Chapter 99 Beheading

In the early days of the Darong Dynasty, in order to better supervise the local areas, Emperor Taizu Rong divided the princes into different states and appointed them as local governors.

These princes all hold high status and great power, so it is foreseeable that they would covet the throne.

After the young emperor Zhao Chun ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Chi took charge of the government. Within a few years, Zhao Zhuo rebelled and was eventually killed by Zhao Mingyue.

When the other princes heard the news, they felt very uneasy.

Especially Ningzhou Yue Wang Zhao Ping, who once received Fuguang Princess Zhao Mingyue and received her hint of "raising troops to support the king", but he didn't expect that Zhao Mingyue was just a bait!

If he had taken the bait, he would probably have ended up like Zhao Zhuo.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ping broke out in a cold sweat.

However, before he could rejoice in having escaped this disaster, he received news that Queen Mother Chi was calling on the princes to go to the capital to pay homage.

"Calling us to the capital now? It's obvious that Queen Mother Chi wants to take action against us, the Zhao clan!" Zhao Ping was very indignant, but helpless.

After all, no matter what, the emperor can do whatever he wants, and Empress Dowager Chi, who acts on behalf of the emperor, has to obey her orders legally, no matter how cruel she is.

Unless, they want to rebel.

But he was not sure that he could defeat the imperial court in a rebellion, otherwise he would have taken the bait when Zhao Mingyue tried to lure him.

But if he doesn't go, wouldn't Empress Dowager Chi have even more reason to deal with him?

After much deliberation, Zhao Ping finally decided to claim to be seriously ill and let his stupid son go on the trip for him.

After all, you only have one life, but you can have more than one son.

"My son, will you take my place during this visit to the court?" Lanzhou Prince Qing was equally uneasy upon receiving the imperial edict. He turned around and called his son to him, saying earnestly, "My title will be passed on to you sooner or later. It's time for you to gain more experience."

The other princes had the same idea. They all fell ill with chronic diseases and were bedridden, so they all pulled their sons out to take the blame.

Of course, they did not forget to deal with Queen Mother Chi.

"The emperor has never been seen since he ascended the throne. It is obvious that Empress Dowager Chi has imprisoned him! Therefore, when you arrive in the capital, you must find a way to meet the emperor and obtain his jade seal and imperial edict, so that our Zhao clan members will not be killed by Empress Dowager Chi!" Xingzhou Lingwang said hatefully.

Just when the King of Xiqi was reorganizing his military and decided to attack Yuzhou, these princes had already arrived in the capital, shouldering the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Zhao clan.

They were young and full of vigor, and did not take Empress Dowager Chi, a woman known to the world for her cruelty and ruthlessness, seriously. All they had in their minds was the great idea of saving the emperor and eradicating the evil queen.

What fate will they face next?

They know nothing.

————

Xihua Palace.

When Chi Qi heard Wu Wenxiu's report that all the princes did not come to the capital but only sent their sons to pay homage, her eyes turned cold.

What a bunch of cowards they are. How can this country be good if these people are allowed to govern it?

However, this is exactly what she wants. If it weren't for this group of trash, how could she destroy this dynasty so easily?

She has been in this world long enough, it's time to speed up, complete the mission and leave.

Let these princes and nobles become the fuse for the downfall of this corrupt dynasty.

Chi Li narrowed her eyes, a gleam of excitement in them. "Danying, arrange for them to live in Qingyun Palace. It's closest to the Emperor's palace. These brothers haven't seen each other for many years. I think the Emperor would be very eager to see them."

When Danying saw Chi Lun's expression, she shuddered instantly and a bad premonition arose in her heart. These people were probably in big trouble.

But what does this have to do with her?

She maintained her usual gentle smile and replied respectfully, "Yes."

————

Unlike these princes who knew nothing about their own fate, the county magistrates far away in Yuzhou knew too well how dark their future would be.

That day, Liu Gou and others were left in the house by Zhao Mingyue. They couldn't eat or sleep. They stayed up all day and night until they were exhausted.

At first, they felt angry, then slowly, anger turned into fear, and finally, fear turned into numbness and submissiveness.

Even though they knew that the conscription order and household registration reform would cut off their own escape route, they had no choice but to comply.

Zhao Mingyue was very satisfied with the answers he heard from them, so he let them go. At the same time, he sent two people to each county to supervise their landing and the implementation of the conscription order.

Two months later, a total of 100,000 soldiers were recruited from all over the country, including 40,000 female soldiers and 60,000 male soldiers.

After careful selection, 5,000 female soldiers joined the Jinwu Guard, and the remaining female soldiers joined the Zhufeng Army and received training as a standing army.

The male soldiers served as auxiliary troops, and each county organized half a day of training every day. They only needed to be able to distinguish the left and right flag orders, and would be recruited when fighting.

On this day, Liu Gou and others came to Yuzhou City to report on their work. After the report, Zhao Mingyue gave them a few words of verbal praise, and then invited them to the execution ground to watch the beheading.

When they arrived at the execution ground, they saw that the men tied to the stakes were none other than the county magistrates who had resigned.

