In the dim cell, only rats and cockroaches made rustling sounds, looked for some food scraps, and even crawled on people, because there was no difference between people here living and dead.
With a clicking sound, the cell door was opened.
Shi Heng raised his head and asked feebly: "Is it time to hit the road?"
The jailer didn't answer, but just untied Shi Heng's chains and led him out.
Shi Heng smiled bitterly and said: "This is too stingy, isn't it? You don't even have a meal for your head?"
Still no one answered, Shi Heng was taken to a side room and took a look. There was only a large bathtub in it.
"What kind of punishment is this?"
After living for so many years, I have never seen anyone kill someone in a water tank. Is there any difference between drowning someone and beheading them?
"There are clean clothes next to me after washing."
After the jailer finished speaking, he closed the door and left.
Shi Heng's face was confused, what's going on?
I’ve never heard that you need to wash your head before decapitation. What is the rule?
No matter, this damn place is full of lice and it's unbearably itchy. A bath would make it more comfortable.
Besides, my life is almost gone, so what’s the big deal about taking a bath?
I took off my smelly clothes, took a quick shower, put on clean clothes, and immediately felt much better.
"Are you okay? It's been a long time!"
"Why urge?" Shi Heng straightened his bun and asked, "Beheading or Lingchi?"
"Stop talking nonsense and follow me!"
In the public room of the commander of the Beizhen Prefecture, Zhu Qizhen, wearing a blue brocade Confucian shirt and a turban on his head, was carefully reading the confession.
Yuan Bin stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, we are here."
"Well, bring it in."
Yuan Bin hesitated for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, Shi Heng committed a serious crime of treason. I am worried..."
"It's okay!" Zhu Qizhen said without raising his head, "I have a serious business with him!"
Yuan Bin had no choice but to nod: "Yes!"
Not long after, Shi Heng was taken to the public room with a look of astonishment on his face. Yuan Bin followed closely behind him, pressing one hand on the handle of the knife.
"Bold prisoner, you won't bow down when you see the emperor?"
Yuan Bin shouted, and Shi Heng realized that the young man dressed as a scholar in front of him was actually the current emperor.
"Shi Heng, the guilty minister, bows to the emperor. Long live my emperor!"
Zhu Qizhen raised his head and said nothing, just looked at Shi Heng quietly.
Shi Heng felt uneasy and wanted to behead his head. What was going on?
"The guilty minister has said everything he should say. I just ask the emperor to see that the guilty minister has been guarding the border for many years and has worked hard without any merit. Please give him a happy life!"
Zhu Qizhen then slowly said: "Please answer my question first, do you want to die or live?"
Shi Heng asked in disbelief: "Is there any way for the criminal to survive?"
"Not necessarily," Zhu Qizhen shook his head and said, "I haven't thought about it yet!"
Shi Heng's face turned green and white, and he secretly wondered, which song is this singing?
After living for such a long time, I have never heard of anyone who could survive the crime of treason.
Seeing Shi Heng dumbfounded and silent, Yuan Bin urged: "The emperor is asking you something!"
Shi Heng put away his thoughts and asked tentatively: "How do you say you want to die, and how do you say you want to live?"
Zhu Qizhen smiled faintly and said: "If you want to die, it will be easy. Not only you, but also the hundreds of comrades on the list, all you need is that the executioner raises the knife and drops the head, making sure that you die so hard that you can't die again." "Then..." Shi Heng seemed to have heard the turning point and asked cautiously, "What if the guilty minister wants to live?"
"If you want to live..."
Zhu Qizhen paused and said, "It's not impossible."
Having said that, Shi Heng already knew very well that the emperor was definitely not joking, and there was no reason for anyone to waste time joking with him, a death row prisoner.
"The guilty minister begs the emperor to give me some advice!"
Zhu Qizhen suddenly asked: "Have you ever heard of Japanese pirates?"
Shi Heng has been guarding Datong all year round and has never had any dealings with Japanese pirates, but he has heard of them.
"They are just a group of thieves on the sea. Please tell me clearly what you need from the guilty officials!"
Zhu Qizhen put aside the confession in his hand, shook his head and said: "I just took a look and found that this piece of shit Cao Jixiang has recruited more than 500 people in the capital, and they are all young and strong men. If he kills him with one knife, even though
It's neat and tidy, but it's a pity after all..."
Shi Heng seemed to understand and hurriedly said: "If the emperor is willing to give the guilty minister a chance, the guilty minister is willing to lead more than 500 people to go overseas to eliminate the Japanese and quell the chaos!"
Zhu Qizhen narrowed his eyes and said with a half-smile: "The imperial court's 200,000 Japanese guards are unable to eradicate the Japanese invasion, so what role can a mere 500 people play?"
