496. Lady Cai & Liu Cong Trial

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Hu Wei's voice trembled as he stood before the court. "I lived in Lingling my whole life," he began, his hands shaking as he spoke. "My family… my wife and children… we had a modest business, selling goods to travelers. We never caused any trouble and never spoke out against the Cai family or their rule. But then, one night, soldiers came. They didn't ask questions. They didn't care about our loyalty. They just… they just took everything."

His voice broke, and he paused, swallowing hard as he fought back tears. "My wife was killed that night. My children, too. I survived only because I was out on an errand. When I returned, everything was gone. The streets were littered with bodies, and the air smelled of smoke and death. Lingling was no longer a place of life. It was a place of nightmares."

As Hu Wei's words hung in the air, the courtroom fell into a somber silence. Many had heard of the horrors that had taken place, but hearing it firsthand from those who had survived made it all the more real.

Zhao Yao's face remained impassive, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps anger or sadness, it was hard to tell. He nodded to the bailiff, who escorted Hu Wei back to his seat.

Next to take the stand was a woman named Li Ming, a former healer who had tended to the wounded in the aftermath of the purge. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow, as if the weight of the suffering she had witnessed had drained her of all joy.

"I treated many," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But there were so few I could save. The soldiers… they did not spare the weak or the old. They showed no mercy. I saw mothers shielding their children with their own bodies, only to be cut down. I saw men dragged from their homes and executed in the streets. And I saw… I saw the aftermath. The bodies left to rot, the families torn apart."

Li Ming closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength before continuing. "I tried to help. I did everything I could. But it wasn't enough. Lingling was dying, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop it."

As Li Ming's testimony came to a close, a murmur rippled through the courtroom. The weight of the testimonies was undeniable, and it was becoming increasingly clear that Lady Cai and Liu Cong would have a hard time defending their actions.

Lady Cai, for her part, remained stoic, her lips pressed into a thin line. She had always been a woman of great pride, and even now, in the face of overwhelming evidence, she refused to show any sign of weakness.

Liu Cong, however, was a different story. His face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had never been a man of great strength or conviction, and it was clear that the pressure of the trial was weighing heavily on him.

The prosecution continued, bringing forth more witnesses—survivors, former soldiers who had defected, and even members of the Cai clan branch who had turned against their matriarch. Each testimony added another layer of damning evidence, painting a picture of a regime driven by fear and cruelty.

Finally, it was time for the defense to present their case. Lady Cai's representative, a shrewd and calculating counselor named Lu Fei, rose from his seat with a calm demeanor that belied the gravity of the situation.

"My esteemed colleagues," Zhang Fei began, his voice smooth and measured, "we have heard many stories today. Tragic stories, yes. But stories that must be put into context. Lady Cai and her son, Liu Cong, were acting in the best interests of Lingling. They were faced with the threat of rebellion, a threat that could have plunged the entire region into chaos. What they did, they did to preserve order and protect the greater good."

There was a murmur of disapproval from the crowd, but Lu Fei continued undeterred. "In times of war and unrest, difficult decisions must be made. It is easy to sit here, in the safety of this courtroom, and pass judgment. But I ask you all—what would you have done in their place? Faced with the threat of insurrection, would you not take measures to ensure the stability of your people?"

Lu Fei's words were persuasive, but they did little to sway the mood of the courtroom. The weight of the testimonies had left an indelible mark on those present, and it was clear that many were not convinced by the defense's argument.

As the defense rested its case, all eyes turned to the magistrate. Zhao Yao sat in silence for a long moment, his gaze fixed on Lady Cai and Liu Cong. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Lady Cai, Liu Cong," Zhao Yao began, "you stand accused of crimes against the people of Lingling. The evidence presented here today is clear. While it is true that leaders must make difficult decisions in times of crisis, there is a line that must not be crossed. The wholesale slaughter of innocent men, women, and children is not an act of leadership—it is an act of tyranny."

Zhao Yao paused, his eyes narrowing as he addressed the defendants directly. "You allowed fear to drive your actions, and in doing so, you betrayed the very people you were sworn to protect. Lingling is a shadow of what it once was because of your decisions. And now, justice demands that you answer for your crimes."

With those words, the fate of Lady Cai and Liu Cong was sealed. The courtroom erupted in murmurs as Zhao Yao delivered his final verdict.

"Lady Cai, you are hereby sentenced to death for your role in the massacre of Lingling's citizens. Liu Cong, for your part in these atrocities, you will be exiled and made an eunuch, never to return to Lingling or any of the surrounding territories and continue the Liu Clan bloodline."

