Chapter 441: Chapter 206: Pleas, Cold Element Festival, the Leader Emerges (Part 2)

“Lu Yang, according to the Camp Supply Department’s regulations, how should the more than five thousand people from the Wuyuan Mountain North’s four camps be handled this time?”

Lu Yang, who was affiliated with the Camp Supply Department, naturally knew these matters well and answered without hesitation.

“Flying Tiger, Yang Ping, Moon Sound, and River Edge from the Earth-digging Realm have 124 captives, and from the Logging Realm, there are 182 captives, totaling 306 criminals who have acted against us.

Chief criminal Wang Lie is obstinate and refuses to heed advice, according to regulations, he should be sentenced to three years of labor; his thirty-three Earth-digging Realm subordinates, whose cases are slightly more severe, should be sentenced to one and a half years of labor; the 182 Logging Realm people, all from the Flying Tiger Camp, should be sentenced to one year of labor according to regulations;

As for the other three leaders, He Feng, Liu Qing, and Xiang Ping, they are considered accomplices and according to regulations should be sentenced to two years of labor, with a total of 87 Earth-digging Realm subordinates under them, should be sentenced to one and a half years of labor according to regulations.

Additionally, the direct relatives of these criminals, totaling 572 people not overlapping, will also be sentenced to half a year of labor, which will be added onto their heads.”

The captives rule has been implemented for over two months, and naturally, many details have been supplemented and completed.

In taking action against the Great Xia people, the captives rule applies, but for those who did not act, it doesn’t apply, which is considered a relatively humane clause in this rule.

Almost all the ordinary people in the camps have no say in the matter of dealing with Great Xia; whether they act or not is dictated by the leader, so naturally, Great Xia will not pursue their faults.

But it’s different for the direct relatives of these criminals.

Since they have received sustenance from these criminals on ordinary days, when things go awry, they naturally also get implicated, thus they are collectively sentenced to half a year of labor.

Of course, very few of these people have Earth-digging Realm strength, so the labor will all be added to the head of the criminal themselves.

This counts as a restrictive clause, mainly targeting those criminals who have entered the mines and still refuse to honestly mine and serve.

The father is an accomplice with two years of labor, plus the mother, brother, and sister each having half a year, adding up to a total of three and a half years of labor.

Upon hearing this sentence, Xiang Liang, kneeling on the ground, immediately became tense.

His father Xiang Ping is already thirty-nine years old; given the average lifespan of over forty in the Ice Abyss World, he doesn’t have many years left to live, and whether he can walk out of the mines alive after serving three and a half years of labor is still uncertain.

He wanted to plead for his family, but the solemn and majestic hall was pressing him immensely, coupled with the silence of Yuwen Dao and the others, he dared not speak.

Thinking it over, he could only bow low and lightly tap his head on the floor.

Bang…

Xia Chuan was interrupted by the sound and slowly looked down at Xiang Liang, then spoke:

“It’s certainly impossible to pardon everyone from your camp, but considering your meritorious contribution, I will exempt your family of four from labor.”

Xiang Liang’s expression initially froze, then he knocked his head repeatedly, saying excitedly, “I thank the lord on behalf of my father and family for your grace.”

Xia Chuan smiled and nodded, just about to speak.

Dong…

A large drum sound suddenly echoed through the valley skies.

The drum sound resonated with earth-shaking might, causing not just the wooden building, but the entire valley to seem to tremble along.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiang Liang staggered almost falling, feeling his heartbeat resonate with the drum sound, momentarily fearing an attack from a terrifying Cold Beast, and was utterly shocked.

However, upon looking up, he saw Xia Chuan and the others appearing extremely relaxed.

Not only relaxed, but the five even showed some smiles.

“Is the time up?”

“Hahaha, it should be, Yue Feng’s side has begun.”

“The first Cold Element Festival, it must be impressive.”

……

As their conversation ended, the drum sound rang again.

Dong… dong… dong… dong…

The interval between each drumbeat was very long, approximately three breaths, and Xiang Liang felt his heart beating in time with the drum, a solemn sacred feeling surging from his heart, making him inexplicably excited.

Dong… dong… dong… dong…

After a total of nine earth-shaking drumbeats, they finally concluded.

The entire valley also became silent and tranquil.

The main building that originally had some noise became instantly quiet.

The entire Great Xia Valley was quietly silent, with only the faint sound of snowflakes fluttering across the sky becoming exceptionally clear now.

If Xiang Liang could step out of the hall, he would find that all the people in the main building had already stepped out, and everyone from Great Xia in the valley had also come out of the wooden houses, standing on the three main roads, all eyes turned towards the main building, faces bearing a touch of sacredness and anticipation.

“The Great Xia’s second Cold Element Festival, the leader’s decree…”

A large voice sounded from above the valley.

“People will arrive soon, you should leave now!”

Kneeling Xiang Liang heard Xu Ning’s words, hurriedly thanked them, and got up, listening to the voice above while walking towards the hall doors.

Before he reached the hall doors, a strong fragrance wafted from outside.

Soon, a large wave of people began to enter, carrying tables and chairs, and those pieces held foods and fruits he had never seen before, with each holding a wooden jug of unknown contents.

Xiang Liang, intoxicated by the aroma, widened his eyes, slowing his walking speed, nearly blocking others.

“On New Year’s, at the auspicious time, the new day begins, close the city gates, light the valley lights, the feast begins, all under decree, celebrating worldwide!”