When Meng Huaining arrived at the scene of the crime, he could tell that the Prefectural Magistrate was in a state of panic.
Upon seeing Meng Huaining, the Prefectural Magistrate forgot to maintain his dignity in front of his subordinates and with a tearful voice said,
"Mister Meng, take a look, take a look. What are we going to do?"
Meng Huaining also pretended to be startled.
"Your Excellency, why have so many people been killed?"
"I don't know either. I was called here while I was still asleep..."
At this moment, the Prefectural Magistrate felt overwhelmed. If someone could help him handle this matter, he would gladly obey.
Meng Huaining also understood his intention and reminded him after a while, "Your Excellency, considering the magnitude of this incident, should we report it to the court?"
These words were like a sudden realization for the Prefectural Magistrate.
"You're right, we should report it to the court."
The Prefectural Magistrate wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and continued, "But with so many people dead, even if we report it to the court, we need to have an explanation, don't we?"
"Does Your Excellency mean that we should investigate and find the culprit before reporting?" Meng Huaining spoke in a calm tone, but inside, he was mocking the Prefectural Magistrate's incompetence.
To hold the position of Prefectural Magistrate, one must have some level of intelligence. However, it wasn't surprising that the Prefectural Magistrate would be at a loss when faced with such a major incident.
After conversing with Meng Huaining for a while, the Prefectural Magistrate had calmed down somewhat.
He instructed his subordinates, "Go and investigate the cause of death for these people."
Seeing this, Meng Huaining couldn't help but curl his lips.
Was it necessary to investigate the cause of death for these people?
They were covered in wounds, bloodstains everywhere. It was obvious that they had been beaten to death.
In this situation, the investigation would only reveal the type of weapon used to kill them and whether there were any traces of the culprit nearby.
Although he inwardly criticized, Meng Huaining didn't show it. He wished for the Prefectural Magistrate to remain clueless!
It would be best if nothing could be found, and when reporting to the court, he could only say that over two hundred people were killed on the official road.
After all, the Mo Family's purpose in not cleaning up the battlefield was to give a show of force to the Queen's faction. As long as the effect could be achieved, the process was not important at all.
After searching and investigating, the Prefectural Magistrate's men could only determine that these people were killed by random arrows and some had knife wounds. As for any clues, it could be said that there were none.
Although there were countless footprints on the ground, on the official road, there were already numerous passersby. These footprints couldn't be considered as clues to finding the culprit.
The Prefectural Magistrate had no idea about this matter to begin with. He could only reluctantly write a report to the court, stating that a major murder case had occurred under his jurisdiction, with a death toll of over two hundred and a very cunning culprit who left no traces.
He tentatively concluded that it might have been bandits from the surrounding area who attacked and injured the people.
As for whether there were bandits in the vicinity, the Prefectural Magistrate had no knowledge. But when submitting the report to the capital, he couldn't possibly say that these people died under mysterious circumstances without even suspecting anyone. The Emperor would surely consider him incompetent.
Meng Huaining personally accompanied the Prefectural Magistrate back to the yamen and helped him write the report. He watched as the messengers took the letter and left. It was no longer his concern as to how those bodies would be handled.
As long as everything proceeded according to the Mo Family's plan, it would be fine.
Instead of going to the yamen, he went straight back to Xi Ling Village and informed Mo Jiuye of the news.
Mo Jiuye had the same idea. They were not yet prepared to go to the capital, and he planned to listen to the news from Nan Rui or Fei Nanyu in the capital before making any decisions.
The events of today were unfolding as he had anticipated, so it was best to wait and see for now.
After this incident, life for the Mo family returned to its usual calmness. However, the soldiers on the mountain continued their training without any slack. Besides Mo Jiuye, his older brothers also joined them on the mountain for training every day.
Mo Jiuye himself was also busy. He had to take care of all the big and small matters at home while He Zhiran was in confinement.
For example, the sweet potatoes they planted in the fields this year had ripened. With all the old members of the family training on the mountain, he had to go to the village to hire people to help with the digging.
Because the seeds were from a space, the crops were not affected by climate or soil conditions. The sweet potatoes they dug out were unusually large. Mo Jiuye specifically checked the yield per mu and was astonished to find that it reached over 5,000 catties, almost the same as the yield in his wife's space.
To verify the quality, Mo Jiuye set up a bonfire in the field and roasted the sweet potatoes in front of everyone.
The aroma of the ripe sweet potatoes attracted a crowd of onlookers.
He intended to share these roasted sweet potatoes with everyone, so he didn't hold back. Besides, they had planted thirty mu of sweet potatoes at home, yielding over one hundred thousand catties. There was more than enough for everyone to eat.
