novellaaa Chapter 9: Amnesty and Recruitment
Chapter 9: Amnesty and Recruitment
Wolf Fang Prison, the largest comprehensive prison in the Kingdom of Grant.
Andrew stayed up several nights, having thousands of prison guards go through all the criminal files and put different colored tags on each prisoner.
A white label indicates that the prisoner is essentially innocent and has not committed any actual crime.
A yellow label indicates that the prisoner has committed a moderate offense, but the crime does not warrant the death penalty, and he should serve his sentence according to the law.
A green label indicates that the prisoner's crime was minor and that they can be released after a period of detention.
The black label represents the prisoner's crime, which is heinous and serious, and requires execution according to the law.
"Andrew, you're so thoughtful!"
Li Ang expressed his approval, saying that he had only asked for a simple division into two categories, but Andrew had done a thorough and meticulous job, clearly outlining the prisoners' situations with four-color labels.
Although there may be some errors or omissions due to time constraints, the overall classification is accurate enough.
"My lord, we are innocent! Please spare us!"
"I have a wife and children, and an elderly mother. Please, sirs, spare my life!"
The prisoners with white tags were shouting loudly.
Li Ang's gaze was cold and sharp. Andrew raised his whip and lashed several of the loudest prisoners hard.
"Shut up, all of you, and obey His Majesty the King's orders!"
Andrew's whip quickly silenced the crowd.
"You've been imprisoned for so long, you probably don't know some things!"
"The former King Gudroni has passed away. I am the new King Leon!"
"I have a general understanding of why you're in jail!"
Li Ang channeled his fighting spirit and then used a special magical amplification device to clearly transmit his voice to the ears of the more than 100,000 prisoners present.
"Your Majesty, the Great and Honorable King! We beg you to forgive your people!"
An elderly man wearing a white label suddenly prostrated himself on the ground and cried out in despair.
The old man was clearly quite prestigious; even witnessing Andrew wielding the whip, he showed no fear and dared to speak up at this moment.
Li Ang remained silent, glancing at Andrew.
Andrew, quick-witted, picked up the conversation and said fiercely, "You bastards, stop playing the victim! The former King Gudroni has already declared you guilty! That's why you've been imprisoned! And now, you dare to deceive His Majesty Leon?"
The old man cried out in anguish, "Your Honor, we are truly innocent! We were just caught up in the turmoil and implicated! Before I was arrested and imprisoned, I was a deacon of the Royal Capital Philanthropists Association."
Andrew knew what Leon meant; he was here today to be the "villain" to the very end.
"Where are the jailers! This old man is causing trouble! Drag him out immediately and hang him!"
Andrew gave the order fiercely.
As soon as the words were spoken, dozens, even hundreds, of prisoners with white tags mustered their courage, stood up, and shouted, "No! Deacon Fuye is a good man! Please, Your Honor, forgive him! He has saved so many of our lives!"
The jailers didn't care about any of that; they picked up their sticks and started beating the prisoners.
Dozens of prisoners who pleaded for mercy were instantly beaten to the ground.
Andrew's expression was even more ruthless, his words piercing: "Those who cause trouble, execute them all! Leave no one alive! You all remember this, you are all guilty, not innocent prisoners! If you had no crimes, how could you have been imprisoned for years?"
Upon hearing this, the prisoners who had been shouting and yelling felt a chill run down their spines.
Indeed, when the former King Gudroni began the Great Purge, he had already ordered the criminal justice department to fabricate charges against these people when they were arrested.
These people themselves may be innocent, but their uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, and even cousins, nephews, and sons-in-law were involved in the palace intrigues.
According to the system of collective punishment in the judicial department, the maximum penalty can be the extermination of nine generations of relatives, so that they would not be wronged.
Every troublemaker looked ashen-faced, having exhausted their last hope.
The old man named Fuye pleaded tearfully, "My lord, please execute only me! Those people just now spoke up for me and offended everyone; the blame lies with me! Please kill only me, don't kill them!"
"They are all unfortunate people, let them live!"
Andrew's "acting" was indeed on point; he continued to play the role of a ruthless enforcer, his voice icy cold: "The law is merciless; if I say kill, I kill. How dare you bargain?"
Foye completely broke down; the troublemakers and the remaining prisoners were all deathly pale.
It looked like the vicious jailers were about to take everyone out to be executed.
Seeing that the time was right, Li Ang stepped forward and said in a gentle but firm voice, "Stop!"
Andrew immediately became extremely submissive: "Your Majesty, what are your instructions?"
"Now that I have ascended the throne, the system of collective punishment established by the previous king, Gudroni, is naturally abolished under my rule!"
"I hereby declare that all prisoners wearing white tags are hereby released!"
Li Ang said loudly.
Andrew looked shocked: "Your Majesty, they are all guilty men. Releasing them hastily might not be appropriate."
Li Ang coldly flicked his sleeve: "Insolence! Whether you are guilty or not is up to the king! You are the Minister of Etiquette and Law; simply carry out your duties!"
Andrew then turned to Foye and the others, and shouted, "What are you all standing there for? Aren't you going to thank His Majesty the King for his pardon!"
Fuye and the others were immediately rekindled from their despair, and were filled with gratitude towards the new king, Li Ang.
"Long live His Majesty Li Ang!"
"Thank you, His Majesty Li Ang, for your pardon!"
"We swear to serve Your Majesty with lifelong loyalty, willing to be your dogs and horses!"
Fuye and the others wept with joy.
At that very moment, Li Ang clearly felt that a massive amount of "faith points" were skyrocketing!
More than 50,000 prisoners in white tags were present. They were pardoned and their grievances were brought to light. Their loyalty and support for Li Ang reached its peak.
Faith points +100!
Faith points +1000!
Faith Points +1!
..........
This wave of faith points has increased by more than 100,000 points, and it is still slowly rising.
These 50,000-plus people became a stable source of faith value.
After dealing with the prisoners with white tags, Li Ang continued to look at the prisoners with green and yellow tags.
Prisoners labeled with these two colors are sentenced to several years, or even more than ten years, in prison according to the criminal law.
The number of these two types of prisoners is around 40,000.
Li Ang offered them a new option: "According to the ruling of the Ministry of Justice, those of you with the lightest crimes will need to remain imprisoned for another year or two, while those with more serious crimes will need to remain imprisoned for seventeen or eighteen years! Now, I'm giving you a chance to gain your freedom directly. Are you willing?"
The prisoners were naturally overjoyed to hear that they could be freed immediately.
Some of the bolder ones went so far as to ask, "Your Majesty, what do you need us to do?"
"Currently, the capital is in dire need of soldiers, and I have decided to conscript you! Given your special circumstances, once enlisted, you will be required to serve a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years!"
"During military service, as a form of atonement, military pay is halved, but promotions based on merit are still permitted!"
Li Ang offered generous terms.