Meeting

Sudden dark clouds shrouded the Capital City, and a fine drizzle began to fall.

The rain brought a trace of coolness to the oppressive city. Minister Zhe gazed at the light rain beyond the window, worrying that it would affect the defensive fires. Then he reconsidered—there was not much left to burn anyway. Better to rely honestly on blades and spears. The capital lacked everything except people.

Thinking of the wealthy and powerful households within the city coming to his door, crying poverty and refusing to contribute money or grain, made him irritable again. Their lives were nearly gone, yet they still obsessed over wealth and food. Sometimes, deep down, he bitterly wished the city would fall and the rotting corpses would devour every last one of those bastards.

Of course, that self-destructive thought passed in an instant.

The dripping eaves clattered noisily, stirring the elderly Minister Zhe's temper. His eyes were growing somewhat blurred...

"Assassins! There are assassins!"

Minister Zhe was already vexed when he vaguely heard someone shouting about assassins. Through his blurred vision, he saw several Military Generals resting in the Ministry of War draw their swords, while unfamiliar figures approached him.

The ministry was in utter chaos. Officials and clerks scrambled for their lives, while Military Generals wielded weapons and roared as they fought!

The roof shattered, tiles crashed down, and papers whirled through the air. Floor bricks cracked, beams and pillars broke apart. After dismounting, a messenger racing about in haste stared blankly at the ministry, now a tangled mess, unsure what to do. Many officials were caught in the aftershocks and died miserably, while attacks occasionally flew out and smashed the buildings across the street.

Five people had infiltrated the Ministry of War to carry out the assassination—four men and one woman. Four burly