"Even if you die in battle, it's better than being beheaded!" Shi Heng said hurriedly, "The criminal has been fighting for his whole life, but he didn't die on the battlefield in the end, but he was accused of treason. Isn't it cowardly?"
"Do you still know how to be a coward?"
Zhu Qizhen suddenly lost his temper, pointed at Shi Heng's nose and cursed: "When you followed that bitch Cao Jixiang to plot a rebellion, didn't you think that today would happen?"
Shi Heng became more and more unsure, sighed, and then said: "Wala Ye led the main force to attack Datong first. The guilty ministers, Song Ying, the Marquis of Xining, and Wu Jin Bo Zhu Mian fought with the enemy at Yanghekou. As a result, the dog eunuch Guo Jing relied on
Wang Zhen was behind him and kept obstructing him. As a result, the division was undisciplined and the entire army was defeated. The Marquis of Xining and Wu Jinbo died in battle. The guilty minister really shouldn't have escaped. If he had died in battle, at least he would have gained a reputation as a loyal and good man. It would be better now.
, became a traitor, really, really... ugh!"
Zhu Qizhen asked again: "Even if you can't defend it, why do you want to rebel if you explain clearly the cause and effect of the matter and strive to be punished and meritorious service?"
Shi Heng's face was ashen and he said: "The guilty minister thought that the emperor was not here, so he would have a chance to make a comeback by currying favor with King Yin. However, King Yin did not pay attention to the guilty minister at all, and instead became increasingly alienated. If this continues, when the emperor comes back
Beijing was settling its debts, but the culprit still had to die. At this time, that bitch Cao Jixiang came to the door. The culprit’s head got hot, and he boarded their pirate ship in a daze. The culprit... really deserves to die!"
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Zhu Qizhen said with a cold face: "I just took a quick look. Did you bring Cao Jixiang's more than 500 comrades back from Datong?"
Shi Heng replied: "Your Majesty does not know something. Most of these people are soldiers who escaped from Datong with the guilty ministers. In fact, most of them did not know that they were going to rebel. The guilty ministers only said that they wanted to do a big thing. Actually,
Thinking that when the Forbidden City soldiers come together, even if these people know the truth, there is no way out. The guilty ministers know that their crimes are unpardonable, so they ask the emperor to show mercy and give them a chance."
Zhu Qizhen's expression finally softened and he said: "What do you think about the Japanese pirates I just mentioned?"
A ray of light flashed in Shi Heng's eyes and he said: "If the emperor is willing to give the guilty minister a chance, the guilty minister will kill the enemy with all his strength. Even if he dies at sea, he will die without regrets!"
Zhu Qizhen shook his head and said: "If I just let you go to sea like this, I'm afraid it will be unknown."
The hope in Shi Heng's eyes suddenly dimmed, and he said: "The emperor is right, the guilty minister committed a serious crime of treason, and the crime is unpardonable!"
"I don't intend to send you out to defeat the pirates, but..."
Zhu Qizhen smiled mysteriously and said: "Go to sea and become a bandit!"
"What?"
Shi Heng was stunned on the spot and asked me to be a Japanese pirate. What do you mean?
"Do you know why the imperial troops could not eradicate the Japanese invasion?"
Shi Heng scratched his head and said, "Please let me know from the emperor!"
Zhu Qizhen said: "The Ming Dynasty has implemented a maritime ban for many years, and the officers and soldiers are not good at naval warfare. The Japanese pirates come and go like the wind. They often land on the shore to plunder and then evacuate quickly. Before the Japanese guards can mobilize their troops, they have long gone to the sea.
Therefore, I ask you to join them, break into the Japanese pirates, and find their base camp!"
Shi Heng didn't know why, so he asked: "How can the guilty minister... join them?"
Zhu Qizhen thought for a moment, and then said: "I will exile hundreds of you to Qiongzhou. Before arriving in Qiongzhou, you will escape and go to sea to become bandits."
Shi Heng understood what he heard and nodded repeatedly: "As long as the guilty officials break into the Japanese pirates and find their leader, they will kill them with one blow and eliminate future troubles forever!"
Zhu Qizhen shook his head and said: "These people are all desperadoes. Killing one or two leaders will not hurt them at all. Your task is to find their base camp, draw a sea map, and then find a way to send it back to the capital and hand it over to Yuan Bin."
, Do you understand?"
"The sinner understands!"
"If this thing can be done, not only will you be exempted from the death penalty, but you will also be reinstated. If you fail, I will not collect your bodies!"
Shi Heng hurriedly knelt down and bowed his head and said: "The guilty minister obeys the decree!"
Zhu Qizhen looked at Yuan Bin and said, "Arrange this matter. Remember, the fewer people who know the truth, the better!"
Yuan Bin hurriedly saluted and said: "I obey your order!"