It is the season of pawn cultivation, with sufficient sunshine and abundant rain. The grains in the fields are growing vigorously and absorbing nutrients. Farmers in Han Dynasty are also working hard in the fields, either planting late grains or cooking crops, working hard for a good harvest in the mature season. .
A sudden rain shower dissipated the heat of early summer and washed the city of Kaifeng clean and bright. The people in the capital also entered the working life of summer, and the prosperity of the city remained unchanged.
Kaifeng Nanshikou is crowded and noisy. A large number of people are gathering here to watch the excitement. There are all kinds of new things happening in the capital every day, but it is still rare to cause such a large-scale gathering.
As far as the audience can see, a huge execution platform has been set up, with all preparations and arrangements complete. There are many flags around, and six teams of more than 300 soldiers are standing here to protect the execution ground and maintain order.
In recent years, many criminals have been executed in Nanshi, and many citizens watched the executions each time. However, the phenomenon of such a crowd of spectators is obviously something special.
Just because this time, more than 20 people were executed together, and those who were executed were all people with status and status. Among them, the high-ranking ones include a doctor of the Ministry of Justice and a censor of Qiandu, which are fourth- and fifth-grade official positions. The status of a Beijing official of this grade is already not low. In addition to officials, there are only a few famous businessmen who are somewhat famous.
How could such a group of people be pushed to be executed in a busy city without causing a sensation. Of course, these people were affected by Zhao Li. As for their charges, they have long been announced. The most serious ones are dereliction of duty, perversion of the law, and disregard of human life.
The common people who were eating melons were very excited, talking a lot, and making great remarks. Anyway, the torture knife was not cut on their own necks, and it was still very satisfying to see those high-ranking officials and wealthy people being unlucky to be killed. Sensational.
It is also very refreshing to be able to stand on the moral high ground and criticize these noble people who are originally out of reach. Maybe that's what it means to please people's hearts.
In addition to the officials from the Ministry of Justice who oversaw the execution, there were also 100 officials standing solemnly under the Xingtai. The emperor's edict ordered 100 officials from various ministries in the capital to come to watch the execution.
Amidst the noisy discussion, the representatives sent by their respective superiors all had very serious faces, as if they did not dare to show unnecessary expressions. Looking at the officials kneeling there one by one on the execution platform with pale faces and expressions of despair, waiting for death, everyone felt very heavy.
The emperor's move was more effective than thousands of warnings. Nothing could wake him up more than the bloody and tragic scene of a person's head falling to the ground. The row of executioners standing at attention, the flashing light on the beheading swords they held seemed to lower the temperature in the air, making people feel chilly.
The feeling of waiting to die is very unbearable. As time goes by, most of the prisoners on the execution platform can no longer hold back. They cry, beg for mercy, scream in regret, some tremble and tremble, and some even become incontinent. Under the onlookers, he showed his most embarrassing state, and his unbearable performance was no different from all those who feared death.
When the time is approaching, the family members see them off, and the executioner reads out the sentence. As the arrows fall to the ground, the sword is raised high and swung down neatly and ruthlessly. An execution with the attribute of massacre enters its climax.
The audience looked lively and enthusiastic, but at the critical moment, the scene was silent for a while, and many people hid their faces and turned their heads. When he came back to his senses and turned his head, all that was left was a bloody scene.
After the execution, the corpses were collected and cleaned up. The onlookers had enough of the excitement and began to disperse one after another. Perhaps in the future, I will use this as a conversation piece to show my knowledge to those who miss such lively scenes.
Many of the officials watching the execution looked disharmonious, and there were many timid people with pale faces and some with trembling legs. The most intuitive killing will bring the deepest warning. I think many people here will think of today's scene when they face choices in the future.
Of course, it is inevitable that there will be people with excellent psychological quality who will take warning, but they will just be more careful, more cautious, and more subtle. There has never been a problem that can really be solved by killing. Corrupt officials will not stop being corrupt just because of a killing. Privileges are eternal, and there are still many people who violate laws and disciplines.
However, after such a major case, such an execution will have a certain effect, at least making the strings in the minds of the court officials that have gradually been relaxed due to the country's stability tighten again for a while.
