Chapter 84: I personally visit the execution ground
Chapter 84: I personally visit the execution ground
Under the protection of his personal officers and soldiers, Zhao Ji arrived at the execution ground at Xishui Market in Bianliang Outer City, Tokyo, where he was preparing to kill the demon Daolin Lingsu at 2:00 noon.
Xishui Execution Ground is located in the outer city gate to the west of Bianliang and south of Bianhe River. It is usually also a market.
Zhao Ji saw from a distance that at this moment, the Xishui Execution Ground was already surrounded by tens of thousands of people watching the excitement.
After all, in ancient society, there were few entertainment items, and going to the execution ground to watch criminals being executed can also be regarded as an entertainment activity for ordinary people.
Naturally, the imperial court also welcomed the common people to watch the execution of death row prisoners. This could serve as a warning and educate the common people not to violate the criminal laws of the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, in ancient dynasties, execution places were mostly chosen in markets with large flow of people, which is called "killing people in the market".
Zhao Ji ordered him to follow the official to clear the way, and he wanted to go to the execution place in person.
The official followed the gong to open the way and shouted: "The emperor has arrived, kneel down and worship in silence."
In an instant, the people watching the Xishui torture ground fell to their knees one after another and shouted:
"Long live my emperor..."
At the same time, the crowd that was blocking Zhao Guan's family and his family immediately made way for them to clear the way.
In fact, about three to four out of 10,000 civilians in Bianliang City, Tokyo, have seen the beauty of Zhao Guan's family from a distance.
During the Lantern Festival every year during the Song Dynasty, the Zhao family would have fun with the people, enjoy the lanterns on the city tower, and accept the worship of all people.
Zhao Ji approached the center of the Western Water Execution Ground under the guidance and protection of hundreds of close officials.
He saw that there was a tall wooden stake in the center of the execution platform that was raised about ten feet high. It should be used to hang the head in public after killing the demon Dao Lin Lingsu.
Under the high wooden stakes of the execution platform, a tall and fierce executioner, holding a ghost-headed sword, was facing the demon Dao Lin Lingsu who was guarding the five-flower tied man;
A long white wooden sign in the shape of an "arrow" was inserted behind it, with large black characters written on it: "Behead: Immediately behead Lin Lingsu, the death-row criminal".
This card is called the Death Card. It is used to warn the people that whoever commits such a crime will suffer the same fate...
The death card, as it is called among the people, became popular from the Song Dynasty.
As early as the Zhou Dynasty, this kind of sign stuck on the back of the executed prisoner was called "Ming Zha", and in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was called "Gui You Pai".
At this time, Lin Lingsu, who was once so famous and domineering, was kneeling in front of the vicious executioner. He was so frightened that his whole body was shaking and he was incontinent...
On the high platform of the execution ground more than ten meters behind the executioner, there was an open mat tent, inside which there were one executioner in purple robes and three execution officials in red robes.
Suddenly, they saw the people kneeling on the ground and shouting: "Long live my emperor..."
They all couldn't believe that Zhao Guan's family could come to the execution ground in person.
Still, Liang Shicheng, the purple-robed prison officer, was well-informed. He stood on tiptoe and looked from the high platform to where the crowds separated.
"Ouch!" Liang Shicheng exclaimed, "Isn't this the guard of honor of Zhao Guan's family?"
Liang Shicheng was previously sent by Zhao Guan's family to oversee the execution of Lin Lingsu, a demon who was sentenced to death, together with officials from Dali Temple, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Yushitai.
He never expected that the Zhao Guan family would suddenly come?
He shouted urgently: "Comrades, all officials, please kneel down quickly to welcome the holy driver!"
After Liang Shicheng's reminder, the other four supervisors and beheading officials knelt down one after another.
In the first two rows under the execution platform, there were more than a hundred civil servants of sixth rank or above in Beijing who had just been forced to visit Genyue and pledged one-tenth of their family wealth.
They all came to the Xishui execution ground with sad faces, just because of what Zhao family Yu Chenshi said before Gen Yue entered the garden:
"My dear friends, if you finish visiting Genyue, you may be able to watch the demon Dao Lin Lingsu being beheaded by Wen..."
Seeing the drastic change in temperament, these Zhao Guan family were able to capture and imprison their most trusted young prime minister Wang Fu and Taiwei Gao Qiu on the spot. They felt that if anyone violated the will of the Zhao Guan family in the slightest, the end would be even worse, right?
All the officials and people knelt on the ground one after another, waiting for Zhao Guan's family to come to the execution place in person. I wonder what kind of unreasonable edict will be issued?