Taiheiki

Chapter 92 Justice
"Thank you, Brother Meng De!"

"This friendship will be remembered by Huang in my heart!"

"If I am summoned one day, even if it is thousands of miles away, I will come without hesitation!"

Hearing Wei Cong say that everyone would have a share, everyone was overjoyed. Wei Cong said that the repeating crossbow could only be used to catch thieves, and could not be used as a military weapon. The problem was that they had just seen the power of the repeating crossbow with their own eyes. Besides, even if it could not be used as a military weapon, they did not want to rebel. They just wanted to be a powerful person in the state and county. Even having one more weapon to catch thieves would be good. They hurriedly thanked Wei Cong and said that as long as Wei Cong received a letter in the future, they would come to keep the appointment no matter how far away they were.

"You are all heroes who keep your word!" Wei Cong said with a smile, "I would like you to bear witness for me today!" He pointed at Zhou Ping, who was kneeling on the ground, and then at Nie Sheng who was standing beside him. "My adopted son had his family property taken away by this fellow, forcing him to leave his hometown. I came to Chaisang not for any selfish reasons, but for justice!"

"We all know what kind of person Brother Meng De is!" Lei Huan was the first to speak loudly, "This time, we will naturally follow Brother Meng De's lead!"

Zhang Shuo glanced at Lei Huan, silently cursing this sycophantic fellow, but asked, "So, how does Meng De plan to deal with this guy?"

"Don't worry!" Wei Cong said to Nie Sheng, "After all, that Zhou is your father's widow. When you and I went to Jiangling, she sent a lot of money and property on board. Go and invite her out, and don't be rude!"

"Yes!" Nie Sheng responded, his face full of excitement as he led a few soldiers inside. Wei Cong first had the hall tidied up, sat down with everyone, and called for a doctor to treat Zhou Ping's knee wound. At this time, Zhou Shi came out with two maids. She gave Wei Cong a cold look and said, "So it was you who was behind this. The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole is behind! You really have a good plan!"

Wei Cong smiled and pointed to the main seat in the hall: "Madam, please sit down and talk!"

Zhou sneered and sat down in the main seat. Wei Cong said with a smile, "Madam, I was indeed the one behind this, but you must have made some arrangements on your side as well. Otherwise, where would the ambush come from? Since both sides have their own plans, then the one with the better plan will naturally win! Don't you agree?"

"Now you are a guest in the hall, and I am a prisoner. Naturally, whatever you say is right!" Zhou said coldly, "But I also want to remind you that the Lujiang Zhou family has been passed down for over a hundred years and has connections in the court. If you go too far, a mere two thousand stone official won't be able to protect you!"

"Hehehe!" Wei Cong laughed when he heard this. Zhou obviously didn't know that he had escaped from the "system" and was still using his family's official power to scare people.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhou said angrily, "You don't really think a mere Nanjun prefect can cover up everything, do you? Believe it or not, based on what you did today, if my uncle submits a memorial, his 2,000-stone official position will be lost!"

"Of course I believe what Madam says!" Wei Cong said with a smile, "But I am no longer a thief under the command of Han Taishou."

"So you are now?"

"Two months ago, Feng Cheqi recommended me for the position of Captain of the Rebellion Suppression Division, and ordered me to lead the troops to lift the siege of Baqiu. After I defeated the bandits and lifted the siege, I also killed Wang Gui, the county lieutenant of Baqiu. Because of this incident, I have already returned my seal and resigned from my position. I am no longer an official!"

"What? You killed the Baqiu County Magistrate?" Zhou's face suddenly changed.

"Indeed, I had previously agreed with this fellow to attack the bandits from both sides when we broke the siege, but he later sat back in the city and watched me fight so hard, refusing to send troops. He was guilty of breaking his promise and slowing down the army. When I entered the city and confronted him, he was so rude, so I killed him with a single blow!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou's face paled. She had assumed that Wei Cong, still within the system, would inevitably have to consider the Lujiang Zhou family's influence in official circles, and that her and Zhou Ping's safety would be guaranteed. But she hadn't expected that in just two or three months, Wei Cong had risen from a county thief official to a treasonous captain, and then from a treasonous captain to a captain who abandoned his post and fled after killing a county lieutenant. Now, Wei Cong no longer had to worry about the Lujiang Zhou family's influence in official circles, and her and Zhou Ping's lives were in jeopardy.

"Then, what are you going to do with us?" Zhou asked in a low voice.

"Madam, please rest assured. I just told everyone that you are Brother Nie's widow and have his own children. When Ah Sheng accompanied me to Jiangling, he even gave me money and gifts as a token of his gratitude. No matter what, we will not hurt you in the slightest!"

