In the twenty-second year of Qianlong, May, the beginning of the year.

When the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching, the scorching sun is like a fire scorching the earth, and the air at this time has been filled with a hot breath, which makes people extremely uncomfortable and sweaty at every turn.

Under the direct sunlight, you can see the tumbling heat wave on the ground, which makes people feel scared, and they can't stop wanting to escape from this hot environment and hide in the shade to rest.

This year's heat is unusually high compared to previous years. Some older generations said that this is almost in time for the eighth year of Qianlong (1), and the weather that killed many people in the heat.

The hot weather was irritating, and even the locals of Xuzhou felt unbearable, not to mention the Eight Banners border army who were ordered to be transferred south.

These Eight Banners border troops are all from remote and cold places such as Jilin. They can endure the cold, but the hot weather in Xuzhou makes them suffer.

Therefore, these Eight Banners border troops have a lot of complaints in private. complained that Chaoting would not pick the time, but wanted to pick the weather of this hot dead man and let them come down to suffer.

It is reported that there are even voices that they are ready to give up holding on to Xuzhou and lead troops to counterattack after the autumn is cool.

As soon as this rumor came out, it scared the officials in Xuzhou City enough to send money and food, so that they even turned a blind eye to their nonsense, which left this group of "arrogant soldiers" behind.

The war is imminent, and the major gates of Xuzhou City continue to report on the war. Under the vigorous propaganda of the Manchu court, the people around Xuzhou City felt extremely afraid of the arrival of the bandit army, which made the number of people pouring into Xuzhou City every day also increased dramatically.

The increase in population naturally increases the burden of public security, housing and food in Xuzhou.

Especially for grain, the price of grain in the city is one price a day, and it has risen wildly all the way. Now that there is no rumored anti-thief, the price of grain has risen ridiculously, and even the old grain in previous years has risen to a high price of almost four taels and one stone, so that the people have to order their belts and drink a few more bowls of water to endure hunger.

"Bell... Clang... Bell..."

On the street of the South Gate, a rapid gong sounded. At this time, I saw a group of fast catchers armed with official knives and sticks walking briskly on the street, pushing and shoving the crowd to clear the way.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way, get out of the way, get out of the way..."

……

"What's going on? This street is already crowded, how can this group of dogs come over to clear the road if they don't sit in the yamen to enjoy the shade? In the crowd that was pushed aside, there was an unpleasant muttering.

"Young man, there is a saying that trouble comes from the mouth, for the sake of your family, say less. You're going to get them in trouble. This official sent a servant to open the way, what else could it be, it is estimated that a high-ranking official is going out of the city! Another voice whispered.

"This big brother is right, I guess that's it..."Another voice sounded, attracting echo and approval from the surrounding people.

"Hey, you don't know! The reason why these officials came out to clear the road was because there would be death row prisoners who would pass through here and behead them at the entrance of the vegetable market. "Someone who claims to know inside information is boasting proudly.

"This big brother said it! It's not like we've never seen the execution of a condemned criminal, when will we put up such a battle? They were all pulled over directly, and they were beheaded at the right time. In my opinion, it is the possibility of which official is more likely to travel. A dissenting voice said. This remark was immediately echoed by many people around him.

"If it's just ordinary death criminals, that's true. But they're not...", the questioning man pretended to be mystical.

"Could it be that they are—" At this point, someone seemed to guess something. aroused the curiosity of the people around him.

Under the curiosity of everyone's eyes, the vanity of the insider man was greatly satisfied, and at this time, I saw him say slowly: "It seems that this little brother has figured it out, yes, they are anti-thieves." It's the gang of thieves who are going to come over to besiege our Xuzhou City. ”

"Wow..."

As soon as the insider man's voice fell, there was a roar around him. It wasn't until it caught the attention of the officials in the distance that it quieted down.

"Well, we'll have to check it out later..."

"That's it, I've always heard that there are rebels coming, but I haven't seen it, and I can't imagine that the imperial court has already caught a lot of people who have come to behead, it seems that this gang of rebels is also a grasshopper after the autumn, and they can't jump for a few days."

……

Xuzhou City, the entrance of the South Gate Vegetable Market Street.

It was just noon, and the scorching sun in the sky was radiating its heat with all its might, vowing to scorch the ground.

The execution ground in the open space in front of the vegetable market was already crowded with people at this time. Although there were many onlookers when the criminals were beheaded in previous years, it is not worth mentioning compared to now.

When most people hear that they are killing thieves here, they either grit their teeth or come to see the "world", and they are all in the mood of joy, so the fierce sun still can't stop them from a "gossip" heart.

"Why hasn't anyone come yet! It's all sunburning..."

"What's the hurry, it's just noon, and it will take a while to reach three o'clock in the afternoon!"

"How long is it going to take? No, I have to find a place to hide in the shade, this sun is too 'poisonous'..."

"You're leaving! I don't look at how many people are out there now. You're going to go out, and you won't be able to squeeze in for a while, and then you won't see anyone else cut off the head of the thief. ”

"You're right to say that, then I'll still guard here, so as not to miss watching people 'cut off their heads' for a while..."

"Hmm... It's good to know..."

Since ancient times, beheading has been carried out at different times, that is, the beheading is severe.

It is because the ancients were superstitious and believed that there were ghosts in the world.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, this is the time when the yang energy is at its peak, and the yin energy will dissipate immediately. If the prisoner is beheaded at this time, his soul will be scattered in an instant, and he will never be reborn, and he will not even be a ghost.

Generally, the beheading is at noon, so that he can still have a ghost to do; And the recidivist or heinous offender must choose to be punished by the knife at three o'clock in the afternoon, so that he cannot even do the ghost.

"Bell... Clang... Bell..."

Under the sound of gongs, I saw four prisoner carts transporting four prisoners slowly.

The prisoner car was bumpy and swaying all the way, which made people uncomfortable to watch. At this moment, I saw the four prisoners talking and laughing, but they looked like they were at home, and they looked "admirable".

"So young, why is it bad to be so young, you have to be a thief. It's really sad that you're going to die in the prime of your life. Looking at the prison cart swaying all the way, someone couldn't help but say with pity.