At the end of winter, Nanling City ushered in the first snow since the beginning of winter. The streets and roof tiles of houses were covered with snow. Some eaves tiles had a cone-like icicle hanging from them, glittering and translucent in the sky. Transparent luster.
In the vast white snow, the streets are decorated with lights and colorful lights, and the festive bright red can be seen as far as the eye can see. It will be the New Year's Eve in another month, and the atmosphere around the mansion and various shops is full of joy, but only the people of Nanling feel extremely uncomfortable.
First, because of the harsh government and strict taxes of the Tian family, the already poor life of the people has become even more difficult to endure. The number of beggars and homeless people on the streets is increasing day by day. As the new year approaches, thieves and robbers are even more rampant.
Secondly, it was because their beloved Master Jianghuai Langjiang was going to be executed in three days. Originally, Lord Jiang was the only one in the Nanling Court who was willing to speak for the people. Now that Lord Jiang has been sentenced to beheading, their lives will only become more difficult in the future.
At this time, several drinkers were talking in low voices in the wine shop in Nanling City.
"The notice has been posted. Mr. Jiang and his family members have been sentenced to beheading. They will be beheaded after three days. The remaining slaves will be sold and exiled."
"Oh, it's true that good people don't live long! From now on, we people will be able to live without Mr. Jiang's protection."
"Keep your voice down, don't let the officers outside hear you, they may catch you and put you in jail."
"What are you afraid of? Nowadays, people in this country are lucky enough to have prison food to eat. Look at the abandoned houses outside the city. They are all homeless people who can't even afford food."
"Hey, when will this day end!"
"It is said that General Nie returned to Nanling City a few days ago, but he came back without an imperial edict. The man above was so angry that he smashed up the imperial study room."
"General Nie has no order to return to Nanling City? Could it be that he wants to..." The man made a gesture of wiping his neck.
"That's not true. I heard that General Nie came back this time with only a few followers and not the Nie family army, so the person above cannot punish him for treason. And General Nie came back this time just to speak for Mr. Jiang. Qing, the person above was also wary of the military power in his hands, so he didn’t care about the matter and asked him to return to the border immediately before the year."
"If it weren't for the reputation of General Nie and the Nie family army, who have been stationed at the border all year round to deter the other three countries from invading, that person would not dare to take away his military power at will, otherwise the Nie family would have handed over the military talisman."
"Hmph, hasn't the person above been trying to control the Nie family's army for a long time? Five years ago, he wanted to bring General Nie's sister into the palace, in order to contain General Nie and let the Nie family guard the border for him wholeheartedly. But Nie The Jiang family and the Jiang family are family friends. Miss Nie and the young master of the Jiang family have been engaged in marriage since they were young. They are also childhood sweethearts and like each other. An imperial edict struck the couple apart, but Miss Nie refused to obey and finally committed suicide by jumping into the lake. Alas. , Such a loyal and affectionate woman is rare in the world!"
"No, so after his wishful thinking failed, he ordered General Nie to return to the border in a fit of anger. He has been stationed there all year round and cannot return without an edict."
"Hmph, if it hadn't been for Old General Nie and the Nie Army to clear the way for that person, would that person be able to secure his position in the world?"
"Who says it's not the case? General Nie died fighting for him, but he didn't expect to turn around and take advantage of others' military power."
"Alas, the birds are gone, but the good bow is hidden!"
"Hush, you dare to say these things, but beware of losing your head!"
"Come, come, drink, drink!"
The man in black who was drinking alone on the second floor of the restaurant listened to the conversation downstairs and crushed the wine glass in his hand.
Three days later.
On the day when Jiang Huai Langchu, the Minister of Rites, was beheaded, the people on both sides of the long street had already filled the street with a raging tide. From the crowds of people everywhere, bursts of desperate sighs and intermittent curses could be heard from time to time. And a lot of discussion.
The prison car moved forward slowly under the escort of officers and soldiers. The eyes of the people were either sad, forbearing, or regretful, and some even couldn't help but sob.
"Master Jiang...wu..."
"Lord Jiang, we will always remember what you have done for our people!"
"Master Jiang, I hope you have a safe journey!"
"..."
Mr. Jiang in the prison car was disheveled and stained with blood, and he was no longer as energetic as before. He lowered his head slightly, not knowing whether it was because he was reluctant to see the last scenery in this world or because the Tian family turned a deaf ear to his loyal words. He looked sad and closed his eyes the whole way, with a look of exhaustion on his face.
Near noon, the prison car finally arrived at the execution site, surrounded by people.
The officers and soldiers immediately and vigilantly separated the people who were escorted. In an instant, the execution place was surrounded by officers and soldiers, and it seemed that not even a fly could fly in.
Many people had imagined that a group of martial arts warriors would come to save Mr. Jiang during the beheading, but after looking at the posture of these officers and soldiers, they soon became desperate. Such a large number of officers and soldiers , it would be even more difficult to rob the execution ground.
Their hearts were filled with despair, because now in the Nanling Court, the only upright official who had emerged from the mud and was willing to put himself in the shoes of the people was about to die.
If Jiang Huailang is the only driftwood left in the hearts of the people in this country where government officials and businessmen collude to oppress the people, then Jiang Huailang's death today has become the straw that crushes the people's beliefs.
They vividly remembered how the monarch and officials treated their people during the floods earlier, and when they thought of the Dongchen Kingdom where the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, they felt silent sadness in their hearts. Is it because they were born in Nanling that they deserve to be treated as insignificant and have no regard for their lives by this tyrant and these sycophants? Now it has taken away their only hope. This country may no longer be their home.
The solemn faces of the people were full of gratitude and sorrow for Jiang Huailang, and also full of lamentation for the unknown fate in the future. Deep in their hearts were resentment and hatred for the atrocities of the country's rulers, but there was a faint sense of breakthrough. The courage of barriers.
Soon, more than ten members of the Jiang family were escorted to kneel on the execution ground. The executioner was standing by with a chopping knife in hand.
The prison officer walked to the Xing platform and confirmed the identities of the prisoners one by one. He nodded to the officer next to him and said, "I have been identified and are ready for execution."
The junior official bowed to him and asked, "Sir, do you want to remove the bindings around their bodies and remove the blockages in their mouths?"
Nanling's criminal law stipulates that if the prisoner does not struggle and resist, the prison officer can decide whether to remove the shackles so that he can easily go on his way at the last moment.
The supervisor frowned and looked at the junior officer, "This is a repeat offender. If anything goes wrong, both your and my head will be at risk, so be it."
After saying that, he turned back to the execution table, and the junior officer who followed him quickly nodded in agreement, and asked with a smile on his face: "Sir, do you follow the procedure and have someone deliver a bowl of wine to Master Jiang before the execution? "
"Hmph, he's already about to die, so where does all this nonsense come from? Just finish the work in a hurry, so I can go back and deliver my errands."
The execution officer glanced impatiently at the junior officer who was nodding and bowing to him, took out the execution order, threw it on the table, and shouted: "Execution!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the countless eyes around him dimmed immediately. In addition to the common people, there were also some official officials. These people who lived at the lowest level and those with unyielding consciences, their eyes were like dark black rivers, revealing despair, intolerance and deep sorrow. Mourn.
More than a dozen executioners raised their heads and took a mouthful of strong liquor, spraying it on the sharp blade. Then they raised the knife and dropped it, and all the members of the Jiang family were decapitated.
Suddenly, screams, cries of pain, and sobs came one after another outside the execution ground.
Not far from the execution ground, a black figure slightly raised the corners of his lips at this scene.
