CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108: DIVISION (PART 1)

Jiang Shaohua sat at the head of the county government hall, coldly watching the trembling Mr. Jiao.

Chief Historian Chen and County Magistrate Zou sat to the left and right, seated beneath the Commandery Princess. As for Song Yuan, he never sat in such an occasion, standing vigorously by the Commandery Princess’s side, his right hand gripping the handle of a knife tightly.

No one dared to speak without the Commandery Princess’s order.

The atmosphere in the hall was so heavy and solemn that it suffocated.

Mr. Jiao, kneeling on the ground, felt his heart chilled to despair in just a short moment.

To deal with such a non-influential wealthy merchant like him, the Commandery Princess, who could deploy troops to cut down bandits and dismiss a County Magistrate with just a word, wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.

He only regretted being blinded by greed, and further deceived by his father-in-law, jumping into this pit of fire.

Mr. Jiao despaired, desperately knocking his head on the ground as he pleaded for mercy, his forehead swollen red, until the Commandery Princess finally spoke calmly: "The court has regulations, grain prices must not fluctuate wantonly, grain shops must not hoard or inflate prices. When my grandfather was alive, he imposed strict orders on all counties in Nanyang County, prohibiting all grain shops from hiking prices. Violators are severely punished without pardon. I believe you alone wouldn’t have the guts to do such a thing."

"If you wish to seek mercy, you must explain the reason clearly in front of me, Chief Historian Chen, and County Magistrate Zou."

There was no need for Mr. Jiao to keep kowtowing, yet the cold sweat on his forehead only increased.

The meaning of the Commandery Princess was clear. To escape guilt, he would have to expose the ’mastermind’... meaning as a son-in-law, he would have to betray his father-in-law to survive.

The Commandery Princess would not stay in Xi’e forever; once she left, it would still be the territory of the Tang Family. If he offended his father-in-law, how could he survive in the future?

Jiang Shaohua suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Are you thinking, that once I leave in a few days, Xi’e County will still be ruled by Old Fool Tang?"

Mr. Jiao’s tears flowed alongside his sweat as he knocked his head forcefully: "Your subject doesn’t dare, please spare my life, Commandery Princess!"

"I give you the time of one tea to think. If you can’t provide an explanation, don’t blame me for being unkind."

As soon as the Commandery Princess finished speaking, the trusted aides in the hall all drew their long knives, the sound ringing constantly in the air.

Mr. Jiao’s whole body trembled, his face turning deathly pale, his lips trembling incessantly.

As it proved, when the knife is almost at one’s neck, matters of ethics or future worries hold no value. First, surviving the present and securing one’s life is what’s most crucial.

"I’ll speak, I’ll confess now."

"Though I am the proprietor of Jiao’s Grain Shop, in truth, I listen to the Tang Family in every matter. The hoarding and price-raising were all my father-in-law’s idea. He said to seize this opportunity to manipulate the County Magistrate and earn a hefty sum of silver. My father-in-law also spoke some disrespectful and insulting words against the Commandery Princess, which I dare not repeat."

Mr. Jiao wept bitterly, knocking his head repeatedly: "Commandery Princess, have mercy! I am at most an accomplice, not the mastermind."

Chen Zhuo’s eyes flashed with anger.

This Old Master Tang, who used to be somewhat discreet, has acted excessively arrogant and flamboyant this year, obviously not taking the Commandery Princess seriously.

County Magistrate Zou across the way looked ashamed, stood up, and apologized: "It’s my incompetence for failing to suppress the Tang Family, causing trouble before the Commandery Princess. I am truly ashamed. I beg for the Commandery Princess’s punishment!"

Jiang Shaohua glanced at County Magistrate Zou and unceremoniously stated: "An official of the seventh-rank in the court, serving as County Magistrate in Xi’e for ten years, yet unable to suppress one Tang Family. Even duties like purchasing and storing grain encountered issues that required me to personally resolve them. Indeed incompetent and useless!"

