The Shortcut

Fabian knew the king's hidden intention behind that order. Judging by the king's personality, he must find it bothersome to investigate the situation. Instead, he would prefer to finish this mess as soon as possible. 

The only shortcut to that was to eliminate the people and instill fear among others so they wouldn't do anything funny. This method might be effective in the short term, but it would only deepen people's resentment and risk another, bigger riot in the future.

Fabian tried to talk the king out of using that method, but the king refused to listen. When his insinuations no longer worked on Fabian, King Georg made it an order. 

As a citizen of Reichwein, Fabian had no power to refuse to fulfill an order.

Upon arriving at his manor, Fabian issued the order to his knights. "Eliminate the rioters and hang their heads in the town square. Put the word 'traitor' on their necks for the people to see," he said.