It is the season of pawn cultivation, with abundant 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.
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A sudden rain shower dispelled the heat of early summer and washed the city of Kaifeng clean and bright. The people in the capital also entered the working state of summer, and the prosperity of the city remained as usual.
Nanshikou, Kaifeng, is densely populated and noisy. A large number of people are gathering here to watch the excitement. There are all kinds of new things 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 it, 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 due to some special characteristics.
Just because, this time, more than 20 people were interrogated and executed together, and those who were executed were all people with status and status. Among them, the high-ranking ones included a doctor of the Ministry of Justice and a censor of the capital, which were fourth and fifth grades.
The official position of a Beijing official of this level is already quite high. In addition to the officials, there are also a few famous merchants who are somewhat famous.
How could such a group of people be put to death 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 were 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 loud remarks. Anyway, the torture knife was not cut on their own necks. Moreover, it was very satisfying to see those high-ranking officials and wealthy people being unfortunately 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 this is what it means to please people.
In addition to the officials from the Ministry of Punishment who oversaw the execution, there were also 100 officials standing solemnly under the Xingtai. The emperor issued an edict asking 100 officials from various ministries in the capital to come specifically to observe the execution.
Amidst the noisy discussion, these representatives sent by their respective superiors all had very serious faces, as if they did not dare to show any unnecessary expressions. Looking at the execution platform, they all knelt there, their faces turned pale, and their faces looked desperate.
, the officials who were waiting for death, all of them felt very heavy.
The emperor's move was more effective than thousands of warnings. There was nothing more alarming than the bloody and tragic sight of human heads falling to the ground. The row of executioners standing at attention, the flashing light on the beheading swords they held, seemed to
It lowered 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 death row 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 himself in the most embarrassing state, and his unbearable performance was no different from all those who feared death.
When the time came, the family members saw them off, and the executioner read out the sentence. As the arrow fell to the ground, the sword was raised high and swung down neatly and ruthlessly. An execution with the nature of massacre entered 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 away. When they recovered and turned around, only a bloody scene was left.
After the execution, the corpses were collected and cleaned up. The onlookers had enough of the excitement and began to disperse. Perhaps in the future, they will use this as a conversation piece to show their opinions to those who missed such lively scenes.
Be knowledgeable and knowledgeable.
Many of the officials watching the execution looked disharmonious, and there were many timid people with pale faces and trembling legs. The most intuitive killing will bring the deepest vigilance. I think there are many people present.
When people face choices in the future, they will think of today's scene.
Of course, it is inevitable that there will be people with strong psychological quality who will take warning, but they will be more careful, more cautious, and more subtle. There has never been a problem that can be truly solved by killing. Corrupt officials will not stop because of a killing.
Greed, privilege is eternal, and there are still many people who violate laws and discipline.
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 been gradually 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 worthy of the official".
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, regardless of 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 to discuss the issue of the lack of punishment for officials in the ritual system. He told Liu Chengyou that over the years, many officials who had violated the law had suffered punishments such as tattoos, canes, and even beheadings.
Suffering makes many scholars feel sad.
It is true that there is no mercy for those who break the law, but the death penalty is still too severe. Juxtaposing scholar-bureaucrats with disciples is degrading and harms reputation. I suggest Liu Chengyou to cancel those humiliating penalties for officials...
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That memorial aroused extensive discussions inside and outside the imperial court, and almost formed a political wave. Because the emperor had an ambiguous attitude towards the matter and did not immediately express his position, many officials rushed to submit the memorial 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 can obtain the emperor's approval, it will not only be a matter of improving their status as a scholar-bureaucrat, but at least it will also be a problem for them.
Obtain an "immunity" for yourself.
In the imperial court, the army did not make any remarks on this matter. They were controlled by military law and it was not their turn to participate in considering the matter. The nobles were muttering in general, wondering if the "scholar-bureaucrats" mentioned by the civil servants did not include them. To be fair,
, as the nobles of the Han Dynasty, their treatment should be even 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 surging, and if they took the lead, they would be suspected of forcing the emperor.
There are 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 has made a clear stance on this is Prime Minister Fan Zhi, as the main framer of the "Xingtong" , he resolutely defended it, even at the risk of losing official support.
Liu Chengyou seemed to be a bit slow in responding to the political trend and public opinion. He sat firmly on the Diaoyutai and allowed discussions to take place, which seemed to be sending a well-intentioned 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 deceive him. Is he, Emperor Liu, a person who studies rituals?
At the same time, he also realized that with his support, the scholar-bureaucrat class was indeed growing stronger and raising its head. At least compared to the era when warriors were in power, they could really stand up and be a better person...
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? That's nonsense! It doesn't exist in Emperor Liu's case. He should be killed, but he must be killed!
"Officials, a prisoner has been executed at Nanshikou, and the people of Tokyo have gathered together, with more than 10,000 spectators!" Zhang Dejun reported the situation to Liu Chengyou in the Long Live Hall.
Follow the public account
"Yes!" Liu Chengyou responded calmly: "How did the people react?"
"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 terrified 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?"
Facing the emperor's playful gaze, Zhang Dejun responded cautiously: "I don't dare to speak nonsense!"
