Chapter 294

First Volume, Chapter 294: Public Beheading as a Warning

The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Qin Feng led his three sisters to the County Yamen.

He pulled out the accounting ledgers, thick with dust, and handed them to Liu Hongyan for tallying.

At the same time, he sent Qin Xiaofu to the Pingyao County Grain Depot.

Only by Shui Shi in the morning was the Shan Dan Tax finally tallied.

Based on past tax records, Pingyao County's grain tax was roughly around one hundred thousand shi.

Just then, Qin Xiaofu returned from inspecting the grain depot and reported that the depot had long been abandoned.

Inside, not a single grain remained.

Qin Feng let out a cold laugh and remarked, "This grain tax in Pingyao County isn't just embezzled—it's been completely stripped clean."

"For the past ten years, Pingyao's grain tax has steadily declined. In the first seven years, it dropped by three hundred thousand shi. In the past three years, with the County Magistrate position vacant, the tax was simply not paid at all—ten thousand shi per year. Altogether, over these ten years, the grain tax shortfall totals six hundred thousand shi."

"That much grain could feed a large army."

As Qin Feng was reflecting, a Tianji Camp Guard rushed into the DaTang, clasped his fists, and reported: "Young Master, Zhou Yufu has been brought to the gate. The Gao Fu Manager committed suicide last night. Also, every member of the Gao Family has been secured and may be interrogated at any time."

For some reason, since last night, Qin Feng had felt uneasy and weak in spirit.

At this critical deadline, Zhou Yufu's voice rang out outside the County Yamen.

"Qin Feng, how dare you? Do you truly not fear Grand Commandant Gao?"

"I am a confidant of Grand Commandant Gao. If you so much as pluck a hair from my body, he will never let you live."

Qin Feng had intended to interrogate Zhou Yufu, but upon hearing this, he grew tired of further words and merely waved his hand: "No need to interrogate. Cut off Zhou Yufu's and the Gao Fu Manager's heads and hang them at the City Gate as a warning."

"By the way," Qin Feng suddenly remembered something and asked casually, "Does the Gao Family have any direct blood relatives of Gao Ming?"

The guard nodded: "Only one maternal uncle; the rest are distant relatives."

As Qin Feng knew, Gao Ming's parents had long passed away, and his wife and children had always lived with him in Jingdu. Since only one maternal uncle remained in the household, there was no need to send him to Jingdu for trial.

Qin Feng gave a glance, and the guard understood: "The Grand Commandant's maternal uncle resisted arrest and has been executed."

Beside him, Shen Qingci, though not authorized to interfere in official matters, still felt a pang of worry seeing Qin Feng kill Gao Ming's maternal uncle outright: "Qin Feng, that man is Gao Ming's maternal uncle. Executing him before reporting it… it may cause trouble."

Before Shen Qingci could finish, Qin Feng quietly interrupted: "In cases like this, it's better to kill wrongly than to let one slip."

Shen Qingci bit her thin lips: "Gao Ming's maternal uncle must have committed many wicked deeds. Even if sent to Jingdu, he'd still be executed. My point is, this matter should be handled by Dali Temple. Otherwise, after the fact, Gao Ming will seize on it and cause trouble."

Qin Feng picked up a tattered accounting ledger at random, his expression calm: "Gao Ming's maternal uncle holds no official rank or noble title—he doesn't even require Dali Temple's involvement. If we send him to Jingdu, where would he be tried? Ministry of Justice? Ministry of Personnel? Jingzhao Yin? No need for such complications."

"As for Gao Ming—he's already a mud Buddha crossing a river."

Seeing Shen Qingci still frowning, Qin Feng patted her handback, signaling her not to worry—he knew what he was doing.

Outside the County Yamen, Zhou Yufu, seeing the Tianji Camp Guards emerge, wore a smug smile: "Hmph, Qin Feng Xiao'er is scared? Quickly untie me!"

"Look who my master is—a divine figure! How dare a mere County Magistrate act so boldly here? How laughable."

Facing Zhou Yufu's mockery and the laughter of his servants, who were bullying others with their master's power,

the Tianji Camp Guards remained expressionless and silently drew a short knife from their waist: "The Young Master is occupied with official duties and has no patience for you. So we'll give you a quick death—you're lucky."

Seeing the cold gleam of the Tianji Camp Guard's short knife, Zhou Yufu's smile froze on his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Qin Feng, you dare…"

Before Zhou Yufu could scream out his next words, the guard's blade fell—blood sprayed seven or eight meters away.

The evil servants, who had just been laughing, turned ashen-faced. The scene fell into dead silence.

The Grand Commandant's confidant had been killed with a single slash—as easily as slaughtering a chicken?

As Zhou Yufu and other key villains were executed one by one, Qin Feng immediately dispatched men to raid the Gao Fu.

Meanwhile, in the Jingong Yushufang.

Hei Wei handed a ledger to the Liang Emperor with both hands: "Your Majesty, Qin Feng has resolved the Pingyao County case. Last night, the Gao Fu Manager attempted to destroy the ledger, but your servant intercepted it first."

The Liang Emperor took the ledger and flipped through it casually: "Did you leave any traces?"

Hei Wei bowed his head, eyes devoid of expression, like a Dead Soldier: "I snapped the man's neck and hung him from the Roof Beam, faking a suicide. Though the Tianji Camp Guards excel in direct combat, they have zero experience in criminal investigations—they'll never find any clues."

The Liang Emperor nodded, gazing at the ledger's entries of corruption, a cold smile curling on his lips as he snorted: "Grand Commandant Gao has served Liang faithfully for decades. When he finally retires, he should remain in Jingdu, supported by the entire nation. But alas, when men grow old, they grow foolish… Does he truly believe I don't know what his dog-loyal servants did in Pingyao County?"

"And yet he dares oppose me in the Imperial Court, demanding I weaken Liang's prestige by making peace with the North Di Barbarians? Where has his former integrity gone?"

"As for that useless Gao Song—ever since Qin Feng scared him into nightmares, he hasn't left his house, hiding only behind his maids and servants to vent his rage. Such a waste of space—keep him alive only to carry on the Gao Family line. Why bother avenging him?"

Hei Wei murmured in agreement: "Gao Ming did indeed dote excessively on Gao Song, having him late in life."

The Liang Emperor's face darkened, his voice icy: "The son is useless, and so is the father."