Chapter 299: Many People Are Going to Suffer

It was already four in the morning.

These people were being brought aboard the boats, and not only did Zhao Han rise early, but the secretaries and scholars in the next cabin also woke one after another.

"Greetings, Heavenly King Zhao (Grand Master, Brother Han, Mr. Zhao)!"

A jumble of different forms of address burst from the servants' mouths as they uniformly began to kneel.

Zhao Han smiled and said, "Someone called me Brother Han — then let's not stand on ceremony. All of you, rise and speak."

Some stood, some remained kneeling, and some stood up, looked left and right, then started to kneel again.

"Stand up!" Zhao Han barked.

Those kneeling scrambled to their feet in fright.

Those standing were so startled they dropped back to their knees with a thud.

The two personal guards standing sentry beside Zhao Han were both biting their lips to suppress laughter.

Once everyone was standing, Zhao Han called toward the outside, "You all come in and listen as well."

The secretaries and scholars filed in.

Zhao Han said, "Choose a representative to speak. Don't all jabber at once."

Fei Gu was pushed forward as the representative. Instead of directly stating his grievance, he tried to establish a connection, saying, "Brother Han, I'm Fei Gu. Do you still remember me?"

"Brother Fei Gu, hello. Tell me what the matter is," Zhao Han said with a smile.

Fei Gu was very pleased and said, "Brother Han sending people back to Goose Lake to distribute land and free the household slaves was a great good deed. My family also got land, and our days are very good now. But after the autumn harvest last year, the Madam..."

"Which madam?" Zhao Han interrupted.

"The former Second Young Mistress," Fei Gu explained. "The Second Young Mistress is terribly harsh, as Brother Han knows. She often beat and cursed people. After the household slaves were freed, no servant was willing to stay on as hired help. The Second Young Mistress hired over thirty servants one after another, and she beat every single one of them away. She even took the employment contracts to the authorities, claiming the hired term wasn't fulfilled, and demanded the runaway servants pay compensation."

Zhao Han asked, "Was this reported to the county or the town, and what was the outcome?"

Fei Gu answered, "It was all mediated at the town level. The town chief sided with the Second Young Mistress. Those servants would rather borrow money to pay compensation than continue working. Unable to hire any servants, the Second Young Mistress brought four vicious household thugs, carrying clubs, and summoned us former household slaves back."

"The village chief didn't intervene either?" Zhao Han asked.

"He didn't," Fei Gu said. "As for wages, the Second Young Mistress paid in full, and after the family division, she no longer skimmed anything. She just likes to beat and curse her underlings at random. Whether they did something wrong or not, if she was in a bad mood, she'd beat people to vent her anger. Last winter, Fei Liang had his leg broken by her beatings. It was over a month before he could get out of bed. He plucked up the courage to report it to the town authorities. The town chief did nothing at all and even sent someone to tip off the Second Young Mistress. The Second Young Mistress then beat Fei Liang again, so savagely that the man was crippled. Then they carried him back to his own home and gave only one tael of silver for medicine."

"Where is Fei Liang now?" Zhao Han frowned.

Fei Gu said, "Dead. He lay at home for half a month and died. Fei Liang's parents went to report it, but the County Magistrate said the witness testimony and material evidence were insufficient and ruled that Fei Liang died from a fall injury that went untreated."

Zhao Han asked the other servants, "Is what Fei Gu said the truth?"

"It's all true!" the crowd echoed in agreement.

A maidservant called Xilan stepped forward, pulled up her sleeve, and said, "I was beaten just yesterday. My arm is covered with welts and bruises."

Zhao Han said to the personal guard squad captain, "Send orders: summon the Prefect of Guangxin, the Guangxin Vice Prefect in charge of criminal law, the Yanshan County Magistrate, the Yanshan County criminal division chief, the Goose Lake Town town chief, the deputy town chief, and the Goose Lake Village village chief. Bring them all here!"

The personal guard squad captain immediately went to make arrangements and soon brought back two men.

The Yanshan County Magistrate and the criminal division chief had been waiting on the shore, along with other Yanshan County officials. They had come by boat during the night, ready to be of service.

