Richest Man: Divine-Grade Reconstruct System Chapter 1019 - 979: The World Remains, People Have Changed

However, the moment Lin Yi finished speaking, considerable commotion arose from the surroundings.

It was easily surmised that more individuals were converging on their location.

Indeed, as all eyes shifted towards the entrance, a contingent of soldiers was observed, escorting a vast throng of people forward,

much like the preceding group, their steps accompanied by wails and shouts.

Many among them hurled curses as they advanced.

The greater part of those weeping consisted of women and children, whereas the men, consumed by intense anger, were the ones vocalizing their outrage.

Each individual hurled furious accusations at the soldiers, branding them as blind fools for daring to mistreat them, remaining ignorant of their master's identity.

Were they truly unaware of who held sway in East County City?

Frankly, the barrage of curses caused Lin Yi to knit his brows, let alone the soldiers,

who, having suffered their abuse previously, seized this moment to act like ravenous tigers. Without a word, they surged forward, unleashing heavy blows.

The recipient of a punch had teeth spewed from his mouth.

Witnessing this, those nearby did not hold back their fury, directing venomous glares at the soldiers.

Yet, upon entering Chengdu Prefecture and beholding a line of people already kneeling before them, utter astonishment struck them all.

They blinked rapidly, their faces etched with disbelief. What spectacle met their eyes?

They saw their masters, humbly kneeling in the open space outside the main hall.

Not merely their masters, but Lord Liu himself was also present on his knees,

a sight that rendered everyone speechless.

Their mouths gaped open, too stunned to utter a sound, a reaction more potent than any soldier's assault.

These newcomers struggled to comprehend what had transpired overnight to their leaders.

And why were Lord Liu and the others apprehended, and who was this individual seated there?

So young, yet treated with such profound deference; could he be the offspring of a high-ranking official?

Had Lord Liu somehow offended someone of immense influence?

Suddenly, a flurry of speculation began, with some of the more astute individuals contemplating strategies to detach themselves from the accused or to reveal compromising information, hoping to secure their own safety.

Thus, the procession continued, uninterrupted.

Fortunately, the City Lord's Mansion square was expansive enough to comfortably hold nearly a thousand individuals without feeling unduly cramped.

And so, after close to half an hour, the square teemed with kneeling figures, each under the watchful eye of a soldier.

Any slight movement would earn them a swift kick.

Under these circumstances, Lin Yi felt a measure of helplessness.

After all, their transgressions could not be overlooked, yet he lacked the heart to disregard basic humanity,

so he issued an order for all children under the age of fifteen to be separated and attended to separately, merely supervised, without the compulsion to kneel.

The apprehended officials displayed utter contempt for this directive.

They were convinced Lin Yi was merely putting on a show, believing their own status paramount, and as for their children and descendants? Ha, they were of little consequence.

In their estimation, offspring could be sired with anyone, as many times as desired;

as long as their own existence, their lineage, and their standing were preserved, that was sufficient.

Consequently, they harbored no gratitude for Lin Yi's gesture, displaying only scorn.

Observing this, Lin Yi could only shake his head, recognizing that these individuals truly courted death. To regard their own blood with such indifference, showing no shred of pity, clearly indicated their hearts had become utterly corrupted.

Time marched onward, and finally, all present had arrived. Surveying the multitude prostrate on the ground, Lin Yi rose and stepped forward:

"I offer you but one pronouncement: Heaven bears witness to your deeds.

Everything you have enacted previously did not go unnoticed, nor was it unknown to me; it was simply that I lacked the time to address it. Now that your transgressions have reached their zenith, I shall show no leniency. As for you, Lord Liu, your arrogance and defiance of the law indicate you must have perpetrated numerous misdeeds during your tenure here, is that not so? Today, I shall neither pass judgment nor carry out executions; instead, I wish to witness firsthand the extent of the wrongdoing you have truly committed. Men, bind them all and escort them beyond the city walls. Arrange tables before them. And at the break of dawn, assemble all the populace, everyone in the vicinity, to bear witness and voice their grievances. Should any person have suffered injustice, I shall personally adjudicate, and if guilt is established, the punishment shall be doubled."

Upon hearing these commands, the soldiers acted with immediate resolve, ropes swiftly binding the assembled individuals and ushering them outside, forming three layers of guards around the City Lord’s Mansion.

As for the timing, it was already late, and Lin Yi had no intention of disturbing the populace,

nor did he plan to convene everyone in the depths of the night, for the common folk of this era were the most innocent, the most downtrodden, and while they deserved solace, the urgency was not paramount at this juncture.

And now, let us turn our attention to Lord Liu. Receiving special attention, he was bound securely and suspended from the flagpole situated outside the gates of Chengdu Prefecture.