Chapter 523: Heavy punishments in troubled times!

Chapter 523: Heavy punishments in troubled times!

Chapter 523: Heavy punishments in troubled times! (5k)

Zhao Duan stood up, dropped the half-eaten fat goose in his hand, washed his hands in the pool, and walked towards the courtyard of the Lu family mansion where the banquet was held.

The reason why he had a meal here in the afternoon was to have energy to work in the evening.

Sun Xiaozhun hurriedly followed and said tremblingly:
"The governor needs to think carefully. These gentry can be punished, but if they are too harsh, I'm afraid..."

Zhao Duan smiled and asked, "What are you afraid of? Do they dare to surrender to the enemy?"

Sun Xiaozhun smiled bitterly and said:
"The governor is joking, but at this critical juncture, if the entire front line wants to maintain stability, it is not enough to rely on the government alone. We also have to rely on this group of people to contribute."

Why were local nobles so powerful and overbearing in the context of ancient feudal dynasties? The reason is that the court had poor grassroots mobilization capabilities.

The so-called "imperial power does not extend to the countryside" means that under the current conditions, it is impossible to give orders to the grassroots level. If we want to implement many specific matters, we have to rely on the cooperation of these gentry.

This is also the reason why Sun Xiaozhun, a fourth-rank prefect, made many concessions to the Lu family on the issue of collecting grain.

Zhao Duan's face faced the setting sun, and was reflected with an especially red color.

He was silent for a moment, then said:

“I know that any change must take into account the times. If the step is too big, all the ideas will only become castles in the air. So I don’t plan to really abandon the gentry. However, the gentry can exist, but there is room for maneuver in who will play the role of the gentry.

Do you know what His Majesty has been working so hard on in the court of the capital city in the past few years since he ascended the throne? Just two words: "blood transfusion"!
Letting old ministers step down and supporting new officials to take office step by step is like slowly giving this 600-year-old dynasty a blood transfusion in an attempt to revitalize it. Abolishing the old cabinet and setting up the Xiuwenguan is the top priority!
Since the implementation of the new policy, local officials have also been laid off and replaced. You, Governor Sun, must have seen all of this.

But this is only the beginning.

Not only did the officials in the court and the country need to be replaced, but the local nobles also needed to be replaced, so there was the imperial merchant in Huting...

Today, I am here to ask for food for the tens of thousands of soldiers in the city, to raise funds for the rebellion, and to take the opportunity to exchange blood...

Your Majesty exchanged the blood of the court, and I will exchange the blood of the gentry."

After he finished speaking, Sun Xiaozhun was completely stunned. He inexplicably felt his blood boiling and his heart surging.

He suddenly understood that Governor Zhao was willing to say these words to him, on the one hand, to affirm his ability and to show his respect for him.

The second was to tell him the real purpose of dealing with this group of gentry so that he, the prefect, would cooperate.

"Your subordinate...understood!"

"I understand," Zhao Duan smiled. He liked talking to smart people. He walked a few steps and suddenly remembered something and said:
"Oh, by the way, tell me what criminal records the top gentry in the city have. Don't tell me you don't know."

……

……

On the other side, as the sun set, the entire Lu Mansion became lively.

In the courtyard, a maidservant from a famous family was walking back and forth, arranging the banquet.

The distinguished gentry in the city who had received the "invitation" also arrived one after another outside the mansion gate.

Red lanterns were hung under the eaves. Looking at the bustling scene inside the mansion, one would never have guessed that outside was the front line of a war where two armies were fighting each other.

However, Old Man Lu was not among the crowd. At this moment, this city's leading celebrity was meeting with several other gentry in a secluded side hall of the mansion.

"Old man, please tell me the truth, what exactly does this King Zhao mean by summoning us all here tonight?"

Mr. Qian from Datong Bank asked.

He is of plump build, but now he is not as calm as usual.

"Yes, Taicang is our territory. We should be of the same blood and deal with it together." Mr. Li, the boss of Kangzhuang Rice Shop, also frowned.

Old Master Lu sat in the main seat, looking majestic without even getting angry.

There was no sign of servility in front of Zhao Duan.

His face was gloomy now, he glanced at everyone and said:

“Commander-in-Chief Zhao came here to raise military funds and food. Now that tens of thousands of troops have entered the city, they will have to suppress the rebellion, so you can imagine how much it will cost.

