Chapter 889: First Volume, Chapter 889: Cleansing the Lingering Poison of Changshui County

First Volume, Chapter 889: Cleansing the Lingering Poison of Changshui County

As Qin Feng had predicted, Chen Biao's relatives all leveraged his infamous reputation to act arrogantly and tyrannically. Qin Feng was straightforward: anyone among them who had bullied men or violated women, or caused injury or disability, was executed outright—resulting in eight more deaths.

This effectively dismantled Chen Biao's "clan power."

Qin Feng looked down at the four men—Chen Biao and the others—now ashen-faced and collapsed like mud, then pointed at Zhang Dahu and Wang Gang: "What is the harshest punishment in Northern Di?"

Chen Tian quickly answered from beside him: "Carriage dismemberment."

Qin Feng clicked his tongue, finding carriage dismemberment too cruel; the harshest punishment he could accept was beheading—after all, leaving a man without a whole corpse violated human ethics.

"Forget it. Just chop their heads off. Simpler."

"As for that little lackey—County Magistrate, what do you think should be done with him?"

Chen Tian looked at the terrified, paralyzed lackey and said softly: "Your Grace, this boy is unfamiliar, and young—he's only been with Chen Biao for a few days at most. He likely hasn't had time to commit any crimes."

Hearing this, Qin Feng waved his hand: "Then let him go. What happened today will serve as a lesson—he'll learn that if he dares to do evil, he will one day pay the price. I hope he turns back from the path."

Realizing he had saved his life, the lackey snapped out of his shock, knelt on the ground, and pounded his head against the floor while wailing uncontrollably.

"Thank you, Your Grace! I'll never walk the evil path again—I'm returning home to till the fields!"

Qin Feng ignored the lackey, his gaze falling on Chen Biao. He sighed lightly: "Killing you outright is too kind. Yet my moral boundaries won't allow me to torture you with cruel punishments—truly a difficult choice."

After a moment of inner struggle, Qin Feng ultimately gave in, abandoning his horrific thought, and ordered Liu Ming to take Chen Biao into the courtyard for execution.

From the moment Qin Feng began "disposing" of Chen Biao until now, less than half a Envoy had passed—and dozens of heads had fallen. This pace of slaughter could rival only His Majesty's.

But the matter should have ended here. Yet when Chen Tian looked at Qin Feng, his back chilled—he realized, in shock, that Qin Feng was coldly staring at him.

Chen Tian didn't know what he had done wrong to displease the Marquis. He dared not dwell on it, hurried to the center of the DaTang, and knelt tremblingly on the ground.

"Your Grace, if I've spoken wrongly, please tell me plainly. Since Your Grace arrived in Changshui County, I've never wavered in loyalty. I beg you, consider that though I've done no great deeds, I've endured hardship—show mercy."

Watching Chen Tian speak incoherently from fear, Qin Feng let out a cold snort and deliberately stretched his voice.

"County Magistrate, tell me—were those people I just executed deserving of death?"

Chen Tian didn't dare hesitate a moment: "They deserved it!"

"These ruffians preyed upon the people, committed every evil under heaven. Your Grace personally rid the people of these scourges—Changshui County's citizens will sing your praises."

Qin Feng's gaze turned sharp, cutting off Chen Tian's words. He asked coldly: "If they were all wicked and deserving, why did it fall to me to act? What have you been doing as County Magistrate?"

"Has becoming County Magistrate turned you into nothing but a pleasure-seeker and embezzler? Have you forgotten entirely your duty to speak for the people?"

Hearing this, Chen Tian's heart sank halfway to ice.

He cursed Chen Biao's ancestors in his mind—this damned bastard, why didn't he provoke anyone else? Why did he have to provoke Qin Feng? Qin Feng doesn't strike unless he intends to uproot everything!

What had he done to deserve this calamity?

Chen Tian wanted to cry but had no tears: "Your Grace, I'm just a lowly County Magistrate with no connections. Even here in Changshui County, I must eat according to others' moods."

"If I act against Chen Biao, another Chen Biao will rise. The locals will see me as unreasonable. If I'm lucky, I'll be driven out; if unlucky, I'll lose my life here."

"The County Magistrate… to the people, may seem supreme—but to Local Strongmen, your words carry less weight than a fart."

Seeing Chen Tian pour out his grievances, Qin Feng felt both anger and amusement. It seemed all County Magistrates everywhere were equally pitiful—when faced with even slightly firm Local Strongmen, they cowered or became their puppets.

Qin Feng refused to believe it. When he first arrived in Beixi County, his first act was to kill the County Magistrate and exterminate the Local Strongmen. After the purge, didn't peace and prosperity follow?

In the end, Chen Tian was simply too weak. Qin Feng had placed a vital Materials and Supplies transit hub right under his nose—and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Qin Feng said sternly: "Don't whine to me. Weakness is weakness—there are no excuses. If I were you, I'd start with the Yamen Runners around you: purge the disloyal, keep the loyal, reorganize your forces, then eliminate the Local Strongmen one by one. How hard could it be?"

"Though the title of County Magistrate is small, as you yourself said—it is supreme to the people."

Facing Qin Feng's rebuke, Chen Tian bowed his head low, humiliated. He admitted he lacked Qin Feng's boldness. Even dealing with someone like Wu Dagui was beyond him.

The moment Chen Tian thought of Wu Dagui, Qin Feng asked: "What is your relationship with Wu Dagui?"

Chen Tian whispered: "The relationship between County Magistrate and Country Gentleman…"

That answer was truly ambiguous!

Qin Feng shook his head, smiling bitterly: "If I ordered you to cut off Wu Dagui's head—what would you do?"

At this, Chen Tian turned deathly pale. He had expected Qin Feng wouldn't let Wu Dagui's embezzlement of labor fees slide—but he hadn't expected Qin Feng to bring it up now. Still, Wu Dagui, like Chen Biao, had grown tired of life and dared to pluck hairs from the tiger's mouth, defying the law.

Chen Tian knew clearly: Qin Feng was flexing his muscles again. Having dealt with Chen Biao, he wouldn't mind dealing with one more. If Wu Dagui lived, Chen Tian would die.

But… Wu Dagui was a powerful Local Strongman with a vast clan. If he acted against Wu Dagui, this blood feud would be sealed.

As Chen Tian agonized, he failed to notice Qin Feng's gaze growing colder.

Clearly, Chen Tian was unreliable. A man this timid would betray Qin Feng the moment the court applied even slight pressure.

Just as Qin Feng had completely lost hope, a sharp female voice rang out.

"What are you all standing around for? Go seize Wu Dagui at once!"

The County Magistrate's Wife could bear it no longer. She drew back the curtain and stepped out, issuing orders on the spot.