Chapter 369 Failed Again (First Update)
Dadun Fort was taken in a flash, and the house arrest of Xu Chengfeng and others was quickly lifted.
The matter is done, Xu Chengfeng is no longer anxious, but is full of worry and confusion.
He immediately left his entourage behind and went to find Lin Wen.
When he entered the city, he saw this scene:
In the city, civilians were overjoyed and ran around telling each other the news.
In the factory, the workers are working hard and smiling happily.
On the streets, the elderly, women, children and young laborers are all cleaning up the garbage.
All the filth is being cleaned up, all the order is being rebuilt, and the city is full of new vitality as if a dead tree has come back to life in spring.
It's like a new city.
"I see."
He suddenly understood why Lin Wen ignored such a generous mediation proposal and was willing to take such a big risk.
That's just his personal interest.
And this is everyone's hope.
Xu Chengfeng's vision has blurred. What a great man, what a noble man.
In order to save these millions of civilians, he was willing to sacrifice his future and even his life.
No.
no.
This kind of person must never be allowed to fall.
The Governor of Shizhou is the one who should go down. Under his rule, the people simply don't feel like they are living in the human world.
No wonder Shizhou would obstruct his investigation every time and provide a large amount of research funds to make them change their target and investigate the surrounding areas.
Xu Chengfeng knew that there was a problem in Shizhou, but he didn't expect the problem to be so serious.
He was determined to thoroughly clarify the truth of the matter in front of the Great Elder.
There is no time to lose.
The Supreme Council must have known that Lin Wen did not obey orders. Governor Shizhou and his group would definitely seize this opportunity to attack Lin Wen frantically, trying to nail Changshan County down in one fell swoop.
No, I have to go back quickly.
Xu Chengfeng immediately said goodbye to Lin Wen, explaining that he had to return to the Supreme Council as soon as possible to report on the situation.
Lin Wen was delighted. Isn’t it coming?
Please go quickly, my perfect reincarnation depends on you.
In order to get him back as soon as possible, Lin Wen took out all the helicopters he had seized in Shizhou, personally flew the helicopter and spent 30 Yuanshen to send him to the nearest airport at supersonic speed.
Xu Chengfeng was worried and anxious, thinking about how to report to the Great Elder, and did not notice the abnormality of the helicopter.
With Lin Wen's intervention, the airport quickly prepared a special plane for Xu Chengfeng, flying directly to Shenjing.
Xu Chengfeng thought of all his excuses along the way and contacted his special personnel in the Ministry of Civil Affairs to find detailed information and supporting evidence for him.
As soon as he got off the plane, Xu Chengfeng got the information and went straight to the Supreme Council.
The Imperial Guardian let him go and said, "Go quickly, the Great Elder is waiting for you."
Xu Chengfeng's heart trembled, knowing that it was a critical moment.
Outside the elders' compound, he took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Inside the courtyard, the four great elders sat at the four corners of the chessboard, and the imperial garrisons were scattered throughout the courtyard. Xu Chengfeng stepped in and immediately bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Excellency, Great Elder, I'm back."
A great elder said calmly, "We all know what happened. Please add to it."
Xu Chengfeng caught a glimpse of a document with a golden red cover on the table from the corner of his eye, and was shocked to realize that it was a transfer order from the Imperial Army.
Is the Great Elder ready to send the Imperial Army to directly wipe out Lin Wen?
Given Lin Wen's character, he would definitely take all the blame and be willing to die to wash away all his faults.
No, I can't let this happen.
Xu Chengfeng took a deep breath and said, "Your Excellency, Great Elder, I have no intention of defending Lin Wen. I just want to tell you what I saw."
The four elders sat silently on the bench, waiting for his performance.
"From Jiangkou City to the front lines, I saw desolate roads and dilapidated villages and towns. In the occupied areas of Changshan County, things were a little better. There was basic order, and the peasants were still struggling, but they had food and clothing. Once outside the occupied areas, it was like entering a mountain cemetery, with starving people everywhere, dogs gnawing on human corpses by the roadside, and peasants cutting the flesh of the dead to eat in the wilderness. Endless deserted villages and towns, beggars everywhere, and I saw dead, abandoned babies on every road."
The courtyard was silent. Xu Chengfeng continued:
"According to the dirty laundry I've uncovered, Shizhou Governor Gu Xuanli allowed his subordinates to collect grain from the peasants again under the guise of imperial grain collection. The data shows that, despite already collecting sufficient taxes, Shizhou Lingshang Commandery, with a population of 1.1 million, received an additional 430,000 tons of grain. Tax collectors extorted an average of 390 kilograms of grain from each person."
