Wen Bing's plan was in line with Cao Cao's wishes. Even so, Cao Cao did not reply immediately, but looked at Pei Xuan.
Pei Xuan was secretly moved, knowing that this was Cao Cao's respect for his family.
Pei Xuan thought to himself: I have been working as a Kongmu for many years. If I follow the rules and explain the complicated and trivial matters, I can handle them properly without making any mistakes. However, I am too pedantic, and I am actually very rigid. , it is indeed not as good as Huang Tong, he should be let go.
So he said sincerely: "Brother Wen Bing's plan is very clever, and I also agree with it."
"Okay." Cao Cao nodded secretly: "In that case, let's build a high platform at the intersection, select some articulate brothers, and let the local officials take them with them to tell the people that Liangshan's heroes Qiu did not commit any crimes and only killed people. If you are a traitor to the people, if you have any grievances, you can file a complaint and your grievances will be vindicated."
Two hours later, the night was dark, the clouds were dark and there was no moon.
At the crossroads of Jiangzhou, the bloodstains left during the day exuded a slight fishy smell. A wooden platform more than ten feet high had been hastily built. Torches were placed all over the wooden platform and in the surrounding houses, illuminating an area of dozens of feet. Daytime.
Cao Cao deliberately did not schedule the operation for the next day, but took action overnight, in order to have some cover at night so that the people could be bolder.
On the high platform, two people sit and two stand.
Sitting are Pei Xuan and Huang Wenbing, and standing are Deng Fei and Meng Kang. Each of them carries a sword and a water and fire stick, proudly pretending to be a gentleman.
There were hundreds of people standing in shadow under the stage, all of them looked frightened, obviously they were not so willing to come.
Cao Cao turned a blind eye to this and took extraordinary measures from time to time. No matter whether there was force or not, as long as no one was killed, it was not a big deal to him.
Huang Wenbing and Pei Xuan exchanged glances, coughed, and stood up excitedly.
"You are all common people in Jiangzhou. Some of you may recognize me. Yes, I am Huang Wenbing, the commander of the Wuwei Army. You are here today because the heroes from Liangshanbo entered the city to clean up the dog officials who harmed the people in Jiangzhou. How are you? If you are being persecuted, you can report it as much as possible. If the truth is true, according to the laws of the Song Dynasty, you will kill if you should kill, and chop if you should, so as to avenge you."
After Huang Wenbing finished speaking, there was a slight commotion in the audience, and then it fell silent again.
Huang Wenbing blinked and was about to persuade him again. Pei Xuan stood up and stood in front of the stage: "Dear elders, do you still remember Pei Xuan?"
Obviously, Pei Xuan was much more popular than Huang Wenbing. Someone shouted in a low voice: "Iron face!" "Ah, it's Pei Xuan. Wasn't he exiled from the army?"
Pei Xuan's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly: "Pei has been working in Jiangzhou for several years and may have interacted with you. Everyone should know that Pei has never done anything unkind or accepted any money from unscrupulous people in his life. Act according to the law, and that’s how you get the name of having an iron face.”
The people below whispered: "Pei Kongmu was a good man back then." "Yes, but he was a living Bodhisattva. When the young master of the Zhao family injured me, it was Pei Kongmu who made the decision, so that guy was willing to pay compensation."
Pei Xuan and others discussed for a while, and then said: "Pei doesn't look at the look and doesn't know how to promote. The officials in Jiangzhou have been suffering from Pei for a long time. Last year, Cai Dezhang, the prefect, framed me and sent me to exile for three thousand miles. He is serving his sentence in Bingzhou, if it were not for the rescue by a group of brothers, Pei would probably be a withered skeleton today."
"I came back this time for no other reason than to let you all know that there is still justice in this world. According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, Cai Dezhang was exempted from the post of magistrate and will never be used again. But Pei also knows that he was treated as a dog official. Pei is not the only one who bullied and framed me. Therefore, today I am setting up a public trial and ask you to report your grievances and take revenge if you have any grievances."
After he finished speaking, he went back and sat down. There was a commotion in the audience and countless low comments. However, after waiting for a long time, no one complained.
Liu Tang and Ruan Xiaoqi saw it in the audience and couldn't help but sneer: "It seems that these people have no blood, so why should we bother to stand up for him?"
Cao Cao watched for a moment and called Zhang Shun to whisper, and Zhang Shun nodded and went.
Not long after, Zhang Shun led dozens of people, all holding big bamboos and white cloths, to build several sheds under the stage in an instant.
Cao Cao did not go up to the stage, but raised his voice from the audience: "Officials are like the sun and moon, hanging high in the sky, and the people are like weeds, surviving in the world. I know what you are thinking: suing an official with the people is no different from hitting a stone with an egg. ? This is the way to bring disaster. Haha, what I am saying below is what you think? Well, I, the hero of Liangshan, are rushing into Jiangzhou this time. In order to comply with the will of heaven and to respond to the will of the people, we have done unprecedented feats here. All the people of heaven and earth are judging those dog officials who harm the people! This action is originally for the people, how can it harm you? Look, there is a white tent under the stage, and there are words inside, but you can hear their voices, but you can't see them. After a while, the torches under the stage were extinguished, and whoever came in to talk would not be afraid of being blamed."
