Orders Issued to Exterminate Traitors Among the Barbarians, Land Divided to Distinguish Citizens

Zhao Cheng's gaze swept over the crowd again, his voice as calm as ever. "Second matter: Han Lie, Wang Zhong, Li Song, and the other former Zhao nobles and wealthy gentry incited the people of Lieren City to defy orders and colluded with remnants of the Zhao State to rebel. Exterminate their three clans!"

Hearing this, Han Lie, Wang Zhong, and the others hanging from the tall poles abruptly widened their eyes and began struggling madly.

But they were bound hand and foot, the ropes cutting so deeply into their wrists and ankles that blood seeped out. They could only writhe like wild boars awaiting slaughter, utterly unable to break free.

Their mouths had been stuffed with coarse cloth, leaving them unable even to beg for mercy. All they could make were muffled "mmph, mmph" sounds as tears and snot streamed down their faces, their eyes filled with despair.

Gold hidden in secret chambers, grain stored in cellars, treasures passed down from their ancestors—these things flashed wildly through their minds.

So long as they could keep their lives, they would have surrendered all their property, even if only one descendant could be spared.

But Zhao Cheng did not even give them a chance to speak. From the moment they had chosen to oppose him, they had already cut off every path of retreat for themselves.

Zhao Cheng gave a light wave of his hand.

The Blood-Clad Army soldiers below immediately sprang into action. Before long, the families of Han Lie, Wang Zhong, Li Song, and the rest were brought to the center of the open ground—whether white-haired elders or children still babbling their first words.

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"

Seeing his wife and children dragged over, Han Lie struggled even more violently, nearly snapping the ropes around him, yet it was