bestfiction Chapter 373 Indiscriminate killing?
Chapter 373 Indiscriminate killing?
"You...you actually killed innocent people indiscriminately!" A fellow captor exclaimed in shock. "Is there no other way?"
Xiao Han glanced at him, his tone heavy: "Indiscriminate killing of innocent people?"
The sword was pulled from the man's body and then plunged into his heart.
"Uh!"
The man stared wide-eyed in terror, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, dying with his eyes wide open.
Xiao Han glanced at the other four: "Leave none alive."
"Yes."
"Whoosh—Pfft—"
As soon as he finished speaking, the heads of the other men fell to the ground.
Although the people who had gathered at the city gate had scattered, many others had not yet left.
The timid ones have already quietly left, fearing they might suffer the same fate.
Others stood not far away, looking in this direction, and then they saw the scene of several people being executed on the spot.
Upon witnessing this scene, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines and were immediately filled with lingering fear.
Shock, tension, panic, fear, and relief—a mix of emotions swirled in everyone's mind at that moment.
Why... why did they just kill someone without saying a word?
He even killed six people in the street!
There was no trial, no verdict.
Who is that man in brocade robes?
Is he an official?
What rank? And what official position does it hold?
How could he kill innocent people in the street? No matter how high his official rank, he shouldn't be able to kill innocent people indiscriminately!
Even if the emperor were here, he couldn't just kill the people at will!
His behavior was so heinous. If all officials acted like him, would there still be any law or justice in the world?
They just wanted to leave the city; their crime doesn't warrant death!
The faces of the onlookers displayed a variety of complex expressions: doubt, disgust, fear, indifference, amusement, and disdain.
They spoke in whispers, mostly uttering words of questioning and condemnation.
However, no one dared to be the first to step forward and point the finger, after all, the heads that had just fallen were still gushing blood!
Xiao Han looked at the crowd and took in the subtle expressions on their faces.
"The people we just killed were not innocent," Xiao Han said loudly to the crowd. "They... were not ordinary people, but spies from other countries who had infiltrated the capital."
"They disguised themselves and mingled in the crowd, taking the opportunity to verbally provoke you, deliberately incite your emotions, guide public opinion, and use this epidemic to create panic by exploiting people's fear of the plague."
Xiao Han said firmly, "In these special times, only the enemy and spies do not wish us well. Only the enemy will take the opportunity to cause trouble. They want the people to have a rift with the court, and they want to create chaos in the capital. At that time, the enemy country will take advantage of the situation and launch an attack."
"The court provides food and medicine to the people. We don't ask you to be grateful. We only ask that you do your job properly and not cause trouble for the court."
"In this special period, as citizens, we should stand together with the court to fight the epidemic. We must not be instigated by enemy spies and those with ulterior motives, and be used as pawns by others."
Xiao Han continued sternly, "If anyone gathers a crowd to cause trouble again and does anything that endangers the safety of the capital, they will be dealt with as spies. It will not be let off so easily as it was today."
Everyone felt heavy-hearted after hearing Xiao Han's words.
This...spies from another country? Those people are actually spies from an enemy country infiltrating our dynasty.
After hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
They began to recall what had happened before.
"To be honest, I didn't originally plan to leave the city. It was only after listening to the discussions among my neighbors that I decided to go out and avoid the storm. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here today to join in the fun."
"What a coincidence! I only came up with this idea after overhearing my neighbors' conversation. I even thought about it at home for two days! After learning that a large number of people would be traveling together today, I took the risk of not being punished by the masses and decided to try it out at the city gate."
"If what that young official said about the enemy spy is true, then haven't we become someone else's pawns?"
"In my opinion, the matter of the enemy spy is almost certain. If it weren't true, I doubt the young official would have killed someone in the street."
“I remember now. The first person executed was right next to me. He was the one who shouted the loudest and raised many questions about the city's garrison general. So that's how it is! They were all treacherous people! No wonder, no wonder…”
To be honest, these people didn't initially have any intention of leaving the capital. After all, their whole families lived in the city, so where could they go with their families?
Furthermore, the imperial court did indeed handle the matter of this sudden epidemic very well, only requiring the people to stay at home and ensuring that the people's food and drink were not lacking.
So far, the epidemic has been successfully contained in the western part of the city, and no one has been infected in other areas.
When did this start? Just a couple of days ago, various rumors detrimental to the people began circulating among the neighbors…
They did indeed decide to leave the city after listening to others' opinions. Upon reflection, it was their own fault for being weak-willed and easily believing others' instigation, which almost led to a serious mistake.
Fortunately, we learned of the enemy's plot in time. Presumably, next time we hear similar remarks, we will be able to calm down, discern the truth, and make a decision.
In the eyes of ordinary people, although the plague was terrible and they were afraid of contracting it and dying from it, they did not want to be arrested as spies.
Spy, traitor—these are despised titles that no one wants to be associated with. If you are executed as a spy, you will have no face to meet your ancestors after you die.
After this incident, the people became much more obedient, and those dissenting voices disappeared.
They began to pack up their belongings and slowly disperse with their families.
-
The fourth day after the epidemic spread in the capital.
When Nangong Ming visited the Prince of Qin's residence, he mentioned to Xiao Han that Long Chu had asked him to purchase medicinal herbs.
The first batch of purchased medicinal herbs has now arrived at the East Gate, but because it was not part of the imperial transport team, it was stopped outside the city.
Nangong Ming was afraid that Xiao Han wouldn't believe him, so he actually handed Xiao Han the list of medicinal herbs that Long Chuqing had given him to check.
"Your Highness, this is a list written by Miss Long. She said you should recognize it after reading it."
Xiao Han took the list of medicinal herbs. It was indeed Long Chuqing's handwriting, and asking Nangong Ming to buy the medicine was exactly the kind of thing she would do.
She had considered everything.
Xiao Han thanked Nangong Ming and went with him to the East Gate to receive the medicinal herbs.
Today we are going to the East Gate to receive the second batch of medicinal herbs purchased by the Nangong family.
Upon arriving at the city gate, I witnessed a scene of over a hundred people gathered and making a ruckus.
Afterwards, the government drafted a new notice and posted it all over the streets and alleys: Recently, various inappropriate remarks have appeared in the city. After investigation by the government, it has been found that the people who spread these remarks are spies from other countries. They are trying to incite the people to cause trouble under the pretext of the epidemic. We hope that everyone will not listen to the slander of others and will carefully distinguish right from wrong.
To date, the government has successfully captured more than 100 enemy spies.
The epidemic is serious and not to be taken lightly. People need to reduce going out, take precautions against the epidemic, and avoid gatherings.
Anyone found to have symptoms of cold and fever must be immediately reported and isolated.
Anyone who spreads rumors and creates panic will be punished with sixty strokes of the cane once verified.
Anyone found guilty of looting or theft during the chaos will be executed immediately.