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The Great Purge
The first light of dawn shone through the window and into the Main Hall.
Over three hundred people had gathered, yet it was utterly quiet. Their faces looked pale and their eyes were bloodshot, none of them had any time for shuteye. Far Eastern Army’s warcry, the thundering sound of their iron hooves, the violent clash of arms, the heart tearing shriek before one’s death, the announcement of Yang Ming Hua’s demise, the sobbing of the wives, the pleading, the burning and collapsing of buildings, the cries for help, the shouts of curses… and even the soft hissing noise of snow falling on the rooftop, everything and anything continuously battered at them, tormenting them.
Yet they, the ones commanding the largest armed forces in the City of Di Du, logically, should have been the most powerful men in the City, could only listen, and watch with a paled complexion over their faces… None of them had realized then, that even now they could still turn the tide with the vast power they held, and determine the fate of the entire House ZiChuan and the continent of the Western River.
Marching battalions, Army orders, Cavalry’s hooves, and overwhelming warcries: “For the King”… all the sounds began drawing nearer and nearer. It was the Far Eastern Army marching into and taking control of the Central Army’s base.
The already paled faces turned to chalks. The way the officers stared at ZiChuan Xiu reminded him of the rabbit seeing the wolf for the first time.
ZiChuan Xiu gave them a genuine nod, showing them that all will be well; there is nothing to worry about.
Soon a large contingent of soldiers rushed into the Hall, surrounding everyone in sight. Deputy Commander Di Lin wearing a set of light blue army uniform appeared at the entrance. Even after a full night of battle, he was still surprisingly spirited. His feminine visage stained with a few drops of blood had given him another layer of unspeakable allure!
ZiChuan Xiu welcomed him, smiling: “Brother, you have fought well!” Three years, that was the first time he openly called Di Lin “Brother”.
Di Lin smiled to ZiChuan Xiu: “You too, Xiu.” Even though ZiChuan Xiu didn’t lift a finger, the mental warfare he had gone through was likely just as violent.
“Xiu, your men may go now.”
After Bai Chuan and the rest of ZiChuan Xiu were dismissed from the hall, Di Lin gave the anxious ridden Central Army Officers a scornful look and shouted: “Take them!”
Soldiers of the Far Eastern Army pounced forward like hungry wolfs, holding down each one of them with several of their own. The Central Army Officers didn’t put up much of a fight and were quickly subdued and tied up like cattle. Di Lin stepped into the Center of the Hall: “Hereby, I shall present Headmaster’s order.”
The spacious gathering hall was dead silent; leaving only Di Lin’s translucent voice echoing in the air: “Central Army officers, you occupy positions of importance. You were provided with abundance of wealth and respectable ranks. Your duty was to repay the gratitude you were shown by giving the House your undying loyalty. Yet you sided with Yang Ming Hua, Lei Xun and other rebel leaders, bringing harm to those loyal. You have betrayed your Master and you have betrayed your country. No one is more despicable in the world than the ungrateful, disloyal beasts in front of me! In order to uphold the House’s honor, and be worthy of the great hawk flying on our banner, I hereby, appoint Di Lin as the Acting Inspector General and give him the full authority to discipline the Central Army and wipe out the remaining Rebels in ways he deems fit. Only then can we protect the long honorable tradition of the Central Army from being tainted! –ZiChuan Shen Xing, Imperial Calendar, Year 779, March 27th.”
After he finished reading, Di Lin gave the order with a wave of his hand: “Under Headmaster’s order, Central Army Officers have joined Lei Xun’s rebellion and committed unforgivable crimes. As the Acting Inspector General, I sentence all Central Army Officers of the rank of Banner Master and above, to death!”
Voices exploded in an instant, shouting and crying: “Injustice! We didn’t do anything!”
“Sir, have mercy, please!”
“We did nothing but sat here the whole night.”
Ge Xin’s outburst was by far the worst: “ZiChuan Xiu, you bastard! You lied to us! I will haunt you till the end of days! I won’t forgive you!”
ZiChuan Xiu was left completely stunned on the side. He hurriedly walked up to Di Lin: “Brother, they really didn’t do a thing.”
“This is what Headmaster wanted.”
“But, they have been wronged…”
“Xiu, you are too naïve! There is no justice in the war for power! The only difference is that some people died for a worthy cause, while the others died, for nothing. How can you be sure that none of them would avenge Yang Ming Hua’s death? We would be the first on their list!”
