Generally speaking, enemies are hated, but traitors who help the enemy are even more hated. The degree of this hatred is directly proportional to the damage caused by the enemy.
Needless to say, the cruelty of the Jianlu forces brought difficulties to the people in the pass. At this time, the people of the capital learned that behind the brutal Jianlu, there were Shanxi merchants who worked hard. Without them, Jianlu would not have been so rampant. When I think of this, there are definitely not a few people who want to eat the flesh of the eight major Shanxi merchants and drink their blood.
No, when I heard that the emperor's powerful army would escort the eight major Shanxi merchants to the capital at noon tomorrow, everyone would burn incense to their dead family members that night.
Liu Chengye is a blacksmith, and he is a skillful but powerful blacksmith. In the past, he made a lot of money with his superb blacksmithing skills. He bought a few acres of land outside the city and placed his parents and children there. He also paid money and was exempted from the labor of a craftsman. He did not have to work as a blacksmith in the Forbidden City and lead a group of apprentices to work hard to make money. I just hope that I will have enough pension money when I get older and can no longer hammer iron.
However, no one expected that Jianlu suddenly entered the pass and all Zhuangzi outside the city were slaughtered. His parents and children could not escape.
At this time, he didn't say a word, just stood behind his wife, listening to her talking to her parents and children.
But while his wife was talking, she couldn't talk any more, turned around, threw herself into his arms and started crying.
Liu Chengye took a deep breath, buried his emotions in his heart first, patted his wife on the back, and said in a deep voice: "The prisoners in the prison of the Ministry of Justice were all beaten to blood by me, but it is a pity that those prisoners did not Let me smash it again. But tomorrow, those dog thieves who helped build the captives will be brought to the capital. No matter what, I am ready."
His wife was a little confused after hearing this. She looked up and saw him pointing behind her. She saw a pile of stones on the table over there, the size of a fist, with sharp corners. Obviously, he was planning to use these stones to throw those Shanxi merchants who were helping the evildoers.
"Don't worry. With my strength, I can definitely kill a few to avenge my parents and our son!" Liu Chengye said, sighing, "It's just a pity that I can't go to Liaodong to kill the slave chief!"
His wife listened without saying a word. She turned around and walked to a cabinet on the side. After opening it, she took out a cloth bag and spread it on the table, revealing a pile of smaller stones.
When he saw this, Liu Chengye understood that his wife and he wanted to go together.
He looked at his wife, reached out to hold her hand, sighed and said: "If I kill a few traitors tomorrow, I will avenge my parents and our son. Then I plan to use the remaining money to buy a Lu Yin, let’s go to the south to open a blacksmith shop and start over, right?”
Although his craftsmanship was superb, life in the capital became increasingly difficult as Jianlu continued to wreak havoc again and again. The money saved in the past is not even enough to maintain food and drink in the blacksmith shop. Years ago, as food prices soared, he had to suspend the blacksmith shop and sent all his apprentices back.
"I heard that the south of the Yangtze River is rich. There are no captives or bandits. If the life is stable, we can have more children, okay?" Liu Chengye said, looking at his wife.
If possible, no one would want to leave their hometown. This is especially true in ancient times when transportation was underdeveloped. After Liu Chengye finished speaking, he sighed, with helplessness on his face.
When his wife heard this, she looked at him and saw the helplessness in his heart. She nodded and replied: "Marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog. Marry a monkey and run all over the mountain. Wherever the husband goes, I will go there!"
Liu Chengye listened and looked at his wife. After a while, he said "hmm" and then said: "Go to bed early. If you don't get up early tomorrow, you won't be able to get a good position!"
He didn't even need to guess, he knew that there would be countless people who had the same idea as him tomorrow and wanted to "meet" those damn traitors!
Early the next morning, just as Liu Chengye expected, when the couple went out early, there were already many people on the street, including many neighbors. In the past, when everyone met, they would naturally say hello and ask, "Have you eaten today?" or "Where is there anything I can do?"
However, today, no one spoke, and at most they just nodded to each other. Everyone is angry, needless to say, they are holding back a wave of hatred, waiting to be vented.
