On the pleasure boat, the rats had been dragged out of the sacks one by one.

Some of the weaker ones had been knocked unconscious while being carried down the stairs.

As for Wei Shan and Liu Xun, who were the most severely injured, they had already lost consciousness from the pain before even reaching the stairs.

Fang Zheng surveyed the people on the ground, matching them with the memories in his mind.

Although he wanted to kill all these scum, many of them still had their uses.

For example, the two grain merchants.

These two families were famous clans in Jianjiang City with numerous businesses.

If he killed them publicly, probably no merchant would be willing to cooperate with him afterward, so they absolutely couldn’t be touched.

As for some of the minor officials, like the prison warden and the deputy prefect, they also needed to be kept alive.

He now had solid evidence to control them; there were no better tools than them.

If he killed them, it would cause many troubles, and who knew how many subordinates were connected to them.

If he acted too ruthlessly, people might panic, and there would be no one to use for future tasks.

So, in total… there were actually only one or two that could be killed.

Of course, Liu Xun must die!

Fang Zheng casually walked up to one person and removed the cloth gag from his mouth.

The man immediately said in panic, “Lord Fang! We have no grudge between us. Let me go, and I can tell you anything you want to know!”

Fang Zheng smiled slightly, took out a small notebook, and patted the man’s face: “Very good. Given your excellent performance, this official allows you to reward yourself once in the latrine.”

“???”

“Alright, now let’s start registering. Name, age, gender, identity, home address, family members, and evidence of crimes. Tell me one by one, slowly… This official is in no hurry.”

The man swallowed hard: “My name is Tang Shixing, a clerk in the personnel office… Can I not say my home address?”

“No, you can’t. If you don’t say it, this official will investigate anyway. If I have to investigate myself, you’ll pay a much higher price.”

As Fang Zheng finished speaking, Zhang Biao behind him pulled out a flying knife from his outer garment and handed it over.

Fang Zheng took the flying knife without looking back and held it against Tang Shixing’s throat.

Tang Shixing’s legs immediately began to shake.

He had no doubt that this madman would really kill. That group of people had broken Liu Xun’s legs as soon as they burst into the room, showing they came prepared.

Moreover, Fang Zheng clearly knew the ins and outs of the corruption case.

What was the use of struggling now…

Tang Shixing’s mind began an intense ideological struggle….

After a while, he closed his eyes, let out a long breath, and said dejectedly: “I’ll talk… I’ll tell you everything. I just beg Your Lordship to spare my life.”

Hearing Tang Shixing speak like this, the people nearby couldn’t help but show despair in their eyes.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng immediately stood up and said loudly: “Zhang Biao! Bring the imperial edict and the imperial sword!”

Zhang Biao immediately got up and brought the imperial edict and the imperial sword.

Fang Zheng raised the imperial edict and the sword, saying loudly: “This official comes bearing the imperial mandate! Our wise Emperor had foreseen this and ordered this official to thoroughly investigate the corruption case in Jianjiang.”

“Now that the main culprit is about to be punished, this official will only execute the ringleader! If the rest of you fully cooperate with this official’s actions, not only can you keep your lives, but you may even retain your original positions!”

“I swear on my reputation, if there’s a single false word, may I, Fang Zheng, be unworthy of being a scholar!”

As soon as Fang Zheng finished speaking, Xie Xian and the others from Taoyuan County began applauding expressionlessly.

For a moment, applause filled the pleasure boat…

The bound people on the ground were stunned… the fear in their hearts had also been somewhat diluted.

In this era, for an official to swear on his reputation and even his identity as a scholar was as powerful as swearing on his entire family’s lives.

And he did it in front of so many people.

It seems… what he said must be true.

In an instant, most of the people’s defenses had been lowered.

Seeing this, Fang Zheng said: “Xie Xian, prepare paper, brush, and ink for them to sign and leave their fingerprints!”

“Now starting with Tang Shixing, record and file them one by one. After I deal with Liu Xun, I’ll choose a day to let you all go home!”

After saying this, Fang Zheng turned and left.

Actually, using the phonograph to play directly in front of these people would have been more effective and would have saved a lot of words.

But a large part of these people couldn’t be killed. If the news of his treasure leaked out, how could he use it to trick people in the future?

So the best way now was to have them sign and leave their fingerprints first.

Seeing these people submit so quickly, Fang Zheng took the phonograph to the room where Liu Xun was held.

Liu Xun was severely injured, and fearing his old body might not withstand it and die, Fang Zheng had even found a doctor to take care of him.

When he entered the room, Liu Xun had already regained consciousness, though he looked extremely weak.

Seeing Fang Zheng, Liu Xun immediately widened his eyes and shouted angrily: “Fang, you traitor! May you die a terrible death!”

“How well did this prefect treat you! How dare you… How dare you plot against this official!”

Fang Zheng sat on a stool, smiling as he looked at Liu Xun: “The people outside have confessed everything and have started signing and leaving their fingerprints. Prefect Liu, why don’t you write one too?”

“There are still many questions to ask you afterward. You’d better confess honestly.”

“This official doesn’t want to waste words. After I search your mansion thoroughly, I will take you to the city tower for public execution.”

“This official is grateful to you. The food these days was indeed not bad. I’ll give you a quick death.”

Liu Xun pointed at Fang Zheng, trembling, and laughed in extreme anger: “You… A treacherous official who defiles the imperial court dares to kill me!”

“Do you have solid evidence?! Without a trial by the Three Judicial Offices, on what grounds can you kill me?!”

“Huh?” Fang Zheng was confused.

I admit to being a traitor, but when did I defile the imperial court? What has this old turtle imagined?

You even know I held the princess’s hand?!

But Fang Zheng had no mood to dwell on these trivial matters now.

He continued smiling: “Evidence? Isn’t the rice in the granary enough?”

“Your subordinates signing and confessing, isn’t that enough?”

“Trial by the Judicial Offices? This official wants to kill you, so I’ll kill you. No need for a trial!”

Saying this, Fang Zheng drew the imperial sword from his waist!

“Do you recognize this sword?”

Liu Xun looked at the sword, his shouts suddenly stopping. He stared intently at the scabbard, muttering: “This sword, the sword of the Qian Dynasty imperial court… The sword bestowed by His Majesty?”

As he looked, his gaze slid to the blade, and Liu Xun suddenly burst into laughter: “Hahaha, a fake sword! Fang Zheng, do you really think this old man hasn’t seen His Majesty’s sword before?”

“A sacred object of the imperial court, you dare to forge it? You rebel!!”

Damn!

Fang Zheng awkwardly sheathed the sword, not expecting this old fox to have seen the real thing.

Then he said impatiently: “Alright, alright, I’m not in the mood to play with you anymore. You won’t believe it until you see your own coffin.”

Saying this, he placed the phonograph on the table. The machine had been prepared in advance, and Fang Zheng began to turn the crank.

Liu Xun sneered: “What, are you using your prayer wheel to pray for this old man?”

“Shh!” Fang Zheng made a gesture towards him. Then they heard Liu Xun’s voice coming from the phonograph, chaotic and blurry, but still clearly audible: “Don’t worry, don’t be anxious! This official has already arranged people to burn the granary. Tomorrow, when the chaos begins, the order will be given immediately to set fire to the granary.”

“At that time, all the moldy rice in the granary will go up in flames, leaving no evidence…..”