Chaos of Ming 1628

"How can we possibly collude with them!"

Meng Zhaoxiang was heartbroken and let out a mournful cry.

The case files he compiled overnight were all for the purpose of clearing the people's names. Just yesterday, everything was fine, giving people a glimmer of hope, but now...

Meng Zhaoxiang slowly turned his gaze to Sun Qing.

Sun Qing felt that the gaze was resentful and sticky, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

He turned to meet his gaze, his tone calm: "Mr. Meng, I have my own principles for doing things. And I don't wish to explain further."

If every single thing requires endless explanation, Sun Qing wouldn't have time to do anything else; she would simply spend her days explaining.

Meng Zhaoxiang spoke several times, but finally let out a long sigh, lost his appetite, and turned to leave.

In the backyard, Sun Qing was left alone once again.

After September, the summer heat completely subsided; during the day, one could still wear a light shirt, but the morning and evening winds were biting cold. Time was running out.

The people who came tonight were only half of the wealthy households in Jiahe County. Most of them were affiliated with the eunuch faction, and their cases had been piling up, with no one daring to take them on weekdays.

The other half involves those who are on good terms with Zhou Ji and don't want to handle the matter. Only a few cases occur after divine punishment, where Zhou Ji simply doesn't have the mind to handle them.

After the wealthy half of Jiahe County was removed, the remaining households were further divided in two. One side remained neutral, avoiding offending either side, and focused solely on self-preservation.

His other half hated the eunuch faction, owned a large house and property, remained true to his principles, and often helped the people.

These two types of people are not without cases or grievances. It's just that, to avoid harm and seek benefit, they never write a complaint, let alone report the matter to higher authorities.

They were also the people most severely exploited by the Imperial Guards.

A gust of wind blew, and Sun Qing got goosebumps from the cold. Looking at the dark, moonless sky, he sighed softly and went back inside.

I slept soundly that night.

The day's exhaustion and the relief he felt after Shen Junru and the others acknowledged his identity allowed him to fall into a deep sleep that day.

The next day.

As soon as the government office opened, two couples of people lined up to pay their fines, bringing in silver coins.

Outside the government office, the people watched this scene with bewilderment and rising fear in their eyes.

After the three drumbeats, the yamen runners lined up on both sides, and a "Silence" sign was erected in the center of the main hall.

Sun Qing sat firmly on the table, his cold gaze sweeping over the group of local gentry and wealthy people below.

This group of people felt confident that they had already paid their fines and that today was just a formality before they could go home safely.

On the other side stood more than a hundred victims, their faces full of timidity, huddled together, backs hunched, waiting at the bottom of the steps, not daring to utter a sound.

They never imagined that justice would exist.

Meng Zhaoxiang was not present today, so Sun Qing picked up the case file himself and personally called out each person's name and read out their crimes.

"Wang Dexing, in broad daylight you forcibly brought this woman into your mansion, and three days later all that came out was a skeleton. Is this true?" Sun Qing asked solemnly.

The wealthy people standing below, ranging from those in their sixties and seventies to those as young as seventeen or eighteen, all had criminal records.

When his name was called, Wang Dexing stepped forward, his tone somewhat arrogant, and casually cupped his hands: "My lord, I am well aware of my mistake, but the fine I was ordered to pay has already been paid in full, not a penny less."

"Now that we have accepted the punishment, this matter should be closed. Why then, sir, do you still detain us here for interrogation?"

This situation already displeased the wealthy family, who thought they could just pay up and leave. Who would have thought they'd be detained here, and the court proceedings would actually begin?

Upon hearing this, the people's eyes dimmed instantly.

Before dawn, seeing the wealthy families piled up to pay money, I had a premonition.

Unexpectedly, it was said in the imperial court. It turns out that everything yesterday was truly a dream, a mirage. Lord Sun was just a kind-hearted man, but he didn't like money and couldn't afford to offend them.

They waited all night by the wall for a joke to happen.

Sun Qing glanced around, taking in everyone's expressions. Then, looking down at the audience, he sneered, "Wang Dexing, you said it yourself, you only paid the fine."

"Your crime is unforgivable. Although paying the fine will spare you from paying with your life, you will still have to endure the hardship of forced labor. You are hereby sentenced to ten years of forced labor and to compensate the aggrieved party with fifty taels of silver."

The people's eyes lit up instantly!

