THE CUTTHROAT SWORN

That harsh uttersoon inflicted the anger of pro-govermment citizens.

"Then where is the real form of the beauty of life that you offer? Isn't that only a promise?! Who knows what your leader will do after ascending to the throne?! Perhaps he will change, he will become a tyrant that is even crueler than Qin Shihuang!"

"Yes! We don't want a promise, we want proof! Don't fool us, paid people! Your brain is only filled with money, money, and money, as the result you suspect us of being paid by the government!"

"The funds to pay for them come from these corruptors, that's why they immediately pop up and make chaos when their fund bags are collapsed, right?! They fear not getting paid again! The sins of these corruptors are severe because not just they do corruption, they also use corrupt money to finance the rioters!"

All pro-government citizens shouted together, "How much do these corruptors pay you? Or maybe you are paid with only a bing * ?! And only for it, you then risk your life?! Gosh, poor men!"

"Or maybe they give a promise in a form of the lure of pleasure, that after you win then you may loot the royal palace and rape the beautiful court ladies and concubines?!"

"So they don't do it for the sake of people, they instead do it for their own lust but pretending that they do it on behalf of the people?!"

It aroused the rioters' anger. They brandished their weapons up high, ready to hit the pro-government citizens.

The royal soldiers were immediately on standby. Chen Xinyi shouted, "Do the execution!"

The screams of the corruptors grew louder, they even refused to drink the poison inside the cup before them. The tension between the rioters and royal soldiers became more chaotic. Assuming that the death penalty might fail, Chen Xinyi shouted once more, "Change the execution! Soldiers, have their beheaded!"

"But... we will violate His Highness' order?..." Wu Qi hesitated.

"This incident is beyond our expectations, and if it keeps going on, it may ruin His Highness' plan instead. After all, we don't kill them by using cruel torture like slow-slicing or waist chopping. their death will be quick and less painful."

Slowly, Wu Qi nodded. The soldiers immediately approached the prisoners, chopped off their heads.

Everyone fell silent. Including the rioters.

Chen Xinyi stepped forward. "And now it is your turn, rioters!" He pointed his sword at the masses.

The soldiers were indeed urged to finish off the rioters. They instantly did as instructed. After evacuating the pro-government citizens, Wu Qi soon attacked the rioters. Since they were only trained to cause riots and not to fight, they quickly lost to the royal soldiers.

Chen Xinyi watched the rioters who were kneeling in a tightly bound state. He said coldly, "Hereby I declare; This is the consequence for whoever dares to cause chaos in Ming... or even worse! For us, it is very easy to catch you! We can catch your fund bags, let alone catch you! Don't even try to make trouble in here! I've warned you!"

He ordered a soldier to release one of the rioters, a young man seemed to be the most cowardice between them. Just when he fled, Chen Xinyi shouted again. "Tell your master, he won't win. The Emperor is the legitimate ruler of Ming, and Zhou Wang is the legitimate ruler of Kaifeng. Ming rulers are chosen by Heaven, even Zouyu comes to our side. Want to overthrow them, then over our dead bodies first... if only you can do it!"

Chen Xinyi and Wu Qi turned around, returned back to Kaifeng Palace.

***

"So, you changed the punishment of drinking poison with beheading?"

Zhu Su asked Chen Xinyi and Wu Qi who was giving report on their knees. Bowing his head deeply, Chen Xinyi replied, "Please forgive us, Your Highness. It was very chaotic at that time. Totally beyond our expectations, the pro-government supporters got furious and they were absorbed in a tensed argument with the rioters. The quarrel almost ended in violence. Moreover, the criminals refused to drink poison. We had no choice. We mustn't let this execution fail or the prisoners would get free. Please forgive us."

Zhu Su nid-nodded. "No problem, it's only a petty matter..." Wu Qi immediately breathed in relief, while Chen Xinyi curved a smile calmly, as if he said in his mind, 'I have guessed it, and my guess becomes true'. "But it's strange. How could the citizens instead clash with the rioting?"

"The rioters provoked them by uttering words that hurt the ears. Even the well-trained men may perhaps be tensed up, let alone them who are just commoners. Well, that is the risk of engaging the commoners anyway, they are like the fuse of a firecracker that burns easily even if it is only lit by a small fire."

"However, their appearance make the rioters' propaganda insignificant."

"Well... they are like the dangerous double-edged swords. But thank Heaven, we were able to perfectly use the swords to stab the enemy."

Chen Xinyi deserved to be called as a high-class police officer. He did not need to talk much and act a lot, but once he stepped in, even a single word from him was like a whirlwind. The young man he released immediately fled to Huan Shikang's residence. Face turned white, he told everything he just experienced.

"Kaifeng officials have been sentenced to death?!" Rumile's face turned white as he heard the report from the young man.

Huan Shikang looked at him curiously. "You are always used to be calm, but why are you scared now? It's just the corrupt officials are being executed, what do you need to worry about?"

"That's the case. Merchant Zhao is gone missing, he can't be reached or contacted. Maybe he flees elsewhere unreachable, or maybe he is caught by the government. To be sure, we have lost two of our funding bags."

"Isn't there still the fund from Yuan?"

"It only contributes a little. The Northern Yuan is having a hard time due to the power struggle."

"What?!? So we can't pay the masses?!" Huan Shikang instantly felt the same anxiety with Rumilie. Infuriated, he jumped up from his chair. He pursed his lips, grumbled.

"The time has come. To release my ultimate weapon. This time the sky will turn to ash, and you the Ming will shatter to dust!"

***

* bing = a wheat flour-based Chinese food with a flattened or disk-like shape. These foods may resemble the flatbreads, pancakes, and unleavened dough foods of non-Chinese cuisines. Many of them are similar to the Indian roti, French crêpes, or Mexican tortilla, while others are more similar to cakes and cookies. (Wikipedia)