Xuanqing Guard-Chapter 43: Execution by Inquiry

May 15th, clear skies, a gentle breeze.

At the entrance of Li City’s East Market, a platform had been erected early on a flat ground. Several chairs were placed atop the stage, and the only table held items used in the Government Office, such as Command Arrows.

A large area below the stage was set apart, guarded by the fully armed Hundred Households’ Personal Soldiers, separating the platform and this empty space from the gathered crowd.

In addition to the Hundred Households’ Personal Soldiers, the Li City Guard Soldiers were also permitted five hundred strong to enter the city for official duty today, mainly to maintain security around East Market.

Meanwhile, along the southwestern road of East Market, dozens of prison carts were parked, each cart holding several convicted criminals.

These criminals wore vacant expressions, their bodies marked with obvious wounds. Most leaned lifelessly within the carts like corpses. A few showed mournful faces, torn between regret and resentment, some even suffering or in tears.

Since morning, many commoners gradually flocked toward East Market, curious yet orderly, remaining within the designated area. They knew that at noon, over a hundred people would be executed here, and most of them were officials’ kin.

The thrill of watching such spectacles let ordinary people forget the horror of decapitation. Besides, killing so many all at once was a rare event not seen in Li City for a hundred years.

Aside from those seeking entertainment, many among the crowd had come from other cities—not for the spectacle, but to witness their enemies’ miserable deaths, to see evil punished, to find catharsis for their long-held grievances.

All who survived from the Lin Family had arrived. They picked up stones, hurling them madly at the prison carts carrying Zhang Kui’s family, sparing none of Li Bing and his associates either. In the end, the guarding soldiers intervened, fearing the convicts would be stoned to death and thus delay the upcoming execution.

"Stop throwing! A token gesture is enough. In a moment, these main criminals will face death by a thousand cuts or be slashed at the waist—far more gruesome than being stoned to death. Don’t ruin things for yourselves!"

With the soldier’s warning, the emotionally unhinged people quieted down. They realized that killing these beasts would offer them release too soon—how could anything be so convenient?

Thus, the chaos outside the prison carts ceased; each one simply waited for those inside to face judgement.

Time passed.

By the rules of the Jingjiu Dynasty, public executions were to be advertised across the realm, done openly and righteously, so the timing of executions was particular—usually chosen at the hour of peak yang: mid-Noon.

It was now early noon. Tang Qingyuan, accompanied by two Trial Hundred Households and the remaining five General Flags, escorted the specially arrived Households Officer Jiang Cheng from Fengri City Thousand Households Station onto the platform in a shower of admiration.

The stage was small, unable to accommodate so many. Aside from the two Hundred Households brought by Jiang Cheng, the only local officials permitted on the platform were Tang Qingyuan and Shen Hao—even the two Trial Hundred Households did not qualify.

It wasn’t that Tang Qingyuan deliberately elevated Shen Hao’s status; rather, supervision of execution generally fell to those who investigated the case—start to finish. To snatch credit from subordinates for mere appearances would be shameless.

Today, Shen Hao was spirited, having removed the bandages from his shoulder and leg, donned a crisp new General Flag Black Robe, and styled his hair into an elegant bun—perfectly fitting the aesthetics of this world, a visage both tough and heroic.

Under the noonday sun, a righteous aura seemed to surge from Shen Hao, radiating instantly to the crowd below. Even the spectating commoners and those seeking vengeance fell silent, their eyes fixed intently upon the Flag Officer standing before the table.

"By order, today’s execution of the criminals Li Longcheng, Li Bing, Zhang Kui, Zhang Hu, and two hundred thirty-four others will proceed. To uphold the law and carry justice, the crimes of these convicts are hereby made public. Master criminals Li Bing and Li Longcheng attempted assassination of Court officials..."

Using True Qi to amplify his voice, Shen Hao declared the crimes of the condemned, his every word resounding across East Market, ensuring all spectators heard clearly.

This was custom; all must know the law is merciless and unsparing—anyone daring to commit such acts must be prepared for severe punishment.

This deterrence was also a crucial purpose of public execution.

After a long recitation of crimes, silence reigned below. Everyone was shocked by the deeds of the condemned, and soon responded with helpless rage. Yet, fortunately, there were still good officials like Shen Zongqi—otherwise, wouldn’t the world be turned upside down?

"Kill them! Kill them!"

This was the true meaning of public outrage, and Shen Hao was witnessing it firsthand.

Standing atop the stage, Shen Hao had a clear view of all below. He could feel the sincere fury and Killing Intent radiating from these ordinary people, and for a moment, even he—a cultivator at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer—felt a chill down his spine.

"In accordance with the law, now sentenced: Li Longcheng, Li Bing and other main criminals to death by a thousand cuts; Zhang Hu, Zhang Kui and other accomplices to be torn apart..."

Then, Shen Hao took the Command Arrow from the table, and, with a thought, invited Tang Qingyuan and Jiang Cheng behind him to endorse it with a "Red Stamp," involving these two bosses in this bloody spectacle.

This move was a spur-of-the-moment idea by Shen Hao, and judging by their approving looks, both Tang Qingyuan and Jiang Cheng seemed to enjoy it.

With the flattering, freshly endorsed Command Arrow in hand, Shen Hao tossed it generously to the crowd below, announcing loudly: "Accomplices first, then main criminals—verify identities and carry out sentencing one by one!"

Among the two hundred-plus, most were innocent Jia Flag members caught in the crossfire, who would mostly be executed by beheading.

Ten at a time, once identities were verified, the executioners shouted their call, and simultaneously swung their blades.

Swish, swish, swish—neatly and orderly, ten heads dropped into the bamboo baskets placed on the ground, to prevent them from rolling and becoming difficult to collect.

The stench of blood began with the first batch, quickly provoking the nearest spectators to vomit. Human blood stank far more than animal blood.

Next came the major criminals sentenced to Waist Slash, which was more troublesome. After the cut, they writhed in agony for a long time before dying. During this period, the executions did not cease—the screaming continued beside, chopping persisted here.

By the time of tearing apart, most of the front-row spectators were vomiting. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Finally, the main criminals met death by a thousand cuts. Many former victims pushed forward, wild-eyed and frenzied, laughing and crying at once, some even shouting the names of lost relatives and declaring vengeance fulfilled.

The executions lasted from mid-Noon until early 3:00 p.m., a full hour and a half.

The reeking blood covered a vast area. With the sunny weather, much dried into dark red, dizzying to behold.

The bold watched until the end; the faint-hearted fled early.

The officials atop the stage also filed out after the last main culprit was executed. The rest was to wait for those not yet dead from Waist Slash to die fully, while the laborers began cleaning the site, carting the bodies to mass graves, and rushing to cleanse the ground.

Thus, this grand, blood-soaked performance drew its curtain.

Yet Shen Hao still could not return home to rest—Tang Qingyuan called him over, saying Households Commander Jiang had something to discuss with him.