Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Summons

Chapter 2780 Bloodstained Luoyang, Execution in the Marketplace
In the second year of Jian'an, in Luoyang.

Although it was nearing the beginning of spring, a bone-chilling cold still lingered in Luoyang, making people shudder.

This winter has been exceptionally cold for many people in Luoyang, not only physically but also emotionally.

Of course, this group was actually limited to the nobles and officials involved in the incident, the elite class of the Great Jin Empire.

However, these so-called cornerstone elites of the nation were embroiled in a series of scandals, causing the court officials, nobles, and even the court itself to lose face.

Even the prestige of the imperial court was affected to some extent.

And today, Caishikou in the southern part of Luoyang will surely leave its mark on the history books of the Jin Dynasty.

Before dawn, the leaden clouds hung low, as if they were about to crash down at any moment. A cold wind swirled dust and scraps of paper, making a mournful howl as it swept through the empty streets.

But today, Luoyang seems to have woken up exceptionally early.

From the imperial prison in Luoyang to the vegetable market in the southern part of the city, the soldiers of the capital's garrison had already cleared the streets and imposed martial law, fully armed and ready for battle.

The cold spears and halberds formed a strict passage, keeping out the dark, endless crowd.

The people tucked their hands into their pockets, hunched their necks, and strained their necks to look in the same direction.

The sounds of murmurs, coughs, and children's cries mingled together, creating a dull and eerie buzzing that weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Watching a spectacle is human nature, especially a big one like this.

"I'm coming!"

Someone shouted hoarsely, and the crowd suddenly stirred, surging forward like a tide, but was pushed back by the soldiers blocking both sides of the street.

coming!

One after another, dilapidated prison wagons, escorted by elite imperial guards, slowly drove into view.

The people in the prison van were no longer the imposing figures they once were.

Some were dressed in filthy clothes, but you could still vaguely see the luxurious silk prison uniforms of the past. Their hair was gray and disheveled, their eyes stared blankly at the gray sky, and they mumbled something unconsciously, drooling down their lips without realizing it.

Some were ashen-faced, limp in the prison van, leaning against the bars of the cage like puddles of mud, with a dark, damp stain on their crotches, emitting a foul stench.

Others seemed to be trying to maintain a semblance of dignity, forcibly straightening their backs, but their trembling lips and unfocused pupils betrayed their inner collapse.

Even now, some people still seem to be unaware of the current situation, shouting in vain about who their backers are, but not a single soldier is willing to pay them any attention.

Behind these prison vans followed a long line of prisoners in prison uniforms, wearing shackles and chains, walking behind them.

Those who were able to ride in prison vans were all high-ranking principal offenders.

As for the families of those implicated, or those who were accomplices, or those of low status, even if they were to be executed, they would not be entitled to ride in a prison van.

Or rather, even if you searched all over Luoyang, or even all the surrounding counties, it would be impossible to get so many prison wagons in such a short time.

Starting with the Yellow River corruption case, dozens of cases, large and small, were uncovered, involving more than two hundred officials directly or indirectly, as well as dozens of noble families without official positions.

Although only a dozen or so people were exterminated along with their entire families, the rest were only punished individually.

However, all of this involved nearly a thousand people. A large family like Yan Song's, with its three clans combined, numbered nearly a hundred.

In other words, nearly a thousand people will be executed this time.

In the center of the South Market, a massive execution platform had long been erected. Executioners, their heads wrapped in red turbans, stood in neat rows, each wielding a executioner's blade—numbering well over a hundred. Even though Luoyang was the capital, it was impossible to maintain such a large number of executioners at all times. Under normal circumstances, how could so many people be executed all at once?

Many of them were temporarily transferred from surrounding counties to serve as executioners.

The executioner was none other than Bao Zheng, the Minister of Justice, known for his incorruptibility. He sat upright on the platform, his face ashen.

On the long table before him, the flaming tokens in the flaming quiver resembled an invitation from the Grim Reaper.

Teams of prisoners were roughly dragged off prison vans, escorted to a high platform, and forced to face countless pairs of angry, hateful, or numb eyes below.

The list was loudly proclaimed, each name having once been prominent among the Han Chinese, but now sounding like a death knell.

Some noble families also watched with complicated expressions as the figures about to be executed were about to be executed.

Some minor offenses only harmed the individuals involved, but in more serious cases, these nobles, while not subjected to the same fate as Yan Song, were executed along with their entire families.

However, many people were demoted by one or two ranks.

Demoting them in rank directly damaged their very foundation.

Therefore, these people looked at their brothers or nephews, and their gazes were all complicated, containing both grief and disappointment.

Many officials and nobles came to hate Bao Zheng from then on. In fact, if the investigation had ended with the corruption case on the Yellow River, many of them would never have come to light.

In fact, if it weren't for the fact that it happened to coincide with the Yellow River corruption case, and that it was not with this major case, it would have been even worse.

Even if some of these people are exposed later, some of them will not necessarily be sentenced to death.

However, because it coincided with the corruption case involving the Yellow River, the emperor was determined to crack down on corruption severely, and the crime was punished even more severely. Those who were supposed to live were now condemned to death, and those who were already condemned to death had their families demoted.

Therefore, how could they not hate Bao Zheng at this time?
If you know when to quit while you're ahead and end things at the right time, you'll have accomplished your mission and made a contribution. Their nephews and brothers won't have been dragged down with you. It's a win-win situation for everyone!

However, they insisted on digging up one case after another, which led to the current situation.

"The time has come!"

The clerk's hoarse voice broke through the hustle and bustle of the market.

Without a flicker of emotion in his eyes, Bao Zheng slowly pulled a fire token from the table in front of him, and without even looking at it, casually tossed it off the stage!

Others might turn a blind eye, but he has never had this skill since he was a child.

Once he's assigned to investigate any case, he'll investigate it thoroughly and completely.

"cut!"

The command arrow landed with a soft thud, yet it sounded like a thunderclap!
The demon-headed sword was raised high, its cold blade reflecting the pale light of the sky!
"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

The dull, terrifying sound of sharp blades cutting through flesh and bone rang out continuously.

Heads rolled to the ground, their faces still frozen with expressions of terror, resentment, despair, or bewilderment.

From the headless cavity, scalding blood shot up like a fountain, splashing onto the platform and flowing down the high platform, staining the land a shocking, viscous dark red!

The pungent, nauseating stench of blood instantly filled the air, overwhelming all other smells!