"Of course you can't notice it." Zhao Jiu smiled. "The extra part of the bad atmosphere I mentioned actually refers to the fact that after the city was captured that day, everyone in the city showed a bit more blind respect for me... I'm afraid that only I can sense this atmosphere more clearly."

"Isn't it a good thing that everyone, from top to bottom, fears and obeys the government?" Yang Yizhong hesitated and asked in a low voice.

"I can't tell whether it's a good thing or a bad thing." Zhao Jiu turned his gaze back to the military camp under the setting sun, and then sighed slightly. "Logically speaking, whether the Northern Expedition succeeds or fails, after the war, I still need prestige to do great things. At this time, the army is in awe of me, which is of course a good thing. Even my behavior when I broke into the city that day was a bit of a connivance, and I was intentionally or unintentionally using the incident to establish my authority... But the awe I want is not this kind of superstitious awe!"

"I am stupid." Yang Yizhong seemed to understand, but not quite. He understood a little bit in his heart, but he didn't know how to express it in appropriate words.

"What do you mean stupid?" Zhao Jiu laughed again. "If even you don't know what I'm thinking, then I'm really alone... I want them to know that it's gunpowder, but also understand that it's the best formula of gunpowder obtained after hundreds or thousands of experiments, and know that it took four or five years of accumulation and forbearance to make this move, so that they can be in awe!"

At this point, seeing Liu Yan rushing over with a few close officials and a group of civilians carrying torches, the official paused for a moment, then turned back and added, "To put it bluntly, I want them to respect me as a human being, not as a god."

Yang Yi suddenly realized... this was exactly what he thought.

Only in this way, it is difficult to say this... It is difficult to say for a minister, and it is difficult to say for an official.

"Let's go. It's so cold. Don't let so many people freeze by the river." Zhao Jiu said a few words, then went to meet Liu Yan and rode back to the camp.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Yang Yizhong hurried to catch up.

It can only be said that no matter what the overall situation is, the ninth year of Jianyan has passed, and Emperor Zhao does not miss it, and the tenth year of Jianyan has arrived, and Emperor Zhao does not particularly welcome it.

PS: Thanks to the boss of Salty Watermelon for the cute post.

Happy May Day everyone...By the way, if the official event wants to write a sequel, what kind of content would you like to see?