Chapter 62 - Killing Rebels

                                    

                                          


                          
        
                          
It has been more than a month since Liu Kang has left for the capital and Liu Kang has reached Lin Yu city right now. Lin Yu city is only two weeks away from the capital and is much more prosperous than Wei Gou City.
                          
This is because Lin Yu city is in-between the capital and Shu Bei city, which is in another province. As such, many people will stop by Lin Yu city on their way to the capital for various reasons, such as restocking supplies or to take a rest from their long journey. 
                          
Furthermore, since Lin Yu city is so near the capital, some merchants who deal with unique and rare goods from other continents and provinces will end their trading route in Lin Yu city, as there are many people in the capital who do not mind making the trip to Lin Yu city. There are also some merchants who will buy these goods from them and sell it in the capital for them in exchange for a small token.
                          
However, right now, the gates of Lin Yu city are closed and black smoke is coming out from within the city. Right now, Liu Kang has just found out that the governor is in Lin Yu city, and he brought the army with him and the order to seal the city was given by the governor.
                          
Liu Kang who has been on the road ever since he departed from Yao Feng town, decided to take a rest in an inn in Lin Yu city, before heading to the capital but has unexpectedly run into the governor here. Liu Kang looks at the soldiers guarding the city gates and has a bad feeling for some odd reason but has already informed the soldiers that he is here to send a message to the governor so he cannot leave. 
                          
At first, he had no idea what to do, but he just decided to accomplish his mission of telling the governor of what had happened. it would be pointless for him to head to the capital since the governor is here and returning would not solve anything.
                          
Soon, the city gates started opening and a soldier waved to Liu Kang and said "The Governor has verified your identity and wants to see you! Come with me!"
                          
Liu Kang gets off his horse and follows the guard into the city but is shocked by what he sees. The prosperous city that he once knew is gone. When he first came to the capital, he had stayed for a few nights in Lin Yu city and it was a bustling and prosperous town. The streets were clean and the people were happy and there were street vendors everywhere. Right now, the streets are empty and people are afraid to even leave their houses. 
                          
Numerous soldiers are patrolling the streets with their weapons drawn and it seems like the city is under martial law. Some of the buildings are burned down and there is the stretch of burned and rotting corpses in the air. A few of the martial arts hall that he previously visited have been closed and sealed up by the military.
                          
After an hour or so, Liu Kang finally reached the mayor's estate which has been requisitioned by the military for their own use and enters but what welcomes him is a series of executions.
                          
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.