It took less than half a day to get everything arranged.

After another grueling half day of waiting, William Harris finally arrived with his army.

In fact, Abraham Carter had a chance to enter the city first, but he was single-mindedly pursuing Henry Bennett. Upon hearing that the emperor had fled with the remnants of his defeated troops, he didn’t even bother to enter the city gates. No matter how far he had to chase, even to the ends of the earth, he was determined to avenge his humiliation!

Surrounded by his soldiers, William Harris arrived at the gates of Kaifeng. At this moment, the city gates were wide open, and Arthur Reed, leading all the civil and military officials, came out to welcome him.

By rights, when welcoming a new ruler, with Arthur Reed’s shameless character, he would surely kneel and shout “Long live!” treating William Harris like an ancestor as he welcomed him into the city.

But what happened next was truly astonishing.

Arthur Reed stood tall in the center, and as the victor, William Harris actually rushed forward and took the initiative to bow.

“Your junior pays respects to the Grand Preceptor!”

Arthur Reed actually accepted it calmly!

“Guardian Harris, instead of defending Yecheng against the Khitans, you’ve come to the capital—are you planning to rebel?” Arthur Reed asked calmly.

William Harris’s face was streaked with tears as he sighed, “Grand Preceptor, I have received great favor from the late emperor. Everything I have today was bestowed by him. Anyone else might rebel, but I, William Harris, cannot! This time I raised troops only to purge the court of traitors. The late emperor was benevolent, and His Majesty is truly filial. If not for the instigation and deception of petty men, how could things have come to this? As long as the traitors are eliminated and the rightful order restored, I am willing to lay down my arms and return to farming. That would be enough for me!”

After speaking, William Harris began to weep again.

Arthur Reed squinted his eyes. “Chancellor Harris, are you truly only here to purge the court, and not to seize the throne?”

William Harris immediately extended his arm. “I am willing to swear to the heavens that I have no ulterior motives. I beg the Grand Preceptor to see the truth!”

“Very well.”

Arthur Reed finally nodded. “I hope Chancellor Harris will keep his word!”

Just looking at the demeanor of these two, it seemed as if Arthur Reed was the real victor. The civil and military officials of the Later Han, seeing this, couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. So Robin Harris was all talk—just a cowardly fool, not worth mentioning. Even if he became emperor, it wouldn’t be a big deal; after all, they were used to it by now.

These people let down their guard, but as soon as William Harris was welcomed into the city, Arthur Reed immediately became extremely respectful. “My lord, the time is not yet ripe. I have offended you in many ways; please forgive me.”

William Harris nodded. “Grand Preceptor, you have worked hard.”

“It is only my duty.”

William Harris paused and asked, “Grand Preceptor, my family…”

Arthur Reed’s face fell. “I am incompetent. Please punish me, my lord!”

William Harris’s body swayed, and he closed his eyes. With great willpower, he calmed himself and said slowly, “I wish to see them. Please, Grand Preceptor, lead the way.”

Arthur Reed hesitated a little. William Harris’s brows shot up, and he nearly roared, “Don’t tell me not even the bodies remain?”

The wrath of an emperor is truly terrifying.

Old Arthur Reed broke out in a sweat and hurriedly explained, “The bodies are all there, but the men I sent couldn’t get close. A group of righteous citizens are guarding them, and outsiders can’t approach.”

Chapter 10: Should I Learn from Arthur Reed?

Someone is guarding the bodies?

William Harris was confused, but he brought his personal guards and had Arthur Reed lead the way straight to Jixiang Nunnery, where the bodies were kept. By the time William Harris arrived, he had regained his composure. Yet just over a day ago, this had been a fierce battlefield... Facing the wolf-like, tigerish yamen runners, the common people raised their fists, casting fear aside. The usually high-and-mighty yamen runners were knocked down one by one. Once the common people’s feet trampled them, there was no way out.

Grace’s brother, Harvey, was overwhelmed. By the time Mark Brooks found him, seven of his ribs were broken, blood pouring from his mouth and nose. He was barely alive, but couldn’t bring himself to die.

Mark Brooks grabbed him by the hair and dragged him in front of Grace’s coffin.

“Harvey, you even harmed your own sister! You’re utterly heartless—this is your retribution!”

No one knew where Mark Brooks found a waist knife, but he suddenly stabbed it into Harvey’s chest, twisted it hard, and a hot, beating heart spilled out. Mark Brooks was splattered with blood. It was as if something inside him had awakened; he charged out like a wild tiger, forgetting exhaustion and fear. With every yamen runner he killed, his spirit grew more exhilarated.

Killing really is contagious.

Kill!

Kill all the monsters and demons, kill all the scoundrels and rogues!

Kill until the world is at peace, until the sky is clear and bright!

The fighting spirit unleashed by the common people left Edward Clark dumbfounded. He saw with his own eyes the grain shop’s Shopkeeper Thompson, an honest and simple man, pick up a stone and smash it down on the head of the beggar Lai—not just once, but again and again, until it was a pile of mush. Only then did Shopkeeper Thompson stagger to his feet, dazed for a moment, before becoming braver than anyone else!

The grain shop was gone, his family was gone, and he no longer cared for his own life.

Before dying, he would take as many with him as he could!

After wiping out Franklin and his men, the furious townsfolk didn’t stop. They marched straight to Kaifeng Prefecture, determined to settle accounts with the corrupt officials who had harmed them.

It wasn’t just the people collecting the bodies for the The Harris Family; others, hearing the news, gathered by the thousands, with even more waiting for their chance. Kaifeng was like a boiling cauldron.

At this moment, Edward Clark was utterly stunned.