The literati of the Song Dynasty held a deeply ingrained view: the world belonged to both the emperor and the scholar-officials, and everything was open to discussion; the emperor relied on the scholar-officials to govern the country.

Therefore, the riots in Luoyang were nothing more than a game between the scholar-officials and the emperor. They firmly believed that once things escalated, the emperor would compromise.

However, Zong Ze's arrival raised a huge question mark in their minds.

When would the Song Dynasty mobilize its army? When suppressing rebellions by the lowly people, or when waging war against foreign enemies, the Song army's sword would certainly not be aimed at the noble scholar-officials.

Although no one in the current generation of the Lü family holds a position in the imperial court, the Lü family produced Lü Mengzheng and Lü Gongzhuo, both of whom were prime ministers. The previous generation, Lü Xizhe, Lü Xiji, and Lü Xichun, were all court officials. Therefore, the Lü family's status was very prominent.

Fu Bi's family background goes without saying; his fame was known to everyone in the Northern Song Dynasty court.

Standing before Zong Ze was an elderly man dressed in plain blue, who was Lü Fang, the head of the Lü family; another man in a scholar's robe was Fu Zhirou, the head of the Fu family; there was also Fu Zhiliang; and thirteen other powerful and influential people from Luoyang, whose ancestors had all served in the imperial court.

The new army entered Luoyang with overwhelming force. If it weren't for these powerful and influential figures daring to come, and the lower-ranking soldiers acting rashly and fighting against the new army, there would probably have been a massacre today.

Fu Zhirou said, "I have long admired your name, Master Zong. It is my great honor to meet you today."

Lü Fang also said, "I have heard that Lord Zong is also a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), and is extremely righteous. When he went north to resist the Jin, heroes from all directions were willing to join his ranks. Our respect for Lord Zong is as boundless as the Yangtze River."

"You flatter me. The heroes from all directions admire the Holy Emperor's power and virtue. I am but a mere warrior, unworthy of such righteousness. I am grateful for the Holy Emperor's mercy, which allows me to go north to kill the enemy and fulfill my ambition."

Zong Ze was polite on the surface, but in his heart he didn't think much of these people.

Zong Ze was indeed a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in his early years, but he had a very strong personality. He encountered setbacks everywhere in the god-like officialdom of the Song Dynasty and was quite dissatisfied with the Song Dynasty civil officials' policy of negotiating peace with foreign countries, so he impulsively joined the army.

However, even though he joined the army, the officialdom of the Song Dynasty was corrupt from the civil officials to the military officials, and he still encountered setbacks everywhere.

Of course, at this point, a group of people will stand up and say that he doesn't know how to be flexible in officialdom and deserves to run into obstacles. There were probably too many people like this in the environment at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zong Ze knew very well that these once arrogant and powerful figures were now fawning over him in humbly because they wanted to win him over and join him in opposing the court and the emperor.

If I were to truly stand with these people, and His Majesty were forced to reach an agreement with them, they would be the first to betray me, and would inevitably push me out as a scapegoat.

Although Zong Ze was upright, he was not stupid. He knew exactly what kind of people were like. The emperor trusted him completely, and even if it meant his death, he would never turn against the emperor.

Fu Zhirou said, "Lord Zong is of great righteousness. The current emperor has been misled by villains. We are all loyal and righteous men of the Great Song Dynasty. We should unite and go to the capital to cleanse the court of corrupt officials and restore order to the dynasty!"

Although Zong Ze was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he was not good at speaking and did not want to engage in verbal arguments with these people. His long military career had cultivated his decisive and taciturn personality.

He said directly, "Gentlemen, I have come here today on the Emperor's orders to quell the rebellion. You would be better off laying down your weapons and coming with me to the capital to meet the Emperor. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to deal with you for treason!"

Zong Ze's words shocked everyone present.

