Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) seized power through rebellion, making his ascension to the throne illegitimate. Therefore, both during the Jingnan Campaign and after his usurpation, he was consistently criticized.
Like his father, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di was ruthless and cold-blooded, relentlessly punishing those who offended him. He not only physically eliminated his opponents but also discredited them, even targeting their wives and daughters.
To torture the wives and daughters of his political enemies, Zhu Di issued an edict establishing a special institution where those who entered often suffered a fate worse than death.
This institution was the Jiaofangsi, a place dedicated to the torment of women.
Members of the Jiaofangsi were mostly wives and daughters of disgraced officials, effectively serving as official prostitutes.
Lu Ming, of course, would not allow them to become official prostitutes. Their above-average beauty was reserved for his own enjoyment—a thought that was out of the question.
For him, whose lifespan could be extended indefinitely with a little effort, the concerns of mortals were irrelevant.
He pulled his penis from Jiang's body, looking at the mature woman, now dazed and confused from being fucked, Lu Ming grinned maliciously and shoved it into her mouth. "Lick it well, lick it clean, and I'll spare your life."
"Waaah... Thank... My lord..." Jiang no longer cared that her husband, Guan Ren, was watching; to survive, she could only serve her enemy with her mouth.
She groveled before Lu Ming, utterly devoid of dignity.
Even though Lu Ming had killed her son, she harbored no resentment. Power, after all, meant doing whatever one pleased!
Lu Ming was utterly unafraid of attacks from powerful clans; he believed the people's hearts were indeed a valuable asset.
Every time he traveled, the people would kneel to greet him.
He fed them, gave them water, didn't charge them, and provided them with land to cultivate.
This was benevolence—disguising his own interests, so no one noticed, and even if they did, they dared not speak out.
"Good stuff! Isn't that how Zhang Jiao rose to power?"
Guan Ren's eyes widened in horror, bloodshot veins clinging to them. He was filled with hatred!
He hated himself for not listening to Ma Teng and siding with him. Then, with a pincer attack, he might have been able to kill that beast Lu Ming!
Now it was too late, far too late!
"Tomorrow, take him to the settlement area, gather the people, read out his crimes, select the best men, and have him sliced to death!" Lu Ming's tone was disdainful, but it instantly turned Guan Ren's furious expression ashen.
At that moment, he only wanted a quick death, not to be slowly tortured to death!
Being sliced to death was no pleasant experience; it would drive someone mad!
Lu Ming laughed wildly and left, the prison door slamming shut behind him. Inside, Guan Ren was plunged into endless terror.
The next day, when Lin Rong came to arrest him, Guan Ren was still lying in the cold cell, wailing bitterly. Only an empty echo answered him.
Guan Ren, weak and powerless, slumped there, his fleshy face contorted with fear beyond recognition.
Yesterday, Guan Ren had spent an entire day in despair awaiting death. He had no appetite, unable even to eat his last meal.
Lin Rong led several soldiers in, storming into the cell. Guan Ren, who had spent the night lost in thought, was immediately terrified and shrank to a corner.
"Drag this bastard out and prepare for slow slicing," Lin Rong shouted, waving his hand.
The soldiers surged forward, but Guan Ren wished he could disappear into a crack in the wall, refusing to submit even in death. He struggled desperately, shouting, "I want to see the Governor! I want to see the Governor!"
Lin Rong sneered, "Right now, your wife and daughter are attending to you. He doesn't have time to see you. Stop being stubborn and accept your fate."
Guan Ren, his heart breaking, refused to submit even in death. His dying struggle unleashed an astonishing strength; several soldiers couldn't move him.
In his final moments, Guan Ren struggled relentlessly. Unable to budge him after several attempts, Lin Rong became enraged. He strode forward and swung his iron fist, slamming it down on Guan Ren. Bang! Bang! Bang!
His fists moved like the wind, delivering over a dozen punches, each landing squarely on Guan Ren's face.
After a beating, Guan Ren was left bruised and swollen, dizzy, and nearly fainted.
Taking advantage of Guan Ren's dazed state, the soldiers rushed forward, hoisted him onto their backs, and carried him away.
When Guan Ren was awakened by deafening cheers, he found himself on a makeshift platform in the military settlement outside the city.
The large square in front of the platform was packed with people, filled with Chengdu residents who had come to hear the news.
Guan Ren was now stripped naked and bound to a wooden frame.
Beside the frame, a bare-chested executioner was drinking to bolster his courage while sharpening his knife.
"During his tenure, Guan Ren plundered and extorted, murdering the entire Li Damu family of Li Village. Chen Village was also wiped out because of him. He committed rape, plunder, and all manner of evil; this scoundrel deserves to die! Now, Governor Lu Ming of Liangzhou, having led a large army to repel the rebels, has captured Guan Ren and other traitors, investigated their crimes, and hereby publicly announces the charges against this scoundrel to quell public anger!" A civil official loudly read aloud, proclaiming Guan Ren's crimes, whether real or not, essentially portraying him as a heinous beast!
Ironically, this minor official was still loyal to the Guan family, and now he had betrayed them!
Guan Ren, regaining his senses, finally understood that his final moment had arrived, and he was only one step away from death.
In despair, Guan Ren had given up on living; all he hoped for was a quick death from the executioner.
Unfortunately, Lu Ming issued the order for a slow, agonizing execution. This meant that, according to the rules of the Lingchi (death by a thousand cuts) of this era, Guan Ren would only be beheaded after being sliced at least 120 times.
"The time has come, begin the execution!" Lin Rong, who was ordered to supervise the execution, shouted loudly.
The executioner, knife raised high, approached Guan Ren, while the vagrants before the execution platform cheered thunderously.
Now, Lu Ming not only satisfied their desire to execute Guan Ren, but also to execute him by a thousand cuts, Lingchi.
It must be said that Lu Ming's order won him even more hearts from the vagrants. The jubilant scene before them was the best proof.
Amidst the jubilation of the crowd, the Lingchi began.
The executioner, a former butcher, raised his knife, approached Guan Ren with a cold smile, and began to draw lines on his body.
The gleaming knife reflected a cold light. Even before the blade touched him, Guan Ren felt as if his heart was about to burst. His fleshy face was contorted with terror, unrecognizable.
"Brother, please, give me a quick death! Kill me with one stroke! I beg you!!!"