At the first quarter of the next day, Chaoyang Gate Tower.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood on the city wall in casual clothes, observing the situation below the city with a telescope.
At this moment, Bai Guangen, Tang Tong and other surrendered generals had been escorted to a temporary high platform and tied to the execution column like pigs and dogs waiting to be slaughtered.
Rows of generals stood neatly all around under the high platform. Most of them looked solemn, and some of them were whispering to each other, not knowing what they were discussing.
Behind the generals were groups of ordinary people watching.
It turned out that after the rebels were defeated, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the Chaoyang Gate and Yongding Gate to be opened. So when these people heard that corrupt officials were being killed again, they hurried to watch the excitement.
Because they were far away and could not clearly see the situation on the high platform, many people jumped to look around.
And some rich kids simply let their servants kneel on the ground, while they stood on their backs to watch the show.
However, most people gathered in small groups and talked in low voices, and Shen Zhanran also mingled among them in casual clothes, talking very speculatively with some common people.
"Wu Tongzhi, have you seen Ping Xibo Wu Sangui?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Wu Sangui was the only one missing among the generals, he asked Wu Mengming beside him.
Hearing this, Wu Mengming picked up the telescope and looked for a while, then shook his head and said: "The general didn't see Ping Xibo. Maybe it was too early, so he hasn't come yet!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sun and said, "Send someone to urge..."
"Your Majesty, Marquis Pingxi is here!"
Before Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, Wu Mengming pointed to the distance and shouted to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked in his direction and saw Wu Sangui galloping towards him with dozens of horses.
When Wu Sangui arrived, the generals on the south side of the high platform immediately made way for a passage and saluted him uniformly.
Wu Sangui nodded with a smile and walked slowly to the front.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, his expression darkened.
At this time, Wang Shoulin walked up to the high platform and shouted loudly: "The time has come. Please ask Mr. Meng, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment, to read out the charges of treason!"
As his words fell, Meng Zhaoxiang held the imperial edict respectfully in both hands and walked slowly onto the high platform.
He glanced at the crowd first, and after the audience calmed down, he slowly unfolded the imperial edict and said loudly: "The Emperor of Heaven carries the edict, and the edict says: Bai Guangen is originally a bandit..."
Zhu Yuanzhang saw that when Meng Zhaoxiang read out the imperial edict, although all the generals and people had knelt down, Wu Sangui, Gao Jie and others all looked disdainful.
On the contrary, the defeated Ma Jinzhong, Liu Yongji and others looked respectful.
As for the generals behind them, except for the Liaodong generals whose postures were quite polite, most of the generals such as Gao Jie and Ma Jinzhong knelt down, and many of them even whispered and laughed at each other.
Zhu Yuanzhang also came from a reckless background. He knew that these soldiers and generals did not follow the general's principles and often did things that harmed the people, so his face could not help but darken again.
"Your Majesty, Gao Jie, Ma Jinzhong and others are all reduced generals. Most of their generals are bandits and do not understand court etiquette. Please forgive me!"
Jiang Dejing on the side saw that Zhu Yuanzhang had an angry look on his face, so he whispered.
Zhu Yuanzhang originally valued Jiang Dejing's agricultural talents, so he deliberately won over him.
Seeing how sharp his observation was at this moment, I was shocked and said with a smile: "Jiang Qing, how did you know that we were angry because the general had behaved inappropriately?"
When Jiang Dejing heard this, he knelt down and apologized: "I shouldn't have presumed the holy will. Just because the reinforcements have not yet returned, I am afraid that they will be disrespectful under His Majesty's power. Please forgive me for speaking nonsense!"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "Qing Jiang, you don't have to speak out. We have said that as long as you are loyal and loyal, you can speak out about anything."
Jiang Dejing nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, I understand, I must..."
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
...
At this time, a burst of shouting suddenly sounded from the city, and Jiang Derjing's voice was immediately suppressed. ,
After Zhu Yuanzhang signaled him to stand up, he looked down the city again.
