Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 131 Torture
"Nephew Huang."

With a grin, Zhao Zhilong leaned down and looked at Huang Jiuding, the Marquis of Luozhong, saying, "It's your turn."

Huang Jiuding looked at Zhao Zhilong, who was so close to him, and saw that his face was like that of a demon.

"Uncle Zhao, please spare me~~~"

Even the imposing Huang Jiuding in his own mansion couldn't hold back his tears.

Unfortunately, Nanjing City doesn't believe in tears; Instructor Lin only wants their vast wealth.

"I won't cry until I see the coffin."

Zhao Zhilong, caught in a state of inexplicable excitement, waved and shouted, "Bring on the lots!"

Several senior officials stepped forward and pressed the Earl of Luozhong onto a long bench.

Two more people stepped forward and secured their hands to the stools.

The jailer stepped forward with a hammer and bamboo stick, embedding the bamboo stick into Huang Jiuding's well-maintained fingernails, and then struck the stick with the hammer.

"Ow~~~"

Huang Jiuding's screams sent shivers down the spines of many people outside the Meridian Gate.

Those who have been pampered since birth could hardly bear this.

Zhao Zhilong squatted down beside him, his face contorted with rage as he continued to question him.

"Where is the hidden field?"

"Where are the shops in each location?"

How do merchant fleets communicate?

Where is the family's hidden silver?

Where are the hidden veins of each room?

He kept asking about the origins of noble families.

With these things and people, one has the confidence to make a comeback.

Zhao Zhilong himself was a nobleman, so he was naturally very familiar with this.

At least know what to ask.

If it were the young guards of Lin Dao, they could at most extort some money and supplies, but they couldn't touch the hidden resources of the people there.

This is also the main reason why Lin Dao temporarily took him in.

After draining Huang Jiuding dry, the old jailer dragged him away and placed him in a cage.

Zhao Zhilong, whose eyes were glowing red, began to scan the trembling crowd with his gaze.

Han Zanzhou was on pins and needles.

He understood Lin Dao's meaning and knew he couldn't wait any longer.

"Forest"

The change in status left Han Zanzhou momentarily at a loss for how to address him.

"Master Han," Lin Dao said with his smile unchanged, "we are old friends, so you can address me as such."

"Zihou".

Han Zanzhou nodded, "Our family is willing to contribute our family fortune to support the military."

"Not urgent."

Lin Dao remained unmoved and said, "Let's keep watching for a while longer."

He knew perfectly well that Han Zanzhou had only taken out half of what he needed at this point.

This old eunuch wasn't so frightened that he lost his mind.

It's not impossible to extort money from Han Zanzhou.

However, this guy was a eunuch, and was psychologically twisted, unlike those pampered nobles and civil officials.

Moreover, his family members are far away in Shaanxi, so they cannot pose a threat.

If things really come to a head and they refuse to give it to him, killing him will only cut off the connection.

Lin Dao decided to bluff him.

Half? You're kidding me. Even if it's only one-tenth, you'd be considered to have a conscience.

It seems that the bluff wasn't enough.

"Lord Xincheng," Lin Dao called out.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhilong, whose eyes were red, instantly cleared up.

He turned and jogged over, like a servant boy.

After being stopped by the armored soldiers, he respectfully saluted and asked, "What are your orders, Commander?"

Lin Dao raised his finger and pointed to the sky. "It's getting late, hurry up, we still need to raid their homes later."

"Leader!"

Zhao Zhilong turned around, his smiling face turning into a ferocious grin.

His fierce gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Zhu Zhichen, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.

"Lord Zhu."

"You have served as an official for many years, so you must be quite wealthy."

"Are you willing to contribute your services?"

Zhu Zhichen, his face deathly pale, nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I'm willing to offer five thousand taels!"

"Five thousand taels?"

Zhao Zhilong sneered repeatedly, "Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"

"You've served as an official for many years, and you know how much you've embezzled. We know it too, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard knows it even better!"

"It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin."

He gestured to the old jailers, "Give him more treatment! Use finger crunching!"

Finger crunching is made up of several wooden sticks connected by a rope.

Insert the prisoner's fingers into the middle of the wooden stick, and then pull the rope tight.

The stick will clamp tightly onto your fingers, getting tighter and tighter the more you pull.

The pain in your fingers is so intense that even the most determined person will beg for mercy.

This was originally a punishment specifically for women.

Now, they're offering everything.

Zhu Zhichen, who was begging for mercy, was dragged out.

His ten fingers were forcibly pried open and stuffed into the torture device.

Zhao Zhilong's eyes were glowing red, and his breathing was rapid.

Judging from his expression, it seemed as if he wished he could personally pull off the torture device.

The old officials pulled the instruments of torture, and Zhu Zhichen instantly let out a shrill scream.

‘Giggle~’

As the wooden sticks tightened, Zhu Zhichen's fingers made a labored groan.

Until the very last 'click'!
Zhu Zhichen, whose ten fingers were broken, fainted from the pain.

A bucket of cold water was poured over him, and Zhu Zhichen woke up again, but he was trembling violently.

His fingers were purplish-blue and swollen like pig's trotters.

"Lord Zhu."

Zhao Zhilong squatted on the ground, looking at him, and asked, "How much do you want to pay?"

"Two, twenty thousand~~~"

"You really value money more than your life." Zhao Zhilong shook his head. "We all know about your family's situation."

“You won’t get through today without at least 50,000 taels of silver.” “Come here,” Zhao Zhilong beckoned to the old clerk, “put him in the cage and think it over.”

