usatvline Chapter 45 Public Execution, Public Revelry!
Chapter 45 Public Execution, Public Revelry!
"Well done!"
"Execute immediately!"
"All the officials arrested these past few days, I will execute them all today!"
Zhu Houzhao rose and immediately ordered: "Set up an execution ground at Caishikou immediately, and all officials shall accompany me to witness the execution!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
At Zhu Houzhao's command, all the eunuchs, Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), and Imperial Guards in the palace moved into action.
When the emperor leaves the palace, it is no small matter.
Safety is of paramount importance.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Western Depot quickly seized control of the only route from the palace to the market.
From the main streets to the alleys, and even the rooftops, the factory guards were densely packed together.
They guarded the area so strictly that even birds couldn't get in, all to ensure absolute safety.
The eunuchs of the Directorate of Imperial Household and the Directorate of Imperial Furnishing immediately displayed the imperial regalia, with yellow flags clearing the way, and all the people gave way!
The four imperial guards, Tengxiang, stood protecting Zhu Houzhao.
Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Zhuge Zhengwo, and Shen Lian stood close to Zhu Houzhao, keeping a close watch on him.
Such a large-scale mobilization had only one purpose: to ensure Zhu Houzhao's safety during his travels.
Along the way, five hundred Tengxiang guards led the way, while five hundred Changwei guards brought up the rear.
Zhu Houzhao sat on the imperial carriage, his face calm, and led all the civil and military officials out of the palace.
The civil and military officials, however, were filled with anxiety and fear.
Before long, Zhu Houzhao's entourage arrived at the execution ground at Caishikou.
At this moment, a large number of Beijing residents had gathered at the execution ground in Caishikou.
Caishikou was already a bustling place in the capital, and now that an execution ground was being set up to publicly execute officials, even more ordinary people came to watch the spectacle.
Just as the people of the capital were excitedly discussing how many officials would be executed in a few days, eight yellow flags suddenly appeared in the city, accompanied by a large number of guards.
They suddenly realized that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was on an inspection tour!
Someone was about to kneel before the Ming emperor, but was stopped by those around them.
"Don't kneel yet, wait a bit longer. What if it's not the emperor, but some other member of the royal family?"
"You forgot, the last time Marquis Shouning, Zhang Heling, also went out carrying a yellow flag, which made me think that the emperor had come. After I knelt down, I realized that I had made a fool of myself."
"From now on, you can't kneel down every time you see a yellow flag. Wait until you see it clearly before kneeling down, so you don't make a fool of yourself again."
The man thought for a moment and nodded: "What you say makes sense, then let's wait a little longer."
After saying that, the two of them stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to see clearly who was the person who was going on patrol with a yellow flag this time.
There are quite a few people who share this view.
This is the consequence of the collapse of ritual and music. When the emperor's status was no longer unique, he lost his due majesty and mystery.
Zhang Heling repeatedly overstepped imperial authority, yet remained at large. Empress Dowager Zhang and her family truly deserved to die!
Seeing that the people around him were not kneeling for a long time, Liu Jin was both angry and anxious, and couldn't help but shout in a shrill voice, "The Emperor has arrived!"
"Now that you have seen the emperor, why don't you bow?!"
emperor?!
Is it really the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty who has arrived?!
Immediately, the people in Caishikou knelt down and kowtowed in worship!
"This humble subject pays homage to Your Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live Your Majesty!"
"..."
Zhu Houzhao's procession bypassed the kneeling crowds and arrived at the execution ground.
The officials from the Ministry of Justice kowtowed and bowed, and Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, signaling them to continue setting up the execution ground.
At the same time, the civil and military officials of the imperial court also stood in front of the execution ground one by one.
Most ordinary people do not recognize these officials, but just by looking at their clothes, they know that these officials are all high-ranking and powerful officials.
Some sharp-eyed people had already recognized their identities.
"Hey, isn't that Grand Secretary Liu Dongyang? He's here too?!"
"Look, that's Liu Daxia, the Minister of War, and Wang Hua, the Vice Minister of Rites."
"See that old eunuch? That's Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot!"
"What are you so surprised about? These people you're talking about are nothing but eggs in front of the emperor!"
"Even the emperor himself came to the execution ground, wouldn't these people follow him like peacocks?"
"..."
The people at the scene were incredibly excited. Those high-ranking officials they had only talked about over tea were now standing right in front of them.
What's more, the legendary emperor himself was also present!
That's the emperor, the ruler of the world! Even the emperor himself has come! What kind of momentous event will unfold here today?!
The people present were all quite impatient.
Before long, an official from the Ministry of Justice came before Zhu Houzhao, wiped the sweat from his brow, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the execution ground has been set up."
"Very good." Zhu Houzhao nodded. "Bring all the prisoners here!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Soon, to the astonishment of the onlookers, one after another, high-ranking officials of the imperial court were escorted to the execution ground by the imperial guards.
"My God! Who is that?! I'm not seeing things, am I?! It's Grand Secretary Liu Jian, how come he's being led to the execution ground?"
"Look next to him! Isn't that Grand Secretary Xie Qian? How come he's been arrested by the Imperial Guard too?!"
"And that old man, if I'm not mistaken, that's Duke Zhang Mao! Even the Duke is going to the execution ground?!"
"Is that Ma Wensheng next to Zhang Mao?! He looks so miserable now, I almost don't recognize him! It's a miracle he's on the execution ground!"
The people around the execution ground were all excitedly commenting on the people being led to the execution ground.
There was curiosity, excitement, doubt, and even schadenfreude.
But as one person was led to the execution ground, the entire crowd applauded and cheered.
"Zhang Heling?! The Emperor's maternal uncle has also been taken to the execution ground?! Is His Majesty going to uphold justice even at the cost of family ties?!"
"Heavens! You've finally opened your eyes! Zhang Heling truly deserved to die! He's finally received his just deserts!"
"And his younger brother, Zhang Yanling! The two brothers died together! Good riddance! Absolutely good!"
"Wang Yuan and Wang Qing have also been brought in. Your Majesty... Your Majesty is truly a wise and benevolent ruler!"
"..."
As Zhang Heling, Zhang Yanling, and others were led to the execution ground, the crowd of onlookers became agitated.
The corruption of court officials is corruption in embezzling the court's funds, while the corruption of these relatives of the emperor is mostly corruption in harming the people around them.
For a long time, Zhang Heling, Zhang Yanling, and others have been oppressing the local people and exploiting them, causing great suffering to the people of the capital.
Before this, the people of the capital were as happy as if it were New Year's Day just to hear the news of their imprisonment.
Seeing Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, these relatives of the emperor, about to meet a miserable end, they were extremely excited and wished they could rush forward and devour their flesh and blood!