Chapter 81: Immediate Execution

For three consecutive days, the corrupt officials and unscrupulous bureaucrats were paraded through the streets, exposed to public scorn. Lord Dulong, the imperial son-in-law, issued a proclamation: three days after the public shaming, the criminals would be put on trial in the square before the Prefect’s Office of Fengli County!

During this time, Dulong did not rest. Beyond confiscating the wealth of the richest—the City Lord’s mansion—he also did not spare any other noble officials guilty of heinous crimes; all their property was seized, and their entire households were detained, awaiting judgment.

The city lord’s treasure vault was soon filled to bursting. Dulong had no choice but to clear out an entire building within the mansion to store the vast sums and treasures seized. In just three days, he amassed an almost unimaginable fortune—never in his wildest dreams had he thought that in such a poor and backward place, there could be so much wealth to claim.

As the day of judgment drew near, hundreds of people had already gathered outside the Prefect’s Office in Fengli County, anticipation etched on every face. The city itself held merely thirty or forty thousand citizens, yet the square before the Prefect’s Office was packed with at least fifty or sixty thousand—many having rushed in from the surrounding villages and towns under the county’s jurisdiction at the first news.

In the center, a cordon of more than a hundred of the Duling Family’s armored guards and the Imperial Forest Army set aside a rectangular area several dozen meters across. Within it, dozens of corpulent figures knelt—once resplendent in their silks and finery, now reduced to rags. These were the corrupt officials and ruthless nobles, kneeling in disgrace, their condition worse than beggars at the roadside.

Their bodies were filthy, stained with foul and reeking substances. Many bore bruises and swollen features, their heads and bodies marked by wounds and caked with dark, dried blood.

“Her Highness, Princess Fire Phoenix arrives! The Lord is here!” a loud voice rang out before the Prefect’s Office.

Instantly, the murmuring crowd fell silent—so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Countless necks stretched for a glimpse of the new lord, the one who had brought hope to Fengli County.

From within the gates, a striking young man appeared, clad in imperial purple with a jade belt at his waist and a formal cap atop his head—Dulong, the imperial son-in-law. On his arm was the radiant Princess Fire Phoenix, dressed in royal red. Behind them followed a group of young retainers.

“Your Highness, Princess! Lord Dulong! Please bring justice to the suffering people of Fengli County—punish these evil officials without mercy!” cried out Zhang Dian from amid the throng, falling to his knees in tears.

Led by his example, the masses followed suit, kneeling and weeping, their voices rising in desperate pleas for justice from their lord and princess.

Tens of thousands knelt, stretching from the square before the government offices, spilling over into the surrounding streets—an ocean of grief that moved every witness to tears.

Dulong’s friends, who stood behind him, were deeply shaken by the scene. Several of the young ladies were already weeping, and Princess Fire Phoenix, clutching Dulong’s arm, was overwhelmed by emotion. As an imperial princess, she had never before witnessed such suffering among the common people; she was utterly swept away by the tide of sorrow.

Though Dulong was the central figure in these events and had the experience of a previous life, his true age was only seventeen—a young man unseasoned in worldly affairs. Even he was moved to the core by the scene before him.

The spectacle was so overwhelming not only because the princess had produced the imperial edict to strengthen his resolve, but also because the spirit Ling’er, his ethereal advisor, had guided him from the shadows on how to handle the situation perfectly. Without such help, how could he have managed everything so flawlessly?

Dulong’s eyes, brimming with unshed tears, swept slowly over the kneeling masses of Fengli County. For a long moment, he was speechless.

Time seemed to hang suspended; those gathered stared expectantly at the figure standing in the doorway of the Prefect’s Office.

It felt as though centuries passed, or perhaps only a moment, before Dulong finally spoke: “People of Fengli County! I am Dulong, your newly appointed lord!”

The people, kneeling in silence, listened intently as the young man in purple spoke in a deep, hoarse voice. Though he did not shout, his words carried far.

“Please, Lord Dulong, bring justice to us suffering folk of Fengli County!” Zhang Dian cried out again, and the others echoed his plea.