I advise you all not to play tricks tonight. Just nod your heads to whatever Governor Zhao wants, and don't think about making money from this. Everyone should bleed a little. Otherwise, if you lose your life, don't blame me for not telling you in advance."

Everyone was shocked by the serious words: "How much blood should be shed?"

Old Master Lu was silent for a moment and said:
"This is not something we can decide. It depends on how much Governor Zhao wants."

Mr. Li frowned and said, "Could it be that even if he wants our entire fortune, we have to give it to him?"

Old Master Lu glanced at him:
"I will say this one last time. Do not treat Governor Zhao the same as Prefect Sun and Privy Councilor Xue. I have a feeling that he comes with murderous intent this time. Just treat it as paying for your life. That's all I have to say."

Buying life? Is it really that evil?

The gentry looked at each other in disbelief.

This is not the first or second time that the imperial court has asked them for money, and it is common for some people to play the good cop and some to play the bad cop.

The current war situation is tense and stability is the top priority. At this critical juncture, Sun Xiaozhun and Xue Shence have been quite tolerant of these people. Would it be different if it was Zhao Duan?

Some people even suspected that Zhao Duan was secretly collaborating with the Lu family to trick them... There are many precedents for this kind of thing.

"Father, that Governor Zhao... has come out." The second young master hurried over.

Old Master Lu stood up, walked out, and sighed, "Let's go, there's no escaping the disaster."

The gentlemen in the house had no choice but to get up and walk out in groups.

……

When we arrived at the banquet venue, the last ray of sunlight in the sky had fallen and the night enveloped the entire city.

Under the blue sky is a brightly lit banquet hall.

Mosquitoes are flying around the red lanterns.

The main table for the banquet was set in a hall with the door open, and there were several round tables outside in the courtyard.

The gentry and celebrities in the city were seated from the inside to the outside according to their wealth.

It was prepared in a hurry, but with the Lu family's background, the dishes on the round table were still extremely sumptuous in just a few hours.

When Old Man Lu took his seat, the entire yard was already full of people. The densely packed heads made a faint noise, and a strong sense of uneasiness surged in the air.

The grain inspector Zhao Shande was also present and was arranged to sit at the door, accompanied by the eldest son of the Lu family.

At the gate of the courtyard, there was a team of government officials that Sun Xiaozheng brought with him.

"Commander Zhao is here!"

Someone shouted softly, and the whole place suddenly fell silent, with everyone's eyes turned towards the end of the corridor.

I saw two figures approaching, one was Zhao Duan and the other was Sun Xiaozhun.

However, Zhao Du'an had changed his clothes without him noticing. He was no longer dressed as a nobleman, but wore the robe of a military officer, with a black gauze hat on his head. Under the lantern, his crimson official uniform looked like a ball of fire burning through the darkness.

His right hand gently rested on the hilt of the knife at his waist——

The simple and gorgeous sword was hung at the waist.

Old Master Lu's eyes narrowed, and he stood up first: "Welcome to the Grand Commander!"

The others followed suit and greeted him respectfully.

With a smile on his face, Zhao Duan walked into the hall, facing everyone's gaze. He glanced at the reserved main seat for the banquet, but did not sit down.

Instead, he gave an order to the maidservant beside him. The latter was stunned for a moment and hurried out. Not long after, the servant of the Lu Mansion brought in a table and placed it at the top.

In an instant, the lobby became a bit like a courtroom.

Zhao Duan held the knife and walked to the back of the table. He raised his foot and stepped on a low stool. He casually untied the knife from his waist and placed it horizontally on the table with a bang.

He looked down at everyone and asked Sun Xiaozhun with a smile, "Are all the people here?"

Prefect Sun stood aside with his hands behind his back and nodded.

"Very good," Zhao Duan smiled brightly:

"It seems that you all have given this governor some face. When I sent someone to deliver the invitations to you this afternoon, many of you said that you had family matters and could not come, but you all still arrived on time."

Everyone forced out awkward smiles, and someone flattered:

"It is a blessing for the governor to suppress the rebellion for the people. Compared with the governor's hard work, our little difficulties are nothing." "That's right, that's right."

A piece of sound to find filler.

Zhao Duan kept smiling, as if he didn't mind the matter. After the compliments died down, his gaze turned to Old Man Lu who was sitting at the main table very close to him.

