Chapter 244

The Great Qing, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi.

Translation: "Great Qing, the Kangxi reign." Or "Great Qing, during the Kangxi era." We'll do: "Great Qing, the Kangxi reign."

Xuan Ye also wore an extremely solemn expression and gravely addressed Mingzhu, Suo'etou, and several chief commanders of the Imperial Guard and princes:

Xuan Ye also wore an extremely solemn expression and gravely addressed Mingzhu, Suo'etou, and several chief commanders of the Imperial Guard and princes:

"Do you all see? When the relatives of the empress wield great power, generals act arrogantly, and corruption knows no bounds, that is the path that leads to death and the extermination of one's clan!"

"Do you all see? When relatives by marriage wield great power, generals run amok, and corruption knows no bounds, that is the way to invite death and extermination of one's clan!"

"Liang Ji's downfall serves as a warning from the past."

"Liang Ji's downfall is a lesson from the past."

"Although our Great Qing has the Eight Banners and noble meritocrats, we must never allow them to become too powerful and amass wealth like mountains."

"Although our Great Qing has the Eight Banners and noble meritocrats, we must absolutely not let them become too big to fail, amassing wealth like mountains."

"Anyone who embezzles military funds, oppresses the people, or forms cliques for personal gain will not be tolerated by me! You must reflect on yourselves!"

Translation: "\"Anyone who embezzles military funds, oppresses the people, or forms factions for personal gain will find no mercy from me! You must examine yourselves! \""

"Yes! Your servants will keep the imperial teachings in mind!" The crowd hurriedly agreed.

"Yes! Your servants will keep the imperial teachings in mind!" The crowd hurriedly agreed.

Eastern Han, the first year of the Yanxi era (Liang Ji has not yet been toppled, Emperor Huan is on the throne).

Eastern Han, the first year of the Yanxi era (Liang Ji not yet toppled, Emperor Huan on the throne).

Luoyang, the Grand General's residence.

Luoyang, the Grand General's residence.

Liang Ji was in the rear garden's "Rabbit Garden", leading a group of guests in falconry and dog coursing for sport.

Liang Ji was in the rear garden's "Rabbit Garden", leading a group of guests in falconry and dog coursing, hunting for pleasure.

He had just received several offerings of filial respect, and his mood was quite pleasant.

Translation: "He had just received several tributes, and his mood was quite good."

Suddenly, the celestial screen appeared, publicly exposing in detail his regicide, the extermination of his clan, the confiscation of his property—including the astonishing thirty‑billion fortune he used to bribe Emperor Huan by reducing taxes—and everything else to the world!

Translation: "Suddenly, the Heavenly Curtain appeared, exposing his regicide, extermination of his clan, confiscation of property, and the shocking \"three billion\" wealth, as well as how Emperor Huan used his money to reduce taxes and win over the people, in full detail to the world!"

Liang Ji's smile froze instantly, and the bow and arrow in his hand clattered to the ground.

Translation: "Liang Ji's smile froze instantly, and the bow and arrow in his hand fell with a 'pat'."

He felt a chilling wave surge from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head, as if all his blood had frozen.

Translation: "He felt a chill surge from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head, as if his entire blood had frozen!"

The scenes on the celestial screen—his poisoning of Emperor Zhi, his persecution of Li Gu and Du Qiao, his seizure of people's lands, his selling of offices for money, his and his wife's suicide, the wholesale execution of his entire clan, and the auction of his thirty‑billion fortune…

Translation: "The images on the Heavenly Curtain—him poisoning Emperor Zhi, persecuting Li Gu and Du Qiao, seizing civilian fields, selling offices for money, him and his wife committing suicide, the clan exterminated and property confiscated, his wealth auctioned off for three billion……"

Especially the scene where Emperor Huan conspired with eunuchs to send troops to besiege the mansion, playing out before his eyes like the most terrifying nightmare.

Translation: "Especially the scene of Emperor Huan conspiring with eunuchs to send troops to surround his mansion, which unfolded before his eyes like the most terrifying nightmare!"

"No! This can't be! Superstitious talk! Someone is trying to frame me!"

Translation: "\"No! This is impossible! Nonsense! Someone is trying to harm me! \"

"It must be the eunuchs or those so‑called pure officials slandering me!"

