coobybook Chapter 1156 Public Trial of a Prodigal Young Talent
Chapter 1156 Public Trial of a Prodigal Young Talent
A hush fell over the hall, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on everyone's faces. Ma Chao traced the hilt of his sword for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "You mean, you're going to release them?"
"No," Lu Xun shook his head. "We can temporarily seize his land and property, order him to relocate to the city for safekeeping, and observe his behavior. If he behaves himself afterward, we can gradually return his property; if he continues to misbehave, we can deal with him then. In this way, we can both prevent an innocent person from being wronged and cut off the foundation for his secret rebellion—isn't that a win-win situation?"
Ma Chao suddenly clapped his hands and burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the silent hall, carrying a mixture of resignation and sharpness. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing as it landed on Lu Xun's face: "You young man, only eleven years old, yet you possess such insight; you certainly have good judgment." His tone shifted, the laughter vanishing abruptly, his voice heavy as lead, "But do you know that the root of this world's chaos lies far more than just 'evil deeds'?"
He paced back and forth a few steps, his sword jingling softly with each movement, and his voice suddenly rose: "Those aristocratic families who seem to commit all sorts of evil should certainly be eliminated. But many more aristocratic families are law-abiding in their daily lives, and even occasionally open their granaries to distribute grain in order to gain a reputation for goodness—but does that make them innocent? They control 70% of the fertile land in the country, monopolize the classics and historical texts, and even if a poor family has extraordinary talent, it is difficult for them to have the opportunity to learn to read and write; ordinary people face the yellow earth, and spend their entire lives struggling to survive."
"If it's not a year of disaster, all is well. But once floods, droughts, and locust plagues strike, and people resort to cannibalism, the rice in these aristocratic families' granaries will pile up until it's moldy!" Ma Chao suddenly stopped, his fingertips slamming heavily into the ground. "The masses of people have no path to advancement, no hope of rising above their circumstances, simply because these aristocratic families naturally control resources. Occasionally, a person of exceptional talent emerges, and they either win them over or suppress them, ultimately bringing them under their wing to contribute to their family's prosperity. Over time, the scions of these aristocratic families only know their families and not their country, only how to enrich themselves and not how to benefit the people. Isn't this 'evil without malice' more poisonous than blatant, outrageous evil?"
The candlelight flickered violently in the hall, casting shifting light on and off the faces of the people present. Lu Xun pursed his lips, his youthful sharpness slightly trembling at these words, yet he still stubbornly raised his eyes: "Then, in the general's opinion, what should be done?"
"How about it?" Ma Chao sneered, his sword flashing half an inch from its sheath, the cold light reflecting the turmoil in his eyes. "No destruction, no construction! Since the root of the problem lies in the monopoly of resources, we should shatter this ironclad system—let the land return to the people, let books enter the poor, and let everyone in the world have a path to forge their own way!"
Lu Xun knelt on the ground, his fingertips digging deeply into his palms until his knuckles turned white. His face alternated between pale and flushed, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his once straight back slumped, as if he were suffocating under the weight of these words. But after only a moment, he suddenly raised his head, his gaze regaining its focus, his shoulders straightening, and he solemnly bowed with his hands clasped in prayer. His voice trembled slightly, yet every word was clear:
"Your Majesty's words are indeed reasonable, but not all aristocratic families in the world are like this. For example, the Xun family of Yingchuan has passed down poetry and books for generations, educating the people of the region and upholding high moral character. When have we ever heard of them committing any evil deeds? If Your Majesty generalizes about all aristocratic families because of a few individuals, wouldn't you be branded as someone who is biased and makes sweeping generalizations?"
