In that turbulent era, many people were summarily executed without trial.
Tips
history
Recorded in the late-Qing novel 《二十年目睹之怪现状》 by 吴趼人 ('Strange Things Witnessed Over Twenty Years'). The phrase reflects late-Qing emergency justice, when local officials were granted authority to execute serious offenders without sending cases up for review.
usage
Strong, formal language. Today it appears mostly in historical writing, news about wartime or regime executions, or hyperbolic complaints ('this code deserves 就地正法').
