It was not until now that Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan realized the seriousness of the matter. They did not expect that the one who sneaked out of the camp and slept with the two girls would end up being beheaded. So they kowtowed repeatedly and begged for their lives.
He kowtowed like pounding garlic, until blood flowed out, and his pleas were heartbreaking...
It really makes people sad and tears come to those who watch it...
All the Zhejiang Army soldiers present at the public trial, as well as the villagers from Zhuangjia Village and nearby villages, all turned their eyes to Zhu Ping'an, wanting to see how he would handle the situation.
"Seeing that they really admitted their mistakes, I think the master might forgive them this time..."
"Tsk, this public trial is just for us to watch, to shut us up, and to give an explanation to Zhuangjia Village. Just wait and see, the master will say something like 'Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue', 'Put down the butcher knife and you will become a Buddha', and then forgive them. This is all a routine..."
"They are all soldiers under the master. They will follow the master to fight in the future. They are still useful to the master. What are we ordinary people? We are powerless and our words are of no use to the master. Who cares about our life or death?"
The common people began to discuss this in private, and many people thought that Zhu Ping'an might let Han Laosan and the others go easily.
"I don't think so. Your Excellency is not a person who bends the law for personal gain. I heard that when your Excellency was the magistrate of Jingnan, he always enforced the law impartially and was known far and wide as Zhu Qingtian."
Some people also expressed different opinions.
However, not many people agree with this opinion, and there are only a handful of people in a village. There are less than a hundred people in the villages within a dozen miles, and most of them hold the first opinion.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, facing the earnest pleas of Han Laosan and three others, Zhu Ping'an shook his head firmly.
Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan all looked as pale as death and kowtowed and begged even harder.
Dong, dong, dong... The sound of kowtow is like beating drums, and the sound of begging is like the cuckoo weeping blood.
"Sir, I, Han Laosan, was originally a bandit who robbed and looted. I am grateful for your recruitment and followed the village chief to join the Zhejiang Army. The day before yesterday, the Japanese pirates surrounded Yingtian City, and I followed you to rush towards the Japanese pirates without blinking an eye. You ordered us to raid the Japanese pirates' station at midnight, and I didn't say a word. We worked together to kill two Japanese pirates! One of the Japanese pirates was killed by me personally, and I was stabbed in the chest for this! I, Han Laosan, have shed blood and made contributions for you, for the Ming Dynasty, and for the people. I beg you to spare my life. I will definitely turn over a new leaf, go through fire and water, and make meritorious contributions while guilty!"
After Han Laosan kowtowed seven or eight times, he tore off his clothes, revealing the scar on his chest, and said with his neck stiff.
"Me too. I, Liu Gouzi, broke out of the room against the Japanese pirates without retreating a single step. Our team killed two Japanese pirates, and I played an indispensable role. I beg you to forgive me this time. I will never dare to do it again. In the future, I will fight bravely to the death and never retreat. I beg you to forgive me this time..."
Liu Gouzi also begged for mercy.
Zhang Tiedan cried with tears streaming down his face, "Sir, I also rushed towards the Japanese pirates without hesitation the night before last. Although I was kicked away by the Japanese pirates, it was because I rushed forward and blocked the Japanese pirates that they did not escape. Our team killed two Japanese pirates, and I also made a contribution. Sir, please spare my life. I am still young and I haven't married yet."
Han Laosan and three others kept begging for mercy and recounting their own achievements in order to get a lighter sentence.
Hearing the three people talk about their achievements, the people in the audience couldn't help but start talking.
"I didn't expect that they killed Japanese pirates the day before yesterday. This is a meritorious service, so it's not a bad idea to use the merit to atone for the crime."
"Killing two Japanese pirates and raping two women is a merit and a fault. If you compare the merits and faults, I think the merit is greater. It's not impossible to spare their lives. In the future, let them make up for their crimes and fight against the Japanese pirates. Killing one more Japanese pirate is a profit..."
"We can't do this. Merits are merits, and faults are faults..."
The people in the audience were talking about it, and compared to before, the voices in favor of a lenient sentence were much louder.
Faced with another round of pleas from Han Laosan and the other two, Zhu Pingan still shook his head resolutely again.
