The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 109- 111

Chapter 109: A Riot in the Mine of Jia Family and the Murder of the Director

“What did you say? People of Jia family want to give the account book to Tao Feng?”

Before long, Zhang Chong was informed what had happened in Tanyang. In the knowledge that a mere mine director of Jia family dared to talk so wildly and threat him, Zhang Chong was infuriated. In fact, not only was he infuriated, he couldn’t wait to kill that mine director named Cao Dong.

“Commander, if that account book falls into the hands of Tao Feng, he will get the goods on us. If by any chance he has it delivered to the capital city, His Majesty will surely order an investigation into it – if he doesn’t believe it immediately. In that case, what we’ve been doing here will definitely be brought to light,” said Bai Jun, a Deputy Commander, an anxious look on his face.

“Jia family is in a hurry to meet its end,” replied Zhang Chong in a malevolent tone of voice, his face murderous. “Go and find that Cao Dong immediately. Kill him. Destroy the account book.”

“But now everybody in Tanyang knows that Cao Dong has the account book. If he dies, we’ll be prime suspects.”

“We’re facing an imminent crisis, and you still care about this? Do it clean. Even if they guess the truth, there will be nothing they could do in the absence of any definite proof.”

“Ur… Yes, Commander!”

After Deputy Commander Bai Jun left, Zhang Chong thought for a while with a sullen face. Then he gave an order to his personal guard. “Get Wang Ming and Wang He here.”

The personal guard followed the order and brought Wang Ming and Wang He, both of whom were Deputy Commanders, to the tent of Zhang Chong.

“Commander, what can I do for you?”

“Jia family must be eliminated, but the mine must stay in our hands. Wang Ming, make arrangements for one of your men to disguise as a rich merchant, go to Jia family and offer to buy the mine. If Jia Yin refuses to sell it, make him!”

Hearing the order, Deputy Commander Wang Ming was rather embarrassed. “Commander, it’s very difficult for a strange merchant from another city to get Prefecture Yamen’s permission to buy a mine. Even if I have someone disguise as a merchant and manage to force Jia Yin into agreeing to sell, we won’t be able to get the mine without Tao Feng’s consent.”

“That’s your problem. Make it work or see yourself relieved of your command,” replied Zhang Chong.

Wang Ming and Wang He exchanged glances. Then Wang He said to Zhang Chong, “Commander, I have an idea. Would you please be so kind as to hear me out?”

“Go ahead.”

“If a strange merchant makes a sudden offer for the mine, Tao Feng will no doubt turn it down, which is why we need to ask a local squire for help – someone from He family or Zhou family, for example. They’re local squires, and we got the goods on them. As long as we put some pressure on them, they will obediently work for you, Commander.

This is the first half of my suggestion. As regards the other half, since Commander has already had an intention of eliminating people of Jia family, we might as well tamper with the mine and incriminate them. And then they’ll be at your mercy and you can do whatever you want to them, and no suspicions will be aroused. Since your last memorial to the throne was turned down by His Majesty, I fear that there might be something covert at work in the capital city, so maybe we should stand low-key in Tanyang lest we catch anybody’s attention and compromise the big plan of the Sixth Prince.”

Wang He made these remarks in a very calm tone of voice. The sullenness and murderousness on Zhang Chong’s face gradually dissolved. Seeing this, Wang Ming was secretly relieved.

“You’ve got a point. Be it so, how to tamper with the mine will be left to your discretion.”

“I’ll see it done. Please rest assured, Commander.”

After leaving Zhang Chong’s tent, Wang Ming said to Wang He, “Thanks to your timely proposal, Commander changed his mind.”

“You were just too inflexible, elder brother,” said Wang He.

“What do you plan to do?” Wang Ming asked him.

A sepulchral look flashed across Wang He’s face. “I’ve already got a plan. Just go and tell He family and Zhou family to do what they’re told to do. I’ll have Jia Yin put in jail by dusk tomorrow at the latest. And then He family and Zhou family will handle the rest.”

“Okay. Let’s do this your way.” replied Wang He.

…

After hearing the news about what had happened in the brothel, Yuwen Tong asked Ling Zhang, “Was it you who sent someone to add fuel to the matter of the mine director of Jia family?”

