Chapter 118

Chapter 118: I Would Probably Still Do It

　　Early the next morning, Xu Ming, who had packed his luggage long ago, was about to leave Baihe County.

　　When Xu Ming and the Heavenly Black Goose just stepped out of the courtyard, they saw Pengda waiting for him outside the yard.

　　”Third Brother got up so early.” Xu Ming smiled.

　　”Isn’t this to see off my fifth brother?” Pengda stood with a general’s belly, his smile as honest and simple as it was when he was a child, “I’ll see you off to the city gate.”

　　”Alright.” Xu Ming didn’t refuse.

　　Xu Ming and Xu Ponta chatted as they walked towards the county government office.

　　After today, Xu Ponta would have to rely on himself to struggle in Baihe County.

　　Fortunately, after Xu Ming killed almost all members of Baihe County’s four powerful clans, other big and small forces in Baihe County were either captured or destroyed, basically all quieted down.

　　It could be said that Xu Ponta had complete control over Baihe County.

　　Not to mention that after this incident, Xu Ponta established credibility in Baihe County and was deeply loved by the common people.

　　After this, Xu Ponta would have an easier time in Baihe County.

　　”What do you think should be done with the remaining people from Baihe County’s four powerful clans?”

　　Xu Ponta asked Xu Ming’s opinion.

　　At the time, although Xu Ming caused a massacre within the four powerful clans,

　　the people Xu Ming killed were all those who committed numerous evil deeds.

　　As for the children, those without evidence against them, or those truly innocent, Xu Ming did not take action against them.

　　Xu Ming shook his head, “For the young and innocent ones, Third Brother, give them some silver so they can survive well, at least until they can support themselves.

　　As for those who may have violated the law but haven’t been found guilty yet, Third Brother can detain them in one place, and release them once the truth is uncovered. That’s also acceptable.

　　After confiscating the property of the four powerful clans, it naturally belongs to the county government office. How Third Brother handles it, I trust Third Brother has his own plans.”

　　Xu Ming believed that Xu Ponta wouldn’t embezzle that money; Xu Ponta would likely use it to compensate those who suffered under the oppression of Baihe County’s four families, establish private schools, and build roads.

　　Xu Ponta looked at his fifth brother, “If you let those people go, aren’t you worried they will seek revenge against you?”

　　Xu Ming smiled, “If they want to seek revenge, let them come. But for now, they are innocent. However, if they seek revenge in the future, since they’ve picked up the sword, they must be prepared to face the blade.”

　　Looking at his fifth brother, Xu Ponta was slightly stunned, then smiled, “Indeed.”

　　Xu Ming and Xu Ponta walked out of the county government office.

　　Just as they stepped out the door, they saw many common people kneeling in front of the county government office.

　　”Thank you, Lord Wenwuqing, for clearing our grievances.”

　　”Thank you, Lord Wenwuqing. Without Lord Wenwuqing, my daughter would die with regrets.”

　　”Thank you, Lord Wenwuqing, for standing up for us!”

　　”Thank you, Lord Wenwuqing, for standing up for us!”

　　Outside the county government office, the voices of the common people echoed.

　　Xu Ming looked at Xu Ponta beside him.

　　Xu Ponta smiled, “Don’t look at me like that. After that day, Fifth Brother, you’re like a hero in the hearts of the common people of Baihe County. A few days ago, I just told the common people of Baihe County that you were leaving. I didn’t expect them to gather here on their own.”

　　Xu Ming stepped forward and helped the elderly woman leading the group to stand up, “Please rise, everyone. That’s what I and your county magistrate should do.”

　　”Lord Xu speaks incorrectly. Many officials don’t even fulfill what they should do. Without Lord Xu, we wouldn’t know what to do.” An old woman stepped forward, “Today, upon hearing that Lord Xu is leaving Baihe County, the common people are seeing you off, offering our humble gratitude.”

　　Seeing the sincere eyes of the common people of Baihe County, Xu Ming felt something deep inside being touched, and bowed deeply.

　　Seeing Xu Ming bowing, the common people were startled and knelt down again, leaving Xu Ming momentarily at a loss.

　　Firecrackers sounded on both sides of the street.

　　Xu Ming and Xu Ponta were escorted out of Baihe County’s county town by the common people of Baihe County.

　　Just outside the city gate, Xu Ming and Xu Ponta saw two extraordinary officials riding white horses galloping towards them.

　　If he wasn’t mistaken, these horses were the White Dragon Horses of Wudu, capable of traveling thousands of miles a day, specifically used for delivering imperial edicts.

　　”Whoa”

　　The two officials from Wudu pulled their horses to a stop.

　　They naturally recognized Xu Ming and Xu Ponta, after all, the portraits of the top three scholars at the time were widely circulated in Wudu.

　　But why were there so many fellow townsfolk from Baihe County following behind them?

　　”Xu Ming, receive the imperial edict!”

　　The two officials dismounted, taking out a golden yellow imperial edict.

　　”Ming receives the imperial edict.”

　　Xu Ming stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

　　The common people behind them were momentarily stunned,

　　What’s going on?

　　An imperial edict?

　　Then, reminded by someone, those with scholarly titles bent over in respect, while those without knelt down.

　　”By the Emperor’s command, My Lord, holding the Water Dragon Pendant, slaughtered nearly a hundred people from the Sun, Xiao, Li, and Zhang families in Baihe County in a single day, shocking the court. However, His Majesty has read your memorial, knowing the Sun, Xiao, Li, and Zhang families were extremely wicked, and understands your actions were all for the sake of the common people of Baihe County.

　　But My Lord mistakenly killed the three eldest sons of the Xiao, Zhang, and Sun families, none of whom had any evidence of wrongdoing.

　　The Thunderline Sect, Ban Shan Sect, and Yin Quan Sect blame you, please explain yourself.

　　In the future, hope My Lord does not act rashly, but thinks thrice before acting!

　　Edict ends!”

　　”Your servant Xu Ming, receives the imperial edict!” Xu Ming straightened up, receiving the imperial edict.

　　The content of the imperial edict was basically as expected; His Majesty was just putting on a show.

　　That Li Hui from the Li family deserved to die, and even the sect behind the Li family should be destroyed. As for the eldest sons of the other three powerful families, he indeed couldn’t find evidence against them.

　　As for the Emperor saying “explain yourself,” it actually meant “if those three sects cause trouble for you, I can’t help.”

　　However, the last sentence “hope My Lord does not act rashly, but thinks thrice before acting!” indicated “those three sects won’t dare break the rules to kill you, deal with them well.”

　　”Lord Xu, Wei Gonggong asked me to convey a message to you, this time, you really acted impulsively.” One official stepped forward and said to Xu Ming.

　　Xu Ming smiled.

　　The so-called “message from Wei Gonggong” was actually a message from the Emperor to him, just needing to be expressed through Wei Xun’s mouth.

　　”Indeed, I was a bit impulsive.”

　　Xu Ming turned around and looked at the common people of Baihe County behind him.

　　”But if I had to do it again, I would probably still do it.”