...
Thus, a few months later.
Eastern Capital Bianliang, the siege is lifted, the Jin Soldiers are exterminated.
But this Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties has not regained its former prosperity; instead, it is as depressed as the early spring's wind and rain, trapped in a dreadful atmosphere.
"Tap tap tap!"
The gentle rain falls, the sound of hooves clatters, cavalry squads gallop on the Heavenly Street, while Hidden Guard secret agents come and go, searching the city and escorting carriages of prisoners to the Celestial Prison.
The prisoners come and go in large numbers, dressed in various ways, including Dukes in luxurious attire, ragged beggars, strong Martial Artists, frail Scholars, monks, nuns, Confucians, and Daoists; all Three Religions and Nine Schools can be seen.
In a tavern with closed doors, several people stand on the upper level, gazing at the street scene, their eyes filled with worry and doubt.
"What exactly does this person intend?"
"Even if it's a change of dynasty, there's no need for such a purge, right?"
"I initially thought he was a wise ruler, but now he appears to be no better than Huang Chao!"
"Nowadays, the world is unsettled; barbarians from all directions are eyeing us, while various rebellious lords vie for control internally. He has Zhuge Zhengwo assisting internally and externally to seize Eastern Capital, yet he doesn't contemplate resting with the people; instead, he stirs great cases and commences slaughter, killing day and night."
"Look at this Eastern Capital; where is the former thriving scene?"
"Everyone is on edge, the world is unsettled, chaos is imminent again!"
"It's tolerable to dig up Wuyou Cave, but to spare no place, even Daxiangguo Temple of the Buddhist Sect, murdering monks and destroying Buddha, utterly mad!"
"The new dynasty implements new policies, an overhaul isn't unreasonable; generally, it involves re-surveying lands, setting taxes. But he, utterly mad, kills Confucians, ruins laws, annihilates Buddhists and Daoists, claiming to reform feudalism, seeking immediate benefits, surpassing Wang Mang and Yang Guang a thousandfold."
"Humph, I heard long ago, this person descended as a demon star, wreaked havoc in Heluo Land twenty years ago, causing horror across several provinces. Now, he ascends to power in Eastern Capital, becoming even more outrageous. If he truly seizes the world, won't rivers of blood flow?"
"And Zhuge Zhengwo, wise his whole life, ultimately sided with such a world-wrecking demon, destroying his reputation, and his family's safety may not be assured."
"This person is utterly mad. Even if he doesn't eliminate him after success, when the world rebels, he will also perish with him."
The words among them are full of resentment, even grinding their teeth and voicing curses.
But obviously, it is ineffective, for soon someone speaks up: "Dear brothers, now that the nation is in difficulty, this demon acts under the guise of Orthodox Technique, slaughtering from the court to Jianghu, all Three Religions and Nine Schools suffering massacre, we mustn't just sit and wait for demise!"
"And what if we don't sit and wait?"
One person hears this, but only bittersweetly smiles: "That demon possesses unmatched Martial Arts, not only traversing Jianghu and dominating the martial world, but also unrivaled on the battlefield.
Wanyan Zongwang was Jin Kingdom's fiercest general, invincible in destroying Liao and attacking Song, yet was slain by him in the ranks of thousands, resulting in annihilation of two hundred thousand soldiers."
Under him, the Demon Army nurtured not only practices Demon Skill, even horses consumed Evil Pill, trained to be like flood dragon, python, Qilin."
Such martial prowess, such military force, such world-wrecking demon, who can subdue him in the under heaven?"
The words are all despondent, causing everyone's face to look grim.
"Brother Zhou, don't boost others and diminish yourself!"
"This demon is terrifying indeed, but this kind of act against heaven's mandate will ultimately not be tolerated by the world."
"Now he has only seized Eastern Capital, there are still local powers raising flags as kings."
"We might go to seek refuge, like when the eighteen lords joined forces in the past, combining forces to attack him."
Some are unwilling, angrily refuting, yet some are deeply worried, a table of people unconsciously split into two camps.
"The rebelling kings from all directions are mere strong bandits, how can they match him?"
"It's rumored that he has secretly operated, laying roots in Heluo Land early on, nurturing troops in Shandong, having under him millions; soon to dispatch troops to pacify the world, all rebelling kings already have the intent to submit, Jin Kingdom's ruler likewise has the mood to reconcile."