The nearly fifty-year-old County Magistrate Zou blushed fully and could no longer stand, immediately kneeling down, reaching out to remove his official’s hat.

"Enough! I won’t dismiss you from office," Jiang Shaohua said coldly: "County Magistrate Cai in Li County was negligent, which is why I stripped him of his official’s hat. You have not committed a major mistake and will remain in your post for now."

"Should this happen again, there is no need for me to intervene personally; you can return your official seal and go back to your hometown."

County Magistrate Zou’s face turned red as he humbly agreed.

His nature is indeed a bit too gentle. However, nobody is perfect, and one mustn’t be overly picky. County Magistrate Zou is diligent in his duties, never oppressing the people; his reputation as an official is actually quite good.

Jiang Shaohua ordered County Magistrate Zou to stand and return to his seat, then turned to Chen Zhuo: "Chief Historian Chen, Jiao’s Grain Shop accused the Tang Family of being the mastermind. There’s no better time than the present, so let’s resolve this case today!"

Chen Zhuo nodded in agreement: "Please Commandery Princess, give the order to bring in the head of the Tang Family."

County Magistrate Zou cleared his throat: "More than half of the constables in the county government have the surname Tang. If they are sent, there’s a fear of alerting them and the news leaking. I implore the Commandery Princess to dispatch a trusted aide!"

Jiang Shaohua once again glanced at the useless County Magistrate Zou.

County Magistrate Zou, once again, was full of shame, explaining in a low voice: "I’m not trying to employ the Tang Family members heavily. It’s just that the Tang Family has been entrenched here for hundreds of years, proliferating, and half of the citizens in Xi’e County have the surname Tang. For those who don’t, they are mostly relatives of the Tang Family. Whether employing people or handling matters, I just can’t avoid the Tang Family."

This indeed is a problem.

Half the city’s citizens are named Tang; how can one avoid them?

Jiang Shaohua slightly nodded, directing Song Yuan to personally lead troops to capture them.

Song Yuan bowed, accepting the command, and summoned a hundred trusted aides, also having Meng Dashan follow with two hundred elite soldiers, proceeding with murderous intent toward the Tang Family, not to mention.

Since there was time, Jiang Shaohua inquired about the specifics of the Tang Family.

This County Magistrate Zou was quite familiar and explained everything thoroughly.

The Tang Family has flourished for hundreds of years with many branches, but the Family Head has always been passed down through the eldest son of the primary line. Old Master Tang became the Family Head at forty, and the next head is supposed to be Old Master Tang’s eldest son, followed by Tang Qi, the eldest grandson of the Tang Family.

Jiang Shaohua said indifferently, "Old Master Tang’s character is lacking; it’s about time the Tang Family Head was replaced."

County Magistrate Zou was taken aback.

Chief Historian Chen quickly caught on and responded immediately: "Does the Commandery Princess want to know who among the Tang Family’s primary line is qualified to replace Old Master Tang?"

Don’t mention Old Master Tang’s eldest son or eldest grandson anymore. Replace him with someone perceptive and obedient.

County Magistrate Zou finally understood, his spirit suddenly brightened: "Old Master Tang has a total of six brothers, with two of them born of the same mother. Grandmaster Tang San and Grandmaster Tang Wu are both from the primary line and qualified to be the head of the Tang Family."

Jiang Shaohua responded with a hum: "Bring them both to the hall from the Tang Family."

...

Song Yuan led troops to the Tang Family mansion, causing chaos like chickens flying and dogs jumping.

Over a hundred fierce house servants of the Tang Family charged forward to counter, under the furious shouting of Old Master Tang.

Song Yuan, with a steady face, used the back of his knife to knock one unconscious and ordered in a deep voice: "Knock them all down, but don’t take any lives."

The trusted aides all responded enthusiastically, pouncing forward like wolves and tigers.

In less than an hour, the Tang Family mansion was strewn with bodies.

Old Master Tang was bound hand and foot and directly brought to the county government jail.

Grandmaster Tang San and Grandmaster Tang Wu were brought into the hall.