The so-called standing cage is made of heavy wood and looks like a large wooden cage. There is a round hole at the top, which is specifically designed to hold the prisoner's neck, forcing him to stand.

Although it's described as a standing position, the height is actually cleverly designed and can be adjusted according to the prisoner's height.

The prisoner stood inside, unable to put his feet completely on the ground, and could only barely support himself by standing on tiptoe.

Over time, the leg muscles became unbearably sore, the body weight was pressing on the neck, and breathing became increasingly difficult, causing extreme pain.

Having already been punished, they are now forced to stand in a cage.

This is truly the ultimate pain.

At this time, almost all the torture instruments and cages from the prefecture and two counties of Jinling City had been dragged over.

Enough for nobles and civil and military officials to share.

There's no need to fight or grab; everyone gets a share.

Zhao Zhilong's gaze swept across the crowd once more.

Everyone trembled and avoided him, no one daring to meet his gaze.

In the eyes of the nobles and military officials, Zhao Zhilong's gaze was like that of a venomous snake, inspiring utter terror.

"Zihou".

With his mouth dry and his throat parched, Han Zanzhou swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he said, "I am willing to offer 400,000 taels."

Lin Dao remained silent with a smile.

Four hundred thousand taels?

Your secrets have been completely exposed by your godsons and grandsons!

The money and grain that were divided and sold off just from training the Jinling Brave Guard Battalion alone amounted to more than this.

It seems I'm not afraid after all.

Lin Dao turned his head and glanced at him.

Just that one glance sent Han Zanzhou plummeting into an icy abyss.

Is this what murderous intent looks like?

What a terrible look!

I can't hold my pee!

Zhao Zhilong then selected another unlucky fellow, Marquis Dingyuan, Deng Wenyou.

"Uncle Shi."

Zhao Zhilong asked with a smile, "What do you say?"

"Zhilong," Deng Wenyou's voice trembled, "Don't make another mistake, turn back before it's too late~~~"

"You rotten-mouthed dog bones!" Zhao Zhilong's face was contorted with rage. "You all refuse to pay your wages and obstruct the Marshal's great cause; you are the ones who are wrong!"

He is actually very clear-headed and fully understands the current situation.

If he hadn't volunteered, then he would have been one of those being punished at that time.

These idiots can't see the situation clearly. Do they really think they can just hold on?
You can't handle it!
Deng Wenyou was carried onto a long bench.

A wooden board with a semi-circular groove stands upright at one end of the bench.

Deng Wenyou's knees were fixed in the grooves.

The old jailer began to place bricks under his feet.

As more bricks were added, Deng Wenyou's legs were gradually raised.

The ligaments in his knee were stretched to their limit, and the excruciating pain was enough to break even the toughest man.

Deng Wenyou is already quite old.

His feet, which had previously only been used to press down on the beautiful maids who warmed his bed, had never suffered such excruciating pain.

The pain was that he was shaking his head and his white hair was flying wildly, making him look like a golden lion king.

'Click! '

The ligament is torn.

The old Marquis Deng Wenyou also fainted.

He never dreamed that after enjoying life to the fullest, he would end up in such a miserable state in his old age.

He truly enjoyed life to the fullest.

These people being tortured before us, in history, surrendered to the Wild Boar Skin and still lived a life of luxury.

A peaceful death without a doubt.

But the people who provided for their pleasures died in endless suffering, numbering in the thousands, without even a reed mat to wrap themselves in after death.

Damn this world!
A bucket of cold water was poured over him, and Deng Wenyou woke up again.

After waking up, the mournful wails continued.

It's getting late.

Lin Dao turned his head to look at Han Zanzhou beside him.

"Lord Han".

"I have something to do, so I can't keep you company."

"Are you sure you have nothing to say to me?"

"Don't rush, think it through before you speak!"

Han Zanzhou knew exactly what was going on.

This is an ultimatum. If the price I offer doesn't satisfy Lin Dao, then I won't have the right to stay here any longer.

He shuddered at the sight of the wailing crowd before him.

“I am willing to offer 790,000 taels of gold, silver and copper coins.”

Han Zanzhou spoke with a sob in his voice, "I'll give you all the treasures and toys."

"The land and estates I bought in various places, as well as several houses and the concubines and maids I kept, are all for you~"

Lin Dao looked relaxed and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Why go to such lengths?"

The old eunuch did hide some things, but not much, probably a few thousand taels of gold and silver.

And those things he sent back to his hometown before, he can't get them back now either.

However, for the time being, that's about it.

"Find a house for you." Lin Dao patted Han Zanzhou's hand with his iron glove, the old eunuch's hand aching from the discomfort. "You can live out your days peacefully there."

"Thank you so much, Zihou~ Thank you so much, Zihou~~~"

Lin Dao glanced at him with pity.

Although he no longer held the title of the garrison eunuch, he still possessed some gold and silver.

You, an old eunuch, living alone in a mansion, do you really think you can live out your old age in peace?

To be murdered and die silently is your only fate!

As for who will make the move...

His gaze inadvertently swept over Han Zanzhou's godson and godson.

Lin Dao stood up and walked over to Duke Xu Hongji of Wei.

Looking down at the duke.

"Zilong, Brother Zhilong".

"Let these professionals handle the matter of collecting salaries."

"You lead the way and take me to visit your residences, starting with the Duke of Wei's mansion."

"Tonight, we're going to raid their house!"

(End of this chapter)