Lu Jing’s face turned deathly pale, unable to speak.

Yuan Li knew he had guessed correctly. He laughed heartily, immediately writing to Zhao Hanzhang, handing all this evidence to his trusted subordinates to rush it back to Luoyang at maximum speed. He also telegraphed Zhao Hanzhang, informing her of this matter, then said, “The Lu clan can be destroyed.”

When Zhao Hanzhang received the telegram, she felt regretful for quite a while. If only this had not happened at this time! If this matter had been exposed earlier or later, either would have been fine. But now… it was not appropriate.

Zhao Hanzhang suppressed this telegram, quietly waiting for the evidence to arrive.

Zhou Yu was appointed to command Yangzhou’s military affairs. Most of the Jiangnan aristocratic families traveling with him were happy. This showed Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged their status in Jiangnan.

Only Lu Yuan was most unhappy. “He becomes Wuxing Commandery Governor, so what about Lu Jing? Whether he’s promoted or transferred, there should be an explanation. How can Zhou Yu be appointed Wuxing Commandery Governor so abruptly?”

“Could it be to sow discord between the Zhou and Lu clans?”

Lu Yuan: “Hmph, such petty tricks are not worthy of sowing discord between our two clans!”

“But Brother Lu, aren’t you quite unhappy right now?”

Lu Yuan forced himself to say, “Who says so? I’m not angry at all, just puzzled and confused.”

His confusion was soon resolved.

Yuan Li’s eight-hundred-li express arrived in Luoyang on the third day. At this time, Zhou Yu and Wang Dao had not yet left. They rarely came to Luoyang, so naturally they wanted to exchange ideas with some long-famous scholars. Moreover, many who came to Luoyang with them had decided to stay, and with this parting, who knew when they would meet again? There was also Zhao Hanzhang—they wanted to understand this Regent General better so they could cooperate better in court affairs in the future…

For all these reasons, neither had left.

Zhou Yu had already met with Lu Yuan, expressing that he would raise the matter of Lu Jing’s transfer with Zhao Hanzhang. They were both Wu natives, so they should unite more abroad and not be swayed by others’ provocations…

Zhou Yu himself also suspected Zhao Hanzhang’s move was to provoke discord between him and the Lu clan, but he could not refuse this position, so he could only placate Lu Yuan while trying to find Lu Jing a good destination.

But when he met Zhao Hanzhang twice and wanted to bring up this matter, she kept changing the subject.

The saying goes, “Three times and you’re out.” Today he planned to mention it one last time. If Zhao Hanzhang still diverted the topic, he could not raise it again and would have to find ways to gather information elsewhere.

Unexpectedly, today he was not diverted. Instead, he smoothly voiced his question, “…where will the current Wuxing Commandery Governor Lu Jing be transferred? This subordinate must arrange the handover with him.”

During the Eight Princes’ Rebellion, it was common for one province to have two governors or one commandery two governors—you appointed your person, I appointed mine. Or the previous one had not yet resigned or been transferred when the next one already arrived locally.

Besides this, there were also those who claimed positions themselves.

As for who ultimately controlled the locality, that depended on each person’s capabilities.

For example, Zhao Hanzhang initially claimed the position of Yuzhou Governor without reporting to the court at all, just taking it from the previous governor. The court also appointed a Yuzhou Governor, but because she held great power in Yuzhou, the new governor dared not take up the post, fearing death upon arrival. Then she monopolized the Yuzhou Governor position.

But now was different from before. At this time, Zhao Hanzhang controlled the court, and the court’s authority was already quite strong. Clearly, he could not compete with Lu Jing for the Wuxing Commandery Governor position.

Since Zhao Hanzhang appointed him as Wuxing Commandery Governor, she should at least vacate the position for him, right?

Zhao Hanzhang: “Rest assured, Lu Jing has already been arrested and will be executed soon. As soon as you arrive in Wuxing, you can directly assume your post.”