Ling Zhang gave a bob of the head and answered, “The account book that Cao Dong has in hand is a counterfeit. It won’t do us any harm if Zhang Chong destroy it. On the contrary, he’ll be lulled into believing that he has destroyed the evidence, leaving no loose ends. And the contradictions between Zhang Chong and Jia family will also be intensified, which will cause Zhang Chong to take action sooner. It’s almost been half a month and the deadline is drawing near. News from the capital city is likely to arrive in Tanyang at any moment. Once it comes to the knowledge of Zhang Chong that you are in Tanyang, he will call a halt to whatever it is that he has been doing. This is such a golden opportunity to induce a dogfight between them. How can we miss it?”

“That Cao Dong probably won’t make it through tonight,” observed Yuwen Tong. “Tao Feng suddenly paid a visit to Jia family in the morning. Was it you who asked him to do that?”

Ling Zhang nodded. “That was just a stratagem to trick Zhang Chong. Actually, Lord Tao just stayed there for a little while and then left.”

Yuwen Tong smiled. “It has never crossed my mind that you’ve already had the ear of Tao Feng.”

Ling Zhang curled his lip. “He was merely pushing the boat with the current.”

Tao Feng was a man of great shrewdness. The only time that he had offered help to Ling Zhang was when the case of Jia Yuanling was in progress. After that, Tao Feng had been standing by and profiting from two opposing sides all along.

Ling Zhang didn’t like Tao Feng. It was just that Tao Feng was not on friendly terms with Zhang Chong, so at least Tao Feng inclined to side with Ling Zhang. Had Yuwen Tong not come to Tanyang, Ling Zhang would have taken more proactive action to co-opt Tao Feng, who might have become Ling Zhang’s most powerful backer. But Yuwen Tong had arrived in Tanyang before that could happen.

On that night, a riot suddenly broke out in the mine of Jia family. Dozens of miners who had had enough of oppression from Jia family abruptly rose in revolt, injured guards of the mine, killed the mine director Cao Dong, burnt down the couple of houses of Jia family in the mining area, took the money, destroyed all important sales records and the account book, and then took to the hills.

News of this matter soon spread to Tanyang and brought the whole city into shock.

Before Tao Feng sent Yamen runners to settle the disturbed situation, Zhang Chong, under the banner of protecting people of Tanyang, led his men to the mine of Jia family, ringed it and restrained half of the rioters.

When people of Jia family heard about this incident, those arrested miners had already been escorted to Prefecture Yamen, and the mine was under the control of Prefecture Guards.

Jia Yin spat blood in undue rage and passed out in bed.

Struck all of a heap, Mrs. Jia limply slumped down onto a chair, her face ghastly white. “How did this happen?!”

Not only people of Jia family but also Tao Feng was greatly surprised. It had never crossed his mind that Zhang Chong would make such a ruthless move!

The body of Cao Dong was beyond recognition due to the fire and the account book had also been burnt to ashes, along with everything else in the houses.

Those arrested rioters kept on proclaiming that Jia family had inflicted abuse on them, that they had been forced to work as miners against their will, that they had never been paid or given enough food. They also stated many heinous crimes committed by Jia family, including arbitrarily executing miners in the mining area…

All arrested miners told the same story and also provided information about a couple of locations where people of Jia family had buried bodies.

Tao Feng led some men to those locations and, as expected, dug up over ten corpses.

All those bodies were identified as miners.

Ling Zhaowen, who was also present, was shocked by the scene. In fact, many people knew that Jia family had been oppressing and exploiting miners, but covert murders of miners had never been brought to light. If it weren’t for this riot, this horrific crime might continue to stay secret.

Ling Zhang, who had secretly come to the scene with Yuwen Tong, was also astounded, having difficulty calming himself down.

Though it was him who had played Zhang Chong off Jia family, he had never expected that Zhang Chong would directly take advantage of the mine of Jia family to make trouble, and neither had he expected that so many bodies would be found.

Most of those over ten corpses had only bones left. Only the one at the top had been newly buried.

‘People of Jia family did such atrocious things of brutality. Why didn’t they get their just deserts in their last life?’

Ling Zhang had an icy look on his face, anger bubbling beneath the surface. ‘It shows that in most cases, there are no such things as fairness or justice.’