Mo Jiuye distributed the roasted sweet potatoes to the villagers who had helped with the work.
If it were spring, the villagers wouldn't have understood the strange things the Mo family was planting and might have thought they were wasting arable land due to their wealth and whims.
However, after the Mo family successively harvested some vegetables and fruits, they no longer had such thoughts.
The villagers had participated in many of the Mo family's harvests and had tasted a bit of everything. Every kind of food was delicious, far beyond their imagination.
Therefore, when Mo Jiuye shared the roasted sweet potatoes with them, apart from the enticing aroma, based on their experience with the previously matured foods from the Mo family, they knew that these sweet potatoes would be extraordinary.
It was not an exaggeration to say that the sweet potatoes from the space were even sweeter than the candies of this era and had a strong satiating effect.
Anyone who tasted the sweet potatoes would give a thumbs up in praise.
"Jiuye, these sweet potatoes are so delicious. They must be worth a lot, right?" a member of the Zhao family asked.
When the Mo family was planting in the spring, their clan leader had kindly advised Mo Jiuye not to mess around and avoid wasting arable land.
The northwest region's barrenness was not just a casual remark. It was mainly because the soil quality of the region's arable land was poor, and the grain yield was far lower than in other areas.
However, today they completely overturned this perception. It wasn't that their arable land was bad; it was that they didn't have such good seeds.
Take the sweet potato, for example. Its yield reaches an astonishing five thousand kilograms per mu, surpassing the wheat and sorghum they cultivate by dozens of times.
Moreover, the taste of sweet potatoes is indescribably delightful.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran had already promised Meng Huaining that they were willing to sell corn and sweet potato seeds to the government for large-scale cultivation by the people of Yun City in the coming year.
Therefore, there was no need for them to keep it a secret.
"Sweet potatoes have a high yield, so naturally, the price will be very affordable.
I have already promised Mr. Meng that we will keep some of these sweet potatoes for ourselves, and sell the rest to the government, hoping that next year, all the families in Yun City can plant them together."
"Old Nine, are you telling the truth? Are you willing to share such good sweet potato seeds?"
The villagers of Zhao Family were thrilled and almost rushed forward to hug him, but fortunately, Mo Jiuye dodged in time.
When Meng Huaining arrived at the scene of the crime, he could tell that the Prefectural Magistrate was in a state of panic.
Upon seeing Meng Huaining, the Prefectural Magistrate forgot to maintain his dignity in front of his subordinates and with a tearful voice said,
"Mister Meng, take a look, take a look. What are we going to do?"
Meng Huaining also pretended to be startled.
"Your Excellency, why have so many people been killed?"
"I don't know either. I was called here while I was still asleep..."
At this moment, the Prefectural Magistrate felt overwhelmed. If someone could help him handle this matter, he would gladly obey.
Meng Huaining also understood his intention and reminded him after a while, "Your Excellency, considering the magnitude of this incident, should we report it to the court?"
These words were like a sudden realization for the Prefectural Magistrate.
"You're right, we should report it to the court."
The Prefectural Magistrate wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and continued, "But with so many people dead, even if we report it to the court, we need to have an explanation, don't we?"
"Does Your Excellency mean that we should investigate and find the culprit before reporting?" Meng Huaining spoke in a calm tone, but inside, he was mocking the Prefectural Magistrate's incompetence.
To hold the position of Prefectural Magistrate, one must have some level of intelligence. However, it wasn't surprising that the Prefectural Magistrate would be at a loss when faced with such a major incident.
After conversing with Meng Huaining for a while, the Prefectural Magistrate had calmed down somewhat.
He instructed his subordinates, "Go and investigate the cause of death for these people."
Seeing this, Meng Huaining couldn't help but curl his lips.
Was it necessary to investigate the cause of death for these people?
They were covered in wounds, bloodstains everywhere. It was obvious that they had been beaten to death.
In this situation, the investigation would only reveal the type of weapon used to kill them and whether there were any traces of the culprit nearby.
Although he inwardly criticized, Meng Huaining didn't show it. He wished for the Prefectural Magistrate to remain clueless!
It would be best if nothing could be found, and when reporting to the court, he could only say that over two hundred people were killed on the official road.
After all, the Mo Family's purpose in not cleaning up the battlefield was to give a show of force to the Queen's faction. As long as the effect could be achieved, the process was not important at all.
After searching and investigating, the Prefectural Magistrate's men could only determine that these people were killed by random arrows and some had knife wounds. As for any clues, it could be said that there were none.
