An army of 10,000 men set off from Tokyo and rushed toward Jingdong Road.

This force was divided into ten routes, each with only one thousand soldiers, and entered the ten prefectures of Jingdong Road where riots were taking place.

Han Shizhong personally went to Yunzhou, arriving at night.

The local militia had brought the riot under control, but He Qingchen did not dare to order a massacre.

Just after a heavy rain, the moonlight peeked out from the eastern mountains, casting a glow on the deep blue sky and making the water droplets on the branches outside the city sparkle like countless jewels set in the lush green leaves.

Han Shizhong was dressed in full armor, holding a long spear, with a pen knife at his waist, and riding a tall and powerful warhorse.

As soon as he arrived at the city gate, He Qingchen rushed over to greet him.

"Your humble servant pays respects to the Marquis of Valor."

According to rank, He Qingchen was a fifth-rank official, while Han Shizhong was a fourth-rank lieutenant general. Upon meeting Han Shizhong, He Qingchen naturally had to perform a grand salute.

Han Shizhong asked, "Prefect He, where are the people now?"

"The people...they are all in the city now, and I have brought them under control."

Han Shizhong didn't say much, simply stating, "Leave the rest to me."

His casual tone revealed a strong murderous intent; he was cold all over, especially his eyes, which were like the shimmering light of a lake in the twelfth lunar month.

"Thank you for your help, Marquis Yongwu."

Han Shizhong led a thousand men into the city, and under the guidance of a local military commander, they quickly entered the area of ​​the riot.

Before entering, the commander suddenly said to Han Shizhong, "This humble general dares to speak frankly, please, Marquis Yongwu, be sure to avenge Zhang Zhubu!"

Han Shizhong could see the deep hatred in his eyes. Han Shizhong had met Zhang Kang before, and the emperor had a very good impression of Zhang Kang.

During the flood, Sima Qing, the prefect of Yunzhou, fled. It was Zhang Kang who stayed behind to organize people to fight the flood and even distributed his own grain to the fleeing disaster victims.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Kang met with misfortune so soon.

Han Shizhong suddenly began to ponder a rather philosophical question: The emperor himself went to the front lines to boost morale, and officials like Zhang Kang also cherished the people very much, so why did they riot because of baseless rumors, and why did the unrest spread so widely?

If this kind of thing happened in the military, there would be only one consequence: everyone would be executed!

That's what Han Shizhong thought. He was a soldier, so he naturally approached problems from a soldier's perspective.

If someone mutinis in the army, it's a capital offense!

Han Shizhong couldn't help but recall the emperor's words: "Lack of virtue is not terrible; what is most terrible is ignorance!"

Han Shizhong asked the commander, "There are three thousand local soldiers in the city, why don't you avenge Zhang, the registrar?"

The commander hesitated for a moment and said, "Prefect He said we can't start killing, otherwise things will get out of control."

The prefectural governor had certain military power, at least the power to mobilize the local garrison troops.

If He Qingchen forbade them to make a move, they would absolutely not make a move.

Han Shizhong understood immediately. He had only been in the city a short time when he heard someone shouting, "The emperor is a tyrant! Abolish the new policies!"

After walking a while longer, Han Shizhong saw a large crowd on the main street. Some people were holding torches, some were telling the story of King Zhou, and others were telling the story of the tyrannical Qin Dynasty.

Those people also saw a group of people coming, but they were not afraid. Every one of them had an expression on their face that said they had grasped the truth and were ready to die for it.

"I am Han Shizhong, former guard of the Imperial Guard. I have come here by order of the Emperor to quell the rebellion. Hand over the man who killed Zhang Kang. The rest of you, disperse. This is His Majesty's decree!"

A boy of about eighteen years old stepped forward. He was wearing a silk robe, and it was obvious that his family was wealthy.

"The tyrant is immoral, causing floods from the heavens. The court is corrupt, officials are incompetent, the people are suffering, the nation is on the verge of collapse, and the land is crumbling. We have read the books of sages and virtuous men. As Fan Zhongyan once said, 'Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures.' We beg the emperor to return the throne to the retired emperor to preserve the great Song dynasty!"

Han Shizhong's pupils suddenly contracted to a single point; this group had actually mentioned the retired emperor.

It seems that this was indeed an organized and premeditated act!

He continued, "Zhang Kang aided and abetted the wicked, and deserved to die!"

Han Shizhong stopped talking nonsense and waved his hand, instantly sending three arrows flying out from behind him.

This crossbow is only slightly less powerful than the Divine Arm Crossbow, and it can penetrate leather armor within a hundred meters, let alone a young man wearing a silk robe.

One of the three arrows struck his left eye, its sharp tip shattering the eyeball and piercing into his skull.

The second arrow pierced his throat and came out from behind, accompanied by a spray of blood.

The third arrow pierced his chest and went straight through his heart.

Before he fell, Han Shizhong suddenly drew his knife from his waist and swiftly swung it, severing his upper body diagonally from his shoulder.

Fresh blood gushed out in an instant.

Everyone was stunned. They were still immersed in the brutal story of King Zhou digging out Bigan's heart, but they never expected that an even bloodier scene would unfold before their eyes.

"His Majesty the Emperor said I will tell you three times: disperse!"

No one moved.

"Disperse!"

Still no one moved. Not only that, but someone shouted, "If you're so capable, then kill all of us unarmed scholars!"

Han Shizhong walked back, mounted his horse, and said expressionlessly, "Kill them without mercy."

At his command, the thousand-strong phalanx of soldiers shouted in unison, and the soldiers in the front row nocked their crossbows on their left arms and began to fire.

In an instant, more than twenty people were shot and screamed in agony.

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