Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Suppressing the Rebellion (4)
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What's the best way to treat a person's illness?
Eliminate the cause.
Whether it's bacteria, a virus, or inflammation, once you root out the culprit making them suffer, they recover.
The way to handle a rebellion is much the same.
Just remove the cause.
"...You really handle things decisively, don't you? Quite the man about it."
"Is that so, Chief Judge?"
"I never imagined you'd suggest wiping out the ringleaders who caused this mess as the way to suppress the rebellion."
They were worthless scum anyway.
To line their own pockets, they'd driven the poor citizens even deeper into desperation.
They'd forced families of four or five to make the horrific choice of selling a daughter just to survive.
Bastards like that had no right to live in this world.
"Do you think we should drag them to the capital for a proper trial?"
The Chief Judge chuckled.
Then he shrugged.
"In principle, yes. But killing these scumbags who deserve death is the only way to calm this rebellion, don't you think? We can't let innocent citizens of Ravonia City die because of those murderers holed up inside."
Most of the protesters occupying Ravonia City probably had no idea what was really going on.
They likely believed they'd risen up in legitimate protest against the Empire just to survive.
And strictly speaking, that wasn't entirely wrong.
'The problem is, I ordered them to disperse, and the leadership refused.'
Defying the imperial decree I carried in the Emperor's name was treason...
If they kept protesting from here, I'd have no choice as an Imperial soldier but to kill even the ordinary citizens joining in the rebellion.
Just like how sometimes you have no choice but to amputate a rotting finger, hand, arm, or leg.
"Quite a crowd's gathered on the walls."
"Handle it from here on your own."
"Yes, Chief Judge."
Innocent citizens huddled atop the walls, oblivious to the truth.
Hostility toward the Empire burned in their eyes.
It stemmed from a misunderstanding.
If they couldn't let go of those misguided thoughts, they'd all die too...
Please, don't make me fire on the citizens.
"Citizens of Ravonia City and surrounding villages, hear me! His Majesty the Emperor has personally commanded me, Major Michael Schumacher, to punish those who exploited you and to aid you victims to the greatest extent possible."
In truth, the Emperor's order to me had simply been to suppress the rebellion.
In other words, if the citizens' motives for rebelling weren't justified?
It meant using harsh measures and force to crush them.
But there was no need to mention that uncomfortable truth right now.
They were the innocent victims, and the corrupt mayor and his cronies were the undeniable villains.
"To that end, I have thoroughly investigated the reasons behind your uprising. I will impose severe punishment on the mayor and guard captain who exploited you, along with their corrupt officials and soldiers."
At the words "severe punishment," one person on the wall called out to me.
"What kind of severe punishment?"
"The mayor and other administrative officials, along with guard officers guilty of heinous crimes, will be executed by beheading right here."
"Executed? You mean you're going to kill that bastard mayor?"
"That's right. His Majesty the Emperor wishes to execute the mayor who exploited and tormented you, thereby restoring order."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd atop the walls at those words.
The leadership had clearly brainwashed the masses thoroughly... Though at least no one was chanting "Long live the Emperor!" yet.
But I could see their hostility melting away visibly.
Indeed, executing the corrupt officials who sparked the rebellion was the best solution.
With a gesture, the mayor was dragged up to the execution platform.
"Major Schumacher! You think you'll get away with killing me like this?! I'm the head of the Saltsheim family, with three hundred years of history! Do you even know how many high-ranking nobles back me?!"
The mayor showed no sign of accepting his guilt or repenting.
Why would a person's core change in an instant?
People rarely change even after surviving mortal peril multiple times.
Neither I nor the citizens below expected the mayor to turn over a new leaf anyway.
He had only one role left.
'To die miserably.'
Justice would be served through his death.
"I'm just doing my job. Why'd you have to gorge yourself so greedily? You should've known when to stop and lived modestly."
"You damned son of a bitch! You fuck with men! You think you'll get away with this?!"
I'd sooner quit the military than compromise with corruption.
I was set for life with a 100 million mark pension every year.
Once I retired as an officer, I wouldn't even need to maintain noble dignity...
I could retire to some peaceful countryside spot, snag a pretty wife, and start my second healing life.
You think I'm some trash like you, who'd abandon a soldier's principles for a shot at climbing the ranks?
A Buddha sees only Buddhas through Buddha eyes; a pig sees only pigs through pig eyes...
To that bastard, was I on the same level as him?
"Execute."
The moment the order dropped, the mayor's head tumbled from his shoulders.
The onlookers on the walls stared in stunned confusion.
"Bring up the deputy mayor and guard captain."
I lopped off their heads the same way.
Even then, those on the walls made no move to open the gates.
"How thoroughly did they brainwash them? Vicious bastards."
The mayor, deputy mayor, and guard captain.
The three corrupt pillars of Ravonia City—off with their heads.
This should be enough to show our sincerity.
They'd drilled into them not to trust the Empire.
"Major, shall we execute the other condemned prisoners too?"
"We'll stop here for today."
There'd be no backlash from executing all the death-row convicts here.
But there was no real need to kill them either.
It wouldn't open the gates anyway.
"Halt executions."
Even for heinous criminals deserving death, their lives held some value.
As propaganda showing what happened to those who did evil—their heads flying.
Transporting the rest to the capital for beheading would serve better.
"This is my final warning to the protesters occupying Ravonia Fortress. There will be no more warnings—listen closely."
Negotiations required both carrot and stick.
My carrot: stabilizing livelihoods and executing corrupt officials.
The stick: threatening what would happen if they disobeyed.
"His Majesty the Emperor has shown utmost leniency in understanding your unauthorized occupation of Ravonia. Thus, as battalion commander, I believe executing the rotten mayor, deputy, and guard captain here demonstrates the maximum mercy I can offer."
If they wouldn't listen now, I was out of options.
What they were doing was no different from some idiot yelling at a sentry on the DMZ to hand over his rifle.
I'd extended maximum mercy, saying surrender now and you'd be forgiven...
But if they kept demanding the gun? What could I do?
Fire warning shots, or in the worst case, shoot to stop them.
"You have three days. Fail to open the gates and disband within that time, and you'll all be deemed rioters."
"What happens if we're deemed rioters?"
"The 19th Division nearby will march on this city. And they'll kill you all. Why would we spare those who defy the Empire?"
Shooting someone on the walls as an example here would backfire.
No blood today, or we'd have to spill it all.
"Open the gates, and His Majesty will provide farmers with enough grain to last the year. Taxes will be greatly reduced too. Make the right choice. That is all."
After the warning, Lieutenant Lina approached and asked.
"Will they open the gates?"
"Why do you think the citizens inside started a rebellion? They figured dying as-is or going out swinging was the same, so they lashed out."
From the Donghak Peasant Revolution to various uprisings, they all stemmed from similar logic.
Might as well thrash around before dying anyway.
But now a path to survival was offered—why choose thrashing to a dog's death?
"No need to play along with the leadership trying to escalate this rebellion for their own gain."
"As you say, sir."
"And I've laid one more trap."
"What trap?"
I had no intention of letting the ringleaders become heroes and rise in the world.
If word got out they'd profited from this protest?
Copycats might emerge.
"Why spare the ones who created a powder keg where power-hungry fools could spark another revolt anytime? They're traitors—they should die like traitors."