It turned out that Meng Zhaoxiang had just finished reading the imperial edict, and the executioner was preparing to execute him, which caused everyone to shout.
When the executioner struck the first blow, Bai Guangen and others immediately let out a scream, but the generals and civilians in the audience screamed even more fiercely.
However, as the punishment became more and more cruel, the originally high-pitched screams gradually became lower, and some wealthy young men who were standing on the servants also jumped down and vomited repeatedly.
By the time the punishment reached the final stage, most of the generals were frightened and did not dare to look any further.
On the contrary, Wu Sangui and his generals remained calm and stared at Bai Guangen and others.
By the time the execution was over, most of the officers were covered in sweat and their bodies were shaking slightly, obviously frightened by this torture.
At this time, Wang Shoulin walked up to the high platform again and calmly directed the Jinyi guards to drag away the bodies of Bai Guangen and others.
Then Meng Zhaoxiang respectfully held the imperial edict and walked onto the high platform with blood on his feet.
He glanced at the crowd again, and then said loudly: "Everyone, Bai Guangen and others ignored Tian's grace and surrendered and rebelled again. It is an unforgivable crime!"
"Your Majesty, in order to set the record straight, has just imposed the death penalty to serve as a warning to others. This is your Majesty's benevolence. Please don't forget it!"
After that, he slowly unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and read loudly: "Ping Xibo Wu Sangui is loyal, brave and kind. He is diligent and meritorious. He is awarded the title of General Zhaowu and is rewarded with a thousand gold coins..."
"Xuzhou Commander-in-Chief Gao Jie is loyal and righteous, and has made great achievements in defeating the enemy. He is awarded the title of Uncle Loyalty and Righteous, and is awarded the title of General Huaiyuan, and is rewarded with a thousand gold coins..."
"Wang Yongji, the governor of Jiliao, was not afraid of powerful enemies and took the lead in going to Beijing to quell the rebellion. Although his performance was not obvious, he was commendable for his loyalty and bravery and was rewarded with a thousand gold coins..."
"General Ma Jinzhong, diligent king for thousands of miles, loyal and righteous, benevolent and benevolent, be granted the title of Marquis of Renyi, be awarded the title of General Guangwei, and be rewarded with thousands of gold..."
"General Wang Yuncheng, a diligent king for thousands of miles, loyal and brave, was granted the title of Marquis of Zhongxin, awarded the title of General Xuanwei, and was rewarded with a thousand gold coins..."
...
Ma Jinzhong and Wang Yuncheng left Li Zicheng because of this. They thought they were lucky to not be punished this time, but they didn't expect that they would all be granted the title of uncle, which was one level higher than Li Chengdong's viscount. They all looked excited.
Although most of the other generals have not been promoted to nobility, they have also received a lot of silver rewards, and they all shouted long live.
Only Wu Sangui looked gloomy and didn't know what he was thinking.
At this time, Wang Shoulin came up with a group of people escorted by his royal guards. When the generals saw this, they were stunned again.
After Meng Zhaoxiang read out the charges, everyone realized that these people were either deserters or people who secretly collaborated with the rebels, and they immediately shouted to be beheaded.
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
...
Amid the cheers of the crowd, the executioner beheaded more than a hundred people before ending today's execution.
After everyone gradually dispersed, Shen Zhanran quickly walked onto the city wall and bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "How is the situation of the people?"
Shen Zhanran said: "Most of the people feel that Bai Guangen and others deserve their punishment, but some people feel that His Majesty's methods are too cruel, and compared with tyrants such as Ying Zheng..."
"Ahem..."
Jiang Dejing suddenly coughed and winked at Shen Zhanran.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "Jiang Qing, you are too cautious. We have said that as long as you are loyal and loyal, there is nothing you can't say."
Jiang Dejing heard this and apologized again and again.
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said: "Okay, get ready and come with us to go out of the city and have a look!"