Zhou Yu was shocked and hastily asked, “Why does the General want to kill Lu Jing? Just to let this subordinate take over?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s brow furrowed. Zhao Yunxin at her side scolded, “Audacious! Does Commissioner Zhou think the General is such an unreasonable and tyrannical person?”

“He Lu Jing is no good person or good official! For personal gain, he forcibly seized common people’s fields, privately increased taxes, colluded with powerful merchants to exploit the countryside…”

Zhou Yu thought to himself: Is this sort of thing rare in the Great Jin?

Moreover, Lu Jing himself was a powerful magnate. It would be strange if he did not collude with himself, wouldn’t it? Such people could be demoted, stripped of office—there were many ways to handle it. How could he be beheaded?

And to be killed locally, not even brought to Luoyang for trial, not even given a chance to cry injustice…

Zhou Yu felt Zhao Hanzhang’s action was inappropriate. If people like Lu Jing were to be killed, how many officials in the realm would have to lose their heads?

Oh, northern officials had mostly been replaced, but most southern officials still followed the old customs.

Zhou Yu was about to plead for him when Zhao Yunxin, who had been watching his expression, finally threw out the final reason, “…colluding with Wang Dun, plotting rebellion.”

Zhao Yunxin said meaningfully, “Lu Jing and Wang Dun have had contact for a long time. Before Wang Dun rebelled, he secretly plotted with him to rise up together. From the letters, we know that the Jiangnan officials and gentry clans conspiring with him are not few.”

Zhou Yu’s spine turned cold, his feet seeming to step into emptiness, the whole person dizzy for a moment… He had also harbored such thoughts and had an ambiguous period with Wang Dun, all reflected in correspondence…

Zhou Yu looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head at Zhao Yunxin, then said, “Within Wuxing Commandery, popular resentment is boiling. Popular anger has reached a point I cannot ignore, so I ordered Yuan Li to investigate. Who knew that upon investigation, he would uncover evidence of Lu Jing colluding with Wang Dun?”

Zhao Yunxin brought up a box and, at Zhao Hanzhang’s indication, handed it to Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu opened it to look. Inside was a stack of letters, not only those Wang Dun wrote to Lu Jing, but also correspondence between Lu Yuan and several other Lu clan members with Lu Jing.

Although Lu Jing’s own letters were missing, just looking at these letters, one could tell that the entire Lu clan was considering joining Wang Dun. The letters complained extensively about Prince Langya trusting and favoring Liu Kui, Diao Xie, and others while suppressing them…

Several people even revealed in letters that Prince Langya was weak and probably could not compete with Zhao Hanzhang. They might as well join Wang Dun and fight hard—perhaps they could win a bright future for the clan.

Zhou Yu’s heart sank deeper as he read. Truthfully, he had also had such plans, only he had not had time to put them into practice. But Lu Jing had quietly provided information to Wang Dun and even supplied provisions when his army passed through.

Zhou Yu gripped the letters tightly, his mind turning a hundred different ways. Finally, he still knelt on the ground to plead for the Lu family, “General, previously Jiangnan’s future was uncertain, inevitably causing restless hearts. But everyone only dared think it in their hearts, never daring to act on it. When judging worldly evil deeds, one should judge by traces, not by hearts. From the letters, one can see that providing provisions to Wang Dun was Lu Jing’s sole idea. The rest of the Lu clan did not know.”

He said, “If the Lu clan had known, Lu Yuan would not have followed us north to the capital.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “I naturally trust Lu Yuan and trust the Lu clan, so I only ordered Yuan Li to arrest Lu Jing without touching the rest of the Lu clan.”

She turned to Zhao Yunxin and said, “Please invite Lu Yuan and Jiang Feng to the palace.”

Zhao Yunxin bowed and agreed.

Before long, both Lu Yuan and Jiang Feng entered the palace. There were not many people in the great hall. Zhao Hanzhang showed them the letters Yuan Li had seized.

