Xun You looked at Zhang Xin with undisguised astonishment.
When he received the handwritten order the night before, he had been completely stunned.
An assassination attempt in the dead of night—yet before dawn, troops had already been mobilized and arrests carried out.
What decisiveness.
Such methods were undeniably extreme. They would stir fear, resentment, and unrest—casting a long shadow over Zhang Xin's future rule in Qingzhou.
And yet…
Xun You had followed him for over a year. He knew this was not recklessness. Zhang Xin was cautious by nature, deliberate in action. A man who always planned several steps ahead.
If he dared to act like this—
Then he must already have a way to deal with the aftermath.
So Xun You said nothing. He simply carried out the order, leading troops to confiscate property.
"A billion?" Zhang Xin frowned. "How can they be this poor?"
He couldn't help recalling the time he had "borrowed" money from the Zhen family—their treasury piled high with coins, strings long since rotted from age.
Back then, five thousand soldiers buying up all the livestock and carts in the city had barely amounted to five hundred million.
And even that was likely only half of what the Zhen family truly possessed.
How many treasuries did they even have?
"Uncle Mu, that's enough," Xun You said dryly. "For most families, tens of millions is already considered wealthy. Over a hundred million—that's among the richest."
Zhang Xin nodded.
After all, there was only one Zhen clan in the entire empire.
"By the way," Zhang Xin added, "Tao Qiu was also involved. I've already sent people to arrest his family. I'll trouble you to make another trip."
"Still confiscating?" Xun You hesitated, lowering his voice. "My lord, intimidating a few great clans is enough. If you go too far—"
"This Tao Qiu clan is most likely the mastermind," Zhang Xin cut him off.
"…Understood."
Xun You bowed and departed at once.
Soon after, the confession came.
Zhang Xin glanced at the document and let out a soft chuckle.
"You acted so tough earlier. I thought you'd hold out longer."
It was all there.
The assassins had indeed come from Tao Qiuhong's faction.
The motive was simple:
Zhang Xin's plan to survey and redistribute land had threatened the interests of the great clans.
Tao Qiuhong, seeking favor and recognition within the Tao clan, had proposed a solution—remove Zhang Xin.
The clan head, tempted, agreed.
And so, through officials within the prefecture, assassins were smuggled into the residence.
Zhang Xin didn't even bother reading it aloud.
He simply tossed the confession into the Tao family head's face.
The man read it—and his expression collapsed.
"Tao Qiuhong… you fool!"
He had trusted him. Thought it some brilliant scheme.
Who would've imagined it was this—assassination.
"Lord Mu! Lord Mu!" the man pleaded desperately. "This was Tao Qiuhong's doing alone! I knew nothing—please investigate!"
Zhang Xin's voice was calm.
"He said he could make me never return. And you agreed."
The man froze.
There was no denying it.
Zhang Xin leaned forward slightly.
"Then you conspired with him."
The words fell like a blade.
"Conspiracy to rebel. What do you think will happen to your family?"
The man trembled.
He understood now—there would be no escape.
Zhang Xin wasn't here to judge.
He was here to purge.
"I'll ask. You answer."
Zhang Xin's tone softened slightly.
"Answer truthfully, and I'll preserve a branch of your bloodline."
A bitter smile crossed the man's face.
"…Thank you, my lord."
The clerk stepped forward, brush ready.
"Who else was involved?"
"The Liu family… the Jia family… the Shi family."
"Who supplied the crossbows?"
"…The Liu family."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"And the armor?"
"The Jia family…"
When it was done, Zhang Xin read the confession once, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Sign it."
The man hesitated, then looked up.
Zhang Xin waved his hand. The others withdrew, leaving only the three of them.
"How old is your youngest son?" Zhang Xin asked.
"…Six."
"I'll send him to Youzhou. He'll live under my protection. He won't lack for food or shelter."
The man's eyes filled with tears.
"…Thank you."
His hand trembled as he signed and pressed his fingerprint.
By dawn, everything was ready.
Notices were posted across the city, listing the crimes of the five great clans.
The execution ground was set.
Nearly two thousand people were brought out.
The rest—followers, dependents—were released, given land, and sent back to rebuild their lives.
Women were spared.
The remaining men… were not.
The people of Pingyuan gathered in silence.
Weapons used in the assassination were laid out as evidence.
Zhang Xin stood before the crowd and read out the charges.
Tao Qiuhong knelt among the condemned, his face pale, all arrogance gone.
The sun climbed higher.
Noon approached.
Zhang Xin raised his hand—
"It is time. Carry out the sentence."
The command arrow flew.
And just as the blades were about to fall—
A voice rang out:
"Spare his life!"