Lady Cai's face remained expressionless, though her hands tightened into fists at her sides. Liu Cong, on the other hand, collapsed into his seat, his face ashen with shock, fear, and helplessness.

Meanwhile, among the crowd gathered to witness the trial of Lady Cai and Liu Cong, there were representatives from the three warlords who had laid siege to Lingling, each of them eyeing the outcome of the trial with mixed interests.

The siege of Lingling had ended only recently, with the city finally falling under the collective might of these three factions—Liu Bei, Shi Xie, and the Sun Clan—who had forged a tenuous alliance thanks to Lie Fan's manipulation.

The representatives had already begun calculating how to divide the spoils of the conquest, and while their focus remained on the trial for now, their minds were never far from the wealth hidden within the Cai family's treasury.

Liu Bei's representative was Kuai Yue, stood quietly in the back of the room, his face impassive as he observed the proceedings. He was a man of great intelligence and had been carefully selected for his diplomatic prowess.

Beside him, Hua Bao, one of Shi Xie's oldest advisors, seemed more interested in the formalities of the court than the actual judgment being delivered. Dressed in flowing robes that signaled his scholarly status, he stroked his beard, a faint smile playing on his lips as he exchanged polite glances with Kuai Yue.

Zhu Ran, the Sun Clan's representative and one of Sun Clan's most eloquent generals that was present in the Sun Clan Army currently, stood close to the other two, arms crossed, his sharp eyes focused on the unfolding drama before him.

The three men, though allies in the conquest of Lingling, had long harbored personal ambitions that stretched beyond the battlefield. They had agreed on a temporary truce during the siege and now maintained a facade of civility, masking their true intentions.

Each of them had calculated their next steps carefully, knowing that the wealth of the Cai clan was substantial and could shift the balance of power in the chaotic war-torn region.

As Zhao Yao delivered his final verdict, sentencing Lady Cai to death and condemning Liu Cong to a fate of humiliation and exile, Kuai Yu leaned slightly toward Hua Bao and Zhu Ran, lowering his voice so as not to attract attention.

"A fitting judgment, wouldn't you say?" Kuai Yue remarked, his tone measured and diplomatic. "Justice has been served, and Lingling's people will finally have closure."

Hua Bao nodded slightly, his eyes still fixed on the magistrate as the courtroom erupted into murmurs. "Indeed. The magistrate has shown wisdom in his decision. The crimes of the Cai family could not go unpunished. Still, one must consider the deeper implications of this verdict for the region's stability. Without a strong hand to guide it, Lingling may fall into chaos once more."

Zhu Ran, always more blunt than his counterparts, smirked slightly before responding. "Chaos, perhaps. But chaos brings opportunity, does it not? Lingling is rich in resources, and its strategic position makes it a valuable asset for any who would claim it. Now that the Cai family has been dismantled, the question remains—who will be the one to bring order to this land?"

The subtle rivalry between the three representatives began to surface as their words carried hidden meanings. Each faction, despite their outward cooperation, was keenly aware of the potential rewards that awaited them once the trial had concluded and the division of the spoils began.

Kuai Yue, representing Liu Bei's interests, was the first to reply, his voice calm and controlled. "It is true that Lingling's future hangs in the balance. However, we must not forget the promises we made to the people when we first laid siege to this city. Our goal was to liberate them from tyranny, not to impose our own upon them. The resources of the Cai family must be used wisely, to rebuild and to bring prosperity to this war-torn land. Surely, a fair division of the spoils will allow all sides to contribute to this noble cause."

His words were diplomatic, appealing to the greater good, but Zhu Ran was not so easily swayed. The general had served under Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and the Sun Clan for many years, and he knew the importance of seizing every advantage in war. He let out a small chuckle before replying.

"A fair division, of course. But we must be realistic, my friend. The Sun Clan expended considerable resources in this campaign, and we deserve to be compensated accordingly. After all, it was our forces that first breached Lingling's walls, allowing the rest of you to march in behind us."

Hua Bao raised an eyebrow at Zhu Ran's comment, his face remaining impassive as he interjected. "The breach may have been led by the Sun Clan, but it was Shi Xie's southern forces that secured the vital supply lines, preventing Lingling from receiving reinforcements. Without our support, the siege would have lasted much longer, perhaps indefinitely. Surely, this contribution should not be overlooked when discussing the division of the spoils."

Tension crackled between the three men, though they maintained their outward veneer of politeness. The fall of Lingling had been a joint effort, but now that the time had come to reap the rewards, it was clear that each faction had its own priorities. The treasury of the Cai family was said to be vast, filled with gold, jewels, and precious artifacts collected over decades of rule. Control over such wealth could provide the necessary resources to bolster armies, fund new campaigns, and strengthen alliances.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0