Harvey narrowly escaped death, not even caring about his bleeding buttocks, running around like a headless fly, searching everywhere.

Coincidentally, Ralph had both legs trampled and broken, the pain making him faint. When he finally woke up, terrified that Albert King would finish him off, he took advantage of everyone being busy collecting corpses, gritted his teeth, and crawled away bit by bit. Turning a street corner, he happened to run into Harvey.

Two scoundrels, each more miserable than the other, yet when they got together, they actually started mocking each other!

"Ralph, when I got beaten up, what did you say? You said I deserved it! And look at you now! Both your legs are broken—don’t tell me you were fooling around with some woman and got beaten up by her husband! Hahaha!" Harvey burst out laughing.

Ralph was not only furious but also in so much pain that his face turned green.

"Harvey, you have the nerve to talk about me? Your sister jumped into the lake, her body was thrown in the execution ground, and you, her brother, didn’t even dare to collect her corpse. What kind of man are you? Still relying on a bunch of outsiders—aren’t you ashamed?"

"Don’t talk nonsense! Grace that wretched maid was a rebel. Collecting her corpse would get me beheaded!"

"Give me a break!" Ralph scoffed. "What’s the big deal about collecting Grace’s corpse? There are even people collecting for the The Harris Family!"

"What? You’re not lying?" Harvey got anxious.

"Only a bastard would lie!" Ralph said helplessly. "I just said a couple of fair words, and those ruffians broke my legs. They’re all busy at the execution ground!"

When Harvey heard this, his eyes darted around, and he finally had an idea. He wasn’t afraid of not catching William Harris’s young son—if he caught one of William Harris’s accomplices, he could still get credit!

Enduring the pain, he hoisted Ralph onto his back, and the two wounded men hobbled to Kaifeng, found Franklin, and brought dozens of yamen officers rushing over like a gust of wind.

Just as the crowd was about to disperse, they were surrounded.

Harvey exclaimed excitedly, "Franklin, see, I wasn’t lying, was I? Daring to collect the bodies of the The Harris Family—they’re all rebellious ruffians!" Ralph was not to be outdone, craning his neck and shouting, "I was the one who discovered them! When it comes to rewards, I should be first!"

Franklin couldn’t be bothered with these two dogs; his attention was entirely on the people in front of him.

The newly appointed prefect Simon Bennett was recommended by the imperial uncle and deeply trusted by the emperor. After taking charge of Kaifeng, he ordered a strict investigation into William Harris’s remaining followers, not letting a single one go—this was a great opportunity to earn merit!

Franklin glanced over—there were at least two or three hundred people!

Excellent, you’ll be the first example!

"Men, arrest them all!"

The yamen officers, weapons in hand, sprang into action.

Everyone present was stunned. Though they hated the court to the bone, faced with so many yamen officers, their legs trembled and their knees buckled.

Only those like Albert King, who had served in the imperial army, had enough guts. They gripped their wooden clubs and hammers, ready to fight to the death. But they were too few, hopelessly outnumbered, and their confidence faltered.

At this moment, Edward Clark was also extremely tense. He had saved William Harris’s young son and helped collect the corpses—two great achievements. He was just waiting for William Harris to enter the city, and then he’d be set for life.

He absolutely couldn’t be caught, couldn’t die before dawn!

Edward Clark’s mind raced. In terms of numbers, they weren’t at a disadvantage; in fact, they had the upper hand. The problem was a lack of organization—everyone was scared and lacked courage.

Then give them courage!

Facing the yamen officers closing in step by step, Edward Clark decided to risk everything.

He stepped forward and shouted sternly, "You arrest and kill people at will—it’s become routine for you. What did Sir Harris’s family do wrong? The court killed them all! We’re treated worse than grass—arrested and killed at your whim! You’re no better than bandits, beasts who kill without blinking, cruel and inhuman, utterly heartless! If you have the guts, kill every last person in the world! Otherwise, sooner or later, someone will take your heads! Heaven will punish you!"

"Extorting and oppressing the people, taking our money and grain isn’t enough—you fabricate charges, frame the innocent, and take our lives! Fellow villagers, elders! Can you endure this?"

We can’t endure it, absolutely not!

Edward Clark’s voice grew louder and louder, and the surrounding commoners, filled with righteous indignation, surged forward to block the yamen officers. Both sides pushed and shoved, chaos erupting.

Franklin was so angry his nose was crooked. "Brazen ruffians, courting death—arrest them all!"

He personally drew his sword and was about to charge.

Just then, from outside the crowd, someone shouted loudly, "Fellow villagers, don’t be afraid! Sir Harris is already on his way—he’ll be in the city any moment!"

Heavens!

William Harris is coming!

This is wonderful!

The crowd was instantly energized. Albert King was the first to swing his fist, smashing it down on a yamen officer, shouting, "What are you waiting for? Fight!"

The commoners grabbed planks, bricks, and stones at hand and started attacking the yamen officers, instantly overwhelming them... Standing outside the crowd, Mark Brooks stuck out his tongue in amazement and exclaimed, "What a move! Eddie’s brain really works!" As he spoke, he grabbed a wooden stick and joined the fray...

Chapter 9: The New Emperor’s Acting

A battle flag charged forward, unstoppable.

The young knight, surrounded by his companions, plunged deep into the enemy ranks, slashing left and right, fighting to the death without retreat. At last, there was not a single enemy left before them... The Later Han army was broken through, and they immediately wheeled their horses around and charged back again.