After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 973 - 958: Establishing Authority

Wang Heng at this moment also sensed something amiss. Just as he was about to look up and speak, Zhao Hanzhang kicked the horse’s belly and charged forward, leaned down and swiftly drew the sword he was holding. The sword’s tip dropped down, pointing at his throat, and she shouted angrily with vigorous intensity: "Are you to become my soldiers, to charge into battle for me, to give up your heads, spill your blood, and die on the battlefield for me?"

"The Xiongnu have been annihilated, external enemies cleared. This general hopes there will be no more wars from now on, so you all can rest and live in peace. But instead, at this time, you raise the banner of rebellion against me. Do you want to become my soldiers and throw your lives away on the battlefield again?"

"Zhao Jiashi!" Zhao Hanzhang shouted loudly: "He is the County Magistrate whom I personally selected for Tiao County! He is an orphan, adopted by me, and given the Zhao surname for his outstanding learning. During the great drought and locust plague in the Northern Land, the harvest failed, and Tiao County had long run out of grain to aid the disaster victims. Before him, who had ever aided the disaster!"

"He fought tirelessly, obtaining relief grain from me and distributing it all into your hands. He worked day and night for you, yet just because the grain was insufficient to supply all the disaster victims, you would follow these traitors to kill him?" Tears involuntarily slipped from Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes as she looked down with anger at the people kneeling before her. "Wang Heng, this general knows what you desire. Why, is it that my Zhao Family Army treats captives kindly and treats surrendering soldiers well, giving you the delusion that being recruited by me would allow you to rise effortlessly?"

Wang Heng’s face turned ashen, shaking his head repeatedly, "No, I’m not, it’s him who embezzled and was cruel and inhumane..."

"My students in the academy whom I raised, the individuals I personally selected, how could I not trust their character?" Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and loudly asked the kneeling people: "Where are the people of Tiao County? Is Zhao Jiashi loyal or treacherous, good or greedy, you all shall say!"

The rebellious troops met Zhao Hanzhang’s blood-red tearful eyes, and didn’t dare to speak. Among them, some regained their sanity, recalling Zhao Jiashi’s actions after taking office, and the laughter during the times digging together with him. Their bodies slumped, and they couldn’t help but prostrate on the ground, crying out.

Where there is a first person, there is a second. Among these more than twenty thousand people, most were from Tiao County, with a small portion from Fucheng. When one cried, another began to recall Zhao Jiashi, and they started sobbing in unison.

There was no need for their words, everyone understood.

Zhao Hanzhang then turned her head, her eyes blazing, staring at Wang Heng, saying each word deliberately: "You not only killed Zhao Jiashi but also harmed Fucheng Magistrate Zhao Yicheng, he was also my student!"

Wang Heng’s eyes widened in fear as Zhao Hanzhang raised her sword, fueled by hatred, and with all her strength, she wielded it to cut off his head.

Wang Heng’s head rolled away, blood gushed and splattered on the people kneeling behind him, the head rolling to their feet.

A dozen people kneeling nearby screamed and collapsed backward onto the ground.

Zhao Hanzhang held the sword without looking askance, coldly staring at them and said: "Are you all the good subordinate generals of Wang Heng? Which means, are you the bandit chiefs?"

From the crowd, a person immediately leapt up, shouting loudly: "Zhao Hanzhang wants to kill us to avenge the County Magistrate, rush and attack her..."

Zu Ti’s gaze grew intense, and he threw his long spear, directly impaling the person and sending him flying. The rebellious troops and civilians trembled in fear, not daring to move for a moment, until a slight return to consciousness when they heard Zhao Hanzhang say: "Fear not, the law does not punish the masses. You are too many, I won’t hold you accountable, I only kill the bandit chiefs!"

The hearts of the crowd slightly settled down, and then Zhao Hanzhang let out a cold laugh and said: "All those who rose with Wang Heng, everyone with positions above squad leader, should be captured! Any who hide or conceal, shall be punished equally! Reporting them will bring rewards, a string of coins!"

At these words, the Zhao Family Army exclaimed "Ho!" as archers stepped forward, drawing arrows and aiming at the encircled rebellious troops. Then, squad after squad of the Zhao Family Army charged in from behind, directly targeting the dozen leaders.

They naturally did not want to sit and wait for death, grabbing their blades to get up and resist.

Zhao Hanzhang said softly: "I have already sent people to Tiao County, those who resist will face the punishment of their clan."

Upon hearing this, over a dozen people stood up in grief and indignation, and most put down their blades, while those who hadn’t were unable to win the fight. And those leaders hidden among the rebellious troops didn’t need the Zhao Family Army to act; the surrendering soldiers themselves pinned them down and dragged them out.

To Zhao Hanzhang’s surprise, among them were two people wearing ordinary linen clothes, unlike Wang Heng and the others who wore armor.

Fu Tinghan, sharp-eyed, rode forward and pulled open the collar of one of them, revealing the inner attire.

He was slightly startled, turned his head to Zhao Hanzhang and said: "It’s silk."

"Silk," Zhao Hanzhang rode forward, "Even Wang Heng couldn’t wear inner clothes made of silk, right?"

She didn’t shy away, directly using her sword to lift the chin of the middle-aged scholar, scrutinizing him for a moment before asking: "Which noble family does this gentleman belong to?"

The middle-aged scholar turned pale but said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand and had these two people dragged away, then scanned the 238 individuals who had been pulled out, and said plainly: "Execute them all, hang their corpses on the city walls, without my orders, no one is allowed to take them down or inter them!"

"Yes!"

Before the eyes of more than twenty thousand rebellious troops, the Zhao Family Army beheaded all 238 individuals, blood flowing down the road, reaching the front of their knees, every one of them pale-faced.

But it wasn’t over yet. Zhao Hanzhang did not leave, she stood in front of the city and announced loudly: "If anyone dares again to sacrifice the lives of my people for power and ambition, no matter who, the bandit chief, I will exterminate the clan! Followers, anyone with authority, shall be executed!"

Fear gripped the rebellious troops, while the Zhao Family Army and the Zu Family Army led out by Zu Ti responded loudly and excitedly!

Zuo Min also followed suit, his eyes gleaming, raising his fists and shouting along.

Zu Ti exhaled, suppressing the excitement in his heart. When he turned back, he saw his eyes were alight with excitement, and Zu Ti: ...

He silently turned back and urged his horse forward a few steps, distancing himself from him.

The long silent gates of Wuyi County slowly opened, a dozen figures ran from afar, the leader in County Magistrate official robes, both clothes and face blood-stained, eyes red, darkness under them. She ran forward in one breath, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, her knees gave way, kneeling on the ground, large beads of tears falling, voice barely audible: "Lady, lady..."

Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward, helped her up, pressed her shoulder, and praised: "Well done, you held Wuyi City."

Zhao Yigui tried to smile in response, but thinking of the dead classmates and colleagues, tears couldn’t help but fall again, his expression rather ugly.

Zhao Hanzhang was unoffended, even raising her hand to wipe the tears from her face.

Zhao Yigui couldn’t help but sob, almost throwing herself into Zhao Hanzhang’s arms to cry bitterly. Remembering where they were, with so many people around, such actions would not only cause her to lose her prestige but also bring shame to the Lady, she forcibly held the tears back.

She tried hard to smile broadly at Zhao Hanzhang, then turned sideways to invite Zhao Hanzhang into the city.