Liu Kang stands at the entrance and watches numerous people who are tied up. There are men and women, young and old, each and every one of them is slowly being called by their names and a soldier will just push them towards the executioner, who calmly chops off their head one by one.
Some of the children are crying as they watch their parents, grandparents, cousins, brothers and sisters getting killed in front of their eyes, but everyone just ignores their wailings. The adults know that they are going to die and it is hopeless to struggle. Some of the women break down in tears or stare angrily at their husbands or another family, but they do not cause a ruckus. The old people mostly have dull expressions, as if they are already dead and just watch into the distance.
Everyone here except the young children is badly beaten or tortured, and they are all wearing the white prison clothes that are full of bloodstains.
The magistrate is seated on a raised platform and calmly announces the crimes of these people.
"Xue Ling Long, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xue Yang Kai, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Li Wan Er, Wife of Xue Yang Kai, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xing Yi, servant of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xing Er, Servant of the Xue Family who rebelled. Execute."
The magistrate monotonous reads.
Once their heads are chopped off, a soldier will kick their bodies and the rolling head towards a pile of bodies and heads that are bunched together in a corner.
The solder that escorted Liu Kang here slightly nudges him and says, "The governor is inside. There's no use watching the executions. They are rebels. Let's go."
Liu Kang takes a deep breath and follows the soldier because he knows that their guilt is already established and nothing can be done to save them anymore. Soon, he reaches the main building and walks into the study, where Governor Shang is working.
…
Inside the study, there are several pieces of paper on his desk and he seems to be sorting them.
"Lord Shang, I have brought Constable Liu here!" the soldier salutes Governor Shang and respectfully says.
"Good, you are dismissed." Governor Shang nods and waves the soldier away.
Once the solder is out, he looks at Liu Kang and asks "Why are you here?"
Liu Kang looked around the room to make sure that nobody was listening in and then started to tell Governor Shang everything that happened.
After a few minutes, when Liu Kang has finished telling what happened, he took out Shang Shi's money pouch. He passed it to Governor Shang and said, "my lord, Judge Shang allowed me to hold on to his money pouch and said that if I gave it to you, you would believe that everything I have said is true."
Governor Shang looked at the pouch and frowned.
He took it and said, "You will be my guard from now on. You should be aware that we are executing rebels and this time, we will be going around the entire province to wipe out all the rebels that are hiding in the cities and towns. We will eventually meet the rest of the judges so there's no need for you to return. As for what you told me earlier, never speak of it again. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Your subordinate understands!" Liu Kang quickly says.
"Also, if anyone asks, say that you came back because my son sent you on an errand." Governor Shang said as he returned to his seat and continued doing his work.
Liu Kang watches Governor Shang return to his work and feeling ignored, he just goes to the entrance of the study and stands there, as Governor Shang's guard.
Liu Kang stands at the entrance and watches numerous people who are tied up. There are men and women, young and old, each and every one of them is slowly being called by their names and a soldier will just push them towards the executioner, who calmly chops off their head one by one.
Some of the children are crying as they watch their parents, grandparents, cousins, brothers and sisters getting killed in front of their eyes, but everyone just ignores their wailings. The adults know that they are going to die and it is hopeless to struggle. Some of the women break down in tears or stare angrily at their husbands or another family, but they do not cause a ruckus. The old people mostly have dull expressions, as if they are already dead and just watch into the distance.
Everyone here except the young children is badly beaten or tortured, and they are all wearing the white prison clothes that are full of bloodstains.
The magistrate is seated on a raised platform and calmly announces the crimes of these people.
"Xue Ling Long, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xue Yang Kai, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Li Wan Er, Wife of Xue Yang Kai, part of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xing Yi, servant of the Xue family who rebelled. Execute."
"Xing Er, Servant of the Xue Family who rebelled. Execute."
The magistrate monotonous reads.
Once their heads are chopped off, a soldier will kick their bodies and the rolling head towards a pile of bodies and heads that are bunched together in a corner.
The solder that escorted Liu Kang here slightly nudges him and says, "The governor is inside. There's no use watching the executions. They are rebels. Let's go."
Liu Kang takes a deep breath and follows the soldier because he knows that their guilt is already established and nothing can be done to save them anymore. Soon, he reaches the main building and walks into the study, where Governor Shang is working.
…
Inside the study, there are several pieces of paper on his desk and he seems to be sorting them.
"Lord Shang, I have brought Constable Liu here!" the soldier salutes Governor Shang and respectfully says.
"Good, you are dismissed." Governor Shang nods and waves the soldier away.
Once the solder is out, he looks at Liu Kang and asks "Why are you here?"
Liu Kang looked around the room to make sure that nobody was listening in and then started to tell Governor Shang everything that happened.
After a few minutes, when Liu Kang has finished telling what happened, he took out Shang Shi's money pouch. He passed it to Governor Shang and said, "my lord, Judge Shang allowed me to hold on to his money pouch and said that if I gave it to you, you would believe that everything I have said is true."
Governor Shang looked at the pouch and frowned.
He took it and said, "You will be my guard from now on. You should be aware that we are executing rebels and this time, we will be going around the entire province to wipe out all the rebels that are hiding in the cities and towns. We will eventually meet the rest of the judges so there's no need for you to return. As for what you told me earlier, never speak of it again. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Your subordinate understands!" Liu Kang quickly says.
"Also, if anyone asks, say that you came back because my son sent you on an errand." Governor Shang said as he returned to his seat and continued doing his work.
Liu Kang watches Governor Shang return to his work and feeling ignored, he just goes to the entrance of the study and stands there, as Governor Shang's guard.
