Chapter 145: Slow Slicing

In the military parade ground, six hundred thousand Jin soldiers gathered like a tide, their momentum vast and their spirit overwhelming. In the center of the ground, a towering command platform pierced the clouds.

Standing atop the platform, one looked down from a high vantage point with an unobstructed view, capable of taking in all the Jin soldiers below.

Yet the figure standing on this majestic and imposing command platform today was neither a general who commanded thousands of troops and whose spirit could swallow mountains and rivers, nor an imperial envoy representing the court's dignity and the Emperor's power.

Standing on the platform was a prisoner bound, stripped naked, and wrapped in a fishing net; beside him stood another prisoner holding a small knife, ready to execute at any moment.

"Soldiers, previously a group of people spread rumors everywhere to disturb the ruler's mind just as our great battle was imminent. Now the bandit leader has been captured alive; the moment we caught him, we cut out his tongue. Let us see how he can spread evil words without a tongue."

"Soldiers, these people spread evil rumors everywhere to bewitch you into rebellion. After you rebel, they hide in the back; when your rebellion succeeds, they stand out to enjoy glory and wealth; when it fails, they hide away." The civil official responsible for reading finished speaking loudly to those below, then pointed at Li Gouer and said: "Look at him, is he not abandoned here alone by his accomplices? Now he is about to be executed by a thousand cuts and slow slicing. With so many accomplices, does anyone dare to stand out?"

"With so many accomplices, are they not just watching him be cut a thousand times? Even brothers who should share life and death treat him this way. How do you think they will treat you? Let me tell you, those who bewitched you into rebellion are just fooling you, a bunch of fools, to use your lives to win them wealth and honor. With so many of them, does anyone stand out? Does anyone? Is there anyone?"

"There is."

This single answer was very calm, yet it seemed like a thunderclap exploding in the Jin army camp.

The bustling crowd instinctively looked toward the source of the voice. It was a man who looked somewhat wretched. The man slowly walked toward the command platform, and the crowd around him unconsciously made way for him.

Li Gouer, whose tongue had been cut out, widened his eyes when he saw the approaching man. That person was none other than Wang Dayan, who had told him a few days ago. Why did this man, who always loved to steal small gains and was as timid as a mouse, stand out?

"Come, seize this traitor! Let him be executed by a thousand cuts and slow slicing just like this person!" The accompanying military officer, having been slapped in the face, roared in fury.

"Hahaha, do you think killing me and cutting me a thousand times will intimidate others? You may not know that for us poor devils, every day since birth has been like a sharp knife stabbing into our bodies, stabbing into our hearts. We have already been cut a thousand times." Wang Dayan laughed loudly at the sky.

"Soldiers, let me tell you, the doom of these Jurchen nobles and gentry masters is coming. The Revolutionary Army is about to defeat them and liberate our hometowns and families. At that time, everyone will have land to farm, eat their fill every meal, and not have to kneel before corrupt officials to suffer their nonsense. Can you imagine what kind of divine life this is?"

Wang Dayan raised his arm and shouted to everyone.

"Cut this fellow's tongue out! Do not let him speak again!" The accompanying military officer pointed at Wang Dayan and roared.

If this fellow kept speaking, the morale of the great army would be scattered by his words.

Dozens of burly Jin soldiers with tiger backs and bear waists, cloaked in heavy armor, surged forward fiercely, surrounding him completely. They skillfully restrained him firmly, making it impossible for him to break free.

One soldier forcefully pinched his chin, while another soldier cleanly and decisively raised the knife and struck.

The entire scene was filled with tension and a killing aura, making people shiver with fear.

Wang Dayan, whose tongue had been cut out, kept blood flowing from his mouth. He looked at the accompanying military officer on the platform with a smile on his face. The more you stop me from speaking, the more it proves my words are correct.

Now, although his tongue has been cut out, his words have become iron-clad reality before everyone.

Seeing Wang Dayan's triumphant smile, the accompanying military officer, furious with shame, shouted to the soldiers: "Come! Strip this fellow naked, bind him with a fishing net, and cut him three thousand five hundred and ninety-seven times. Not a single cut can be missing."

Li Gouer looked at Wang Dayan, who was similarly bound to the pillar, unable to understand how this flesh that was always greedy for small gains was this time generously sacrificing even his own life.

Facing Li Gouer's puzzled gaze, Wang Dayan smiled with relief. Could a man who greedily sought small gains ever pass up the chance to be a hero?

When the small knife broke his skin, the two men looked at each other and smiled.

They can use violence to make them bow and scrape like dogs.

They can use violence to steal the grain they worked hard to grow all year.

They can also use violence to make them labor while bringing their own dry rations.

It seems they can do whatever they want to them, right? Slow slicing is very painful.

But is it not painful to witness one's own father being beaten to death by a landlord for failing to pay rent?

Is it not painful to work until one's chest sticks to one's back every day and still not get a single bite of food?

Or is it not painful to watch one's own mother fall ill, have no money to treat her, and only watch her die of sickness?

Which of these sufferings is not a slow slicing of one's own heart? If possible, let no one in this world suffer the same pain as them again.

The Jin soldiers below the platform silently watched the two people being slowly sliced on the platform.

In the cold wind, the open wounds made them shiver with fear, yet these two men neither wailed nor groaned.

One hundred cuts, two hundred cuts, three hundred cuts. Dense scars covered their entire bodies, yet the executioner continued to execute.

It was only when the execution reached the three hundred and fifty-fourth cut that a thunderbolt fell straight down, striking the executioner who was in the act.

A strong Bai Guang blinded everyone so they could not open their eyes. When everyone opened their eyes again, the two people on the high platform had vanished.

"Heaven intervened to save them both! The Revolutionary Army has the help of divine spirits!"

"Yes, yes. Those two executioners who sliced people do not know how many people they have sliced, but this time they were struck by heaven's thunder and lightning."

The two executioners were struck by lightning. After a flash of Bai Guang, the two people undergoing punishment suddenly vanished before the eyes of six hundred thousand people.

Even in modern times, such a situation would make people kneel and kowtow twice; let alone in ancient times where feudal superstition was extremely severe.

Emperor Wen of Han, who established the Rule of Wen and Jing, once did not ask the people but asked the ghosts and gods. Qin Shi Huang and Han Wu Di spent huge sums of money, constantly pursuing the Dao of immortality.

As for common people, naturally they believed these things without question. Otherwise, why do common people always pretend to be gods and ghosts when rebelling, imitating foxes calling at midnight, or stuffing paper strips inside fish bellies?

The strange phenomenon at this moment was no less than a thunderclap in a clear sky for the six hundred thousand Jin soldiers present. The Jin State has lost virtue; the Mandate of Heaven has been lost.

The Revolutionary Army rising to destroy the Jin is destined by Heaven. To fight against them is to offend Heaven. At this time, these people should act in accordance with Heaven.