When the first ray of dawn shone on the earth, the wasteland at the east end of Zhuangjia Village was already overcrowded. There were more than two thousand people crowded on the river beach.
The people were clearly divided into two parties. On one side were the officers and soldiers of the Zhejiang Army in uniforms. They were organized into units and formed neatly. On the other side were the villagers of Zhuangjia Village and nearby Shiliba Village. They stood together like they were going to a market. Under the stage, everyone was talking.
In the middle of the wasteland on the river beach, a high platform was simply built with wood and planks.
There was a banner hanging on the high platform, which read: "Public Trial Conference" in four powerful characters.
The high platform was arranged as a simple trial scene, with five tables placed on it. One table was placed horizontally, and four tables were placed on both sides, forming a semi-encircled shape.
Zhu Ping'an was dressed in official uniform and sat behind a table arranged horizontally, while Liu Mu took notes on the side; Zhuang Laolizheng and six villages in the nearby Shiliba Village were sitting behind tables arranged on both sides, and Han Lao San, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan were tied up with ropes.
He knelt down with his hands and disheveled clothes on his head, and his head almost dropped to his crotch. Especially Zhang Tiedan, who was even more embarrassed because he was wearing women's clothes when he was caught in a panic.
In order to protect the two victims of Zhuangjia Village from being harmed a second time, Zhu Pingan did not let them go on stage, but asked them to observe the trial off stage.
Zhu Ping'an had already been accompanied by Li Zheng of Zhuangjia Village and several women and children in advance. He asked the two victims about the case and made a record. He also asked them and Li Zheng and other witnesses to press their fingerprints and record it in the case.
"Oh, we ordinary people are really suffering. Not only are we being harmed by Japanese pirates, but we are also being harmed by soldiers. They were soldiers who were supposed to protect us people, but they ended up being a disaster instead."
A commoner in the audience sighed.
"The Zhejiang Army is considered good... First of all, they fought bloody battles outside the city, wiped out the Japanese pirates who attacked our Yingyao, and saved our Yingtian. They are our benefactors, and they are no better than those who are huddled in the city. The Beijing camp that dares to come forward is much stronger: secondly, the military discipline of the Zhejiang army is also
It's good. The camp gates are tightly closed and the military discipline is strict. Soldiers are not allowed to come out to harm the people. If it hadn't happened like this, the Zhejiang Army would have done nothing wrong. "
A commoner next to him also sighed, and then said something fair for the Zhejiang Army.
"These are two different things. They saved Yingtian. That was their duty as soldiers, because their food, clothing, and military pay were all taxes paid by us people. They should have defended their homes and the country. "The military discipline of the Zhejiang Army is good, but it hasn't happened like today."
Another person interjected.
"How do you think these three soldiers who raped civilian girls will be punished at this public trial?" someone asked curiously.
"The world is as black as crows. How can an official not protect his own family? I guess the big issue will be trivialized. At most, it will be over with a slap in the face."
A villager snorted and said that one of his relatives was beaten violently by a powerful man after being drunk for no reason. His legs were broken. He was angry and sued the official. As a result, the official engaged in favoritism and took away the other person's money. Black Money did not uphold justice for his relatives at all. It was not his intention to say that the rich and powerful's son was drunk and lost his temper. He thought that he was young and ignorant, and he was studying in the academy to be both good in character and academics. In the end, he just gave the rich and powerful's son a scolding and ended the matter. Therefore, after this incident, he had a deep understanding of the darkness of officialdom.
"This seems quite strict. In public, you shouldn't bend the law for personal gain." Some villagers hesitated.
"Oh, are you saying the court is not strict? The mirror is hanging high with a killing stick and a guillotine, but you are still bending the law for personal gain. It seems that strictness has a purpose!" The villager sneered and said sarcastically.
"Look, it seems like it's about to start. We'll find out when we look down."
The villagers nearby saw movement on the high platform and quickly pulled them and reminded them.
Suddenly, more than two thousand people all focused their attention on the high platform.
Under the attention of everyone, Zhu Pingan saw that everyone had basically arrived, so he stood up from the table, raised his hands in all directions, and said loudly: "Fellow fellow villagers, officers and soldiers of the Zhejiang Army, I invite you here today to pay tribute to Mr. Han." 3. The case of Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan, three soldiers of the Zhejiang Army who violated military discipline, left the military camp without authorization, broke into private houses, and raped two civilian women, will be held in public trial!"
"Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, and Zhang Tiedan, the three of you left the military camp without permission last night in violation of military discipline, broke into private homes, and raped civilian women. You were blocked in the courtyard by the villagers of Zhuangjia Village. The villagers of Zhuangjia Village reported the case to our camp. My officer They led people to arrest you and others at the crime scene. The above were testified by the villagers of Zhuangjia Village, the victim, the officer, and fifty elite soldiers of the Zhejiang Army. There were physical evidences such as your underwear, military uniforms, and the victim’s torn clothes at the crime scene. Wen Po assisted in the physical examination of the victim, and it was confirmed that she had been violently beaten and raped; the above witnesses and evidence are complete, and two victims have made statements on the record, what else do you three have to say?"
Zhu Pingan asked Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan who were kneeling down with a serious face.
"Sir, we admit that you violated military discipline and left the military camp without permission, but we do not admit that you broke into private houses and raped civilian women!" Han Laosan and Liu Gouzi said almost in unison.
Zhang Tiedan also raised his head with a look of dissatisfaction.
"The witnesses and physical evidence are all complete, why are you dissatisfied?" Zhu Pingan asked expressionlessly.
"That's not a private house, that's a secret door. They're not women, they're prostitutes. We went to the secret door to sleep with prostitutes." Han Laosan argued.
"That's right, we went to the secret door to sleep with prostitutes." Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan agreed.
"Bah! You are slanderous! We are an innocent family, women from good families! I will fight with you!"
When a victim girl heard this, she gritted her teeth angrily, and she was not afraid of being criticized. She rushed out of the crowd and yelled at Han Laosan and others. She was very angry and wanted to eat their flesh and blood!
The other victim was so angry that he bit his lip and looked at Han Lao San and others with hatred!
The women and children of Zhuangjia Village quickly stepped forward to comfort the two.
"Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, Zhang Tiedan, you don't want to taint anyone's innocence. Do you have any evidence?"
Zhu Pingan scolded in a cold voice.
"I...I...I heard someone say this when Zhuangjia Village rewarded the army the day before yesterday." Han Laosan and the other three were stunned when they were asked about the evidence. They really had no evidence. After a few seconds, Han Laori stammered.
"I heard? Does that mean you don't have any evidence?" Zhu Pingan's eyes were blazing.
Han Laosan shrank his neck and was speechless.
"You can accuse someone of their innocence based on just one or two rumors and no evidence?! How courageous are you!" Zhu Ping'an scolded coldly, "If someone also accuses your wife and daughter of their innocence based on one or two rumors, , what do you think?! Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you!”
