Pang Shi listened with regret, truly hating herself for not stopping her daughter, which had led them to this point.
But there was no selling regret medicine in this world; now, she only prayed to save her life.
Bai Sheng stretched lazily. "Forget it, I can't be bothered with you mother and daughter anymore. Since your mouth, Wang Donghua, enjoys gossiping and instigating, nearly causing all of us at Hongshu Slope to lose our lives, then such a mouth is best removed. Brother Ma San, cut out her tongue later and feed it to the dogs!"
Ma San said, "Yes! Young Madam!"
Bai Sheng continued, "Since you like to use this face to seduce everyone, full of confidence, then disfigure it completely. Brother Ma San, remember to take care of her face later as well."
"Yes! Young Madam!"
"Young Madam, isn't this punishment too light? This vile woman deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces!" asked Madam Liu.
"Yes! She wanted all of us at Hongshu Slope to die, Young Madam, kill her!"
Bai Sheng smiled. "Everyone, don't be impatient, it's not over yet. Sometimes death is simpler than life; living worse than death is the most severe punishment." After speaking, she turned to Ji Cheng He. "Brother Ji, where are the military prostitutes being transported to the border to be handed over?"
Ji Cheng He was slightly startled. This Sheng girl is truly ruthless. For an ugly woman to be sent to the border is equivalent to a human flesh cathartic device; no one will see her as a person.
However, Wang Donghua is truly foolish and malicious. Who told her to cross Sheng girl's bottom line? She truly deserves it. Ji Cheng He said, "Directly hand them over to the Town Office, and the Town Office will then hand them over to the Prefecture."
Bai Sheng smiled slightly. "Alright, tomorrow Wang Donghua will be escorted to the Town Office. Xiao Ming and Xiao Ma will handle this."
"Yes!" The two were very happy, finally able to ride horses to town.
"What about the others?" Ji Cheng He pointed at the bandits and the women and children.
Bai Sheng thought for a moment and looked at Du Min and Feng Ping Yuan. "Sister Du, Brother Feng, come here for a moment."
Du Min and Feng Ping Yuan walked closer, and Bai Sheng asked them to sit. Then, she beckoned again, "You all come here too!"
The household servants and members of the guard team all surged forward, surrounding them ten deep.
How exciting! They were also participating in the Young Madam's core personnel meeting. They were also core.
And so, a tightly packed large table of people, plus a large silver snake stretching its neck and a large white wolf peeking its head out, began to whisper and murmur.
The other residents of Hongshu Slope, though envious, had the important task of guarding the bandits and couldn't be distracted.
As for the bandits, they trembled. So many people... and creatures, gathered together to discuss how to deal with them. With so many voices, their thoughts were even more complicated. Did they still have a way to live? If they were to die, would it be a terrible death? Skinning, disemboweling, being torn apart by five horses, meat being sliced by sharp blades...
Gusts of cold wind swept through the bandits' terrified hearts.
Bai Sheng lowered her voice. "Everyone, this is my thought process. Anyway, our Hongshu Slope needs to develop and is short of manpower. Why not let these bandits and their families work for us here?"
"However, these people are vicious and wicked. Leaving them here might pose a hidden danger," Du Min frowned slightly.
Feng Ping Yuan agreed with his wife's words. "Moreover, with so many people at once, housing and food are not small matters. These people look like they can eat a lot."
Ji Cheng He picked at his ear, tilted his head towards Bai Sheng, and said, "It would be best if they could stay and work. Regarding dealing with security risks, does little Sheng girl have any good ideas?"
"Good boy, tell me any plan you have. No matter what you do, your husband will strongly support you," Lu Ye never forgot to show his loyalty.
Everyone looked at him, their eyes carrying unspoken meanings.
Lu Ye looked nonchalant. As long as his good boy was happy, what did his face matter? What did the gaze of others matter?
Bai Sheng cleared her throat slightly. "Ev... everyone, let's first sort these people by family, register them as households. Then, let them report on each other to see who has done more bad deeds. We will classify them based on the severity of their wickedness and arrange for different labor education.
As for the women, first ascertain their backgrounds. If they were forcibly taken by bandits and have not committed any major evils, then simply release them. If they have committed evil deeds, then they will stay for labor reform!
The children are the same. First, assess the children's disposition. For those with good dispositions, they will participate in light labor and can attend school in the future, settling in Hongshu Slope. For those who are truly incorrigible, they will receive labor education forever."
Ji Cheng He's eyes lit up. "This method is very good. At least we can get a general understanding of these people in the fastest way."
"Killing these people doesn't bring any practical benefits. It's better to extract their labor and make them contribute to Hongshu Slope. This is truly a brilliant move," Lu Ye looked at his treasure with admiration, his eyes twinkling.
"However, Young Madam, we can't watch them all day. What if they harm our people or try to escape when we're not paying attention?" Du Min felt that it was necessary to consider everything thoroughly.
Before Bai Sheng could speak, Granny Wu chuckled, "This is easy. I have a bottle of medicine here. Give each of them one pill, and there's only one antidote pill per month. If they are not afraid of dying from ruptured intestines, they can try to escape."
"Alright, Granny Wu is brilliant!" Du Min happily took the bottle of medicine. "Young Madam, then how will the labor reform be specifically arranged?"
"Sister-in-law, I want to ask this question too. Will they have to work like this their whole lives?" Lu Yun raised his small hand. If life decades later is exactly the same as decades ago, then what is the point of living?
Bai Sheng remembered reading in a book that to give people vitality, you must give them a goal to strive for, to give their lives hope.
These bandits committed heinous crimes. If they are to work diligently and willingly, they must be given some incentive.
So Bai Sheng smiled. "For those with serious crimes, they will do heavy physical labor. If they perform well for three consecutive years, their crimes can be reduced to minor offenses. If they perform well for another five consecutive years, they can be converted into free individuals and become residents of Hongshu Slope.
For minor offenses, as long as they perform well and are honest and upright, they can become residents of Hongshu Slope after two years of observation. However, this observation period must be strictly controlled, to prevent hypocritical actors from taking advantage of loopholes.
Those who are innocent will be released.
All those participating in labor reform can be assessed at the end of each year based on their performance or labor achievements to be awarded as outstanding laborers, with significant rewards."
Ji Cheng He gave Bai Sheng a thumbs-up. "Little Sheng girl is brilliant! This labor reform doesn't require killing and can create value. Giving goals and rewards and punishments can also mobilize enthusiasm. Hmm, I must write this down and present it to my superiors later."
Next, Du Min, Tian Guihua, and Madam Liu were responsible for distributing money and supplies. Lu Ye, Feng Ping Yuan, and the guard team were responsible for sorting out families and conducting preliminary investigations.
Zhao Dazhuang and Huang Gousheng were responsible for arranging the accommodation and meals for these bandits, women, and children.
Other residents actively cooperated with these tasks.
After dinner, the bandits would proceed with mutual reporting.