Feng Jin had always been particular about food, always finding ways to prepare delicious meals at home. Now, confined here, she could only eat plain congee, which was a pity for her.
"Being able to eat a full meal is already a luxury. How could I be picky?"
Picking up the bowl, Feng Jin downed the congee in one gulp. Being able to fill her stomach was good enough.
Compared to the widespread starvation outside, her current life was already like being in heaven. How could she have the right to complain?
"Ling Mohan, how will you deal with the refugees outside?"
They had first endured natural disasters, then rebel armies. Misfortunes followed one after another, loved ones died innocently, homes were destroyed, and they didn't even know what the future held.
"I have already reported to His Majesty. Relief grain will arrive soon. The prefectural office doesn't have much grain left, so we can only transfer some grain from nearby counties for temporary use."
"The surrounding counties have also suffered continuous disasters and are now struggling to save themselves. It is unlikely they will have surplus grain to support Yingzhong County. For now, we can only help ourselves."
"Help ourselves..." Ling Mohan was a little confused. What kind of self-help was this?
"When I came, I heard that in this operation to annihilate the rebel army, didn't they arrest many merchants who were colluding with the rebels? These merchants were previously big figures in Yingzhong County. When the rebels broke through Yingzhong County, didn't they offer grain and money to save their lives? They are all spineless. In this life-or-death situation, they will surely do the same."
"Merchants are always cunning and deceitful, valuing wealth. It's not that easy to make them hand over money and grain."
Ling Mohan had considered this method and had mobilized merchants to donate money and grain, but the amount collected was only so-so.
"That's because your method is wrong. Leave it to me, and I will naturally find a way to make them willingly hand over their money and grain."
Feng Jin looked confident, having already devised a plan in her mind. "You just need to cooperate with me in everything."
"Alright, I'll listen to you. Tell me, what method do you have?"
"The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed. This humble person has a plan. Where are the merchants you captured now?"
"In the prison. Let Lu Shi take you there."
...
As soon as Feng Jin stepped into the prison, she felt a biting chill. The place was deprived of sunlight, and a thick smell of mold permeated the air. Feng Jin covered her nose and mouth with a hint of disdain.
"Young Madam, they are all locked up ahead."
Lu Shi walked with Feng Jin, then instructed the guards, "Open the door."
"Sir, I am innocent, sir!"
"Sir, please release me, my family has money, sir!"
"Sir, please, sir!"
The people imprisoned within wailed, indicating they had suffered greatly.
"Quiet! If anyone dares to speak again, they will be dragged out and beaten!"
Lu Shi roared, and an immediate silence fell. Everyone huddled in the corners of the walls, not daring to move.
Feng Jin cast a cold glance at them. They were all dressed in fine silks and wore golden crowns, clearly from wealthy families, exuding an aura of wealth.
"You colluded with the rebels, and your crime is equivalent to treason. According to the law, your entire clan should be executed, and the punishment should extend to the nine generations of relatives!"
Feng Jin spoke with a grim face, her words carrying immense deterrence. Everyone's faces turned pale with fright, and some of the timid ones' legs trembled slightly.
"It was the rebels who forced us! We were only trying to survive!" Some bolder individuals argued.
"Forced... You did these things yourselves. Now you say you were forced? Isn't it too late? Guards!"
Feng Jin casually pointed at one person and gestured to the guards.
The guards immediately stepped forward, dragged the person out of the cell, and walked away.
Following that, a heart-wrenching wail ensued.
"Reporting to Sir, the person has been executed!" A guard with a few drops of blood on him reported.
Feng Jin pursed her lips and nodded calmly, her sharp gaze sweeping across everyone. She said in a low voice, "His fate today will be yours tomorrow. The crime of treason is unforgivable. Even Lingchi execution is letting you off easy!"
"I... I don't want to die... I don't want to die..."
"Sir, please let me go... I beg you... Sir..."
The previously defiant ones were instantly thrown into a panic by this scene, collapsing to their knees weakly and begging for mercy.
Feng Jin watched them coldly. Weren't there a few with backbone earlier? Now they were all birds of a feather.
"Bring him out. I... I will interrogate him personally."
Feng Jin almost forgot she was dressed as a man and quickly corrected herself to say "Sir."
"Let me go, Sir... I did not collude with the rebels... I did not..."
The man, tied to a pole, had panicked eyes and trembling lips, his fear evident.
"You say you did not collude with the rebels, but do you have any evidence?"
"Sir, I truly did not collude, I did not!"
"You did not... but there are witnesses who saw you sending money and grain to the rebels. Do you dare to deny colluding and deceiving me? Your crime will be doubled!"
Feng Jin shouted angrily, slamming the tea bowl in her hand onto the table. The bound man flinched.
"Sir, it was... it was they who forced me. If I didn't deliver the grain and money, they would have killed me. I had no choice!"
"Yingzhong County suffered a natural disaster, and the people had no food to fill their stomachs, only eating tree roots and grass to survive. Yet, you handed over grain and wealth to the rebels, allowing them to slaughter and rob the common people and oppose the court. Do you know how many soldiers lost their lives in this campaign against the rebels? Your crime is heinous, and even Lingchi execution is too lenient for you!"
"This humble one knows his mistake, knows his mistake! Sir, this humble one is willing to offer all his wealth, just to beg for a way to live, begging for your grace!"
The man knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, his body trembling.
In the face of death, all beings are equal and feel extreme fear.
"Sir, this humble one's millions in wealth and ten million piculs of grain, I am willing to offer with both hands, only begging you to spare my life."
Feng Jin calculated inwardly and looked at him coldly. "I heard you are the richest man in Yingzhong County, yet you are still so cowardly. Don't forget, after I sentence you, your property will be confiscated and turned over to the public treasury."
"Sir, this humble one... this humble one can persuade other merchants to hand over their grain for relief efforts!"
As the richest man in Yingzhong County, he still had some standing among the merchants.
Feng Jin smiled faintly. If he behaved obediently like this, who could refuse?
"Lu Shi, follow him and confiscate all the grain from his home. Then, you will go door-to-door to collect grain. Remember, I want them to hand over the grain willingly. I don't want to gain a reputation for robbing the wealthy."
"Yes... yes, this humble one knows what to do. Sir, please be assured." Zhang Kun quickly agreed.