Chapter 1306: Welcoming the Royal Army (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang's response almost left Gongyang Yongye speechless.
How come he didn't notice how thick-skinned Shen Tang was?
"Shouldn't you insist that you were sent by Heaven and obeyed the will of the gods to save humanity? Aren't you afraid that one day I'll get drunk and spread your words around?" Gongyang Yongye retorted sharply.
Shen Tang wanted to roll her eyes: "You talk like how many people believe me now. Aren't there plenty of people who talk about me behind my back?"
Some intelligent people have already realized that the Eternal Life Cult's rebellion was partly instigated by her, and they also know that the Holy Son is Shen Tang's man, but what good is just knowing that? Can they produce enough food to supply millions of disaster victims? Is Shen Tang showing off her conscience? No, she's flexing her muscles!
If she can provide enough food to supply millions of disaster victims and promise to continue the relief efforts until they are settled and self-sufficient, then she can also provide enough resources to support hundreds of thousands of elite troops in a prolonged war. If Shen Tang weren't so morally upright and were a little more shameless, she could easily resort to raiding tactics.
Every few days, she would find an excuse to lead large numbers of warriors and cavalry to launch lightning-fast raids on various places, disrupting farming operations and plundering civilian grain and property, repeating this several times a year. She could afford to drag this out; which country in the southwest had the resources to compete?
In this disaster relief effort, comforting the victims is the first priority.
The second level is to deter the occupied territories from becoming obedient.
Subduing the enemy without fighting is the third level.
Shen Tang didn't need to send anyone to keep an eye on her; she knew how many people were gossiping about her behind her back. She didn't care; let them gossip. In any case, when these people actually met her, they would still bow and scrape before her, and would respectfully address her as "Lord Ming."
Feeling unhappy, hateful, or hostile?
We all have to keep it to ourselves.
Whether they enjoyed it or not, they didn't know, but Shen Tang was definitely thrilled: "Speaking of which, why did you come here, Lord?"
Shen Tang was the most polite lord Gongyang Yongye had ever met.
Regardless of his stance, he found the title "Your Majesty" very pleasing to the ear.
"Didn't you instruct Cui Zhi to come to me?" Gongyang Yongye ignored the fact that his mouth was burning and finished a bowl of hot porridge in one go. The porridge was empty, and there were no foreign objects at the bottom of the wooden bowl. The steamed buns that were served were not only plentiful but also had no strange smell, which surprised him.
Let alone providing porridge for disaster relief, many families don't even eat this well on ordinary days, which shows how much effort Kangguo puts into this. On second thought, it makes sense. The ruler of Kangguo himself occasionally shows up at porridge stalls across the country to freeload, and not everyone under him recognizes his face. If she were to drink some inferior porridge mixed with sand and stones, not only would her entire clan be wiped out, but her whole family would be doomed.
There was a ruler who liked to inspect the work...
The court officials of the Kang Kingdom are under a lot of pressure.
Gongyang Yongye was munching on a steamed bun while multitasking – thankfully the weather was cool. If it were summer, the porridge would probably spoil faster than the steamed buns and porridge being served. If the person next to him ate it… that would be the most unjust way to die.
Shen Tang put the wooden bowl back into the soup kitchen.
"What do you mean I asked Cui Zhi to find you? Don't wrong me."
With the growth of her own people and the addition of Luo Sha and others, Shen Tang's side was no longer lacking in top-tier combat power. If things really got too difficult, she could use moral blackmail against Wei Cheng and his nephew, making it unnecessary to drag Gongyang Yongye into the fray. Her bottom line was very low: as long as Gongyang Yongye didn't help the enemy, he was fine; otherwise, he could go wherever he wanted.
Gongyang Yongye also guessed that it was Cui Zhi's own plan.
"Tsk, it's the first time I've ever seen a patriarch of a powerful family scrambling to save himself." If Cui Zhi heard these sarcastic words, he'd probably be on edge. "Is the Cui family revealing so much of their strength because they're afraid you lack the magnanimity to tolerate such things?"
Kangguo's territory is too vast, forcing them to face a shortage of manpower. While the Cui family's offer of assistance has an element of appeasement, the lack of finesse in its approach gives it a coercive feel. Will the future of this southwestern region belong to Shen Tang, or to the Cui family's backyard? With so many people leaning towards the Cui family's camp, is Shen Youli truly not worried?
Gongyang Yongye offered his analysis.
He felt Cui Zhi had gone too far and had to go back a second time to ask him to clean up the mess. It's truly baffling how the shrewd and cunning Cui Zhi could suddenly act so foolishly. Had he lost his mind?
Of course, the biggest point of contention is that Cui Zhi invited him again.
Has Choi Ji-sun forgotten who ran away at the last minute last time?
It's said that scions of noble families have thick skin, but Cui Zhi's skin is as thick as a city wall corner. He tricked him once, and he still dared to come back a second time? Gongyang Yongye originally didn't want to pay attention to him, but he still came in the end.