"These are the exact words of the county tax collector: 'The peasants are cunning and deceitful. They appear poor, but in reality they are extremely profitable. We must exploit them vigorously and not be deceived by them. This experience should be promoted throughout the state.'"
"Let's imagine this: if we calculate based on this ratio, Shizhou's total population of 243 million can produce 94 million tons of grain."
"The price of grain in the empire has soared to 6,000 yuan per ton. If calculated at this price, the total value is as high as 560 billion imperial yuan. After deducting the amount that is handed over, they have made a huge profit of 470 billion."
"How can such huge benefits not drive everyone crazy?"
"The Empire only collected 10 million tons of grain from Shizhou, and Shizhou used this as an excuse to squeeze out 94 million tons of grain. How do the people of Shizhou survive?"
There was no response, and the elders looked indifferent, neither sad nor happy.
Xu Chengfeng didn't know whether his words would have any effect, so he could only continue speaking.
"County Governor Lin's attack on Shizhou is a truly righteous act. Shizhou has been squeezed to the limit, and the resistance is just a tiny part of it."
"If another large-scale rebellion breaks out in Shizhou, it will undoubtedly deal a heavy blow to the foundations of the Empire's rule. With external enemies at our doorstep and civil unrest reignited, we are in serious trouble. Even if we kill every last one of Shizhou's inhabitants, we'll only leave behind a den of evil. Who will grow crops for the Empire next year? Who will contribute taxes to the Empire?"
"So, Shizhou's actions are actually killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, draining the pond to catch fish, and burning the forest to hunt. They are only doing this to satisfy their own selfish interests and those of a few nobles, while disregarding the greater good of the empire!"
"And what Lin Wen did was actually to correct the wrongs for us and mend the fences after the sheep have been lost."
After a long silence, a great elder spoke: "Xu Chengfeng, you can go back."
Xu Chengfeng was nervous and could only say goodbye.
Just as I reached the door, I heard a great elder say, "Leave the information in your hand."
Xu Chengfeng was overjoyed and immediately handed the information in his hand to the garrison commander beside him, then bowed again and took his leave.
After Xu Chengfeng left, a great elder asked, "How should we deal with this?"
Another great elder said, "What Lin Wen did disrupted our plans. He took down Dadun Fort and created a huge hole."
"The feud is over... This chess piece is half as useful now. He won't last much longer."
"Then there's no need to attack him. Use phone calls and telegrams to order him to cease fire as soon as possible."
The Great Elder glanced at the accusation letters piled on the table beside him. Almost all of the letters were signed by powerful figures in the empire. He said coldly, "I hope you can hold on a little longer."
He picked up the negative information about Xu Chengfeng and handed it to the garrison commander beside him: "Order the Council of Review and the Imperial Political Supervisory Council to jointly review the case of Xu Chengfeng suing Shizhou."
A garrison commander bowed and took it, then left.
At this time, a bright red urgent report arrived on the table of the Great Elder.
The dispatch read:
"The Papal States wants to negotiate peace with the Empire."
"Many countries around the world have expressed their views and called for peace."
The four great elders looked solemn.
——
Lin Wen is working furiously in Dadunbao.
He is about to be reincarnated, so he must seize the last moment to accumulate good karma and eliminate bad karma.
He used "Demon Disintegration" to strengthen the part of "Yu no Sora" that reduces the karma of good and evil, and immediately urged the army to rush straight to Panwa County and Chuanluo County.
These two areas were brutally suppressed and massacred by Shizhou, with countless casualties, and a large number of demons still entrenched in these areas.
It's time for a reckoning.
In order to ensure that they could not escape, Lin Wen also contacted Xu Jieying on the other side of Shizhou, asking the rebels to cooperate with his actions, attack from the south, and he would press in from the north, making sure to completely wipe out this group of demons in the central mountains.
In addition, there are a lot of details that he must pay attention to to ensure that everything goes well.
However, just when he was working day and night to cultivate immortality, the order for the second armistice negotiation slapped him in the face.
Lin Wen originally thought that it was a done deal and restored communication with the front-line troops.
However, the first message that came after communication was restored was a huge piece of bad news.
Lin Wen couldn't believe his eyes. "I'm in this state, and you still tolerate it? Are you cuckolds?"
He immediately called Xu Chengfeng to question him, but Xu Chengfeng cheerfully told him, "Chief Lin! The Great Elder has decided not to pursue your mistake! Hahahaha, I talked my tongue dry and used a million and two hundred thousand times my strength to get you this result. You should thank me very much. At least buy me a few drinks."
