Chapter 155 The final moments of the third quarter

The day of Li Si's execution arrived, which was October of the third year of Qin II, that is, October of 208 BC. (Note: Regarding the month of Li Si's death, "Historical Records Biography of Li Si" says: "In July of the second year of the second year, (Li) Si was punished five times, and the city of Xianyang was cut in half." However, Li Si's death should undoubtedly be after Li You Examining "Historical Records: The Moon between Qin and Chu", Li Youzhi died in August of the second year of the second generation. And "Historical Records: The First Ji of Qin Shihuang" said, "(Three years of the second generation) in winter, Zhao Gao was the prime minister. Li Si killed him." It can be seen that Li Si's sentence may be in July, but the actual execution will be in early winter.)

The prison officer came to mention Li Si and asked, "The prime minister is leaving, do you have any last words?" Li Si knew that the time of his death had come, and sighed, "This is the end, what can I say?" The prison officer said, "Death is like a lamp going out. When the lamp goes out, the light disappears. Although you want to speak, you can't. The prime minister has ruled the country for more than 30 years. If he is about to die today, will he have no words to leave the monarchy?" Li Si looked up to the sky and sighed: "What a pity! How can an unrighteous king be a planner! In the past, Jie killed Guan Longfeng, Zhou killed Prince Bigan, and Wu Wang Fuchai killed Wu Zixu. Wouldn't these three ministers Loyalty is true, but it is inevitable to die, and the one who is loyal is not the one who dies. Now my wisdom is not as good as the three sons, and the second life is more innocent than Jie, Zhou, and Husband. I die loyally, and it is appropriate. And the rule of the second generation is not good. No chaos! The Japanese barbarized their brothers and became self-reliant. They killed loyal ministers and nobles and lowly people. They made it the palace of Efang and commanded the world. I don’t remonstrate, but I don’t listen. There are many utensils, the palace is well-regulated, orders are made, and those who increase fees but are not beneficial to the interests of the people are banned, so they can maintain peace for a long time. Today, the behavior is against the brother of Kun, regardless of the blame; invading and killing loyal officials, do not think about the disaster; the big palace, Give generously to the world, but don't love its expenses: the three have been done, and the world does not listen. Today, those who are against the world have half of the world, but their hearts have not yet been cultivated. With Zhao Gao as my assistant, I will see the bandits come to Xianyang, and the elk travel Yu Chao also."

Li Si's last words are not only harsh advice, but also a sober prophecy.The prison officer ordered someone to write it down, and then a group of vehicles escorted Li Si to the execution ground. Li Si stepped out of the carriage. This was the first time he saw sunlight in the past few months. His pupils could not help shrinking sharply, and he was so dizzy that he almost fell down.Li Si's family and relatives had already been waiting for him at the execution ground, including his father's, mother's, and wife's families, nearly a thousand people knelt together in black. Thousands of people in Xianyang city were empty, and the execution ground was completely surrounded.The crowd was suppressed and silent. They came to bid farewell to Li Si, and bid farewell at the same time. It was a great era that was about to pass away.

Li Si almost didn't dare to look at his family members, he couldn't look directly into those sad and plaintive eyes.The second son Li Zhan walked forward on his knees and saluted Li Si.Li Si asked, "Why don't you see Li You?" Li Zhan said, "I don't know either." Since Li Si's family was imprisoned, they have been isolated from the outside world and have no news, so they don't know that Li You is dead.The prison officer told from the side, "Li You died at the hands of bandit soldiers the month before last." Li Si remained silent, and said for a long time, "That's fine, that's fine. The Li family will die today!"

On this day, because there were too many people to be killed, there were ten executioners on the scene alone.The executioner for Li Si was naturally the oldest executioner.He has killed countless people in his life, and his heart has long been at peace, but when he thinks that it is Li Si who is about to die by his sword, he still can't restrain his excitement.There is only one Li Si in the world, and there can only be one executioner who can personally execute Li Si.Today is undoubtedly the most glorious day in his career, allowing him to talk to his children and grandchildren with relish after many years, that I killed Li Si.

Although the executioner was very excited about killing Li Si, on the other hand, he was full of sympathy for Li Si.In his opinion, Li Si had made such great contributions to the empire, so he shouldn't be reduced to such a fate.However, these are the affairs of the imperial court, and he has no right to say anything about it. All he can do is to sharpen the knife as much as possible and do the work beautifully. It was noon, and the prison officer said in a long voice, "It's time, execution." Are you really going to die?Li Si's eyes were reluctantly looking in the direction of Xianyang Palace.