Hopefully, Cui Zhi won't shock the old man a second time.
Shen Tang said, "No, that's not the case."
The Cui family is estimated to be the most stable in terms of power in the southwest region.
Cui Zhi's wife is Cui Hui, his father-in-law is Cui Xiao, and his second son, Cui Mi, has long since vanished from his investment. If Miao Ne hadn't run away beforehand, the future matriarch of the Cui family would have been a trusted confidante of Shen Tang...
With this lineup, it would be difficult for anyone to commit suicide.
The fact that Gongyang Yongye was brought up suggests that Cui Zhi's connections are running out but he still needs more people, which Shen Tang understands.
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
Shen Tang wasn't worried about Cui Zhi, but she was curious about what favor Cui Zhi had used to pull Gongyang Yongye out of hiding this time. Wasn't it said that someone of his level of power would find it difficult to ask others to come out of seclusion? Why was Cui Zhi able to fleece someone twice, while Shen Tang, as the ruler of a country, found it so difficult to persuade a recluse to help her? What was it that Cui Zhi could offer that she couldn't? A strange competitive spirit arose within her.
Regarding this question—
Gongyang Yongye: "Cui Zhishan has agreed to help me find someone."
Shen Tang asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Gongyang Yongye said, "A woman."
As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Tang out of the corner of his eye and suddenly sneered, "Speaking of which, no one in the world is more suitable than Shen Jun."
Shen Tang was completely confused: "What?"
"I need a woman who is good enough."
Shen Tang: "..."
It's not that she discriminates against the elderly, but the label of a centenarian combined with the idea of finding an outstanding woman is somewhat improper. No matter how young Gongyang Yongye looks or how strong his physique, his age is undeniable. When did Cui Zhi start acting as a pimp? Are all aristocratic family heads this shameless? And what is the meaning of Gongyang Yongye's second-to-last sentence?
Gongyang Yongye was unreserved; he dared to think and speak his mind, stating frankly, "My offspring must naturally be the most outstanding."
He didn't understand eugenics, but he knew that like begets like. An excellent offspring naturally requires excellent seeds. No matter how fertile the soil, if the seeds are poor and weak, only deformed fruits will grow…
so--
After several rounds of struggle, Gongyang Yongye finally succumbed to his long-cherished wish and prepared to use the Gu given to him by Ji Moqiu.
Gu worms need a Gu lure.
The Gu poison requires the woman's body fragrance to activate it.
Women are easy to find, and the catalyst for the Gu poison is easy to obtain, but Gongyang Yongye did not act rashly. According to the instructions given by the Gongxi Chou brothers, whoever's scent was used as the Gu catalyst would be considered the newborn's biological mother. Could he so easily determine the mother of his child?
Of course not!
Gongyang Yongye prefers to find someone with similar strength and talent.
However, given that suitable candidates are not easy to mess with, Gongyang Yongye opted for a less desirable option: promising young talents who haven't yet reached their full potential. If they achieve his goals, he'd dedicate himself to helping them reach the top – a win-win situation.
His connections are naturally inferior to Cui Zhi's.
Shen Tang: "...I see."
My gaze fell on Gongyang Yongye's abdomen. I sincerely admired his courage and determination, but I was also worried for his brain.
"...Actually, there's absolutely no need for you, Lord, to make a deal with Cui Zhi." Seeing the change in his eyes, Shen Tang hurriedly explained, "It's not that I'm interested in getting involved, but you could have spread the word that you want to establish your own sect, and anyone with a passion for martial arts, regardless of gender, can come to learn from you. Whether you want to borrow a suitable Gu or take on disciples to pass on your mantle, it's quite a good deal."
He risked his life for the Cui family for nothing.
Gongyang Yongye never considered entrusting this task to Cui Zhi, fearing Cui Zhi might betray him a second time. For example, might Cui Zhi replace the Gu agent with a woman from the Cui family? The Cui family was quite large, with many more people having vested interests with them. Choosing someone satisfactory from among them wouldn't be too difficult for Gongyang Yongye. Even if they couldn't find someone within the Cui family, they could bribe someone beforehand, indirectly binding Gongyang Yongye.
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
He had considered this method, but considering the small number of female martial artists, even if he dared to do it, not many people would come to his door, and even fewer would be willing to have an extra child for no reason.
"If we're talking about heroines of our time, it seems there are none more than those under Shen Jun's command." Gongyang Yongye immediately came up with another idea. Shen Tang was willing, and he was willing to owe her this favor. Gongyang Yongye was truly terrified of being tricked by Cui Zhi, and even more afraid of being shocked a second time.
Shen Tang laughed it off: "Well, I don't care."
Using a person's natural scent as a catalyst for a Gu poison is indeed a simple matter; it involves carrying the Gu worm for forty-nine days until the catalyst matures. No physical contact between the man and woman is required. However, this also involves the unexpected creation of a blood-related offspring, which poses a challenge to public order and morality. As the ruler, Shen Tang naturally cannot get involved; at most, he can turn a blind eye…
Gongyang Yongye was also a shrewd man and could see Shen Tang's concerns.