They didn't hear wrong, did they? It really happened. Even wealthy families backed by the eunuch faction can be sentenced to ten years of hard labor, just like them. Those rich kids are finally being cared for.

But when they thought about the benefits of forced labor, many people exclaimed, "They're being treated too leniently."

"Even something as good as forced labor can be exploited by them."

Wang Dexing was fuming, barely containing his anger: "Lord Sun, you are utterly unreasonable. Having already taken the money, why are you still demanding labor?"

"What? Are you treating our money like it's nothing?"

Wang Dexing's actions truly frightened everyone, and the other wealthy households quickly echoed, "That's right, we will pay the government's fine in full, and the crime should be offset once the money is paid."

"There's no reason why we should be punished or forced to do hard labor after paying the fine. Please, sir, let us go back according to the rules."

"Release them! Release them now! We didn't give away our money for nothing!"

"Everyone saw you pay the money, and you even registered it yourself."

The people below felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this; indeed, money could bribe officials.

Openly accepting money, even if it's someone chosen by the Dragon King, would likely cost them their head if the matter were brought before the Emperor.

Sun Qing slammed his gavel down. His eyes sharpened, and his voice rose: "Do you really think that producing silver will erase all your crimes?"

"The silver you handed over is a fine; it cannot atone for your crimes!"

This is the first time I've heard such a statement. Who can accept it?

Wang Dexing's temper flared up instantly, and he roared, "You surnamed Sun, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're from the Sun family. Don't forget, we have people to rely on too."

"Ridiculous," Sun Qing said clearly and without room for argument: "I am merely acting in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Those who abuse their power to oppress the people, deliberately slaughter others' livestock, or fabricate charges to frame ordinary people are all serious crimes and shall not be allowed to pay silver to offset their punishment."

"Paying the fine is to recover the ill-gotten gains you have amassed over the years; sending you to forced labor is to punish your crimes of harming the people; and compensating the people for their losses is to pay the full amount owed."

"The three actions are all reasonable and do not cancel each other out; they should not be confused."

The group of people were so angry with Sun Qing that they stomped their feet and couldn't help but shout, "Sun Qing, you're simply bullying us by abusing your power!"

"You're actually helping this bunch of poor bastards to oppress us! I think your job as magistrate is doomed!"

"You bastards!" Sun Qing roared, his sharp gaze fixed on the people below, his tone mocking, "When it comes to oppression, how can my petty tricks compare to yours?"

"You always think that because you have money and power, you can bully others at will. I'm going to tell you now that the laws of the Ming Dynasty cannot be broken."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent. The once arrogant wealthy men all hung their heads, their faces pale, and dared not utter another word in protest.

Sun Qing delivered his verdict in court: "Now, in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty, all the gentry and wealthy young men involved in the case who were implicated by the eunuchs shall be punished in the same way as ordinary commoners."

"All fines previously paid will be deposited into the government treasury and will not be used as a means of pardon. All offenders will be uniformly exiled to the mudflats west of the river to perform labor as atonement, depending on the severity of their offenses. They are not allowed to hire someone to replace them or borrow money to avoid labor."

"In addition, the total losses of the victims that year were calculated, and everyone was ordered to pay double the amount in compensation, with all the money distributed to the affected villagers."

The people were stunned for a moment, then their emotions surged, and many people's eyes reddened as they knelt down and kowtowed.

For the first time in so many years, they witnessed firsthand that the gold and silver in the hands of the rich could not suppress the law of the land, and that the powerful and influential could not escape the same criminal responsibility as ordinary people.

"The Dragon King has truly appeared."

"Thank you, Lord Sun. Thank you, Lord Sun."

"We're saved."

"Oh, Your Honor!"

In stark contrast to the wealthy were the ordinary people below them.

Whether they were involved or not, they all knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

The constables were dumbfounded, but under Sun Qing's watchful eye, they immediately detained the men, tied them all up with ropes, and escorted them to the mudflats on the west bank of the river.

"Help! Father, help me!" Wang Dexing shouted hoarsely.

Master Wang's eyes were bloodshot; this was the only son of the Wang family!

Looking at Sun Qing again, his eyes were filled with boundless hatred, and he roared in public: "Sun Qing, I have close ties with the people of the Eastern Depot."

"You dare to play tricks on me like this, and even dare to make my son perform corvée labor. I will never let you get away with this."

Sun Qing glanced at him, gave a cold laugh, stood up, and shouted, "Court adjourned!"