Zhao Han briefly summarized the case and asked, "Is this how you adjudicate cases?"

County Magistrate Feng Shenglun was so frightened that sweat beaded on his forehead. He explained, "Regional Commander, I was only transferred to serve as Yanshan County Magistrate two months ago. I never handled this case, and no one came to file a complaint against the lady of the Fei household. The previous County Magistrate, I heard, had outstanding administrative achievements and was summoned to White Egret Isle Academy for advanced training. He is to accompany the army on campaign to Huguang this time."

"Very good, very good. Outstanding achievements, and even promoted!" Zhao Han's face was wreathed in smiles. Anyone who knew him well could tell he was already furious.

Every time before a major campaign, outstanding officials were selected in advance, given advanced training, and then sent to accompany the army, assigned specifically to manage the civilian grain transport laborers. Once new territory was seized, they could immediately take over civil administration, a seamless transition. Only when expansion was too rapid would there be a temporary shortage of officials.

Zhao Han asked again, "And the criminal division chief?"

Feng Shenglun said, "He also accompanied the army on campaign. Of the various division chiefs in the county yamen, two are to be promoted and transferred elsewhere this year."

Zhao Han said to the two unlucky men before him, "You two are to be given a major demerit!"

The Yanshan County Magistrate and the criminal division chief both started to speak, then stopped. In the end, they dared not say more and could only accept their bad luck.

The sky gradually lightened.

Many local gentry were standing on the shore waiting, bearing all kinds of gifts to pay their respects.

"Gentlemen, please come aboard," a personal guard came to relay the order.

The gentry were overjoyed and urged Fei Yuanyi to go first.

The old master of the Fei clan was rather pleased with himself. Leaning on his cane, head high and chest out, he was helped aboard the boat.

Another crowd of people squeezed in, making the cabin quite cramped.

Fei Yuanyi had long ago fallen out with his two sons and normally had no contact with them. He did not even recognize that these were the Fei household's hired servants.

"Greetings, Regional Commander!" Fei Yuanyi said, tottering as he prepared to kneel.

He still held that traditional mindset, believing Zhao Han could become emperor in the future. Since he would be emperor, then kneeling was proper, having nothing to do with his status as a grandson-in-law.

"Greetings, Regional Commander!"

The other gentry also knelt in obeisance.

They could not resist stealing glances at Zhao Han. The more they looked, the more dignified and imposing he seemed, and in their hearts they envied Fei Yuanyi's good fortune.

A cold sneer appeared on Zhao Han's face. He said, "Master Wuxue, please rise and take a seat."

Fei Yuanlu, the Fei clan patriarch and head of the Pearl-Containing Academy, rose with a smile on his face. He had appreciated this student back then. Even though he was merely a household slave, he had believed the boy would certainly have a future, never imagining he would be even more formidable than he had thought.

Although he had not personally taught him scholarship, as the academy head, he still counted as a teacher. The honorific title of "Imperial Tutor" was inevitable.

The personal guards brought a chair and invited Fei Yuanlu to sit.

The moment Fei Yuanlu's backside touched the stool, he suddenly sensed something was wrong. Why was he the only one seated, while the other gentry remained kneeling?

Fei Yuanyi was also somewhat bewildered. Could his grandson-in-law still be nursing a grudge?

The other gentry looked at each other, equally unable to grasp the situation.

Zhao Han paid no attention to these people whatsoever, simply chatting with Fei Yuanlu: "After so many years apart, how has your health been, sir?"

Fei Yuanlu stroked his beard and answered with a smile, "Thanks to the Regional Commander's good fortune, I only suffer the occasional minor ailment."

"Does Yanshan County have a middle school yet?" Zhao Han asked again.

Fei Yuanlu said, "We have already engaged a talented scholar well-versed in mathematics and geometry. Next month we can open the middle school, thanks entirely to County Magistrate Feng's tireless efforts."

Feng Shenglun cupped his hands and said, "Not at all, not at all. It was merely my duty."

Fei Yuanlu continued, "The Hanzhu Academy has also been converted into Hanzhu Elementary School. All of the academy's buildings and books have been donated to the Hekou Town yamen, and the nearby children may all study there free of charge for three years."

