"My lord, let's send troops out immediately and kill that woman!" Xu Chu slammed his fist heavily on the table, his voice booming like thunder. "That woman actually dared to slander us like this, she deserves to die, she deserves to die!"

"Sending troops now is suicide!" Yao Guangxiao said. "General Bai Qi is leading our elite troops far away on the Dos grasslands. There are only 20,000 soldiers in Xichuan City right now. How can we 'purge the court of corrupt officials'?"

Following Lin Mo's orders, most of the troops were transferred to Tianshui City to build fortifications.

Ran Min retorted, "Mr. Yao, we do indeed only have 20,000 soldiers now, but we can guide the people to revolt along the way to the capital!"

Xu Chu stroked his chin, remained silent for a while, and then said, "General Ran's suggestion is sound. My lord, I think it's feasible! We should recruit volunteers along the way to 'purge the court of corrupt officials'!"

Yao Guangxiao shook his head. “Without a legitimate name and the support of the people, how can we recruit volunteers?” He said, “According to that woman, we used a treacherous scheme to kill more than 400,000 prisoners of war.”

This one point alone has put us in a completely passive position in terms of public opinion!

"The people of Shu will not believe that woman!" Xu Chu shouted.

“The people of Shu will naturally not believe it, but what about those outside Shu?” Yao Guangxiao said, “The closer a province is to the capital, the more likely it is to believe the Empress’s words.”

And another thing, didn't that woman write again? She said she wanted the prince to make a list of all the treacherous officials, which she would then send to Xichuan City for the prince to deal with as he saw fit!

"Huh? This woman really said that?" Xu Chu was shocked. "My lord, what are we waiting for? Write down the names of all the ministers you don't like!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao's face immediately darkened. "Xu Chu...you!"

To Yao Guangxiao's even greater surprise, Lin Mo, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up, "Just do as Xu Chu says!" He said, "Guangxiao, you and Qiao Shan make a list together."

Except for those who are on good terms with my Lin family, write down all the rest!

If Yao Guangxiao knew how to say "Holy crap!", he would definitely say it three times in a row at this moment. "My lord, please think carefully. You are giving Wei Maozhen a handle to use against you!"

If someone asks you to make a list, do you actually make one?

You've compiled a list of all the court officials who disagree with you as "traitors." Isn't that just a clear case of "those who obey me prosper, those who oppose me perish"? You're definitely a "great traitor."

"My mind is made up! Guangxiao, just do as I say!" Lin Mo said. "As for that woman's claim that I massacred more than 400,000 prisoners of war?"

At this point, Lin Mo deliberately paused for a few seconds, "The message has been relayed: that's exactly right!"

Everyone was astonished by these words.

This was far more cruel than killing more than 400,000 Sid soldiers with a water attack!

The other generals, whether Ran Min or Xu Chu, were commanders-in-chief and not particularly politically astute. Yao Guangxiao rarely felt so lonely. "Your Highness," he said, "if you really do this, you will be infamous for eternity."

"If you want to blame someone, then blame it on me!" Lin Mo said. "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand, and imperial power is paved with white bones!"

I am a tyrant, so what if I'm cruel?

"Your Highness, this will create many enemies for us!" Yao Guangxiao was still unwilling to give up. "As far as I know, including the Great Xia, they all believe in gods and Buddhas, and in karma!"

Indeed, this is true. North of Dos, in the Abbasid Caliphate; west of Shu, in the Qiuci region; and east of Bactria, in the Dongpango region, from emperors to commoners, all deeply revered gods and Buddhas.

The gods and Buddhas of this world are no different from those of Buddhism on Earth.

Its core philosophy can be summarized in eight words: Do no evil, do all good.

It means that one should not do any evil deeds in the world or beyond, but should actively and diligently practice all good deeds in the world and beyond.

This statement seems simple, but it is extremely difficult to put into practice. Have one good thought each day, and perform one good deed each day. A single good thought keeps evil at bay; a single evil thought brings hell before your eyes.

The massacre of 400,000 prisoners of war was an act that was completely contrary to the gods and Buddhas, a blatant provocation against them.

How could Qiuzi, the birthplace of gods and Buddhas, tolerate such behavior?

The Kingdom of Qiuzi guarded the vital passage between the Great Xia and the northern route of the Western Regions, connecting trade between East and West and carrying the civilizations of both East and West, thus occupying an important position in the world's economic and cultural history.

Its military strength was in no way inferior to that of the Great Xia.

Yao Guangxiao continued, "Since it's a rumor, we shouldn't let them lead us by the nose. In my opinion, we can fight fire with fire."

Ran Min glanced at him and asked, "How do you intend to heal him?"

“Let’s make up a story of the same nature, but one that is easier to believe,” Yao Guangxiao said. “Li Liang’s Chiyan Army came to Shu on the orders of Wei Maozhen to deliver military supplies.”

But in the end, he got involved with the Doss people.

We can use this as an excuse to kill prisoners, claiming it was all the work of Li Liang's Chiyan Army.

Our prince, unable to tolerate the actions of such villains, ordered their elimination...

"Your Highness, I also think this method is feasible!" Ran Min said. "Think about it, Li Hu and Li Liang are both the kind of generals who are proud and ruthless."

At this moment, everyone turned their attention to Lin Mo, who, without the slightest hesitation, immediately announced, "I disagree!" He said, "Let Wei Maozhen spread rumors however she wants."

She says it was I who massacred over 400,000 scum, so what?

“Your Highness…” Yao Guangxiao exclaimed in astonishment.

Lin Mo raised his hand, stopping Yao Guangxiao from continuing. "Gentlemen," he said, "I would like to ask a question. What is Buddha? What is Demon? What is Tao? And what is God?"

Everyone was speechless for a moment. Lin Mo continued, "Are you trying to say that doing good makes you a god or Buddha, and doing evil makes you a demon? Then, how do you distinguish between good and evil?"

I believe this has always been a vague definition; good and evil are merely a matter of a single thought. Those who loudly condemn others and label them as evil also find it difficult to articulate their own actions.

The so-called "benevolent rule" and "benevolent governance" are nothing but deception.

Only the strong are entitled to speak of benevolence, righteousness, and morality!

Even the teachings of sages were originally meant for the strong.

Only the strong are qualified to talk about benevolence and morality.

How can the weak, who struggle to even survive, practice benevolence and morality?

Therefore, only by becoming strong can one be qualified to talk about benevolence and morality; otherwise, it's just nonsense!

To sum it up in one sentence: Good and evil, gods and Buddhas—all are written by the victors!

Yao Guangxiao nodded repeatedly upon hearing these remarks, saying, "That is indeed the truth."

Lin Mo continued, "The people of Shu believed in gods and Buddhas, but when the Dos people cut off their heads, did the gods and Buddhas appear? Did they save them?"

"If I am a demon? Then I shall be a demon to the very end. I shall slaughter all the enemies of Great Xia and fill all eighteen levels of hell. Then the people of Great Xia will never again fall into hell!"

Having said that, Yao Guangxiao no longer insisted. "We swear to serve Your Highness to the death!"

"We swear to serve the Prince to the death!" the crowd replied.