As for Liu Ziyu, Liu Yan, Wang Yuan and others who followed around, they had originally avoided the emperor because he was talking to Bachelor Kobayashi. When they heard the order and knew that severe punishment was going to be used, they should have made some suggestions... But for some reason, when they saw the emperor standing alone among the pile of corpses without saying a word, they looked at each other and did not dare to step forward.
He waited for a while, perhaps because coffins were in short supply, or perhaps because the officers from various departments were slow to gather, it was a full half hour before Scholar Kobayashi returned.
However, since it was the emperor's oral order, how could the officers of various departments, especially the surrendered soldiers, dare to neglect it? So starting from Wang Jun, they all abandoned their weapons and lined up around the earth pit.
"The sun is setting," Zhao Jiu saw the coffin and Fan Qiong, who had already collapsed into a pile of mud, being carried in. He did not say anything extra, nor did he say anything about summoning, questioning, or giving a speech to the officers. He just gave the order directly. "Deal with this man quickly!"
"May I ask what punishment the emperor is going to use?" At this point, Xiaolin scholar had no scruples and asked through gritted teeth. "The so-called heavy punishment is to use armor and weapons, which is what the emperor intends to use this time... The next best is to use an axe, and the medium punishment is a knife and a saw, and the next is a drill... Which one does the emperor intend to use?"
"These are inhumane and too bloody." Zhao Jiu shook his head repeatedly, as if he was not the one who said "not hypocritical" to the scholar half an hour ago. "As the Holy Son of Heaven, how can I use these? Not only that, Li Xianggong asked me to talk to him that day, saying that he would not kill him. If so, I must fulfill my promise, otherwise I will not be able to explain to Li Xianggong."
Scholar Kobayashi fell silent, while Fan Qiong, who was lying on the ground not far away, actually moved a little, and there was a commotion among the surrounding officers.
"Put him in the coffin, nail him, and carry him to the bottom of the pit." Zhao Jiu ignored the noise around him and continued. "Then bury his wives, concubines, children, and other dead people together, and tamp down the soil!"
Scholar Xiao Lin was startled, but after a moment he immediately turned around and looked at Liu Yan behind him. Liu Yan's scalp was already tingling, but as the highest-ranking general in the imperial guard, he had no choice but to turn around and give orders.
Liu Yan was not the only one whose scalp was tingling. Following Emperor Zhao's order, several soldiers stuffed the tightly bound but intact Fan Qiong into the coffin. Fan Qiong, who just came to his senses after being put into the coffin, kept crying but could not stop the soldiers from nailing the coffin shut. The coffin, which had made such a great noise, was covered by layers of corpses at the bottom of the pit until it gradually became silent. The surrounding generals felt cold all over, but no one dared to leave.
Even Commander Xiao Xin was helpless and trembling as he hurriedly threw his saved bald head into the battle.
Emperor Zhao was standing nearby, watching the entire process of Fan Qiong being buried alive. He became bored and without saying anything, he turned around and prepared to go into the city to rest.
However, Emperor Zhao, who was surrounded by many imperial guards and important officials, was about to ride in front of a general with his mouth wide open and gaps of teeth showing. He suddenly stopped his horse and asked in a friendly manner: "Are you Wang Jun?"
"Yes... I pay my respects to the emperor! Long live the emperor!" Wang Jun was obviously a little dazed, but after he came to his senses, he fell to the ground and kowtowed regardless of the blood and mud stains on the ground.
"I know all about your actions this time." Emperor Zhao looked at the man and smiled. "You have made great contributions to the fall of Xiangyang City without a fight. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Wang Jun certainly wanted to continue to be the commander, and even wanted to continue to be stationed in Xiangyang City, because he had been here for more than half a year and had already married a concubine and bought property here.
In fact, the man with the gap-mouthed face was almost about to blurt out these words.
However, as soon as Wang Jun raised his head, he saw the official standing on his horse with his back to the light. Looking at the other party's slightly vague, half-smiling expression, coupled with Fan Qiong's inhuman howl at the bottom of the pit, he was suddenly startled, and then forced himself to swallow the words he had prepared.
Not only that, as if possessed by some mysterious force, he once again bowed his head in the mud, and when he looked up again, his face was covered in mud and he couldn't stop crying. He choked up with sobs, "My Lord, please know that I am a guilty bastard. I am obviously a minister of yours, but I followed the traitor Fan Qiong in many unjust actions... This is a great disloyalty! Although Fan Qiong is a damn bastard, I was promoted by him after all. Although I did not hesitate to surrender the city this time because of my loyalty to you and my concern for the lives of the people in the city, it is still not loyal enough! How can a person like me have the face to ask for a reward?! If you don't kill me, I will be extremely grateful!"
Zhao Jiu listened carefully to the man's leaky accent without interrupting him. After he finished speaking, he looked down at him with a smile and said, "A meritorious official is a meritorious official. If you don't reward him for his merits and punish him for his mistakes, wouldn't that be dishonest and make the world laugh at you?"
The man with the gaping mouth on the ground just kowtowed and didn't dare to say anything more.
"It's like this. I heard from Scholar Lin that you have settled down in Xiangyang for a long time and don't want to leave. He also said that you are a man of integrity, a gentleman who knows loyalty and righteousness, and a rare moral gentleman... After seeing you today, it is indeed true." Emperor Zhao still spoke gently. "To be honest, Scholar Lin really respects you, and I really like you, so I want to deliberately promote you. What do you think?"
"I will obey the emperor!" What else could Wang Jun say? He could only kowtow again and quickly express his position.
"Mr. Lin." Zhao Jiu turned around and looked at Lin Jingmo beside him. "How about this? I have recently asked all military states to recommend talents for special use. I think Wang Jun is the most outstanding person in Xiangzhou. When I saw him today, I was particularly happy. So I wanted to make an exception and give him a background. I will change my official title to Wenzi so that he can be the magistrate of Xiangzhou. But I am afraid that there is no precedent and others will not accept it..."
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