In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, the society was in turmoil and the criminal law was harsh. In this era of change, there is a name that has left a strong mark in the history of justice: Deng Haishan. He came from a poor background, and in desperation, he picked up the execution knife and became the last executioner of the Qing Dynasty. In people's impressions, the executioner is often a mysterious and feared existence, and Deng Haishan's life is the most profound embodiment of this impression.
Deng Haishan's family was poor, and the helplessness of life forced him to choose this career path. The profession of executioner was despised at the time, so his choice was undoubtedly to seek a chance of survival in despair. The pressures of life and the rejection of society left him with no other way out, and he could only seek to survive in death and blood.
His master was Tong Shaoji, a highly skilled executioner. Under Tong Shaoji's strict guidance, Deng Haishan learned all the techniques of execution. Tong Shaoji always warned him that although this profession can allow him to live a good life for a short time, he must not be greedy for fame and fortune, otherwise he will eventually be retributed.
However, as he refined his skills, Deng Haishan gradually established a reputation in the judiciary. He hit every execution, never causing the victim to suffer any additional pain. This exquisite skill made him an indispensable executioner in the imperial court, and he had a certain social status and economic income.
The sprout of greed took root in Deng Haishan's heart. He began to forget the advice of his master and began to pursue a life of luxury. The money and status that he feared gradually became the masters of his life. His lifestyle began to be extravagant, and he lived a rich and prosperous life.
But with the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the new government reformed the judicial system and abolished the ancient and cruel punishment of beheading. For Deng Haishan, this is tantamount to a bolt from the blue. The profession on which he had relied all his life became useless overnight. He lost his livelihood and the financial resources that supported his life of luxury.
In his later years, Deng Haishan's life was in trouble. His money and status were wiped out with the fall of the old government. He became destitute, and no one wanted to approach an executioner who had blood on his hands. In this corner of society, he became lonely and old.
In those days, execution was a difficult task to be understood. Although Deng Haishan's knife technique is extremely accurate, he can't escape the retribution that his master said. He ended up begging on the streets, without relatives, friends, and without anyone's pity and care.
Deng Haishan's life was a tragedy, and his ending confirmed his master's prophecy. In him, we can see the cruelty of an era, the sorrow of a profession, and the reflection of human nature. His story teaches us that choices and fate are sometimes intertwined, and that each person's decision may affect their entire life. In the long river of history, the name Deng Haishan may be just a small footnote, but his life reflects the profound social contradictions and the complexity of human nature in that era.