Chapter 2 The Next Day
The second day, it was still early morning exercise. After the meal, everyone went about their own business.
Lu Ye drove the carriage to town to "buy" a bed and bedding.
There were many things to buy on this trip, and with only the young master going alone, it might have been a bit too much.
The newly purchased young servants, Lu Tong and Lu Tie, were very perceptive and wanted to follow to help, driving the horses and carrying things.
Lu Ye thought about it and did not refuse. With the two of them as witnesses, it would further prove that the wooden bed was "bought" in town. Once in town, he only needed to have them watch the carriage, and he would handle the "buying" of things himself.
Prince Yu sat under the bamboo pavilion. A teapot and cups were placed on the wooden table in front of him. Qiu attended to him, and Ji Chenghe sat to the side, recording in an account book.
Yang Ming and Wang Xiao Ma, along with other guard members, brought all the mine workers over.
Nearly a hundred people, with their hands and feet bound, instantly filled the courtyard. They had not bathed in a long time, their bodies reeked, and everyone's legs were weak and their faces pale.
Last night, a few sinister little brats had brought them water, saying it was sweetened water to replenish their strength.
Upon hearing that it was sweetened water, everyone naturally could not resist the temptation, and each of them gulped down a large bowl.
Indeed, the water was very sweet and tasted good.
However, half an hour later, their stomachs reacted violently, and something desperately wanted to rush out of their posterior openings.
Fortunately, several commodes were placed in each cell; otherwise, their lifelong reputation would have been ruined by defecating and urinating everywhere.
However, it was only then that they realized they had been tricked by the little brats, but they did not know why the little brats had tricked them.
These brats were at a very mischievous age, so the mine workers unanimously concluded that this was the little brats' prank, intended to make fun of them.
If they had known beforehand that the little brats just wanted them to leave their feces before departing, and to wave their sleeves without taking away a single piece of shit, they would not have obediently defecated into the commodes even if they died, to let the little brats benefit? No way!
Thus, after causing the mine workers' stomachs to cramp, General Feces received several buckets full of manure fertilizer.
Under his command, more than twenty bandits, who were undergoing heavy labor reform, carried the commodes to dump these treasures into the septic tank.
The bandits were gagging from the stench of the feces.
Damn it, who’s shit is this, it smells even worse than their own!
Standing on the high sand embankment, they suddenly glimpsed from not far away, some men carrying their feces, carefully transporting them somewhere, with a few little brats directing them. Only then did the mine workers understand that people were not deliberately pranking them, but truly wanted their feces.
This feeling of being deceived into producing feces deeply hurt their self-esteem.
Next, facing the imposing Prince Yu, it was not just their self-esteem that was hurt, but possibly their very lives.
"Kneel when you see Prince Yu!" Qiu shouted sternly. The mine workers all knelt in unison before Prince Yu. Compared to the physical discomfort caused by diarrhea, the fear and oppression emanating from Prince Yu almost made them afraid to breathe loudly.
Especially Xue Zhubu, who, as a ninth-rank official, had gotten involved with a bunch of mine hooligans. After being imprisoned for so long, his dignity was long gone, and his reputation completely ruined.
Leaving aside whether his job at the town yamen could be kept, even his life was in danger, as it had always been rumored in official circles that Prince Yu was a pervert.
He really couldn't figure out what bizarre method Prince Yu would use to punish him.
At this moment, Prince Yu, wearing the "mask" sewn for him by Bai Sheng, leaned back lazily in his chair, his gaze as sharp as a cold blade.
He raised his hand towards Qiu, and Qiu took out a piece of paper and loudly announced, "By imperial decree, all mines in Tianshui Town, Tasha Prefecture, are to be confiscated and placed under Prince Yu's jurisdiction.
A month ago, you colluded to forcibly seize workers from Hongshu Slope, falsely accused Lu Ye's family's great silver snake from Hongshu Slope of stealing ore, and simultaneously attacked the people of Hongshu Slope with weapons, causing countless injuries to unarmed civilians!
You are guilty of heinous crimes and deserve to die, but... the kind and benevolent Prince Yu, mindful of heaven's mercy for all living things, specially wishes to show leniency, and will only execute those most guilty.
Now, you shall report on each other. All major and minor wrongdoings can be reported, or you can confess. Those who can write shall write, and those who cannot write shall find me or these guard members to dictate.
All reported content must be truthful, and no false accusations shall be made against others. Upon discovery, you will be dismembered and thrown into the septic tank to be decomposed into manure for the fields!"
As soon as Qiu finished speaking, the mine workers were stunned.
They were quite confused by some of the statements.
Firstly, Prince Yu is kind and benevolent? Who wrote this damn script?
Secondly, these civilians were unarmed? The rakes in their hands were sharper than their sabers.
Lastly, they caused countless injuries to civilians?
In their memory, during that fierce battle, the people of Hongshu Slope didn't even lose a single hair, while their mine faction suffered injuries across the board, beaten until their faces were bruised and swollen, with several severe cases receiving several stab wounds.
Despite the confusion, the mine workers could only suppress it in their hearts.
If they angered the kind and benevolent Prince Yu over this minor matter, they would only be decomposed into manure for the fields.
After two hours of reporting,
Among them, Mine Head Jiang and another mine head, who had countless lives on their hands, were judged to be the most guilty and were beheaded and soaked in feces.
Additionally, four overseers and seven guards, who had robbed others of their property and killed many people, as well as frequently bullied the weak, forcibly violated women, and trafficked children, were also to be beheaded and soaked in feces.
The rest, who had committed lesser crimes, although not beheaded, were all to be conscripted as mine workers. They said that releasing them was merely a joke by Prince Yu.
Moreover, they had to witness the beheading and soaking in feces of the more guilty offenders. This was because Prince Yu said that witnessing the cruel and tragic outcome firsthand would serve as a strong deterrent, preventing them from committing evil deeds in the future.
Thus, seventy to eighty mine workers with minor offenses were driven to the side of the septic tank and made to stand in a large circle to watch the beheading of the more guilty offenders.
The bandits were also brought to watch, and Feng Pingyuan sternly warned them that if they dared to cause trouble in the future, they would suffer the same fate.
The execution was carried out by the very tall executioner among Prince Yu's guards.
A long stool was placed by the septic tank. Two guards escorted the more guilty offenders, placing their heads on the stool. With a single swing of the saber, their heads would roll into the septic tank, and their bodies would also be cut into several pieces and thrown in.
The more guilty offenders were all terrified to the point of urinating themselves. They were okay with being beheaded, but why did they have to be soaked in feces?
Lu Yun saw their wet crotches and sighed with regret that they hadn't flowed into the septic tank.
The residents of Hongshu Slope, including the workers, had all run over. They covered their mouths and noses with their hands to watch the execution. Feng Pingyuan did not stop them, as witnessing the punishment of evildoers could serve as the best warning to the public.
After a series of "crunch, crunch" and "splish, splosh," the feces water in the septic tank rose considerably.
The scene was so bloody that it made everyone tremble and break out in a cold sweat. The onlookers could no longer smell the stench of the septic tank and secretly marveled in their hearts that people should not commit evil deeds casually, as retribution would eventually come for them.
It is not that retribution will not come, but only that the time has not yet arrived.
Steward Xue was also led by two guards to watch the execution, standing at the very front, seeing most clearly.