Chapter 1352: The Beast Unleashed (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Do any of you ministers have any clues about this?"
This matter concerned the stability of his throne, and the king was deeply troubled, yet he couldn't show it too obviously, so he could only consult his ministers. The question was posed, but no one dared to answer; each was afraid of being the first to speak out. He glanced around, his already gloomy face instantly turning as black as ink: "You gentlemen have enjoyed the king's bounty for many years, yet in this critical moment, not a single one shares my burden?"
The king's question was rather harsh.
In an instant, the officials either bowed their heads or apologized.
They didn't offer any advice, not because they lacked ability—a truly incompetent person couldn't possibly thrive in the court—but because the matter was best left unexamined.
In this chaotic era of frequent regime changes, few countries truly aspire to become powerful and influential. These smaller nations know from the outset that no matter how diligently they strive for governance, they will be swallowed up by other forces, and their rule will be short-lived. Given this, they might as well make a quick buck. Thus, from top to bottom, from the ruler to the court officials, the practice of selling official positions and titles flourished, naturally leading to widespread corruption.
The Qi Kingdom was destroyed and restored several times.
They tasted success in the process of going back and forth.
therefore--
This warlord force may have been deliberately supported by foreign enemies to deplete their national strength, but it is also possible that they colluded with certain people in the court to gradually grow in power. The so-called warlords are actually one of the links in the chain of selling stolen goods! The specific operation is that in order to launder the ill-gotten gains, corrupt officials will collude with treacherous officials to sell the stolen money at a low price in private and exchange it for other legal income.
Even if the source of the wealth is thoroughly investigated, it will not lead to embezzled funds.
Even if the truth comes out, all they need to do afterward is shift the blame to the traitors and rebels, and they can get away with it unscathed.
These practices are nothing new.
The court officials remained silent, partly out of concern for this very reason.
Based on the available intelligence, this rebel force had virtually no communication with any third-party forces, let alone the ability to mobilize such a large amount of food, especially since the arable land in the war zone couldn't produce that much food. In other words, the rebels' food wasn't funded by any third-party force, nor was it produced by themselves, leaving only one possibility.
Someone is betraying their own people and stealing from them!
This also explains the various abnormalities of this group of rebels.
They did not answer, but the king refused to give up.
We must get to the bottom of this!
They didn't catch the mole, but they did catch a scapegoat.
When news of this reached Shen Tang, another ten days had passed. Luo San had also moved from the dungeon to a private residence near the prefectural government, and the former Prefect Shan Yong and his uncle were also brought out along. If Luo San hadn't mentioned it, Shen Tang would have completely forgotten about the uncle and nephew pair in the dungeon.
What are Luo Hou's plans for dealing with the two men? To kill them or to let them live?
Shen Tang was naturally aware of the feud between Luo San and the uncle and nephew.
They wouldn't mind using someone else's flowers to present to Buddha.
Luo San's lips twitched slightly: "No need. Spare his life. After all, I was indirectly responsible for his father's death."
Although the old prefect was indirectly killed by Luo San's former subordinates, rather than by Luo San's own orders, Luo San was still responsible for negligence. Apart from that, the two had no deep-seated hatred, so there was no need to cut off each other's descendants. Shen Tang was not surprised by this answer.
As the old saying goes—
Luo Sanzhen is truly a breath of fresh air among the marquises, a god of emotional stability.
Shen Tang didn't kill the uncle and nephew, but he didn't truly let them go either—most of the county government's original assets were confiscated, and the two uncle and nephew had to make a living without having to redeem themselves. They only had two paths before them: leave Shanyong County and seek refuge with other relatives, or stay and wait for the situation to stabilize before making a decision.
If it's the former, Shen Tang wouldn't mind giving them some travel expenses; if it's the latter, they'll need to find a way to make a living.
Ultimately, the uncle and nephew chose to "remain inactive".
[...that scoundrel...this Xiahou clan is ambitious and will never be satisfied with such petty gains...] It wouldn't be difficult for the uncle and nephew to seek refuge with relatives and classmates, but the real fear is that once they've finally settled down, they might be attacked again with their troops. [Rather than running around and exhausting themselves...it's better to wait.]
My uncle is right.
Governor Suginaga thought so too.
There is another problem troubling the uncle and nephew right now.
How will they make a living?
The answer isn't difficult, it's just that I can't bring myself to say it.
After hesitating for two days, they suddenly received a summons to serve. The uncle and nephew remained silent, completely unaware of how things had developed this way.
"...This can't possibly have anything to do with Luo San, can it?"
I really don't want to accept the favors of my enemies.
It's not good to verify with the person involved, wouldn't that be humiliating?
The uncle and nephew were sensible enough not to engage in any awkward maneuvering, and took office the day after receiving their appointments. They didn't encounter the expected workplace difficulties, and their colleagues were relatively polite. The only downside was the endless workload, which was incredibly exhausting. This left the former prefect scratching his head, questioning his sanity: "Wait, were there really so many trivial matters in Sugina-gun before? How come I had no idea?"