Dulong raised his hands to quiet them. Once the crowd had settled, he continued, “People of Fengli County, set your hearts at ease. Today, I stand here to represent His Majesty the Emperor and restore clear skies to Fengli County! Now, I will announce the verdicts for Qian Jinlong—the former Prefect—and his accomplices!”

At last, the moment everyone awaited. The crowd strained to hear, and even the accused criminals in the cordoned area raised their heads, faces contorted with terror.

“By imperial decree, I, Dulong, have full authority over the Fengli County region. I possess the right to act first and report later. Today, by the power vested in me by His Majesty, I pronounce the former Prefect Qian Jinlong—execution, immediate and without delay!” His gaze, sharp as a blade, fell on the fat man—Qian Jinlong—as he thundered out the sentence, word by word.

Upon hearing this, Qian Jinlong collapsed, trembling all over. He stared at Dulong, shrieking hysterically, “No, you can’t sentence me to death! I belong to Chancellor Fan De! You have no right to execute me! I demand to see the Chancellor! Without his orders, none may kill me!”

“Outrageous! Qian Jinlong, do you hold the authority of the Chancellor above that of the Emperor himself? Guards! Qian Jinlong’s crimes merit a thousand deaths—execute him at once!” Dulong’s voice was cold and scornful as he gave the order.

The executioners, already prepared, seized Qian Jinlong. Despite his struggles, a flash of steel and his head flew from his shoulders, a torrent of blood spraying from his neck. The gruesome scene was too much for some of the other criminals awaiting judgment; several fainted on the spot, and one even died from sheer fright.

A brief silence fell over the crowd, then a wave of anguished cries erupted. The sound of tens of thousands mourning filled the square and echoed for a long time—not for the corrupt official’s death, but in cathartic release.

Dulong, his eyes red, allowed the people to mourn without interruption. Only after they had vented their grief did he continue, “So-and-so, execution, immediate and without delay!”

With each name called, Dulong’s voice broke with emotion. To sentence and witness the execution of so many at once was an immense burden for someone who had never before taken a life.

One by one, the condemned were beheaded by the executioners. Blood stained the square, yet the ordinary people showed no fear at the gruesome sight.

On the contrary, in the eyes of most, there was only the satisfaction of vengeance. So great was their suffering that they longed to devour these corrupt officials alive for their crimes.

When all those deserving death had been executed, Dulong raised his voice: “The villains who plagued Fengli County have been eliminated! I now announce several important new policies for the future of Fengli County!”

“First, no one may privately mine precious ores. Violators will be executed without delay! All who provide reports leading to convictions will be richly rewarded!”

“Second, from now on, the county’s farmland will be taxed at only twenty percent, based on actual harvests, no more.”

“Third, I hereby appoint the venerable Zhang Dian as the new Prefect of Fengli County, entrusting him with the administration of all county affairs. I hope Prefect Zhang will serve the people diligently.”

“Fourth, I have decided to open the granaries previously hoarded by Qian Jinlong. After setting aside the necessary reserves, the rest will be distributed equally to every household, to help all of you get through the next two months before the spring planting!”

“These four policies take effect immediately. Prefect Zhang, please come inside so we may discuss the grain distribution!”

Having declared these policies, Dulong called out to the stunned Zhang Dian, then turned and drew Princess Fire Phoenix back into the Prefect’s Office. The young ladies, having witnessed the bloody spectacle, were so shaken they nearly lost their breakfasts.

For this very reason, Dulong hurried away so quickly that by the time Zhang Dian regained his senses, the new lord was nowhere to be seen.

A tax rate of twenty percent based on actual harvests, releasing grain to help the people in these hard times—Zhang Dian’s eyes shone with hope as never before. At last, he saw a future for Fengli County.

“I, Zhang Dian, on behalf of all the people of Fengli County, thank our just and upright Lord Dulong!” he cried, bowing low. Behind him, tens of thousands of citizens echoed his thanks in sorrowful gratitude.

Some might have worried, after seeing Dulong’s aggressive confiscations, that he was merely replacing one greedy overlord with another. Would he seize the wealth of the corrupt for himself? Might they simply have exchanged one tyrant for another?

But with these new policies, it was clear—whether or not Dulong cared for riches, he was determined to treat his people well. And for the suffering folk of Fengli County, that was enough.