However, what they didn't expect was that the soldiers of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division had dispatched early and put a cordon on the streets leading into the city. A notice was posted, and a special person was announcing: No one is allowed to hit prisoners with rocks or other hard objects today. Anyone who violates this will be arrested!
"I just prepared a dozen stones. How did the government know?"
"Yes, me too, I only prepared a dozen stones!"
"..."
To these people's questions, someone quickly answered: "Most of the people who went out of the city yesterday went to pick up stones, right? I left the city a little late. Damn it, I actually walked a long way to pick up a few suitable ones." It’s just a stone!”
"Yes, with this movement, the government must be blind, they must know it!"
"..."
In the past, there had never been such a thing. With the majesty of the government, who would dare to throw things at prisoners. If it accidentally hits an officer or soldier on the head, he will not be able to eat it and carry it around.
But this time, most people unexpectedly picked up rocks for later use, which was considered a grand event.
The reason why such a thing happened was that, firstly, these traitors who collaborated with the prisoners and conspired against the rebels were too hateful; secondly, what happened in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment gave them a reminder.
"It's such a pity that the government issued a notice, otherwise, that thief would have been absolutely beaten to death!"
"No, look, I've already brought it!"
"..."
Some people unfortunately threw away the stones, while others were a little reluctant and secretly hid a few pieces on their bodies. Their every move was quickly reported, and then a new order came down.
The soldiers of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division who lined up on both sides of the street to maintain order began to search everyone standing behind them, making it clear that they were not allowed to bring hard objects such as stones. After this search, the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division had to mobilize flatbed trucks to haul rocks and other hard objects outside the city one after another.
"You guys didn't count. I counted fifty-six cartloads of rocks! With so many rocks, these traitors can be killed no matter what!"
"No, we can even bury them. These people who have forgotten their ancestors don't know how to see their ancestors after death!"
"What a pity, all the preparations were in vain!"
"Actually, no, it's still useful. Think about it, you can talk to your nephew in the future. Look, all the stones outside the capital have been picked up. There are as many as fifty-six carts of stones pulled out. People who have forgotten their ancestors are so hated by people. Whoever dares to imitate these Shanxi merchants in the future and help others do evil in order to make money will end up like this!"
"When you say that, it seems to be the case! Let's warn future generations! Let's see who dares in the future!"
"..."
More than an hour passed. The people in the capital who had woken up early were obviously a little depressed and spoke less.
But at this moment, a horse suddenly galloped up and informed the Yongwei Battalion and the Hussar Battalion that they had arrived in the capital.
As soon as they heard the news, everyone's spirits suddenly lifted, and they stretched their necks to see clearly, what did such a black-hearted Shanxi merchant look like?
However, what surprised them was that the first thing to enter the city were carts of gold and silver jewelry, with the lids open, and they could tell what they were at a glance.
Seeing this, the crowd couldn't help but commotion again.
"Wow, there are so many gold and silver jewelry. I have never seen so many gold and silver jewelry in my life!"
"Yes, I have always thought that my family's conditions are good, but this is the first time I have seen so many gold, silver and jewelry!"
"Don't say I've seen it before. This is the first time I've even seen what gold looks like. How much silver should there be in these boxes? This... this is completely uncountable!"
"..."
All said and done, the people in the capital had no special reaction to the gold and silver jewelry escorted by the soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion.
However, after more vehicles passed by, Liu Chengye's angry voice suddenly sounded from the crowd: "Look, those Shanxi merchants have so much gold, silver and jewelry, but they are all stained with countless blood and tears!"
After hearing this, some people immediately agreed and said angrily: "The more they make, the more serious the sins they commit! These profiteers kill a thousand people!"
"..."
As they spoke, more and more people became angry. The emotions that had just fallen back filled their hearts again. I was full of anger and wanted to vent it out.
After the cars of gold, silver and jewelry passed by, there were carts of grain again, with no end in sight.
