People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 130 Sheep also bite people one day

Compared to Guifanlou's shock after hearing the news, the people of Bianliang were terrified at this time.

In recent days, notices have been posted everywhere in Kaifeng Prefecture and the Imperial City Bureau, asking people to report gang members to the government. In addition to the whistleblower, more than four neighbors are required to identify them.

The purpose of this is naturally to prevent someone from making false accusations. What if someone wants to kill someone with a knife and deliberately makes false accusations, resulting in an unjust, false, and wrongful conviction?
So there's nothing wrong with being cautious.

But this would be very detrimental to the people.

After all, reporting gangsters has given the common people great courage, and they must also be allowed to form a group to report. What if the gangsters retaliate afterwards?
Therefore, in the two days after the notice was first posted, there was not much response from the public, and very few people came to report it.

All this was expected by Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan.

So two days later, they added fuel to the fire. They sent people disguised as gangsters in the middle of the night, tore down the notices posted by the government, and posted notices in the names of Wuyou Cave and Guifan Tower to threaten the people.

The people in charge of Wuyoudong and Guifan Tower went crazy as soon as they got the news. They were now hiding underground and among the people like mice. How could they still dare to provoke the government?

But the people don't care about this. What they only see is that those people not only bully good people, but also do evil.Despite the strong crackdown by the government, it is still so rampant.

As a result, under such circumstances, the markets in the outer city of Bianliang, the two areas of South Street and East Street that were most severely affected by gangs, were about to explode.

South Street and East Street have the largest number of ordinary people and poor people living there. Most of the slums are located in the Wanshengmen, Shuntianmen, and Guanglimen areas in the southwest corner of Bianliang, and in the southeast corner of Xuanhuamen, Datongmen, and Chaoyangmen.

Because this area is the main entrance and exit of the four canals of Bianliang, merchant ships loading and unloading are all in this area. Therefore, commerce and handicraft manufacturing are extremely prosperous. A large number of people who come to Bianliang to work are gathered on the edge of the outer city and outside the outer city. People live there.

Due to the gathering of low-class people, this is also the place where gangs are most rampant.Many people have gang members in their families. Their parents load and unload goods at the docks, or are engaged in handicraft manufacturing or other labor-intensive industries. It can be said that it is common for their sons to join gangs and become gang members.

This has also caused gang members to penetrate deeply into the people and take root among the people, making it difficult to completely eradicate them.Even if notices are posted, people will shelter and hide in their homes, so places such as Wuyou Cave and Guifan Tower have not been dealt with.

But now, as gangs are so rampant that they threaten the people and the government, people who have nothing to do with gangs or have been bullied by gangs have become fearful, fearing that gangs will come back and bully them like before.

In a tea shop on Chenzhoumennei Street and Nancaochang Lane Street, a good-looking man in his 30s was holding a notice in his hand. A neighbor next to him asked curiously: "What are you looking at?"

Seeing that someone finally asked a question, the man immediately shook the paper in his hand and said, "This is the notice that Wuyoudong posted on the bulletin boards of various government streets last night."

"Have you posted notices in Wuyou Cave?"

The neighbors were surprised.

"Who said no?"

The man sighed: "They said that if anyone dares to report it to the official, his whole family will be destroyed."

"Ouch."

The neighbor was shocked and asked, "Is there such a thing?"

"Yeah, see for yourself."

As he spoke, the man handed over the notice in his hand.

Soon interested people gathered around, and some people read the above content.

After everyone listened to the threats inside, the man said with a worried look on his face: "I have been beaten by the people from Wuyou Cave before. They have always been domineering in the outer city. Now they even dare to despise the government. What will we do in the future?"

"Didn't you say that the Imperial City Secretary, who is now the Viceroy of the Constitutional Yuan, said that he vowed to clean them up completely? He also said that he would behead those people in East Street in a few days to show the public."

"We can't arrest all of them even if we arrest some people. Who doesn't know that all those people in Bianliang have gone underground, and it's difficult for the government officials to get in."

“Wouldn’t that mean Bianliang will never see the light of day again?”

"Well, in my opinion, let's forget it. The government can't fight those people. Even if they catch a group, won't the rest be hidden? Bianliang is so big, is it not easy to hide?"

The tea shop was originally a place for gossip and chatting. As soon as someone started talking, the surrounding area immediately became lively and there was a lot of discussion.

"How can it be counted?"

Someone said angrily: "Places like Wuyou Cave and Guifan Tower should be captured and killed. After my child was abducted, just over a month later, he turned into a corpse and rushed out of the Bianliang canal. Why don’t those people die?”

"The government wants to arrest them, but they are all hiding. And I heard that the people are also protecting them."