Translation: "\"It's the eunuchs or those upright officials slandering me! \"

Liang Ji let out a hoarse roar, but his voice was filled with unmistakable fear.

Translation: "Liang Ji hoarsely shouted, but his voice was filled with fear he could not conceal."

He abruptly turned his head to look at the guests, disciples, and generals who had previously flattered him.

Translation: "He abruptly turned his head, looking at the nearby guests, disciples, and generals who had originally fawned over him."

At that moment, their gazes at him were filled with shock, horror, and a hint of an indescribable alienation and fear.

Translation: "At this moment, their gazes toward him were filled with shock, horror, and a hint… of indescribable alienation and fear?"

The celestial screen declared that his clan would be exterminated and his property seized—who would still dare to associate with him?

Translation: "The Heavenly Curtain says he will be exterminated and his property confiscated—who would still dare to associate with him?"

Almost simultaneously, the entire city of Luoyang erupted like oil poured onto a massive stone, exploding completely.

Translation: "Almost simultaneously, the entire city of Luoyang, like boiling oil into which a huge stone has been thrown, exploded completely!"

"Liang Ji! The arrogant general! He poisoned Emperor Zhi!"

Translation: "\"Liang Ji! Arrogant general! He poisoned Emperor Zhi! \"

"Thirty billion! By Heaven! He embezzled half a year's tax revenue!"

Translation: "\"Three billion in cash! Good heavens! He embezzled half a year's tax revenue from the court! \"

"He seized my family's lands and drove my father to death!"

Translation: "\"He seized my family's land and drove my father to death! \"

"Dog thief! Traitor to the nation! Everyone must punish him!"

Translation: "\"Traitor! National traitor! Everyone can punish him! \"

"Go find the emperor! Ask the emperor to execute this traitor and rid the people of his harm!"

Translation: "\"Go find the emperor! Ask the emperor to execute the national traitor and rid the people of harm! \"

Waves of angry voices surged from all directions toward the palace and the Grand General's residence.

Translation: "Waves of anger surged from all directions toward the palace and the Grand General's residence."

Countless families of officials once persecuted by Liang Ji, peasants whose lands had been seized, scholars already discontented with his tyranny, and even some Imperial Guard soldiers who fully believed the celestial screen, all became restless.

Translation: "Countless families of officials persecuted by Liang Ji, commoners whose fields had been seized, scholars long dissatisfied with his autocracy, and even some imperial guard soldiers who deeply believed in the Heavenly Curtain, all became restless."

Outside the Grand General's residence, a massive, angry crowd quickly surrounded it, their curses shaking the heavens.

Translation: "Outside the Grand General's residence, it was quickly surrounded by a massive, angry crowd, whose curses shook heaven and earth."

The palace, the Deyang Hall.

Translation: "The palace, Deyang Hall."

The young Emperor Huan of Han, Liu Zhi, now looked at the celestial screen with a pallid face, his body trembling slightly.

Translation: "The young Emperor Huan of Han, Liu Zhi, now pallid and trembling slightly, gazed at the Heavenly Curtain."

He was both terrified and felt an uncontrollable… excitement?

Translation: "He was fearful, yet felt an irrepressible… excitement?"

The celestial screen foreshadowed his future collusion with eunuchs to execute Liang Ji as a grand feat.

Translation: "The Heavenly Curtain gave a spoiler of his future plot with eunuchs to assassinate Liang Ji—a 'great deed'."

It also revealed his clever scheme of using Liang Ji's fortune to reduce taxes and buy the people's loyalty.

Translation: "It also revealed his plan to use Liang Ji's wealth to cut taxes and win over the people—a 'clever scheme'."

This caught him off guard, yet it caused his desire to eliminate Liang Ji to grow wildly like weeds.

Translation: "This left him somewhat unprepared, but it also caused his resolve to kill Liang Ji to grow like weeds."

Especially since the celestial screen explicitly stated that Liang Ji poisoned Emperor Zhi, which made him feel a deep, terrifying empathy—

Translation: "Especially since the Heavenly Curtain explicitly stated that Liang Ji had poisoned Emperor Zhi, this made him empathize deeply, filled with dread——"

If he could poison Emperor Zhi today, could he poison Emperor Huan tomorrow?

Translation: "\"If he can poison Emperor Zhi today, could he poison me, Emperor Huan, tomorrow? \""

"If this traitor is not eliminated, I… I cannot rest or eat in peace!"

