What should they do?
Lin Feng shifted lazily on the straw-covered Che, letting his front side catch more sunlight.
He looked utterly unconcerned.
Hadn't you already decided what to do?
For a County Chief suppressing bandits, it always came down to the same three options.
Wine and dine them, behead them, or take them in as your dogs.
Since you wanted your name preserved in history—or at least in the County Gazetteer—wining and dining them and taking them in as dogs were both out of the question.
That left only one path.
Behead them!
Root out evil completely. Eradicate the entire Jin Family!
With a blade of Thatched Grass between his lips, he said languidly, "We're going to investigate a case. Since you want to get to the bottom of it and make a name for yourself, there's naturally only one way forward: prosecute them openly under the law.
"We are the law. We are the imperial court. We are the ones the people support.
"You and I both know the Jin Family are notorious tomb raiders. Does the Yamen really need to play along with a gang of thieves when dealing with them?
"If you ask me, once we find evidence of the Jin Family's crimes, we should invite the Military Governor over and let his men slaughter for three days without sheathing their blades. Wipe out the whole village, and wouldn't that settle everything once and for all?
"Who wouldn't praise your wisdom and valor, Magistrate?"
Zong Yang waved his hands repeatedly at that.
"Isn't three days of unrestricted slaughter a little too..."
Lin Feng snorted. "Soldiers and generals serve for silver and rewards.
"You think the Military Governor's soldiers are all like the Qi Family Army, taking nothing from the people wherever they go?
"What a joke.