147: Chapter 0147 Inadequate Setting

Bearded Old Ma already knew Prefect Cai Heng; he usually admired this simple and hardworking Assistant Minister, so his attitude was quite good.

"It's true, Assistant Minister Cai. Moreover, the commoners have all been settled in inns. It's very warm, and the food and drink are much better than what they have at home!"

"The key is that they don't have to spend a single penny; the Zhenbei Army is covering everything for them!"

Old Ma laughed loudly. "Look at my subordinate, Xiao Liuzi. His house was almost crushed. At first, he was quite happy, thinking the Bodhisattva had blessed him."

"But he just came back all dejected, saying it would have been better if it had been crushed so he could have gotten a new house, haha!"

Xiao Liuzi scratched the back of his head, grinning awkwardly.

Prefect Cai Heng also smiled from the bottom of his heart, then hurriedly asked, "By the way, what about the garrison soldiers? Are they not being detained here?"

"Detained?"

Old Ma and the other jailers had strange expressions.

"Assistant Minister Cai, you're overthinking it. They're much more comfortable than you; they're busy writing letters home to let their families know they're safe!"

"What!?"

Prefect Cai Heng looked bewildered. "Aren't prisoners of war supposed to be detained first and then undergo screening and interrogation?"

"They are being kept somewhere, but that place has food and drink, and even honeycomb coal for warmth!"

Old Ma said enviously, "I heard that those who were injured receive even better treatment. The Zhenbei Army treats them and lets them lie in the barracks with dedicated people to look after them."

"Sigh, I've lived for half a lifetime, and I've truly never seen such a formidable army. They have everything sorted out perfectly!"

"Compared to the Zhenbei Army, what are the White Kings Army or the Prefectural Army even worth?"

Prefect Cai Heng was about to ask something else when he heard the sound of singing coming from outside the prison window.

The loud and clear singing seemed to be coming from the main street.

"What's going on?" Prefect Cai Heng asked.

"The Zhenbei Army has entered the city!"

The jailer Xiao Liuzi said excitedly, "I saw them when I was coming back just now. As soon as they entered the city, they started singing!"

"Singing?"

"That's right, they came in singing. It's quite interesting!"

Xiao Liuzi said with a grin, "It sounds really spirited, though. It makes me want to join the army!"

Prefect Cai Heng listened carefully...

"Keep the Zhenbei Army's rules in your heart."

"Don't steal even a single needle or thread."

"Practice spears by day, stand guard by night."

"If the barbarians dare come, we'll fight,"

"Protecting the Northern Border and our home..."

Prefect Cai Heng's heart was stirred. He finally understood why the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army each had such a burning light in their eyes!

Deep in their hearts, they knew exactly what they were fighting for!

"Lin Xiao is truly remarkable..."

Prefect Cai Heng slowly sat down. Listening to the singing fade into the distance, he inexplicably felt that Lincang falling into the hands of the Zhenbei Army was actually a good thing.

He could die without regrets now.

At noon the following day.

Prefect Cai Heng and Prefect Wu Yonghe were taken to the execution grounds.

The commoners gathered around, pointing and whispering among themselves.

It was a rare sight to see a Prefect of a prefecture being sentenced to death.

"General! General, I've been wronged!"

Prefect Wu Yonghe wailed and begged for mercy, his throat already hoarse from shouting.

"It was all Prefect Cai Heng! He wouldn't listen to my warnings and insisted on being an enemy of the Zhenbei Army! In my heart, I have always admired your divine might, General, and only wished to join you..."

Lin Xiao sat on the viewing platform and ignored him, instead signaling the executioner to prepare.

"Lord Wu, have a drink of wine to keep you warm on your way!"

The executioner handed a bowl of wine to Prefect Wu Yonghe.

Prefect Wu Yonghe was trembling so much that he spilled more than half of the wine.

"Assistant Minister Cai, take care..."

Another executioner showed a look of regret as he handed over a bowl of wine.

Prefect Cai Heng took it gracefully and drained it in one gulp without saying a word.

Just then, several commoners suddenly rushed out from the crowd, shouting loudly:

"Assistant Minister Cai is a good man! Don't kill him!!"

"Lin Xiao! Spare Assistant Minister Cai! He is a good official!!"

Prefect Cai Heng was stunned. He didn't recognize those commoners; they were strangers to him.

But gradually, more and more commoners began to raise their voices as well.

"That's right! Assistant Minister Cai is innocent! It was all forced by this Wu Yonghe!"

