soldier, and cannot be subject to military law."
If such a thick wooden stick were to hit him, he wouldn't be one of those rough and brutish soldiers. If he were hit by that stick, his back would probably break.
Luo Baihu snorted coldly: "Who says military law can't be applied? I don't believe that if you made a mistake in Broken Gold Town, I can't beat your butt with my military rod."
Manager Mi no longer dared to be stubborn. Seeing that this soldier only knew how to act tough, he quickly pleaded with Sun Wuming, who was standing to the side: "Sir Sun, save me! When Master Hong filed a lawsuit, you saw the contract. It clearly stated that Shuijin Town would sell 1,000 catties of vermicelli to Tianxianglou every month, and it was forbidden to sell it to others privately."
He blinked frantically at Sun Wuming, trying to escape.
Sun Wuming's face was ashen. He was in dire straits himself, barely able to save himself, so how could he dare to speak up for Manager Mi?
Having accepted Hong Jingtian's money, they couldn't just leave without saying a word. As for whether it would be useful, that was up to fate.
He could only stand up and stammer, "My lord, when Hong Jingtian came to the county office to report the case, I glanced at the contract and it seemed... roughly... there was a sentence like this..."
Although the Wu Dynasty valued civil officials over military ones, and civil officials looked down on military generals, Sun Wuming was just a low-ranking official, not even considered an official. In front of a sixth-rank military officer, a centurion, he had to refer to himself as a low-ranking official.
Upon hearing Sun Wuming's testimony, Luo Baihu's lips twitched, and he looked at him with disbelief: "I didn't hear wrong, did I? After the plaintiff reported the case, you didn't even collect the important physical evidence, but let the plaintiff keep it himself. You didn't even look at it carefully. Is this how you judge a case? If you want to protect your accomplice, I'll beat you with my military rod just the same way."
Sun Wuming's face instantly turned from white to green, and he sat down stiffly, no longer daring to utter a sound.
This was indeed a violation of the rules, and it was only right that Luo Baihu found a reason to beat him up.
A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle; he couldn't risk his life for fifty taels of silver.
Manager Mi was dragged out of the guild hall by soldiers, who pulled down his pants, pinned him to the street, and started beating him.
The thick wooden stick struck flesh with a dull thud, utterly intimidating, but after only two blows, Manager Mi's pig-like screams abruptly ceased, and he fainted.
In the military camp, executions are carried out by comrades-in-arms. The key is to be quick, accurate, and ruthless. Once the beating is over, there is no need for humiliation.
Therefore, there was no habit of waking the rice shopkeeper up with cold water before hitting him, which actually made him faint and suffer less pain.
The two soldiers didn't care whether Manager Mi was unconscious or dead. They beat him with ten sticks and dragged him back into the courtyard.
At this moment, the unconscious Manager Mi crashed to the ground like a sack of rice. He appeared unharmed, but his limp legs indicated a serious injury.
Luo Baihu was used to seeing bloody human heads and had little interest in beating people.
He looked at the several men in gray uniforms kneeling next to Manager Mi and asked, "Sun Wuming, are these people yamen runners?"
Sun Wuming said with a clear face, "No!"
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