And the table full of delicious food, he sighed:

"I came to Taicang once last year and there was a banquet at that time, but I came to investigate a case and did not have the chance to meet you properly.

Fortunately, there are still people who recognize my face. I can have this banquet today thanks to the efforts of the Lu family's grandfather. If it weren't for the Lu family, it would not be easy for me to invite you all here. "

As soon as these words were spoken, many people looked at the Lu family with colder eyes.

The Lu family's eldest son's expression changed slightly, with a hint of anger in his eyes.

After Zhao Duan said this, in the eyes of outsiders, the Lu family became a loyal dog of the court. In today's "fundraising", the Lu family also became an accomplice of the court.

However, how could outsiders know how aggrieved the Lu family is?
Not only was he used as a gun, but even his wives and concubines were called over by Zhao Duan to serve him. It was a great shame and humiliation... But the eldest son didn't dare to show it at all. Feeling Zhao Shande's curious gaze, he still had to force a smile.

Zhao Duan praised the food, then suddenly changed the subject, looking at the delicacies, and sighed:

"The only downside is that the dishes are too rich. Now the war is raging outside, Ning'an and Wenshui counties have been occupied by the rebel king, who has even set fire to the farmland and slaughtered the people!

Although there is not yet a widespread famine, I have heard that the price of rice and grain in the market has skyrocketed and supplies are becoming increasingly scarce.

The common people are tightening their belts and tightening their belts, and the soldiers are also living in difficult conditions. Not to mention eating meat, even military rations are not enough, but this governor is here to indulge in eating and drinking...

If so, how can I repay your majesty's grace? How can I face the people of the world?"

A group of people listened, their faces turned black, and they cursed in their hearts, thinking that it was you who ordered the banquet, and now you are the one pretending to be a liar.

Are you still ashamed of the people in the world?

Don’t you know how bad your reputation is?
Shameless, so shameless.

Old Master Lu said with shame:

"What the governor reprimanded was that I made inadequate arrangements. To atone for my sins and to quell the rebellion, the Lu family is willing to offer half of the granary in the clan, as well as 100,000 taels of silver and various materials to the governor."

Half of the tribe's food and 100,000 taels of silver! What a big deal!
You have to know that for a big family like the Lu family, the total amount of silver on their account is only a few hundred thousand taels at most, not heavy assets that are difficult to liquidate in a short period of time.

Just for this fundraising, you're going to donate half of your property?
crazy?

When these words were spoken, all the gentry were shocked.

"Good!" Zhao Duan smiled with satisfaction, "The Lu family is worthy of being the best family in Taicang. Such a righteous act should be a role model."

He looked around at the faces:
"This governor is a military man, I don't like small talk, so I'll get straight to the point.

I have gathered you all here today to raise food rations, military pay, and all kinds of supplies to help us put down the rebellion.

You are all local gentry, and I believe you are willing to do your part to protect the village. Of course, fundraising is entirely voluntary, and no matter how much you donate, it is a gesture of your heart."

Sun Xiaozhun glanced at him and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

How can Governor Zhao speak so confidently about such empty and shameless words?
What happened to the simple and pure minds of warriors?

Although the gentry also felt that the last sentence was too fake, they were relieved anyway and started to discuss how much to give.

What? According to the Lu family's standards?
Oh, do you think we are all stupid?

It's obvious that the Lu family is in collusion with Zhao Duan and are playing a double act. The so-called half of the family property is just talk. It would be considered good if they could really give out one-fifth of it.

So, no one really tries to imitate this ratio.

However, just as everyone was thinking about how much blood would be needed to satisfy King Zhao, Zhao Duan suddenly changed the subject:
"However... although it is voluntary, the wealth of everyone here is different, some have more, some have less. If I ask you to follow the Lu family's example and donate 100,000 taels, then this governor would be unkind."

"Well... let's put it this way. This time, the donation will not be based on the total amount, but on the proportion. If everyone present here does what the Lu family did and donates half of their property to help put down the rebellion, that will be enough."

"Oh, by the way, let me mention that there are also a large number of warriors and sorcerers among the rebels. Therefore, in order to prepare for the war, this governor needs to collect all the rare treasures, talismans, and magical instruments related to cultivation in the city... I believe that each of the families present here must have treasures, so please send them over as well. It's decided."

After these words were spoken, the entire banquet fell into silence, and you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's expressions froze on their faces.

Sun Xiaojun looked at him in astonishment and took a deep breath.

