Chapter 471 Murder
Upon seeing this, a hint of apprehension flashed in the chief's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by greed: "You've got some skill! Perfect for offering an even better sacrifice to the mountain god!"
He blew his bone whistle, and immediately hundreds of tribal warriors surged out from all directions, surrounding Daiyu and her entourage.
"Form a formation!" Daiyu gave the order, and the guards immediately formed a circular formation, protecting her in the center.
A fierce battle is about to break out.
Although the tribal warriors were brave, they were no match for these rigorously trained guards.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, more than twenty corpses had already fallen to the ground.
Seeing that things were not going well, the leader suddenly threw out a handful of powder.
Daiyu suddenly felt dizzy and almost dropped her soft sword.
"A sleeping potion!" Lan Su's voice rang in my ears. "Hold your breath!"
It turned out that Lan Su had been secretly following them all along, and she immediately revealed herself upon seeing this.
She moved through the enemy ranks like a ghost, and wherever she went, tribal warriors fell to the ground.
The leader was shocked and turned to flee.
Daiyu suppressed her dizziness, and her soft sword, like a nimble snake, shot out, pointing straight at his back: "Move again and I'll kill you!"
After capturing the chief, Daiyu led her people to the tribe's altar.
The sight before her made her stomach churn—the altar was piled high with human bones, and in the center of the large cauldron, human flesh was being cooked.
"You...you actually eat people?" Daiyu's voice trembled.
The leader grinned maliciously: "The mountain god eats living people! Tonight is the full moon, perfect for sacrificing you!"
Daiyu suppressed her nausea and said coldly, "Then I'd like to see whether your mountain god is more powerful or my sword is more powerful!"
She ordered her men to tie the chieftain to the sacrificial pillar and said to the surrounding tribespeople, "Today I will show you what the laws of the Celestial Empire are!"
She took the torch and threw it into the altar.
Flames shot into the air, illuminating her resolute face.
"From this day forward, abolish this barbaric custom! Anyone who dares to eat people again will be like this piece of wood!"
The sacred tree standing in front of the altar was chopped down into wood chips by Daiyu's sword.
The tribespeople were awestruck by her imposing presence and knelt down to worship her.
However, the accident still happened that night.
Several loyal warriors rescued their leader under cover of night and also kidnapped two female guards.
"They've gone to the sacred cave!" reported a surrendered tribesman. "I've heard it's the site of the oldest cannibalistic ritual!"
Daiyu immediately led her men in pursuit.
The Holy Mountain Cave is eerie and terrifying, with various cannibalistic scenes painted on the walls.
From deep within came the cries for help of a female guard and the sinister laughter of the tribesmen.
"Release them!" Daiyu rushed into the cave and saw the female guards tied to a stone platform, with their leader raising his knife to strike.
With a flash of sword light, the leader's wrist was severed cleanly at the root.
Daiyu stood holding her sword, her eyes filled with murderous intent.
"I have said it before, anyone who eats people again shall die!"
This time, she showed no mercy.
The soft sword danced like a silver snake, instantly killing all the stubborn warriors who were putting up a fight.
The stench of blood filled the cave, and the surviving tribesmen trembled with fear.
Daiyu pointed to the leader's corpse and said to everyone, "This is the consequence of defying the laws of the Celestial Empire! From now on, if I ever hear of the Bloodfang Tribe eating people again, the entire tribe will be punished!"
On the way back, Lan Su whispered:
"The murderous aura you exuded just now was unlike your usual self."
Daiyu gazed at the distant mountains, her tone heavy:
"In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. There is no use in preaching benevolence and righteousness to these stubborn people; only violence can stop violence."
The news quickly spread throughout New South Wales.
Upon hearing the news, various tribes sent envoys to express their submission and dared not harbor any disloyal thoughts again.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Daiyu promoted new policies: abolishing the bad habits of various ethnic groups and unifying the laws; opening schools to teach farming; and sending medical officials to make rounds to eliminate epidemics.
What is most commendable is that she built an academy on the original site of the Bloodfang tribe, and specially transferred teachers from the Heroine Academy to educate these former cannibals.
Initially, the tribespeople were very resistant.
It wasn't until Daiyu personally taught them how to plant potatoes and corn, and sent a physician to cure their malaria, that they gradually came to trust her.
Six months later, the young people of the Bloodfang tribe were able to read and write simple characters and had also learned farming techniques.
The former cannibals have now become hardworking farmers.
On this day, Daiyu came to this place for inspection and saw that the rice seedlings in the fields were green and the sound of reading aloud could be heard in the academy. She couldn't help but feel gratified.
An elderly clansman knelt down and wept, saying, "Governor, we were ignorant of the virtues of the Celestial Empire's teachings and even ate people. We were worse than beasts! Thank you for giving us a chance to start anew!"
Daiyu helped the old man up: "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. From now on, you are citizens of the Celestial Empire, and you should abide by the law and work diligently in the fields."
When the news reached the capital, it caused a stir in the court and among the people. Those ministers who had opposed Daiyu's appointment as governor-general all submitted memorials to plead guilty.
During the court assembly, the Emperor exclaimed, "I have long heard the saying 'Women are no less capable than men,' and today I know that this is no exaggeration! Minister Lin, despite being a woman, has used swift and decisive methods while imparting benevolent teachings; she is truly a pillar of the nation!"
The Tenth Prince was even more proud of this, and wrote in a letter to Daiyu: "I heard that you have quelled the cannibals, which has shocked the court and the public. I knew long ago that you would create a miracle."
However, Daiyu's reply was very calm: "I am merely fulfilling my duty. What is truly gratifying is that the various ethnic groups in Shixin Prefecture are now living in harmony, and all bad habits have been eliminated. Given time, it will surely be no less than the prefectures and counties in the Central Plains."
Yes, under her leadership, New South Wales is changing rapidly.
The roads are accessible, the fields are neatly arranged, and the markets are thriving.
Intermarriage between different ethnic groups is increasing, and the barriers between them are gradually diminishing.
What pleased Daiyu the most was that the status of women had significantly improved.
Nowadays, women in Shixin Prefecture can also read and write, learn skills, and some even pass the examinations to become female officials.
As the sun sets, Daiyu stands on the high platform of the Governor's Mansion, overlooking the increasingly prosperous city.
Lan Su quietly approached her: "What are you thinking about?"
“I’m thinking,” Daiyu said softly.
"Perhaps one day, the women here will be able to choose their own lives as freely as those in the Central Plains."
Lan Su smiled: "With you here, that day is not far off."
Yes, she has come a long way, from a sheltered young girl to the headmaster of an academy, from a princess to a governor, paving the way for women all over the world with every step she has taken.
Now, she wants to sow the seeds of civilization in this wild land and wait for them to bloom.
In the distance, the sound of students reciting their lessons could be heard from the newly opened girls' school.
Those girls from the cannibal tribe are now diligently learning Chinese characters and reciting the Analects of Confucius.
This scene brought Daiyu more joy than any martial arts achievement.
Because she knew that true conquest was not through military suppression, but through the edification of civilization. And she was writing this historic chapter.
When the news reached the capital, the ministers who had been waiting to see the country fail were dumbfounded.
They never imagined that a woman confined to her chambers would possess such governing abilities.
The Emperor was overjoyed and issued three imperial edicts in succession to commend him. He also wrote a special letter to Yuan Hongqu: "The student taught by you is indeed extraordinary!"
The Tenth Prince was even more honored, and wrote in his memorial to his elder brother: "Governor Lin overcame the strong with gentleness and won people over with virtue. In less than half a year, Xinzhou was well governed. I am ashamed to admit that I am not as good as him."
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