Hongwu Emperor
All Yang Xian's crimes can be proved. Officials previously did not dare to report because Yang Xian was the favourite official of the Hongwu Emperor. Later, the Hongwu Emperor ordered the arrest and investigation of Yang Xian. Yang Xian admitted all his crimes and begged for his life but the emperor did not grant him parole. The Hongwu Emperor ordered Yang Xian to be tied up to five oxen and pulled until his body was ripped into five pieces. Yang Xian died instantly; he was only 40 years old.