Na Fuzhiliang couldn't help but curse, "Zong Ze, don't be ungrateful! Which of our ancestors wasn't an important minister of the Song Dynasty, who made great contributions to the Song Dynasty? Although you have studied the classics, you are now just a soldier. What right do you have to talk to us here? If you know what's good for you, then join us in cleaning up the corrupt officials, otherwise you will be aiding and abetting evil and will become a sinner for all time!"

Zong Ze was furious upon hearing this: "The current emperor is wise and sagacious. Why do you need to purge the court of corrupt officials? You all study the classics and should cultivate yourselves, govern the country, and bring peace to the world. Instead, you are gathering people to oppose the court. Your intentions deserve to be punished. If you come to the capital with me to meet the emperor now, it is not too late. Otherwise, I will not be polite!"

"Hmph! I thought you were also a person of lofty aspirations, not wanting to associate with those lowly soldiers, but I didn't expect you to be just as despicable and cowardly. When the tyrannical ruler committed the tyrannical acts of Jie and Zhou, not only did you not stop him, but you even helped him to do evil. You are truly shameless!"

Zong Ze said, "As a soldier of the Great Song Dynasty, I am naturally loyal to the Emperor. Moreover, since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has launched a northern expedition against the Jin invaders and reduced taxes, which has moved the people to tears. Where were you when the country was in danger?"

"You! Zong Ze! Our ancestors all made great contributions to the Song Dynasty. How dare you, a rude and uncouth man, make such a barbaric accusation! Who do you think you are!"

Zong Ze's temper flared up instantly. He roared, "Guards, take good care of these people! The rest of you, come with me into the inner city. Anyone who dares to resist, kill without mercy! Long live the Emperor!"

The soldiers shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"

The roar of the flash flood could be heard by almost half of Luoyang, frightening the Confucian scholars to the point of turning pale, and some even wetting themselves in fear.

Lu Fang, Fu Zhirou, and the others never expected that Zong Ze would dare to treat them like this, and they became even more furious: "Zong Ze, you are acting against the natural order, do you have the face to meet the ancestors of the Great Song Dynasty!"

"You who dare to defy the current wise and enlightened emperor, have no face to meet the great ancestors of the Song Dynasty!"

The new soldiers, each in neat rows and carrying torches, began to march into the city. Their steps were synchronized, and the ground trembled under their footsteps, making everyone tremble with fear.

The new army shouted again, "Long live the Emperor!"

Hearing this, some ordinary people rushed out, shouting, "Long live the Holy Emperor! Long live the Holy Emperor!"

The Confucian scholars were shocked to see this. Why were these common people shouting "Long live that tyrannical emperor!"? Why!

They couldn't understand why these people would be grateful to a tyrannical ruler who acted perversely and brought disaster to the country and its people!

They really haven't received any teachings from sages; their minds are completely muddled!

A Confucian scholar shouted: "A tyrannical ruler has brought ruin to the country. We, the disciples of the sage, would rather die than bow our heads and live or die with the Song Dynasty!"

As soon as he shouted it out, those around him, their blood boiling with fervor, echoed, "We'd rather die than bow down! We'll live and die with the Song Dynasty!"

The moment the guy shouted it out, a soldier chopped off his head with a single blow. The guy immediately knelt on the ground, crying, "Sir, spare my life! I was misled!"

The soldier had no interest in listening to his explanation. He swung his knife again and cleaved the man's head open, spilling out his brains.

The new army marched into the city with overwhelming force. These soldiers had all witnessed the emperor approving armor and reviewing troops on the vast plains. Many of them had even boasted to the emperor in private. Now that the emperor had ordered them to come to Luoyang to quell the rebellion, they had long been sharpening their knives and thinking day and night about when they could share the emperor's burdens.

The rebellion in Luoyang was completely suppressed in less than an hour. More than 10,000 Confucian scholars were killed in the streets, and their blood stained the streets red. The pressure on the Imperial City Guard was suddenly relieved.

Dozens of core members of the Fu and Lü families were escorted to the capital!