"What?" Lin Wen was shocked. "Aren't you going to report me? What do you mean by pleading for me?"
Xu Chengfeng laughed and said, "Chief Lin, please stop joking. Ever since you angrily scolded Yu Zhongxian to his face at the joint meeting, I've felt that you are an upright and good official. People like you are rare in the empire. Although I don't have the courage to stand up, I still have the courage to shout a few words on behalf of the soldiers charging forward."
Lin Wen almost crushed the phone.
It turns out it’s you!
I thought you were my friend, but you stabbed me in the back!
And I even wasted my energy to fly a helicopter to take you to the airport. Isn't this like being sold out and helping him count money?
Xu Chengfeng didn't notice Lin Wen's abnormality. He was immersed in his excitement and said with a smile, "Okay, enough talking. I still have to prepare to sue the Governor of Shizhou. I suddenly realized that there is still hope for the empire, and there is still warmth in the world. And this is all because of people like you. We won't let you fall easily."
That's enough!
Lin Wen gritted his teeth and said, "You're wrong. There are many people like me. If I fall, thousands and thousands more will rise. The light will never be extinguished, just like a spark that can start a prairie fire. The world will eventually return to its right track. All filth will be purified by the eternal flame in people's hearts. My existence is not particularly necessary."
Xu Chengfeng felt as if his entire soul was illuminated by Lin Wen's words.
Yes, evil will never prevail over good, and the people’s victory will eventually come.
For the first time, he felt that his heart, which had been silent for more than twenty years, was beating, just like it did twenty years ago.
He was about to say something else, but Lin Wen had already hung up the phone.
Xu Chengfeng didn't mind. He felt as if there was a spark beating in his heart, continuously releasing heat.
There has never been a moment that felt better than it does now.
——
There has never been a moment where I felt worse than I do now.
Lin Wen felt like he was about to be burned to ashes.
I calculated it perfectly, and even [Luan Zhao Shui] told me it was possible.
It can’t be that all supernatural powers are fake, right?
Lin Wen angrily flipped through the description of the magical power, and at first glance he saw the word "limited" in "limited indicates a major destiny related to oneself."
Grass!
Does this mean that what you predict is "limited"? It may happen or it may not happen?
Is it possible that this situation will not happen?
Damn it.
Even the magical powers are cheating me.
Lin Wen suddenly felt that he had no strength left in his body. The huge blow made him unwilling to move and he slumped in the big chair.
Outside the courtyard, the residents' happy laughter and cheers floated in, like the mournful music at his funeral.
The warm sunlight of the winter afternoon shone on him, freezing his soul like the cold light of -273 degrees.
——
When Gu Xuanli woke up from his nap, the first message he received was a piece of terrible news.
Gu Xuanli couldn't believe his eyes. He was like this, and you could still tolerate him? Are you cuckolds?
He immediately called and questioned all those who had sworn that the boy would have no place to be buried, but no one responded.
Only then did he realize that he was in big trouble. He stumbled out of the Governor's Mansion. The usually bustling Governor's Mansion was now deserted, with no one in sight.
He shouted twice, but only heard his own voice in reply; even his personal guards did not respond to him.
Where are the people?
Where have you all been?
Gu Xuanli rushed out of the mansion and finally found his trusted officials, Zhang Shuangcheng and Song Ziyuan, in the courtyard. But behind them stood a few unfamiliar officials who seemed to be from the central government of the empire.
They all looked very young, with a kind of drive and righteousness unique to young people, which reminded Gu Xuanli of Lin Wen.
He flew into a rage and pointed at them, "Who are you? Who allowed you to break into my house?"
A young official stepped forward, unfolded an arrest warrant, and said in a cold voice, "Shizhou Governor Gu Xuanli, you are suspected of committing eighteen crimes, including dereliction of duty, corruption and bribery, lax governance, abuse of power, dereliction of duty, favoritism and corruption, condoning the massacre of subordinates, and infringement of the rights of others. You are being detained by the Imperial Political Supervisory Council and are awaiting trial."
A large number of imperial garrisons appeared in every corner of the compound. Their dragon-patterned uniforms were filled with shining cold light, which was the colonial uniforms that had entered combat mode.
Gu Xuanli felt his soul being pulled away, and everything was drifting away from him. He collapsed to the ground, feeling like he had no strength left in his body. The huge blow made him unwilling to move.
Outside the yard, faint cheering sounds drifted in, like the funeral music at his funeral.
The warm sunlight of the winter afternoon shone on him, penetrating his soul like a death ray.
(End of this chapter)
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