General Yan Kui had a fierce look about him; at a glance, Jiang Hao could tell he was a hard-hearted man. Jiang Hao took out the imperial edict, and General Yan Kui immediately dropped to one knee. After accepting and reading it, he promptly said, "From this moment onward, Lord Grand Astrologer shall decide all matters here. We will obey your command."
"Take me to see those imprisoned villagers," Jiang Hao said.
"Yes, Lord Grand Astrologer, this way."
Yan Kui led the way, and before long the group arrived at an open area outside the village. A massive circular pit had been dug in the middle. Countless people sat or stood inside it, forming a sea of black heads. When Jiang Hao and the others arrived, innumerable eyes turned toward them.
Jiang Hao sighed inwardly. He remembered that ancient times had a kind of pit prison. These people had been thrown into jail merely because they lived beside the meteorite. If he had not come, they would likely have been buried alive, just as history recorded.
"Yan Kui, release them all," Jiang Hao said flatly.
His voice was not loud, but many of the commoners who had already been watching them heard it. At once, some rose excitedly to their feet, and a small stir spread through the crowd.
"Grand Astrologer, we still haven't identified those who caused the disturbance," Yan Kui said.
Jiang Hao glanced at him and said irritably, "So much time has already passed. If you could have gotten anything out of them, you would have done so long ago. Would you have needed to wait for me? You and I both know someone deliberately spread rumors to cause trouble. It must have been done by people with ulterior motives. What use is it to make things