In a desolate area south of Gyeonggi Province, laborers were working hard as usual, dressed in very thin clothes.

Those who were slightly weaker had already frozen or starved to death.

Someone ahead was begging for mercy, but after only a brief pause, the overseer beat him until his skin was torn and bleeding.

Zhu Xi, wearing a thick cotton coat and riding a horse, had just finished eating and drinking and came out to inspect the area.

"Listen up, all of you! If you don't work hard, you'll end up like him!"

Zhu Xi pointed to the corpse tied to the wooden stake in front of him. It was a boy who was only sixteen years old. He was beaten to death in public just for cursing Zhu Xi.

His body was displayed here after he died.

In the past month, more than a dozen people have died, and the deaths have been extremely tragic.

Now no one dares to resist.

After saying that, Zhu Xi asked again, "Who is Duan Zheng!"

All eyes turned to Zhu Xi, who looked at him with confusion and timidity.

“If you know who Duan Zheng is but refuse to tell me, I will kill you all, just as I killed him!”

Still, no one spoke.

Zhu Xi's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his subordinate whispered in his ear, "Boss, that short guy over there is him, I know him."

"Go and bring him here."

Zhu Xi's men rushed over.

Duan Zheng screamed in terror, and several burly men around him shielded him, saying, "What are you doing? He's just a child. You can't do this..."

Zhu Xi said viciously, "Grab him!"

One of the henchmen drew his knife and stabbed a burly man to death. The others dared not stop him.

A thin boy was pulled out of the crowd.

"Let me go, you beasts!"

"You're Duan Zheng? You're the one who incited them to escape?"

"It's me! You beast! You tricked us into coming here, to be your slaves, and now we don't want to do it anymore!"

Zhu Xi sneered: "Kill him!"

Before they could even make a move, a group of people appeared in the snow ahead, hurrying along.

Zhu Xi turned his head, squinted, and saw those people dressed in black brocade robes and riding tall, fine horses; they were clearly government officials.

Before Zhu Xi could even greet them, those people had already rushed over.

In this era, everyone recognized these men dressed in black brocade robes and carrying crescent-shaped eyebrow daggers; they were the emperor's personal guards, and no one dared to provoke them.

Zhu Xi was a local in the capital city, so how could he not recognize the Imperial Guards?

He immediately dismounted, his face beaming with smiles, as if he wanted nothing more than to rush forward and grovel.

Who is Zhu Xi?

"This humble subject, Zhu Xi, pays his respects to the superior."

"Are you Zhu Xi?" He Liming asked, worried that there might be a mistake, "Are you really Zhu Xi?"

"This humble subject is indeed Zhu Xi. May I ask what instructions Your Excellency may give?"

"Nothing much, just came to see how it is."

"Everything is fine, everything is fine."

"Oh, that's good."

"Shangguan, it's snowing heavily outside. Why don't we go inside and warm up?"

"No, I have other important matters to attend to."

Zhu Xi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I won't bother you any longer, Shangguan."

"No need to bother you, of course not. I have something I need your help with, and I wonder if you would be willing?"

"Please give your orders, sir, and I will obey even unto death!"

"I wish to borrow your head!"

Zhu Wei was slightly taken aback, thinking she had misheard, and stared blankly at He Liming.

He Liming gave the order: "Kill them all!"

The Imperial Guards rushed forward immediately, their blades flashing and striking ruthlessly. Before Zhu Xi's men could even react, they were hacked to death on the spot.

Zhu Xi was so frightened that her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground and urinated.

"Shangguan, why is this?"

"Why?" He Liming said, "Don't you have any idea what kind of trouble you've caused?"

After killing the man, Liu Hong walked up to Zhu Xi, grabbed him, and dragged him like a piglet to a rock.

Zhu Xi screamed in agony, "Shangguan, spare my life! Shangguan, spare my life!"

Liu Hong gave him no chance, pressing his head down onto a rock, then took out a knife and gently placed it on his neck, cutting back and forth like he was slaughtering a pig.

Zhu Xi tried to struggle, but was pinned down by several Imperial Guards who rushed up.

They are best at killing in a way that appears extremely domineering and barbaric.

The blade sliced ​​through flesh and blood vessels, then severed his throat, and Zhu Xi's cries quickly ceased.

His eyes were wide open, and his body was still struggling, but he was getting weaker and weaker.

Liu Hong skillfully cut off Zhu Xi's head, wrapped it up, and then ordered his men to throw the body into the wilderness to be fed to the dogs.

The Imperial Guards acted very quickly, taking no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

He Liming shouted loudly, "I am a member of the Emperor's personal guard, sent by the Emperor to eliminate the traitors. Do not be afraid!"

The laborers all knelt down and bowed, saying, "Thank you for the Emperor's grace! Thank you for the Emperor's grace!"

The boy named Duan Zheng asked, "Excuse me, may we go back now?"

“If you go back without getting your wages, you’ll have worked for nothing.”

He Liming said, "The imperial court has prepared your past wages, winter clothes, and ample provisions for you, and has also replaced you with a merchant."

"This is Master Qi. He will be the owner of this trading company in the future. These cotton-padded coats were prepared for you by him."

This Master Qi was a shrewd man. He knew that He Liming said this because he wanted him to do something, but he dared not take such a good opportunity.

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