In the end, Ding Yun decided not to make things too complicated. Instead of resorting to technological dominance, overwhelming deterrence, or playing god, she would focus on rescuing people first.
As for what to do next?
Should they live in seclusion in the mountains or something else?
She would see what her family thought and then make a final decision.
With her mind made up, Ding Yun quickly began to deploy the bodyguard robots. They were divided into two teams, piloting personal light-speed craft, and entered the capital city in stealth.
One team headed towards the Meridian Gate to wait.
As soon as the executions began, they would reveal themselves and rescue everyone, not just their own families, but also other families. After all, they were all officials under the Crown Prince, innocent people who had fallen victim to the Emperor’s wrath.
Rescuing only one family would be too conspicuous and might even implicate collateral relatives who were not initially involved.
Rescuing them all would create a larger ripple effect.
The number of people involved would also increase.
Ding Yun didn't believe that Emperor Minghui would dare to slaughter them all.
The other team would, of course, go to the imperial prison to rescue those who were scheduled for exile or assignment to the Directorate of Music.
After making these arrangements,
She waited.
In this regard, the court's efficiency was quite good. On the second day after the decree was issued, all male family members over the age of fourteen of the Crown Prince's officials were brought to the Meridian Gate, forced to kneel, and prepared for beheading.
Some were overcome with grief, others were filled with terror.
Some roared in anger, others cried out in injustice.
But it was all in vain. The supervising executioner at the top immediately announced the commencement at the appointed time. The executioners behind them raised their executioner's axes, as if their heads were about to roll.
This was precisely the moment when the bodyguard robots deployed by Ding Yun, hidden nearby, made their appearance.
With a few sweeps of their lasers,
They destroyed all the executioner's axes.
Then, they shouted loudly:
"Anyone who doesn't want to die, stand up. We have already sent people to rescue your families. Those who don't want to die, stand out. Those who want to die, continue to kneel and await death."
This was a specific request from Ding Yun.
What if some of these people didn't want to live, what if there were fools who believed in the principle of "a ruler orders his minister to die, and the minister must die"? Rescuing such a person might even lead to resentment, perhaps even to them surrendering themselves, or even betraying others in an attempt to atone for their sins.
To prevent such individuals from being rescued, it was necessary to make this announcement. Only those who stood up were worth saving.
However, the original body's younger brother was an exception.
Ding Yun had given explicit instructions about this in advance. If her brother did not stand up, several bodyguard robots would covertly pull him up. The person had to be saved.
After all, her brother was entrusted by the original body.
As for other male relatives,
If they stood up, they would be saved. If they didn't, they wouldn't be forced. Their wish to die would be respected.
As the bodyguard robots finished their announcement, those who were quick-witted immediately stood up. Simultaneously, bodyguard robots swiftly moved forward, rescued them, immediately deactivated the stealth mode of the personal light-speed craft parked in the sky, instructed them not to panic, and then sent them into the personal light-speed craft.
Regarding personal light-speed craft, although called personal light-speed craft, they were not limited to carrying just one person. The term "personal" merely referred to private ownership, much like a private car. They could normally accommodate five to six people, and could even cram in more than a dozen if overloaded.
With the first living example.
And the appearance of flying objects.
The remaining ones, who had not yet reacted or were still hesitant, immediately stood up one after another.
The onlookers, the common folk,
Some even knelt down and called them deities.
Even the guards who were originally prepared to apprehend them hesitated and dared not advance. In their eyes, the ability to fly was equivalent to being a deity. Who would not be afraid of opposing such beings?
Finally, the supervising executioner was the first to regain his composure.
He roared loudly, ordering the capture of the rebellious ministers and traitors.
However, his words were merely a roar. After shouting, he himself retreated behind many people.
He was afraid of becoming a target for these traitors.
But his roar did compel the soldiers who had been hesitant to draw their swords and attack the robotic puppets.
Then, they were quickly anesthetized by the potent tranquilizer darts scattered by the robotic puppets, and fell unconscious on the spot.
To others, this appeared as if these rebellious ministers and traitors had simply fired a volley of darts, killing hundreds of soldiers. Consequently, none of the remaining soldiers dared to advance.
Not only did the remaining soldiers dare not advance,
The onlookers also scattered instantly.
The supervising executioner even fled directly. In his view, with opponents so powerful, he probably wouldn't receive much punishment even if he ran. However, if he stayed, he might lose his life, which would be a great loss.
After this series of actions, the subsequent rescue undoubtedly proceeded much more smoothly. It essentially involved overloading the personal craft with all those who needed rescuing.
And then heading to the pre-arranged deep mountain forest at light speed.
Of course, not the place where Ding Yun built her house.
It was another deep mountain forest that was chosen.
At the same time, the rescue at the imperial prison was also very smooth. After all, with technology thousands, or even tens of thousands, of years ahead of this era, the hundreds of guards at the imperial prison were nothing. If Ding Yun hadn't been merciful and hadn't prepared any destructive weapons,
It would have been easy to make them not just unconscious, but to break them down into molecules and atoms.
Because both sides were very fast, and the personal light-speed craft was also very fast, they soon met up in the pre-arranged deep mountain forest. Those people were all released.
At this point, Ding Yun still had not appeared.
She used a communication satellite to indirectly control a bodyguard robot, which walked up to the still somewhat frightened and bewildered people and directly explained:
"I know you all have many doubts.
You don't know who we are, nor why we are saving you. However, that is not important. The fact is that you have been successfully rescued. At the same time, you will likely be declared wanted by Emperor Minghui, and will no longer be able to live normally in this country.
Therefore, I will give you a few choices.
First, we part ways here.
I will tell you where you are now, and then I will not interfere with how you survive.
Second, I will send you abroad. Again, I will not interfere with how you survive afterwards.
Third, you can work for me.
I can guarantee your safety and livelihood, but you will likely still have to live in seclusion and avoid others.
Please consider which option you would like to choose."