The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Feng Hongde's heart skipped a beat, but he steadied himself and said, "I am here on orders..."

"By whose orders?"

"Naturally, it's Commander Cao."

"Oh? But Lord Cao said he didn't give you any orders. Commander Feng, where is the written letter?"

Feng Hongde's pupils contracted slightly, and he said, "I want to see Lord Cao!"

Prefect Song raised the corners of his mouth slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Someone, take Commander Feng to see Lord Cao."

Cao Rong is in prison.

He's been in a daze these past two days. Ever since he woke up that day, he's been brought here.

Overnight, everything changed, and he fell from the sky to the ground.

No matter how angry he was or how much he tried to intimidate others with his status, no one paid him any attention.

He knew that Xue Shao was determined to oppose him, and Jiao Tong and Song Hao, for some reason, had also sided with Xue Shao, seemingly unafraid of his retaliation.

Throughout the day, he was consumed by rage, mentally dismembering Xue Shao into eight pieces, and then evolving to tearing him to shreds...

No matter how angry he was, Xue Shao didn't show up, and no one in the prison paid any attention to him.

After venting his anger all day, Cao Rong's rationality began to return when the night was deep and quiet.

He first thought of the things missing from the master bedroom, then of the emptied storeroom, and finally of the treasure vault that had been silently and unknowingly emptied.

The hidden compartment in the master bedroom and the storeroom were one thing, but what about the treasure vault? Even his own son didn't know about it. How did Xue Shao find it and quietly empty the vault?
Cao Rong could only think of Xue Shao. Xue Shao was the only exception in Guangzhou Prefecture recently. Who else could it be?

How powerful must he be to accomplish all this so quietly?

Cao Rong began to feel fear, and as the night grew deeper, longer, and quieter, his fear intensified.

The ledgers and letters in the hidden compartment, along with the treasures and ledgers in the treasury, will bring about the downfall of the entire Cao family.

Xue Shao ignored him for a whole day and night, and finally agreed to see him today.

When Feng Hongde was taken to the prison, Xue Shao was interrogating Cao Rong.

The main question is who makes offerings to him, and who he makes offerings to in return.

Even though there were already ledgers, some of the records in the ledgers were written in code, which ordinary people could not understand, and he needed Cao Rong's confession to close the case.

"Hui Chu, does that refer to someone surnamed Chu from Huizhou? This June, they presented three thousand taels of silver. Who is this Chu?"

Cao Rong said, "It's Chu Xiangsheng, a landlord. He has a son who is twenty-three years old this year, but he's an idiot. He's failed the county exam ten times. So he begged me, and I helped his son secure a place as a scholar. The appointment was made in April, but the money didn't arrive until June. It's been dragging on and on, and the business isn't going smoothly at all."

Xue Shao: "Three thousand taels for a scholar's degree?"

Cao Rong smirked and said, "I'm just a scholar, not a graduate or a metropolitan graduate who can become an official. I haven't harmed the people."

"The Juren (successful candidates in the provincial examinations) come from the Xiucai (successful candidates in the county-level examinations). Countless students have studied hard for years, only to have their places taken by people like you."

Cao Rong: "The county examination is not like the provincial or metropolitan examinations, which are held every year. If you don't pass this year, you can try again next year."

"If you manage to take up one spot this year, who knows if someone else won't take up one, or even more, spots next year?"

Cao Rong grinned and said, "That's because he was unlucky. Instead of blaming his own bad luck, he blames me?"

Xue Shao stared at him for a moment, but did not refute him.

What's the point of arguing with someone whose values ​​are completely different from yours?
Xue Shao only wanted to punish him and let the world know what was right and what was wrong. Xue Shao glanced at the document and, seeing that he had memorized it, asked again, "Liu Shi of the Capital, who paid out six thousand taels of silver in February? Who is this person?"

Cao Rong remained silent.

Xue Shao lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, saying, "Cao Rong, we both know that you have no way out now. Your three sons, including your eldest and second grandsons, have all committed illegal acts. Even if they are not implicated by you, few of them will survive. On the other hand, your granddaughters and youngest grandson are still young and have not done anything wrong. If you can confess honestly and perform meritorious service, I will plead with His Majesty to give them a break."

Cao Rong sneered, "Am I, Cao, a man of faith and integrity?"

Xue Shao said coldly, "You are a man who preys on soldiers and civilians, oppresses your comrades, and betrays your sovereign and country. What kind of integrity do you have?"

"To be loyal to the emperor is the greatest trustworthiness, and to protect the country and help the weak and poor is the greatest righteousness," Xue Shao said. "But you are now corrupt and lawless, betraying the emperor and the country, and betraying the soldiers and the people. What trustworthiness do you have?"

Cao Rong's cheek twitched slightly.

Xue Shao leaned forward, staring into his eyes, and said, "Cao Rong, do you think people like you will take care of and help your remaining descendants, or will they eliminate any future troubles?"

Cao Rong didn't speak, but his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Xue Shao.

Just then, the yamen runners brought Feng Hongde in.

Cao Rong and Feng Hongde were both taken aback.

Xue Shao turned his head to look at Feng Hongde, then glanced at Cao Rong before letting out a half-smile.

Cao Rong and Feng Hongde both looked at him.

Xue Shao: "Here's a ready example. Cao Rong, five account books. Chao Feng gave you a total of 128,000 taels of silver. Feng Hongde only has one daughter. Given his crimes, Feng Hongde is certain to die, and his daughter will either be exiled to Datong or Jianzhou. He gave you 128,000 taels of silver. Guess how much he embezzled himself? With so much money, do you think he would leave nothing for his daughter?"

Xue Shao leaned forward and asked Cao Rong, "Do you want the wealth he left behind?"

Cao Rong's breathing became slightly rapid.

Xue Shao raised a slight smirk: "If you want her, how will you treat her daughter? Will you bribe her, or threaten her? After bribing her, will you discard her like trash, or will you treat her well and keep her in your backyard?"

Before Cao Rong could speak, Feng Hongde had already reacted and began to struggle violently.

He was the local tyrant of Chaozhou Prefecture, but outside of Chaozhou, he was no match for the Cao family. He never considered marrying into the Cao family.

Even when he was at the height of his power, his daughter was not even qualified to be the principal wife in the Cao family, let alone after his downfall.
He could almost picture his daughter's situation in the Cao family's backyard at that time.

He glared angrily at Cao Rong.

Cao Rong: ...

Xue Shao slowly picked up a cup of tea and drank it.

Cao Rong raised his head and asked, "Can you really protect my little grandson?"

Xue Shao: "You can also not believe me and stubbornly refuse to say anything. In that case, the outcome is certain, and you won't have any chance at all."

Cao Rong took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and asked, "What do you want to know?"

Feng Hongde's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to scream, but the bailiffs quickly covered his mouth and dragged him out.

An Chen waited on the other side. He smiled slightly at Feng Hongde and said, "Feng Hongde, Cao Rong has been brought to justice. As for the fate of your daughter and his grandson, it depends on who confesses faster and more."

Feng Hongde, who had been arrogant and domineering just moments before, was now struck dumb.

He belatedly realized, "Who was that person just now, Xue Wen, who was sitting opposite Cao Rong?" (End of Chapter)