Prisoners in a dilemma

"Take them away and keep them under guard."

Fang Weiyan strode in at that moment, and with a wave of his hand, he addressed the people in front of him.

"We are all officials of the imperial court. The prefect has detained us as prisoners without any reason. This is neither in accordance with the rules nor the law!"

The county magistrate was already feeling somewhat guilty, and seeing this scene, his guilt turned into anger, and he immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

Without any evidence, how could they allow the other side to arrest them by means of detention?

"Once this matter is resolved, if you gentlemen have no further questions, then you may all come with me to the Emperor to file a complaint against me."

Fang Weiyan sneered, completely ignoring his words.

When he arrived, he had already told the emperor that he was willing to be killed.

This is just to verify the information, so as not to give anyone grounds for criticism.

After all, Fang Weiyan still had to stay here, so there were some rules he had to follow.

Exceeding the limit slightly is fine.

The group was stunned upon hearing this. Seeing that Fang Weiyan didn't seem worried at all, could it be that he had a powerful backer?

Upon realizing this, everyone's expressions immediately turned somewhat grim.

At this moment, Fang Weiyan directly ordered his men to take these people away separately.

A member of the public just came to provide information, but there was no substantial evidence.

But that was enough for Fang Weiyan.

Separate these people into different prisons, and after a while, send in a destitute prisoner; this will directly break up their alliance.

You should be able to get any information you want out of them.

After taking these people away, Fang Weiyan sat down in front of the main hall of the yamen. Fang Weiyan didn't plan to rest until he had completely wiped these guys out.

Soon after the first group of people who had come to the door took the silver and left, more people arrived one after another.

However, Fang Weiyan now needs them to provide substantial evidence.

Besides those who provided information, there were also those who came to plead their grievances.

Seeing this, Fang Weiyan wrote them all down and copied several copies, distributing them to the people nearby.

Time passed slowly, and when the moon rose above the willow tree, Fang Weiyan nodded to the people beside him, indicating that they could begin.

Cheng Feng immediately took the contents written by Fang Weiyan and went directly to the house where the county magistrate was being held.

Liu Yiming! Will you confess or not?!

Cheng Feng had just entered the room when he let out a loud shout.

"I... I have no good explanation. I am innocent!"

Liu Yiming's lips trembled slightly, and then he said in a trembling voice.

"Still dare to deny it? In the early summer of the fifteenth year of Kaide, an old farmer's family of five lived in the west of the city. They had a daughter of marriageable age. That day, you returned from outside the city and, seeing her beauty, became lustful. You falsely accused her of being a thief and had the yamen runners arrest her and take her back for questioning. In reality, you secretly delivered her to the Squire Lin and exchanged her for five taels of silver. Isn't that right?"

"And also in the winter of the fifteenth year of the Kaide, that Squire Lin was known for his beatings and scoldings, discovered that the old farmer's daughter was planning to escape. After being discovered, he beat her to death, and you were the one who handled the aftermath, weren't you?"

"The county constable also knows about this; he has confessed everything, saying that you were the one who ordered it. Are you still going to deny it?"

Cheng Feng held the notes written by Fang Weiyan and stared intently at the county magistrate.

After the incident, the old farmer's family learned that their daughter was dead, and they came every day to seek justice.

In the end, they were brutally beaten and thrown out. The other party threatened the old farmer's family, saying that if they continued to argue, they would kill the whole family.

Besides this incident, there were also the Lin family's chicken-killing case in the sixteenth year of the Kaide, the roadside corpse case, the case of forcibly occupying fertile land, and so on.

After reading each case, Cheng Feng wished he could immediately draw his sword and kill the county magistrate in front of him.

Liu Yiming was stunned when he heard this.

That guy already confessed? And they even betrayed him? How is that possible?

"Impossible! I didn't do any of those things. You're definitely lying!"

Liu Yiming panicked and quickly spoke up.

"Hmph, the magistrate said that as long as one person confesses and reveals what you've done, they'll be given a lighter sentence, not deserving of death. But the rest who don't confess will be dragged out and beheaded; they'll naturally confess then."

"They're currently recruiting workers, dealing with grain storage, salaries, and embezzlement issues over there. Once the confessions are complete, I'll bring them over for you to see, sir. Then I'll see if you have anything to add."

Cheng Feng's words made Liu Yiming's face turn as white as a sheet.

The other party has already confessed, how could it be so fast?

If the other side confesses, they won't die, but those of them who don't will all become victims of the blade.

Overwhelmed by the torment and fear, Liu Yiming raised his head and cried out urgently, "I'll confess! I'll confess everything! I know far more than those people!"

Upon hearing Liu Yiming's words, Cheng Feng immediately smiled.

According to the adults, they didn't know that much; they just got some general information from the common people, including some specific words.

The other party, upon hearing this, likely believed it.

Sure enough, the other party confessed.

Liu Yiming sat down again, indicating that the other person could begin speaking.

Because he was illiterate, he even sent someone to fetch Fang Weiyan.

Fang Weiyan stepped aside and began to take notes of what the other person had said.

They illegally sold grain from granaries, colluded with local gentry, embezzled salaries, and forcibly took women from the people.

Each case was written down clearly.

Fang Weiyan's hand ached from writing, but Liu Yiming showed no sign of stopping.

Listen to the yamen runners beside him, their teeth grinding together.

"Go and take fifty men and bring back Squire Lin and Squire Liu. Search and confiscate their shops. If they resist, kill them!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Feng responded loudly, then grabbed the long knife from the table, his face contorted with rage, and stormed out of the government office. After calling out the names of his men, he hurried towards the Squire Lin mansion.

Soon, the Squire Lin mansion was found, and fifty constables rushed into the mansion.

However, the thugs in the mansion were extremely ruthless, drawing their knives to fight back without the slightest fear.

Caught off guard, the constable on the right was slashed in the chest with a knife, but with a dull thud, he was completely unharmed.

He then swung his knife backhand, knocking the stunned thug to the ground.

Blood gushed out instantly.

"Anyone carrying a weapon shall be killed without exception!"

Seeing that his men had been ambushed, Cheng Feng was furious and charged at the thugs wielding weapons with his long sword.

Amidst sporadic sounds of fighting, the Lin family magistrate was immediately bound and sent to the authorities.

Night had fallen, but the streets were still crowded with people, all curiously observing.

One by one, they seemed to realize that the prefect who had come this time was serious.