The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Guan Xing turned around and saw a prisoner kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

The prisoner choked back tears and said, "This humble citizen, Qian Yun, kowtows to the general, begging the general to do justice for this humble citizen."

“I was originally the steward of the Zhang family in Yuyao. Three years ago, the Zhang family was framed and exiled to Jiaozhou. I lost my protection and came to Wushang to buy a house and settle down to live out my remaining years. Then Zhu Hong came.”

“After Zhu Hong took office, he forced wealthy households in the county to pay donations under various pretexts. We dared not offend him and could only pay money to avoid disaster. However, Zhu Hong’s appetite grew bigger and bigger, and everyone gradually could not bear it, so they refused his exploitation.”

"Who would have thought that Zhu Hong had no bottom line? When he failed to extort money, he started kidnapping and extorting. Today he kidnapped my son, tomorrow he kidnapped my daughter. My hard-earned family fortune was gradually devoured by him."

"In the end, when I had no money left to pay, he sent me to prison on charges of colluding with bandits. He then abducted my wives, concubines, and daughters and took them into his mansion. After he was tired of them, he sold them to brothels. I heard that my daughter was tortured to death. My poor daughter was only sixteen years old."

"As many as thirty wealthy people suffered the same fate as the commoners, and more than half of them did not survive the torture in prison..."

He choked up and couldn't continue. The prisoner next to him quickly chimed in, "General, you are wise. All the wealthy families like ours in the city have died out. Only three families remain in this vast county: the He family of Shanyin, the Yu family of Yuyao, and a branch of the Zhang family of Wujun. They have aristocratic backgrounds, so Zhu Hongcai didn't dare to touch them."

Guan Xing questioned Zhu Hong, "Did they wrong you?"

Qian Yun answered first: "No, absolutely not. Every word I have said is true. If there is even a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning. If the general does not believe me, he can go to the brothel to ask. There is only one brothel in the city, and most of the girls there are the relatives of the wealthy families who were killed by Zhu Hong."

Zhu Hong was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He wanted to argue, but his teeth were chattering and he couldn't say a word.

Guan Xing suppressed his murderous intent and turned around to ask, "Who else has been persecuted by Zhu Hong or anyone else? Step forward, and I will stand up for you."

Seeing that Guan Xing was serious, the people no longer held back and began to accuse him, saying, "Zhu Hong has seized my fertile land. He gave me only two copper coins for three acres of land. I didn't want to sell it, but he kidnapped my son."

“This humble citizen is suing Yu Yong, who not only occupied two mu of my land, but also stole my water buffalo.”

"This humble citizen is suing He Ping..."

Guan Xing said with a grim face, "Ji Jie, bring me these people you just mentioned."

As a county constable, Ji Jie naturally recognized this group of young masters. He rushed into the crowd and quickly dragged the scoundrels from the three major families onto the high platform.

Guan Xing shouted again: "An official should bring benefits to the people in his jurisdiction. Zhu Hong, as the county magistrate, not only failed to benefit the people, but also plundered them for personal gain at the expense of the public. His actions are intolerable to Heaven and Earth. He must be killed to appease public anger."

"I hereby declare that Magistrate Zhu Hong, in collusion with scoundrels from three powerful families and bandits, has been convicted of harming the people and is sentenced to death. The sentence shall be carried out immediately."

Xie Chong had waited too long for this moment. Upon hearing this, he snatched the butcher's knife and slashed it down at Zhu Hong's neck.

Then, one by one, they quickly executed all the scoundrels from the three major families.

As the heads rolled around on the stage, the audience fell into a deathly silence. Many people looked blank and their eyes showed a strong sense of unreality.

Did General Guan really kill Zhu Hong?

Am I dreaming?

Someone raised their hand and slapped themselves. After feeling the pain, they exclaimed with delight, "This is real, not a dream! That corrupt official Zhu Hong is really dead! General, you are mighty! The Han army is mighty!"

His shout caused a huge stir, instantly igniting the entire audience.

Guan Xing waited until they finished venting before saying, "Fellow villagers of Wushang, Zhu Hong has caused you great harm these past two years. To make up for your losses, I, the general, have decided to exempt Wushang County from all taxes and corvée labor this year, so that you can have a good rest."

"I will redistribute the land that Zhu Hong seized according to the number of people, and strive to ensure that everyone can own their own land."

The crowd was stunned, and after a brief silence, they erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"The general is wise, the King of Hanzhong is wise..."

Guan Xing waited until they finished cheering before saying, "Ji Jie, you stay here to evacuate the people and make sure they leave in an orderly manner, so as to prevent a stampede."

"Xie Chong, dispose of the corpses of these scoundrels and bury them as soon as possible to prevent a plague. The rest of you, come back to the county office with me."

Bury?

That would be such a waste of time.

I'll just erect a monument for them.

While Xie Chong was inwardly complaining, he ordered his men to collect the corpses, transport them out of the city gate, and take them directly to the mountains to be fed to wild beasts.

He and Zhu Hong have a blood feud; if he's not fed to wild beasts, why should he be given a grand funeral?

Xie Chong hid in the grass and waited patiently until the smell of blood attracted wild animals. He left only after witnessing Zhu Hong's body being devoured by the animals.

Upon returning to the county government office and entering the main hall, he knelt and kowtowed to Guan Xing, who was seated at the head of the table, and said with heartfelt sincerity, "This humble servant Xie Chong pays his respects to the Commandant. I have no way to repay the Commandant's great kindness and virtue. From now on, I am willing to go through fire and water for the Commandant, even at the cost of my life."