Qi Xuansu and Liu Hu had just arrived in front of the city gate when they saw many standing cages in the open space not far away, each with a prisoner restrained inside.0

The prisoner’s head, with a metal collar clamped around the neck, protruded from the circular opening at the top of the standing cage. Their hands were shackled on either side of their necks. A gag was forced into their mouths, with ropes tied tightly behind their heads to secure it in place.0

Many Green Phoenix Guards were standing around the cages, armed with sabers, guns, and crossbows.0

An excited crowd had gathered around.0

From time to time, the Green Phoenix Guard would push the crowd back behind the designated line. The people in the front row would retreat, but there were just too many people behind them, so the crowd continued to surge forward.0

Watching public executions was a custom that had been passed down for thousands of years.0

There was even a temporary wooden platform built to...0