Hearing her father's nonchalant words, the last bit of hesitation in Consort Shu's heart vanished.
She sighed softly, "Father is right, I was overthinking it."
“These people staying in the capital are indeed a disaster.”
"But..." Consort Shu paused, a hint of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"However, if we send all these people away, we may find ourselves short of capable people in the capital."
"At that time, the operation of the court will probably be..."
Upon hearing this, General Xiao Zhen, the Grand General of the State, waved his hand dismissively.
He raised a thick eyebrow, a cold smile playing on his lips: "A usable person?"
"Those advisors to the Crown Prince are nothing but a bunch of useless blabbermouths who can only talk big!"
"The crown prince is insane. What can these people do besides sigh and lament every day?"
"Staying in the capital is just a waste of food! We also have to worry all the time that they might contact others and leak the Crown Prince's whereabouts!"
Xiao Zhen's voice was full of disdain.
"As for those students of the Imperial Academy and great Confucian scholars?"
He snorted heavily, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Don't they pride themselves on their integrity and concern for the country and its people?"
"Didn't you dare to gather at the palace gate in broad daylight and point your fingers at this general's nose to curse him?"
"Very well! This general will grant their wish!"
"Let them go to the barren mountains, to experience firsthand what real hardship is like for ordinary people, and what it truly means to share the burdens of the nation!"
"So that they won't spend all their time under the protection of the capital, reading a few pretentious books and thinking they can dictate the affairs of the country!"
Xiao Zhen became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see those people's regretful future.
He paused, his tone now tinged with a hint of reverence.
"Furthermore, the mountain goddess of the desolate mountain is incredibly powerful, beyond the comprehension of us mortals."
"Since she has asked for people, how dare we neglect her?"
"The Liang Kingdom is currently plagued by disasters. The plague has just been quelled, but who knows how many evil spirits will cause trouble in the future."
"The Mountain Goddess is willing to protect the people of my Liang Kingdom; this is already an immense act of kindness."
“We are sending some talented people there not only to support the development of the barren mountains, but also to express our sincerity and respect to the Mountain Goddess.”
"This is a great thing that benefits the public and private sectors, the country and its people in every way!"
Xiao Zhen spoke with great passion and fervor, as if he were truly a loyal minister who devoted himself to the Liang Kingdom.
Consort Shu was speechless after hearing what he said and could only nod silently.
She could no longer understand her father's thoughts.
But she understood that her father harbored a deep sense of fear and a desire to please the mountain goddess of the desolate mountain.
"I understand, daughter," Consort Shu said softly. "It is entirely up to Father to decide."
Xiao Zhen nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Pass down the order!"
"Take down all the advisors of the Crown Prince, as well as the students and scholars of the Imperial Academy who caused trouble outside the palace gates!"
"And those stubborn old fogies in the court who oppose me every day—I'll pack them all up and eliminate them all!"
"Gather four thousand people within three days and send them to the barren mountains!"
At his command, the entire capital city was shaken.
The Imperial Guards were like wolves and tigers, mobilizing in all directions.
The once quiet Crown Prince's residence is now in complete chaos.
The advisors in the Crown Prince's residence, who usually prided themselves on their wisdom and resourcefulness, were now completely bewildered.
Xie Wendong, who was in charge, was the Crown Prince's most trusted advisor.
He always carried a small bronze abacus at his waist. When faced with a problem, he would remain calm and composed, and with a few strokes of the abacus beads, he could come up with a solution.
He had recently offered Consort Shu a good strategy, and he thought he wouldn't be ignored in the future.
Before Consort Shu could even make her promise, the General of the State's transfer order arrived!
They actually sent all their staff to the desolate mountains!
Xie Wendong's face turned deathly pale, and he muttered to himself, "It's over, it's all over..."
"General, are you trying to wipe us all out?"
The other staff members also looked apprehensive and were trembling inside.
"Mr. Xie, what should we do? We advised the Crown Prince, but now that he has lost power, the General will likely not let us off the hook!"
A staff member with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks whispered in a trembling voice.
The other aide was relatively calmer, but the worry between his brows could not be hidden.
"We know too many secrets of the Crown Prince's palace. The General's actions, ostensibly to exile us, are actually an attempt to silence us!"
"Barren mountains, what kind of place is that? I've heard it's a wild and untamed land, teeming with evil spirits..."
"For us weak scholars to go there, wouldn't it be a matter of life and death?"
"Waaaaah, I don't want to die..."
For a moment, inside the side hall of the Crown Prince's residence.
Cries and lamentations mingled together.
They couldn't understand why the world had changed overnight.
Meanwhile, the situation at the Imperial College was quite different.
Those students and Confucian scholars who were forcibly dragged in from outside the palace gates.
Even though his hands and feet were bound, he continued to curse incessantly.
"Xiao Zhen, you scoundrel! You traitorous scoundrel! You shall die a horrible death!"
"Under the bright heavens and clear earth, under the shining sun and moon!"
"How dare you, such a treacherous villain, distort the truth!"
A young student, his face flushed red and veins bulging on his neck, glared angrily at the Imperial Guard captains who had come to escort him.
"What do we learn from the books of sages and worthies? It is to establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth and to secure a destiny for the people!"
"You aid and abet the wicked, and you will surely be remembered with eternal infamy in the annals of history!"
An elderly scholar with white hair standing nearby was so angry that he trembled all over and pointed in the direction of the palace, vehemently criticizing the situation.
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