On New Year's Eve, the interior and exterior of Prince E's palace had already been renovated with beaded curtains and embroidered curtains. The civil and military officials and ministers of the State of E wore court clothes and entered the palace to congratulate. The king and queen of E held a banquet to celebrate with all the officials. It was bustling when suddenly I heard a commotion outside.
Someone shouted "Emergency military affairs——" and everyone in the house was shocked.
I saw a soldier running in, covered in snow and mud, shouting: "The rebels have rebelled. They have defeated the Cai Kingdom's allies guarding Miaoling Town and occupied Miaoling Town!"
King E was shocked. A general stood up and shouted: "Don't Cai's troops have firearms? Are there any rebels?"
The soldier said: "The rebels disguised themselves as local wealthy people and clerks to deliver wine to Cai Jun. The wine was laced with drugs, and Cai Jun let them all be captured alive..."
The king of E cursed repeatedly: "Trash! Idiots! The lonely king knows they are useless!" He ordered people to go to the Huarong town next door to guard the Chu army for rescue.
Everyone was no longer in the mood for the banquet, and everyone was panic-stricken. After waiting with their necks raised, it took less than a stick of incense to wait. The soldiers came to report: "The allies of the Chu State have fallen, and the rebels have captured Huarong Town. All the firearms of Cai and Chu have been stolen by the rebels.
Seized!"
Just now the general shouted: "Chu is so brave and has sophisticated firearms, how can it be defeated?"
The soldier said with a mournful face: "It's similar to Cai's army. He ate the chicken soup sent by someone pretending to be a local gentry, but he didn't realize that he was pregnant. All of them fell to the ground."
As soon as he finished speaking, another person came to report that the Hunan army in Taihe Town was also captured alive by the rebels. The ordnance and baggage, together with the new year supplies sent by the King of Hunan, fell into the hands of the enemy. The King of E collapsed instantly: Chu
The two big countries in Hunan were defeated. How could they resist the rebels when they came...Fifteen more military reports were sent in succession, and all the seventeen-nation allied forces were lost, leaving no one left.
Before the monarchs and ministers of E State had time to discuss, the 18th military report came in: the rebels had entered Ezhou City, wearing Allied armor, pushing Allied artillery, and holding Allied muskets. Everyone looked at each other. Who didn't?
Knowing that the country of Hubei is poor and weak, the Hubei army has the smallest number of soldiers, and the firearms are the worst in the world. Soon, the rebels surrounded the palace of the Prince of Hubei.
The gate of the palace had long been closed, and the defenders climbed ladders and stood on the wall. A general was ordered to rush to the door to check the enemy's situation. I saw how many traitors had gathered outside the palace, and the north wind blew the big flag with the word "righteousness" in the air.
Behind them, there were many farmers holding shovels and plows, and workers wearing work hats. They were obviously local people in rags and lazy coats. However, he could tell at a glance that those in front of him were unusual. They were not short in stature.
, with thick arms and legs, dark skin and bright eyes, he was clearly a soldier. Surrounded by a father and daughter on horseback, the old one looked shrewd and calm, and the younger one held a musket in his hand. He had never seen that style before.
Pass. There is a big word "Pan" on the flag.
The general then returned to the banquet with a dark look on his face and replied to King E: "Although there are many people gathered around, the people pushing cannons and holding guns at the gate of the mansion are all elite soldiers. My lord, it must be officers and soldiers sent by the federal government to infiltrate the rebels."
A minister said: "What are you trying to do with the traitors! I'm afraid these traitors are all federal soldiers pretending to be generals."
The King of Hubei sighed: "If the Federation wants to attack Hubei, how can we be our opponent?"
A prince said: "The Federation is pretty good to the royal family."
King E had already thought about this matter. After thinking about it for a long time, he sighed and ordered the prince to go out to negotiate with them for peace. The prince was also very frightened, so he had no choice but to accept the order.
After a while, the prince led a few guards and pushed out the door of the mansion. He raised his hands and asked, "Which of you has the final say?"
Pan Xigui said with a smile: "Mingyi, come over here and don't bully others."
Pan Mingyi wrinkled her nose and said, "You can't take one of my tricks. Why are you bullying him?" Nai urged him to step forward and look at the Crown Prince of E for a few times, then jumped off his horse and raised his hands and said, "Who is coming?"
The guard said: "This is our prince. Please come over and talk, Mr. Pan."
"Oh, I am Lao Pan's daughter." Pan Mingyi said, "We have equal status."
The prince said sternly: "Our country of Hubei and the Federation do not invade the wells of the rivers, so why should we invade our country?"
Pan Mingyi said: "These are all people from your country of E. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone." Then he turned to a soldier and said, "Where are you from?"
The soldier said: "I am from Liujia Village, Huanggang County."
"Look, are you from E?" Pan Mingyi asked another soldier, "Where are you from?"
The soldier said: "I am from Ezhou City. My family originally lived in Hongshi Lane in the west of the city."
Pan Mingyi spread her hands and said, "Are you still asking? After all, these are all from E and nowhere else."
The prince smiled bitterly and said, "Have so many people left our country of E?"
