How did I, a mere son-in-law lying down, become a "Fenglang Juxu" (a legendary martial art

After a joint trial, Zhu Youyi's guilt was basically determined to be dereliction of duty.

This crime is neither serious nor minor; the punishment the offender will face and whether his life will be in danger will depend on the presiding judge's decision.

Yin Nantian pondered for a moment and asked, "Lord Jiang, in your opinion, how should this be handled?"

Jiang Xiaoyong frowned and slowly replied, "According to the law, dereliction of duty should result in dismissal and investigation. However, given his usual diligence, he may be given a lighter sentence, with a three-year salary deduction, to observe his future conduct."

Yin Nantian shook his head and smiled: "Law and reason are not without human sentiment, but discipline cannot be abandoned. Zhu Youyi indirectly caused the tragic deaths of twenty-five officials, how can he be punished leniently? Moreover, my personal guard sergeant Shen Yi also died in this battle. His family is devastated, how can they not seek justice?"

After a slight hesitation, Jiang Xiaoyong proposed: "Thirty strokes of the cane, the whole family demoted to the lowest social class, and one hundred taels of silver in compensation, how about that?"

Li Polu nodded to himself. This punishment was quite severe. The entire family was demoted to the lowest social class, which basically cut off Zhu Youyi and his descendants' chances of entering officialdom.

Yin Nantian remained noncommittal. He looked at Liu Shan and asked, "Registrar Liu, what do you think?"

Liu Shan sighed. Thirty strokes of the cane sounded severe, but it wouldn't cause serious harm. In fact, the executioner could control the force so that Zhu Youyi would only suffer physical pain.

The entire family was demoted to a lowly status, which seemed severe, but in reality, it only meant they were barred from officialdom; their livelihood was not greatly affected, and they could even preserve their family property. For Zhu Youyi, such punishment might only be a temporary humiliation, but in the long run, it was almost insignificant.

As for the compensation of one hundred taels of silver, that's more of a joke. As Jiang Xiaoyong's confidant, Zhu Youyi could easily raise the money even if he didn't have one hundred taels of silver.

Seeing that Liu Shan remained silent, Yin Nantian asked again, "Registrar Liu, what do you think?"

Li Polu, Liu Enpeng, and Jiang Xiaoyong were comrades-in-arms, so Jiang Xiaoyong was considered an uncle to Liu Shan.

At this moment, Li Polu kept giving Liu Shan meaningful glances, signaling him to stop.

However, Liu Shan seemed not to see it.

His eyes were filled with the images of the officials who had died tragically before his eyes... This was his fault, but Zhu Youyi was also to blame!

His tone was somber: “My lords, one hundred taels of silver is utterly insignificant, the demotion of the entire family to the lowest social class is of no consequence, and thirty strokes of the cane are child’s play. If that’s all there is to it, how can we console our brothers who died so tragically?”

Jiang Xiaoyong's voice was icy: "Then what do you want?"

Before Liu Shan could speak, he warned, "Liu Shan, your father saved my life, but let's keep things separate. I advise you not to push your luck."

Liu Shan remained unmoved and insisted, "Zhu Youyi's crimes are grave and he should be flogged one hundred times. If Zhu Youyi can endure it, I will not pursue the matter any further. If he is beaten to death, it is because he deserves it."

Jiang Xiaoyong's expression was inscrutable, but considering that there was a lot of room for maneuver in the caning punishment, he finally agreed.

"Liu Shan, I hope you won't go back on your word, and I also hope that you can make peace with Zhu Youyi afterward."

Liu Shan revealed a triumphant smile: "It's a deal! I'll carry out the execution myself!"

Yin Nantian chuckled, “In that case, let’s do as Clerk Liu says and give him one hundred strokes of the cane as a warning to others.”

Li Polu sighed repeatedly.

Chiang Hsiao-yung angrily rebuked: "You bastard! I advise you not to play with fire!"

Liu Shan didn't care at all. As long as he could give his dead brothers an explanation, what did Jiang Xiaoyong's threats matter?

