The crowd exchanged glances, no one daring to speak first.
Seeing this, Zhang Xin said, "Since none of you have any objections, then let's go with the will of the people. Transmit my decree..."
"Governor!"
A State Prefecture official stepped forward and said, "To handle a case, one must have evidence; to convict, one must go thru a trial."
"For Governor to make a judgment based solely on this person's one-sided statement seems inappropriate."
Zhang Xin looked at the commoner.
"What more evidence is needed?"
The commoner said, "Aren't the hundreds of thousands of villagers outside the city all witnesses?"
"Still a trial? Didn't the Governor just personally conduct a trial? What's inappropriate about that?"
Zhang Xin looked at the State Prefecture official.
"Even so..."
The State Prefecture official braved it and said, "This case involves a large number of people, and it's inevitable that some might be wrongly accused."
"Governor should not condone the guilty, but he also cannot unjustly kill innocent people..."
Zhang Xin looked at the commoner again.
"Please rest assured, esteemed sir."
The commoner patted his chest, "When we came, the villagers all discussed it. We've written down which family's members committed which crimes. As long as we kill according to the list, there will absolutely be no mistakes!"
Zhang Xin looked at the State Prefecture official again.
"How can convictions be made by a list?"
The State Prefecture official looked at Zhang Xin, bowed, and said, "Governor, I believe it would be better for Governor to first detain the people, and then handle them one by one after they have all been tried."
"You officials, don't try that trick!"
The commoner said discontentedly, "Don't think we common people are fools. You just want to drag out the time until we leave, then conspire to force the Governor to pardon them!"
"Heh, if these people return to their hometowns, won't they grind us to dust?"
"At that time, what should we do? We can't possibly gather again and come to Pingyuan again, can we?"
"Isn't that just causing trouble for the Governor?"
"This... absolutely not."
The State Prefecture official pondered, "I can guaranty it."
"What makes you guaranty it? Are you the Governor?"
The commoner's single sentence made the State Prefecture official's face flush red.
If it weren't for so many people still outside the city, at this moment, he would have shouted 'Arrogant' at the very least.
The State Prefecture official looked at Hua Xin with pleading eyes.
Biejia, please say something...
Hua Xin was playing dead.
Guo Yuan wanted to speak, but he found his sleeve being tugged.
Looking back, Hua Xin subtly glanced at him and shook his head slightly.
The debate on the city wall seemed to be between the commoners and the State Prefecture officials, but in reality, it was a confrontation between Zhang Xin and the great families of Qing Province.
Otherwise, how could a bunch of commoners, even if gathered, be so thoroughly prepared?
Not only were their words orderly, but they even produced something like a list!
You say these words weren't taught by Zhang Xin? The list wasn't given by Zhang Xin?
Even a dog wouldn't believe it.
He had definitely seen the letters in those boxes!
Guo Yuan understood the meaning in Hua Xin's eyes and gasped.
Governor is determined to go on a killing spree!
"You just said..."
Zhang Xin opened his mouth at the opportune moment and asked, "You have a list?"
"Yes." The commoner nodded.
"Go."
Zhang Xin looked at several personal guards, "Go down the city and retrieve them."
"Understood."
The personal guards once again took the human-powered elevator down the city, divided into several groups, and brought dozens of boxes up.
"Everyone, take a look."
Zhang Xin ordered the boxes to be opened, revealing the lists inside.
The State Prefecture officials really wanted to throw a torch into them.
Unfortunately, they didn't have one.
"Why isn't anyone looking?"
Seeing that no one was willing to move, Zhang Xin simply began calling names.
"Biejia, you look first."
Hua Xin, helpless, could only step forward and take out a list to examine.
"Zhizhong, you look too."
Sun Qian could only start looking as well.
The contents of the list were extremely detailed.
Which commandery, which county, which branch of which family committed what crime—it was all clearly written on the list.
"Hmm?"
After reading, Hua Xin was stunned.
There were many great families on the list; even the families of some State Prefecture officials were not spared.
But...
The specific branches to which those State Prefecture officials belonged were not on this list!
"Look, all of you, look."
Zhang Xin constantly urged the State Prefecture officials to examine the lists, and he himself picked up one to read.
This look was not a trivial matter.
Good heavens, this was too detailed, wasn't it?
"Tsk, only these common people, who are usually bullied by the great families, could compile such det hot, "Since all the esteemed sirs agree that those wicked people should be killed, please, Governor, write the decree."