Chapter 332: Chapter 189: All Land Under Heaven Is the King’s, Are You Trying to Rebel?

Lu Yuan kicked the Right Investigating Officer, sending him tumbling to the feet of the Right Deputy Magistrate.

Xiaoqian started to move forward, ready to strike, but Lu Yuan held her back.

Lu Yuan was worried Xiaoqian wouldn’t know her own strength. If she killed these old men, it would only cause unnecessary trouble for the Little Fox.

He addressed the assembled officials, "You are all rebelling, and there are plenty of witnesses. I won’t take your lives. Just surrender obediently. It would be a shame to be sentenced to the extermination of your clans. It’s simply not worth it."

The Right Deputy Magistrate, still trying to act tough and counting on the hundreds of Officials downstairs, retorted, "Whoever walks out of this building today is the winner. And only the winner has the final say!"

A fine fantasy, but reality delivered a harsh slap in the face.

In the main hall on the first floor, all of the Right Deputy Magistrate’s men had been apprehended.

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!" A man came bounding up the stairs to the second floor, taking them in great strides.

The officials on the second floor had no idea what was going on and began whispering amongst themselves, wondering who was being called ’Brother-in-law’.

"Haha! Brother-in-law, I knew I’d find you here!" Song Chi boomed with laughter. "I was so disappointed I missed you at the army camp last time."

Lu Yuan looked at Song Chi, who was tanner and more muscular than before, and said in surprise, "So you were the one shouting downstairs!"

Song Chi grinned. "That’s right! After we defeated the Beastman Race, King Yan granted me leave to return to my hometown in Taiping City for a while. On the way, someone threw a dart with a note tied to it. I don’t know who it was from, but the note said you were in trouble and that I should hurry to Dongchang City to help you."

Lu Yuan was perplexed. "But I didn’t send you any message," he said. "I didn’t even know you were returning to Taiping City." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The Right Deputy Magistrate had thought the soldiers he had summoned were arriving. Instead, it was reinforcements for Lu Yuan.

Realizing the situation was lost, the Right Deputy Magistrate’s legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed. Fortunately, the officials on either side of him managed to hold him up.

After exchanging a few more words with his brother-in-law, Song Chi asked, "So, Brother-in-law, what should we do with these corrupt dogs?"

Lu Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I’m not sure just yet. I originally thought I’d only be dealing with a few troublemakers. But from the looks of it, a third of Dongchang City’s entire official hierarchy is rotten to the core."

Although Lu Yuan held the authority to execute at will, he couldn’t just kill so many officials. It would be difficult to justify his actions to the Court.

Just as Lu Yuan was pondering this dilemma, a voice cried out from the main hall below, "Lord Prefect, an Imperial Edict from the Court has arrived!"

Hearing this, Lu Yuan and all the other officials headed downstairs in unison.

Xiaoqian followed beside Lu Yuan, unsure of what was happening.

Lu Yuan recognized the man. ’What’s this pale-faced old eunuch, not a single hair on his chin, doing all the way out here in Dongchang City?’

"Lord Lu, you’ve given this old servant quite a search! I hadn’t even made it back to the Imperial City when I received another edict for you. Come now, receive the decree!"

At these words, everyone knelt to receive the edict.

Lu Yuan tugged on Xiaoqian’s sleeve, pulling her down to the ground with him. Xiaoqian glanced at the others and dutifully knelt beside Lu Yuan, lowering her head just as they did.

The old eunuch read in a high, pinched voice, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: To Lu Yuan, Prefect of Dongchang. We have heard of your vigorous efforts to purge the corruption from the ranks of Dongchang City’s officials, and We are greatly pleased. You are hereby granted the authority to act first and report later in all matters concerning Dongchang City. You have three months to complete this purge. Thus, by Imperial Command."

"Lord Lu, accept the decree," the old eunuch said, rolling up the Scroll and handing it to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan accepted the Scroll, his mind full of questions. Just as he was about to rise...

...the old eunuch pulled another Scroll from his sleeve. "Another Imperial Edict has arrived!" he announced. "All officials, receive the decree!"

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: You goddamn bastards! All land under Heaven belongs to Us! Are you trying to rebel? All who consider themselves guilty are granted two days by Us to write down their crimes and present them to the Provincial Inspection Commissioner for judgment. Thus, by Imperial Command."