Luo San, who was strolling by, rolled his eyes at the sky.
Isn't that obvious?
This is like a family where the person who is willing to do chores will feel that everything needs to be tidied up, while the person who doesn't do much work and acts like a boss will feel that the house is clean and tidy, but in reality, it is full of dirt and grime, and you can find dust everywhere you touch any corner.
Just as they were settling into their new positions, the uncle and nephew received a message.
Like being struck by lightning, his mind went blank, and he forgot how to think. When he finally came to his senses, the uncle immediately covered his face and wept bitterly, cursing the heavens and the earth. His commotion was so loud that it alerted Xiahou Yu and the others: "What's going on here? Why such a commotion?"
"...The entire Ye family has been imprisoned, and their fate is unknown."
Xiahou Yu asked the prefect, "Who is Lord Ye?"
"...Oh, it's my uncle's classmate and close friend."
The fact that the other party's entire family was imprisoned was also somewhat related to his uncle.
When Shan Yong County was besieged by Shen Tang, his uncle tirelessly petitioned the court and even personally served as the grain transport officer to deliver provisions. Lord Ye also played a significant role in making this matter possible—the two men had different goals, but neither wanted Shan Yong County to fall into enemy hands.
As we saw in the end, Sugina County fell.
For some inexplicable reason, Wang Ting started a series of bizarre investigations. They discovered that his uncle had embezzled military rations, claiming that while he ostensibly led supplies to aid Shan Yong County, he was actually colluding with the rebels from within. Upon hearing the investigation results, Lord Ye immediately spoke out, denouncing the conclusion as absurd. And then, Lord Ye was branded an accomplice.
The whole family was imprisoned, and even the execution date was set.
Xiahou Yu was taken aback: "What makes you say that?"
Even framing someone requires adherence to the law.
Could it be that they couldn't think of any other way to stabilize morale, so they simply blamed the defeat on scapegoats? That's not impossible, but the method is rather foolish. Whether it's that "Lord Ye" or the former governor of Suginaga County's uncle, both have their own connections in the court and private circles. Would those within those circles not know who they are? Would they be suspected of treason?
Everything should be based on evidence.
Who can believe someone who makes baseless accusations without solid evidence?
Who can guarantee they won't become the next scapegoat?
The former prefect said: "...My maternal grandfather fled here from elsewhere and changed his surname after marrying into the family. His original surname was Xiahou."
His family name was Xiahou, and the thief also had the surname Xiahou. Xiahou wasn't a common surname, so how could this not be considered irrefutable evidence? The investigating officials also found genuine and fake accounts at his uncle's residence in the capital, confirming that he had indeed engaged in the illegal sale of military rations for personal gain.
With conclusive evidence, the case was closed immediately.
Lord Ye felt this was inappropriate, and was subsequently branded as an accomplice.
Xiahou Yu: "...Huh?"
He said awkwardly, "Although, my lord's surname is not Xiahou."
Upon hearing this, the former prefect's grief and indignation abruptly ceased, and he repeated, somewhat dumbfounded, "...Not surnamed Xiahou?"
Xiahou Yu was both amused and exasperated.
Shen Zixu Tang did want to use the false identity of Shen Dali, but the name was too easily associated with "Shen Youli". The greater her influence in the central region, the more attention she would attract, and the greater the possibility of being exposed. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Shen Tang initially started her business under the name of Xiahou Yu, and only changed it to her own name after things started to improve, continuing to use the alias Xiahou Li.
For her, she would eventually regain her identity, and it didn't matter what her surname or given name was; Xiahou Li was fine as long as she was Xiahou Li.
Others had strong opinions about this.
They all use pseudonyms, so why is the surname Xiahou?
Gu De, adding fuel to the fire, nodded and said, "Yes, yes, actually, it's quite fitting for the alias Gu Li, my lord."
The Gu family was more common than the Xiahou family.
Xiahou Yu didn't offer much explanation, only saying, "For reasons unknown to outsiders, our lord can only temporarily use a false name, but unexpectedly, this has become evidence used by treacherous people to frame us. Alas, when someone wants to condemn someone, they will always find a pretext. If it weren't for this surname, it would be for something else. With the court so corrupt, who else but him will perish?"
The former prefect was even more grief-stricken upon hearing this.
"Such a foolish ruler, how many loyal and righteous people will he chill to the bone?" Xiahou Yu had a very pleasing face, not aggressive at all. Outsiders would think he was a gentle and refined gentleman just by looking at his face. A gentleman would naturally not have the words and deeds of a villain. "If he is just disheartened and wants to retire gracefully, that would be fine. But I'm afraid they will speak out for justice like Lord Ye."
We've seen what happened to Lord Ye.
The entire family's household registration is in jeopardy.
The former prefect turned pale.
When this reached Shen Tang's ears, she was resting her head on her hand, yawning as she reviewed official documents. Xiahou Yu's words jolted her awake. She exclaimed, "No, I didn't do anything! The enemy just punched me a few times right away?"
