Chapter 184: The Third Encirclement and Suppression (Part 2)
Inside the prison, the news of Li Fu's execution quickly caused the inmates in the surrounding cells to whisper. Most of these former officials had really committed crimes, and it was rare for an official like Li Fu to be imprisoned simply for impeaching Tian Wenjing. Seeing that Li Fu was sentenced to immediate execution, everyone sighed.
Chen Shiguan, who was in the same cell with Li Fu, was filled with sorrow. Seeing Li Fu sitting on the straw mat and concentrating on reading, Chen Shiguan wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. Li Fu was about to be executed, so didn't he want to find a way to defend himself?
Being in the officialdom, Chen Shiguan had heard about Yongzheng's favor for Li Fu. Although Tian Wenjing, who was impeached by Li Fu, was a popular figure, the rumor that Tian Wenjing would be made the governor of Henan never came true. But Li Fu was already the real governor of Zhili before he was imprisoned for impeaching Tian Wenjing. If Yongzheng did not favor Li Fu, he would not have let Li Fu sit in this position.
Just as Chen Shiguan was looking worried, the head of the prison came to Li Fu's cell and asked, "Master Li, what would you like to eat tonight?"
After being called twice, Li Fu raised his head and thought for a while with an unhappy expression as if he was interrupted while reading. Li Fu suddenly remembered something, "Have you decided on the number of dishes here?"
"yes."
"Can you give me a bigger portion and more wine? I want to enjoy my meal with Brother Chen."
Chen Shiguan was shocked. Why was he dragged in? But after thinking about it, Chen Shiguan felt relieved. Living in a cell these days, Li Fu was really a tough guy. He was not pretending to be fearless until death was imminent.
Being able to share a beheading meal with a guy like this... isn't that shameful!
In the evening, the food was served. Li Fu saw four plates of generous portions and two bottles of wine. He immediately put the tray in the middle, pulled up a straw mat and sat opposite Chen Shiguan. They began to eat and drink.
Chen Shiguan was touched by Li Fu's heroic spirit and stopped talking. He poured wine and served dishes and ate heartily. But halfway through the meal, Chen Shiguan suddenly put down his chopsticks and burst into tears. Li Fu drank the wine in the glass in one gulp and said with a smile: "Everyone will die one day, and the way of death is actually not very different. Brother Chen, don't be sad for me."
Chen Shiguan wiped his tears and said, "Brother Li, please forgive me for making fun of you. Brother Li is such a person, but he ended up like this just because he said something from his heart. When I think back to my story, I feel that I am the one who is unforgivable."
Li Fu waved his hand, "In my opinion, you don't have to worry about Brother Chen. Nian Gengyao is such a big shot, but he still wants to rely on Huo Chong to survive. Have you and I seen more big scenes than Nian Gengyao? I don't think so."
"But the war situation..."
"Brother Chen, let's be wise after the event. If Nian Gengyao had gone to destroy Huo Chong at that time, perhaps he would have won. But things have already happened, and we can only say that Huo Chong was lucky. Now he has grown up, and it is not as good as the court wants to destroy him. If he fails again, I think the court will understand Brother Chen's difficulties. If Nian Gengyao praises him for his elegant use of troops and solid combat, he is definitely not an ordinary person. Brother Chen is also a scholar. If someone is praised for his solid knowledge, how would you think of that person, Brother Chen?"
Chen Shiguan was also a Jinshi, and he knew that there were many people who deserved the word "talent", but not many who deserved the word "solid".
Before being imprisoned, Chen Shiguan already knew that the imperial court had decided to attack Huo Chong again, with Yue Zhongqi as the commander-in-chief. If the government army was defeated again, it would really prove that he was not useless. However... this method of proof was too... terrifying.
Then Li Fu sighed, "No matter who becomes the head coach, it must not be Tian Wenjing."
After Li Fu finished his last meal, he lay down and fell asleep. Chen Shiguan couldn't sleep, and he felt mixed emotions when he heard Li Fu lying quietly on the straw mat and falling asleep.
During these days, Li Fu read during the day, neither arguing nor worrying, as if he was not living in a prison, but recuperating in a place with beautiful mountains and rivers.
It would have been fine if it was just like that. Chen Shiguan also followed Li Fu's example and distracted himself by reading. However, at night, Chen Shiguan's mind was filled with various thoughts and he really couldn't sleep. On the other hand, Li Fu went to bed when it got dark and slept until dawn. The panic that made Chen Shiguan toss and turn had no effect on Li Fu at all.
Such a tough guy was going to be beheaded for publicly expressing his views. Chen Shiguan felt that the emperor might not really be right...
The next day, around noon, the Caishikou was crowded with people again. Ever since Yongzheng ascended the throne, beheadings had been taking place here every now and then. The people were getting more and more used to watching the excitement.
The prisoners were mostly officials, and they were begging for life in different dialects. The supervising officer ignored them and threw down a token. The executioner swung down his sword. A cold light flashed, and a head fell to the ground.
One by one, it was finally Li Fu's turn. I don't know if the executioner was tired of chopping, but he first swung the big knife that exuded a strong bloody smell in front of Li Fu. Li Fu squinted his eyes at first because of the cold light. Then the executioner put the big knife on Li Fu's neck and made a few more swings and chops.
Li Fu turned his face away in disgust. Just chop it off. What do you want to do by doing all this?
The executioner came down from the execution platform, walked up to Li Fu, and asked sternly, "Li Fu, the emperor asks you, do you know whether Tian Wenjing is okay now?"
Listening to the executioner's questions, the executioner put the sword on Li Fu's neck again. Judging from his movements, he was waiting for Li Fu to say something that displeased the executioner, and then he would chop it off immediately.
When Li Fu heard this, he immediately became angry, straightened his body, stretched his neck, and shouted while holding the ghost-head knife: "Even though I die, I don't know the good of Tian Wenjing!"
"Really?"
"I really don't know!"
That night, Yongzheng read the memorial submitted by the executioner and sighed. Yue Zhongqi, who was standing next to him, saw that Yongzheng looked full of regret and lowered his head without daring to ask.
Yongzheng ignored Yue Zhongqi and said to the Thirteenth Elder beside him, "Go tell the Ministry of Justice to raid Li Fu's house and find out how much money he has embezzled! I want this fellow to die with a clear conscience!"
Old Thirteen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still tried to probe: "Then what should we do with Li Fu next?"
"Lock him up first! After you've searched his house, show me the list. I'll execute him after the autumn execution!"
After dealing with Li Fu, Yongzheng still felt unsatisfied. Originally, the immediate execution was just to scare Li Fu, and as long as Li Fu gave in, he would be released. So from the beginning, Yongzheng did not order Li Fu to be killed. Unexpectedly, this guy was so tough that Yongzheng wanted to kill him.
With this murderous intent, Yongzheng asked Yue Zhongqi, "How are the war preparations going?"
Yue Zhongqi quickly replied: "Your Majesty, the troops have been deployed. As long as the emperor gives the order, the troops can march out."
"What are the chances of winning?"
"Reporting to the emperor, I think if we can march with 100,000 soldiers together and be careful on the road, we will win this battle. But if Huo Chong escapes from Shandong and wanders around in other places..."
"Don't worry. Huo Chong is not a roving bandit, but a sitting bandit." Yongzheng immediately gave Yue Zhongqi a reassurance.
