Episode 45
When Guangdong and Tan Lun's memorials were presented to Emperor Jiajing's imperial court at the same time, a battle about life, death and fate quietly unfolded.One is the tragic report of Hai Rui's wife in Leizhou, and the other is the good news of 100,000 pieces of cotton brought by Tan Lun.These two memorials, one sad and one happy, seem to indicate that some kind of power game is quietly going on behind the scenes.
The tacit understanding between Xu Jie, the cabinet, and South Zhili Guangdong made this contest even more complicated and confusing.They obviously chose this special method at this time to try to persuade Emperor Jiajing to change his mind and pardon Hai Rui's death penalty.The subtle changes in people's hearts and minds are clearly visible in this contest, in which various forces intertwine and collide.
The day for executing criminals is set at the beginning of autumn, and the time is three-quarter noon.This choice was not accidental, but closely related to the celestial phenomena at that time.The autumn wind is chilling and the sun is shining brightly. It is the moment when the sun turns to overcast, which seems to herald the end of human life and the coming of divine punishment.Such days and hours undoubtedly added a layer of mystery and solemnity to Hai Rui's execution.
However, Hai Rui's fate does not seem to be entirely determined by celestial phenomena and power.In Chun'an, he once took advantage of the opportunity of missing three quarters of noon to successfully vindicate Qi Dazhu's unjust case.This time, can he also find a glimmer of hope at the crossroads of destiny?
Finally, Emperor Jiajing ordered Hai Rui to be executed, and ordered Huang Jin to pass on the edict that he was not allowed to ride a horse or ride in a sedan, and he must walk to the prison at noon.This is an order full of symbolic meaning, as if to tell the world that even the world-famous Hai Rui cannot escape his fate.
However, things didn't end there.Emperor Jiajing also gave a condition: if the decree was not delivered at three quarters of noon, it would be heaven's will to pardon Hai Rui.This suspense makes the whole event even more gripping.Is it a trick of fate or a contest of power?How will Hai Rui's life or death be decided in the end?
At the same time, in order to send 100,000 pieces of cotton cloth to Liaodong and sign a peace agreement with Mongolia before winter, Gao Hanwen and Li Qi were also busy escorting the water ships.Their schedule was tense and orderly, and they finally arrived in the capital after the cold dew and before the frost.