This Mr. Shen is not only polite, but also very shrewd.
After finishing her hot porridge, Shen Tang patted the dust off her clothes and prepared to say goodbye to Gongyang Yongye. She had only come to check on him because she had suddenly sensed his presence nearby and was worried that he might do something. Since he wasn't causing any trouble, she didn't need to worry about him. Just as she was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out near the porridge stall.
Someone screamed something like "heads" or "murder."
It immediately drew her back.
Gongyang Yongye raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of interest in watching Shen Tang's predicament: "Shen Jun, don't you want to go and see what's going on?"
A murder near a soup kitchen—whose face is this a slap in the face?
I don't know if it was an accident or if someone instructed them to do it.
Regardless of the reason, Shen Tang will lose face.
The young lord said in a deep voice, "Go and take a look."
As he spoke, he moved closer to the crowd of onlookers.
Thanks to their innate advantage as martial artists, the two didn't need to squeeze to the front to see what was happening inside. The guards near the soup kitchen also moved closer, ready to suppress the riot at any moment. The person involved in this disturbance, however, was a raggedly dressed woman.
The woman's face was sallow, her cheeks sunken and thin, her body hunched over, appearing as if a gust of wind could topple her. Strangely, compared to her face, her body seemed somewhat bloated. She had been shoved and slumped to the ground, unable to stand for a long time. It was unclear how long she hadn't bathed; her entire body reeked of a putrid, fermented stench.
The other person was a woman with a sickly appearance...
This inevitably makes people wonder if she has some kind of hidden illness.
As a physician, Gongyang Yongye immediately noticed something amiss upon smelling it: the stench was not that of a sick person, but rather that of a corpse.
A rotting arm fell out of the woman's arms.
Not only an arm, but also a head.
The woman, shoved and numb from hunger while queuing, hadn't noticed the half-rotten hand peeking out from her tattered clothes until the crowd erupted in uproar, bringing her to her senses. That's when Shen Tang and the other woman heard the commotion. The guards at the soup kitchen immediately arrested her.
In today's world, who would still carry around a severed limb?
This is probably some provisions for the journey!
It is unknown whether they were alive or dead before they became rations!
Although the practice of exchanging children to eat is nothing new, and there may be people among the many present who survive by eating human flesh, it is still extremely shocking to see someone carrying human flesh as their personal food in the middle of the porridge distribution line in broad daylight!
Everyone quickly retreated.
The guards were terrified when they saw it.
They were afraid that this matter would get back to their superiors and cause trouble.
The woman was stunned for a moment, then finally understood. Forcing herself to stay afloat, she clutched the rotting head lying on the ground and screamed hoarsely at the crowd, "No, it's not him, he's not—"
When she saw the guards approaching to take away her "rations," she became even more agitated, lying on the ground and kicking her legs to refuse to be picked up.
The crowd covered their noses and stepped back, fearing they might be caught in the crossfire.
No matter how much the woman struggled, it was to no avail.
She was all flesh and bone, weighing at most eighty pounds. The soldiers guarding the soup kitchen were all elite soldiers who had survived the battlefield; one of them could lift her up with one arm. The woman's shrill cries for help gradually faded into the distance. Shen Tang made a gesture, signaling his hidden guards to inquire about the matter. Shen Tang had just used mind-reading magic on the woman.
The voices of the Word of Power were mixed, but one message was particularly chilling.
The head belonged to her son, and the arms to her daughter.
Gongyang Yongye was somewhat disappointed, as he wouldn't be able to witness the excitement.
"Your people aren't going to cover up the truth, are they?"
The discovery of cannibals at a soup kitchen, in a time of entertainment scarcity, will likely be a local spectacle for a long time, and with embellishments, it will certainly give Shen Tang a good laugh. Shen Tang, however, said, "It has nothing to do with me. You should ask the original leaders of the Southwest what they did. I was just looking for a reason to make an example of someone, and here I am, just when I was about to doze off."
Gongyang Yongye became interested upon hearing this.
Shen Tang asked, "...No, what kind of quirks do you martial arts practitioners have that make you all energetic when you hear something exciting?"
Qi Cang's character is something that Gongyang Yongye also has.
I thought this old man was only interested in treating infertility.
No sooner had Shen Tang returned than her guards presented her with the entire story. This woman came from a poor, remote village. During the Eternal Life Cult's uprising, she was too afraid of the risks to join and struggled to survive with her family. Her entire family was wiped out, and she had no way to seek justice. A wise man advised her that since the sage was coming north, she could bring a head and a hand to the woman's door to plead her case and perhaps avenge her family!
乛乛
Sigh, I've managed to get six rare pets from yesterday to this morning.
She's become excessively popular lately.
(End of this chapter)
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