He was determined, holding the torture rod, and walked step by step toward Zhu Youyi.

Zhu Youyi's face was ashen, his legs trembled, he was covered in cold sweat, and a trace of despair flashed in his eyes.

He looked at Jiang Xiaoyong pleadingly, wanting to ask for help, but for some reason, he hesitated.

Jiang Xiaoyong snorted coldly, clasped his hands and said to Yin Nantian, "Lord Yin, Liu Shan is clearly settling a personal score. Please see the truth!"

Yin Nantian's gaze was deep as he said in a deep voice, "Justice resides in the hearts of the people. Although Liu Shan's actions were extreme, Zhu Youyi deserved his punishment. Lord Jiang, my mind is made up, so please do not try to persuade me any further."

Zhu Youyi's throat bobbed. He knew he couldn't possibly withstand a hundred strokes of the cane, and endless regret and fear welled up in his heart.

He couldn't help but cry out, "Lord Jiang, save me!"

"Wait a minute!" Jiang Xiaoyong called out to Liu Shan, "Let me have a few words to say to Zhu Youyi."

Liu Shan looked at Yin Nantian, and seeing that he agreed, he took a few steps back with his cane.

Jiang Xiaoyong walked up to Zhu Youyi and whispered, "I will give you the first fifty strokes. If you can survive this ordeal, I will guarantee you a life of wealth and honor. If you can't survive, I will guarantee them a life of comfort and security."

Before he finished speaking, he leaned close to Zhu Youyi's ear and said, "I've sent troops to protect your family. Hold on!"

After saying that, he snatched the cane from Liu Shan's hand and said, "I will do the first fifty strokes."

Liu Shan was taken aback. He didn't understand why Jiang Xiaoyong had suddenly changed his mind, but he was confident that fifty strokes of the cane would kill Zhu Youyi, so he did not object.

Jiang Xiaoyong nodded to Zhu Youyi, then swung his cane down, "bang bang bang!"

The three strikes came down in quick succession like lightning, leaving afterimages as the scepter was swung.

After the three strokes of the cane, Jiang Xiaoyong threw it to Liu Shan and said coldly, "Continue!"

Liu Shan was stunned. What did Jiang Xiaoyong mean by this?

To his even greater surprise, Zhu Youyi actually sat up and stared in horror at Jiang Xiaoyong's back.

Just as Liu Shan was puzzled, Zhu Youyi suddenly coughed up blood violently, and the blood was mixed with small fragments of internal organs, which splattered all over the ground.

Zhu Youyi's gaze shifted from fear to hatred, and his lips twitched slightly, as if he had something left unsaid.

However, he was too weak to utter another word. His body jolted violently, and he finally breathed his last.

Zhu Youyi's body crashed heavily to the ground.

He died with his eyes wide open, staring intently at Jiang Xiaoyong's back, as if he wanted to turn his endless resentment and unwillingness into a sharp sword to pierce Jiang Xiaoyong.

Liu Shan watched this scene in shock, a chill running through him, but he still couldn't figure out Jiang Xiaoyong's true intentions.

Did they not want Zhu Youyi to suffer torture and wanted to give him a quick death?

But this method is too ruthless; to be so cruel as to harm one's own confidant.

Yin Nantian remained expressionless, but a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Xiaoyong turned around, coldly sweeping his gaze over the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "Zhu Youyi's crimes are heinous, and he has already been beaten to death in court. Therefore, the matter in Jinhua County ends here. Liu Shan, do you have any objections?"

Liu Shan shook his head. "No objection."

The grievances have their perpetrators, and the debts have their debtors. Zhu Youyi is already dead, so it is pointless to pursue the other soldiers in the garrison battalion any further.

Jiang Xiaoyong snorted coldly again, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yin Nantian, and left without looking back.

Yin Nantian watched Jiang Xiaoyong's figure disappear, sighed softly, and asked, "Registrant Liu, do you know your crime?"

Liu Shan quickly bowed, "My lord, I am guilty."

"Now that you know you've committed a crime, reflect on your actions and never repeat them in the future."