Translation: "\"If this villain is not removed, I… I cannot find peace in sleep or food! \"

Emperor Huan gritted his teeth and said to his most trusted eunuchs, Dan Chao and Zuo Guan, his voice trembling with emotion.

Translation: "Emperor Huan gritted his teeth at his most trusted eunuchs, Shan Chao and Zuo Guan, his voice trembling with emotion."

"Your Majesty, the heavens have decreed it, the people's anger is such, this is a once‑in‑a‑thousand‑years chance to eradicate the Liang traitor!"

Translation: "\"Your Majesty, heaven wills it, the people rage—this is a rare opportunity to exterminate the Liang traitor! \"

Dan Chao's eyes flashed with excitement and ruthlessness.

Translation: "Shan Chao's eyes flashed with excitement and ruthlessness."

"Liang the traitor must be panicking now, and his followers' hearts will be unsettled. Please, Your Majesty, decide quickly and issue an edict to capture him! Delay will cause chaos!"

Translation: "\"The Liang traitor must now be panicking, his followers' hearts unsettled. Please, Your Majesty, swiftly decide and issue an edict to capture him! Delay invites change! \"

Emperor Huan took a deep breath, about to issue the edict.

Translation: "Emperor Huan drew a deep breath, about to issue the edict."

At that moment, the celestial screen's punishment, though not shortening his lifespan, descended in an even more torturous form.

Translation: "Just then, the Heavenly Curtain's punishment, though not reducing his lifespan, descended in another, more tormenting way."

【In view of Liang Ji's regicide, tyranny, and embezzlement amounting to thirty billion, his crimes are boundless and indescribable!】

Translation: "【Considering Liang Ji's regicide, autocracy, and embezzlement amounting to three billion, his crimes are monstrous, beyond bamboo to record!】"

【Now the heavenly decree: for the remainder of his life, he shall endure three daily tortures, without end!】

Translation: "【Now imposing Heavenly Dao Punishment: during his remaining yang lifespan, he shall daily endure three tortures, endlessly cycled!】"

【For six hours each day, he will endure the "Ten‑thousand Ants Gnawing the Heart" pain, as if countless ants are biting his heart and marrow!】

Translation: "【For six double-hours each day, he shall suffer the pain of 'Myriad Ants Devouring the Heart,' as if countless ants gnaw his heart and marrow!】"

【For six hours each day, he will endure the "Bones Shattered, Tendons Ripped" pain, as if his entire skeleton is breaking and his tendons are being torn!】

Translation: "【For six double-hours each day, he shall suffer the pain of 'Bone-Shattering, Sinew-Extracting,' as if his bones are broken inch by inch and his tendons plucked!】"

【For six hours each day, he will endure the "Skull Cracking" pain, as if his head is bound by an iron band and hammered mercilessly!】

Translation: "【For six double-hours each day, he shall suffer the pain of 'Skull-Splitting Headache,' as if his skull is tightly bound by an iron band and struck by a heavy hammer!】"

【The three tortures rotate continuously without pause until his death!】

Translation: "【The three tortures rotate without cease until his death!】"

As the celestial screen's words fell, three beams of differing colors, each exuding an ominous and painful aura,

Translation: "As the Heavenly Curtain's words faded, three beams of light, each a different color yet equally emanating an ominous and painful aura——"

a black‑red beam (Ten‑thousand Ants), a gray‑white beam (Shattered Bones), and a dark‑yellow beam (Skull Pain) descended simultaneously from the screen, precisely enveloping the stunned Liang Ji in the Rabbit Garden!

Translation: "Black-red (Myriad Ants), gray-white (Bone-Shattering), dark-yellow (Headache), simultaneously descended from the Heavenly Curtain, precisely enveloping the stunned Liang Ji in the Rabbit Garden!"

"Ah—!!!"

Translation: "\"Ah——!!! \""

Liang Ji let out what might be the most harrowing, prolonged, and painful wail since the creation of the world!

Translation: "Liang Ji let out a wail so shrill, so enduring, so agonizing that it might be the most terrible since the creation of heaven and earth!"

The sound no longer resembled a human voice, but rather the lament of a tormented demon from the deepest pits of hell.

Translation: "That sound no longer resembled a human voice, but rather the lament of a tormented evil spirit from the lowest depths of hell."

