In mid-September, the Fourth Army of Pengri, which went to the four southeastern counties to suppress the rebellion, returned to the DPRK and brought Fang La, the largest prisoner of the trip, back to the capital to be offered as a prisoner.
In front of the Bianjing Gate, the Song Emperor personally accepted the prisoner sacrifice.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Zhao Duan did not have Fang La executed on the spot but instead temporarily detained him in the prison of the Imperial City Division.
No one knows what he wants to do, but it is no longer important. The chaos in the four southeastern counties has been calmed down, the court has received enough tax revenue, and Fang La has been cleaned up after this rebellion.
Many local forces had been uprooted, creating a power vacuum. The imperial court seemed to have been prepared and immediately sent out enough manpower to refill the power vacuum.
This time, the imperial court completely put its own nails in the southeast. The four southeastern counties that had almost ignored the propaganda were once again under the control of the imperial court.
Late at night, in the prison of the Imperial City Division.
The sound of water drops could be heard from time to time in the dark underground cell. Water droplets condensed from the top of the cell dripped onto the ground. The sound reverberated so that the entire cell could hear it clearly.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
This quiet place with no sound except for the sound of water droplets is the deepest part of the Imperial City Prison, the secret prison!
This is the third underground floor. There is only one passage in. The entrance is guarded by the most elite team in the Imperial City. No one can escape from here, and no one can come here to rob the prison!
From its establishment to the present, all the prisoners imprisoned here are all guilty of heinous crimes, and once they enter this place, they will have no chance of living.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A small iron attic box was lowered from the patio above. As the attic box fell to the ground with a crash, there was a sound of iron chains.
The cabinet box was opened from the inside, and Zhao Duan slowly walked out of it with a calm expression.
He didn't bring anyone with him, and Cao Shuang was left behind by him. He walked alone in the dark prison step by step.
The dark cell was very dark, located on the third underground floor, with only a few oil lamps made of everlasting lamp material providing some light.
The secret cell has not been used for a long time, and now there is only one prisoner in each secret cell.
That was Fang La who had just been escorted back.
Zhao Duan walked forward, his footsteps neither fast nor slow, and the sound of pattering footsteps echoed throughout the dark prison.
In the deepest part of the secret cell, a figure with disheveled hair and lowered head suddenly raised his head when he heard this voice.
He keenly discovered that the footsteps were probably not from the guard delivering food to him.
But a strange voice.
As if he had thought of something, Fang La's expression moved, but he did not get up. He still sat there blankly, but the corners of his mouth had involuntarily raised an arc.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Finally, as the footsteps got closer and closer, they finally stopped in front of his cell, and a figure appeared in Fang La's sight.
This person is none other than Song Emperor Zhao Duan!
"You came?"
Fang La said hello calmly. He didn't look like a rebel leader who was caught by the current leader. Instead, he looked like he had met an old friend.
"Well, here we are, and I brought you some food and wine."
Zhao Duan said and raised a food box in his hand, and he actually came in with a food box!
After saying that, he heard two clicks, and Zhao Duan actually opened the door of the secret cell. He immediately walked in and sat cross-legged in front of Fang La, and served the plates of dishes and the pot with his own hands. The daughter Hong was placed in front of Fang La.
"Eat, it's all good stuff."
After personally handing Fang La a pair of chopsticks, Zhao Duan sat cross-legged on the ground and looked at him.
Fang La was not polite, took the chopsticks, picked up the bowl, and started eating.
The dishes are very rich, including roasted chicken, roasted duck, roasted goose, beef, mutton, donkey, etc. It can be said that there is all kinds of meat, and they are all hard dishes!
He ate the meat with big mouthfuls, then patted off the daughter's red mud seal, picked it up and drank it with big mouthfuls. After a long time, he burped and threw the wine jar to the ground, saying "Comfort!"
He ignored Zhao Duan and continued to eat. After eating everything Zhao Duan had brought, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and raised his head to look at the person who had been watching him eat. Zhao Duan asked: "How is it? Is the southeast stable?"
Zhao Duan nodded: "Although it has not been completely taken back, it is basically under control. Their local power base was severely damaged by you. The imperial court established its authority in the local area with the power of defeating you, and deployed so many people. .
Today's Southeast can be said to have returned to the control of the imperial court. "
Fang La nodded: "That's good. Another stubborn disease of the Song Dynasty has been removed, and the plan of the two of us is not in vain."
If these simple words from the two of them were heard by outsiders, they would probably be shocked. The Fang La rebellion that caused a huge uproar and caused heavy losses to the southeastern gentry was actually conspired with them today!
And they successfully achieved their goals!
With this incident, the imperial court regained control over the four southeastern counties that had gradually escaped from the imperial court's control!
And they also conducted a cleanup operation against the local gentry and local officials!
After Zhao Duan was silent for a while, he suddenly said:
"I can't save you.
The trouble in the southeast is so big, someone must die, and you are the best candidate. You are the leader of the rebels, and no one can let you go. "
Fang La smiled and said nonchalantly: "You already knew that, didn't you?
Since I have chosen to do this, I will definitely be prepared to accept the consequences. There is nothing to be sad about.
Ever since my parents were forced to death by those powerful gentry, I have only lived for revenge.
I also have to thank Your Majesty for giving me such an opportunity.
Do you know how many gentry officials I killed in the southeast this time?
Tens of thousands of people!
Most of the landowners and gentry in Sunan County were killed by my family, and I did not spare any of those officials who preyed on the common people as long as they were identified by the common people.
In addition to Su Bei, Jianjiang, and Haifu, if the 10,000 people were counted as Shaoli, I suspect that I have killed hundreds of thousands of people, but I can no longer count.
It's worth it to me. I exchanged my life for so many beasts to be buried with them. It's not a loss for me! Hahahahaha! ! ! "
As he spoke, Fang La laughed happily.
Looking at Fang La who was laughing heartily, Zhao Duan sighed, recalling that when he was still a prince, he sneaked to the four southeastern counties and saw this man who had risen from the pile of dead when he passed by a mass grave. The lifeless look in the boy's eyes when he was a teenager.
Look at Fang La now, whose eyes are full of relief and happiness.
yes!
What is the purpose of a man who can climb out of the underworld?
Isn't it revenge?
Now that his goal has been achieved, what does he have to regret?
Zhao Duan stood up. "I can suppress you for three days at most. After three days, I will kill you at the Meridian Gate as a warning to others."
You can spend the remaining three days well. If you want to eat anything, you can ask the Imperial City Department. I have already given them instructions and they will bring it to you.
"That's enough, that's enough. That's enough."
Fang La stopped laughing, nodded, and sat back on the ground again, his eyes gradually becoming hollow as if he was lost in memories.
Zhao Duan sighed, turned around and walked out of the cell door without closing the door, and just walked out.
Along with the patter of footsteps, the figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Fang La, who was lost in memories, turned his head to look at Zhao Duan's leaving figure, suddenly showed a smile, and murmured softly: "See you in the next life, Your Highness the Third Prince."
The memory seems to return to that evening in an instant.
Under the dim sky, vultures were circling in the sky, and a few crows were cawing on the branches.
But he had just woken up from suspended animation, covered in blood, climbed out of the pile of corpses, and bumped into the handsome young man who was passing by the mass grave and looking at him with shock...
…
(End of chapter)