The executioner knew what Li Si was thinking, Li Si was still not reconciled, he was still hoping that Hu Hai would change his mind at the last moment and send someone to pardon him. The executioner was all too familiar with this hopeless hope, so he persuaded Li Sidao, "Prime Minister, don't wait any longer, it's time to get on the road. There will be no grace in Xianyang Palace. This is real life, not Griffith's movie." , there will be a last-second rescue.” Li Si smiled bitterly, he didn't know that everything was irreversible.He looked at Li Zhan, who was kneeling beside him, and forced a smile to say his last line on the stage of Chinese history: "If I want to lead the yellow dog with Ruofu, we will go out to Shangcai Dongmen to chase the cunning rabbit. How can I get it?" !” After speaking, he could no longer control his tears, and the father and son embraced each other and wept bitterly.

Death is a steelyard by which to measure those passing years.At the last moment of his life, what came to Li Si's mind was not the great achievements he made in his life, but the simple and pure happiness in his youth.At that time, he always led a yellow dog with his two sons and went out to Caidongmen to chase cunning rabbits in the wild.At that time, he thought that he would spend his whole life in Shangcai, his hometown, as an ordinary person who kept his own place.If he just ended his life in such an ordinary way, would it really be much more unfortunate than the life he is living now?Li Si couldn't answer this question.

Li Si finally left Shangcai, embarked on a bloody official career, reached the pinnacle of personal value, and became the second person in the world - the prime minister of the empire.But so what, his ending today is just fulfilling Du Fu's poem: What is an official's high position, you can't accept your flesh and blood.If Li Si had to choose again, would he still choose to run away from his hometown?No one can answer this question. The executioner finally separated Li Si and his son.Li Si's face was calm, and he stopped talking. He has always been a pragmatic person, and he will accept his failure frankly.Cut it in half, just cut it in half, it’s just death, there’s no need to shout like other condemned prisoners before dying, “After twenty years, he will be a good man again!” Applause.He's Li Si, he doesn't need that.

The executioner stripped off Li Si's clothes, but saw that his back was bruised and purple, with criss-cross scars, and there was not a single piece of good flesh on his back.The executioner was also heartbroken. At Li Si's age, he really didn't know how he survived the torture.Fortunately, there is no need to suffer anymore, all merits and sins, all pains and joys will be cut off and returned to nothingness. Li Si closed his eyes and said nothing. The early winter wind, which was rarely hot, blew on his old face. The executioner patted Li Si on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, old prime minister, it won't hurt." As he spoke, his assistant poured a basin of cold water on Li Si.Li Si was caught off guard and trembled all over. At this moment, the executioner's broadsword drew a beautiful arc in the air, and with the reflected sunlight, it cut into Li Si's waist. Li Si was cut into two pieces.

Li Si's upper body slumped to the ground, but he still had residual consciousness.He opened his eyes on the ground, there was really no pain, he just felt warm, and when he took a closer look, it turned out that it was because of the warmth of blood.Blood was gurgling out from his body, and he was submerged in a pool of his own blood. With the fall of Li Si, the execution ground immediately turned into a slaughterhouse. Ten knives fell one after another. Li's family, the old and the young, were all bloody flying under the knife, turning into corpses one after another. .Li Si's most beloved grandson, who was only five years old, was also beheaded, and his blood splashed on Li Si's lips.Li Si stuck out his tongue and licked the blood, whether it was salty or sweet, but he could no longer tell. At the same time, Hu Hai was in Xianyang Palace, happily looking at a stunning beauty he had recruited recently.The beauty is also well versed in the way of coquettishness, leaning against the embroidery bed, chewing red velvet, and spitting at Tan Lang with a smile.Zhao Gao tried on the prime minister's court clothes in advance in his Lang Zhongling's mansion, and told his tailor that the sleeves needed to be extended by half a foot, and the belt also needed to be increased by three inches.And in Pengcheng thousands of miles away, King Huai of Chu is making an oath with his generals: Whoever can break through Xianyang first will be the king of Daogu. Li Si felt that his blood was gradually cooling down, and his consciousness, like those of his relatives, gradually drifted away from him. Three days later, Zhao Gao replaced Li Si and became prime minister, taking charge of the court.Ten months later, Zhao Gao murdered the emperor and killed the second emperor Hu Hai.Eleven months later, Ziying succeeded to the throne as King Qin, and Zhao Gao was torn apart by the chariot.Twelve months later, Liu Bang invaded Xianyang, Ziying surrendered, and Qin State perished.Fourteen months later, Xiang Yu arrived in Xianyang, killed his son and baby, burned the palace, and slaughtered Xianyang.Sixty-two months later, Xiang Yu was defeated at Gaixia and died by committing suicide.Sixty-four months later, Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor, and the world was unified again. However, none of this had anything to do with Li Si.Li Si just looked at the heads rolling all over the floor, his eyes slowly drifting away.With a final sigh, he closed his eyes and stopped breathing forever.Yes, he once created the immortal and imperishable Qin Empire, and behind him, although the history of China has been ever-changing, it has never been able to escape the pattern established by him and Ying Zheng.But now, these are no longer important, and he doesn't want to care about them anymore, he will sleep in the dark underground forever, no one knows Han, regardless of Wei and Jin...