"Very good," Zhao Han nodded approvingly, then asked abruptly, "The Fei clan's household slaves — they have all been freed?"

Fei Yuanlu said, "All have been freed. Those who wished to stay have signed new employment contracts."

Zhao Han pressed on: "Has there been any wanton beating of hired servants?"

"Absolutely impossible," Fei Yuanlu said hastily. "I cannot speak for other families, but in my own household, even before the slaves were freed, we never beat the household slaves without cause. Even when a household slave did something wrong, the main response was a reprimand. Beating a subordinate is not the conduct of a gentleman."

Zhao Han asked with a smile, "And what of the other branches of the Fei clan?"

Fei Yuanlu shook his head. "I am not entirely certain. Though I am the clan head, I cannot manage the private affairs of other households."

Zhao Han turned his gaze to Fei Yuanyi. "And what of Grand Secretary Fei's household?"

Fei Yuanlu naturally knew his second daughter-in-law's temper and had heard some rumors. He quickly answered, "In reply to the Governor-General, this old man has sired two unfilial sons and has already divided the family property and established separate households. We have very little contact ordinarily. In this old man's residence, there is absolutely no mistreatment of hired servants. As for those two unfilial sons, this old man does not know the details."

"All of you, rise," Zhao Han said with a slight smile.

"We thank the Governor-General!"

The gentry kowtowed and rose to their feet.

Most of these were community elders; only Fei Yingke, young as he was, had been granted permission to board the ship.

Fei Yingke's face was expressionless, but his mind was already clear. He recognized one of the hired servants and knew his second brother was in serious trouble this time. In his heart, he felt it served him right.

Even now, Fei Yingke could not understand why his second brother had endured a vicious woman for so many years.

Had it been him, he would have divorced her long ago.

A good woman deserved double the affection; a bad woman deserved a thorough lesson. That was Fei Yingke's attitude toward women.

This fellow was no good at his studies, nor at business, but he had a real knack for disciplining women.

With one wife and ten concubines at home, it was inevitable that a few would lack sense, and Fei Yingke had dealt with each of them harshly. As for those who were obedient and sensible, Fei Yingke was exceedingly considerate. His wives and concubines had all become gentle and compliant in turn — at least on the surface, they could get along harmoniously.

On campaign with the army, he could not let this matter delay him.

After placating the gentry, Zhao Han said to County Magistrate Feng Shenglun, "You will be responsible for trying this case. If you handle it properly, the major demerit on your record can be removed. Hold the trial right here on the riverbank — there is no need to return to the county yamen. When the Prefect of Guangxin arrives, let him watch you try the case!"

Then, addressing those hired servants of the Fei clan, he said, "If anyone dares retaliate against you in the future, and the local officials ignore it, come directly to the Ji'an Governor-General's residence to cry out your grievance!"

The group was escorted off the ship, and the fleet, bearing the great army, set sail.

One official collapsed on the riverbank. He was the town chief of Ehu Town. When the incident occurred, he had only been the deputy town chief, but he was implicated all the same.

As for the former town chief, he had already marched out with the army this time and would soon be promoted and transferred elsewhere, temporarily assigned to Fei Ruhe's command.

Not a single official involved would escape.

Even the clerks who had handled the matter would be interrogated and punished.

County Magistrate Feng Shenglun was still trying to guess Zhao Han's thoughts. A punishment too light or too heavy could both incur Zhao Han's displeasure.

This was truly difficult.

Feng Shenglun looked at those hired servants, steeled himself, and decided to judge the case with the utmost severity this time.

Feng Shenglun bellowed, "Men! Arrest Fei Yingqi, Madam Zheng, and the four villainous slaves under them at once!"

The Prefect of Guangxin had arrived by then. He watched the fleet recede into the distance, utterly baffled. Zhao Han had summoned him urgently, then left without even meeting him — what was the meaning of this?

This fellow was the truly unlucky one. Something had happened in his county, and he had known nothing about it, yet now he was to be held accountable.

(End of Chapter)