"That person claimed he was innocent,"
"In response, the governor said, 'Next time you commit a crime, I'll pardon you first, then beat you.' He then beat the man half to death. Later, that very person did indeed break the law again and got caught."
"Claiming he had been pardoned before, the governor said, 'I beat you even before you committed a crime, so now that you have, isn't it even more fitting for me to do so? A promise? Hahaha, who heard it?'"
"And he beat him half to death again."
This was just a typical incident involving a cruel official. Ling Pingyang said, "It is hateful, then what?" The young page kicked a stone and said, "At that time, a scholar was assigned there to serve as a Historian. Fearing humiliation, he refused to go."