Iron Fist Cleanses Filth, Punishes Corrupt Officials; Common Folk Tremble, Awakening Ignorant Masses

Zhao Cheng looked at him. "Oh? What brilliant insight does Magistrate Wang have?"

Wang Bo's eyes flickered. He swiftly swept his gaze over the breathless commoners around them, then looked to Zhao Cheng and bowed. "My lord, this matter has far-reaching implications. Could we speak aside, so this humble official may report in detail?"

"No need." Zhao Cheng raised a hand to cut him off, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority. "Whatever you have to say, say it here. Let the people of Wu'an City hear it as well."

A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Wang Bo's brow. He could only brace himself and raise his voice. "My lord may not know that Wu'an City's circumstances are unusual.

"Many commoners have no private fields not because they have no land to farm, but because they willingly sold themselves to the Qian Family.

"The Qian Family is Wu'an City's great family of benefactors!"

He deliberately stressed the words "great benefactors," his tone earnest. "In past years of famine, it was the Qian Family that opened their granaries and distributed grain to aid the victims.

"It was the Qian Family that set aside land for the commoners to cultivate.

"It was also the Qian Family that gave them food to eat, keeping countless people from starving to death in the streets.

"The people were grateful for their kindness, so they sold themselves into the Qian Family's service. They did so of their own free will!"

"Besides," his tone shifted as his gaze swept over the ridges between the fields, "more than half of Wu'an City's land already belongs to the Qian Family.

"My lord now wishes to distribute land by household. Then what is to become of the Qian Family's land?

"If you chill the hearts of good people,