Chapter 18 Section 18

"Zhang Xiangshuai has a telegram and just received it. He will protect Yang Shuqiao with his whole family!" Wang Wenshao handed over the original telegram. After receiving it, Gang Yi refused to read it.Because there is a thick stack of paper, it may not contain thousands of words, and it is conceivable that Zhang Zhidong must have used many allusions, which seems to be very difficult. At this time, where is the time to read his articles? "Kui Weng," he handed back the telegram, "tell me! Don't bother me." "Let's make a long story short. You know, Yang Shuqiao was accepted by Zhang Xiangshuai's supervisor in Sichuan, and he is the most proud student. Zhang Xiangshuai also protected him when he entered Beijing. Recently, he also protected him in the 'special economic department'..."

"Now," Gang Yi interrupted him very unceremoniously, "what are you talking about about special economics?" "If you don't talk about the special economic department, you have to talk about Zhang Xiangshuai's face. In my opinion, let's make a difference!" "Let's be more generous?" Gang Yi slapped Shangyu, which had been pinched in his right hand, hard on his left palm, "Shangyu Huanghuang, why don't we turn around and announce the decree, and miss a name?" "I mean, let's invite together and get the purpose face to face."

Before he could finish his words, Gang Yi shook his head, "I won't go! You must hit a snag." He said, "How many years have I been in the Ministry of Criminal Justice, I have never heard of such a thing." "Then," Wang Wenshao said again, "can you delay the execution time a little bit, I'll hurry back and write a replay request, maybe I'll be gracious." Gang Yi was born as an officer of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and he is extremely familiar with the cases and procedures. He estimated that the decree was announced, bound, and tied to the Caishikou for beheading. After such a step-by-step process, it should have been noon before the operation.Then you might as well be a fake favor with lip service.

Thinking of stopping, he smiled and replied, "As the saying goes: the head falls to the ground at three o'clock in the afternoon. Well, I'll try my best to delay until then." Wang Wenshao had no choice but to nod his head and said: "That's it, I'll do it quickly!" After saying that, he turned around in a hurry, but the fortitude stopped him again, "Kui Weng," he said, "I advise you not to touch this thing." Nails! It won't help, it will only increase the blame. Why bother?" Wang Wenshao was taken aback.He is also a person who is familiar with the world and knows the meaning of fortitude. He is not trying to persuade him with good intentions, but he himself does not want to be listed on the performance.This might as well be the truth, but if the Minister of Military Aircraft's recital does not have his own name, it will damage his own prestige and offend Zhang Zhidong.So simply cancel the matter.

This time, Wang Wenshao also hesitated.There is nothing wrong with playing with a single title, but if you hit a snag by yourself, I'm afraid you can't bear it on your shoulders.It just so happened that it was too bad to be expelled from the military plane. So he asked: "So, how to explain to Zhang Xiangshuai?" "Kui Weng!" Gang Yi frowned and replied, "Thanks to you being an old man, is this considered a problem?" When Wang Wenshao heard what he said, he was filled with regret.Thinking about it, I really should scold myself: How unreasonable!The reply only said that "the decree has been issued, and there is no way to save it", isn't it prevarication?I ran for at least a while, but I was resolute and refused, and it was in vain.If you have to ask someone to bring a message to Zhang Zhidong, you will be able to ask for forgiveness.

"Yes, yes!" He was far from the look and tone he had when he came here, and he said convincingly, "I will cook according to your instructions." When Gangyi returned to the lobby, Liu Guangdi had already received a private tip from his former colleague from the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and he would die on this day.So when he saw Gang Yi and the sixth official of the Ministry of Punishment being promoted to his seat, he immediately resisted and said: "What's the reason for executing him without interrogation?" As soon as this remark came out, Kang Guangren was anxious at first. Next to him was Tan Sitong, who supported his limp body, and said softly, "Stand up!"

At this time Gang Yi stood up and said loudly: "Declaration!" "Slow down!" Liu Guangdi's voice was louder than his: "It is a rule of our ancestors that anyone who complains of grievances before execution, even if they are thieves, should be interrogated by the prison officer on behalf of Chen Tang. Please interrogate him. Execution without interrogation has never happened before." Example! Even if we don’t care about anything in our generation, there’s nothing like a country that can’t be hurt and the ancestral system that can’t be destroyed!” This eloquent talk was a big surprise for her fortitude.If you don't know the law, you can use strong words to intimidate people. He understands the law and has to admit that Liu Guangdi's words make sense, so he has no words to answer.

In the hall, the air was as stiff as death, and Liu Guangdi reiterated his request: "Please follow the law in the hall!" "I am executed according to the order." Gang Yi replied, "I don't know anything else, and I can't control it." Liu Guangdi continued to argue, but Yang Rui pulled his sleeve and called out his number: "Pei Cun! Kneel on your knees, and listen to what the will says!" So Fan Yan came forward and pressed Liu Guangdi to the ground, and he immediately announced the decree. Then he shouted: "Take it down and tie it up!"