Zhao Shande's heart skipped a beat with fright. He looked at the young man on the "stage", suspecting that he had heard it wrong.

The old man of the Lu family was stunned, unable to hide his astonishment.

This governor's appetite... is even bigger than he expected?

He not only targeted the Lu family, but everyone... How dare he? Isn't he afraid of causing public resentment? !
Yes, this time he only asked for donations from the gentry, and did not extort money from the common people, so there would be no public resentment at all...

"Wow—"

Not surprisingly, the entire lobby exploded, all the gentry changed their expressions, and some even stood up with shock and anger on their faces!

Half of their property will be confiscated, plus all the rare items they treasure!
What's the difference between this and house raiding? Even the rebels are not so cruel!
This has completely exceeded the limits of what they can accept.

The head of Kangzhuang Rice Shop stood up and said loudly:
"Is Governor Zhao kidding? Half of his family fortune? Such a fundraising has never been heard of in the world!"

Qian Yuanwai from Datong Bank also had a bitter face:
"Governor, please don't laugh. It's not that we don't want to support the suppression of the rebellion, but we have so many businesses that if half of the funds are withdrawn, I'm afraid it will be difficult to operate. As for the rare items, they are accumulated by our family for generations..."

With someone taking the lead, the gentry immediately expressed their dissatisfaction, as if they were gathering to resist.

In their subconscious, they still believe that the court cannot do without them for stability, so as long as they work together, they can fight back.

More people think that this is a kind of "bargaining". Zhao Duan asked for a high price, so he has to cut it down.

Zhao Duan listened to the noisy noise, but the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

At some point, he quietly picked up the sword on the table and leaned on it gently. When the noise subsided a little, he said indifferently:
"Do you think that this governor is joking?"

He swept his sharp eyes over everyone, and finally he was too lazy to hide it anymore and sneered:
"I've said before that I'm not a civil official who will argue with you. My patience is limited. I've already given you face by asking you to come here. What I just said was not a discussion, but a notification."

Li Da, the head of Kangzhuang Rice Shop, had a hot temper. With someone in his family serving as an official in the court, he was more confident and said in a cold voice:
"General Zhao is too overbearing to act like this! I'm sure the current emperor doesn't know about the forcible confiscation of our property, right?"

Zhao Duan stared at this troublemaker with a strange look in his eyes. He smiled:

"Are you teaching me what to do?"

Li Dadongjia suddenly felt panicked, as if he was being stared at by a ferocious beast, but he could only bite the bullet:

"I don't dare, I just think there is no precedent."

Zhao Duan stared at him dangerously and suddenly said:

"I know you. Several of my clan members hold posts in the capital, but they are not in high positions. The only person who can barely speak to His Majesty is the Imperial Censor. So you want to impeach me?"

He laughed, a very "wild" laugh, with a disdainful look in his eyes, as if he was looking at a clown:
"Yuan Li must be polite in front of this governor. When does a mere imperial censor have the right to point fingers at this governor? I repeat, this is wartime!
I am the Grand Commander in Chief of the Rebellion Suppression Department, and I am in charge of the entire Linfeng Road! I have the right to act at my own discretion! If you continue to talk nonsense..."

Master Li was furious and pointed at him and said:

"You do this..."

Before he could finish his sentence, suddenly, a silver light flashed in the darkness.

Everyone could only vaguely see a thin silver line flash by in front of their eyes, and the sound of it being unsheathed, "clang", drowned out all other sounds.

Li Dadongjia stood in place, still keeping his finger pointed forward, but a line of blood slowly appeared on his neck.

Then, this celebrity, whose status and wealth ranked among the top ten in the entire Linfeng Dao, fell down with a thump!

His eyes were wide open with a hint of fear in them, and he died instantly!
Kill with one sword!

Zhao Duan held the sword in his hand, looked around at everyone with a smile, and said:
"Prefect Sun, please read it out."

Sun Xiaozhun was stunned for a moment, then he walked forward woodenly and said:

"Kangzhuang Rice Shop hoarded grain and made a profit, openly violating the laws of the imperial court and taking advantage of the war to drive up grain prices. They refused to change despite repeated admonitions. The evidence is irrefutable. According to Dayu law, they should be punished...by beheading."

Zhao Duan smiled and said, "Who else?"

There was total silence inside and outside the room.

(End of this chapter)