The bandits lived in constant fear after the Qin army entered the city.
They had a premonition that the Qin army had entered the city specifically for them.
However, they still held onto a sliver of hope, wishing that the Qin army wasn't there for them and that they could spare their own lives.
But their wishes were as beautiful as they were detached from reality, as the actual situation was entirely different from what they imagined.
Especially when the Qin army directly came knocking on their doors, they were thrown into a panic.
"You, what are you doing here? Why are you at my place??"
"Why are we here, don't you know? At this point, why are you still pretending with us??"
"Pretending what? I don't know what you're talking about. You must have the wrong person, you definitely have the wrong person!!"
When the soldiers arrived, the bandits dared not admit to being bandits.
If they did, they would surely meet their end.
Therefore, what they had to do at this moment was to feign ignorance.
Pretend they knew nothing, pretend they had the wrong person. In this way, they might be able to save their lives.
However, with the Qin army at their doorstep, how could they possibly have the wrong person?
No matter how he argued, he was easily apprehended.
Not only that, but the soldiers of Qin also found a large amount of wealth in their homes.
This wealth was not something ordinary citizens could possess.
Moreover, many of them were found to be hiding weapons, which further complicated the situation.
Before long, all of them confessed and were arrested.
After these individuals were arrested, the city's residents only then realized what was happening.
"Huh? Why were they taken away? And why did they have so much money??"
"Why? Because they are bandits who kill and steal! These people are a scourge!!"
"No wonder, no wonder those loafers suddenly became rich. So they were all bandits! It serves them right to be arrested!!"
Many people agreed with such statements.
Especially when they learned that these bandits had achieved their current status by robbing others and by killing and plundering, they couldn't help but curse them.
Perhaps hearing the curses of the commoners, Lin Tian did not order their immediate execution. Instead, he gathered them all together, preparing for a public execution.
This was not a secret execution, but one carried out in front of everyone.
The commoners were allowed to witness the entire process.
If not for revenge, at least they could witness firsthand how their enemies met their demise.
Because of this, a large crowd gathered on the day these bandits were to be executed.
And when the commoners arrived, they were shocked.
They realized that there were a considerable number of these bandits, more than a thousand.
Furthermore, they recognized many among them.
"What? These bandits are so numerous! No wonder we were no match for them!!"
"Yes! With so many bandits gathered, they must have plundered a vast amount of wealth, otherwise, how could they support so many people??"
"Of course, many of our people die at their hands every year. But back then, no one intervened, so they got away with it. But it's different now, the Crown Prince has arrived, and they have nowhere to run!!"
The public execution of these bandits was a great encouragement to the commoners.
Especially for many among the populace who harbored ambitions of starting businesses.
However, they knew that to do business, they would inevitably have to pass through territories controlled by these bandits.
If they truly ventured into business, they might not only lose their wealth but also their lives.
Under such circumstances, they naturally dared not engage in business.
Moreover, each of them lived in constant fear,
afraid that at any moment, bandits would suddenly appear, rob them of their money, and kill them.
But now it was different. With all these bandits brought here for execution, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Simultaneously, many couldn't help but shout:
"Kill them, kill them!"
Their shouts were immediately echoed by many.
"Kill them, kill them!"
"Yes! Kill them, kill them now!!"
"They are all wicked people, they cannot be allowed to live, absolutely cannot be allowed to live!!"
"Your Highness, kill them quickly, kill them now!!"
Many commoners shouted at this moment, demanding the bandits be killed.
Lin Tian did not find anything wrong with such outcry; on the contrary, he strongly agreed.
After the crowd had shouted their demands, Lin Tian spoke.
"Very well, since everyone wishes for their demise, we shall kill them in front of you all!!"
"Let us kill these wicked bandits and vent our anger together!!"
"Good!!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd readily agreed.
Then, Lin Tian waved his hand and said to his soldiers:
"Execute one hundred men first!!"
Without hesitation, the soldiers acted immediately, beheading one hundred men on the spot.
In an instant, heads rolled, and blood splattered.
Such decisive action was beyond everyone's expectation.
But after a brief moment of stunned silence, they couldn't help but clap and praise:
"Good, well killed! These people deserve their fate!!"
"Yes, well killed, they deserve their fate!!"
"Kill them all, kill them all!"
As the cry to "kill them all" echoed, countless commoners responded.
And the bandits, one by one, were terrified.
Despite being bandits and having committed heinous acts, killing many people, they were also a cowardly lot. As they felt death approaching, many of them urinated on themselves on the spot.
The stench of urine permeated the air.
Many more among them pleaded for mercy.
However, their pleas for mercy came too late.
Since Lin Tian had decided to act against them, their begging for mercy would be of no use.
Soon, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred...
Under the gaze of the commoners, the Qin soldiers showed no mercy, and not a single one meant for execution was spared.
They even executed these men without pausing.
The Qin soldiers harbored extreme hatred for these individuals.
After all, their own families were ordinary citizens.
If they encountered these bandits, their families could also be in grave danger.
Therefore, killing these bandits was not only a service to the people but also a form of indirect protection for their own families.
...