"This place also withholds rations?"
After hearing his words, Han Mo's expression turned grim.
These miners performed the most arduous work daily. If even their rations were to be cut, then the act was truly unconscionable.
"Sir, don't listen to his nonsense. He's just talking about anything…"
Seeing Han Mo's expression, Old Man Niu knew this matter was likely to escalate.
They, the laborers, had mustered the courage to voice so many opinions to Han Mo, not entirely because they truly believed in him, but more out of desperation.
"None of you speak. You, speak!"
Despite Old Man Niu's repeated attempts to explain, Han Mo once again focused his gaze on the adolescent boy.
"Uncles and elders, why can't we speak? These rations are all carried out stone by stone by us. Our families are starving at home, why can't we speak up?"
As the boy spoke, large tears began to stream down his cheeks.
At this, everyone who had been trying to stop him fell silent.
"Sir, let me speak!"
After taking a deep breath, Old Man Niu stepped forward again.
"Alright, you speak!"
Han Mo certainly understood that Old Man Niu was clearly intending to take the blame for the boy, anticipating retaliation from the local government afterward.
After all, with so many people present, no matter who exposed this matter, it would likely infuriate the local officials in the end.
"Actually, since last autumn until now, at this ironworks, they've only been giving us half our rations each month. The other half has never been accounted for…"
"Sir, we have no other demands. We just want our rations back. After all, everyone here has a family waiting to eat. If it weren't for supporting our families, who would be willing to come here and do this kind of work?"
After Old Man Niu finished speaking, all the artisans and miners present wore expressions of sorrow.
Their rations were already meager, barely enough to get by.
Furthermore, with soaring prices in this era, even with Han Mo's efforts to control them, Quanzhou City's prices were still considerably higher than in previous years.
Among those present, wasn't there a single family without hungry children or elderly people?
"Guards!"
After listening to Old Man Niu's words, Han Mo looked expressionlessly at his attendants.
"Reporting!"
"Issue an order to summon all the managers, big and small, from this entire ironworks to this place. Bring out all the account books!"
To achieve his plan, Han Mo needed the hard work of countless artisans. He certainly didn't want to dampen their spirits at this time.
"Yes!"
Upon receiving Han Mo's order, the six managers from all over the mining area soon knelt before Han Mo.
"I only ask you one thing: where are the rations you withheld?"
If Han Mo might have believed other places were out of funds, it would have been a miracle for Ming Prefecture and Quanzhou, cities with maritime trade bureaus, to be short of money.
"Sir, spare us, spare us! We had no choice in these matters, we were just following orders!"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, the managers kneeling at the front began to beg for mercy without hesitation.
Lin Yushu had previously informed them of Han Mo's identity and specifically instructed them not to speak carelessly. Although these people wore black robes, most of them held military positions, and all were only minor officials.
Simply put, they were unranked military officers. If Han Mo wanted to kill Lin Yushu, it might be a bit troublesome, but to kill them was truly a matter of a single word.
Moreover, with evidence and witnesses present as they were now, even if Han Mo acted directly to eliminate them, there likely wouldn't be anyone asking questions afterward.
"Following orders, whose orders were you following? Did Lin Yushu tell you to withhold rations?"
As soon as the few clerks finished speaking, Han Mo stood up angrily and fiercely kicked the foremost one.
"This…"
Han Mo had already steered the conversation to this matter. How could they dare to continue? If Lin Yushu were implicated, Han Mo might not have acted, but Lin Yushu would have already torn them limb from limb.
"You won't speak? Very well, guards, drag them out and give each of them fifty lashes!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, the few clerks nearly died of fright. The whips used for lashing were not easily endured. Fifty lashes could very well kill them.
"Sir, spare us, spare us! This was the decision of the Transport Commissioner's Office. We were just following orders!"
Seeing that Han Mo was serious, the leading clerk spilled everything without a second thought.
"The Transport Commissioner's Office's decision? Is there any document? Is there any official decree?"
Even though they invoked the Transport Commissioner's Office, Han Mo showed no signs of backing down.
Quanzhou's Transport Commissioner, Cai Yunting, was a slave of Cai Jing. At this time, without concrete proof, it would be quite troublesome to move against him!
Although Cai Jing's position had begun to become unstable, a centipede dies but never stiffens. Han Mo had no interest in being the first to draw a sword against Cai Jing.
If he were to be killed in a desperate struggle like a fool, that would truly be tragic!
"This…"
At this point, the few clerks hesitated again.
How could such matters have official decrees or documents…
"Since there is nothing, increase their crime. A hundred lashes each! Strike!"
At Han Mo's command, Han Mo's attendants and the soldiers guarding the ironworks stepped forward, dragged the managers away, and headed towards the center of the ironworks.
"Ah—"
"Ah—"
"Ah—"
Listening to the piercing screams, everyone present was struck dumb with fear.
The remaining constables had faces full of dread.
The iron thorn whips used for execution had cores woven from raw cowhide, wrapped with iron wire on the outer layer. During the winding process, barbed iron thorns were interspersed.
One lash would tear open the flesh and skin. Thirty lashes could be fatal. After a hundred lashes, there would be no life left!
After the hundred lashes were delivered, the six managers were all dead.
"Sir, they could not endure the punishment and have died!"
"Died? They deserved to die! Didn't they say this was the decision of the Transport Commissioner's Office? Then take these corpses to the Transport Commissioner's Office and hand them over personally to Lord Cai, so he can confront them face to face!"
Huh?
They still had to confront even after death?