Covering the sky: Starting with the holy body, the immortal Taoist comes to attack

Chapter 177 North and South Stand Off, Rong People Make Unusual Moves!
"How dare you! You are plotting treason..."

"How dare you do this without the imperial decree!"

The official, dressed in a bright red robe and wearing a black gauze hat, was furious and berated the crowd in front of him.

"Sir, we have offended you greatly. We advise you not to resist."

Those who defied their superiors were clearly in a subordinate position, yet they now held the initiative.

The man at the head of the group appeared quite composed, even subtly displaying a hint of smugness and mockery towards those in power.

Similar scenes occurred in more than one of the many prefectures and counties in the southern part of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In fact.

After King Gu Xuan of Zhou successfully turned the tables and killed the Sima family.

The latter's many secret allies, especially the powerful families in the south, were already on guard.

However, given the circumstances at the time...

Neither Gu Xuan nor the Southern Clan forces were confident of defeating the other side.

Or to be more specific.

At that time, Gu Xuan might have had the ability to lead his personal guards to smash this dark and unjust world to pieces, but he did not have enough power to rebuild it.

As for the powerful clans in the south, they had no idea that the current Zhou king would rise to such prominence so suddenly, with his strength and prestige being terrifyingly impressive. For the time being, they could only wait and see!

But now, the situation is different!

Gu Xuan's base of support has begun to take shape, including the Imperial Guard system armed with the "Great Harmony Society" ideology, as well as many poor and impoverished people.

It can be said that, at least in the north, the emerging force led by him is already showing signs of becoming a behemoth.

It's no longer possible to cover it up like before.

Therefore.

Everything that is meant to happen will eventually happen.

When the powerful clans and their controlled criminal gangs, mining thugs, loan sharks, and other criminal organizations in the many prefectures and counties of the north faced a unified purge.

In the south, the stronghold of powerful clans, a reverse purge occurred.

The top powerful clans, led by the Xie family of Lu County, the Li family of Jiangnan, the Wang family of Langqiao, the Lu family of Fanyang, and the Cui family of Qinghe, were undoubtedly the main force behind this major operation.

Surrounding them are hundreds of secondary clans, large and small, whose strength should not be underestimated.

This is also a result of the accumulated problems that arose after the Great Zhou Dynasty lasted for thousands of years.

Throughout the history of the Zhou dynasty, there were many powerful rulers, but none of them could shake their dominance.

Even the once powerful Sima family was only slightly stronger than them, and they had to befriend them through marriage and the transfer of benefits, otherwise it would have been impossible for them to usurp the throne.

After the Sima clan was destroyed.

The powerful clans such as the Xie family of Lu County and the Li family of Jiangnan also sacrificed some of their members who had intermarried with the Sima family to save the king, but their core power was not affected at all.

This is also one of the preservation wisdoms that has enabled them to survive for thousands of years.

As long as the family as a whole remains intact, any member of the family can be abandoned.

Without overwhelming power and sufficient resolve, the central government had virtually no way to deal with them.

but.

This time, after learning about the sweeping changes in the North, and combining this with the battle proclamations in the official gazette, [the situation became even more intense].

The key figures among the southern powerful clans, who were considered elites in this land, acted swiftly and decisively in a targeted manner.

Under their strong promotion.

Many officials appointed by the central government were placed under house arrest, and a few who were rebellious were even secretly murdered.

Among these officials appointed by the imperial court, a small number came from humble backgrounds, while the majority came from aristocratic families in the north, yet they were not trusted at all.

Within just two or three months.

In all the prefectures and counties of the south, almost all the important civil and military positions were firmly occupied by disciples of the southern aristocratic families.

And it doesn’t stop there.

In the south, a full-scale terrorist operation targeting the "Datong Society" was also launched.

All those involved were subjected to large-scale massacres and arrests.

Even though prior to this, the core of the "Datong Society" in the capital, led by Gu Xuan, had ordered its subordinates in the south to either evacuate or go into hiding.

However, a considerable number of people were either intercepted or discovered and all were killed.

no doubt.

Whether it was the house arrest or murder of officials from humble backgrounds, or the horrific massacre of members of the "Datong Society," it all foreshadowed a life-or-death struggle between the old and new forces!
Furthermore, official gazettes issued by the central government were no longer permitted to circulate in the south.

