After breakfast, Lübeck headed straight for the security forces' headquarters. As soon as Trudy saw him arrive, she gave him a slight smile and gestured for him to come into her office for a detailed discussion.
吃过早饭,吕贝克首先赶往了治安部队驻地.特鲁迪一见他到来便朝着他嘴角微微一翘,随后抬手示意他到办公室里详谈.
Trudy waited for Lübeck to enter the room, casually closed the door behind him, and then hurried over to the map hanging on the wall, speaking as she walked.
特鲁迪等吕贝克进屋,随手关上门,就迫不及待地往墙上挂的地图前面走,边走边说,
The night you set sail, they made their move after all, fighting over the land," he said, pointing to the map.
"Battles broke out at these locations."
"你出航的那天晚上,他们果然行动了,争夺地产,"然后指着地图说,
"这几个地点,都有战斗发生,"
"Have any of our security personnel been injured or killed?" Lübeck asked urgently.
"None. They asked for it, so we gave it to them. When someone knocks, someone opens the door. Once they've settled the score, we'll move in to make the arrests."
"我们的治安部队员有伤亡吗?"吕贝克赶紧问,
"没有,他们祈求,就给他们,有人叩门,就有人开门.等他们分出胜负我们收尾抓人."
"Heh," Lübeck chuckled at Trudy's remark and added to lighten the mood,
"You're making life pretty easy for God, aren't you?"
"呵呵,"吕贝克听特鲁迪这么说也乐了,便烘托气氛说,
"你这么做上帝也挺省心的,"
"Ha ha ha," Trudy laughed too.
"哈哈哈,"特鲁迪也乐了,
This time, the opposing Schmidt and Bauer families suffered heavy losses. Aside from those killed or wounded in battle, the rest were captured. Including their relatives, friends, and neighbors who shared common interests, such feuds are unlikely to occur again for a long time.
"这次施密特和鲍尔两个对立的家族损失挺大的,除了战死受伤的,剩下的就是被捉的,算上他们的亲属,朋友,还有共同利益的邻居乡亲,今后应该很长时间不会再有这种械斗了."
"Yes, I hope people can learn from this and live in peace," Lübeck said, though he understood all too well the frailties of human nature. Unless the social structure changed, he knew that in another twenty years, when a new generation emerged, conflicts would still arise—though he couldn't predict what form they might take. But these matters weren't something he could discuss with the military officer just yet, so there was no point in bringing them up.
"是啊,但愿人们能够引以为戒,和平相处,"吕贝克虽然这么说,但是心里非常清楚人性的弱点,如果不能改变社会结构,再过二十年社会上新生代出现的时候依然会有纷争,只是不清楚到那时会是以什么样的形式体现.但是这些事情跟武官目前还说不上,也就没有必要提起了.
"This rebellion—" Lübeck paused as soon as he uttered the word. He had intended to ask who had organized the rebellion, but if it were classified as such, those involved would undoubtedly face hanging. He hesitated at the thought of taking another person's life.
"这次叛乱,"吕贝克刚说出叛乱这个词就停下来,他本来是想问叛乱的组织人员是谁,但是如果按照叛乱定罪,那么涉及的人肯定是要绞刑了,对于剥夺他人生命,他有些犹豫.
"Oh, I've already submitted the details to the judge. We're just waiting for the sentencing to be carried out." Trudy blurted it out before Lübeck could finish asking.
"哦,详情我已经递交到法官那里了,就等宣判执行了."特鲁迪心直口快,没等吕贝克问完就和盘托出了.
Leaving the garrison headquarters, Lübeck pondered throughout the journey in the waiting carriage whether to commute the sentence of the criminals facing execution by hanging—perhaps sparing them death and instead sentencing them to life imprisonment. Yet he understood all too well those who had instigated the rebellion: they hadn't reached this point overnight. Over many years, they had gradually expanded their power by relentlessly oppressing others.
离开治安部队驻地,一路上吕贝克在要换的马车里一直在思索,是否要给即将被判处绞刑的罪犯减刑,比如免除死刑,改成终身监禁,但是他也非常了解那些发动叛乱的人,他们不是一天里就走到这个地步的,多年来逐步靠着不断欺压他人壮大自己的势力.
But in this sanctuary he had built over the years, he refused to witness bloodshed—even when carried out by law. A lingering sense of guilt weighed on Lübeck's heart, for it was he who had deliberately escalated the conflict to secure the land's stability, resolving it almost once and for all. Though the use of force had been their own decision, Lübeck could never fully absolve himself in his conscience.