He paused, his chest heaving slightly, as if remembering something, and his tone suddenly became earnest: "Take my Lu family for example. Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong have long been secretly colluding with other aristocratic families, instigating them to transfer their wealth and clansmen. Only my Lu family has remained unmoved, waiting for Your Majesty to settle accounts. It is not because we are attached to those gold, silver, and land, but because the Lu family has been loyal and upright for generations, and has a clear conscience—even standing here right now, I dare to say with my hand on my chest that we have never done anything dishonest!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao raised an eyebrow, sheathed his sword, and the clanging of metal was crisp and piercing. He stared at Lu Xun, his tone slightly softened but still sharp: "You dare to say that. The Xun family transmits poetry and books and educates people, while the Lu family is willing to be left to be dealt with. Such aristocratic families should naturally be treated differently—I am cursing the parasites who monopolize resources and raise private armies, not the upright and honest ones who uphold integrity."
He strolled into the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "But remember, the upright families are a minority; most families have long since rotted away in their comfort. It's like a big tree whose roots are mostly rotten, barely holding on with a few green leaves. Can you really say it's still alive?"
He paused, looked at Lu Xun, and said in a more serious tone: "Your Lu family has a clear conscience, which is good. But the people of the world can't tell who the Xun family is and who the parasites are. They only know that the noble families live in grand mansions, while they themselves can't even get enough to eat. If the rotten roots aren't dug out, the green leaves will eventually wither and die."
Lu Xun lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. When he looked up again, there was no hesitation in his eyes: "What Your Majesty says is absolutely right. The Lu family is willing to set an example by distributing half of our land to tenant farmers and opening all our books to the children of poor families. If this can help the people distinguish right from wrong, what is this sacrifice of the Lu family?"
Ma Chao was taken aback upon hearing this, then a hint of approval flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand and patted Lu Xun's shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy, but full of recognition: "What a young man who is not afraid of power! Your heart is a hundred times better than those pedantic scholars in the court who only talk about righteousness."
He turned to face the crowd in the hall, his voice suddenly rising a few decibels, carrying an undeniable authority: "Did you all hear that? This is what a noble family should be like—not holding onto resources and looking down on themselves, but understanding how to coexist with the common people."
Lu Xun listened attentively and subconsciously nodded in agreement, finding Ma Chao's words to be entirely reasonable.
Ma Chao's gaze swept over the crowd, his tone growing increasingly firm: "Tomorrow, bring the captured noble families to the city's public trial platform and give them three full days. Within three days, anyone with solid evidence to prove their evil deeds will be convicted according to the law; if there is no solid evidence and no one implicates them, they will be released and returned to their original places of residence after three days, and their land will be returned to them."
He paused, his gaze returning to Lu Xun, his tone softening: "Lu Xun, since you've taken the lead in revealing this crucial point today, you should set an example in reforming the Jiangdong aristocratic families. Urge them to take concrete actions—as you said, allocate some land for the common people, provide them with some assistance in making a living, and establish libraries so that children from poor families can read and write."
“I believe in you,” Ma Chao said, his gaze deep and expectant. “Give the Jiangdong aristocratic families a chance, let them truly do something practical for the people. Don’t think I don’t know that some of you always think that the word ‘aristocratic family’ means privilege, but the people are the foundation. It’s not that I, Ma Chao, can’t tolerate aristocratic families, but what use is this privilege if it becomes a tool to oppress the people?”
He looked around and said in a firm voice, "I am willing to use Jiangdong as a pilot area. If you can do it well, all the noble families in the world will follow suit. Wouldn't that be a beautiful story that will be remembered for generations to come?"
Lu Xun was startled by these words and looked up at Ma Chao with disbelief in his eyes. He then bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Xun... will certainly not fail in his mission! I dare to guarantee with the century-old reputation of the Lu family that if there is any mishap, Your Majesty may punish me as you see fit!"
Upon seeing this, everyone in the hall bowed and echoed, "Your Majesty is wise!" "We are willing to lend Young Master Lu a helping hand!"
Ma Chao helped Lu Xun up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said loudly, "In that case, everyone shall perform their duties. The public trial will be held at the drill ground in the south of the city. Within three days, let all the people of the city know—this Jiangdong is not the private property of aristocratic families, but belongs to all the people of the world!"