Instead, another type of official gazette was published by the powerful clans of the south, which called itself the Great Weekly Gazette.

The implication is clear: the central court has a traitorous faction, and they are the true heirs of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

all in all.

All signs indicate that the powerful families in the south have decided to completely break with the central government!
A full-blown civil war is now unavoidable!
In fact.

This civil war may have broken out sooner or later after Gu Xuan replaced the current Zhou king.

A revolution is not a dinner party.

The powerful clans have existed on this land for thousands of years and have become extremely powerful, especially in the south, where they are deeply rooted and cannot be eliminated by appeasement.

For someone like Gu Xuan, it was impossible to tolerate such a dark and unjust era of powerful clans continuing to exist.

Therefore, only through a baptism of blood and fire can a new life be truly awakened!

……

imperial capital.

This day marked the grand court assembly held every five days.

"Your Majesty, with so many court officials forced to retire, how can the government function?"

"Your Majesty, these are the essence of our nation's literary spirit. To treat them in this way would be an insult to our civilization."

Several elderly ministers with white hair were giving impassioned speeches in the main hall, some even moved to tears.

Among them were princes from the imperial family, and the highly respected Grand Tutor, and so on.

The reason why these individuals are behaving this way at this moment is...

This is naturally due to the recent purge of incompetent officials and the imprisonment of some criminal officials in many prefectures and counties in northern Zhou.

Such a vigorous investigation and anti-corruption campaign naturally attracted opposition.

Today, these old uncles and old tutors are being entrusted by certain related forces to loudly protest at the grand court assembly.

In their view, "the law does not apply to aristocratic families" was a tradition of the Great Zhou Dynasty for thousands of years. They were all from high-ranking families; how could they be treated so disrespectfully?

Moreover, dismissing so many court officials and local officials at once, wouldn't that greatly affect the operation of the entire country?
Therefore.

On this occasion, both Uncle Wang and Grand Tutor Wang were self-assured and righteous, speaking with great confidence.

Unfortunately.

This point has already been discussed in detail within the theoretical framework of the "Great Harmony Society".

As the current Zhou king, it was not appropriate for Gu Xuan to directly confront these veteran ministers.

With a slight gesture from him, capable young courtiers and members of the "Datong Society" who were martial arts advisors naturally spoke up to refute him.

"Grand Tutor, Uncle Wang, please forgive my disrespect, but I have a few questions about what you just said."

"Say it."

The senior ministers were somewhat disappointed that they did not receive a reply from King Gu Xuan of Zhou, but this was within their expectations.

Turning around, he looked at the young dissident not far away and immediately recognized him as Luo Zheng, a confidant of the King of Zhou and an official holding the position of Palace Attendant Censor.

Upon seeing this person, the senior officials immediately became highly vigilant.

Because Luo Zheng came from a poor family, although he had only recently been promoted, he quickly rose to fame for his integrity, incorruptibility, and hatred of evil, like a divine sword of the Great Zhou Dynasty!
And sure enough.

Luo Zheng also showed no mercy and directly refuted him.

"Are those so-called literary essences truly the essence?"

"If that's the case, why has the Great Zhou Dynasty been declining in recent years? Putting aside the Quanrong tribe in the west that has been invading us year after year, why was even the Jie tribe, a vassal state, able to run rampant within our borders, burning, killing, and looting?"

Why is the national treasury in deficit year after year, with income failing to cover expenditures?

"Why are so many gangs involved in the grain transport, mining thugs, violent loan sharks, and the annexation of fertile land becoming more and more rampant within the territory of our Great Zhou? These are undeniable facts, aren't they?"

"Why are so many people in our Great Zhou so miserable that they have to sell their children to survive? In Lianghuai County and Keduo County alone, which are around the capital, there are 1,900 such cases?"

"..."

A series of heartbreaking questions, complete with detailed data, resounded like thunder throughout the council hall!
in fact.

For a young man like Luo Zheng, who was concerned about the affairs of the country, these words had been bottled up in his heart for far too long!
Long before he became a core member of the "Great Harmony Society," he had already noticed the decline and misery within the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Moreover, someone as outstanding as him could naturally see that the deep-seated problems were largely related to powerful clans and aristocratic families.

However, before he came into contact with Gu Xuan and the theoretical framework of the "Datong Society", he felt more powerless and thought the darkness was too deep and vast.

But things are different now.