Both Lu Yuan and Jiang Feng broke out in cold sweat, their faces pale.

This matter had nothing to do with Jiang Feng. One could say that among Jiangnan’s four great families, the Jiang family was the earliest to invest in Zhao Hanzhang. Jiang Pu had gone north to Luoyang with the Lu and Yang families, entering the Grand Academy early.

But the four great families, though they competed, also shared glory and loss together. Most importantly, this represented Zhao Hanzhang’s attitude toward Jiangnan’s aristocratic families.

Prince Langya was a typical example.

When he first went south to Jiangnan, his posture was very high, wanting them to come pay him respects.

After discovering he was nothing in their eyes, he began to court talent with courtesy, treating people with gentleness to win them over.

When conflicts of interest arose with them later, he used Liu Kui, Diao Xie, and their ilk to suppress them…

How could this not make them resentful?

So, would Zhao Hanzhang also walk Prince Langya’s old path?

Of course Zhao Hanzhang would not.

Prince Langya initially ceded too much power, so he was restricted everywhere. In the eyes of Jiangnan’s aristocratic families, Prince Langya was competing with them for benefits. His eyes and heart were full of benefits, completely forgetting the court’s laws, as if everything could be exchanged for benefits.

The Wang clan and the four great families occupied civilian fields in Jiangnan, privately granted official positions, and selectively implemented Prince Langya’s policies. Even a clay figure would develop some fighting spirit under such treatment.

Zhao Hanzhang absolutely would not allow such a situation to continue in Jiangnan.

She was willing to maneuver tactically for Jiangnan’s stable situation, taking things slowly, but that did not mean she would retreat without bottom lines.

Taking advantage of catching the Lu clan’s weakness this time, she could have another deep talk with them.

This talk lasted until dark. When Zhou Yu, Lu Yuan, and Jiang Feng left the palace, all three walked with slightly unsteady steps, faces pale, yet carrying the joy of surviving a disaster, as well as deep apprehension toward the palace behind them, their eyes complex.

Zhao Hanzhang had burned all the letters in front of them, throwing them into a brazier.

She would not use this to prosecute the Lu clan. All of Jiangnan’s aristocratic families—whether they showed signs of participating in Wang Dun’s rebellion or had already sided with Wang Dun—she could forgive all.

The former would not be pursued, the latter would not be implicated, and their lives could also be preserved.

But she demanded that from now on, Jiangnan’s aristocratic families must all obey state laws. Moreover, to calm this rebellion and placate the common people, each family must release a certain amount of land to be redeemed by the state treasury.

They must unconditionally release some tenant farmers and servants, allowing them to return home…

Provide a certain amount of relief grain to common people, helping them get through this winter…

Finally, Lu Jing must die.

Zhao Hanzhang’s explanation was, “Not because he provided provisions to Wang Dun and participated in rebellion, but because he was corrupt, bent the law, and exploited the countryside, causing boiling popular resentment in Wuxing Commandery.”

This time Lu Yuan did not object or plead. He agreed very meekly, but in his heart he did not believe Zhao Hanzhang’s explanation. He felt she was still killing Lu Jing because he participated in the rebellion.

In the eyes of these aristocratic families, being a poor official, dereliction of duty, corruption, even cruelty—none of these were reasons for the court to execute someone. Only rebellion, because it touched the court’s fundamental interests.

Zhao Hanzhang naturally saw what they were thinking, but did not insist they believe her reasoning.

No matter—there was plenty of time ahead. She had time to slowly correct their views. Moreover, for this matter, as long as the common people believed it was so, that was enough.

This time, Zhao Hanzhang did not even have the postal station deliver letters. She directly telegraphed Yuan Li her decision.

After Yuan Li received the telegram, he arrested the subordinate officials of Wuxing Commandery who needed arresting and detained those who needed detaining, directly placing Wuxing Commandery under military control. He had people announce it throughout the streets and alleys.