He paused, then looked at Lu Xun and softened his tone: "You must remember, the people have discerning eyes. Giving the aristocratic families a chance is actually giving them room to atone for their sins. If anyone outwardly complies but inwardly defies you, do not hesitate to take action; report it directly to me for punishment."
Lu Xun straightened his back, his palms clenched so tightly they turned white, but his words were firm and resounding: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty! Lu Xun understands that this is not a favor, but a responsibility."
Zhou Yu, standing to the side, clapped his hands and laughed, "Young Master Lu is a brilliant and promising young man, and he has also gained the trust of the King. Jiangdong will surely have a new look. We are willing to support you and help you sort out the case files to ensure that there are no mistakes or omissions in the public trial."
Veteran generals like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai also expressed their opinions, instantly igniting the atmosphere in the hall and dispelling the previous somber mood.
Ma Chao looked at the old lady in the hall, his tone respectful yet resolute: "Madam, times have changed, and there must be some new atmosphere. The name 'Moling' sounds a bit lacking in vigor. I intend to rename this place 'Jianye,' meaning to establish merit and achieve success. What do you think?"
A glimmer of light appeared in the old lady's cloudy eyes, and she nodded: "Alright, we'll follow Mengqi's arrangements. This name is a good choice; it has a promising future."
Ma Chao nodded, then turned to Lu Xun, his gaze sharp yet expectant: "Lu Xun, although you are young, your insights far surpass those of your peers. Now, in handling the matter of the Jiangdong aristocratic families, without an official position, your actions will inevitably be illegitimate. I will temporarily appoint you as the magistrate of Jianye to manage this matter."
He paused, then emphasized, "Remember this: if you can be fair and impartial, and leave the people with no complaints, the position of Jianye Magistrate will officially be yours after this matter is over. Do you dare to accept?"
Lu Xun felt a surge of heat in his chest, and he suddenly clasped his hands and knelt down, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Your subordinate dares to accept! I will certainly not fail in my mission, and I will never let down the trust placed in me by you, sir, or the expectations of the people!" The young man's eyes shone with a light, a burning warmth of being trusted, and a fiery passion for what was to come.
Ma Chao said in a deep voice, "Generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, I trouble you to go with General Han Dang to the surrounding counties." He glanced at the three elderly generals with slightly graying hair and beards, and said solemnly, "Spread the news of the public trial so that every county and village knows—not just the people in the city, but anyone who has been wronged or oppressed by powerful families can come to the public trial to appeal. Make it clear in the notice that no matter their status, as long as they bring evidence, I, Ma Chao, guarantee that they can speak standing up."
Cheng Pu and Huang Gai exchanged a glance, clasped their hands in greeting, and replied, "Yes, sir!" Huang Gai's voice boomed, carrying the fierce spirit honed on the battlefield: "General, rest assured, this news will reach every village and hamlet, so that all those people with grievances will know. Dawn has finally broken!"
Ma Chao nodded, then turned to the crowd: "As for those who followed Zhang Zhao to move their clansmen and family property, nine out of ten of them have something to hide. In my opinion, they can't escape to two places—Yuzhang County or Nanhai County." He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, "Gongjin, keep track of these people's debts for now, there's no rush to collect them."
Zhou Yu cupped his hands and said, "Brother's consideration is correct. The most important thing right now is to conduct a public trial with transparency to stabilize the people's hearts."
“Exactly.” Ma Chao’s gaze deepened, and his tone became more solemn. “After the public trial, we should first go to Bo Fu’s grave to pay our respects and comfort his spirit in heaven. Once Jiangdong is stable, it’s not too late to deal with these scoundrels. By then, none of them will be able to escape.”
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall lowered their heads and composed themselves. Even the wind outside seemed to quiet down, as if listening to this arrangement concerning the future of Jiangdong.