When night fell, the incessant screaming and crying finally stopped in this temporary military camp.
The guards of the Yulin Army skillfully pulled the dead prisoners out from the barracks, then laid dry firewood on them and cremated them all.
And those who survived by chance looked at all this with dull eyes and numbness. In the past few days, something like this would happen every day.
They don't know if they will be dragged out and burned tomorrow.
These were all members of the Shanxi merchant clan or people involved in smuggling, and they were all arrested in one fell swoop.
But they did not suffer the pain of severe punishment because they were not qualified enough.
Only some of the more important personnel, those who planned and executed the smuggling, and some large merchants were qualified to be taken to the camp for individual interrogation by the Jin Yiwei.
Therefore, no one cares about the life and death of these people. They only give them a meal of gruel every day, regardless of whether they are full or not.
But right now, many sergeants are taking out their grievances on these criminals. As long as their interest and emotions are in place, these criminals will receive even the slightest beating.
Zhu Youxiao's order to Ma Xianglin was that all those who were unimportant and had no effect on the situation were to be killed directly, but they had to wait until the principal culprits confessed.
Therefore, in the eyes of the sergeants, these people were wasting food. There was only so much military ration. It was rations squeezed out from the teeth of the sergeants. How could they not be angry?
Usually they use the ground as their bed and the sky as their quilt, and a bunch of people huddle together to keep each other warm, but the cold wind in the middle of the night is so awakening that they can't sleep at all.
Being hungry, cold, and unable to sleep led to a decline in body functions. Some of the gentlemen who usually had fine clothes and fine food couldn't bear it at all, and they became so stubborn on the spot.
The soldiers would clean up many corpses every day to ensure that the occurrence and spread of plague diseases would not occur.
Xu Xianchun and Ma Xianglin have completely implemented the tasks assigned by the emperor.
Within several camps, the profiteers and main participants who were tortured were beaten to the point of dying and were forced to hang there while breathing.
It is not that they are not afraid of death, it is precisely because they are afraid of death that they have never spoken out to betray those local officials, generals and courtiers who colluded with them.
Because they all know that this is their last hope of rescue, and these people will not care whether they live or die.
Once they let go now, they will no longer have any chance of survival. With the temper of the current emperor, they will definitely be executed.
A glimmer of hope is always better than death, so this is also the motivation and belief they have always adhered to.
It was also the first time that Xu Xianchun encountered someone with such a tough mouth. He used all the severe punishments available, but they didn't speak. He was so angry that he cursed the Tiqi men under him bloody.
The date given by His Majesty is getting closer and closer, but he has not made any progress yet. How can he deliver the task?
Although Fan Yongdou used his family to intimidate him before and he admitted all the crimes, he really refused to speak out about the information about their interest group.
For this reason, Xu Xianchun also had several of his concubines and children chopped up alive in front of him, but it had no effect.
"Damn it, I didn't expect these people to be much tougher than those in the court. This is the first time I have encountered difficulties in interrogation!"
In the big tent, Xu Xianchun drank a bowl of hot wine and said to Ma Xianglin who was studying the military book.
Ma Xianglin just raised his head and glanced at him, without making a sound. His attention was still on the military book in his hand.
Although both of them were Zhu Youxiao's confidants, except for official matters, they basically had no contact with each other. Ma Xianglin even looked down on Xu Xianchun a little bit.
Although he was merciless when killing people, he was not so ruthless when dealing with enemies on the battlefield and bullying unarmed civilians who had no power to resist.
Although these people were all heinous traitors, and he knew that Xu Xianchun's actions were tacitly approved and correct by His Majesty, he still could not change his heart and character.
"The Hussars General is always by your Majesty's side. I think he is already familiar with this military strategy. When your Majesty sends out troops to conquer the old slaves, he will definitely be able to shine!"
Ma Xianglin put down his military strategy, took a sip of hot tea and said:
"Commander doesn't have to say nice things to flatter me. It's just a matter of duty. Since Your Majesty trusts me and entrusts me with important responsibilities, I will naturally do my best to do my job well and share His Majesty's worries!"
"If torture fails, the commander may try the methods of the law enforcement team in the military camp. They have some methods taught by His Majesty himself. They should be able to help you!"
"Thank you so much, General Hussar!"
Xu Xianchun also knew that Ma Xianglin did not want to get close to him, so after achieving his goal, he did not say much and left the tent after handing over, going to look for the generals of the law enforcement team.
Although the members of the law enforcement team were originally Jin Yiwei and his subordinates, they have been separated since they were transferred to the army.
After the members of the law enforcement team learned of Xu Xianchun's request, they did not follow him directly to interrogate the person. Instead, they asked Ma Xianglin for instructions first and only dared to go after receiving approval.
In fact, they have been eager to try it for a long time. They have never used the moves His Majesty taught them, so their hands are itchy.
What Zhu Youxiao gave them was the most commonly used method in later generations, which was to lock people in a dark place.
Although it seems so ordinary, most people really can't stand confinement, especially in such a situation where they are being tortured to extract confessions, let alone.
Although torture is a good punishment, it can cause people to suffer great physical pain, but once they encounter hard problems, it will be troublesome.
The purpose of confinement is to destroy the defense line in people's hearts. Coupled with the method of boiling eagles, it only takes a short time to make people become like walking zombies.
People like Fan Yongdou have never experienced such a feeling. Within three hours, mental problems have already appeared.
Seeing that the time had come, the law enforcement team quickly dragged them out, then randomly selected one person and chopped him alive into a pile of paste in front of them.
Under such a blow and intimidation, how could they withstand it? Each one of them cried and was willing to confess.
Xu Xianchun was dumbfounded. He didn't see what they did, but they did it like this? It was much easier than torture.
The first person to speak was Fan Yongdou. Now he was despairing and had no hope at all, so he told all the forces behind it and the people in their interest group.
Even a knowledgeable person like Xu Xianchun was frightened when he heard this. He had never imagined that so many people were involved.
After Xu Xianchun drew up the list, he sent a fast cavalry to the capital that night to report to the emperor.