Pan Mingyi said: "No more nonsense. May I ask, sir, whether you want to surrender or let us invade the house."
The prince said: "The federal military is strong, and my little country of E is no match. I see there are mobs behind you, so please don't disturb the women and children."
Pan Mingyi nodded and said: "Don't worry. Our rebels have strict military discipline and will not let them snatch things randomly. After all, the E Palace will not be used by people in the future."
The prince was stunned: "Don't let people live in it?"
"You don't have many tourist attractions in Ezhou. The Prince of E's Mansion has to keep it and collect tickets." Pan Mingyi said, "There must be a city museum."
The prince smiled and said: "But I don't know how much the Prince E's Mansion can be sold for?"
Pan Mingyi twitched the corner of her mouth: "You are wrong. Will our rebels spend money to buy Prince E's Mansion from you?"
The prince was stunned: "Aren't all the princes' palaces in Beijing purchased by your federal government?"
"The State of Yan has a peaceful transition." Pan Mingyi pointed behind him and said coldly, "The State of E is an armed uprising. The people of the State of Yan are rich, they have houses to live in, clothes to wear and food to eat, and the treasury is full. Do you want the Prince of Yan's Mansion? It doesn't matter. There are poor people all over your country in Hubei. There is no roof to cover their bodies and no place to stand. The national treasury is also empty, and even the soldiers' salaries are not paid. Naturally, the new Hubei government has to seize the Prince's Palace, the Prince's Palace, etc. and sell off the contents. We exchange valuables for gold and silver, and then we buy rice, grain, cloth, and New Year goods to give to ordinary people to celebrate the New Year. Then we have to build bridges and roads, and build schools and hospitals. There are also soldiers’ pay and firearms, and officials’ salaries. What kind of things are free of money?”
The prince was stunned: "Are you robbing openly?"
"Of course!" Pan Mingyi said curiously, "otherwise, do you think we came here with muskets and cannons to attend a banquet?" She whistled.
Dozens of soldiers shouted together in Ezhou dialect: "Brothers, officers and soldiers, your prince has surrendered~~The rebel soldiers' pay has been tripled~~" They shouted this three times.
The prince opened his mouth to shout, but the voice of the rebels was so muffled that half of the words could not be heard. Pan Mingyi lightly poked him twice, which made him yell "Ouch" in pain. A soldier came forward and put his hand on the prince's shoulder and whispered: "Your Majesty, let's go. , Come into the mansion." There was a tiny musket hidden in his sleeve, which was pressed against the prince's waist.
Pan Mingyi also said with a smile: "Please come in with us, Your Majesty." The Crown Prince was speechless and did not dare to say "no".
The Pan family's father and daughter then led the rebels from Ezhou into the mansion. The defenders mistakenly thought that the prince had really surrendered and did not dare to stop him. The king of E had just had time to ask "Who is coming?" when the rebels filed in and took control of the whole house in an instant.
King E stayed for a moment. Seeing that the situation was over, he had no choice but to take out the golden seal from his arms and surrender. When the news came out, there was a joy outside the gate of King E's palace.
The monarchs and ministers of the state of Hubei did not receive good treatment from Qi Yue and other royal families. Pan Xigui's rebel army temporarily detained them in the two small courtyards of the palace. They were busy opening warehouses to store grain, and taking the money from the warehouses to buy cotton clothes to help poor households.
There were rebels occupying the passes. These rebels had strict military discipline and were not surprised wherever they went. The Allied forces were stationed in a secluded area and caught up with the Chinese New Year, so they had no idea. On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, some news reached Chu.
In the ears of the army, General Chu sent scouts to check and found that the cities and towns of E State were filled with flags with the word "righteousness". The general did not dare to act rashly and sent people to return home quickly to report the news.
On the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Pan Xigui, the leader of the rebel army, began to publicly interrogate the officials of the E state at the Ezhou magistrate's office. The first one was the prefect himself. Although the E state was small, it had many officials. Those who had some conscience could no longer do it long ago, and the rest were all blackened.
Countless people were killed due to corruption and perversion of the law. The rebels actually knew everything. They had clearly laid out the charges long ago and even invited witnesses.
There is a witness who lives in the mountains. He set out on the road a few years ago and walked for more than ten days before arriving in Ezhou. He stayed on the road on the first day of the 30th day of the lunar month. He said: "Redressing grievances for others is the way of heaven. What does it mean to celebrate the New Year?" What he was doing was for this.
I testified on behalf of my neighbor, proving that my neighbor's young son was bitten to death by a rogue dog while hunting. Now my neighbor's entire family has died of illness, and there is not even a single plaintiff. Instead, the rebels invited a village elder to be the plaintiff to try the case.
After the public trial that day, the crowd dispersed. An old woman in a satin coat and her mother-in-law stood in front of the magistrate's office, hesitating. Two Confucian scholars were discussing by the side, but when they saw this, they stepped forward and asked, "How can this aunt?"
Is something wrong?"
The old woman said: "I would like to ask, can anyone sue me?"
The Confucian scholars looked at each other but did not answer. However, a soldier came forward and said, "But if you have a grievance, anyone can sue. Who do you want to sue, Madam?"
