A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 195 His Crime
"Let them go."

Zhang Tang still had grievances.

According to the laws of the Han Dynasty, those who rebelled would have their entire family executed.

The true scene of exterminating an entire clan is not simply about beheading each person one by one; it involves six steps.

The first step, "tattooing," involved tattooing characters on the face to indicate that the person was a criminal.

The second step is "Yi", which involves cutting off the nose.

The third step is "severing," which involves cutting off all ten fingers and toes.

The fourth step, "flogging," involves beating the animal to death with bamboo sticks.

The fifth step, "Owl," involves cutting off the head of the corpse.

The sixth step, "zu," involves scraping off the flesh of the headless corpse and making it into a paste.

This was the punishment for rebellion in the Han Dynasty. Before this, Marquis of Huaiyin Han Xin and Marquis of Jiancheng Peng Yue were executed in the same way.

This also forced Ying Bu, the King of Jiujiang, to rebel.

From the founding of the Han Dynasty by Emperor Gaozu to the present day, there has only been one case of the crime of "restoration" in the Han Dynasty, and the specific punishment can only be referred to in the Qin Dynasty.

Between the two serious crimes of "rebellion" and "restoration," Zhang Tang pondered for a long time and ultimately chose the punishment of restoration.

Compared to beheading and making meat paste, mass killing seemed so merciful. At this moment, Zhang Tang even felt like a "good person".

A chill ran through Bian Tong's body.

For some reason, he always felt that the current Han Dynasty court was a pack of wolves, and he, in his high position, was like a stray dog. When he entered the court, he felt like a dog among wolves, so out of place.

Among the high-ranking officials, generals, marquises, and members of the imperial family in both Chinese and foreign dynasties, how many people are still the kind of terrifying beings who kill someone's entire clan and then expect that person to thank them?
"I will obey the Grand Minister's orders." Bian Tong chose to follow orders.

……

In autumn, the grasslands of the Wei River were once again chosen as the execution ground, with a vast sea of ​​people.

Autumn moon punishments are one of the oldest traditions in China.

The Lüshi Chunqiu states: "In the first month of autumn, the beginning of autumn is marked by the arrival of autumn... In this month, laws and regulations are revised, lawsuits are adjudicated, the guilty are executed, and punishments are strictly enforced. Heaven and earth begin to be solemn and should not be filled with excessive force."

Such political rules of harmony between heaven and man are now common knowledge and no one would be surprised. But this time, the reason why the people of Guanzhong were surprised and agitated and rushed over was because they could not believe that there were "people to be killed".

Astute merchants seized the opportunity to set up various stalls, selling water, tea, wine, food, and odds and ends to onlookers. Business flourished once again on the grassland.

The executions of the Han Dynasty were never forbidden to be witnessed. The crowds of onlookers stretched from both banks of the Wei River all the way to the execution ground, but then they all fell silent and died.

People were surprised to find that the execution ground was very strange today; there were no racks or wooden stakes, and no bare-chested executioners in red.

Inside the designated execution ground, only a few thousand officials and soldiers were digging pits. Rows of large pits were connected, and the fresh scent of soil rising from the ground made people's hearts pound for some reason.

The Guanzhong people watching the execution were talking in twos and threes, seemingly saying that the court was kind-hearted, burying the criminals on the spot after they were executed, so that they wouldn't be left without a place to be buried.

The officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family who were ordered to witness the execution all clenched their teeth and remained silent, their faces pale.

They have many ways to find out what ordinary people don't know, such as the methods of execution today.

Under the blazing sun, in this fiery month, everyone was drenched in sweat. If it weren't for the gentle river breeze, no one could bear to stand there.

The time of execution was ordained by heaven. At noon, on the earthen platform in the center of the execution ground, two rows of bugles sounded in unison, and tens of thousands of prisoners, in groups of a hundred, arrived at the large pit that had been dug. At this moment, everyone noticed something amiss, and the Guanzhong people watching the execution fell silent as they began to talk.

"The Chief Justice has arrived!"

Following the voice of the Chief Justice, Imperial Censor Zhang Tang and Minister of Justice Bian Tong slowly walked onto the execution platform.

This was a high platform made of freshly piled earth. Bian Tong received the order and read out the execution decree.

"Imperial Edict of the Crown Prince of the Great Han Dynasty: It has been found that Zuo Fengyi Yizong and Qiangnu General Li Ju, along with 3,216 private guards, have disregarded the kindness shown to them by the court, spread rumors, slandered the emperor, criticized the crown prince, colluded with disloyal officials both inside and outside the court, stormed the capital to force the emperor to abdicate, and plotted a rebellion. They have repeatedly violated the law and their crimes are unforgivable!"

To eradicate the evil trend of using force to disrupt the law, and to prevent the success of any rebellious plot, all those who violate the law, along with their entire families, shall be executed by being buried alive!

In the late summer of the second year of the Yuanshou era.

The edict was issued.

Zhang Tang immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Sound the drums! Execute!"

From day to night, none of the onlookers left, and they will never forget this day.

Years later, the grassland had long since grown new grass and returned to its original state, but the officials of the two dynasties and the people of Guanzhong always remembered such an afternoon.

Countless people were pushed into deep pits, and dirt gradually flew up. The continuous screams gradually subsided and eventually disappeared after being covered by shovelfuls of yellow earth.

Two hours later, the buried pit was dug up again, and the executioners began to pour in flammable oil, while Zhang Tang threw in torches.

Heat easily breeds disease, and the area is adjacent to the Wei River, which nourishes countless fields and people in Guanzhong, so no danger can be left behind.

One after another, "fire pits" shot into the sky, and the faces of the executioners and onlookers were distorted in the flames. The black ash that fell after the burning landed on people, instantly giving them goosebumps.

The night sky over the Guanzhong Plain was illuminated until dawn, when the lights finally went out.

In the pit where the embers had not yet dissipated, there were no traces of human remains, only bones that had not completely turned to ash. After examining them, Zhang Tang ordered the executioners to bury them.

The execution platform was also demolished, and all the soil was used to fill the pit, which fit perfectly.

"From this day forward, Grand Minister, you and I will be the 'corrupt officials' that future generations will despise."

Bian Tong stood on the hot earth, sighing for the name that had been passed down to him.

The last person to massacre so many people was Bai Qi, the Marquis of Wu'an of Qin. In the Battle of Changping, Bai Qi massacred 400,000 surrendered soldiers of Zhao, which was considered an ominous sign. He was then given death by King Zhaoxiang of Qin at Duyou.

He inexplicably felt that his lifespan was too short.

He also worried about how future generations would view him after his death, as the one who presided over the executions. Would they consider him a lackey of the emperor, or a lapdog?

Zhang Tang, who was about to get on the bike, paused and looked back at him. "Right and wrong, merit and demerit, will be judged by future generations. But I believe that after me, countless descendants will whitewash my deeds."

As a purely cruel official, he did so much, and his reputation in later generations, no matter how bad, will not be worse than that of Shang Yang. He and Shang Yang will become a monument to all legal officials.

As the saying goes, "Those who understand me are only those who know me, and those who condemn me are only those who know me!"

After saying this, Zhang Tang boarded the carriage, and the wheels rumbled as it headed towards Chang'an.

"Grand Commander, why are you in such a hurry?"

Bian Tong stared at the rear of the car, completely bewildered. Just then, a haughty voice came from where the car had passed: "Too late, I'm going to kick the Confucian scholar's grave!"

(End of this chapter)