“Turn your eyes away from it.” Seeing the look on his face, Yuwen Tong thought that the scene of those corpses were making him feel uncomfortable.

What he didn’t know was that Ling Zhang was grieving for and indignant about the fate of these miners, of Lu family and of Ling family in their last life.

He believed that in his last life, after they died, people of Jia family undoubtedly colluded with Zhang Chong and started bullying residents of Tanyang, living a comfortable life. ‘They must have stamped on the bodies of victims like my family reveling away the time! Why did they get to do that!’ Ling Zhang thought angrily.

Worried that Ling Zhang might lose control of his mood, Yuwen Tong hurriedly took him away from the scene.

“Jia family committed all sorts of wicked actions, and they will definitely get their just deserts this time. There’s no need for sorrow,” Yuwen Tong consoled him.

After a long silence, Ling Zhang answered, “Yeah.” He did this in revenge for the murder of his family in his last life. Debts of blood must be repaid in kind, since it was the only way to let the souls of the deceased rest in peace.

“People of Jia family are so inhumane. It would be a humiliation for humanity to regard them as human,” observed Tao Feng indignantly, standing beside the burial ground.

All Yamen runners who had dug up those bodies had angry faces. “Your Lordship, when should we arrest people of Jia family?”

“Yeah, Your Lordship. We can’t let Jia family get away with such atrocity.”

“Dig up all bodies with care. Bring those miners here and see if they can identify the bodies. As regards the mine…”

“The mine won’t be distraction for you, Lord Tao. Please let me handle it,” Zhang Chong interrupted Tao Feng.

Tao Feng’s brows furrowed. ‘Has Zhang Chong made up his mind to take control of the mine?’

“Commander Zhang, currently, this mine still belongs to Jia family. I’ll decide its ownership after a trial.”

“Rest assured, Lord Tao. I have no intention of taking forcible possession of it. It’s just that this riot was a very serious incident. As the commander of Prefecture Guards of Tanyang, I have a duty to maintain order and peace. Keeping this mine under temporary guard of Prefecture Guards is the best choice, given that there are still many miners in it and there’s no guarantee that they won’t riot again,” replied Zhang Chong.

Tao Feng subdued his anger and said, “Then thank you for going to the bother of guarding the mine for the moment.”

“It’s my pleasure,” said Zhang Chong.

Tao Feng coldly gave a snort. “Tongzhi Ling, please go back to the city first and have your men encircle Jia family lest Jia Yin escape.”

“Yes,” Ling Zhaowen answered and led his men away.

Seeing this, Ling Zhang said, “We should go back as well. It concerns me that my uncle stands to lose when a conflict arises between him and Jia family. I want to go there and see if I can help.”

Yuwen Tong nodded. “Okay.”

The two people followed Ling Zhaowen and returned to Tanyang. Residents of Tanyang knew that a serious incident had happened in the mine of Jia family, but the discovery of those bodies hadn’t come to their knowledge yet, so there was a semblance of quiet in the city for the moment.

Ling Zhaowen hurried to Prefecture Yamen, summoned all Yamen runners and headed for the residence of Jia family.

Keeping a low profile, Ling Zhang brought Wang Dashan and some others with him and followed in the wake of his uncle. Since it was inconvenient for Yuwen Tong to show himself, he returned to the mansion of Ling family.

Chapter 110: he Encirclement and Imprisonment of Jia Family

Large numbers of Yamen runners abruptly ringed the residence of Jia family. All people inside were brought into panic. Since Jia Yin was in a coma, Mrs. Jia had no alternative but to come out to meet Ling Xingzhong.

“Lord Ling, why did you have Yamen runners encircle our residence?”

“Jia family secretly executed miners with utter disregard for human life. By order of Lord Tao, all members of Jia family shall be put in jail awaiting trail,” said Ling Zhaowen with a serious face, twenty Yamen runners standing behind him.

On hearing that these Yamen runners came here to arrest them, all members of Jia family panicked.

“Nonsense. We’ve always been law-abiding merchants. Someone must have framed us!”

“Those miners killed our mine director and snatched our money. Why didn’t Lord Tao arrest them instead of us?!”

“We want to see Lord Tao!”

Members of Jia family started yelling.