Hearing Wei Cong say that he wouldn't hurt her, Zhou couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and her face looked a little better: "What about them?"

"They?" Wei Cong's face was slightly cold: "Then the Nie family should have the final say!"

"The Nie family has the final say?" Zhou was stunned, then understood: "You mean it's up to Mr. Nie to decide?"

"Of course!" Wei Cong said with a smile, "He is Brother Nie's eldest son. No one can deny this, right? Of course, I am a fair person. Besides Mr. Nie, there are other people in the Nie family, even you and Brother Bai Qi. They also have a say!"

"I?"

"Well, you are Brother Nie's late wife, and your two children are Brother Nie's flesh and blood. They are part of the Nie family, so naturally you can speak!"

"Why does the guy with the surname Bai have the final say, even though his surname isn't Nie?" Zhou Ping, who was kneeling on the ground, said angrily.

"As the saying goes, your mother's uncle is your most important. Ah Sheng's mother is no longer alive, so it's normal for his uncle to take his place!"

During the Han Dynasty, matriarchal power was already immense. At the founding of the Western Han Dynasty, members of the Liu clan were granted titles outside the emperor's empire, each with its own ancestral temple. Legally, only relatives outside the emperor's family were considered "royal members," while the Liu clan princes, after establishing their own ancestral temples, were already "outsiders." Furthermore, Nie Sheng was still a minor, making his relationship with his uncle even closer. Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing Wei Cong's words. Zhou Ping snorted coldly, "You won today, so naturally, you have the final say!"

"You really don't know what's good for you!" Zhang Shuo, who was standing by, couldn't stand it any longer. "If Brother Meng De was a bully, Madam Zhou would have been imprisoned just like you. How could she be considered a member of the Nie family?"

Zhou Ping was speechless. Wei Cong waved his hand and said, "Come here, bring in the captured Zhou family members!"

Following Wei Cong's orders, the disarmed Zhou family members were driven into the courtyard, each one covered in dust and dejected. Zhou Ping saw a familiar figure and hurriedly called out, "Wu Lang, Wu Lang, where did you go last night? I couldn't find you anywhere."

"Last night?" Zhou Jin said with a wry smile, "After dinner, I went to Widow He's house to the east, intending to spend the night having fun. But I got hit with a club halfway there, and was locked up in a dark room. When I was released, I ended up here!"

"You useless piece of shit!" Seeing Zhou Jin still unaware of what was going on, Zhou Ping grew even more furious. He tried to get up and beat him up, but he fell to the ground due to the injury on his knee. This startled Zhou Jin, who took two steps back. "Brother, what are you doing?"

Wei Cong gestured, and the soldiers carried Zhou Ping aside, signaling that the discussion could begin. The first to speak were several servants from the Nie residence. They fiercely pointed out that after Zhou Ping and his men arrived, they had oppressed the Nie family's slaves and servants, and had also embezzled much of the private property. Wei Cong gestured for the others to write down their thoughts one by one. After everyone had finished speaking, Wei Cong said, "Killing someone means paying with your life, and debts must be paid. This is an eternal rule. I sentence these people to return the embezzled property first. If they cannot afford compensation, they will be sentenced to hard labor and released after their families raise the money. As for the oppression of others, they will be redeemed according to the provisions of the Han Law. Madam, do you think this is fair?"

Zhou didn't expect Wei Cong to really be fair. She couldn't help but feel relieved and said with a smile, "Fair!"

"Okay, if you think this is fair, please sign the document!" Wei Cong had his men pass the silk scroll over. Zhou took a look at the contents, which indeed contained the charges and corresponding punishments. Fearing Wei Cong might change his mind, she quickly wrote down her own name. "If you all agree, please sign your names as well!" Wei Cong said to the group.

Although everyone felt Wei Cong's punishment was too lenient, they all signed their names. Wei Cong set the signed document aside and said to Zhou Ping, "Your past misdeeds have been dealt with. Now, let's talk about what happened today! You plotted to frame us, but I saw through you. Now, what do you think should be done?"

"Hmph!" Zhou Ping turned his head away, but said nothing, looking ready to be killed. Wei Cong smiled and said, "There are two paths for you to choose from: First, if you fail to harm us, the murderer will be killed!"

Before Zhou Ping could speak, Zhou Jin, who was standing next to him, heard it clearly and shouted, "Don't kill me, don't kill me! I didn't harm you. You arrested me yesterday. How could I possibly harm you?"

"You're right, you really didn't harm us! Come on, let him go!" Wei Cong pointed at Zhou Jin and said with a smile.