Within a few days, a large number of common people gathered in Wucheng County of Wuxing Commandery. Yuan Li had people parade Lu Jing through the streets all the way to the execution ground, beheading him in front of the entire city’s populace.

The common people watched with tears streaming down their faces. Especially the villagers and fishermen Yuan Li had specifically sought out from the seaside—when they saw Lu Jing’s head fall to the ground, they collapsed to their knees with a thud, beating their chests and wailing to the heavens.

If not for them shouting “Well killed, well killed!” onlookers might have thought they were protesting Lu Jing’s injustice.

The villagers and fishermen cried and wailed, finally breaking through the soldiers’ defensive line to snatch the corpse and head. They wanted to drag Lu Jing’s remains to the seaside to offer sacrifices to family members who had died unjustly because of him over the years.

Even Yuan Li was startled. In the end, he added more troops to retrieve the remains.

Beheading Lu Jing was one thing, but if even the corpse was snatched and desecrated, that would be another matter entirely. He personally did not mind making an enemy of the Lu clan, but the General could not.

To prevent the Lu clan from resenting the General, Yuan Li not only retrieved the remains but also had a coroner sew Lu Jing’s body back together in front of Lu family servants, preparing a coffin for burial.

Finally, he had a team of soldiers escort them back home with the coffin, avoiding angry civilians.

Therefore, when these servants returned to the Lu estate to report, they even spoke well of Yuan Li, “If not for General Yuan’s protection, the young master’s remains would not have been preserved, and we could not have escorted the coffin home.”

The Lu clan members were furious, “So we should thank Yuan Li? If not for him leading troops into Wuxing Commandery to deceive Zimi, how would Zimi have ended up like this?”

Lu Jing’s courtesy name was Zimi.

But some in the Lu clan held different opinions, “The coffin has already been opened for inspection. There were not many wounds on Zimi’s body, showing he was not much tortured. He was too reckless in Wuxing Commandery. I warned him long ago not to exploit the people’s strength too much. We are Wu natives, living here for generations. Treating the common people so poorly—even if they endure now, someday it will bring retribution on our descendants.”

“This time it’s good—the retribution did not fall on descendants. He himself suffered it.” He said, “In my opinion, his death was good. The common people already hated him enough to devour his flesh and desecrate his corpse. If we still forcibly suppressed them, in the future the entire clan would be implicated.”

Everyone fell silent.

After a long while, someone said, “I heard that Zhao Hanzhang in Luoyang heard of his evil reputation. Popular resentment was boiling, so she ordered Yuan Li to enter Wuxing and arrest him.”

“Even so, there should have been a trial before execution. She did not even see Zimi, directly ordering his execution, and a public beheading at that. So tyrannical! Can she truly tolerate our Lu clan, tolerate Jiangnan gentry participating in government?”

“Yes, I see her heart is very hard. Pledging allegiance to her is worse than choosing Prince Langya back then.”

“Shut up! Prince Langya has petty men like Diao Xie beside him. I would rather not serve as an official than suffer that petty man’s humiliation.”

“In that case, Wang Dun is still more suitable.”

“Watch your words! The family head is still in Luoyang. We must inform him of Wuxing Commandery’s affairs and wait for his reply before discussing further.” They immediately wrote a letter to be sent to Luoyang.

Lu Yuan was already on his way back. The night he left the palace, the next day he urged Wang Dao and Zhou Yu to return to Jiangnan together.

He had to rush back to see Lu Jing one last time.

He thought that even if the court’s documents were delivered quickly, the time would be similar to his, but there would always be a time difference for review and execution. He wanted to see Lu Jing one last time to know what other fatal things he had confessed.

How could he know that Zhao Hanzhang did not send official documents but directly telegraphed the execution order?

Lu Yuan was about to cross the Yangtze when he encountered family members heading north to report. Holding the letter, Lu Yuan finally experienced that legendary deep fear.

Zhao Hanzhang truly had the ability to make people deeply afraid.

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