When the first rays of dawn shone on the earth, the wasteland on the river beach at the east end of Zhuangjia Village was already crowded with people, with as many as two thousand people crowded on the river beach.
People were divided into two distinct groups. On one side were the Zhejiang Army soldiers in uniform military uniforms, organized into teams in neat formations. On the other side were the villagers from Zhuangjia Village and nearby villages, who gathered in the audience like they were going to a market, talking in a flurry.
In the middle of the wasteland on the river beach, a simple platform was built with wood and planks.
A banner was hung on the platform with four powerful characters "Public Trial" inscribed on it.
The platform was arranged into a simple trial scene, with five tables placed on it, one table placed horizontally, and four tables placed on both sides, forming a semi-enclosed shape overall.
Zhu Ping'an, in his official uniform, sat behind a horizontal table, while Liu Mu took notes. The village chief and six other chiefs from nearby villages sat behind tables on both sides. Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, and Zhang Tiedan were tied up with ropes.
They knelt down with their hands clasped in disarray, their heads almost hanging down into their crotches. Zhang Tiedan, in particular, was caught in a panic and was wearing women's clothes, which made him feel even more embarrassed.
In order to protect the two women from Zhuangjia Village who were victims and prevent them from being hurt a second time, Zhu Ping'an did not allow them to go on stage, but asked them to listen to the trial from the audience.
Zhu Ping'an had been accompanied in advance by the head of Zhuangjia Village and several women and children. He had asked the two victims about the case and made a record. He also asked them and witnesses such as the head of the village to put their fingerprints on the record.
"Alas, we ordinary people are suffering so much. It's bad enough that we are harmed by the Japanese pirates, but we are also harmed by the soldiers. They are supposed to protect us ordinary people, but they end up being a scourge instead."
An ordinary person in the audience sighed.
"The Zhejiang Army is considered good... First, they fought bloody battles outside the city, wiped out the Japanese pirates who attacked our Yingtian, and saved our Yingtian. They are our benefactors, much better than those Beijing troops who hid in the city and dared not come out. Second, the Zhejiang Army's military discipline is also good.
It's considered good. The camp gates are tightly closed, military discipline is strict, and soldiers are not allowed to come out to harm the people. If it weren't for what happened today, their Zhejiang Army can be considered to have done nothing wrong."
A commoner nearby also sighed, and then spoke a fair word for the Zhejiang army.
"These are two different things. They saved Yingtian, which is their duty as soldiers. Their food, clothing and military pay are all taxes paid by ordinary people. They should defend their country. The Zhejiang Army has good military discipline, but this kind of thing happened today."
Another person interrupted.
"What do you think will be the punishment for these three soldiers who raped women at this public trial?" someone asked curiously.
"All crows are black. How can an official not protect his own family? I guess the matter will be reduced to a small one. At most, he will be beaten with a stick and that's it."
A villager snorted and said that a relative of his was beaten up by a drunken son of a rich and powerful family for no reason, and his legs were broken. He was so angry that he reported it to the officials, but the officials were corrupt and took bribes from the other party. They did not do justice for his relative at all, saying that the son of a rich and powerful family was drunk and behaved badly, and that it was not his intention. Considering that he was young and ignorant, and that he was studying in the academy with excellent character and academic performance, they just gave the son of a rich and powerful family a lecture and let the matter go. Therefore, after this incident, he had a deep understanding of the darkness of the officialdom.
"This looks quite strict. I don't think anyone will bend the law for personal gain in public," a villager said hesitantly.
"Oh, do you think the court is strict or not?! Even with a clear mirror and a guillotine hanging over their heads, they still bend the law for personal gain. What's the point of looking strict?" The villager sneered, not without sarcasm.
"Look, it looks like it's about to start. We'll know if we keep watching."
The villagers nearby saw some movement on the platform and quickly pulled them to warn them.
Suddenly, more than 2,000 people focused their attention on the platform.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhu Pingan saw that almost everyone had arrived, so he stood up from his seat, bowed to all directions, and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, fellow Zhejiang soldiers, today I invite you here to conduct a public trial of Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, and Zhang Tiedan, three Zhejiang soldiers who violated military discipline, left the barracks without permission, broke into a private house, and raped two civilian women!"
"Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, Zhang Tiedan, the three of you violated military discipline last night by leaving the barracks, trespassing into civilian houses, and raping civilian women. You were blocked in the courtyard by villagers from Zhuangjia Village. The villagers from Zhuangjia Village reported the case to our camp. I led people to the scene of the crime to arrest you. The villagers from Zhuangjia Village, the victim, I and fifty elite soldiers of the Zhejiang Army testified. The scene of the crime contained your underwear, military uniforms, and the victim's torn clothes and other physical evidence. The victim was examined by a midwife and confirmed to have been violently beaten and raped. The above evidence is complete, and the two victims have made statements. What else do you three have to say?"
Zhu Ping'an asked with a serious face to Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan who were kneeling below him.
"Sir, we admit that you violated military discipline and left the barracks without permission, but we don't admit that you broke into a private residence and raped a woman!" Han Laosan and Liu Gouzi said almost in unison.
Zhang Tiedan also raised his head with a look of dissatisfaction.
"We have both witnesses and material evidence. Why are you dissatisfied?" Zhu Ping'an asked expressionlessly.
"That's not a private residence, it's a secret door, and they are not private women, they are prostitutes. We go to the secret doors and sleep with the prostitutes." Han Laosan defended.
"Yes, yes, we go to secret doors and sleep with prostitutes." Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan followed suit.
"Bah! You are slandering us! We are a decent family and decent women! I will fight you!"
Upon hearing this, a victim gnashed her teeth in anger. She was not afraid of being criticized anymore. She rushed out of the crowd and cursed at Han Lao San and the others, wishing she could eat their flesh and blood alive!
Another victim was so angry that he bit his lips and looked at Han Lao San and others with hatred!
The women and children in Zhuangjia Village hurried forward to comfort the two.
"Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, Zhang Tiedan, please stop slandering others. Do you have any evidence?"
Zhu Pingan rebuked in a cold voice.
"I... I... I heard it from someone when we were rewarding the soldiers in Zhuangjia Village the day before yesterday." Han Laosan and the other three were stunned by the question. They really had no evidence. After a few seconds of silence, Han Laori stammered.
"I heard? That means you don't have any evidence?" Zhu Ping'an's eyes were sharp.
Han Laosan shrank his neck and was speechless.
"You are so bold to slander someone based on just one or two rumors without any evidence?!" Zhu Pingan scolded coldly, "If someone slanders your wife and daughter based on just one or two rumors, how would you feel?! Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you!"