Chapter 105: A Decision Made at the Third Hour of the Day Ou

ers carrying torches also arrived."What's wrong What's going on Oh, someone's dead!"Zhao Fugui rushed into the small courtyard and immediately looked towards Yang Lin.Seeing Yang Lin standing there pe...The back hall of the county government office.

County Magistrate Wu Rong, of Jianghe, was awakened by his clerk, Zheng Dongqiao.

"Master, something big has happened! Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun moved a lot of people last night, but they haven't come back yet. Just now someone reported that people from the Zhao family and Zhou family have been arrested and are being held in the county magistrate's hall!"

"What"

Hearing what Zheng Dongqiao said, Wu Yong raised an eyebrow and instantly became furious: "They arrested people from the Zhou family and Zhao family And in the county magistrate's hall What does Zhao Kang want to do Does he even have me, the county magistrate, in his eyes!"

"Master, we can't let Zhao Kang run amok with this!" Zheng Dongqiao said hurriedly.

Wu Yong nodded.

He naturally understood this.

Zhao Kang went past his own people and approached the Zhou family and Zhao family, challenging his own authority!

"Come on, call everyone! I want to see if this Zhao Kang still thinks he can turn the sky upside down!"

Wu Yong gave an order, and immediately prepared to send a squad of yamen officers out.

The results came after waiting for ages, but only two elderly and frail clerks rushed over.

Zheng Dongqiao said helplessly, "Master, yesterday Zhao Deyi took away all three shifts of yamen guards. Now there are only the two of them left in the county government."

Wu Yong glared, "Out yesterday Why aren't you back yet Where are the duty officers Not here either These dog officials, they really have eaten bear hearts and tiger guts!"

The Old Master was furious. Zheng Dongqiao also had a helpless look on his face. He had no idea where the yamen servants had gone.

Wu Yong at this moment also realized that something was amiss.

Immediately, he disregarded his dignity and hurriedly called a few servants from his own household. He then led the two elderly constables and, without even bothering to ride in a sedan chair, rushed toward the county magistrate's office.

And at this very moment, inside and outside the County Magistrate's Hall, it was a scene of utter chaos. Countless commoners had packed the entire street outside the County Magistrate's Hall, making it impossible to pass through.

Because they had all heard that the County Magistrate was personally presiding over the case.

And the cases being reviewed were all old cases involving Zhou Kun's family and Zhao Deyi's family!

And also, today's court session is different from the past ones.

In the past, a few old masters would decide cases behind closed doors.

But today, it is a public trial, and even allows the common people to watch!

At first, many people didn't believe it when they heard that Zhao Deyi and Zhou Kun were on trial.

What are you kidding me

Who doesn't know, the Zhou family and Zhao family are the top two powerful families in Jianghe.

Don't even mention the county magistrate; even if it were a high-ranking magistrate, they would have to think twice before touching them.

However, when people saw Zhou Kun and Zhao Deyi's families tied outside the county magistrate's office with their own eyes...

They were utterly shocked.

And everyone realized this time it was really happening!

What's going on Why were people from the Zhou family and Zhao family arrested

"I don't know, I heard they are holding a trial inside. We're too far away to hear anything."

"If both the Zhou family and Zhao family are going to fall, something big is about to happen!"

"Do you remember Yang Lin from last time I saw him in there too."

"What's a villager doing here Is he here to file a complaint" The crowd buzzed with speculation. They were all too far away to hear what was being said inside the hall, so they could only catch snippets of information from those at the front.

"Oh oh, did you hear Someone just said Zhou Kun was sentenced to death!"

"What No way! Are you serious"

Listen to anything else...

The people were filled with excitement.

Many of those who had been bullied by the Zhou and Zhao families were also very excited and wanted to squeeze over to take a look, but unfortunately there were simply too many people.

At this moment, inside the grand hall, Zhao Kang sat in the center, with three squads of yamen officials standing straight on both sides.

"Bang!"

Zhao Kang slammed the gavel and roared, "Zhou Zhengyang is accused of crimes against humanity. Last March, he robbed Xu Liu's wife, Xu Zhangshi, on the street, raped and killed her, then beat Xu Liu to death in broad daylight. Afterward, he conspired with his father, Zhou Kun, to kill Xu Liu's father, Xu Dalian, committing three murders. According to the Great Qi Laws, he deserves to be beheaded to serve as a warning to the people and deter them from following his evil ways."

Zhao Kang had just finished speaking when Zhou Zhengyang, who was kneeling on the floor, fainted.

"Good!!"

"Great!"

"Goodness gracious!"

When people outside the hall heard this, their cheers shook the heavens. Many were so overjoyed that they wept with happiness!

Zhao Kang wrote a large "slash" character on the file and drew a cross after it. Then, he put the file aside and picked up another one.

"A woman named Ren committed a crime against the Zhou Wu clan by being Zhou Kun's concubine. She took advantage of her husband Zhou Kun’s position to receive bribes totaling 860 ounces of silver. She used her power for personal gain, according to the Daqian Law, her crime deserves imprisonment! However, considering that she confessed her wrongdoing first and helped expose others, her imprisonment can be avoided, but she will be punished with twenty lashes!"

Zhou Kun's concubine, upon hearing this, was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed in thanks.

One case after another, even with clear evidence and signed agreements, it took over two hours to complete the review of nearly a hundred cases.

Every judgment is met with cheers from the people.

Hearing the cheers outside the door, Zhao Kang felt a mixture of emotions.

To serve the people, isn't that his original intention

Only after becoming an official did I realize the darkness within this system! It's already fortunate to be able to avoid being corrupted by it. To want to cleanse this filth is like a madman dreaming.

And now, he has done it! Looking back on his past dreams, for some reason, there is an indescribable sense of fulfillment in his heart.

Zhao Kang knew better, Yang Lin letting him handle the case was also a way to help him gain fame!

Since the wealthy family has already been offended, there's no point in clinging to them. Instead, why not become a clean and upright official That way, one can find peace of mind.

"The people who committed crimes: Zhou Kun, Zhou Zhengyang, Zhou Tianyi, Zhou Youliang, Zhou Li, Zhao Guang, Zhao Hui, Zhao Zhong, Zhao Dexing, and Zhao Sanhai. Today at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, they will be executed outside the court!"

With Zhao Kang's words, the crowd outside the hall was once again shocked.

Although they had just heard the sentence of beheading, decapitation was often subject to approval from the Ministry of Punishments. Executing first and reporting later was easy to exploit and could bring trouble.

Therefore, no matter where, after the execution sentence is carried out, there will almost always be a period of time waiting, generally in the spring and autumn seasons, to carry out mass executions!

But now that the case has just been decided and immediately executed, this requires a judge with courage.

Outside the county magistrate's hall, Magistrate Wu had arrived long ago, but there were too many common people surrounding him. He couldn't get through the crowd and could only hear the murmurs of the people. The more he heard, the angrier he became.

This Zhao Kang is truly audacious! Not only did he overstep his bounds, but he also sentenced both the Zhao and Zhou families. He even handed down so many death sentences

As soon as he saw ahead, a path suddenly opened up. Wu Yong's anger had reached its peak and without hesitation, he was about to charge in.

At this moment, a group of officers escorted convicts toward them.

"Let my man go!" Wu Yong roared..Zhao Deyi strode onto his horse: "All of you, get up! Yang Lin murdered and robbed people, falsely accused others. Bring the man to me!""Yes!"The constables drained their bowls, grabbed their swords,...