After speaking, he calmed down and said: "I have thought of the difficulties for you, and figured out a solution for you. If you are still timid and would rather stay aggrieved and dare not file a complaint, haha, when I, the hero of Liangshan, return, Cai Jiu and his ilk will regain power. , when I bully you again, you should stop blaming others, just blame yourself for being cowardly and incompetent, and you deserve to be abused by others."
He waved his hand and said, "Put out the torches under the stage."
More than ten capable minions immediately went to extinguish most of the torches. Only the high platform was still bright, but it was pitch black below.
After waiting for a while, Li Kui stared and was about to curse, when suddenly someone in a shed cried out sadly: "The little girl has been wronged. Please make the decision for the little girl."
Pei Xuan and Huang Wenbing were shocked, and said at the same time: "What's the grievance?"
The woman said: "My little girl wants to sue Liu San, the civil servant of this government. He took a fancy to a shop in my house and offered to buy it at a low price. My husband didn't want to, so he accused him of being a thief and sent someone to take him to prison..."
She babbled and cried, and it took her a long time to explain. It was nothing more than killing her husband for money. She killed her husband in prison and refused to collect his body for his family.
After Pei Xuan heard this, he had Liu San dragged out to confront him. Liu San denied it in every possible way. Huang Wenbing sneered twice and asked a few questions, without saying a few words. He had no choice but to admit the crime with his head downcast, and Pei Xuan was sentenced to death in accordance with the law.
Deng Fei sneered, put down the water and fire stick, grabbed Liu San's hair and came to the edge of the stage, pulled out his waist knife, and cut off the head with a click.
Who among the people in the audience would kill them immediately if they thought of this? The head hit the ground and rolled several feet away. The body was still on the stage, and blood spurted out from the chest a foot or two away. The common people were so frightened that they exclaimed in unison. Liu Tang and other heroes were relieved and happy, and praised in unison: "It's so happy." !”
Ruan Xiaoqi even somersaulted, grabbed Cao Cao and shouted: "It's such a happy thing, why don't you teach Xiaoqi how to operate a sword?"
Immediately, Wu Yong glared at him and retreated silently. Cao Cao said warmly: "Deng Fei and Meng Kang on the stage are the people who saved Pei Xuan. The three of them have a deeper friendship than the others. If you are envious, why not let you handle it next time if this happens again?"
Ruan Xiaoqi was overjoyed: "You are the eldest brother of Shezhe, but don't coax me." Cao Cao liked his straightforwardness, laughed and nodded: "I won't coax you."
Song Jiang looked at the fear and horror of the people on the side, and sneered repeatedly: "This group of birds was very interested in killing me during the day, but now they are frightened to kill the real villains."
In the white shed, the woman knelt down, kowtowed and cried loudly: "Thank you so much, Your Majesty, for avenging this blood for my family."
With the leader in the lead, the people behind him were ready to move, and more than a hundred people were running around. Before Chao Gai could ask someone to stop him, Cao Cao stopped him and said, "Don't worry, King of Heaven. They are all here to call for friends."
Sure enough, not long after, more and more people came from all directions, and the front and back of the stage were blocked. Cao Cao then said: "Brother Chao, send all our brothers to maintain it, and light torches every ten feet. Don't make trouble, otherwise A stampede would result in countless deaths and injuries.”
Chao Gai suddenly woke up and quickly called Wu Yong and others to send minions to maintain the situation. Hundreds of minions led by Zhang Shun and Pei Xuan also joined in. Cao Cao was still worried and ordered Shi Qian to ride a fast horse and go to the four city gates to dispatch half of the men from each. Come to help.
At this time, many people in the audience rushed into the white shed, roaring or crying, each telling their own stories of their own experiences, pointing the finger at the evil officials in the government office.
Pei Xuan is also unambiguous. He accuses one person and tries another. Although officials are as evil as ghosts and officials are as slippery as oil, how can they not be stung by wasps to help them? This thorn has broad knowledge, a quick mind, and a sharp tongue. Every time he speaks a few words, he will make the guilty person speechless.
Deng Fei was not too tired. Once Pei Xuan concluded the case, he would throw aside those who were not guilty of capital crimes. He would just carry a knife in front of the stage for those who were guilty of capital crimes. Before long, there were seven or eight headless corpses piled on the stage, and heads were rolling everywhere in the audience. All of them, Deng Fei's hands were blood red and his eyes were red and shining, just like his nickname.
Chao Gai cheered: "This brother Deng is also a tough guy with a murderous spirit and dares to strike. If he hadn't been called Huoyan Suanni, after tonight, he would be called a bloody-handed massacre."
There is a different religion: crying blood is a crime, and the six months in the world are covered with frost. Ande is a majestic and heroic man, splitting the light of heaven and earth with one sword.
