Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 174 New Order
Not long after Fan Yan left, Yin Li and Cao Qiu arrived together, each holding several scrolls of bamboo slips in their hands.

"Young Master, the evidence against the Zhao clan has been compiled. I have selected some recent case files for your perusal."

Yin Li and Cao Qiu were both capable officials who investigated and collected evidence. In the past few days, they had almost turned Qiantang upside down.

Yan Yi took a case file and asked, "What's the situation?"

"The crimes are too numerous to list."

"Enough to exterminate the entire clan several times."

Yin and Cao said in unison.

This result was within Yan Yi's expectations. The two things of selling out the people and wantonly occupying mines gave us a glimpse of how crazy these powerful families with unrestrained power were.

He flipped through the case files and his brows gradually furrowed.

The first column in the case file is the major case of "murder in the street. Bribery allowed it to be avoided." The murderer is a descendant of the Zhao family.

Then there were the seizure of people's land, rape of wives and daughters, cooking and killing slaves, plundering merchants, forcing dozens or hundreds of people to death through loans, brutally killing local officials, setting up private prisons, concealing family secrets, concealing registered land and acreage, and embezzling county and city taxes.
Yan Yi couldn't help but think of the bodies in the Danfeng Manor mass grave. He handed the case file back to Yin Li and instructed, "Summon them to all the townships and publicize their crimes immediately. Leave the execution to Quan Rou. Any inconveniences will be handled by Yin Li."

Yin Li and Cao Qiu took the order and left.

On that day, more than ten patrol officers rushed out of the four gates of Qiantang and headed to various villages and pavilions to deliver documents.

The towns and villages in Qiantang were suddenly in an uproar. In the streets, fields, and villages, people gathered together to discuss things.

The topic of discussion, without exception, was the prosecution of the Zhao family and other clans.

For the people of Qiantang, this was a shocking event.

At Yan Yi's instruction, the execution date was not delayed until autumn. The document was issued on the same day and the execution began the next day.

Because so many people were involved, the execution ground was not set up in the city hall but moved outside the city. A high platform was built three miles east of the city, and several large pits were dug near the platform, one for each clan, specifically for burying the bodies.

On the day of the execution, there were huge crowds of people inside and outside the execution ground. The wealthy and powerful people from all the villages and towns flocked to the scene, surrounding the execution ground for several miles. There were two thousand soldiers alone to maintain order.

After Yan Yi confiscated all the wealth of various tribes, he handed over the rest of the work to former Qiantang officials such as Quan Rou.

Quan Rou made a brief appearance at the execution ground and then drove back to the city, pushing the matter of execution onto the county magistrate, who in turn pushed it onto the thief Cao Yuan.

The thief Cao's official Ma Zheng had no way to escape. He stood in the middle of the platform with a look of despair on his face, and roared in anger, "Execution!"

At his command, twenty executioners raised their ghost-head swords, and twenty heads rolled down the platform with the rise and fall of the swords, drawing thunderous cheers from the audience.

Twenty bodies were quickly carried into the pit, and then another group of twenty people were brought up to the platform.
A few days later, the aftermath of the execution of the Zhao family and other clans had not yet faded from people's conversations, and the Qiantang official temple, under the instruction of Yan Yi, quickly promulgated some new laws.

"Private military restrictions: All tribes in the county may not have more than 200 soldiers, and military equipment and armor must be equipped according to the regulations of 200 people. Those who violate the regulations will be charged with treason."

"Military Registration Order: All villagers and soldiers of all ethnic groups must be registered in the county military register."

"Prohibition of Private Training Order: Organizing non-military personnel to conduct military exercises and activities is strictly prohibited." "New Conscription Order: All conscripts and tenant farmers of all ethnic groups are obliged to serve in the government: 1. Their masters' taxes will be reduced or exempted based on the number of people serving; 2. All ethnic groups are strictly prohibited from obstructing conscription; violators will be fined and their land will be confiscated."

This decree shall be effective from the date of promulgation. County officials shall strictly supervise and submit monthly reports. Anyone found negligent in their duties shall be demoted and punished.

When this order was issued, the remaining major families in Qiantang were all stunned.

It sounds so high-sounding, what with all the ethnic groups and all the villages and towns, but isn't it just targeting them nakedly?

It can be imagined that once the new order comes into effect, their private armed forces will be weakened day by day until they completely lose the ability to confront the government.

By then, the so-called powerful families will be nothing more than wealthy families or larger wealthy households.

In troubled times, no one is willing to give up their power easily. On the day the new order was issued, the patriarchs of several major Qiantang clans visited Quanfu one after another, trying to discuss a countermeasure with Quanrou.

However, to their surprise, the whole of Johor closed its door and refused to see visitors, claiming to be ill.

This is a clear signal: all of Johor has accepted the new order!

Several clan leaders returned to their mansions dejected and disheartened, like eggplants hit by frost.

After returning to the mansion, they gradually calmed down from their anger and regained their consciousness.

Yes, even if they don't want to accept it, what can they do? Are they still trying to resist?
When they thought of that young and tall figure, they couldn't help but shudder, and a sense of fear rose in their hearts.

This guy now has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses at his command. He can trample them to death with just a kick. What can they use to resist?

Think of the fate of the Zhao, Sun, Zhang, and Yang clans. In another year, the grass on their graves will be a foot high.
Several clan leaders sighed and could not sleep day or night. Although they were unwilling in their hearts, they had no choice but to compromise in the face of the cruel reality.

The next morning, several clan leaders spontaneously headed to the Yan residence. When they met inside the residence, they couldn't help but smile awkwardly.

What happened to the promise of a resolute boycott? What happened to the promise of standing together? How did everyone end up here so suddenly?

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Yi summoned several clan leaders to the flower hall in the backyard.

The flower hall lies quietly in a grove of osmanthus trees. In front of the hall is a terrace paved with white stones. Twelve carved lattice doors on the left and right are half open. A rosewood screen is set in the north, and the back window faces a small pond.

This was considered a relatively private place in the Yan Mansion, and only close relatives were allowed in. Yan Yi summoned everyone here, and his intention to appease them was self-evident.

He personally poured a few cups of honey for them, his smile revealing a reassuring warmth and friendliness: "I wonder what you all think of the new order?"

Bao Liang, the head of the Bao clan, took the honey with both hands and put on a respectful smile. "The new order is for the benefit of the country and the people, and I fully support it. I'm just a little worried that with the reduction of our clan's soldiers, if we encounter an attack by bandits, we might not be able to protect our home."

Yan Yi nodded slightly. "I've discussed this matter with Lord Quan. We'll dispatch troops to eliminate the several bandit gangs near Qiantang. At the same time, we'll construct thirty-five miniature forts along key roads and in pavilions, garrisoning twenty soldiers in each. This should completely eliminate the bandit threat."

Several clan leaders cursed in their hearts, "Quan Rou, you are so shameless. No wonder you have been living in the mansion all this time. It turns out that you have already sided with the young master and have been hiding it from us."

(End of this chapter)