Although there were countless footprints on the ground, on the official road, there were already numerous passersby. These footprints couldn't be considered as clues to finding the culprit.
The Prefectural Magistrate had no idea about this matter to begin with. He could only reluctantly write a report to the court, stating that a major murder case had occurred under his jurisdiction, with a death toll of over two hundred and a very cunning culprit who left no traces.
He tentatively concluded that it might have been bandits from the surrounding area who attacked and injured the people.
As for whether there were bandits in the vicinity, the Prefectural Magistrate had no knowledge. But when submitting the report to the capital, he couldn't possibly say that these people died under mysterious circumstances without even suspecting anyone. The Emperor would surely consider him incompetent.
Meng Huaining personally accompanied the Prefectural Magistrate back to the yamen and helped him write the report. He watched as the messengers took the letter and left. It was no longer his concern as to how those bodies would be handled.
As long as everything proceeded according to the Mo Family's plan, it would be fine.
Instead of going to the yamen, he went straight back to Xi Ling Village and informed Mo Jiuye of the news.
Mo Jiuye had the same idea. They were not yet prepared to go to the capital, and he planned to listen to the news from Nan Rui or Fei Nanyu in the capital before making any decisions.
The events of today were unfolding as he had anticipated, so it was best to wait and see for now.
After this incident, life for the Mo family returned to its usual calmness. However, the soldiers on the mountain continued their training without any slack. Besides Mo Jiuye, his older brothers also joined them on the mountain for training every day.
Mo Jiuye himself was also busy. He had to take care of all the big and small matters at home while He Zhiran was in confinement.
For example, the sweet potatoes they planted in the fields this year had ripened. With all the old members of the family training on the mountain, he had to go to the village to hire people to help with the digging.
Because the seeds were from a space, the crops were not affected by climate or soil conditions. The sweet potatoes they dug out were unusually large. Mo Jiuye specifically checked the yield per mu and was astonished to find that it reached over 5,000 catties, almost the same as the yield in his wife's space.
To verify the quality, Mo Jiuye set up a bonfire in the field and roasted the sweet potatoes in front of everyone.
The aroma of the ripe sweet potatoes attracted a crowd of onlookers.
He intended to share these roasted sweet potatoes with everyone, so he didn't hold back. Besides, they had planted thirty mu of sweet potatoes at home, yielding over one hundred thousand catties. There was more than enough for everyone to eat.
Mo Jiuye distributed the roasted sweet potatoes to the villagers who had helped with the work.
If it were spring, the villagers wouldn't have understood the strange things the Mo family was planting and might have thought they were wasting arable land due to their wealth and whims.
However, after the Mo family successively harvested some vegetables and fruits, they no longer had such thoughts.
The villagers had participated in many of the Mo family's harvests and had tasted a bit of everything. Every kind of food was delicious, far beyond their imagination.
Therefore, when Mo Jiuye shared the roasted sweet potatoes with them, apart from the enticing aroma, based on their experience with the previously matured foods from the Mo family, they knew that these sweet potatoes would be extraordinary.
It was not an exaggeration to say that the sweet potatoes from the space were even sweeter than the candies of this era and had a strong satiating effect.
Anyone who tasted the sweet potatoes would give a thumbs up in praise.
"Jiuye, these sweet potatoes are so delicious. They must be worth a lot, right?" a member of the Zhao family asked.
When the Mo family was planting in the spring, their clan leader had kindly advised Mo Jiuye not to mess around and avoid wasting arable land.
The northwest region's barrenness was not just a casual remark. It was mainly because the soil quality of the region's arable land was poor, and the grain yield was far lower than in other areas.
However, today they completely overturned this perception. It wasn't that their arable land was bad; it was that they didn't have such good seeds.
Take the sweet potato, for example. Its yield reaches an astonishing five thousand kilograms per mu, surpassing the wheat and sorghum they cultivate by dozens of times.
Moreover, the taste of sweet potatoes is indescribably delightful.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran had already promised Meng Huaining that they were willing to sell corn and sweet potato seeds to the government for large-scale cultivation by the people of Yun City in the coming year.
Therefore, there was no need for them to keep it a secret.
"Sweet potatoes have a high yield, so naturally, the price will be very affordable.
I have already promised Mr. Meng that we will keep some of these sweet potatoes for ourselves, and sell the rest to the government, hoping that next year, all the families in Yun City can plant them together."
"Old Nine, are you telling the truth? Are you willing to share such good sweet potato seeds?"
The villagers of Zhao Family were thrilled and almost rushed forward to hug him, but fortunately, Mo Jiuye dodged in time.