In fact, this is only part of it, which is used to supplement food in the capital; there is also a large part that is sent directly to various parts of the capital. Emperor Chongzhen's plan was to use work as relief for post-war reconstruction while resuming farming. At least those cities that were destroyed by the rebels must be sorted out, and the bones and other things from various places must be cremated and buried.
Besides, when the capital saw so much food, they all became even more angry when they remembered that these Shanxi merchants secretly collected it and prepared to send it to Liaodong.
You know, it is precisely because these grains were hoarded by Shanxi merchants that their grains became increasingly scarce and difficult to buy. Just like Liu Chengye, a family that was originally living a relatively good life suddenly fell into decline. If Emperor Chongzhen hadn't taken tough measures temporarily, people like Liu Chengye would have starved to death in the end.
After the food was gone, the people of the capital finally saw the person they had always wanted to see. Groups of prisoners, with their hands tied and connected with ropes, were escorted over by soldiers from the Yongwei Battalion.
Obviously, because there were too many of them, they were not treated as prisoners in prison cars, but enjoyed the treatment of Ming people who were plundered and taken to Liaodong Road.
None of the eight Shanxi merchants ran away, and they were in front, walking listlessly and numbly.
Behind them are those under the jurisdiction of Governor Xuanda, who are the chief generals of the armies in northern Shanxi. These are also the main accomplices; and further behind are the family members of Shanxi merchants and civil and military officials in Shanxi.
For the crime of treason, the Nine Clans were punished, and the number of them was certainly large.
Seeing them, the people in the capital suddenly became commotion.
Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet each other, which is used to illustrate the current state of the people in the capital. They yelled curses one by one and wanted to rush forward and do it themselves.
When the soldiers of the Wucheng Army and Horses Division saw that something was wrong, they immediately tried their best to stop them and prevent them from affecting the emperor's powerful force in escorting the prisoners. But no matter what, the momentum was indeed a bit loud, and it was very difficult for the soldiers to stop them.
Seeing this situation and feeling the anger of the people in the capital towards them, the depressed Shanxi merchants, as well as the civil servants and generals, all showed frightened faces. No matter how bold they were when they were trying to conquer the prisoners, when they felt the anger of so many people in the capital, the fear welled up from the bottom of their hearts.
"Don't mess around. The imperial court has its own laws. If you attack a prisoner, you will be jailed!" The soldiers of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division tried their best to stop him and warned loudly.
At this time, even the escorting soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion had to put on a vigilant posture. No one expected that these people who had forgotten their ancestors would arouse such anger from the people of the capital!
Watching his enemy slowly approaching, Liu Chengye's eyes in the crowd became increasingly red. In front of his eyes, the voices and smiles of his parents and son seemed to appear again, as if all this happened yesterday. However, he knew in his heart that all of this would never happen again. And the culprit of all this is these beasts that appear in front of us.
Suddenly, Liu Chengye roared angrily, broke free from his wife's hand, and pushed forward suddenly.
Either because of the power of hatred, or because of his strength in blacksmithing, he was able to break through the obstruction of the soldiers of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division and rush towards the Shanxi merchant he was staring at.
This Shanxi businessman happened to be Fan Yongdou. He was startled when he saw someone rushing towards him with red eyes and full of anger. Although there were soldiers from the Yongwei Battalion blocking him, he was still very scared and almost involuntarily wanted to retreat. But with his hands tied and others connected to him, he couldn't retreat even if he wanted to.
The soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion raised their weapons and faced Liu Chengye, trying to stop him.
However, Liu Chengye seemed to be crazy at this time. Fan Yongdou was the only one in his eyes. He ignored the spear in front of him and shouted loudly: "Father, mother, my son, I will avenge you today..."
Perhaps they heard his shouts, and the soldiers of the Yongwei camp who stopped him softened their hearts and turned their spear heads away instead of stabbing him. Transformed into the barrel of a gun, trying to stop him.
But at this time, Liu Chengye seemed to be crazy. He was so powerful that he rushed away from the soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion and rushed in front of Fan Yongdou. With his huge fist and the strength of striking iron, he punched Fan Yongdou hard. Face.
With him being the first, other powerful people from the capital also rushed over, and the situation suddenly got out of control.
