Nightfall

The Messenger

The quiet front yard became even quieter. No one answered Ning Que’s question. An official failed to grip his pen and it fell slightly to the ground into the rain water.

In the human world, killing captives was a very serious issue. Human beings had walked away from bloody massacres ever since the end of the primitive times. Throughout the Tang history, no one except for Xiahou had ever done so.

Even the virtueless Shangguan Yangyu found Ning Que’s words absurd and hard to swallow. He seemed pale and could not help showing his disagreement.

The autumn rain was still pattering and the peculiar silence remained. It was an irritating silence so Ning Que broke it.

“Why so serious? Is that so hard to decide? Then I’ll make the decision myself.” He looked at Shangguan and said, “Ask the prefectures to kill one third and see how it goes.”

In the war years ago, the Tang army captured over 30 thousand enemies. They released some of them during the previous peace talk. But there were still a lot of captives imprisoned in the mine. Killing one third of them meant that the mine would be flooded with blood and the pit would be filled with bones.

“It is not auspicious to kill the captives. Heaven will be enraged. Mr. Thirteen, please reconsider,” an official said hoarsely. Nowadays, no one within the imperial court would dare to question the Academy, not to mention opposing it. But in certain circumstances, there were brave ones.

Ning Que did not look at the brave official. Instead, he looked above at the grey sky. There was no trace of heavenly anger but only continuous autumn rain coming down.

To kill the captives would enrage Heaven? What is Heaven? The one who is aloof at whatever happens in the human world? Or the one who upholds the heavenly rules in the cyclic existence? Either way, it is Haotian.

Then it was just a joke. He laughed at it, but said nothing or recalled the order.

Shangguan Yangyu said obscurely, “I’m afraid it cannot be executed…”

Killing the captives was something contradictory to the Tang people’s mentality and their aesthetics. That was his concern or excuse.

Ning Que questioned, “Why can’t it be executed?”

Shangguan Yangyu said, “We need people to do it. And I’m afraid no one is willing to.”

Ning Que laughed and said, “If no one is willing to, then you can do it.”

Shangguan Yangyu was a Grand Secretary of the imperial court and was fully supported by the Academy and the imperial family. If he were to drive the execution, it would never be hard to kill the captives. However, could he afford that notoriety?

He sighed. “No wonder you wanted me here today.”

Ning Que said, “There are a few people who could carry it out nicely. There are even fewer who has the guts. In terms of not worrying about notoriety, you are probably the only one.”

Shangguan Yangyu laughed bitterly. “How could I not be worried? That’s insane.”

Ning Que frowned. “Are you scolding me?”

Shangguan Yangyu sighed, “In that case I should at least get something in return. Shouldn’t I?”

Ning Que said, “As long as the Academy exists, I’ll make sure your family is safe and sound for ten generations.”

Shangguan Yangyu was a bit excited and confirmed, “I’ll do it then.”

He was after all a Grand Secretary and would never chop people’s heads off by himself. He made orders and asked Ning Que again, “Would you like to pile up the heads or bones?”