12dz Chapter 344: The Black Market in Dragon City
Chapter 344: The Black Market in Dragon City
Since Chen Futu rebuilt Longcheng and issued the relief order, the royal court's policies have provided extensive assistance to the lower classes, covering almost the entire population. Anyone with all four limbs intact could find work in the workshops and would not become a beggar.
Li Xiuning rarely went out and knew the situation in Longcheng very well. Logically, there shouldn't be any beggars there, so she sent Ge Fei to investigate. Ge Fei hurriedly reported, "He's disabled. His tongue has been cut out and his Achilles tendons have been severed."
"really?"
Chen Futu stopped several guards from Longcheng.
These low-ranking soldiers didn't recognize their king and said impatiently, "What's it to you? Mind your own business."
Where did the beggar come from?
"I told you, it has nothing to do with you, so you'd better not meddle."
The soldiers grew increasingly impatient and were about to load the beggar onto the cart and drive away when Chen Futu frowned and pressed down on the cart shaft. "Answer my question."
"Kid, you're asking for death, aren't you? This is an official business!"
With a clang, a soldier drew his sword, exuding a murderous aura.
Chen Futu was furious. "I'd like to see what you're up to!"
At a single command, Ge Fei and Luo Wushuang took action right there in the street.
Several Longcheng guards were knocked to the ground on the spot, startling the tourists on the street who started making a commotion.
"Why did they even resort to violence!"
"Who is this person who dares to mess with the Dragon City garrison? Don't they have a death wish?"
A city garrison is similar to a police officer in later times, mainly responsible for the security and inspection of the entire city, but unlike the officials in the yamen, their scope of authority is much wider.
To physically assault the Longcheng garrison in the street is tantamount to rebellion.
More and more onlookers gathered. Several soldiers struggled to their feet, glaring at Chen Futu, "Are you tired of living? You even dare to hit me!"
"Heh, so what if I hit you? Answer my question, where did these beggars come from!"
"Young man, why are you meddling in other people's business?" a bystander muttered.
Chen Futu asked, "Do you know the origins of these beggars?"
"Shut up, all of you! Anyone who dares to spout nonsense will be sent to jail!" A guard shouted, startling the civilian who was about to speak, who quickly disappeared into the crowd, too afraid to show his face again.
At this point, Chen Futu could clearly see that these beggars were probably harmed by someone, or perhaps it had become an industry.
Chen Futu ignored the fierce-looking guards and went to the front of the carriage to examine the several beggars with blank stares. Then he pinched the mouth of one of them and looked closely. Sure enough, his tongue had been cut and his Achilles tendons had been severed.
Suppressing his anger, Chen Futu took out a gold ingot and said to the onlookers, "Whoever can tell me the situation of these beggars, this gold ingot is his."
The people suddenly erupted in clamor upon seeing the gold.
Just then, Su Yun, Xu Guangshou, and a few others came out of Baiyujing to stroll through the market and were shocked to see this scene.
"Isn't that Young Master Qin? What's he doing?"
"It seems they had a conflict with the Dragon City garrison over a few beggars."
"Could it be that they were murdered and dragged here to beg for a living?"
A generous reward will surely attract brave men. A man squeezed through the crowd, rubbing his hands together, and came to Chen Futu. "Young master, I know what's going on."
"explain."
Chen Futu simply tossed the gold over.
The garrison soldiers were instantly enraged. "You're plotting a rebellion! You'll all be beheaded!"
They sent someone to deliver the order, and Consort Ge and Luo Wushuang did not stop them. They could tell that the king was furious and that there would likely be a lot of heads to be chopped off today.
The man glanced fearfully at the guard who had been cursing him and whispered, "Actually, they were human sacrifices sold from other places. Those that couldn't be sold and were left unsold were sent here to be beggars after their tongues were cut out and their Achilles tendons were severed."
The man's voice wasn't loud, but it was heard by those around him, and for a moment everyone gasped in shock.
"This is utterly blatant disregard for human life!"
"Yes, it's too cruel."
People who were originally able-bodied had a chance to live, but now they can only beg for a living. The mastermind behind this has treated these human beings as tools to make extra money, and has never regarded them as human beings.
Zhang Fan mocked from the crowd, "I thought the Northern Frontier King's rule was truly a peaceful and prosperous era, but it turns out it's all the same."
"That's not how it works. There's nothing wrong with Dragon City under the rule of the Northern Frontier King. It's just that some people below him are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and he just didn't notice it at the time."
Su Yun disagreed with Zhang Fan's statement that he completely denied the achievements of the Northern Frontier King.
Xu Guangshou chimed in, "Longcheng is indeed more prosperous than the capital, and the vast majority of the people I met had smiles on their faces. This is undeniable."
"And what about the plight of these beggars?"
"If the King of the Northern Frontier finds out, he will surely punish him severely."
Su Yun and several other talented individuals had great confidence in the Northern Frontier King, whom they had never met before.
Now that Qin Shao has intervened and things have escalated, there will be a result soon.
"Consort Ge, inform Li Yuanfang to bring the Imperial Guards over."
Chen Futu was extremely furious. The begging industry had actually appeared, and in Dragon City no less! Wasn't this a slap in the face to him, the King of the Northern Frontier?
Not long after Consort Ge left, Li Yuanfang arrived on horseback with a large number of Imperial Guards.
Upon seeing Li Yuanfang, the guards were terrified and dared not argue with Chen Futu anymore. Instead, they all knelt down, filled with fear and trepidation.
"Young master, what happened?"
Seeing Chen Futu with Li Xiuning outside, Li Yuanfang cleverly addressed him as "Young Master" instead of "King".
Chen Futu pointed to the beggars and asked him to examine them.
Li Yuanfang's expression changed upon seeing this, and he grabbed a guard, demanding, "Speak, what happened!"
"General Li, we didn't know that. We just thought that since we were going to hold a literary gathering, we took the beggars to another place to prevent them from affecting the gathering."
The soldier stammered his explanation.
Li Yuanfang gritted his teeth and said, "Do I look like a fool to you, General?"
"I truly had no idea."
If he persists and refuses to let go, there might still be a glimmer of hope, so Li Yuanfang is destined to get no answer.
Chen Futu snorted, "No need to waste time. Imprison them all and torture them severely. Anyone involved, regardless of who they are or their rank, should be taken down. As for the entire industry chain behind them, anyone involved should be wiped out as well!"
"Here."
Li Yuanfang accepted the order and ordered the Imperial Guards to escort the group to the Surveillance Department.
The people were overjoyed at the sight, and cheers filled the air.
They were happy, but Chen Futu's good mood was completely ruined.
He knew long ago that the black market of selling human animals existed. In feudal times, wealthy families inevitably needed to increase their manpower, and he thought that those who were sold would not have too bad a life in the hands of rich families. He said that he turned a blind eye to it, but he overlooked what happened to those who could not be sold.
The fact that this has been exposed today means that the lower-level officials must be thoroughly rectified. At worst, we should follow Zhu Yuanzhang's example and execute a large number of people as a warning to others.