Chapter 877: What? The Great Qing Is Gone! — Chapter 18 (Please Subscribe)

Not long after Luo Yangxing came down from Yunlong Mountain, Kong Sizhen — the wife of Fan Wencheng, who was already slated for death by slow slicing — was escorted up by Chen Yonghua. It was Jin Dongzhu and Ajige who had come together, red-eyed, to plead with the Zhu Emperor, and Zhu Cilang happened to want to ask about Fan Wencheng's condition. He had already heard that Fan Wencheng was ill, and he did not know whether the man could hold out until Bumbutai reached Xuzhou. So he ordered his men to bring Kong Sizhen up Yunlong Mountain.

And the moment he laid eyes on Kong Sizhen, he froze. Because Kong Sizhen had been tied up — bound tightly with ropes, the cords cinched so hard they squeezed out every curve of her fine figure! Such a beautiful woman with such a figure, bowing gracefully to the Zhu Emperor and calling herself "the criminal woman Kong Sizhen" — she looked rather like some adulteress who had murdered her own husband.

Zhu Cilang recognized the man escorting Kong Sizhen as "Chief Helmsman Chen" — a key figure he was grooming — so he asked, "Chen Yonghua, did you tie her up?"

"Your Majesty," Chen Yonghua replied, "this woman asked to be tied up herself. She said her father Kong Youde's crimes were monstrous, and she dared not hope for pardon, only begged Your Majesty to punish her severely. This humble subject thought she had a point, so I found a length of hemp rope and bound her."

"Is that so?" Zhu Cilang shifted his gaze to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhu Chunjie and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Ji Kun — cases of traitors were all treason cases, so of course the Embroidered Uniform Guard handled the investigation, while the Court of Judicial Review was the office responsible for trial.

Even Fan Wencheng's death by slow slicing had to be adjudicated by the Court of Judicial Review according to law; the Zhu Emperor could only give final approval or grant a pardon.

So Zhu Cilang had summoned Zhu Chunjie and Ji Kun to Xuzhou early on. Ji Kun had originally been serving as ambassador to France and had only returned the previous year, with Li Shaoyou sent to France in his place. After his return, Zhu Cilang made him Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review — that is, the head of the Great Ming's supreme court.

Zhu Chunjie said thoughtfully, "Kong Youde's crimes are unpardonable, so naturally his descendants must share in the punishment. But Kong Sizhen is not a descendant in the male line — she is a daughter — and according to the Great Ming's Chongzhen Legal Code, daughters are not included in collective punishment. However, after Kong Tingxun was imprisoned, Kong Sizhen brought Fan Wencheng into the family as a live-in son-in-law to inherit the title of Prince Who Pacifies the South... it seems she ought to receive some punishment as well."

Ji Kun stroked his beard, his face grave: "Your Majesty, by law Kong Sizhen should be punished with a three-degree reduction of sentence. Kong Youde's crime warrants death by slow slicing; one degree reduced is beheading, two degrees reduced is death by hanging, three degrees reduced is exile to the Western Regions, Taiwan, or enslavement to the state. This subject believes that since Kong Sizhen has shown courage in accepting responsibility and is a chaste woman, the punishment should be further reduced at discretion. This subject recommends sentencing Kong Sizhen to enter the palace as a bondservant."

"Ministers Zhu and Ji speak wisely." Zhu Cilang looked at Kong Sizhen. "Sizhen, do you have any objection to Our ruling?"

Kong Sizhen said softly, "This slave submits to Your Majesty's disposition. However, this slave has two requests."

"Speak."

"First, this slave wishes to see her husband Fan Wencheng off on his final journey. Second, this slave has a daughter, Xiaoyu, whom she wishes to bring into the palace to raise."

Zhu Cilang nodded: "Granted. Once you enter the palace, you will serve as Ajige's palace maid."

Kong Sizhen bowed to the Zhu Emperor: "This slave thanks Your Majesty for his boundless grace."

"We ask you," Zhu Cilang said, "how is Fan Wencheng's illness? Roughly how much longer can he hold on?"

Kong Sizhen said, "This slave's husband has no serious illness — it is an illness of the heart."

"How is it to be treated?" Zhu Cilang asked.

"Your Majesty may send someone to say that Fulin has already submitted a memorial demanding him back." Kong Sizhen said, "Then this slave will tend to him well. In that way, this slave's husband will surely recover."

"What a good wife indeed!" Zhu Cilang nodded with feeling. "For Fan Wencheng to have such a wife, he can die without regret!"

"We ask you further — you spent many days in the company of Bumbutai and Fulin. What do you think of the relationship between mother and son? Would Fulin disregard Bumbutai's safety and raise troops in rebellion in Beijing?"

"Fulin is of course a filial son," Kong Sizhen said, "but he will certainly rebel. Because he simply cannot go to Guihua City. I hope Your Majesty will make preparations early."

"Prepare for what?" Zhu Cilang asked another question.

"Naturally, for assaulting the strong walls of Beijing," Kong Sizhen said. "The only thing Fulin can count on is that strong city. Your Majesty must not underestimate Beijing's defenses."

Heh heh, what a fine bondservant she is!

