Chapter 440: Chapter 440. Kill One to Make an example of a Hundred
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Qing’s cold eyes swept the crowd, and the buzzing discussion stopped abruptly. Everyone was shocked to see Father Qiu being brought up by the soldiers in shackles. He was half-bent and looked like he was in pain. His eyes were filled with fear as he searched the crowd for someone to save him.
“Read out his charges.”
Su Qing gave an order to Xing Ruhai. Xing Ruhai already knew what First Father Qiu had done and was irreconcilable with him. Naturally, he would not have any sympathy for First Father Qiu. He held the verdict solemnly and scanned the crowd to calm them down.
“Qiu Yongzhi was willing to be a lackey of the Imperial Court and leaked information to the Imperial Court to betray Mo City. This action caused great losses to Mo City and is unforgivable.”
After Xing Ruhai read out Qiu Yongzhi’s crimes, the commoners of the Peach Blossom Cove were all dumbfounded. They could not believe the honest and well-behaved First Father Qiu would become the imperial court’s lackey.
Especially Auntie Li and the others. Yesterday, Old Master Qiu was burned alive in the Qiu family’s fire. Auntie Qiu was seriously injured. After such a significant incident at home, they didn’t see First Father Qiu appear. It turned out that he had been arrested!
But how did he get into contact with the imperial court?
“Shuisheng…”
First Father Qiu wanted to morally abduct Xiao Zeyu and force Xiao Zeyu to let him go before so many young and old men of Peach Blossom Cove.
However, when he opened his mouth to shout, he realized he couldn’t make a sound. He glared at Su Qing. What did this woman do to him? Why couldn’t he make a sound?
Su Qing looked at him coldly. Of course, he couldn’t let him ruin Xiao Zeyu’s reputation in public, making everyone think that Xiao Zeyu was heartless. He had been on guard against this move and had ordered people to make him mute.
First Father Qiu opened his mouth in anger and glared at Su Qing. He knew that he would die today. If he could kill with his eyes, he wanted to kill Su Qing with his own eyes.
Su Qing stood on the high platform and looked down at the people below. She beat the Soul Severing Drum for an hour to attract people.
After interrogating the Flying Guillotine, she was sure he had no direct contact with Father Qiu. He had only set a time to go to the tree hole every night at midnight to hand over the information. If there was, then there was. If not, then they would continue to wait.
Since they had never come into contact with First Father Qiu, who made him the spy?
Other than Qiu Yongkang, no one else could make First Father Qiu so loyal to him that he would risk his life to do this.
Based on this reasoning, Su Qing felt that Qiu Yongkang was in Mo City and the drum was meant for him to hear.
She didn’t immediately behead Qiu Yongkang’s father; she just wanted to lure Qiu Yongkang out.
“Su Qing, please spare Boss Qiu!”
Old Master Li stepped forward to plead for Qiu Yongzhi first. After all, they came from the same village, and the relationship between the two families was not bad. He could not stand by and watch him die.
Su Qing looked at him coldly. Her icy gaze made Old Master Li feel very awkward. At this moment, he thought it was no longer the time for everyone to get along as equals when fleeing famine. Now, they were officials and commoners, no different from those in the past.
“If the emperor’s law is broken, the common people will be punished similarly. In the future, Mo City will be a country. You have to bear the consequences.”
Su Qing glanced at the villagers of Peach Blossom Cove. The other commoners of Mo City understood the sense of distance from the government and were obedient.
Only these people from the Peach Blossom Cove were like the royal relatives of the past. They relied on their relationship with Xiao Zeyu and thought that they should let them off no matter what they did wrong.
She wanted to let these people know today, no matter who you are. If you offend me, you will still be beheaded. There is no face to speak of and no human feelings to express.
If he wanted to become the ruler of a country, he had to learn to distance himself from his subordinates. He had to let them know fear and not dare to do whatever they wanted because of their relationship with his family.
Su Qing paused for a moment and glanced at the panicking crowd. She said slowly and threateningly,
“Those who betray Mo City will die.”
“Execution.”
Su Qing didn’t see Qiu Yongkang in the crowd. Since he had already intimidated him, there was no need to keep Qiu Yongzhi alive but dispatch him to h.e.l.l.
“Yes, yes, yes…”
Qiu Yongzhi couldn’t shout for help, so he tried to make sounds through his nose. His eyes were wide open, and he stomped on the ground, dragging himself unwillingly towards the beheading platform.
The executioner was ready. He spat a mouthful of wine on the cold blade. He chopped people’s heads all year round and had a terrifying killing intent.
Qiu Yongzhi peed his pants in fear when he saw the executioner’s beheading knife. Tears and snot flowed down his face, and his eyes were as frightened as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. He looked helplessly at the crowd, looking for someone to save him with tears in his eyes.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure, and his eyes widened. However, he immediately shook his head. Su Qing had been paying attention to his expression. When he noticed something was wrong, he flew directly towards the spot she could see.
“Run, the government is going to kill people.”
Someone suddenly shouted, and the crowd instantly fell into chaos. Everyone was now terrified of Su Qing. When they saw her suddenly fly over, they thought she would catch them and cut their heads off. They were so scared that they fled in all directions.
“Don’t run, stop.”
Su Qing shouted. It would have been better if she hadn’t screamed, but everyone became even more afraid when she did and ran in all directions.
Su Qing jumped up the tree and looked down from above. However, the crowd was too chaotic. Everyone was wearing winter clothes, so she could not tell them apart.
“Close the city gates and search the city.”
Su Qing ordered the soldiers loudly. She was sure that Qiu Yongkang was still in Mo City, and she couldn’t let him escape.
“Cut him down.”
Su Qing jumped down from the tree and made a beheading gesture to the executioner. She did not even look at the cowardly look on Father Qiu’s face as she led her troops and ran towards the city gate.
All the people who wanted to leave the city were trapped inside. Su Qing ordered every single person in the carriage to be combed. She called Cheng Yu to lead the troops to search every house. They had to find Qiu Yongkang, even if they had to dig three feet deep.
At the same time, she could also find out if there was any remaining blood guillotine.
It was late at night, and the citizens of Mo City were all panicking. They were all afraid when they heard that the officers and soldiers were going to capture the minions sent by the imperial court.
The soldiers that were sent out to search did not come back. They did not find Qiu Yongkang. Su Qing ordered people to look closely at the city defense map.
What was the weakness of Mo City? That would be the northern city. Because it was close to Tartan, the two countries were in their honeymoon period and did not have to worry about them attacking Mo City. The army’s main force would be in the southern city facing Jingdou.
Su Qing’s slender fingers swiped across the city defense map. It was mainly in the northern city. She thought of herself as Qiu Yongkang. If she wanted to escape, which city gate would she choose?
According to Qiu Yongkang’s cunning personality, he would choose the familiar path!
Su Qing drew a circle on the north gate, and a dark light flashed in her cold eyes. Last time, Qiu Yongkang chose the north gate to leave.. Would he use the same trick again this time?