"Merits are merits, faults are faults, rewards and punishments are clear, and merits do not outweigh faults! Your merits belong to the day before yesterday, and I have already rewarded you: today, you left the military camp without permission, broke into private homes, and raped women, committing unforgivable capital crimes. According to our Zhejiang Army's military discipline, you should be beheaded, and according to the "Ming Dynasty Law", you should also be hanged! If you are pardoned, how can you face the two victims in Zhuangjia Village, how can you face the elders and fellow villagers, and how can you educate the more than 800 law-abiding soldiers of the Zhejiang Army?! Today I sentence you to death, and it is your own fault! There is no reason to spare your life!" Zhu Ping'an said slowly with an expressionless face.
"Come here, take Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi, and Zhang Tiedan away, behead them in public, and set them as an example!"
After he finished speaking, Zhu Ping'an waved his hand and gave orders to the audience.
"Sir, please spare our lives, please spare our lives!" Han Laosan and the other three kowtowed and begged for mercy even harder, with blood pouring from their foreheads.
"Ah?! You actually insisted on killing them?!" The common people opened their mouths in shock.
I didn't expect that Zhu Ping'an would not be partial or abuse the law at all!
incredible!
What a surprise! What a shock!
"Sir!" Ruo Feng couldn't bear it any longer. Han Laosan and Zhang Tiedan were bandits from his stronghold. How could he sit by and watch them being executed? So he stepped out of the crowd, jumped onto the high platform, knelt on the ground and said, "Sir, Han Laosan and his men have committed a capital crime. According to our military discipline, they deserve to die. But Sir, they have made contributions and shed blood. The Japanese invasion is becoming more and more serious, and it is time to use more people. If we kill them, we will lose three forces to kill the Japanese. I beg you to postpone the execution and let them go to the battlefield to kill the Japanese pirates and atone for their crimes. Let the last drop of their blood flow on the battlefield to kill the Japanese. I beg you..."
"Please let them go to the battlefield and kill the Japanese to atone for their sins, until they shed their last drop of blood on the battlefield..."
Zhang Hu also jumped onto the platform and followed Ruo Feng to plead for Liu Gouzi and others, because Liu Gouzi was from their stronghold.
Han Lao San and the other three also shouted desperately, "Please, sir, if we must die, we are willing to die on the battlefield against the enemy Japanese pirates. We will definitely lead the way and rush to the front. We are willing to shed the last drop of blood in our bodies on the battlefield to atone for our sins. Please show mercy, sir."
Zhu Ping'an was unmoved. He shook his head vigorously and said seriously and earnestly, "It is not difficult to make laws, but it is difficult to enforce them. Everyone is equal before the military discipline law. Laws must be followed and enforced strictly. Violators must be punished. There are no exceptions to the enforcement of military discipline laws. No secret doors or windows are left! All Zhejiang Army officers and soldiers, you must take Han Laosan, Liu Gouzi and Zhang Tiedan as a warning, and strictly abide by military discipline and national laws in the future. Don't test the bottom line of military discipline and national laws with your own lives!"
"Come here, take them away and behead them in public as a warning to others!" After saying this, Zhu Ping'an waved his hand again.
Seeing this, the old head of Zhuangjia Village could not help but cough and said, "Sir, Xiu'er and the other two were abused by them. If two of them are willing to take responsibility, marry Xiu'er and the other two, and treat them well from now on, we can withdraw the lawsuit and spare one of them."
Hearing this, Xiu'er and the other two victims in the audience changed color and tears suddenly welled up in their eyes.
They made up their minds that if this happened, they would be killed on the spot.
"Don't say such things anymore, Mr. Zhuang! If you say so, after raping a woman, you still get a wife. Isn't this rewarding bad guys and encouraging the rape of women?! In this way, won't rapes happen more frequently?! This is outrageous!!!" Zhu Ping'an stopped and rejected Mr. Zhuang without hesitation.
"Anyone who dares to persuade me again will be punished like this case!!" After Zhu Ping'an finished speaking, he drew his sword with a cold look on his face and chopped off the corner of the table!
The public trial scene suddenly became quiet.
"Take him away and behead him in public as a warning to others!" Zhu Ping'an said expressionlessly.
Immediately, Liu Mu came up with soldiers from the Supervisory Battalion and took away Han Laosan and his two crying and struggling companions.
Soon, the three screams stopped abruptly!
The villagers hurriedly covered the child's eyes...
"The Zhejiang Army has strict military discipline, does not show favoritism, does not bend the law, and is fair and selfless. It is truly amazing!"
"Master Zhu, you are strict in military discipline. I admire you enough..."
"This is the true soldier..."
The crowd was shocked and filled with emotion, and looked at Zhu Ping'an and the Zhejiang army with eyes full of respect.