Zhu Cilang smiled: "Beijing's defenses are like paper to Us — not worth worrying about! Sizhen, since you have confessed and submitted to justice, surely you are also willing to give an account of Fan Wencheng's crimes?"

"That..." Kong Sizhen hesitated a little. "This slave is a man's wife; how can she speak ill of her own husband? However, this slave's husband has the habit of keeping a diary. He carries several large chests of diaries with him, and this slave has had them brought to Xuzhou as well."

Black ink on white paper — ironclad proof! The matter of convicting Fan Wencheng was as good as settled!

Zhu Cilang nodded vigorously: "Good, good. You are indeed a good wife, unwilling to denounce your husband to reduce your own sentence. Later We shall have a chastity arch erected in your honor. For now, go back and take good care of Fan Wencheng. It is only seven or eight days — once Bumbutai arrives, you will be a widow. Then you will be sentenced to enter the palace to atone, and you may serve Ajige well!"

The last seven or eight days of Fan Wencheng's life were, all things considered, full of hope and warmth. First Luo Yangxing came to see him and told him that Jin Fulin was working to rescue him — because Jin Fulin valued his talents in civil governance and wanted him to go and set right the Tumochuan and Guihua City. Then Kong Sizhen dutifully played the virtuous wife and good mother for several days, tending to him very well.

On the fifth day of the fourth month, early in the morning, several Embroidered Uniform Guard strongmen entered the cell where he lived alone — his good wife Kong Sizhen still would not let him touch her, so he still occupied a cell by himself.

"You — you are..." The moment Fan Wencheng saw the flying-fish uniforms of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a sense of foreboding seized him.

"Fan Wencheng, is it?" A junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard walked in at that moment, grinning. "That's the man — take him away!"

"Away? Where to?"

"To court, of course!" The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer laughed. "Chief Justice Ji of the Court of Judicial Review has arrived in Xuzhou to try your case."

"Case? What case?" Fan Wencheng was starting to panic.

"Nothing much — just the crimes of treason and aiding the barbarians against the court, of breaking treaties and seizing territory, of massacring cities and wanton killing, and of robbing the Kong family tombs!"

Nothing much? Fan Wencheng's whole body began to tremble. If all these charges were proven, would he not be sentenced to death by slow slicing!

"Take him away!" The junior officer waved a hand, and two strongmen moved in, one on each side, and hauled Fan Wencheng out like a chicken.

They did not go far — just to the main hall of the Xuzhou branch of the Court of Judicial Review. The place where Fan Wencheng was being held was the jail of the Xuzhou Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's branch office.

The so-called branch office of the Court of Judicial Review was, in fact, a local court. In the Ming dynasty, local judicial affairs had formerly been monopolized by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's office. After Zhu Cilang took power, he carried out reforms separating surveillance and adjudication. Local public security and prosecutorial authority were handled by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's office, which was in turn under the dual jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice and the local government.

The branch office of the Court of Judicial Review, on the other hand, was a subordinate organ of the Court of Judicial Review, responsible for trials.

The case involving Fan Wencheng was a treason case, so of course it could not be handled by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's office. But the Embroidered Uniform Guard had no jail in Xuzhou, so he was held in the jail of the Xuzhou Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's branch office.

And the jail of the Xuzhou Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's branch office was very close to the main hall of the Xuzhou branch of the Court of Judicial Review — door to door, in fact — so it took only a moment to get there.

The presiding judge Ji Kun and several judicial officials sitting as assessors had already arrived and were examining the evidence — namely Fan Wencheng's own diaries, along with the Embroidered Uniform Guard's reports.

The evidence was conclusive!

This Fan Wencheng was confirmed to have committed eight major crimes: treason, aiding the barbarians, opposing the court, breaking treaties, plunder, massacre, tomb robbing, and desecrating the sage — all unpardonable offenses. Any one of them warranted death by slow slicing; Fan Wencheng deserved to be sliced eight times over!

"Kneel!"

Fan Wencheng had intended to put up a show of defiance when he entered the hall, but someone kicked him twice in the calves, and he dropped to his knees with a thud, his kneecaps aching fiercely!

Two rows of Embroidered Uniform Guard strongmen bellowed: "All rise—"

The sound alone was terrifying! A murderous atmosphere immediately filled the courtroom.

Ji Kun picked up the wooden gavel and slammed it down on the bench with a crack. The hall instantly fell dead silent — even Fan Wencheng did not dare make a sound.

"This official pronounces judgment," Ji Kun declared, dispensing with any trial and passing sentence directly. "The Liaodong traitor Fan Wencheng has committed eight major crimes: treason, aiding the barbarians, opposing the court, breaking treaties, plunder, massacre, tomb robbing, and desecrating the sage. The evidence is conclusive, his crimes are monstrous, and he shows no repentance. Without severe punishment the people's fury cannot be appeased. He is hereby sentenced to death by slow slicing eight times over, for a total of eight thousand cuts!"

Chapter recommendation: "The Que of Han," the new work by the great author Qiyue Xinfan, author of "The Qin Official" — a story set in the reign of Emperor Zhao of the Western Han, another neglected period that only a true master could make popular. Lovers of Great Han history, don't miss it!

(End of Chapter)