When the man saw that there was a victim in the crowd, he immediately beat the snake and followed the stick and said: "Think about it, many people and their whole families are theirs. Neighbors, even if they know the identity of the other party, out of the kindness of the neighbors, they still open their eyes." If you close one eye, others will suffer.”

"Then if you say so, you won't be able to catch them all?"

the neighbor asked.

The man said: "If you want to catch them all, many neighbors will no longer be able to protect them. Today you are thinking that it is better to do less than to do more, but you don't want to think that if these people are always here, sooner or later, they will bring harm to you. Who will cry out for you then?"

"Yes, only by catching them clean can we return to Bianliang a bright and sunny day."

"It's useless to rely on Zhao Qingtian alone, we have to help him."

"I know that two brothers in a family are members of the Xiaodao Society. I can testify that, who dares to report to the Yamen?"

In an instant, they were incited by the man, and with his support, someone soon dared to come out and report.

The man said happily: "There are Imperial Guards from the Imperial City Division patrolling the streets. Just tell them directly. Don't be afraid. We and the neighbors will support you."

Under the public clamor, the person who had the courage to report it actually did so.

And this kind of thing happens everywhere in Bianliang.

Zhao Jun bought a printing shop and printed a large number of government announcements. The Kaifeng Prefecture sang the red face and stated that only the first culprits would be punished. As long as the other minor offenders surrendered, actively reported and provided clues, they would be given lighter punishments and even rewards.

The Imperial City Secretary made a fool of himself, saying that as long as he caught the evil forces such as Wuyoudong and Guifanlou, he would be dealt with severely.

Moreover, a large number of these gang members will be executed in a few days to shock Xiao Xiao.

The result is that in the past few days, many gang members, large and small, in the city have gone to Kaifeng Mansion to surrender. Even if they did not surrender, they fled underground due to the intimidation of the Imperial City Division. The public security in the city has improved a lot.

Two days later, Fan Zhongyan and Zhao Jun continued their next plan and began to plan a "counterattack" by the underground forces. At night, they sent people to tear down government notices and put up "underground forces" notices, creating a situation where anyone who dared to report would be punished. Waiting for the threat of being exterminated.

As a result, the people of Bianliang were soon enveloped in a panic that underground forces were about to make a comeback.

At this time, the Imperial City Division sent out detectives lurking among the people and asked these people to stir up trouble in the streets and alleys, which further aroused the people's fear.

At this time, only a catalyst is needed. For example, the Chazi of the Imperial City Department preaches everywhere that the days without Worry-free Cave and Ghost Fan Tower are good days.It aroused the indignation of the people, made them angry, and gave them the idea of ​​reporting.

Basically, once it reaches this point, [-]% of the matter is done.

Then, a few days later, the Imperial City Division publicly chopped off the heads of a large number of prisoners in Wuyou Cave and Guifan Tower. Seeing that these people would die, the anger in the hearts of the people would turn into motivation, and they would actively report them. .

The whole process was like Zhang Muzhi's attack on Huang Silang, handing out money and guns, arousing the anger in the hearts of the people, and finally beheading the fake Huang Silang, instantly igniting the gunpowder barrel.

At this time, the people in Wuyou Cave and Guifan Tower naturally didn't know that Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan had set up such a plan.

They just find it baffling.

Obviously they have done nothing, so why do so many notices suddenly appear on the ground provoking the government and the people?

Confusing.

Guifanlou's left palm whip reported the situation to the landlord. The landlord didn't understand what the government wanted to do, so he ordered him to go down and wait and see what happens.

So in the next few days, the streets and alleys of Bianliang were full of police officers who went about inciting public anger.

There have been signs of people constantly reporting it.

Although there have been no large-scale reports, the evil forces hidden among the people can sense that something is wrong.

Xinsongmennei Street is located in the Menzifang District at the south corner of Dongshuimen of the Bianhe River. This is where the branch of the Bianhe River is located, the West Bianhe River. The Bianhe River divides into two near the Yujiezhou Bridge in the inner city, with two canals flowing out.

The flow of the Xibian River is relatively small, but water transportation continues every day. In the neighboring city, in the early morning, before dawn, three figures returned home from outside.

The leader was about forty years old, with a big body and a round waist, and a fierce face.But at this time, he was like a rat crossing the street, hiding day and night, not daring to show off.

Because on the surface, he is the boss of the Ax Club, but secretly, he is the president of the Wuyoudong branch.

These days, Kaifeng Prefecture and Imperial City Division are arresting gang members in the city. All societies and gangs that collect protection fees, smash shops, bully people, and have gangland attributes have been purged.

For a time, many members of the underworld had to hide. Some went underground, while others hid more secretly above ground, responsible for inquiring about information and delivering supplies to the underground.

Nowadays, the boss of the Ax Club, Li Sanlang, nicknamed Hun Jianglong, has been arrested many times. In addition, he has escaped and scattered, and there are basically only a few kittens around him.

