16 The Price Of Loyalty
"This scroll here contain the names of clans and people who deserve to die.
Some clans will perish because of the sins of a few members.
But I have an offer!" Gu Shang suddenly said.
All those kneeling down were drenched in sweat, only the heavens knew how much they've sweated today, it could probably fill up a whole river.
It didn't matter whether you belonged to a powerful clan or weak family with no background, death was definitely something to fear.
Life was too enjoyable to die for someone's else mistake.
"The people on this scroll are horrible people who have committed crimes that goes against the conscience of humans.
They are people who have committed crimes that makes them worser than beast. If you know you are part of such group of people, stand up and I promise to take only your life.
But if your name appears on the list and you refuse to give in, then don't blame me for being merciless"
A lot of people breathed in a sigh of relief when they heard Gu Shang, they may be corrupt but they had never done anything that goes against their human conscience so there was nothing to worry about.
After Gu Shang said that, he scanned all the people in the area and carefully listened to their individual heart beats.
Those who had clear conscience where calm and their heart beat was normal, Gu Shang also found some people whose heart beat were beating at a crazy rate.
He narrowed his eyes and opened the scroll.
He didn't know the content of the scroll, all he knew was that the names on the scroll were people who deserved to die.
Gu Shang aura changed as began to read the scroll, for the first time he had actually showed anger after he read the scroll.
His aura was so powerful it began to suffocate those around him, some weak ones even passed out.
Gu Shang unsheathed the sword from one of the emissaries behind him and began approaching the people on the ground.
Gu Shang dragged the sword on the ground as he approached them making scratching noise. Most of the officials shuddered.
Gu Shang stopped Infront of the minister of personnel.
"You are the minister of personnel right?" Gu Shang asked in a cold voice.
"Yes, I am" a middle aged man nodded. He was the head of the Ming clan.
"Tell me, what did you do with the compensation you were supposed to give to my fallen comrades? He asked.
"It was distributed, to the families of the fallen soldiers" He replied.
"Oh really!" Gu Shang said in cold voice which sent shivers through the bodies of all those that heard him.
"Bring them in" Gu Shang said to the Quasi Immortal King.
The quasi Immortal King nodded before heading into the city, a few moments later he returned with a group of people in tattered clothes and disheveld appearances, they looked like beggers.
Gu Shang felt his heart clench, this were the families of the soldiers who had died fighting for the empire. They had shed every single drop of blood they had to protect the empire.
But look at their families after they were gone.
Majority of the people here coming were women, children and old people.
The husbands, father and sons of his soldiers lived such a miserable life after they had given their everything including their lives for the empire.
What were they even fighting for?
Gu Shang was targeting the high ranking officials and noble clans and families because he had made a promise to the previous emperor who had fought and died on the battle field.
He's only wish was for imperial authority to be restored. Gu Shang initially had no hatred or grudges with those people, he was just following the last wish of the previous emperor, but now he had seen for himself how rotten and filthy the imperial capital was.
This high ranking officials didn't care about anybody but themselves, they didn't even give a damn about those risking their lives to give them the peace they had.
"You stand in the presence of the Grand General, speak all your grievances to him today and he shall give you justice!" The quasi Immortal King said to the people.
They all knelt down and began weeping sorrowfully, Gu Shang approached them and told them to stand.
This were the families of the soldiers who had given their lives for the empire, he would never be able to face them in the after life if they continued to bow to him like this. He also felt guilty for not being able to help them.
"Tell me your grievances" Gu Shang said softly.
"Your grace, please serve justice for us!" An old man said weeping.
"Two years ago, my only son was reported to have died in battle, the imperial court promised us compensation to help us survive.
But when we went to the ministry of personnel, we were chased out and even beaten.
They told us, our sons were weaklings who served no purpose so there was no need to compensate them" the old man wept.
"Your grace, my eldest brother died on the battle field, when my sister went to the minister of personnel manor to seek compensation,
She was r**ed and killed by the son of the minister, the servants in the house said she was tortured for days before she died" A young man not older than 12 reported crying.
Similar reports continued.
Gu Shang controlled his emotions because of the people around him.
He glanced at the minister of personnel, "it's that what you call giving them compensation" Gu Shang asked.
The minister was left speechless, he had pocketed all that money for himself and kept the families of the dead soldiers mute.
He had even killed those who tried to report him to silence them. He never imagined a day like this will come.
"Bring me his son" Gu Shang ordered coldly.
The quasi Immortal King nodded and a handsome young man in luxurious robes was dragged into the area.
The minister of personnel panicked, he loved his son more than anything else and greatly doted on him. He couldn't bare to see him such a disheveld appearances.
"Prince of the north! What's the meaning of this" he tried to get up but was ruthlessly kicked to the ground by one of the soldiers.
He cried in pain on the ground.
When the man was dragged in, the families of the dead soldiers began cursing and throwing stones at him. He was responsible for so many deaths of young women of their families.
Gu Shang was going to make him pay.
"Rip him apart!" Gu Shang ordered coldly.
Strange chains were attached to his hand, legs and neck.
Cavalry soldiers held five chains which were bound to him, and facing the opposite direction they began to pull him apart on their horses.
Screams were heard as the young heir was suspended in mid air, as chains were tied to him which were ripping him apart.
The chains tightened around him as the horses were tearing his limbs slowly and painfully.
Gu Shang made sure the leader of the Ming clan watched as his son was being torn apart by the horses.
He screamed in agony, that was his only child, the heir to the Ming clan.
The young man hands and legs were eventually ripped apart by the dragon horses.
He was still alive and conscious but could only breath in slowly, he was dying.
Gu Shang gave a dagger to a man whose daughter had fallen victim to the young heir.
"Avenge your daughter!" Gu Shang said.
The man took the dagger and slowly walked towards the young heir who was on the brink of death.
He stabbed him several times without any hesitation, the young heir life ended in one of the most gruesome ways possible.
The leader of the Ming clan sat on the floor as he watched his son lifeless body.
Gu Shang raised his sword and executed the Ming clan leader, cutting his head off cleanly.
The place fell into a deadly silence as people took in deep breaths.
Gu Shang turned to the families of the dead soldiers and bowed his head, his soldiers also followed.
"Your sons and husbands were brave warriors who fought until their last breath, it will always be the empires honor to have men like them.
They weren't cowards, but heroes who gave this empire peace" Gu Shang said.
They couldn't help but cry after hearing Gu Shang. This was the acknowledgement their dead sons and husbands never received.
Now they could raise their heads proudly.
They thanked the Grand General before they were led from the area.
Gu Shang glanced at their departing figure, "Take good care of them and make sure they never have to need anything in this life. Also find the rest of the family members of the deceased soldiers, I'm sure they'll be a lot more" The quasi Immortal King bowed before disappearing.
Gu Shang raised his sword and beheaded two more people without giving any explanation.
This people heart had the same level of anxiousness when he had previously asked the question. Their heart beat were at the same rate or even greater than the leader of the Ming clan.
The crowd glanced at Gu Shang as if he was a monster.