"I have something to say!" Yang Rui said defiantly, "I dare not accept the words 'big treason and injustice!' "Don't say it!" Gang Yi sternly stopped: "By decree: don't say it!" So the fan servants swarmed up, two carrying one, half dragging and half helping to get into the mule cart.One car per person, surrounded by 200 infantry soldiers sent by the Yamen Commander, marched out of Xuanwumen and headed straight for Caishikou. At that time, the crowd of onlookers in the road was already crowded, and they heard the thunder of cars passing by, and they all stood there with their necks stretched out—the only exception was Wang Wu.When the mule cart was approaching, he lowered his head and quietly wiped away the two soybean-sized tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Master!" Zhang Dianchen whispered, "Go back!" Wang Wu covered his face, turned around, and retreated, followed by Zhang Dianchen.Walking to a less-traveled place, Wang Wu stood still, the tears had disappeared, and his face was resolute. "How to get the corpse, have you asked?" "I understand everything. Don't worry, I will leave Uncle Tan's funeral to me. You always go back to drink!" Wang Wu closed his eyes and shook his head.After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and said, "I heard that the secretary of the Guangdong Guild Hall dare not show up. I'm afraid that Kang Youwei's younger brother will not be taken away. Kang Youwei has hurt you, Uncle Tan, but his younger brother is in the same trouble as your Uncle Tan." , you have cooked together too. Hurry up!"

"That's right! I'm leaving now." Zhang Dianchen said, "Don't be sad when you are old! Uncle Tan is a hero, and he must not be used to seeing Master shed tears." Wang Wu didn't answer, turned around and left.Zhang Dianchen didn't dare to neglect, he hurried to Caishikou, went to the agreed place, and went to find the man he sent to handle the matter. The agreed place was a pharmacy in the north of Caishikou. Its name was "Xihe Niantang".According to legend, the two signboards "Xihe Niantang" and "Liubiju" selling pickles are both in Yan Song's handwriting.Zhang Dianchen was friends with the shopkeeper of Xihe Niantang, so he borrowed this place as a place of contact. "The executioner has taken over." Lao Liu, one of Zhang Dianchen's most capable men, reported to him: "He is very friendly, and he agreed. He also refused to accept red envelopes, saying that Uncle Tan is a loyal minister and should be 'served' well. However, I feel that the craftsmanship is not high and I am not sure.” It turned out that Zhang Dianchen was instructed by Wang Wu to find a way not to teach Tan Sitong that his body was different.There is no one who can't cut off the head, but a clever executioner, pushing the knife and dragging the edge, is very measured, can cut the throat and leave the front layer of flesh still connected.If the head does not fall to the ground, it is still considered a whole body.The so-called "not sure" means that Tan Sitong's head may not fall to the ground. "It's impossible, let's not talk about him, but we have to prepare a coffin..." Before he could finish a word, he heard a roar like a thunderstorm.I don't know if this is a rule handed down from that year. Anyone who sees the executioner's knife in the execution ground must shout such a loud voice, so as not to be possessed by ghosts.So listening to the whistling, you know that one of the six is ​​going to go. "It's the surname Kang!" A young apprentice from Xihe Niantang came to report, "The one surnamed Kang has already fainted from fright. The next one is said to be surnamed Tan." Hearing this, Zhang Dianchen was on fire, raised his right hand and pressed lightly, and he went up to the counter.Looking from a distance, I saw five people kneeling side by side, but they all straightened their waists. It can also be distinguished that the first one is none other than Tan Sitong. Zhang Dianchen's heart was sour, I couldn't bear to watch it anymore!He jumped off the ground, covered his ears with his hands, and hurried back.But that whistling was too loud after all, it still shook his heart and made him tremble all over. Perhaps it was in retaliation for the questioning and contradicting in the lobby of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and the fortitude of the supervisor, Yang Rui and Liu Guangdi were executed at the end, so that they could see their companions fall one by one, and before they died, they would have to suffer more torture. After Liu Guangdi finished beheading, it was dusk, and six headless corpses lay in the darkness.The crowd dispersed, leaving behind a mournful cry.The one who cried the most was Yang Rui's son Yang Qingchang.In addition, some relatives and friends, or child servants, cried.Only Kang Guangren, as Wang Wu had predicted, was lonely behind him, and no one cared about him in the Guangdong Guild Hall, which was close at hand. Tan Sitong is decapitated after all!And his eyes are wide open, his appearance is terrifying. Zhang Dianchen knelt on the ground and wished: "Uncle Tan, you died a miserable old age..." "It's not that he died a miserable death!" Suddenly someone interrupted him, "It's that he died an unjust death!" Zhang Dianchen turned his face and looked up. He was a well-dressed scholar in his forties. He immediately asked, "What's your name?" "My surname is Li." The man squatted down with tears in his eyes, and said angrily, "Resurrection, there is a sky above your head!" After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand and wiped the eyelids of the deceased, finally closing Tan Sitong's eyes that were so embarrassing.