"My child's leg was broken while serving in the army, and it was Assistant Minister Cai who used his own salary to hire a doctor. He is a great man!"

"Yes, my cowshed collapsed, and it was Assistant Minister Cai who brought people to help repair it..."

"Lin Xiao, we beg you to spare Assistant Minister Cai's life..."

Many commoners who had received favors from Prefect Cai Heng in the past began to kneel and plead.

Prefect Cai Heng's nose stung, and he was so choked up he couldn't speak.

"Since this is the will of the people, Cai Heng, I shall give you an opportunity to atone for your crimes through service!"

Lin Xiao said, "From this day forth, you will be fully responsible for the repair of houses in Lincang City and the resettlement of the wounded. If you do a good job, your death penalty will be waived, and you will remain in office!"

Prefect Cai Heng looked at Lin Xiao in disbelief. "General, are you truly going to spare me?"

"It is not I who am sparing you, but the people of Lincang City who cannot bear to see you die!"

Lin Xiao smiled. "Do not let your fellow townspeople down."

Prefect Cai Heng was deeply shaken. He kowtowed directly to Lin Xiao, then turned to the commoners and kowtowed several more times.

"Elders and fellow townspeople of Lincang, I, Cai Heng, hereby swear that I will give my all in the future to repay the grace of this second life!!"

Bursts of cheers erupted from the scene, loudly thanking Lin Xiao for his mercy.

"Thank you, Lin Xiao!"

"The Zhenbei Army is mighty!!..."

Lin Xiao smiled and waved to the commoners, while secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

That Qin He—he had told him to arrange some 'shills,' but why did he only find a few?

If it weren't for the fact that Prefect Cai Heng actually had a good reputation and had performed many acts of kindness, what would have happened if the atmosphere wasn't set quite right and no one dared to stand up?

"General! General, I can also atone for my crimes! I'm very familiar with repairing houses..."

Seeing this, Prefect Wu Yonghe hurriedly tried to beg for a chance as well.

The executioner saw that Lin Xiao was paying him no mind, and seeing that the timing was just right, he brought the blade down!

"Off you go!"

As a head fell to the ground, the crowd once again erupted in cheers.

That afternoon, wagon after wagon of construction materials quickly entered Lincang along the cement roads.

The commoners were shocked by the efficiency of the Northern Trade Alliance; even in the dead of winter, they weren't affected at all?

And what surprised the commoners the most was that they could now receive the same treatment as Baishui and Wu Mountain Prefectures.

Two half-priced coal briquettes every day, and children could sign up to attend free schools.

With large-scale construction projects building various public facilities, they now had jobs.

Although there wasn't much work that could be done because it was winter, it was still much better than the days of hiding at home, cold and hungry.

Two days later.

Relying on the Eye of God, Lin Xiao quickly reorganized and incorporated the more than two thousand soldiers.

He also weeded out all the soldier thugs. Some who had committed many evils relying on Prefect Wu Yonghe's protection were directly executed by Lin Xiao, making the commoners clap their hands in satisfaction.

Xiao Qingxuan finished arranging matters in Baishui Prefecture and came to Lincang with Leng Bingyan, while Su Wansha was responsible for looking after the home base.

The Prefects Mansion temporarily became their little home.

In the study, Xiao Qingxuan sat on the man's lap, her fragrant scent making Lin Xiao very much enjoy himself.

Xiao Qingxuan let the man play as he wished, but after finishing her audit of the accounts, she immediately discovered a problem.

"Husband, Prefect Wu Yonghe's accounts don't add up. At least two hundred thousand taels are not in the mansion."

Lin Xiao was currently holding his charming empress wife, preparing to do something naughty. He hadn't expected the woman's focus to be so high; even though her body was warm and her face was flushed, she could still spot the issue.

"Not in the mansion? Then where is it? His several villas and the women he kept outside have all been checked."

Lin Xiao, like Xiao Qingxuan, loved 'confiscating property.' After all, taking down corrupt officials was the fastest way to get money!

Xiao Qingxuan bit her red lip. "Many of this Prefect Wu's accounts are related to 'Zuihua Pavilion'... I suspect it must be connected to that place."

"Zuihua Pavilion? What kind of place is that?" Lin Xiao asked with a look of pure innocence.

"Husband, don't play dumb," Xiao Qingxuan gave him a sidelong glance and said coquettishly, "It is naturally a brothel!"