但是在自己多年来创建的这个庇护之地,他不愿意看到杀戮,即便是依法执行.在吕贝克的心中总有一丝愧疚,因为是他为了这片土地的稳定发展,主动激化了矛盾,然后几乎是一劳永逸地解决它.虽然动用武力是他们自己的决定,但是吕贝克在他的内心之中总是不能慷慨地给自己完全免责.
Yet Lübeck knew deep down that sentencing them to life imprisonment would leave their connections—still free within the sanctuary—as potential threats to the land's future. Prison breaks and uprisings could erupt at any moment, reviving the power they had severed.
可是吕贝克的内心很清楚,如果给他们终身监禁,他们那些仍在庇护之地有着自由之身的关系,很可能为这片土地的未来埋下隐患,劫狱,暴动,随时有可能发生,复苏他们被斩断的势力.
Perhaps they could be sent back to Europe on Earth? Lübeck considered this solution, but he wasn't sure how it would affect the spacetime continuum—after all, there were so many people. Thinking about how his own fear of such consequences had prevented him from even meeting his own mother, he couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice. Why should they receive such preferential treatment?
或许,可以把他们送回地球的欧洲?吕贝克想到了这个解决方法,但是他不确定这么做会对时空因果有什么影响,毕竟这么多人.想想自己因为惧怕这种后果,连自己的母亲都没能够上前相见,不免内心感觉不平衡,凭什么给他们这样的优待?
Lost in thought throughout the journey, the carriage had arrived at City Hall before he knew it. As soon as he stepped through the building's entrance, he was greeted by the smiling face of City Hall Secretary Miller.
一路的思索,不知不觉马车已经到了市政厅,刚走进建筑大门就遇到了市政厅秘书米勒笑脸相迎,
"How's work going?" Lübeck asked with a smile.
"工作顺利吗?"吕贝克笑着问,
"It's never been this smooth," they both laughed heartily. Yet a flicker of concern crossed Lübeck's mind: Was it time to start reining in public authority?
"从没有这么顺利过,"说完两人哈哈大笑,但是吕贝克的脑海中却掠过一丝顾虑,是不是什么时候要开始约束公权力了呢?
Over lunch, Miller recounted everything that had transpired since Lübeck's departure. The once-dominant Schmidt and Bauer families had been weakened, and their remaining followers no longer dared openly defy law enforcement or oppress others. It was as if a malignant tumor had been excised from society's organic body—the resources it had consumed were finally returning to the healthy cells of the community.
中午工作餐的餐桌上,米勒从头至尾把吕贝克离开的这些天里发生的事情说了一遍,原来称霸一方的施密特和鲍尔家族势力被削弱了,剩下的人再也不敢公然对抗执法机构欺压他人,似乎给社会这个有机组织挖掉了一个毒瘤,原来它消耗的资源终于又回到了正常的机体细胞.
"Ah, it feels so good when everything goes smoothly," Lü Beck sighed, gazing at the midday sun streaming through the window. Spring was in full swing, and it wouldn't be long before it was time to sow the seeds.
"哎呀,一切顺利的感觉真好,"吕贝克感慨着,望向窗子透过来的正午阳光,春意正浓,过不了多久就要播种了,
On a bright sunny day, it feels like the whole world has been refreshed.
"一个大晴天,好像世界都清爽了,"
"Yes, now that the Schmidt family's influence is gone to back up those nasty neighbors, Georg will get back the land they took from him before," Ursula said happily to Lübeck across the table.
"是啊,没了施密特一家势力给恶邻撑腰,格奥尔格之前被占的土地也要回来了," 乌苏拉在餐桌对面高兴地对吕贝克说,
"Yes, we have a responsibility to uphold social fairness and justice here." Lü Beck nodded to her as he spoke.
"是啊,我们有责任维护这里的社会公平正义."吕贝克说着对她点了点头,
After lunch, Lübeck pulled Miller back into the office, wanting to understand the full extent of the civilian impact from the rebellion suppression operation. Miller pulled out the casualty statistics, showing them to Lübeck while explaining,
"See, these lists are from the Schmidt family, these are from the Bauer family, and the rest are accomplices from both sides."
午餐完毕,吕贝克拉着米勒回到办公室,想要详细了解一下平定叛乱行动对民间影响的范围.米勒便拿出了伤亡统计名单,一边给吕贝克看,一边给他讲解,
"你看,这些名单是施密特家族的,这些是鲍尔家族的,剩下是双方从犯,"
Lübeck glanced over and couldn't help but sigh,
"Oh dear, both sides have suffered heavy casualties."
吕贝克看了一下,不由得感慨说,
"哎呀,双方伤亡都挺严重啊,"
Miller smiled and said,
"No, the Schmidt family had the upper hand at first. They had more people. But when the security squad moved in to arrest them, they resisted with weapons. Their casualties were mainly caused during the confrontation with the security squad."