The supervising officer gave the order, "The time has come—"

The executioner raised the knife high, and with a swish, a white light flashed, and accompanied by an almost choked scream, the head fell to the ground.

The people watching around suddenly shouted noisily, "Well done!"

The few remaining county magistrates who were mixed in the crowd shivered suddenly. They felt as if a cold wind was blowing on their necks, and they felt inexplicably scared.

Liu Gou glanced at Zhao Mingyue carefully. She was dressed more casually than usual, blending in with the crowd. Several guards were also in plain clothes protecting her.

So, Princess Fuguang called them over to intimidate them again?

But they did recruit soldiers and changed their household registration when they were asked to!

At this time, another executioner led a group of prisoners to the execution platform. These male prisoners all hung their heads, trembled, and their legs were so weak that they could not even walk.

The executioners tied them to the stakes, and they sank there like soft mud.

The people around the execution platform seemed to recognize them and immediately shouted, "Cowards! Bitch! Shout, scream! Aren't you usually very majestic?"

The male prisoner looked at the audience in horror, trembling all over, "Please spare me, I know I was wrong!"

There was a moment of silence in the audience, and then there was a louder commotion, and countless people grabbed rotten vegetable leaves and threw them onto the stage.

“Go to hell!”

"Don't even think about reincarnation, go to hell!"

Liu Gou felt very sorry for the tall and strong man who was huddled on the stage, suffering endless abuse and humiliation.

"What crime have they committed that deserves to be scolded like this?"

After saying this, Zhao Mingyue suddenly turned around and looked at him coldly. "They are committing adultery. According to the new law in Yuzhou, anyone who beats or violently injures a woman will be executed."

Liu Gou was stunned. This was too harsh.

According to Darong law, rape is punishable by a maximum of four years in prison. As for violent assault, isn't wife-beating commonplace? Should this also warrant beheading?

This kind of decree should be opposed, so why are these people applauding it?

Liu Gou turned his head to look at the people under the execution platform, and then his eyes widened in surprise. He didn't pay much attention before, but now he looked carefully and found that the people around him who were not wearing hairpins or jewelry and were wearing clothes were all women.

Looking at the prisoners on the stage again, he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

The executioners raised their swords again. This time, Liu Gou lowered his head. He was a little afraid of seeing blood. His heart felt empty and indescribably uncomfortable.

The onlookers raised their heads and looked at the prisoners on the stage with hatred in their eyes, waiting and expecting to see their heads fall off.

Finally, the big knife fell, and the executioner chopped off the head easily, while blood gushed out of the prisoner's neck.

The people watching the execution clapped their hands, cheered loudly, and rushed to the execution platform. They wanted to see the prisoners' bodies, strip off their clothes, and spit on them.

"You men should see this: from now on, if you dare to bully us again, this will be the end!"

"In the past, there were no officials to represent women, and no one taught women to resist men's beatings. But with the arrival of Princess Fuguang, we women are saved!"

"We women can also be the masters of our own homes!"

When Liu Gou saw that he was surrounded by cheering women, he suddenly wanted to escape. Yuzhou was really not a place for a man!

Unfortunately, Zhao Mingyue was watching them, so they couldn't run away even if they wanted to!

Zhao Mingyue turned around and saw that they were all dejected. She couldn't help but laugh, "What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see these criminals executed?"

Everyone forced themselves to cheer up and said with a smile: "We are happy, we are happy, the princess really loves the people like her own children!"

Zhao Mingyue saw through their inconsistency at a glance, but she didn't care.

No matter how reluctant they were, they had to obey her orders.

Even if what she asked them to do was no different from digging a hole to bury them, they had to dig it honestly!

I believe that after watching today’s execution, many of them will not be able to sleep.

Fortunately, new officials have been selected, and once they grow up, these county magistrates can be discarded.

Zhao Mingyue no longer looked at the ugly faces of those people and left the execution ground with brisk steps.

As soon as I returned to the Governor's Office, my personal guards came to greet me and said, "Princess, the weapons factory just sent someone to say that the first batch of artillery has been manufactured. Princess, please go to Yanzi Valley to test the artillery!"

Zhao Mingyue was delighted and said with a smile, "This weapons factory is really fast. The cannon was completed in just over a month! Come on, go get Master Xue and let's go take a look."

The personal guards took the order and left. Not long after, Xue Qi put down his state affairs and came over. The carriage was ready in front of the door. Zhao Mingyue took Xue Qi's hand and got on the carriage.

"I've seen the blueprints Shen Ai drew, and I heard this cannon is very powerful. If we succeed in building it this time, we won't be afraid even if the Xiqi people come to attack the city!"

Hearing this, Zhao Mingyue's smile faded a little. "It's only a matter of time before they send troops. It all depends on whether they want to attack Yuzhou."

She could only hope that these artillery pieces were as powerful as Liu Shen Ai said.

The carriage quickly left Yuzhou City, went up Laoya Mountain, and arrived at Yanzi Valley.

Zhao Mingyue got off the carriage. Liu Shen'ai and Zhao Yuzhang were already waiting in Yanzi Valley with their soldiers.

She looked up at the cannons placed high up, and her eyes widened instantly.