Feng Jin had always been meticulous about food and had devised various delicious meals at home. Now, she could only eat plain congee, which was indeed a pity for her.
"Being able to eat one's fill is already a luxury. How could I be picky?"
Picking up the bowl, Feng Jin drank the congee in one gulp. Being able to fill her stomach was already good.
Compared to the widespread starvation outside, her current life was already like being in heaven. She had no right to complain.
"Ling Mo Han, what will you do about the refugees outside?"
They had first endured natural disasters, then rebel armies. Continuous suffering, innocent loved ones killed, homes destroyed. Where would their future lie, she did not know.
"I have already reported to His Majesty. The relief food will arrive in a few days. The prefecture office does not have much food left. We can only requisition some grain from nearby counties for emergency use."
"The surrounding counties have also suffered consecutive disasters and are currently struggling to fend for themselves. It is unlikely they will have surplus grain to support Yingzhong Commandery. For now, we can only help ourselves."
"Help ourselves..." Ling Mo Han was slightly puzzled. What kind of self-help was this?
"When I came, I heard that many merchants who colluded with the rebel army were captured after the rebel army was annihilated. These merchants were previously wealthy families in Yingzhong Commandery. When the rebel army breached Yingzhong Commandery, didn't they offer grain and money to save their lives? They are all spineless. In the face of life and death now, they will surely act the same."
"Merchants are always cunning and shrewd, valuing wealth. It's not that easy to make them hand over money and grain."
Ling Mo Han had considered this method. He had also mobilized merchants to donate money and grain, but the amount collected was mediocre.
"That's because your method is wrong. Leave it to me, and I will naturally find a way to make them willingly hand over their money and grain."
Feng Jin appeared confident, having already devised a plan in her mind. "You just need to cooperate with me in everything."
"Alright, I'll listen to you. Tell me, what method do you have?"
"The heavens' secrets cannot be revealed. A wise person has their own plans. Where are the merchants you captured currently held?"
"In the prison. Let Lu Shi take you there."
...
As soon as Feng Jin stepped into the prison, she felt a chilling coldness emanating from it. Sunlight never penetrated here, and a thick smell of mold filled the air. Feng Jin slightly covered her nose and mouth in disgust.
"Young Madam, they are all held in front."
Lu Shi walked Feng Jin forward and ordered the guards, "Open the door."
"Sir, I am innocent, Sir!"
"Sir, please let me go. I have money at home, Sir!"
"Sir, I beg you, Sir!"
The people imprisoned wailed, indicating they had suffered much hardship here.
"Quiet! If you dare to speak again, you will all be dragged out and beaten!"
Lu Shi's angry roar instantly silenced them. They all curled up in the corners, not daring to move.
Feng Jin cast a cold glance at them. They were all in fine robes and wore golden crowns, clearly from wealthy families. The aura of wealth permeated the air.
"You colluded with the rebel army. Your crime is treason. According to the law, your entire families should be executed, and your nine generations of relatives implicated!"
Feng Jin spoke with a stern face, her words carrying immense deterrence. Everyone's faces turned pale with fright, and some of the timid ones' legs trembled slightly.
"It was the rebel army that forced us. We were just trying to survive!" Some of the bolder ones argued.
"Coercion... You committed these deeds yourselves. Now you say you were coerced. Is it not too late? Guards!"
Feng Jin casually pointed at one person and gestured to the guards.
The guards immediately stepped forward, dragged the person out of the cell, and walked away.
Following that were a series of heart-wrenching screams.
"Reporting, Sir, the person has been executed!" a guard with a few bloodstains on him reported.
Feng Jin pursed her lips, nodded calmly, and her sharp gaze swept over everyone. She said in a low voice, "His fate today will be yours tomorrow. Treason is an unforgivable crime, punishable by death by a thousand cuts!"
"I... I don't want to die... I don't want to die..."
"Sir, please let me go... I beg you... Sir..."
Those who had been stubborn earlier were instantly thrown into a panic by this scene. They collapsed on the ground, weak and powerless, begging for mercy.
Feng Jin watched them coldly. Weren't there a few with backbone earlier? Now they were all the same.
"Bring him out. I... I will personally interrogate him."
Feng Jin almost forgot she was disguised as a man and quickly corrected herself to say "Sir."
"Let me go, Sir... I did not collude with the rebels... I did not..."
The man tied to the stick had panicked eyes and trembling lips, his fear evident.
"You say you did not collude with the rebels, but do you have any proof?"
"Sir, I really did not collude, I did not!"
"No... But there are witnesses who saw you sending money and grain to the rebels. Do you dare to say you did not collude and deceive me? Your crime will be doubled!"
Feng Jin shouted angrily, slamming her teacup onto the table. The bound man shivered in fear.
"Sir, it was... it was they who forced me. If I didn't give them grain and money, they would kill me. I had no choice!"
"Yingzhong Commandery suffered from a natural disaster, and the people had no food to eat, only able to eat roots and grass to survive. Yet you personally handed over grain and money to the rebels, allowing them to slaughter and rob the people and oppose the imperial court. Do you know how many soldiers lost their lives in this campaign against the rebels? Your crime is immense. Death by a thousand cuts is still letting you off easy!"
"This humble one knows his mistake, this humble one knows his mistake. Sir, this humble one is willing to offer all his family wealth, just to beg for a way to live. I beg for Your Excellency's mercy!"
The man knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, his body trembling.
In the face of death, all beings are equal and feel immense fear.
"Sir, this humble one's millions in wealth and tens of millions of piculs of grain are all willing to be offered with both hands, just to beg for a life."
Feng Jin calculated in her mind and looked at him coldly. "I heard you are the richest man in Yingzhong Commandery. Yet you are still so afraid of death. Don't forget, after I sentence you and confiscate your property, your wealth will still be confiscated."
"Sir, this humble one... this humble one can persuade other merchants to hand over grain for disaster relief!"
As the richest man in Yingzhong Commandery, he still had some influence among the merchants.
Feng Jin smiled. If they behaved obediently, would there be any issues?
"Lu Shi, follow him and transport all the grain from his home. Then, you will go house to house to collect grain. Remember, I want them to willingly hand over the grain. I do not want to be known for robbing the rich."
"Yes... Yes, this humble one knows what to do. Please rest assured, Sir." Zhang Kun quickly agreed.