Title: You Got to Be Cruel to Be Kind
Word Count: 255
Warning: Zhao being evil
Challenge: 62, prima facie
Zhao heard the banished prince's ship explode and felt a note of satisfaction. He had assassinated an exiled boy with a sneak attack. At first sight, it seemed dishonorable, but deep down, Zhao had only been being patriotic.
The admiral had learned that lesson the first time he had been assigned to be a captain over the 26th division. Two weeks into his regime, the troops had had mutinied over a lack of rations. Other generals would have panicked.
Zhao had merely reminded the rebellious soldiers what a simple letter with their names sent to the right people could do to their families left behind. At that, the troops had begged for mercy.
Zhao smirked at how he had asserted his authority. He had forced the soldiers to choose lots. Fifty pieces of paper were prepared. Thirty were blank. The rest were the interesting parts.
Ten were marked with a red flame; they would be in charge of execution.
Ten marked with a green square. They would be the soldiers sacrificed for the good of the division.
The soldiers who had drawn the lot for executioners had to turn and execute their fellow rebels, a psychological torture too exquisite to ignore. At first glance, it seemed cruel, but Zhao had not had problems from his men ever since.
As Zhao listened to the crackling flames outside his tent, he smiled. The first glance really was deceiving. In truth, he had merely given a worthless brat a merciful death. Deep down, Zhao was a kind man.
Can you name the historical figure who did this? And sorry, I planned for Toko. Just got inspired!