C19 To Kill

Gao Shaoyi's words failed to instill fear in the soldiers of the Windsar Empire. Despite being detained by Shaoyi's forces, they remained confident that he lacked both the capability and the courage to handle them.

"Your decrees? Haha, that's laughable. Those are meant to bind you, not us. Believe me, with just one application, I can have the borderlands redrawn, and I decide where the sentry posts go."

The Windsar Empire officer guffawed with derision.

For a mere officer to mock the Qian Empire so brazenly spoke volumes about the state of affairs over the years.

"Save us, save us..."

Amidst the tension, a woman's plea echoed from the wooden houses occupied by foreigners, a woman of the Qian Empire.

Liu Shaan sprang into action, leading a team to investigate.

They found five or six disheveled women emerging from within.

It was clear to all; these women had been seized from nearby villages, a recurring outrage that reports to the authorities had never remedied, for the officials lacked the courage to demand their return.

A fiery rage blazed in the eyes of Shaoyi's comrades.

"Bind them all and bring them inside," Gao Shaoyi commanded, his voice steady amidst the chaos. Liu Shaan, though seething with the urge to speak out, was overwhelmed by the atrocity before him. The girls had been held captive for nearly a week, one barely clinging to life.

By day, they served as laundresses to their captors; by night, they endured unspeakable abuse.

"You can't do this. They're mere commoners. What right do you have to detain us?"

"We protest!"

The captives raised their voices in futile objection, their defiance tempered by the looming threat of their captors.

"Which of you has family in the Qian Empire? Better yet, in the capital city?"

Gao Shaoyi inquired after subduing the group.

"The vice-captain named James, his whole family has settled in the capital city. The rest don't appear to be from around here."

Upon hearing of such an individual, Gao Shaoyi felt reassured.

"What are you all waiting for? Arrest them! Later, they'll face a firing squad one by one."

Gao Shaoyi's tone was eerily calm as he issued the command, as though discussing meal times, yet his men were seething with fury. They understood the risks involved with such an order, but the atrocities committed by these scoundrels were unforgivable. Everyone was itching to drain their blood.

"Marquis..."

Liu Shaan was equally intent on seeing these men dead, but he was concerned about the repercussions for Gao Shaoyi.

"Bring out that man named James..."

Gao Shaoyi instructed Boss Zhang with a few words.

"Marquis, rest assured, I've got this under control."

Boss Zhang selected a few brothers from the ranks and took James away to handle the matter, leaving bystanders puzzled.

"Marquis, they're all tied up."

Fourth Wang had everyone thrown out and bound, ignoring their desperate screams. Any resistance was met with a brutal butt of a rifle, silencing them with bloodied faces.

The soldiers stood ready, awaiting Gao Shaoyi's command.

"Don't give me that look. You had the audacity to wreak havoc on our turf, so you should have foreseen this outcome. On your journey to the afterlife, don't blame me—blame yourselves for the disgrace you brought upon our women and children. From this day forward, execution by firing squad is the decree."

Gao Shaoyi surveyed the fearful eyes before him and slowly raised his hand, signaling the soldiers who were primed and ready.

Bang, bang...

Gunshots echoed abruptly. Such events were not uncommon in the capital, but today was different—we were executing foreigners, a matter far from ordinary. This was unprecedented, not just in the capital but across the entire nation.

"The Marquis is valiant!"

Tears filled Fourth Wang's eyes. He had feared this case would remain unresolved.

To his surprise, the Marquis stood undaunted, choosing to dispense justice in such a decisive manner.

"The Marquis is valiant, the Marquis is valiant!"

The soldiers brandished their rifles, eyes ablaze with admiration. They had found a true champion of the people.

Although Liu Shaan was relieved, a hint of worry still creased his brow. How on earth would he explain this situation?

Dozens of Windsar Empire soldiers had perished. Previously, even a single missing soldier would cause an uproar that lasted ages. Now, with dozens dead all at once, the situation was bound to escalate.

They had anticipated trouble upon reaching the Embassy Area, expecting a significant incident. Yet, they hadn't foreseen that a catastrophe of this magnitude would occur before they even arrived. Would the foreigners simply let this slide? It was as if they had torn a hole in the sky.

"Advance and demolish this checkpoint," Gao Shaoyi commanded.

After his order, a group of soldiers withdrew grenades from their belts, ready to obliterate the checkpoint.

Singing a resounding military anthem, the soldiers' faces beamed with exuberance as they crossed the Windsar Empire checkpoint, an experience beyond their wildest dreams. Our Young Marquis truly packed a punch.

Gao Shaoyi silenced the system alerts, confident now that every person in his ranks was a devoted fan.

Their admiration was off the charts.

"Marquis, those women have been tailing us..."

Approaching the Embassy Area, Liu Shaan gestured toward the women following them. Following Gao Shaoyi's orders, each was given three imperial coins and instructed to head home.

Yet, the women didn't leave; they kept trailing Gao Shaoyi's forces.

It was then that Gao Shaoyi recalled the grim destinies these women faced. History had seen such sorrow before. These women faced two grim fates: either to be brutalized to death or to find a desolate place to slowly perish from starvation.

Even if spared by foreign troops, their families would disown them, and no one would marry them for the rest of their lives.

They had no choice but to seek refuge in a place akin to a cave, ending their lives in misery. Most lacked the skills to survive in the wild and would succumb to starvation after a few desperate days.

"Keep these women here. We'll find work for them later. Take charge of this, and make sure no one dies."

After pondering for a moment, Gao Shaoyi spoke up. "Although traditionally, women aren't allowed in the barracks, that's an outdated rule. I'm planning to enlist these women as medical soldiers. When it comes to dressing wounds, women often outperform men."

"Understood."

Liu Shaan also sympathized with the plight of these young women. He quickly arranged for someone to escort them to safety. With urgency, Liu Shaan needed to return to his post. They were nearing the Embassy Area, and a confrontation seemed imminent. He had to keep an eye on Gao Shaoyi; otherwise, the hotheaded young man might just set the entire district ablaze.