Ling Zhaowen coldly snorted. “It was Lord Tao who has ordered your arrest. If you want an audience with Lord Tao, come with us to Prefecture Yamen. Restrain them!”

“Stop! Who are you to arrest us?” Mrs. Jia let out a scream. “My brother-in-law Jia Zhong is the County Magistrate. We are all family members of the County Magistrate. You have no right to arrest us!”

“Even His Majesty enjoys no privilege whatsoever before law, not to mention people of Jia family. What are you standing there for? Restrain them,” Ling Zhaowen ordered coldly.

“Yes!” Yamen runners didn’t dare to delay. They rushed into the mansion and arrested everyone on sight.

“Stop! What are you doing? I’m the hostess of Jia family. Don’t touch me! Let me go!” Mrs. Jia screamed constantly when being grabbed,, her face deathly pale with fear.

“Mistress, help us! Please help us!”

“We have nothing to do with that. We’re just servants. It was our master who did all those things. Please don’t arrest us.”

“Let me go! Don’t you touch me! I want to talk to Lord Tao! I want to talk to Commander Zhang! Ling Zhaowen, you must have faked Lord Tao’s order. You’re abusing public power to get your own private revenge. You’re so vicious. My son has already died because of you, and now you want to take our lives as well?!” Mrs. Jia screamed constantly.

There had already been a lot of residents looking on near the gateway. After hearing this, they all started whispering to each other, occasionally pointing at Ling Zhaowen.

“Soon bodies of those miners who were secretly killed by Jia family in the mine will be transported back to Prefecture Yamen. Anybody who holds objection may go directly to Prefecture Yamen to take a look at those over ten corpses. Maybe you’ll find your friends or relatives among them.” Ling Zhaowen turned around to face those lookers-on and made these remarks in a cold tone of voice.

After he said this, the buzz of discussions gradually died down. Those people were somewhat afraid to look at Ling Zhaowen’s eyes.

Ling Zhang and his men were standing on the other side, watching those lookers-on, an apathetic look on his face.

‘These people always jump to conclusions from insignificant evidence. Even the likelihood of a red rain is greater than that of these people analyzing things rationally,’ he thought.

“Young Master, shall we go to Second Master’s help?” asked Wang Dashan.

Ling Zhang replied with a cold face, “Not for now. We’re not staff members of Prefecture Yamen, so we should not take any action unless there’s an emergency lest my uncle be put on the spot.”

“Let me go! Get your hands off me!” Mrs. Jia was dragged out of the mansion, struggling and cursing angrily along the way. All her curses were aimed at Ling Zhaowen.

“Ling Zhaowen, how dare you treat us like this! You’re going to die a violent death! I swear to God I’ll kill you!

You’re using your position to bully us. Is there still justice in this world? God, please open your eyes. This evildoer named Ling Zhaowen is forcing law-abiding good people to die!”

“Shut up, you shrew. Your family treat people’s lives as no more than grass. You murdered so many miners, yet you still have the nerve to malign His Lordship. Bah!” Finally, having had enough of her slanderous words, a Yamen runner pointed at Mrs. Jia and reprimanded her.

“What did you say? You’re just a stooge of Ling Zhaowen. You and him are jackals from the same lair!” yelled Mrs. Jia.

The Yamen runner was infuriated. “Lord Ling is a good official. Don’t you vixen wrong him! Your family murdered people in cold blood. All of you will be sentenced to death!”

“No! We didn’t do that! You’re slandering good people!”

Ling Zhang winked at Qiu Bing, who gave a bob of the head and wormed his way into the crowd.

After a while, someone yelled, “Hey, Mrs. Jia were you a good person, the sun will rise from the west. Would you please tell me who disfigured the face of a pretty maidservant and evicted her from your house leaving her to die?”

“That’s true. I heard that there was once a good-looking maidservant in Jia family whose hands were white and delicate. Just because Jia Yin had his eye on the maidservant, Mrs. Jia had her hands broken.”

“Tell me about it. Not long ago, didn’t she just abort the child of the concubine whose surname is Liu?”

“Tsk, tsk. She’s such a malicious woman. I don’t know how she has the nerve to slander others.”

“I’ve long ago heard that people of Jia family abused their miners. People as vicious as them might really dare to kill!”

“Yeah. I heard that, too. People of Jia family assaulted Supervisor Lin just because of a petty disagreement!”