The old woman said: "I want to sue my stepson and the prince."
The soldier said: "To file a complaint, go to the temporary reporting office over there. Go in from here and turn right. There are signs. Do you know the words?"
"I recognize you."
"Then you won't go wrong. If you don't recognize me, I will take you in."
The two Confucian scholars looked at each other again. The older one asked: "Madam, what are you suing the prince for?"
The old woman said: "I accuse the prince of colluding with my stepson and taking my granddaughter into the house. I want to get my granddaughter back."
The Confucian scholar frowned before he spoke. The soldier said first, "You can file a complaint like this. We will send people to the Prince of E's Mansion to check on your granddaughter. If she either voluntarily becomes a concubine to the King of E, or the King of E rapes a civilian daughter."
The old woman wiped her tears with joy and said, "This granddaughter is my son's flesh and blood and has nothing to do with him."
The mother-in-law also said: "The second girl is the third master's daughter, not the child of that black-hearted beast."
The soldier said, "Man is not his biological daughter. Even if she is his daughter, he can't decide. Madam, come with me." He glanced at the two Confucian scholars and led the old woman away.
The two Confucian scholars watched the mother-in-law helping the old woman into the Yamen. The younger one frowned and said, "These soldiers are definitely not rebels."
The elder said: "Everyone is literate and well-trained. There is no doubt that they are officers and soldiers of the Federation." The two sighed at the same time.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the rebel army sent envoys to deliver a message to the garrison of the Allied Forces of the seventeen countries. Due to the change of ownership of the country of Hubei, it now officially withdrew from the Western Chu Alliance. Officers and soldiers of other countries were restricted to leave the country within three days.
The old woman's case will be tried in public on the twelfth day of the first lunar month, and King E will appear in court for the first time as a defendant. Reporters from newspapers from various countries did not care about the New Year or the holidays, and a large group came in a hurry.
On the day of the public trial, more than a dozen cameras in front of the hall were clicking incessantly. The case was very simple, it was just an official sending the daughter of his deceased brother into the palace. The official was also very helpless. King E accidentally took a fancy to his niece, and he also
Can you deny it? However, the public prosecutor of the rebel army just invited the woman to the court and asked her if she was willing to be the concubine of the King of Hubei. The woman said openly: "No."
King E pointed at her and said with a smile: "What are you talking to the lonely king on the bed? Are you unwilling?"
There was not even a trace of tears in the woman's eyes, and she sneered: "You have snatched me away. If you don't say yes, should I wait to die? My death is a small matter, my grandmother is old, and I am the only child."
Who will take care of her when I die?" The old woman immediately cried bitterly at the plaintiff's table. The woman then said, "You are already in your fifties, and I was only sixteen when I entered the government! How could I be willing to be your little wife!"
The king of E stood up and said: "The lonely king is the prince!"
"Who cares about you, a prince as big as a mung bean?" the woman said calmly, "you are just a prisoner." King E was dumbfounded.
The public judge immediately said that the woman could go home freely and not have anything to do with King E. The people in the hall talked a lot.
After the court was dismissed, someone stood at the gate of the yamen and shouted loudly: "This incident is just the beginning. King E is guilty of more than just taking a woman as a concubine."
The two Confucian scholars of that day came again. The older one said: "Does King E have other lawsuits?"
The man laughed and said: "There are too many. Excessive taxation, killing people for no reason, seizing people's property, etc., these are the big ones. Reporters from newspapers from all over the country have already lived in Ezhou. From now on, there will only be more excitement.
"
Sure enough, dozens of cases in which the E king was the defendant came one after another, and more than a dozen people died. One day after the court was over, someone commented: "Look at this, the prince may not even be able to save his life."
The two Confucian scholars were shocked when they heard this and shouted "No!" These two people were Meng Changfu and the King of Chu. They hurried back to the Kingdom of Chu.
The next day, the King of Chu sent a special envoy to discuss matters with Pan Xigui, hoping to use money to atone for King E's sins. Pan Xigui waved his hand and said: "It would be fine if King E didn't carry a murder case on him. But he killed many people, so there really is no such thing."
Method."
The special envoy said: "He is a prince and the lord of a country. According to the original law, he has the power of life and death."
Pan Xigui said: "We are a rebel army, so we do not act in accordance with the original laws."
At dusk that day, special envoys from Xianglu and other countries also came. Pan Xigui had a good temper, so he explained slowly: We are traitors.
On the seventh day of March, the interrogation of all the cases involving King E was completed. The public prosecutor of the rebel army sentenced King E to death and executed him.
On the eighth day of March, Pan Xigui, the leader of the Ezhou rebel army, personally supervised the execution and escorted the last king of E to the gate of the Ezhou magistrate's office to beheaded in public. Newspapers across the country rushed to report on this. This was the first princely king to be beheaded in the street.
On the tenth day of March, the country of E announced that it would join the federation. It was the smallest country in the federation, but it was the rebels and not the prince who signed the agreement. The Western Chu League was shocked and had ceased to exist in name only. Xu Luo and other small countries began to send people to Beijing to contact