Xiahou Yu smiled, his eyes crinkling: "It's a good thing after all."
If the enemy's core is rotten, it will only benefit our side.
Shen Tang picked up his pen and quickly wrote a lot of things.
"If someone offers us leverage, wouldn't it be a waste not to take advantage of it? The royal court is smearing innocent people to cover up its own corruption, so let's clear their names. If anyone wants to join us, we should take them all in. A foolish ruler is only fit to be a treacherous minister."
Weakening the enemy is equivalent to strengthening yourself.
Xiahou Yu could tell that his lord was not very happy.
Isn't this a good thing?
Zixu looked up at the sky, carefully sensing the true form's current state of mind, and said frankly, "The true form is cursing right now. It's not because the people below are incompetent, it's simply because I'm emotionally overwhelmed. Why didn't I receive this treatment before? It's unfair!"
Her former enemies wanted to stab her without saying a word.
Now, our enemies are stabbing us in the back without a word.
It's said that there's a protection period for startups. She got to enjoy all the benefits that I didn't get. How could I not be overwhelmed?
Xiahou Yu: "..."
Is it possible that the enemy is too weak?
If it weren't for the extraordinary variable of Luo San emerging from Sugyong County, they might have already reached the capital of Qi Kingdom. Central kingdoms are indeed wealthier than northwestern kingdoms, but their land area is limited. How many extraordinary talents can such a small place produce?
Luo San, there's only one.
The real challenge begins when they obtain the first national seal.
Obtaining the national seal signifies the formal establishment of a nation, shedding its status as a rural warlord and gaining the right to participate in the game. Only then will other countries be willing to take it seriously. Otherwise, a makeshift regime will forever remain a local warlord force, unworthy of attention.
"...Who would complain about something being too easy?" They'd love for their enemies to be idiots, so they could easily end this long, dark, chaotic world with a few simple blows. Those born with a thirst for blood are a minority; the majority abhor war. "We've been incredibly lucky. Qi Kingdom has been destroyed and restored several times, all thanks to the secret assistance of the 20th-rank Marquis, who deterred neighboring countries from invading. Now, without that support, without a force like Luo San's, the court has lost all popular support... I believe this is the perfect opportunity! To not seize such a gift from Heaven would be to suffer the consequences!"
If Luo San, a "half-baked" player, is already a headache, one can't imagine how troublesome a level 20 Chehou in his prime would be.
Fortunately, this Marquis Che died under the influence of [enlightenment].
The rapid decline of Qi Kingdom's national strength in recent years is also related to this.
Without its greatest source of confidence, how can it not make a series of blunders?
Shen Tang understood what Xiahou Yu truly meant.
She said, "Wait a little longer, it'll be soon."
Not only Xiahou Yu, but all the civil and military officials in the branch office wanted to attack the capital of Qi Kingdom. They were quite dissatisfied with the current piecemeal pace of encroachment. They were swallowing up a little territory in the east and a little land in the west. At this rate, when would they be able to start making a big move?
Having the Kang Kingdom as a backer of this power is both an advantage and a disadvantage.
The advantage is that there's no need to worry about support; there's money and manpower available, and if you fail, you can make a comeback. The disadvantage is that newcomers are prone to anxiety, always worried about falling behind the veterans, and ultimately even having their achievements diminished. Who can stand that?
In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second.
Who isn't secretly competing with each other?
If the old man could unify the Northwest and Southwest, why can't this region unify the Central, Southeast, and Northeast? People always have dreams. The biographies of famous ministers and scholars of Kang State have already reached their second volume, and the third is in the works. At this rate, when will it be their turn?
Ten years of diligent study have honed this sword; today, it is unsheathed to test its sharpness.
Establishing a nation is taking a crucial step.
They'll actually get to the poker table and compete with other countries in the Midlands.
Xiahou Yu is a composed man, and if even he has started saying such things, one can imagine the attitudes of the others. Shen Tang cannot keep the cage locked forever; wild beasts should be released when the time comes. If they are kept locked up for too long, they might turn against their keepers.
He couldn't possibly betray us, but that doesn't mean others have no objections.
When differing opinions are amplified to an extreme, isn't that simply a matter of conflicting stances?
She said, "An army cannot move until its supplies are ready. We must allow time for preparation and not let our soldiers fight on an empty stomach."
Otherwise, why would we transfer Lin Feng here?
|ω`)
I fell asleep while writing, and woke up with a start.
Tang Mei built her team up one by one in the Northwest, so naturally, people were more united. There was no room for recklessness early on; everyone was just playing it safe. The branch in the Central region, on the other hand, developed too quickly, accumulating resources rapidly. It wasn't that the others were rebellious, but the boss always said to wait, even though they could expand the business empire. This got tiresome after a while (the subordinates were practically bursting with fighting spirit, and their superiors wouldn't budge—how could they not be impatient?). Xiahou Yu had no idea these old acquaintances were so warlike at heart… each one was poised to make a big splash.
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