“One time, when Jia Zhong was on his way back home, just because someone accidentally walked in front of his palanquin, he professed that the man deliberately blocked the path of an official with malignant intent, and put the man in jailhouse.”

“That’s true. These years, Jia family…”

At first there were only a couple of people criticizing Jia family. Soon, more people joined them. Before long, almost all lookers-on started discussing. One after another, all evil deeds committed by people of Jia family were brought to light.

Anger of the crowd gradually built up as the discussion went on. Eventually all lookers-on pointed at Mrs. Jia laying curse on her. Some women who were good at cursing doused her in a torrent of abuse, which made her blood boil. Cheeks burning with rage, she reprimanded, “You uneducated country bumpkins. Shut up! All of you! Otherwise I’ll tear your mouths!”

“Bah! Who do you think you are to call us uneducated country bumpkins? If it weren’t for that you’ve got money, nobody would have given a damn about you!”

“Tell me about it. You really think you were born in the purple? You’ve got nothing but some filthy money! And you got that by exploiting people!”

While Mrs. Jia were exchanging abuses with lookers-on, Qiu Bing wormed his way back to Ling Zhang’s side and said stealthily, “Young Master, mission accomplished.”

“You’ll be handsomely rewarded after we get back.” Ling Zhang flicked a satisfied glance at him.

With a grin, Qiu Bing expressed his gratitude and returned to the group beneath the envious gaze of his fellows.

“You’re not bad, Qiu Bing. It never crossed my mind that you have this kind of talent.” Zhao Shen smacked a fist onto Qiu Bing.

Qiu Bing smugly raised his head. Lately, he had fulfilled several tasks for his young master, and his young master’s trust in him had been growing, which he found more fulfilling than money reward.

In the crowd, Liu Yi glanced at him and then took away his eyes which gleamed with disappointment and resignation.

“Jia Yin was carried out,” Wang Dashan reminded others.

Everybody looked in the direction of the gateway and, as expected, saw that Jia Yin lying on a rough stretcher made of wooden planks was carried out of the mansion by Yamen runners. He was wearing thin clothes and the blebs on his face stood swollen, making him a sight of disgust and terror.

“Those things on Jia Yin’s face are so nauseating.”

“Tell me about it. This must be the retribution for all the evil he has done.”

Lookers-on began to point fingers at Jia Yin.

Jia Yin had already come around but was aching all over and thus unable to sit up. Because of that mouthful of blood he had spat out previously in overwhelming rage, his face was still ashen and he couldn’t even articulate properly. As he caught sight of Ling Zhaowen, he stared fixedly at him as if he wanted to eat him alive. Panting, he observed, “Ling Zhaowen, you base bastard!”

Standing on the staircase looking down at Jia Yin, Ling Zhaowen replied in a moderate, cold voice, “Jia Yin, you slew some innocent miners. This is the day you get your just deserts.”

Jia Yin glared fixedly at Ling Zhaowen, his face twisted in fury. He struggled trying to sit up but all his attempts proved unsuccessful. Having no alternative, he pointed at Ling Zhaowen with his trembling fingers. “You…You…”

Then his next breath failed him and he fell into unconsciousness again.

“Master? Master!” Seeing this, Mrs. Jia let out a screech and burst into loud sobbing.

“He’s still alive. There’s no need for you to wail so soon,” observed Ling Zhaowen after flicking a cold glance at her.

Mrs. Jia wept even louder.

After Jia Yin was carried outside, many other people were also escorted out of the mansion. The gateway was crowded with people.

There was still white cloth hanging on the walls beside the front gate of Jia family’s mansion, which had been prepared for the memorial service of Jia Yuanling. The combination of the sight of white cloth and that of those arrested people sent shivers of fear down the spines of lookers-on.

They had a sudden yet exceptionally distinct realization that Jia family was toast.

The nose count alone took quite a long time. Mrs. Jia had already fainted due to excessive weep. Eventually, she was carried to Prefecture Yamen along with Jia Yin.

Escorting members of Jia family, Yamen runners headed for Prefecture Yamen, followed by a lot of lookers-on.

Ling Zhang thought for a few moments, then bade Qiu Bing and Zhou Xiang to bring more than half of his men back to Ling family, which he himself took four men, including Wang Dashan and Liu Yi, and followed in the wake of the procession.

