Ancient and modern times, China and abroad, the more "dictator" they are, the more they like to rule people in some extreme ways. To consolidate their rule, they need a group of whistleblowers and a group of executors.
Wu Zetian , this method is used to the extreme. She likes to appoint cruel officials very much, and in this way, she can eliminate people she doesn't like to clear obstacles. These trusted subordinates took this opportunity to create many unjust cases, and some of the practices are still outrageous. The variety of these torture instruments also reflects the "creativeness" of the ancients, but also shows that the scene at that time is frightening. There seems to be no country in the world that can surpass this number.
So, why did Wu Zetian trust them? Why did they "create" so many inhuman tortures?
Suo Yuanli , a Hu man, is a court judge, cruel heart and likes to kill people. He just cast a fame in Wu Zetian, and Wu Zetian valued him very much. He was nicknamed "Suo Envoy", saying that he was the one who "screwed souls and lives". Every time he interrogated, he would scream: "Come, take the iron cage." This is a specially made torture instrument, which can only be put into one head. Then, poke it continuously with a wooden wedge that is thick at the top and sharp at the bottom until the brain bursts.
and "Phoenix Dry Wings" were also invented by him. The prisoner was asked to lock his hands and feet with horizontal wood on his back, and then turn the mechanism. This punishment is very painful. If you want to die, you will have no hope of life. The hands, bones, feet and bones are even cracked, and the tendons are also broken. Suo Yuanli also deserves his nickname, and he has another innovation. The prisoner was hung on the beam, tied a rope to his head, and tied a heavy stone at the bottom... Of course, this is just a few of his many inventions.
even, in order to make his invention "remember" by future generations, he and another famous cruel official, Lai Junchen, wrote a book together - "Luo Zhijing".
This book is too harmful. It covers various tips on how to please leaders, how to frame others, and "making troubles without any trouble". It can be said that it is the earliest "black learning" in Chinese history. It can be seen that this person should be absolutely "dedicated" in terms of professional ethics. According to folk sayings, even after watching Di Renjie's , he kept wiping his cold sweat. After reading it, Wu Zetian secretly admired the person's scheming and meticulous thinking.
However, as the saying goes, "Feng Shui takes turns." After the siege fell out of favor, he also went to the heavenly prison. At the beginning, he refused to plead guilty. The prison officer followed him and shouted, "Get the iron cage." He became obedient.
There are three other people, known as the "Three Leopards". They are Li Song, Li Quanjiao and Wang Xu, and they are supervisory officials. Their common characteristics are: the lives of others are not fate, they are vicious in their hearts and vicious in their means. The job that Li Quan handed over is to "put a hat" on others. He will give him a crime. Overnight, you may not know why you were imprisoned, or even lost your life.
Every time he interrogates a prisoner, he will use a special wooden shackle to pull the prisoner's head forward, and look at the prisoner's face showing a painful expression, the person becomes more and more proud. He also named this method "Donkey Horse Draws the Foot". "Cazi Hanging a Car" means hanging the prisoner with shackles upside down on a tree. "Immortals offer fruit" means that the prisoner holds the shackles in both hands and then constantly adds bricks on it. "The Jade Girl Climbs the Ladder" is tying the prisoner to a tall tree and tied it in reverse with shackles... He pleases himself in this perverted, constantly renovated interrogation process.
Wang Xu, he is even more lustful. The woman he likes will snatch him away overnight. If he doesn't obey, he will have someone tie his private parts with ropes and hit him with bamboo, which will make people feel pain. Zhou Xing , who invented "please get into the trap", was the Minister of Justice of the Ministry of Justice. This is also a "dedicated" official who invented many torture instruments that make people frightened when they hear it. Such as: "Constant hundred meridians", "can't get enough to get angry", "dead pig's sorrow", "seeking to destroy the family", "reversely, it's true", etc. Many of them have no documentary records.
He publicly said: No one in the world will admit that they are guilty.But, as long as you have a way, they will plead guilty. Under these harsh punishments, no one dares to say more. He was Wu Zetian's "loyalty", and Wu Zetian was happy to help him fulfill his promise, let him become his "agent" and help him deal with the disobedient ministers. However, the rabbit died and the fox was so sad that in the end, he "sitted" himself in. Because he offended too many people, he was cut into pieces by his enemies during his exile.
During that period, no matter whether you are born, as long as you are ruthless and have a strong means, you can get the official job.
Hou Sizhi is a cake seller. According to the rules, if you have fame and fortune, you will be a fifth-rank official at most. However, he was so brave. When he went to court, he directly asked the emperor for an official position. Wu Zetian did not refuse. He just asked him, "Old Zhou, you don't know a big word, how can you do this official position?" Old Zhou was illiterate, but it did not mean that he had no knowledge. He directly replied, "Xie Zhi (pronounced Xie Zhi) The divine beast is also illiterate. As long as it serves your boss, it seems that it is not an important thing to have any education, right?"
Wu Zetian was happy when he heard this. OK, I had another fan and immediately gave him the hat of a censor. After taking office, this person "worked seriously" and handled many "cases". Because of the lack of education, every time the prisoner is interrogated, he tells the prisoner not to write a confession, he just needs to plead guilty. Otherwise, he would hand them over to Lai Junchen or Meng Qingbang. In this way, he was in a state of great success and was in the officialdom. Of course, the outcome was not good. Because I was too greedy for money, I was beheaded and showed it to the public by my master.
has always been following the same example, and the court is like this. No one in the local area does not follow the example, but I am afraid it will be even more powerful. For example: Yingzhou The governor Dugu Zhuang has extremely perverted methods.
Once he interrogated a bandit. At the beginning, he induced his confession and said, "You just call me. Being a human being is to be open and honest. Aren't you a warrior? You must dare to do it. As long as you dare to say it, I will let you go." People really believed him and said everything. The others were also deceived by him. But this person's face immediately changed: "I only said half of my words. The half below is: The warrior died by hooking it." Then, he tied the man upside down to a tree, hooked his head with an iron hook, and then pulled it with a rope. The scene was tragic.
Dugu Zhuang is still very proud and ask everyone what is his invention? What else can you say besides saying goodbye? He also has a hobby, which is to eat "human flesh". If his subordinates die, he will definitely send someone to cut his flesh.
There is a person named Zhang Rendan . He is a border general who also likes to kill people. A Turkic man surrendered. This guy wrote an article first, scolding the leader of the Turkic. After the scolding, someone engraved the article on the back of the Turkic man and roasted it with fire. Finally, he sent the man back. It would be strange if the other party saw it. It can be seen that this emotional intelligence must have been eaten.
So, why did Wu Zetian reuse these methods of vicious people?
She knew better than anyone that in the eyes of those orthodox people, she was the invader who took over the Li Tang Wangchao, so it was inappropriate that she could be subverted at any time. At that time, she had many opponents and few supporters around her. In order to consolidate her power, she had to dismantle these forces, and using "cowardly officials" was the best solution for her. Not only did she get rid of her opponents, she also strengthened her position in this horror atmosphere.
She is smart again and knows that these people cannot be used for a long time. Once the purpose is achieved, these people will be decisively abandoned by her.
After all, they are just her "controlling the country". None of these people's ends will end up being a good end, which is also an old saying: It will harm others and yourself.
Reference materials:
["Old Book of Tang·Volume 6·Billustification Six", "New Book of Tang·Volume 4·Billustification Four", "Zizhi Tongjian·Tang Chronicle·Zetian Shunsheng Empress"]