After returning home, the remaining few people came over and asked all at once: "Brother, how is it?"

"Are those people from the Imperial City Division and Kaifeng Mansion still hunting for us everywhere?"

"Now we don't even dare to go out."

"I remember that our brothers were so powerful in the past, but now they have fallen into disrepair. When will this day end?"

Eight people gathered in the yard. Since Kaifeng Mansion was currently offering a reward, Li Sanlang was afraid that his brothers would betray him, so he went to purchase the supplies in person.

He threw the things in his hands on the ground, spat and cursed: "You damn thief, this Zhao Jun really doesn't leave us a way to survive. There are people patrolling everywhere in every city and neighborhood. I still get these food from the night market." Bought from here."

"Brother, something doesn't feel right." One of the brothers who followed him out frowned and said, "When we went to the night market yesterday, some neighbors who recognized us looked at us and pointed. Will they go to the government to report us?"

"Pooh."

Li Sanlang sneered and said: "Give them some courage. I recognize those people. We are like grandsons when we meet on weekdays. Go to the government to report us? I think they don't want to live anymore."

Everyone thinks so.

Their Ax Club has hundreds of members and controls several streets, and the boss is from Wuyoudong.

Although the surrounding neighbors have been bullied by them all year round, they are also aware of their power and prestige. If they report it to the government, aren't they afraid of their retaliation afterwards?

So nothing to worry about.

"Brother, Liu Lang and the others are going to be executed by the Imperial City Division today. They are on East Street. The news is spreading everywhere."

Someone said sadly: "Would you like to go over and take a last look at them?"

Li Sanlang's face twitched.

There are tens of thousands of gangsters in Bianliang, and the government has arrested thousands of them recently.

It's okay to be caught by the Kaifeng Prefecture, but he will inevitably suffer physical pain and prison. It will be miserable if he is caught by the Imperial City Division.

Once they find out that one of their subordinates has committed serious crimes such as human life, kidnapping, and trafficking of women and children, they will directly sentence them to death. This time, the Imperial City Division executed a group of prisoners, as many as more than [-] prisoners.

And he will be executed in the outer city of East Street at noon today.

Rokuro was one of his capable men who helped him abduct more than a dozen women. Once he was accidentally betrayed by a traitor and ordered to the Imperial City Division, he and two other brothers were included in the execution list.

"go."

Li Sanlang sighed, shook his head and said, "Let's go see Liu Lang and the others on their last journey."

In the morning, Li Sanlang and others had breakfast and took a short rest. At the beginning of noon, they dressed up and went out.

At this moment, the East Street of Outer City near Xin Song Gate is already crowded with people.

The place of execution was chosen outside the city.

Outside the city of Bianliang is not a barren mountain, but a place similar to a town.

The entire outer city of Bianliang has been built to the scale of a city in the feudal era, and there are still people living outside the city, just like an urban village on the edge of the city in later generations.

Thousands of Bianliang people flocked to the outside of the city to watch the excitement.

On the bank of the Bian River, less than a hundred meters to the north is "Willow Bank, Dawn Wind Waning Moon" written by Liu Yong. The willow branches and leaves along the bank are yellow, swaying gently in the wind, and the grass is also withered.

I don't know how many people gathered on both sides of the strait. There were pavilions, shanties, and wooden houses around. Every household came out and looked at the situation here.

In the middle of the road, prison cars held a large number of prisoners slowly leaving the city.

On the left and right sides were Imperial Guards armed to the teeth, watching from the side. There were three floors inside and three floors outside, and they were heavily guarded.

About a mile outside the outer city, we arrived at the execution ground, which was an open grassland. The Imperial City Division had set up some temporary tent facilities here and made a high platform to circle an open space of about two or three acres.

The open space was surrounded by Juma, and soldiers stood behind the Juma, prohibiting all persons from entering the execution ground.There was already a sea of ​​people outside, and Bianliang citizens were everywhere watching the excitement.

At almost noon, the prisoners in the prison car were tied up and shackled and escorted out of the car. There was a sign on the back of each prisoner with charges written on it. Each prisoner was escorted by two soldiers and stood under the high platform. .

The chief beheading officer this time was the newly appointed deputy envoy of the Imperial City Division, Gao Jimin. This person was the thirteenth son of Gao Qiong, a general in the early Song Dynasty. He was originally the successor of the Inner Palace. After Wang Shilong was dismissed, he was recommended to the Imperial City Division by Cao Xiu.

As Gao Jimin patted the gavel, Imperial City Chief Superintendent Chen Zhong walked onto the stage with a loudspeaker, put his hands on his hips and shouted: "Silence! Silence! Silence!"

The originally noisy sounds outside the venue slowly subsided.