When Liu Yi heard Ling Zhang let him to stay, a slightly surprised look crossed his face, and then he silently followed.

Wang Dashan glanced at him and wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. He also had no idea why Ling Zhang suddenly gave Liu Yi the cold shoulder, but he believed that there must be a reason. He had asked Liu Yi about it, but Liu Yi hadn’t told him anything.

Wang Dashan was fairly concerned. He regarded Liu Yi as a close friend who, like himself, had had the good fortune to work for Ling family, so he didn’t want Liu Yi to be fired.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

While the crowd progressing towards Prefecture Yamen, sounds of gongs came from the street near the western city gate. Someone was beating a gong to clear the way.

Tao Feng and his men, who had gone to the mine on the West Mountain to dig up bodies of victims, returned to the city.

Yamen runners were carrying wooden planks. Things on those planks were covered with white cloth. Anybody could tell what those things were without having to guess.

Residents found that during daytime, this scene was even more scary than that at the gateway of Jia family a moment ago.

All lookers-on were frightened somewhat and drew back.

“Are those bodies of miners murdered by Jia family that Lord Ling mentioned?”

“He was telling the truth?”

“Those goddamn people of Jia family really murdered miners!”

“Look at those planks. There are over ten of them. So many people died.”

“Goodness me. A relative of mine who lives in the countryside of Qi County works in the mine of Jia family. I haven’t contacted him for a long time. I don’t know if one of these… Bah! I shouldn’t have jinxed him.”

As those planks were carried nearer, people saw more distinctly. Beneath the white cloth were none other than bones.

Many residents didn’t even dare to look. They drew back to the side in fright.

Chapter 111: The Conviction of Jia Family and the Betrayal of Servants

Those corpses of miners brought back by Tao Feng were concrete evidence. This time, words failed all people of Jia family, as if their necks were being squeezed. After a few moments’ silence, they dissolved into tears.

“I wonder if they still have anything else to say,” said Wang Dashan.

‘Just now all these people indulged in sophistry acting like they were really wronged,’ he thought angrily.

Those corpses covered with white cloth were carried into Prefecture Yamen, followed by people of Jia family and a great many lookers-on. The hall was filled with people waiting for Tao Feng to hold a trial.

Tao Feng quickly changed into his official robe and announced the commencement of the trial. Jia Yin had been woken up by a physician. Mrs. Jia was kneeling on the ground beside him, sobbing with her head down. Behind the couple knelt other members of Jia family.

“Jia Yin, state your motives for exploiting, abusing and killing miners working in your mine,” Tao Feng snapped.

Jia Yin briefly gasped and then slowly replied, “Your Lordship, it wasn’t me who killed those miners. We never murdered any miners.”

Tao Feng reprimanded, “Liar! More than a hundred miners working in the mine testified that those people were killed by members of your family. Yamen runners! Bring the witnesses!”

Before long, Yamen runners brought all miners to the hall. Some of them were in shackles and the others were not.

Tao Feng said to them, “State the reason why you rioted. Give an account of how Jia family killed those miners and tell us the identities of all victims.”

All miners were trembling. Clearly the atmosphere of this law court filled them with fear.

“Our work in the mine is very dangerous, and we have to work very long hours every day. But people of Jia family never paid us agreed amount of money on the agreed date. They frequently delay making payments and they dock our wages all the time. We were displeased and we requested Jia family to pay us the money they had promised, but Jia family not only refused but also said that we were too greedy. Some of us wanted to quit and asked Jia family to give them their wages for the last month, but Jia family threatened them, saying that they wouldn’t get a single coin if they quit. All of us are from poor families. Our family members are counting on us to support them. We can’t afford to give up the money, so we have no choice but to continue working there under the exploitation.

But as time passed by, we found it harder and harder to get by. Tunnels are growing in both number and depth every day, and it’s also getting increasingly dangerous to work down there because of the high risk of collapse. Once anybody got stuck in there, death is almost certain. If anyone dies in the tunnel, Jia family will make a meager compensatory payment when his family members come to the mine to claim the body. Those who are injured may survive if the wounds are not severe. For those who are seriously wounded, Jia family will just ignore them and let them die, because treating them costs more than compensating family members of the dead.

