RPAGF Chapter 177 1. Joint Execution
Chapter 177 1. Joint Execution
With a series of cracking sounds, they initially thought reinforcements had arrived, but instead, it was the men who had dealt with them who came. The men Chen Feng brought immediately dropped their knives, spears, and clubs.
Normally relying solely on their numerical superiority, these men had never witnessed such a sight before. These elite cavalrymen were armed with muskets, their armor gleaming. Chen Feng's men, trembling, knelt on the ground, raising their hands: "We surrender! We surrender!"
"We surrender! We surrender!"
"It's a misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!" Chen Feng, who had been captured by two soldiers, shouted loudly, "It's a misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding!"
"It's a misunderstanding. We'll find out soon enough whether it's a misunderstanding or not," Chen Er sneered.
Chen Er turned to Wang Hui and said, "Immediately have someone build a platform for me on the flat ground in the center of the town. Today, I'm going to hold a public trial!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Wang Hui accepted the order and immediately led more than a dozen men toward the town.
Half an hour later, a loud gong and drum sounded in Huai Shu Township: "Fellow villagers, you all know the person kneeling on the stage, right?"
The villagers of Huai Shu Township fell silent as they looked at Chen Feng kneeling on the platform. They all recognized him; he was their township head, Chen Feng.
"Chen Feng, I never thought you'd end up like this!" a younger villager whispered, and other villagers quickly advised him to be careful.
"It's alright, Chen Feng is definitely finished this time, and maybe the entire Chen family will be wiped out too. Let Gou Dan say what he thinks."
"Uncle Zhang, how do you know?" The young people standing nearby were a little confused as to why Uncle Zhang was so sure. The old man, who was called Uncle Zhang, said to the young people in a mysterious tone, "Because, I know the general sitting up there."
"What? Uncle Zhang, you actually know that general? Tell me quickly, how did you meet him?"
When the villagers heard that Old Zhang knew a high-ranking official, they were all astonished and quickly asked what was going on, as they all wanted to know such exciting news.
Old Zhang paused for a moment, feigning mystery, before recounting what happened last night. It turned out that Uncle Zhang was the same old man who had chatted with Chen Er and the others yesterday; no wonder.
At this moment, Chen Er also noticed the commotion of the villagers below. He immediately spotted the old man from yesterday. Chen Er smiled knowingly. This was good; it would make it easier for the villagers to believe him.
Uncle Zhang slowly recounted the events of the previous day to the surrounding villagers. After listening, everyone understood why Uncle Zhang had said Chen Feng was finished.
The Chen family is finished. It's obvious that the people on the stage weren't real businessmen; they were officials from above who must have heard about their situation and then came down to investigate the truth.
Seeing that the villagers below had gradually understood the situation, Chen Er then asked them, "You all know this person, right? You must all know what he has done."
"Now I'm giving you a chance. Anyone among you who has been wronged can speak out!"
"My esteemed sir, please forgive this old man for not recognizing your distinguished status yesterday."
As one of the most respected people in the village, Uncle Zhang stepped forward and spoke to Chen Er.
"It's alright, it's alright." Chen Er waved his hand to indicate that it was no problem, and said to Uncle Zhang, "I deliberately concealed my identity, and I should apologize to you, sir."
"You flatter me, sir. I wonder if you can truly stand up for us common people?"
"Of course," Chen Er replied decisively.
"If that's the case, then let me speak first."
For an hour straight, the villagers of Huai Shu Township had not yet finished recounting the crimes committed by Chen Feng and the Chen family, as almost every villager had suffered exploitation and oppression at the hands of the Chen family.
Many people were even forced to leave their homes and go far away. In such an era, to be forced to leave one's home and go far away, Chen Er could fully understand how strong that sense of oppression was.
Even the usually calm and collected Zhao Yun was quite shocked. He hadn't expected that such a small family as the Chen family could commit so many outrageous acts. Perhaps sensing the shock in Zhao Yun's heart, the Chen family was the source of the shock.
Chen Er said softly to Zhao Yun, "Zilong, you see? Actually, the ones who persecute the people the most are not those so-called big corrupt officials, but rather these small flies and bugs who oppress and harm ordinary people the most. Their harm to the people is the most direct and cruel."
"My lord is right, but the root of the problem must still lie at the top. The local administration of the country was corrupt in the past. Although the local governance within my territory has changed a lot since the establishment of this locality, there are still many people in small places like this who have not changed their mindset and attitudes. The old cancer still exists."
Zhao Yun nodded in agreement, but he also knew where the root of the problem lay.
Chen Er understood the reasoning Zhao Yun was making. He said to Zhao Yun, "So these things can't be changed overnight. All we can do is plant a seed and wait for it to quietly take root and sprout."
Seeing that the villagers below had not yet finished their complaints, Chen Er was getting impatient. He still needed to go to Meishan Town to deal with the root cause of the problem.
So Chen Er stood up and said to Chen Feng, "Chen Feng, what else do you have to say? As the saying goes, the net of heaven is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it. You, Chen Feng, have done so many bad things, did you ever think about this day?"
"Pah! You pretend to be such a good person, but dare you say you haven't done these things! You soldiers are all the same!"
At this point, Chen Feng had given up all hope and started attacking people indiscriminately. Upon hearing Chen Feng's words, Wang Hui immediately retorted angrily, "How dare you!"
Chen Er stopped Wang Hui and said, "No, let him talk. I have a clear conscience. What do people say? Besides, if I were in your situation, I would be kneeling here like you one day. And look at Chen Feng, can you find anyone willing to plead for you?"
Chen Feng reflexively looked around, but there was no one there. Everyone was staring at him menacingly, as if they wanted to devour him alive.
Even the Chen family servants and guards who were arrested with Chen Feng refused to look at him. Moreover, several of them were proven to have been forced into it and have been released. Those without murder charges were given leniency by Chen Er and released after each of them received forty lashes.
"Kill me or torture me, it's up to you!" Chen Feng seemed to have resigned himself to his fate, and he lowered his head, which had been held high.
Chen Er nodded to Wang Hui, and then Wang Hui stood at the front to read out the final verdict: everyone except Chen Feng who had committed murder would be executed immediately, and Chen Feng would be taken to Meishan Town to be executed along with the rest of the Chen family members who had been arrested.