Chapter 1387 – South Sheng, Chaos of Autumn (Thirteen)
The Tao Clan and other aristocratic families were thrown into chaos, touching sensitive nerves of many.
However, before they could stir up trouble, the chief instructor of the Eight Hundred Thousand Water Forces had already taught them a lesson.
Rumors spread quickly and faded just as fast, causing no harm to Jiang Pengji at all.
“Zixiao truly has skills, effortlessly extinguishing dangers at their roots.”
Qi Guanrang lightly shook his feather fan; judging by the speed, he was increasingly satisfied with Wei Ci.
“Of course he has skills.” Jiang Pengji chuckled, “Wen Zheng may not believe in his abilities, but he should at least trust my judgment.”
How poor could someone she chose be?
Upon hearing this, Qi Guanrang’s feather fan abruptly paused.
He wasn’t sure whether to mock the lord’s vanity or criticize her for force-feeding dog food to others.
“The lord’s judgment is certainly good. However… does the lord remember, the taller the tree, the more it attracts the wind?” Qi Guanrang frowned deeply, gravely stating, “Zixiao has repeatedly upset people’s plans; who knows how many harbor grudges against him in secret—”
Not to mention past actions, this current behavior had offended many powerful families.
These individuals wouldn’t retaliate immediately, but they would definitely jot this down in their little notebooks.
Once Wei Ci made a mistake, he would inevitably be met with a storm of calculations against him.
Even if the lord genuinely protected him, Wei Ci would still suffer for it.
Qi Guanrang’s worries didn’t escape Jiang Pengji’s understanding, but discussing it now was too early.
The two exchanged a glance, and the topic subtly shifted.
Qi Guanrang asked, “How does the lord plan to handle the Tao Clan and others?”
“Handle them as appropriate; after all, the evidence of the Tao Clan’s rebellion is clear, and they can’t deny it.” Jiang Pengji sighed, “If the punishment is too severe, it wouldn’t be fair; if it’s too light, it won’t deter the villains. In my opinion, the most just approach is to deal with them according to the law…”
Qi Guanrang replied, “That’s acceptable, saving others from using this to attack the lord.”
The charges against the Tao Clan and others were far more severe than those against the few aristocratic families in Chongzhou back then. If following the old laws, the ringleader would undoubtedly be executed; all male descendants over the age of ten would be exiled to the frontier, and they wouldn’t be allowed to serve for three generations. This was the treatment for males. The treatment for female family members was relatively lenient—male heirs, wives, concubines, and unmarried daughters would be relegated to commoners, while married women would remain unaffected.
Though Lady Han was married, her husband was still alive, making her eligible for treatment as an unmarried lady.
That was rather merciful; had it been during the Dongqing period, wives, concubines, and unmarried daughters would have been relegated to low status as guilty women.
What was the fate of a guilty woman?
Most ended up in military camps as camp prostitutes until death.
Yang Si was picking his teeth with a toothpick, saying, “Tsk, if the crime of embezzling salt tax and monopolizing salt affairs were applied, at least it would be a case of exterminating the three clans! Xiaoyu and his men took about ten days to sort everything out; the amount was extraordinarily huge, probably unprecedented!”
The laws of Dongqing were largely based on the previous dynasty.
In the early years of the Daxia dynasty, Prime Minister Huangfu was merciless in curbing corruption.
Based on the amount embezzled, exceedingly strict laws were established.
Embezzling one guan would result in public branding; five guan led to exile for a thousand miles; embezzling ten guan meant execution displayed before the public; twenty guan would result in flaying and stuffing with straw!
Besides those, there were levels for thirty, fifty, and one hundred guans.
From this point on, not only would the corrupt individual face death, but their descendants and spouses would not escape, with the highest level corresponding to extermination of three clans.
Not to mention how much other aristocratic families embezzled, just the Tao Clan alone had extorted an amount four times the national treasury income during Dongqing’s peak! How many times over the highest level of “one hundred guan”? Never mind exterminating three clans; exterminating their nine clans would be more than enough!
Han Yu said expressionlessly, “Undoubtedly unprecedented, but whether it will be without future cases is uncertain.”
Yang Si couldn’t help but burp, continuing to pick his teeth.
Han Yu couldn’t bear to see it.
To reveal such a crude act in front of people, wouldn’t Yang Jingrong feel embarrassed?
Yang Si certainly wouldn’t feel embarrassed; getting full and picking teeth was a normal post-meal pastime. Picking teeth more helped relieve physical and mental stress.
He said, “I heard that my nephew brought his mother over to take care of.”
Han Yu replied, “She has a high spirit and proud temperament; she won’t possibly stay in Xiangyang; Run’er will likely settle her in a private house in Shangyang.”
Due to the divorce and Han Yu being busy with work, he could only leave the household matters to his confidant and let his son learn to manage various domains.
He owned several houses, which Han Run was aware of.
Comparing the locations and economic situations of each private house, Lady Han would likely go to Shangyang County.
It’s better that way; she probably wouldn’t encounter her former social circle, and living alone would grant her some freedom.
Yang Si teased, “You seem to know her well.”
“One is a wife we’ve shared a bed with for many years, the other is a son raised since childhood; how could I not understand?” Han Yu said coldly, “Now that you’re done picking your teeth and stuffed, it’s time to help sort the documents and make comments. Don’t be idle, or I’ll report you to the lord.”
Yang Si felt a headache.
Han Yu was acting like a three-year-old, ready to tattle at the slightest, truly believing he was a reincarnated snitch.
“Having a senior like you is really something I must have done wrong in my past life.”
Muttering to himself, he obediently got up to work.
He really feared Han Yu would tell on him.
If Han Yu reported him, the lord would know he was slacking, and if the lord knew, that would mean Jiang Nongqin, who was slowly coming into her own, would also find out.
With those two knowing, Yang Si would be even further from getting a date.
He childishly plunged his brush into the inkstone and stirred it chaotically; after venting, he continued to work hard.
Han Yu sighed slightly.
Yang Si had impressive capabilities, but if only his mouth could be less troublesome, he would be perfect.
Compared to the previous marriage laws, which had precedents to follow, the current child protection laws were much more complicated.
The marriage-related documents could be compiled into over a thousand copies, allowing Han Yu to categorize each case and propose protective regulations accordingly.
Yet, documents concerning children were few and far between; Han Yu and the others could only delve deeply into each town, asking villagers for relevant material.
Not to mention child abuse; there were places with customs of drowning newborn girls, where parents, lacking money, sold their daughters as goods, turning them into slaves or servants. In years of disaster, it wasn’t rare to resort to cannibalism… these were all crimes, but who stood up to criticize the parents of these children?
Parents don’t see themselves as wrong, neighbors don’t see them as wrong, and how much relevant documentation could the officials have?
Children were mere property of their parents; whether beaten, harmed, or sold, how they were treated had nothing to do with the officials.
Looking at the pile of materials collected, the indifferent and self-righteous tones of the villagers and parents pierced his eyes.
Yang Si caught a glimpse of Han Yu’s expression and sighed inwardly.
Mr. Yuanjing might be not far behind Wei Ci in being a die-hard fan.
His four most proud students were either working tirelessly for Jiang Pengji or yet to be determined in service.
“If Lü Zheng were here too, I suppose we could gather around for a game of leaf-stacking.”