Chen Zhong shouted: "More than seventy years after the founding of the Song Dynasty, gangs were rampant in Bianliang City, under the feet of the emperor. They oppressed good people and brought disaster to the place, leaving many people in Bianliang living in dire straits."

"As the wind blows and the clouds fly, there are warriors guarding the four sides. The underworld gangs must be suppressed at any time, and they will not work unless they are suppressed!"

"Everyone in Bianliang, think about it. You brought your family and brought you to Bianliang to make a living. You finally made a monthly salary and had a few coins in your hand. You wanted to buy some clothes for your wife and children, but you were suddenly robbed by these gang members. , and ended up penniless.”

"So the days without these mafia gangs are the good days!"

"The officials were very worried when they learned that bandits were plundering in the city. They ordered the Imperial City Division and Kaifeng Mansion to arrest the traitors and criminals in the city in order to set the record straight. Zhao Zhiyuan personally ordered that the felons be beheaded and the punishment be given!"

"I hope all Bianliang people will report it enthusiastically. If you find a bandit, don't be afraid. Report it to the nearest Imperial City Department or Kaifeng Prefecture Yamen. If the bandit leader is found, there will be a heavy reward!"

After finishing speaking, Chen Zhong stepped down from the stage.

Gao Jimin was a person who didn't say many ruthless words. After he finished speaking, he threw out the red sign and said coldly: "Behead!"

"cut!"

The Praetorian Guards shouted.

In an instant, the prisoners below were so frightened that they peed their pants.

Many people were paralyzed on the ground, and were almost forcibly lifted to a high platform by the Guards soldiers.

Then, dozens of civil servants gathered around the horses, holding official documents in their hands, and read out the charges of the condemned prisoners to the people in public.

Zhao Jun is not a murderous person. The Imperial City Division has arrested between 3000 and 200 people. Currently, there are more than [-] death row inmates who have not been reviewed by Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment directly after trial. They are all serious crimes.

None of them, including the traffickers Zhao Jun met back then and the government servant with a Chinese character, could run away.

As each person's crime was read out, the people above took turns beheading him, and the people below burst into a burst of exclamations, gnashing their teeth, and clapping their hands in cheers.

Many people who came here were ordinary people who were oppressed by gangsters. When they saw this scene today, they knew that the government was serious about it. Their emotions suddenly boiled, and the people around them shouted like a mountain and a tsunami.

Li Sanlang and the others were among the crowd at the moment. They did not pay attention to the changes in the mood of the people around them. They just glanced at the nearby Royal City Imperial Guards with fear, and then stared at the situation in the field intently.

They also turned a deaf ear to Chen Zhong's words.

Because they are gangsters who can only dominate the people and are naturally opposite in their attitude, they will naturally not change their minds and start a new life because of these few words.

There is no such thing as a prodigal in this world. Only strict laws tell you that once you continue to do evil, the government will punish you severely.

So they didn't listen, and they didn't bother to listen. They just looked at the brothers who were killed on the field, with sad expressions in their eyes.

"Rokuro!"

Li Sanlang watched his brother's head being chopped off with his own eyes, and stood there for a long time.

Someone next to him patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, let's go."

"Ugh."

Li Sanlang sighed, turned his head and left.

A few people made their way out of the crowd.

But there were so many people that I almost fell down while squeezing.

Someone accidentally pushed Li Sanlang, causing him to stagger two steps. His fierce temper did not change, he turned around and angrily shouted: "Straight bitch, do you want to die?"

But when he looked back, he suddenly saw a startled look staring at him. The man seemed familiar.

Li Sanlang frowned, not wanting to cause trouble, so he turned his head and prepared to leave.

In the crowd, someone behind him suddenly shouted shrilly: "Guards, I want to report him. This man is the boss of the Ax Club, and he is from Wuyou Cave. Catch him quickly and chop him alive!"

This scream made Li Sanlang suddenly panic.

Because he finally thought about who that person was.

It turned out to be a small cloth seller on South Street, surnamed Wang. Boss Wang first ran a street vendor, and later made a little money and bought a shop.

Seeing that the other party had made money, Li Sanlang planned to gamble with Boss Wang and made the other party bankrupt. He also owed him more than 180 yuan in interest. When he had no money to repay, he led his men to snatch away Boss Wang's wife and daughter. , sold to Goulan.

He still remembers Boss Wang's sad and angry look when he went to report to Kaifeng Mansion after his leg was broken by him, but when the Kaifeng Mansion's Yamen came and called him brothers.

At that time, he was laughing and telling the other person that you are just a sheep.

A fat sheep that is fattened and then slaughtered.

How can you take me?
Since when can sheep bite people to death?

Now he suddenly felt.

original.

If the sheep were not afraid of death, they would bite people to death one day.

(End of this chapter)