Liu Lishun opened his mouth but said nothing in the end. Seeing Sun Yunhe turn and leave, he couldn't help but sigh heavily.
Although Sun Yunhe did not say it explicitly, Liu Lishun also knew that the decision on how to deal with the matter was made by the emperor and could not be changed.
Moreover, since we are talking about paving the way, I believe these stumbling blocks will not have a good end.
Exile is fine, but without drastic measures, I will still struggle and fail to make any breakthroughs. I have failed to live up to Wansui's expectations and have not made any contribution to the country and the people.
Hearing the shouts and neighs of horses outside, Liu Lishun knew that the people from the East Factory had set out with the garrison. But he never thought that exile was the lightest punishment.
As the day approached noon, people from various errands began to return one after another, escorting the usually arrogant and tyrannical local officials and students.
The once well-dressed scholars and righteous gentry were now in a state of disgrace. Their clothes were disheveled, their hair was in disarray, and they were driven and beaten by the ferocious soldiers all the way into the county town, attracting countless onlookers from the public.
The team escorting the prisoners had not yet finished, but they were made up of evil servants of the rich and powerful. These guys had committed many evil deeds in their daily lives, and they immediately attracted the curses of the bold people.
"Xu Tingjiao and the other five elders were all arrested and imprisoned, along with their vicious servants."
"Hehe, you don't know, these usually majestic township officials have had their homes raided and their doors sealed. They're finished."
"Is causing a disturbance in the court such a serious crime? Even the scholars, students, and juren were arrested!"
………………
Amidst the discussions among the common people, the Dongchang guards posted a notice, which immediately caused a huge sensation like an earthquake.
Those who incite civil unrest and plot evil will be executed on the spot and their families will be exiled three thousand miles away.
An hour after the notice was posted, a bloody beheading scene took place on a desolate graveyard outside the county town.
By the time the soldiers escorted the prisoner to the execution ground, the area was already filled with onlookers, standing and waiting, some even pushing and shoving, hoping to get a better view.
"Look, that's not Mr. Xu." Someone shouted in surprise, immediately causing a whisper in the crowd.
Xu Tingjiao's hands were tied behind his back, his gray hair was disheveled, one of his shoes was off, and he was brought in limping.
Because he moved so slowly, the officers and soldiers next to him became a little impatient and pushed him with their guns.
The movement was not big or heavy, and was intended to help him speed up his pace, but Xu Tingjiao fell face down and was unable to stand up for a while.
There was a small burst of laughter in the crowd. The old local official who lived in a big house and was usually arrogant was in such a miserable state that the common people felt a sense of pleasure.
"Serves him right!" someone cursed angrily, "He's raised so many evil slaves and committed so many evil things. He deserves to be beheaded."
Is it a hatred of the rich? Perhaps! But it's true that many people want to see those who are better off than themselves suffer.
Xu Tingjiao was pulled up and made to kneel on the ground. His eyes were dull and his lips were moving, but no one knew what he was mumbling.
Zhou Wenrang was brought in, or rather, dragged. His head tilted back, his eyes empty, his mouth slackly open, as if he were mumbling to himself.
Chen Siwei, the county clerk, was also brought in. His head was drooping as if his neck was broken, and his body was shaking uncontrollably.
Ten prisoners were forced to kneel in a row, and the executioner raised his knife. In the sudden silence around him, he chopped down with the knife.
………………
There were a total of 216 main culprits. Liu Lishun sat woodenly in the county government office, the list of names and numbers of those who were beheaded kept lingering in his mind.
Few of the local officials, students, and evil slaves deserved to be put to death.
But Liu Lishun knew that they had brought it upon themselves to become unjustly killed ghosts.
It was already clear that the imperial court needed to revitalize and reform, and that the emperor wanted to promote benefits and eliminate disadvantages. Furthermore, the original intention was to proceed gradually and gently, but these guys had forced it into a thunderous force.
The reform has just begun, but some people have jumped out to obstruct and sabotage it. If we don’t break this momentum, how can future policies be implemented? Won’t they fail in success?
Beheading these more than 200 people was both a warning and a declaration of determination.
Promoting benefits and eliminating disadvantages, innovating and revitalizing is the unwavering direction. Anyone who dares to try to stop a chariot will be ruthlessly crushed. This massacre is intended to convey this message.
Why did Xu Tingjiao and Zhou Wenrang provoke the emperor's wrath? It was because they disdained the government and disregarded law and order. If reforms were to proceed, and even succeed, without ensuring that orders were obeyed, wouldn't they be nothing more than empty talk?
Liu Lishun finally figured out the court's thinking, or rather, the emperor's thoughts.
His dull eyes became lively again. Liu Lishun spread out his hand, spread out the paper, picked up the pen, and wrote neatly, "Please investigate the land that has not paid taxes, and severely punish the tyrannical and deceitful gentry."
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