Zhou Jin was overjoyed when the soldiers released him. He quickly bowed to Wei Cong and said, "Thank you, my lord! I am grateful for your kindness in saving my life. I will burn incense and pray for your blessing when I return home!"

Zhou Ping was furious when he saw this and yelled, "Shut up, Lao Wu! You've completely disgraced the Zhou family in Lujiang!"

Zhou Jin had been used to being bullied by Zhou Ping since he was a child, so he didn't dare to argue with him. He muttered, "I'm telling the truth! You said I abandoned my family, but it was you who got them captured alive!"

"There is another way, Zhou Ping, do you want to hear it?" Wei Cong said with a smile.

Zhou Ping knew that the situation was stronger than him, so he had to suppress the anger in his chest: "What road?"

"Use money to redeem yourself!" Wei Cong said, "5,000 coins for each of your men, and 100,000 coins for yourself! How about that?"

"Five thousand coins per person? You might as well just go and rob them!"

"There's no need to rob them. Young and strong slaves like your men are worth tens of thousands of coins on the market. I can sell them to merchants for not much difference!"

"you dare--"

"Why not?" Wei Cong laughed. "After I lifted the siege of Baqiu City, I sold all the captured Wuling barbarians to those traders. Now I'm not even an official of the imperial court. Do you think I wouldn't dare?"

Hearing that Wei Cong didn't seem to be joking, Zhou Ping's original arrogance immediately dissipated. He certainly knew what kind of treatment prisoners of war who were sold to slave traders received. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "We don't have any money right now. It will probably take some time for our families to pay us!"

"That's easy. It's not far from Chaisang to Lujiang!" Wei Cong smiled and said, "You can write a letter, explain the matter clearly, and let your brother take it back!" Wei Cong pointed at Zhou Jin.

Zhou Ping nodded dejectedly.

Wei Cong asked someone to bring paper and pen, and had Zhou Ping write a letter. He then had Zhou Ping sign her name at the back and gave it to Zhou Jin. "Tomorrow I'll have someone escort you across the river. How long does it take to go from Chaisang to Lujiang and back?"

"Ten days, no, eight days will be enough!" Zhou Jin said hurriedly.

"Okay! I'll give you eleven days! The other three days are for raising money!" Wei Cong said, "Within eleven days, your brothers and the family soldiers will be fine. If it exceeds eleven days, it's hard to say!"

"Yes, yes, my lord, don't worry, I will bring the money back within the deadline!" Zhou Jin hurriedly flattered.

"Very good, Liu Jiu!" Wei Cong said.

"Send him to the dock, pick four able-bodied men, and a fast boat to take him across the river!"

"Here!"

"Take everyone else to the backyard and keep them under strict surveillance!" Wei Cong said.

Seeing her cousins and servants taken away, leaving only herself and her enemies in the hall, Zhou couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart. She suppressed her fear and asked, "Wei Mengde, aren't you afraid of making enemies with the Lujiang Zhou family by doing this?"

"Lujiang Zhou?" Wei Cong smiled. "Madam, did I have any beef with you the last time I came here? No, did I? I've always been a man of justice and don't want to be an enemy of anyone. But if someone insists on being unfair, then I'll play fair and see who wins in the end!"

"Fair?" Zhou sneered. "There are so many unfair things in this world. Are you really incapable of controlling them? If Nie Sheng hadn't asked you to be his adoptive father, would you have interfered with the Nie family?"

"You're quite right!" Wei Cong nodded. "I'm not a saint, so naturally there are differences between close and distant people. Ah Sheng treated me like a father, and he nearly lost his life charging into the battle line at Baqiu City alone. If I didn't even care about him, would I still be a human being?"

Hearing Wei Cong's words, Zhou was silent for a moment. After a while, she asked, "What are you going to do with me?"

"I just said that you are Brother Nie's deceased wife, and you have two of his own flesh and blood. Whether you want to stay or leave, it's up to you. But you can't take Brother Nie's two children with you. You must stay in Chaisang!"

"I understand!" Zhou nodded. "I'm a little tired. I want to go in and rest for a while!"

"Madam, please help yourself!"

As soon as Zhou left, Zhang Shuo sighed, "Brother Meng De's words about fairness resonate deeply with me. Normally, when we judge right and wrong in our village, we often act on our own whims and willfulness. But today, how many of us are truly worthy of the word fairness?"

"Yes!" Lei Huan laughed. "If it were me today, I would have whipped Zhou Ping dozens of times first. As for that little girl? Letting her return to Lujiang alone is a real magnanimity!"

(End of this chapter)