At the same time, this beheading also made the officials of the Han Dynasty understand that there is no need to argue about the so-called "punishment is not good for the doctor".
In recent years, because the emperor has been suppressing the fierce tiger of "martial arts" and promoting civilized governance and elevating the status of civil servants, some "messy" remarks have appeared in the court.
The establishment of the Han Dynasty's "Xingtong" targeted everyone except the Supreme Being, the Saint, and the Queen Mother. All those who broke the law, whether officials, soldiers, soldiers, merchants, workers, or civilians, were punished according to the "Xingtong". The punishments recorded in the "Unification".
However, some time ago, an official from the Ministry of Rites came to Liu Chengyou and told him that over the years, many officials who had violated the law had suffered punishments such as tattoos, canes, and even beheadings. Suffering, many scholars are worried. It is true that there is no mercy for those who break the law, but the death penalty is still too severe. Putting scholar-bureaucrats and disciples next to each other is degrading and harms the reputation. It is recommended that Liu Chengyou cancel those excessively humiliating penalties for officials...
That memorial aroused extensive discussions inside and outside the imperial court and almost formed a political trend. Because the emperor had an ambiguous attitude towards it and did not immediately express his position, many officials competed to submit memorials to express their opinions on the matter.
The situation is also very clear. Most of the courtiers agree with this statement. After all, it is a matter that is closely related to them and has great interests. If they could obtain the emperor's approval, it would not only be a matter of raising their status as scholar-bureaucrats, but they would also at least obtain "immunity" for themselves.
Within the court, the military did not comment on this matter. They were governed by military law and it was not their turn to participate in considering the matter. The nobles murmured in general, wondering whether they were included in the "scholar-bureaucrats" mentioned by the civil servants. Logically speaking, as nobles of the Han Dynasty, their treatment should be higher.
It was a bottom-up political trend, but the important officials of the court, especially the prime ministers, basically did not express their stance on it. Public opinion was raging, and if they took the lead, they would be suspected of forcing the emperor.
There are also some people who oppose this, but their voices are very small and they are quickly isolated and criticized. Among the important ministers, the only one who made a clear stance on this was Prime Minister Fan Zhi. As the main framer of the "Xingtong", he resolutely defended it, even at the risk of losing official support.
In response to the political trend and public opinion, Liu Chengyou seemed to be a bit slow to respond. He sat firmly on the Diaoyutai and let everyone discuss it, which seemed to be sending a good-faith and favorable signal.
Of course, what he really thought in his heart was whether he had been too good to the civil servants and officials over the years and let these people fool him and use the ancient rituals and old systems to fool him. Is he, Emperor Liu, a person who studies rituals?
At the same time, he also realized that with his support, the scholar-official bureaucracy was indeed growing and rising. At least compared to the days when warriors ruled the country, they can really hold their chests high and behave...
There was no result in that debate, but now, there is no need for any more useless discussions. The emperor used this execution to show his attitude.
Can’t you punish a doctor? Nonsense! It doesn't exist here in Emperor Liu. If you should kill, you must kill!
"Officials, a prisoner has been executed at Nanshikou, and the people of Tokyo have gathered together, with more than 10,000 spectators!" In the Long Live Hall, Zhang Dejun reported the situation to Liu Chengyou.
"Yes!" Liu Chengyou responded calmly: "How are the people's reaction?"
"The people were all overjoyed. They clapped their hands and praised the officials for their wisdom and the court's strict usage. It was very satisfying!" Zhang Dejun said.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled and asked, "Where are the officials watching the execution?"
"It is said that everyone was horrified and solemn and did not dare to relax. When their heads fell to the ground, several officials were so frightened that they fainted!" Zhang Dejun said, with a little contempt in his words.
"Really!" Liu Chengyou became interested and asked, "There is such a despicable official. Have you ever written down his name?"
"take note of it!"
Liu Chengyou did not pursue the question, but asked with concern: "Do you think the person who fainted was because he couldn't bear to see the bloody scene, or because he had a guilty conscience?"
Faced with the emperor's playful gaze, Zhang Dejun responded cautiously: "I don't dare to speak nonsense!"