"Brothers, let's endure for now, and wait for the opportune moment!"
"Humph, endure, endure, if we could endure, would we still be sitting here?"
"If worst comes, then flee to other lands!"
...
The group splits into two camps, each holding their own views, hard to sway each other, about to disperse in displeasure.
At this very moment...
"Look quickly!"
A startled shout draws everyone's attention to the window.
This tavern is built extremely high, with a special location, offering a direct view of the Ministry of Justice's execution ground.
At this moment, on the execution ground, the axes and knives are all in place, ready to enact justice.
This is not surprising, since the demon ascended to power in Eastern Capital a few months ago, the execution ground's axes and knives never ceased, every day there are those receiving extreme punishment.
But now...
In the center of the execution ground, atop the execution platform, two prisoners tremble, kneeling before the executioner, beside them are dozens of prisoners crying out loudly.
"Majesty, Majesty!"
"Heavens, Heavens!"
"Demon, Demon!"
"How can this be, how can this be?"
"Rites destroyed, rites destroyed!"
"Zhuge Zhengwo, are you truly assisting tyranny, slaughtering your monarch and father?"
Dozens of prisoners, all former Great Song Dukes, now weeping and shouting bitterly.
And the two in the center to be executed are none other than Former Emperor Zhao Ji and Emperor Zhao Heng.
Seeing the two about to fall, the nearby dozens of Great Song Dukes cry out more mournfully, some directly curse Zhuge Zhengwo on the execution booth.
"Emperor, Majesty is Emperor!"
"Since ancient times, has there ever been an Emperor sentenced?"
"Zhuge Zhengwo, it's just assisting that demon's usurpation, but how can you humiliate the former master like this?"
"Being accomplice to the tiger, utterly mad!"
"To treat the Emperor like this, surely has cause and effect, Celestial Dao has retribution, in future your demon offspring's fate would surely be tragic a thousandfold."
"Zhuge Zhengwo..."
A group of Dukes howl, crying rites destroyed.
On the execution booth, Zhuge Zhengwo's expression is indifferent, completely unmoved.
Truthfully, he initially disagreed with the decision.
The Emperor is the Celestial Son, father of the realm!
Since ancient times, throughout dynasties, they have crafted the sanctity of the Celestial Son, attempting to embed the concept of Emperor Celestial Son, Divine Right of Kings into people's minds, strengthening monarchal rule.
Thus, through generations, deeply rooted, even after Late Han turmoil and Three Kingdoms Return to Jin, the Sima Clan killing the king in the street, followed by Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, severely reducing monarchal authority, the Emperor's status still holds considerable sanctity.
For a dynasty, idolizing the Monarch, reinforcing kingly power is essential, so generally speaking, a former monarch is not executed publicly; even if killed, it's done quietly, with white silk or a cup of poison.
Such public execution, even if against a vanquished monarch, is exceedingly improper, offering no benefit to the new dynasty, might even lead down the Sima Clan's path.
But now...
Looking at Zhao Ji and Zhao Heng on the execution platform, and the nearby lamenting Dukes, Zhuge Zhengwo's gaze turns cold, he raises the Command Arrow, and throws it into the field.
"Execute!!!"
Zhuge Zhengwo doesn't fully grasp the purpose of such actions, but one thing he knows for sure, the more violent the actions now, the more peaceful the world will be later, the more killed now, the fewer will die later.
Indeed, that person is beyond human resistance; if he is not to cleanse the world, causing rivers of blood and millions dead, then now the people's hearts must be suppressed in the most violent manner, preventing them from rising again, from raising storms.
This is the method he can think of to minimize deaths and turmoil to the greatest extent.
For the sake of the world, for the people, he must raise this butcher's knife.
Slay the dragon!
Assassinate the monarch!
"Execute!!!"
Upon the command, the Ghost Head Saber falls, two heads tumble down, not true dragon heads, but eyes, ears, mouth, nose, human face and features.
"Rumble!"
Whether coincidentally or not, the sky suddenly changes, wind and rain arrive abruptly, even thunder roars, shaking hearts.
Was it the death of true dragons inciting heaven's fury?
Or was it the Celestial Dao sensing this world is about to undergo a vast, dramatic change, thus expressing itself?