“But they didn’t do anything at all. They do not deserve death…”
“Xiu, why do you still not understand? Their crime is exactly that, they didn’t do a thing! They commanded over a hundred thousand men, yet they just sat there and watched, waiting for the wind to blow over. No matter which side won, they wouldn’t have spared them! Just think about it, if it was Yang Ming Hua who came out ahead, would you go tell him: ‘Hey, let’s forget about the past and be friends!’ Do you think he would show you mercy?”
ZiChuan Xiu inhaled all the air he could: “No matter what, I can’t let them die. I promised to protect them!”
Di Lin smirked: “Promised? Promised are made to be broken! Stop arguing with me, this is Headmaster’s will.”
“Headmaster only said to discipline them a little; he didn’t tell you to kill them all!”
“Xiu! As a servant, it is also your duty to understand your Master’s needs. Some things are not meant to be clearly stated! If he didn’t want me to, why did he send me to discipline them in the first place? He knew you were here; why didn’t he just give you the order?”
“I don’t care! Either way the Headmaster did not say…”
“Enough, Xiu! I’m the Acting Inspector General and I’m going to perform my duty! Step away!”
“Brother! “ZiChuan Xiu cried out, and even the iron-hearted Di Lin hesitated. “Give me an hour, I will ask the Headmaster myself!”
“Xiu, you are not doing yourself any favours here. The Headmaster is not fond of people speaking in rebels defence! Your Superior, Chief Ge Shan already tried. She was removed from her positions earlier because she couldn’t take a firm stand!”
“Brother, all these years, have I ever asked you anything? I’m begging you now, give me an hour!”
Di Lin pondered for quite a while: “Fine! One hour, if the Headmaster does not relent, then don’t come back. It won’t be a pretty sight.”
ZiChuan Xiu dashed outside before Di Lin even finished; he did managed to leave a message behind: “Don’t worry, everything will be fine!” In front of the Camp, he forced a rider to give up his horse and without a second thought, he took it and raced towards the House of Headmaster.
……
In a night’s time, the magnificent streets of Di Du had become hell. Huge piles of bodies appeared as a perfect contrast to the beautiful and elegant white of the snow. Some of the streets could only be traversed by stepping over piles and piles of bodies…
The clear morning sky was covered in countless layers of thick smokes; those were from the buildings being burned down…
Everywhere, small groups of deserted soldiers were breaking down stores and stealing their goods. One of them saw ZiChuan Xiu racing by and he even tried to rob him, completely oblivious to the Deputy Commander uniform he was wearing. A flash of blade later, the soldier’s head had hit to the ground.
Cries of young girls sounded constantly in the distance: “Help!” As one happened right in front of him, he had no choice but to dismount and deal with the few deserters who was about to commit the unspeakable crime.
“Di Lin, what have you turned your army into!” ZiChuan Xiu was infuriated. When he was still an officer in the Far Eastern Army, its soldiers were known for their strict discipline. The soldiers would give salute to any officers walking past; they would treat civilians with courtesy; and they would never steal…
But now, Di Lin’s forces, they were no soldier; they were barely human!”
First thing after arriving at the House of Headmaster, ZiChuan Xiu immediately told the officer on duty that he needed to see the Headmaster.
But the officer quickly brushed aside his request, instead he told him he could make an appointment, and it would be two weeks from now at the earliest. It was a special time he said. Headmaster’s safety was paramount; he couldn’t just meet with anyone who’d make the request…
ZiChuan Xiu screamed with impatience; he demanded to see Stirling instead.
Unfortunately, Sir Stirling was in pursuit of the rebels who fled the city.
ZiChuan Xiu begged, bribed, threatened and even tried to frighten the officer, but all his efforts were met with a stone wall, no matter what he tried, the Officer wouldn’t let him in, in the end, he even called the Guards on him to kick his bothersome ass out of the house!
ZiChuan Xiu almost ran out of ideas; there was only one way left; he had no choice.
……
He stood in front of the house, facing towards the entrance and bolstered his speech: “Deputy Chief of Civil Affairs, Current Deputy Commander, Adopted son of the Former Headmaster, ZiChuan Xiu request to see the Headmaster – ZiChuan Shen Xing about an urgent matter!”
His not so loud but Qi empowered voice boomed in every corner of the House, alerting a score of Imperial Guards to the gates. They quickly had him surrounded, and readied themselves for violence…
Suddenly a voice cut through the wall of guards: “The Headmaster will see you now.”
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