With so many like-minded comrades who were determined to change the world, he was finally able to act decisively.

His impassioned and righteous rebuttal today was merely a small test of his abilities.

however.

Even such a small performance was enough to leave those old Uncle Wang and Grand Tutor speechless.

What Luo Zheng said perfectly reflects the bleak reality of this land today.

Even if the official gazette did not expose these things in detail, some of them were actually aware of them, but often chose to turn a blind eye because they were more inclined to prioritize the interests of their own large landowning group.

When Luo Zheng punctured the bubble that stood before everyone's eyes and loudly refuted it, they really had nothing to say in rebuttal.

After hesitating for a while, an old man finally managed to reply, "But hasn't this been how our ancestors have always lived for thousands of years?"

In the end, they still brought up the ancestral family rules!

"That's always been the case, so is it right?"

Luo Zheng sneered without hesitation, his eyes flashing with a cold, starlike light.

The question, "Just because it's always been this way, does that mean it's right?", is an indomitable cry for the suffering people at the bottom of this land!
Even so, the conservative old ministers were still unwilling to give up. Some angrily rebuked, and some even cried and pleaded.

Unfortunately, thanks to Gu Xuan's promotion and purge, there are now countless officials in the court who support the new policies, and they are all bold, energetic and daring.

This has nothing to do with age, because although most of them are young people, there are also many older people from poor families.

As long as they have a heart that cares about the country and its people, the older generation can also be full of vigor!
Faced with this situation, the conservatives were unable to mount any effective resistance and were completely suppressed, thus losing their true voice in the court.

The overall rebellion in the south was naturally discussed in the imperial court.

"Your Majesty, the southern prefectures and counties are almost on the verge of rebellion. We must take precautions as soon as possible..."

The Vice Minister of War offered his advice.

This is a steady, technocratic bureaucrat. The Minister of War had long been overthrown because of his loyalty to powerful clans, and now he is the head of the Ministry of War.

Gu Xuan personally responded to this advice.

"It's alright. One must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. Let's take care of things in the north first."

He made the final decision immediately.

This was a strategy he had already devised with the core members of the "Datong Society" beforehand.

Under these circumstances, various means such as official gazettes and storytelling were employed.

The "Great Harmony Society" also truly began to leave the Imperial Guard system and spread among the majority of the lower and middle classes in the Great Zhou Dynasty, attracting the elite among them to join.

At first, people were still afraid of the powerful and influential aristocratic families.

But soon, with the arrival of the elite Imperial Guards, no powerful clan in the many prefectures and counties of the north could resist them.

Those who were guilty were all imprisoned and punished; those who were innocent were all relocated to Maoling, a city in the capital region.

As for the countless henchmen, gangs, industry groups, and evil forces, they were all thoroughly cleansed during this rectification campaign that lasted for more than half a year.

Without a doubt, this was an unprecedented purge!
The powerful clans and their henchmen, who had plagued the people for thousands of years, had little power to resist under the absolute military suppression led by Gu Xuan and the awakening of the masses!
In every state and county in the north, a considerable number of criminals were publicly convicted and executed.

At this moment, countless people who had suffered oppression and harm wept bitterly around the execution ground, their grief overwhelming them.

Over the years, countless relatives of theirs have been harmed, and they themselves have suffered countless hardships.

Now, at this moment, justice has finally been served!
It was under these circumstances that many people from the lower and middle classes truly came to know the extraordinary nature of His Majesty King Zhou and what kind of group the "Great Harmony Society" really was.

People who were previously puzzled and resistant have finally begun to spontaneously support the team and have enthusiastically signed up to join.

In just over half a year.

The "Great Harmony Society" expanded from its previous system of tens of thousands of imperial guards to twelve provinces and two hundred prefectures in the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with more than one million members. And this was after careful selection; otherwise, the number would have been even greater.

There will inevitably be a few opportunists among them, but the overall trend is still stable and positive.

In the south, a coalition government was formed, led by top clans such as the Xie family of Lu County and the Li family of Jiangnan. While closely monitoring and guarding against the situation in the north, they were also making great efforts to strengthen their military and prepare for war.

Thus, a situation of confrontation between the north and the south was roughly formed.

But that's not all.

The Quanrong tribe in the west naturally learned about the various movements within the Great Zhou Dynasty from various intelligence reports, and they also began to make moves!
(End of this chapter)