Chapter 259: Chapter 181: What if I Kill It? 2
Translator: 549690339
In the expectation of the spectators, a cry akin to the slaughter of a pig was heard, followed by angry berating and pleading for mercy. A bruised and swollen figure was then dragged out from the county government office.
Gasp!
The moment the crowd saw the bulky figure, they were taken aback. Many recognized him due to his distinctive blue official’s robe. However, at that moment, the robe no longer held any authority; instead, it had become a symbol of mockery and ridicule.
“Is that the County Magistrate!?”
“What magistrate, spit, look at that guy now, he’s just like a pig waiting to be slaughtered!”
“You’re right, he really looks like one!”
Laughter rang out among the crowd. Seeing the County Magistrate, who had exploited them for two years, being treated this way brought secret pleasure to many. They clapped and cheered. However, some were worried.
“What’s this man’s background? If he dares to abuse the County Magistrate this way, he won’t have a good ending!”
“Why are you worrying over nothing? If he can even get Young Master Zhou to do his bidding, what’s a County Magistrate to him? Maybe he’s a big master from some noble family!”
Among the onlookers, some were delighted, some showed concern, and some even felt that something big was about to happen. They quickly left, not wanting to get involved in the trouble.
“Who are you?”
The County Magistrate of Pingwu County, his body bound, was dragged all the way from the backyard of the county government office to its front entrance. Seeing the crowd surrounding and gossiping about him, an unprecedented sense of humiliation surged up in him, immediately reddening his chubby face.
He was a seventh-grade county magistrate, a high-ranking official. He couldn’t believe he was humiliated in front of these lowly citizens—worse, they even dared to taunt him, to cheer on his humiliation.
After he survives this ordeal, he would make these lowly citizens pay. He would teach them about official power. They thought they could mock and ridicule him, a seventh-grade County Magistrate?
But for now, these lowly citizens didn’t matter. His narrow, rat-like eyes were fixed tightly on the young man in white sitting on a horse. Upon closer look, the man looked somewhat familiar—he seemed to have seen him somewhere before, but he couldn’t recall where.
“So, you are the County Magistrate of Pingwu County!”
Feng Qing’an, riding on Sen Miao’s back, looked down coldly at the fat County Magistrate squirming on the ground like a plump maggot.
“Yes, I am. Sir, we have not met before. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. Your actions challenge the authority and law of the dynasty. This is an act of rebellion. Please order your people to release me immediately! ”
The County Magistrate’s face contorted into a fawning smile. He had indulged in wine and women for two years and had forgotten much of his scholarly learning. But he remembered the face in front of him. He had seen it somewhere — it certainly belonged to a noble he dare not cross.
“Good. Hang him up.”
As Feng Qing’an’s words fell, the County Magistrate let out a miserable scream. Two vicious-looking men with cruel smiles approached him. They threw the rope over the crossbeam of the county office entrance and hanged him in mid-air, making him look even more like a pig ready for slaughter.
“Sir, sir, please spare me! I admit my mistake. Please give me a chance to make amends!”
The County Magistrate, hanging at the entrance of the county government office, didn’t dare show any spirit. He no longer said anything about offending the dignity and laws of the imperial court; he knew it didn’t matter to the man in front of him.
“Oh? So where did you go wrong?”
Feng Qing’an looked mockingly at the magistrate who looked like a piglet. He was sure that the extortionate taxes and levies were invented by this pig himself. But his tutor and other officials in the county government office had also contributed ideas. He would take care of each and every one of them.
“I was wrong for…”
Hearing the noble in front of him asking where he had gone wrong, the chubby magistrate was dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand where he had done wrong. After all, it was their first meeting. He really couldn’t figure out where he had offended him.
“So, you’re trying to deceive me! You have some audacity!”
Feng Qing’an’s eyes suddenly turned cold, and he raised his hand.
“Strip him of his official robe. Wu Qilang, aren’t you good with a whip? Serve him well and help him realize his mistakes!”
Although the pig in front of him was an untrained mortal, his blue official’s robe gave Wu Qilang a different thrill, causing him to unconsciously reveal an excited smile.
