Even if they sought redemption by forsaking their illicit activities and embracing a lawful path, the toll they would pay was bound to be steep. Simply relinquishing more than half of their assets wouldn't absolve them of their crimes.
Confiscating all of their assets would be considered a lenient punishment. In graver cases, exile was the consequence, with their descendants barred from participating in civil service examinations for five generations, effectively precluding their eligibility for official positions in the dynasty.
Given the unique circumstances of Anze Province, Shao Yunduan was not inclined to show mercy.
For the Fan Family, this ordeal was nothing short of a complete defeat.
Among the twenty-two confiscated shops were prime locations that generated substantial income for the clan annually. Their loss not only deprived the Fan Clan of significant sustainable wealth but also necessitated the dismissal of shopkeepers and workers.
