Hu Jian was at that time the commandant of the Army of the North.
Poor, and without a horse or a carriage, he went about on foot and lived with the common soldiers; and, in consequence of this, his love for the soldiers was very deep.
Wishing to execute the censor, he made an arrangement with a soldier to accomplish this, saying, “I would like to join with you in executing a person. When I tell you to seize him, seize him; when I tell you to cut his head off, cut it off.” Then, on a day reserved for a selection of officers and men, the various generals were seated in an open pavilion, and the inspector was also seated there.
Hu Jian went with a group of foot soldiers to the entrance to the pavilion and bowed in obeisance.
The foot soldiers all accompanied him as he mounted the pavilion. Pointing to the inspector, Hu Jian said, “Seize him.” The soldiers in front pulled him down from his place in the pavilion. Hu Jian said, “Behead him.” They beheaded the censor.
The generals and unit commanders were all struck dumb and had no idea what the matter was about.
Hu Jian, however, had a prepared announcement in the folds of his robe.
Stepping forward, he read from the announcement, saying, “Your servant has heard that military regulations stipulate that martial valor is to be established so as to hold sway over the masses and that the wicked are to be executed so as to stop criminal behavior from arising.
In the present case, the inspector of the Northern Army has openly caused a passageway to be made in a military wall so as to seek commercial profit and has been illicitly buying and selling goods to soldiers who come to him as customers.
He has failed to demonstrate a firm and martial bearing or to evince a bold and eager spirit so as to take command of his officers and men; and, in this, he has failed still more to fulfill the principles of his public function. In the ‘Principles and Regulations of the Yellow Lord,’ a passage says, ‘When, after the walls of a military base have been completed, there is one who does not walk on the path of duty, he may be termed a criminal; criminals are to be killed.’ I have therefore taken care to behead this man. I brave death so as to announce this.