Seeing those people being hit, Xuan Yuanzhan did not come out to maintain order.
Without Xuan Yuanzhan's orders, the soldiers did not come out to stop the refugees at all.
The refugees threw stones with increasing fervor, some even replacing small stones with large ones. Chen Chuan, who was hit first, was covered in blood on his forehead. Zhang Debiao and his men were also hit and bled. The bandits kneeling below were also seriously injured.
Even the actors standing in the front row were affected and suffered injuries.
Looking at their miserable state, Xuan Yuanzhan raised his voice again: "Officials or bandits, open your eyes and take a good look at these refugees. How many families have been torn apart and destroyed because of your actions? How many lives have you killed! Heaven is watching what you do! Think about your own actions. Is this stone-throwing punishment you are suffering unjustly?"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words made those kneeling people, and even the standing officials, lower their heads in shame.
They know best what heinous and immoral things they have done as officials.
That's why they didn't dare to get angry when these people threw stones at them.
Of course, they dared not be angry only because the Holy King was there. If the Holy King were not there, these refugees would not dare to throw this stone at them!
Looking at Chen Chuan, who was about to be crushed to death on the execution platform, Xuan Yuanzhan finally pronounced the verdict: "Chen Chuan, the Prefect of the Northern Lands, is guilty of heinous crimes and shall be executed immediately!"
When Xuanyuan Zhan threw the execution token onto the execution platform, the rain of stones from the refugees below finally stopped.
The executioner beside him was also dazed and confused by the stone, but upon hearing Xuan Yuanzhan's order, he immediately raised his knife and brought it down.
If we cut off Chen Chuan's head, they shouldn't have to get hit by stones anymore.
With a "crack," Chen Chuan's head rolled off, blood splattering on the spot.
The bloody scene didn't frighten any of the refugees present; they only felt a sense of exhilaration!
The bandits, on the other hand, were terrified after witnessing Chen Chuan's beheading, fearing they would be next.
Chen Chuan's bloody head rolled right in front of Zhang Debiao and his men.
Sweating profusely, Qian Ergou looked at Zhang Debiao in a panic: "Boss Zhang, what should we do? Do you think the Prince will give us a way out?"
Zhang Debiao was also terrified by Chen Chuan's bloody head; he had once thought he was fearless.
Anyway, he was all alone, without a wife or children, so even if he died, he would have no regrets.
But when he actually faced death, he had to admit that he was afraid of dying.
When a person dies, they can't feel anything anymore, and that's it!
Zhang Debiao swallowed hard, nervously saying, "The Prince said he would spare our lives if we surrendered. Now that we've surrendered, the Prince should keep his promise, right? Will he?"
Li Yuanbao, Qian Ergou, Bai Ying, and the others all fell silent.
Whether or not, only the prince himself can decide.
It's too late for them to say anything now!
The refugees remained silent for a while, then suddenly became agitated.
"Well done!"
As some people shouted, they knelt down in excitement: "Thank you, Your Highness, for upholding justice for the people!"
The refugees, with tears in their eyes, all knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for upholding justice for the people!"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for upholding justice for the people!"
Soon, all the people present knelt down, creating a magnificent and vast scene.
Standing on the execution platform, looking at the refugees kneeling and thanking him, Xuan Yuanzhan suddenly felt a sense of responsibility for those in high positions.
Whether one is an official, a prince, or even an emperor, one must fulfill one's duties and responsibilities in one's position. Those like Chen Chuan, who not only fail to uphold justice for the people but also plot to harm them, are doomed to die.
The refugees knelt for a while, then suddenly looked at the bandits and shouted, "Are these bandits also to be beheaded?"
The bandits, suddenly called out by name, were instantly terrified.
Xuanyuan Zhan glanced at the bandits and then asked the refugee who had spoken, "Do you think they should be beheaded?"
This question made not only the bandits nervous, but also the refugee who asked the question.
He realized that his words could decide the life or death of these bandits. The problem wasn't just one or two bandits, but tens of thousands. He suddenly felt immense pressure and dared not speak carelessly.
"This humble subject is unaware; I beg Your Highness to render a judgment."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanzhan laughed: "Your hesitation proves that they do not deserve to die, at least some of them do not deserve to die."
As he spoke, Xuan Yuanzhan looked at Zhang Debiao and Bai Ying, and said loudly again, "I will temporarily detain these people. From today onwards, anyone who has been oppressed by them, what they have done to you—burning, killing, robbing, looting—can report it all and come to the prison to identify them. Once their crimes are verified, I will definitely convict them and sentence them to beheading, slow slicing, exile, exile, or imprisonment, according to their crimes."
Among the refugees were naturally those who had grudges against these bandits. Hearing that Xuan Yuanzhan would not easily let the guilty bandits go, the refugees were very satisfied.
Great! Finally, we have a prince who can stand up for the people and is also capable.
With this prince standing up for them, they could finally get revenge for all the losses and humiliations they had suffered at the hands of these bandits.
Xuan Yuanzhan's words also relieved the bandits who hadn't harmed many people.
They only went into this bandit's den to make a living and protect themselves. They had never killed anyone, and many of them had never even harmed anyone. They hadn't even had a chance to participate in any robbery.
Now that the prince has determined their crimes and sentenced them accordingly, instead of executing them all, they still have a way to live.
Of course, those bandits who had committed heinous acts were now in a panic.
But it's too late to panic now; what awaits them is the verdict from the people.
Zhang Debiao and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that Xuan Yuanzhan had not beheaded them all without asking any questions.
Although they had committed many acts of robbery, they mostly robbed wealthy merchants and officials, rarely ordinary people. Of course, they did not commit murder without cause or abduct women; they were only doing it for survival.
Even if we were to hold these matters against them, they shouldn't be a capital offense!
As long as they don't die, they'll accept even being exiled.
Bai Ying was also surprised that Xuan Yuanzhan was willing to convict these bandits one by one based on their individual crimes.
It's clear that he's a very good leader.
If it were anyone else, they would probably have all been killed, even just to appease the people.
Even if the bandits under their command are not killed, their leaders must be killed to appease the people.
But this person didn't do that, because he didn't need to appease the people by killing them. He must have been confident enough to appease the refugees!
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