Inside Zhuangzi, Wu San and two younger brothers were squatting in the corner, holding dry food and chewing slowly.
They were all sweating under the intense work, and now they were enjoying a moment of rest.
The scorching sun and the blowing of a cool breeze were God's gifts to them.
Unfortunately, before the cool breeze had finished blowing, a group of soldiers broke in outside Zhuangzi and started scolding the young men who were resting.
"Get up, get up, all of us!"
"Get up quickly..."
The one who moved slower was whipped directly by the scabbard, and then quickly stood up from the ground.
"Third brother, we have just rested for a long time, and now we have to work again!"
Wu San followed the crowd and rushed to the drying area outside Zhuangzi, but he felt that things were not that simple.
The soldiers who came in to drive them away this time were the guards of the palace. The action of these people usually meant something big happened.
Soon, hundreds of people were rushed to the drying area outside Zhuangzi.
This place is specially used for drying grain, so the place is big enough for hundreds of people to stand.
There were a large number of soldiers guarding the outside of the drying field. These were all people from the Military and Horse Division, all invited by Fang Tong.
As a general, Fang Tong only has about thirty people under his command, so it is unrealistic to screen hundreds of people.
Walking up to the high platform with Fang Tong, there was a hundred households from the Military and Horse Department. Both of them looked ugly at this moment.
"Quiet, quiet!"
Under the loud scolding of the soldiers, the people below silenced their voices and then looked at Comrade Gao Fang who was standing there.
Fang Tong held up a few plucked straws and asked directly: "Which of you took the ears of wheat above?"
Everyone discussed for a while, but no one admitted that he had done it.
Looking at the people below, Fang Tong said in an increasingly stern tone: "Stand up honestly and I will give you a lenient punishment!"
Unfortunately, no one below took the initiative to admit their mistake.
"If you don't admit it to these people, I will personally find you out!" Fang Tong said angrily.
So he ordered everyone to stand still and not move, and made it clear that anyone who moved would be guilty of the same crime as the thief, and anyone who reported it would be rewarded with ten kilograms of grain.
This move divided the young men into groups and supervised each other, so that no one dared to make any move.
Then Fang Tong asked his guards to enter the crowd and search one person after another.
Every time a person is searched and confirmed to be no suspect, he will be allowed to leave, so there are fewer and fewer people in the sunbathing area.
Wu San and his two younger brothers did not stand together. They were separated by three or five people. They could only see the guards approaching them.
At this moment, Wu San remembered that his younger brother had mentioned hiding food in the morning. Could it be that he did it?
Then Wu San glanced at the younger brother who proposed the "measure", his eyes full of inquiry.
After the latter understood, he just shook his head slightly, which made Wu Sancai feel relieved.
Soon, the guards searched for Wu San and rummaged through his clothes and shoes before letting him leave the drying area.
At this moment, more than a hundred people had been screened in the drying field, but no stolen food was found at all.
Although the quantity of this food is very small, Fang Tong must conduct a thorough investigation. If the food cannot be prevented, these people's appetite will become bigger and bigger.
Soon, the guards found Wu San.
"Raise your hands..."
"Turn around..."
"Take off your pants and shoes..."
The last step is what everyone on the scene has to do. Although it is very intrusive, no one will express dissatisfaction.
But before the young man could take off his pants, the guard looked down and saw wheat grains scattered on the ground.
There is no need to count, just a quick glance, and you can estimate how many hands there are.
Seeing the gloomy face of the guard in front of him, the young man also looked down and found the wheat grains scattered under his feet, which made him pale in horror.
"It turns out to be you!"
After saying this, the guard immediately grabbed the young man's neck and pushed him down to the ground.
Seeing this scene, Wu San, who was watching from a distance, felt nervous. Could it be that this bastard Liu Ergou was really stealing food?
Wu San looked gloomy and watched quietly. At this moment, he could only watch.
"Sir, it's not me, it's not me!" Liu Ergou defended in a panic. At this moment, he was scared out of his mind.
"Not you? Where did these ears of wheat come from?" the guard asked, stepping on Liu Ergou's head.
Immediately, two guards came forward, dragged Liu Ergou away like a dead dog, and brought him to Fang Tong.
"You are so bold, call everyone over to watch, and see what will happen to the roosters and dog robbers!"
After Fang Tong finished speaking, the guards next to him immediately called to the young men, and those who left were driven back to the drying area.
"Sir, I didn't steal this. Sir...it's unfair!"
Liu Ergou's voice echoed in the drying yard. The young men all looked on blankly, but Fang Tong ignored it.
After everyone arrived, Fang Tongcai shouted loudly: "Hit me!"
Liu Ergou was pushed to the ground. A guard at the side brought a whip and whipped Liu Ergou without saying a word.
Bang... Bang... Bang...
Every time the whip fell, Liu Ergou would scream, the sound was so shrill that the hearts of others trembled.
For just stealing a few wheat ears, one must suffer such a severe punishment, which greatly shocked the young people present.
The sound of the whip continued, and Liu Ergou cried out for his father and mother in pain, but his voice became smaller and smaller, and he finally passed out.
Thirty lashes in a row. Although the whole process only lasted a few minutes, it felt extremely long to everyone present. Every lash seemed to hit him.
"Are you dead?" Fang Tong asked casually.
After the guard took a breath and confirmed that Liu Ergou was still alive, Fang Tong truly felt at ease.
"Who knows this guy? Drag him away!"
Fang Tong gave a casual instruction, then turned and left, which also meant that the incident was over.
The guards and soldiers also left one after another and started patrolling again. Only the young and strong people stayed in place.
At this moment, the official in the yamen walked up to the high platform and said with an extremely ugly expression: "You have all seen that this is the fate of stealing things, so remember it in your heart!"
"Everyone go back and wait another half hour to continue working. It's time to disperse!"
After the official left, the young people at the scene left separately. At this time, Wu Sancai came to the center of the drying area.
"Two dogs? Two dogs?"
After shaking Liu Ergou on the ground a few times, the severe pain made him wake up and let out a weak groan.
"Didn't I tell you not to do this? Why didn't you listen?" Wu San scolded in a low voice.
"Third brother, I didn't..."
"How dare you lie!"
"Third brother, I...I really didn't steal the food, it wasn't me!"
Having said this, Liu San said in a very sincere tone: "Third brother, it's already this time, why should I lie?"
Wu San couldn't help but be stunned. He had already received the punishment. There was really no need to lie at this time.
In that case, someone framed his brother... Wu San secretly thought in his heart.