However, this smile was especially ferocious in the eyes of the chubby County Magistrate. The look he gave him was like that of a devil from hell. Especially the steel whip in his hand, which still had delicate barbs on it, scared the County Magistrate into squirming madly in mid-air and begging for mercy loudly.
“Sir, I was wrong, really wrong! Please spare me! I won’t do it again!” “Where were you wrong?”
“I don’t know, I really don’t know! Please, sir, be magnanimous and tell me. I will correct my mistake and never repeat it!”
“Hm!”
Feng Qing’an snorted coldly, looking at the bear-like Wu Qilang,
“What are you waiting for?”
WhooshSmackAhh—
One of the burly men tore open the green official’s robe worn by the round official, revealing his white, plump back. At that moment, the whip cut through the air, making a chilling hissing sound as it mercilessly lashed onto the fat County Magistrate’s shoulder. His tender white flesh burst open instantly, and blood gushed out. A desperate scream filled the air.
“Good!”
“Well done!”
“Keep going, don’t stop!”
Seeing their County Magistrate flogged until his flesh flayed, the surrounding commoners erupted with unprecedentedly enthusiastic cheers.
Smack-
Hearing the cheers from the common folk, Wu Qilang also revealed a pleased smile, followed by another lash of his whip.
How many warriors of Da Jin could experience the pleasure of whipping a County Magistrate? Today, he had that experience.
However, it was only the second whip, and the County Magistrate had already passed out in pain, his eyes turning white.
“You just keep going!”
Feng Qing’en signaled Wu Qilang to continue, meanwhile, the sitting Sen
Miao’s eyes were gleaming green, awakening the fat County Magistrate from unconsciousness. This allowed the magistrate to endure the pain of the whip while staying conscious, or else he would have escaped from this torment after just three lashes, which would be way too lenient for him.
“Yes!”
“Go drag the other officials out!”
Upon Feng Qing’an’s order, the audacious warriors stormed into the county government office, dragging out the officials who were beaten like dead dogs.
When the County Magistrate is like this, one cannot expect better from the underlings who served him. If lotus can grow from the muddy lake, but only maggots can be found in the pit of feces.
“Young Master, as the sage says, ‘To kill without teaching is cruelty!’ Even if you wish to punish us, you should first inform us where we have erred!”
When the other officials of the county government office were dragged out and saw their County Magistrate being flogged at the entrance, they were all frightened out of their wits. However, one of the slightly braver ones yelled at Feng Qing’an.
“You have plundered and oppressed the common people, causing family separations and deaths. This is your crime!”
Feng Qing’an remained silent. Zhao, his steward standing behind him, spoke up in a cold voice.
“It’s a miscarriage of Justice, Sir!”
“We’ve got nothing to do with this!”
When the officials heard this, they understood the situation. They realized a high official who cared about the common people had come to Pingwu County, and they all started pleading their innocence loudly.
As subordinates, they were only following orders. If they were to be hanged and flogged like their County Magistrate, it would be utterly unjust.
“Hang them all up!”
Feng Qing’an waved his hand impatiently, not wanting to hear their excuses.
Though the River Water Monarch had reduced the rain, he had not been too excessive. But some individuals had taken advantage of this situation to plunder from the people. Despite the hardship, they could grit their teeth and bear it, but were instead forced to sell their sons and daughters.
The River Water Monarch of Wave River needs to be killed!
However, he didn’t plan to let go of these greedy and corrupt officials who exploited the commoners either!
If he were just a Child Student from the Feng Family Village and encountered such corrupt officials, he could do nothing but grind his teeth in hatred and curse them behind their backs. But now, he had the backing of the provincial governor and the support of Ghost Nation, as well as the power in his hands, what would he have to fear?
Even if he were to slaughter this County Magistrate right now, what could happen?
Would Da Jin consider him as having killed a court-appointed official, provocatively challenging the law of the dynasty, placing him as a major criminal, issuing nationwide warrants? Or would they grant him the privilege to act as necessary?