Many of us found this unacceptable and intended to leave, but because these things have come to our knowledge, people of Jia family are even more unwilling to let us go. In no circumstances will anybody working in the mine be allowed to leave. We couldn’t stand it anymore so we rose in revolt with the intention to have Cao Dong, the mine director, inform the patriarch of Jia family that we were willing to waive our claim for wages as long as he agreed to let us leave. But Cao Dong refused and had the guards beat one of us to death. During the conflict, someone pushed Cao Dong. He lost his balance and accidentally hit his head on the corner of a table and died. The oil lamp on the table was overturned and then the account book and other things were set aflame. We got scared and fled, and the fire burnt everything to ashes.”

Head down, a miner in shackles gave a detailed account of what had happened in the mine of Jia family.

Standing among the crowd, Ling Zhang heard the miner distinctly. He believed that most of the miner’s words were definitely true, but the death of Cao Dong and the reason for the riot were by no means so simple, that Zhang Chong must have played a part in this.

“Why and how did Jia family murder those miners? What do you know about those bones?” Tao Feng asked a further question.

“Your Lordship, all those people were miners who attempted to put up a resistance to Jia family. They tried to flee from the mine under the noses of guards but got caught and beaten to death.”

This remark of the miner sent a ripple of exclamation through the crowd. People found it hard to believe that people of Jia family were so cold-blooded.

“Every time someone was beaten to death, the mine would be quiet for a very long time, because everybody is afraid and doesn’t want to die. But every certain amount of time, there would always be someone who failed to forbear from fleeing and then was beaten to death. We’ve already lost count of such things.”

“Your Lordship, please help us get justice! We really didn’t mean to kill Cao Dong. All we wanted was to quit the job. We sought an audience with Jia Yin and Jia Zhong but were denied the chance, which was why we caused Cao Dong’s accidental death. Please take this into consideration, Your Lordship.”

“Your Lordship, all of us are poor people forsaken by fortune, and we all have aged parents and young children awaiting us at home. We don’t want to die in the mine of Jia family.”

“Please help us get justice, Your Lordship!”

“Your Lordship, people of Jia family have no sense of humanity. They don’t deserve to be deemed human.”

Miners kept talking and soon threw the hall into hubbub.

Tao Feng brought his alarming-block (An alarming block is a cuboid block of wood shaped like a brick, which is used by an official in feudal China and served as the counterpart of a judge’s hammer.) down on the table and ordered, “Quiet.”

“What you’ve just pleaded has come to my knowledge. Those who killed people, intentionally or unintentionally, shall be punished in accordance with law. But since Jia family committed such horrific crimes, I will also make sure all of you see justice served.”

“Thank you. Thank you, Your Lordship.” Miners kept kowtowing.

Tao Feng had to smack the alarming-block down onto the table again to have them quiet down.

Face livid with rage, Jia Yin subdued his fury and observed, “Your Lordship, all of them were lying. We have nothing to do with the deaths of those miners. It was these people who secretly murdered them and buried them to frame me.”

“Bullshit! There were guards everywhere in the mine. Each and every move of ours were under their surveillance. How was it possible for us to kill anybody in there?”

“Your Lordship, Jia Yin is trying to shift responsibility onto us. Please don’t believe him. It was indeed his men who killed those people.”

Jia Yin clenched his teeth and gasped quickly, his face deathly white, which made him seem very scary. “Your Lordship, all these people are cheap and uneducated country bumpkins. You can never trust them. They are defaming us!”

“Your Lordship, never have we killed anybody,” Mrs. Jia also urgently said.

“Jia Yin, Fang shi, both human testimony and physical evidence are available, yet you are still trying to deny your guilt.” Tao Feng was very angry. “Yamen runners! Bring another witness here so that they’ll be sincerely convinced.”

‘There’s yet another witness?’ Everybody was astonished.

Even Ling Zhang was somewhat surprised. ‘Who’s this extra witness?’

It turned out that the one brought to the hall by Yamen runners was the butler of Jia family.

On the sight of the butler, Jia Yin was infuriated and nearly passed out again. “It’s you?!”

