Chapter 1301: The blood-stained rank badge!

Jiangnan, Jin Ling,

In front of the port, a large ship was slowly docking.

Looking at the banner of the Three Provinces Governor above, the Prefect and Jia family relatives waiting below had been waiting for a long time.

"Clatter!"

The steps fell from above, and the first to walk out was Krieg, clad in armor.

Looking at this group of fierce men, the officials below couldn't help but exclaim, because the Jin Ling Jia family had regained military power from the capital branch! Otherwise, how could they have such fierce soldiers!

Just after Krieg went down, Zhang Cheng also slowly walked down from behind. However, this time, he wasn't wearing the python dragon robe, but civil and military sleeves over his armor.

"Greetings, Admiral!"

Watching Zhang Cheng appear, the officials below bowed respectfully one after another.

Nodding indifferently, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Jue is also from Jin Ling, why do you elders need to be so polite!"

Stepping forward to speak to everyone, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but smile.

"Marquis, please, we have already prepared wine and food!"

Standing in front, the Jin Ling Prefect smiled.

"Everyone go together, go together!"

Speaking to the Prefect beside him, Zhang Cheng was also full of humility.

In the lively welcoming restaurant, officials were drinking and toasting together, and Zhang Cheng also appeared very amiable.

However, after three rounds of dishes and five flavors of wine, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "This official came here this time, it has nothing to do with you all, I am just following the decree to pacify the chaos!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, many officials present finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Because they were afraid that Zhang Cheng was using the banner of pacifying the rebellion to secretly investigate them; that would be annoying.

After all, with the status of Three Provinces Governor, plus Naval Admiral, let alone them, even in the capital, not many people could arm-wrestle with Zhang Cheng!

After pacifying these officials, Zhang Cheng took advantage of his "poor alcohol tolerance" and left directly.

He generally didn't like to be hypocritical, but this was Jin Ling, and he had no other choice.

Jin Ling Jia family, Ancestral Hall,

When many Jia family members rushed over, Zhang Cheng, under the arrangement of the clan elders, held incense and knelt down.

Just after the set of procedures ended, Zhang Cheng looked at the people behind him and said, "Alright, sit down, I returned this time just to greet you all, no need for formalities!"

"Alright, sit down, since Brother Jue has something to say, don't waste time!"

Looking at the people below, the Old Matriarch also opened her mouth while leaning on her cane.

And just after many people sat down, Zhang Cheng sat in the main seat at the side, playing with a jade pendant in his hand and saying, "Since the Ming Dynasty, my Jia family has been a great household in Jin Ling. When Great Qian established the country, our two predecessors, Duke Yan and Duke Yuan, built merit for the country, winning the glory of founding dukes. My Jia family has since been divided into two branches, Jin Ling and the capital..."

Speaking to this point, Zhang Cheng paused, his face full of mockery as he said, "You all might not know why I mentioned this tonight, but I want to tell everyone, the red on my rank badge was stained with the blood of our clan relatives..."

"Over a hundred clan members went to Liaodong, and only a few survived. The glory and wealth you enjoy in Jin Ling were won with the lives of our brothers, uncles, and elders! But what did you do? The complaints to the Embroidered Uniform Guard are piled up like a mountain, and you still dared to seize fields, snatch women, and exterminate entire families. It's truly great, even more arrogant than my third-rank Marquis, and some even ran to the capital to complain, only to be intercepted and killed by your people on the way, saying this Marquis was shielding his clan relatives..."

Flipping the jade pendant and smashing it on the ground, shattering it, Zhang Cheng roared, "Are you forcing me to come down and kill you myself?"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's angry roar, the clan relatives present were all covered in cold sweat.

Because ever since Zhang Cheng was conferred the title of Earl, the Jin Ling Jia family had become increasingly reckless, simply not putting Great Qian's laws in their eyes.

What's more, he was even conferred the title of Marquis, so the Jia clan relatives became even more lawless!

If the Jin Ling Jia family was just a protective talisman before, then after Zhang Cheng stood up, they were the heaven of Jin Ling!

And looking at the countless crimes, Zhang Cheng also felt a trace of fear for the Jin Ling Jia family.

Because if they really kept going like this, let alone the Rongguo Mansion suffering, Zhang Cheng estimated he would have to go before Jia Mu!

Looking at Zhang Cheng's cold eyes, many clan relatives lowered their heads one after another.

"Brother Wei, take people according to the list of complaints from the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Tonight, no matter who it is, they must be in the ancestral hall to give an account to our Jia family's ancestors!"

Just after Zhang Cheng finished this sentence, the Old Matriarch sitting in the back was also startled and said, "Brother Jue, these are all your brothers!"

"It is precisely because they are brothers that I will do this. If I did this for them, my Jia family would die even more people in the future, and that would be my fault!" Looking coldly at Jia Wei, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but scold, "What are you waiting for? Take them!"

"Yes, Uncle!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Jia Wei immediately led the clan relatives out.

Half an hour later, the ancestral hall was filled with various wails; if they weren't calling for uncles, they were calling for fathers.

Looking at the reluctance in many people's eyes, Zhang Cheng scolded, "What? They did such beastly things, and there are still people who want to plead for them?"

"Brother Jue, Brother Jue, I am your cousin!"

"Brother Jue, I am your uncle, do you really have the heart to do this? You are killing your own kin!"

Just as the voices rose one after another, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but say coldly, "We are all family, I won't hand you over to the government, but we must do things according to clan rules."

"Beat them!"

Looking coldly at the people below, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but scold.

"Beat them! Beat them to death regardless!"

Waving his hand, Jia Wei looked at Zhang Cheng and roared immediately.

"Bang!"

The bowl-thick stick smashed down, and many people wailed immediately.

But facing this scene, many clan relatives turned their heads away, their hearts full of fear.

Because although Zhang Cheng said he wouldn't hand them over to the government, this bowl-thick stick would also kill people!

And according to the Jia family's clan rules, any lawsuit involving human life was punishable by death; how could they survive!

"Jia Jue, you kill your kin and brothers, you are not worthy of being a Jia family member..."

Looking at Zhang Cheng ferociously, the leading man roared.

And after hearing this sentence, the Old Matriarch stood up abruptly and said, "Block his mouth, hurry, hurry and beat him to death!"

Following the Old Matriarch's words, the clan elder who snatched the stick smashed it onto his spine, beating him to death in a moment.

Looking at the people present with cold eyes, the Old Matriarch said gloomily, "Tonight's matter was done according to clan rules. If anyone says a word about it, I will beat them to death!"

"Yes, Old Matriarch!"

Hearing the Old Matriarch's words, the clan members present were all covered in cold sweat.

Fortunately, they hadn't relied on the Jia family's power to do evil, otherwise the people who died tonight wouldn't just be these thirty-odd people!

After night fell, the ancestral hall surrounded by incense was silent.

Sitting down with a teacup, the Old Matriarch looked at the young man beside her and said, "You shouldn't have come down yourself!"

"If I didn't come down, would you have been willing to part with these people?"

Looking at the Old Matriarch beside him, Zhang Cheng felt bitter.

Because what he did, in a sense, belonged to rebellion. After all, before destroying kin for righteousness, there was also a saying: kin should hide for kin!

Ancient times emphasized loyalty and filial piety, and this was even more so in families. But if he didn't kill these people, Zhang Cheng wouldn't be able to sleep!

"Forget it, forget it, prune the branches to save the trunk; this is something every family needs to do!"

Speaking to Zhang Cheng, the Old Matriarch felt a sense of regret.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1302 =====