米勒一笑,说,
"不是,本来是施密特家族这边占优势的,他们人多,但是治安队抓捕的时候他们持械反抗,他们的伤亡主要是和治安队对抗过程中造成的,"
"Oh," Lübeck replied, nodding as if he understood, though inwardly he chuckled. The Schmidts must think they're still facing the old security squad. Little do they know I've equipped the squad with breech-loading rifles this time, bolstered their numbers, and refined their tactical arrangements.
"哦,"吕贝克一边答应一边点头,好像听懂了,其实心里暗暗好笑,施密特家的人一定以为他们对抗的还是原来那种治安队,不知道自己这次给治安队配备了后装枪,并且加强了人手和战术安排,
"So, have the masterminds behind both sides been identified?" Lübeck pressed.
"那么,双方的策划者,主谋,查出来了吗?"吕贝克接着问,
"We've got them. Both clan leaders have been identified and arrested."
"抓到了,两边的家族头领都被供出来了,已经逮捕了."
"Hmm," Lübeck nodded, thinking to himself that he had finally cut off the root of the problem, eliminating the threat that had long cast a shadow over the long-term stability of the Sanctuary.
"嗯,"吕贝克点了点头,心想总算是斩草除根,解决了庇护之地长治久安的隐患.
"Oh dear, there's just one problem," Miller said, looking troubled as he turned to Lübeck.
"哎呀,就是有一个难题,"米勒说着,面露难色,看着吕贝克,
"Ha ha, what could possibly trouble you? Just say it," Lübeck asked with a laugh.
"哈哈,有什么事能让你为难啊?你就直说吧,"吕贝克笑着问
This clash between the two families claimed many lives. On the Bauer side, there was a widow named Doris, left with two children and nowhere to turn.
"这次两家冲突,死了不少人,鲍尔家那边有一个遗孀叫多丽丝,带着两个孩子,没人收留,"
Oh, no relatives to help out?
"哦,没有亲戚帮忙吗?"
No, she wanted to remarry, but no one would take her two children—both girls, still young, one three years old and the other five. They could only eat, not work.
"没有,她想改嫁,但是没人愿意要她的两个孩子,都是女孩,还小,一个3岁,一个5岁,只能吃饭不能干活,"
"Oh," Lübeck replied, thinking to himself, Could this possibly be assigned to me?
"哦,"吕贝克答应着,心想,这还能安排到我头上吗?
Captain, you see, spring will soon be upon us and the farming season will begin. After that, no one can be certain if there will be enough food to last through the winter. Most families simply can't afford to take in these two children. Would you be willing to adopt them?" Miller finished, smiling warmly at Lübeck.
"船长你看,马上开春农忙了,之后的冬季家里口粮够不够谁家也不太确定,一般家庭真的没法收养这两个孩子,你看你能不能收养她们?"说完米勒笑呵呵地看着吕贝克,
Lübeck laughed too, waving his hands hurriedly to refuse, saying,
吕贝克也笑了,忙摆双手拒绝说,
"No, absolutely not. I orchestrated this campaign to quell the rebellion. Now that her husband is dead, how could I possibly take her child? If word got out, how could I ever show my face around here again? It's out of the question."
"不行不行,这次平定叛乱行动是我安排的,现在人家男人死了,我抢夺人家孩子,这种事情传出去你让我还怎么在这里做人啊?绝对不行,"
"Oh dear, if you don't take her in, Doris and the kids won't find anyone else to marry her off to. That'd be three lives ruined," Miller seemed a bit troubled too.
"哎呀,要是你不收留,多丽丝带着孩子改嫁也没人要,这可就是三条人命啊,"米勒好像也有点为难的样子,
Why don't you ask someone else? I absolutely can't do something like that.
"要不你再问问别人家好吗?我可千万不能做这种事情,"
"Fine then, I'll try to find someone else. Sigh, actually, her husband was killed by Schmidt's men—it's got nothing to do with you," Miller continued explaining as he tried to play matchmaker.
"那好吧,我再找找别人,唉,其实她家男人是施密特那边打死的,跟你也没关系,"米勒还在解释撮合,
No, no, no. This kind of thing is easier said than done. Who knows what people might think? Alright, don't bring it up again. I really can't agree to it.
"不行不行,这种事好说不好听,谁知道别人都会怎么想?好了,别再和我说这件事了,我可是真的不能答应,"
"All right then," Miller replied softly, saying nothing more.
"那好吧,"米勒轻声回答,也没再说什么,
Stepping out of the town hall, Lübeck wiped the sweat from his forehead and thought to himself, Why should I take what others don't want? Better get home quickly.
走出市政厅大门,吕贝克抹了一把额头的汗,心想,别人不要的我为什么要,还是赶快回家吧.