As soon as the butler entered the hall, he knelt down to the ground and dissolved into tears. Sobbing, he said to Tao Feng, “Your Lordship, I can testify that it was Master and Second Master who gave orders to kill those miners. I myself communicated orders from them several times. My stupid loyalty clouded my judgement at that time. Please show clemency on me, Your Lordship!”

Ling Zhang knitted his eyebrows. ‘When in a life-and-death situation, this so-called “loyal servant” is nothing more than this.’

Seeing that even the butler of Jia family betrayed the master, all other servants of Jia family followed suit. They kept disclosing more illegal acts committed by Jia Yin and Jia Zhong as well as other members of Jia family.

“Those who provide information on the crimes committed by the Jia brothers will receive lenient sentence,” said Tao Feng.

As soon as he finished the last word, more servants decided to betray Jia family. They raced to inform on their masters for tear that there wouldn’t be anything left for them to disclose if they didn’t hurry.

Jia Yin watched these servants, his face growing paler and paler. “You fucking lackeys. Don’t forget who you are indentured to.”

“Jia Yin, you’re already a prisoner, a criminal, which means you’re no longer eligible to keep these people’s service indentures. And openly threatening witnesses in a law court is an unforgivable act. Yamen runners! Give him ten staff hits,” said Tao Feng coldly.

“Yes, Your Lordship!”

When Jia Yin was pinned against the surface a bench prostrate, he caught sight of Zhang Chong. Instantly, the look in his eyes went ferocious and he gritted his teeth. “Zhang Chong, it’s you. It must be you! You want my mine. You want to take our lives. You base bastard will die a violent and miserable death!”

After cursing Zhang Chong, Jia Yin turned his head aside to swear at Ling Zhaowen. “And you, Ling Zhaowen. You framed me, didn’t you?!”

“Ah!” Yamen runners started the flogging and Jia Yin let out a pained cry, no longer able to curse anybody. His body was covered with blebs and he had also spat blood previously, which meant he had both trauma and internal injury, so the flogging was beyond the tolerance of his body. Soon, before the Yamen runner counted to ten, Jia Yin blacked out.

Kneeling on the side, Mrs. Jia trembled uncontrollably. She had understood Jia Yin’s remarks. Afraid to raise her head to look at Zhang Chong, she crawled her way up to him, grabbed the lower hem of his robe and pleaded, “Commander Zhang, you’re a man of generous mind. Please have mercy on us and forgive us for our wrongs this time. Spare us. Please.”

“What are you talking about, Mrs. Jia? It’s you who committed crimes, none of which concerns me. Walk away.” Zhang Chong grinned hideously and kicked Mrs. Jia aside.

Mrs. Jia let out an anguished screech but soon crawled over to him again and implored in a tearful voice, “Commander Zhang, I’m begging you. Spare us. Please.”

“Get your hands off me or else I’ll give you another kick!” Zhang Chong looked at Mrs. Jia in impatience.

But Mrs. Jia refused to release her grip. Since Zhang Chong had already kicked her once, it was inappropriate for him to aim another kick at her, so he said to Tao Feng, “Lord Tao, please have your men get Mrs. Jia away from me.”

Tao Feng winked at a Yamen runner, who then walked up to Mrs. Jia and grabbed her, trying to drag her aside.

Mrs. Jia clung on to Zhang Chong’s legs and beseeched him. “Commander Zhang, I’m begging you. Please spare us! We won’t blame our son’s death on you any longer, and neither will we sell the ore of our mine to anybody else. Please forgive us, okay?”

“Stop your nonsense, woman. Beat it!” In order to cover the truth, Zhang Chong gave Mrs. Jia another kick which sent her flying.

Mrs. Jia landed on the ground and burst into weep.

Seeing this, all lookers-on fell into discussion in a muted voice. Zhang Chong’s face went extremely sullen.

The fate of Jia family stood unaffected by Mrs. Jia’s tears. Since servants of Jia family disclosed everything, and the butler of Jia family, who was a key witness, also testified against the Jia brothers, people of Jia family were convicted on charges of abusing miners and multiple murder.

Because Jia Yin had fallen unconscious during the flogging, and all testimony and confession needed recording, Tao Feng declared that a sentence would be passed three days later. He also ordered people of Jia family be taken into custody awaiting sentence.

In the realization that the situation had gone beyond salvation, Mrs. Jia rolled her eyes and fainted.