The Prodigal Son

As dusk approached, Qin Yu and his men brought a group of people to the village.

Their arrival threw the village into chaos, with large groups of villagers running in with their families, crying and begging for mercy.

Qin Yu glanced at the crowd and instructed Qin Xiong, "Give each of these villagers who went to bolster Chen Bao's forces ten strokes of the cane as punishment!"

Upon hearing this, Nan Que'er immediately tugged at Qin Yu and pleaded in a low voice for the villagers: "Look at what these villagers are wearing, they're probably forced by circumstances. Why don't you just give them a scolding and let it go?"

Qin Yu gently shook his head: "This isn't the first time they've done this! They're pitiful, but aren't those who were robbed because of their strength pitiful too? It's precisely because they were forced into this situation that they were only given ten strokes of the cane!"

After saying that, Qin Yu gave Qin Xiong a wink, signaling him to be careful.

Qin Xiong understood and immediately ordered all the villagers to lie down. He then whispered to the Golden Armored Imperial Guards who were carrying out the executions that they should go easy on them.

If you really hit these villagers with ten strokes of the cane, you could break their bones.

Soon, the villagers lined up one by one to receive the caning punishment.

The Imperial Guards in golden armor were quite measured in their blows; ten strokes of the cane left no blood or broken bones, only causing some soreness in the buttocks.

This kind of injury usually heals in two or three days.

After the execution was completed, Qin Yu solemnly warned everyone, "This is just a mild punishment. If there's a next time, it won't be so simple!"

"Thank you, sir!"

"Thank you, sir..."

"I will never dare to do it again..."

Everyone expressed their deepest gratitude and swore never to do such a thing again.

Although he was beaten ten times, everyone knew that this was already showing mercy.

Otherwise, if they were given ten real blows, probably not many of them would be able to get up.

After giving everyone a warning, Qin Yu reached into his sleeve.

Just as he was about to take out the silver, Lü Si preemptively pulled out a handful of loose silver and handed it to the village chief, saying with considerable authority, "We'll settle down here tonight. Take this silver and use it to prepare some food for us!"

Seeing Lü Si's actions, Qin Yu's face stiffened.

Your mother!

That bastard actually did what he wanted to do!

This bastard wants me to be the bad guy so he can be the good guy!

Ruan Zhi looked at Lü Si with some surprise, and surprisingly showed a hint of admiration for him.

The village chief stared blankly at the loose silver coins Lu Si handed him. When he came to his senses, he waved his hands repeatedly and said, "It is an honor for our village that you, sir, can stay here. We absolutely cannot accept this..."

"Take it if it's given to you!"

Lu Si directly stuffed the loose silver into the village chief's hand, waved his hand, and said, "I have been deeply influenced by the Empress Dowager's teachings and have always distinguished between public and private matters! Alright, go and make the arrangements!"

"Thank you so much, sir!"

The village chief was so excited he was incoherent, and he hurried off to make arrangements.

After the village chief left, Qin Yu glared at Lü Si with a smile, "When did you become such a good flatterer?"

And he was even taught by the Empress Dowager?

After returning, the Imperial Guards in Golden Armor told the Empress Dowager what they had said, how could the Empress Dowager not be happy?

You bastard!

You're pretty quick-witted!

"I was deeply influenced by the Empress Dowager's teachings!"

Lu Si proudly raised his chin.

Hey!

You're the one who gets to flatter, but I'm not?

Isn't it just flattery?

As if anyone can't say that!

……

As night fell, Di Rong led his men into the village.

Besides the two people who stayed behind at the mountain stronghold, they also brought Chen Bao's wife and children with them.

In addition, as Qin Yu requested, he brought all the money from the mountain stronghold with him.

A big bag, it looks like quite a lot.

"Splash..."

Di Rong poured all the seized money onto the table.

It looks like a lot, but it's mostly copper coins, with only a small amount of broken silver and two ten-tael silver ingots.

Qin Yu casually rummaged through it a few times.

Most of these copper coins are Deyou Tongbao, which were minted during the reign of the late emperor.

After the new emperor of Da Ning ascends the throne, although he will not abolish the old currency, the government will collect it, and the amount of old currency circulating in the market will gradually decrease.

In places like the capital, you can hardly see old currency anymore. It's only in these remote little places that you can still find old currency.

Even during the reign of the late emperor, spoiled young masters like Qin Yu and Lü Si rarely used Deyou Tongbao coins.

Looking at this huge pile of Deyou Tongbao coins, Qin Yu and Lü Si felt somewhat surprised.

Qin Yu fiddled with a handful of copper coins in his hand, then looked up at Di Rong, "Are you sure you brought them all?"

While Qin Yu was speaking, Lü Si also picked up a handful of copper coins and played with them.

"Sure!"

Di Rong nodded and said, "The mountain stronghold's money is managed by Chen Bao's wife, that's all."

Got it!

It seems Chen Bao wasn't lying; he probably didn't actually rob too much gold or silver on the road.

Okay!

There's a sense of proportion!

Guilty, but not deserving of death!

Can you give me a chance?

Thinking this, Qin Yu's gaze fell on the trembling Chen Bao and the others. "I'm giving you a choice: either join the army and fight on the battlefield, or be branded. Chen Bao will receive one hundred strokes of the cane, and the rest of you will receive fifty. Choose for yourselves!"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, Chen Bao's men all looked at Chen Bao.

It seems they are waiting for Chen Bao's decision.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Chen Bao, overjoyed, couldn't help but curse inwardly.

A bunch of idiots!

Is this still a choice?

Lord Qin is giving them a chance!

Tattooing, also known as face tattooing, involves tattooing characters on the face that remain for life.

If people like them were to be tattooed, they would never be able to hold their heads high for the rest of their lives, and their families would also suffer scorn and criticism.

"Thank you for your mercy, sir! I am willing to serve in the army to atone for my sins!"

Chen Bao made his choice without hesitation.

After Chen Bao spoke up, the others quickly followed suit and chose to join the army.

"very good!"

Qin Yu nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Chen Bao: "I'll give you one night to settle your wife and children, and tomorrow..."

"what?"

As Qin Yu was speaking, Lü Si, who was rummaging through the copper coins beside him, suddenly picked up two copper coins and gently tapped them together.

After tapping it a few times, Lü Si immediately switched to another copper coin and started tapping it again.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Yu looked at Lü Si with a puzzled expression.

"There are fake copper coins in here!"

Lu Si suddenly glared at Chen Bao and roared menacingly, "These bastards are illegally minting copper coins!"

What is that?

Chen Bao was so frightened by Lü Si's sudden words that he was completely dumbfounded.

Unauthorized minting of copper coins is considered treason!

This is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family!

When he came to his senses, Chen Bao hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly, wailing in a tearful voice, "No, no! Absolutely not! Your Honor, if I could mint coins privately, why would I have become an outlaw!"

Qin Yu frowned slightly, then looked at Lü Si suspiciously, "You damn well can even tell the difference between real and fake copper coins?"

That's really strange!

In any case, he had hardly ever used copper coins.

Judging from Lü Si's family background, it's probably similar to his.

Even so, Lü Si was still able to distinguish between real and counterfeit copper coins.

"Can't you even hear a sound?"

Lu Si glared at Qin Yu, displeased. "My father is the Minister of Justice, after all. I may not have eaten pork, but I've certainly seen pigs run."

"Really?"

Qin Yu immediately held out his hand to Lü Si, "Let me see!"

Damn it!

If someone were to illegally mint copper coins, that would be a very serious matter!