He suddenly clutched his head, his eyes bulging with blood‑shot veins, as if about to explode.

Translation: "He was seen clutching his head, his eyes bulging, his eyeballs suffused with blood, as if about to burst."

The "Skull Cracking" torture had begun!

Translation: "This is the onset of the 'Skull-Splitting Headache' punishment!"

Immediately afterwards, he frantically tore at his own chest clothing, rolling on the ground, scratching his skin with his fingers,

It seemed as if countless things were crazily gnawing and tearing beneath his skin, within his bones, and inside his heart!

This is the "Ten‑thousand Ants Gnawing the Heart."

Then, as if struck by an invisible massive hammer, his body twisted grotesquely, emitting a sour‑tinged "crack" as if his bones were snapping and his tendons tearing.

This is the "Bones Shattered, Tendons Ripped" torture.

The three agonizing pains rotated in a cruel rhythm, overlapping on Liang Ji's body.

He alternated between clutching his head and wailing, rolling and clawing, contorting his limbs, becoming a mass of frantic convulsions, wails, and twists—a human embodiment of suffering.

His horrific condition sent a chilling prickling through the angry crowd, but immediately louder cheers erupted.

"Retribution! Divine punishment!"

"Let him also taste the feeling of being gnawed by ants and having his bones shattered!"

"Old thief Liang Ji! You have met your day!"

The guards and servants of the Grand General's residence, seeing their master in such a dire state, were so frightened they fled, leaving no one to guard.

Some clever ones had already begun to slip away quietly.

In the palace, Emperor Huan heard the faint, inhuman wail, which sent a chill through him, but also filled him with exhilaration and resolve.

The celestial screen's severe punishment further proves Liang Ji's monstrous crimes, inciting both heavenly wrath and popular resentment!

If we don't act now, when will we ever act?

"Transmit my edict!"

Emperor Huan sprang to his feet, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Grand General Liang Ji, regicide and harm to the virtuous, embezzler of the state treasury, your crimes are evident, inciting heavenly wrath and popular resentment!"

"Immediately strip him of all offices and titles, imprison him in the celestial prison, and place him under strict guard!"

"His assets shall be seized at once by the Office of the Inspector of the Imperial Guard and the Governor of Henan, without error!"

"His family and allies shall be apprehended together."

"Tomorrow… tomorrow at noon, escort Liang Ji to Caishikou for a slow‑slicing execution, cutting him to pieces, to appease the world!"

In the end, he could not hold back and issued the order for the slow‑slicing execution.

The celestial screen's punishment was cruel, but it was a heavenly decree.

Even mortal emperors must wield thunderous measures!

"We have received the edict!"

Dan Chao and the others excitedly acknowledged, immediately dispatching troops from the palace.

With the imperial decree, the already‑ready Imperial Guards and the troops of the Office of the Inspector surged like wolves and tigers into the chaotic, leaderless Liang residence.

They dragged the contorted, wailing Liang Ji from the ground like a dead dog and threw him into the deepest, darkest cell of the imperial prison, equipped with the full array of execution devices.

His family members, wives, children, and confidants were each seized and locked up.

The team confiscating his assets began cataloguing the mountain of wealth; though not yet fully tallied, its terrifying scale already justified the phrase "wealth that could rival a nation."

The news spread, and the people of Luoyang erupted again, their cheers echoing to the heavens.

Those who had been oppressed by Liang Ji wept profusely, continuously bowing toward the palace.

The next day at noon, the execution ground at Caishikou was packed with a sea of people.

Liang Ji was bound to the execution pillar, already near death from the three celestial tortures, his spirit on the brink of collapse.

When the executioner's cold blade began to slice his flesh according to the slow‑slicing method, the added mortal agony intertwined with the heavenly punishment, prompting his final, most desperate howl…

Three thousand six hundred blows, each cutting blood, each sinking into flesh.

The once‑arrogant general ultimately, under both mortal and heavenly punishments, was reduced to a shattered skeleton and a pool of indistinct flesh, ending his monstrously sinful life.

His assets were seized and auctioned, ultimately raising over thirty billion, which Emperor Huan used to reduce taxes nationwide, earning him great prestige.

After the heavenly curtain finished announcing the third place, people throughout the ages were even more eager to know who this second place was?