Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 367 Xiao Lie's Advice

"Don't think that death is the end of everything."

"Chop them all up and feed them to the dogs."

Zhu Jinzhen's cold snort, like a thunderclap, exploded in the ears of the already dying Dongying Badao, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, and others.

"Your subordinates obey!"

The response, as loud as a tiger's roar, instantly spread throughout most of Quanzhou Prefecture.

If someone were to look down from above, they would see that in the southern corner of Quanzhou city, where no civilians had been looted, burned, or killed, an illusory gate stood out in mid-air. Then the gate opened wide, and one after another, the Tian Ce soldiers and Cang Yun army, clad in armor and wielding spears, swords, and shields, descended upon the place like heavenly soldiers and generals.

The Vajra Realm refers to the Xuanzong Master.

Grand Master of Celestial Phenomena.

There are even terrestrial immortals who walk on air, looking down upon all directions.

This scene, witnessed by the still-alive Dongying Badao, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, Kirikage Raizo, and others, filled them with even more despair than their previous experiences.

"puff!"

"So many terrestrial immortals and celestial masters."

"Those bastards from the Yagyu family, they've ruined my life!"

Enraged, Dongying Badao coughed up blood. His inner energy surged backward, and he died instantly from spitting blood.

"Imperial decree of His Majesty shall be conveyed."

“Any Japanese pirates who invade Quanzhou City, no, who set foot on the land of our Great Ming without imperial permission, regardless of their identity or origin, shall be executed by slow slicing and their bodies fed to the dogs.”

Qin Feng, the deputy commander of the vanguard battalion of the Cangyun Army, swept his cold gaze around and saw the tragic scene in Quanzhou City: the corpses of Ming Dynasty people who had died tragically in the city, the humiliated Ming Dynasty women, the infants in their swaddling clothes, and the things stewing in the big iron pot in the middle of the street. His eyes were filled with raging anger.

In an instant, he selected more than a dozen Vajra Realm Cangyun Army soldiers.

"You guys, dig a hole right here."

"Split into two groups and search for stray dogs in the vicinity."

"Two more teams will be dispatched to the rivers and seas near Quanzhou Prefecture to catch live fish."

"Your Majesty wants to chop them up and feed them to the dogs. I want to chop them up along with the wild dogs that ate them and feed them to the fish. I will grind their bones to dust and scatter them into the sea, so that their bodies will be scattered in the ocean and never be reincarnated."

The Cangyun Army of the Third Division stepped forward from the crowd, ready to take command and carry out their orders.

But at this moment, he was stopped by Xiao Lie, the deputy general of the Cangyun Army's Broken Camp: "Wait!"

Qin Feng whirled around, his gaze sharp and cold as he stared directly at Xiao Lie. "Do you intend to disobey orders? Or do you have mercy on those beasts?"

"No!"

Xiao Lie shook his head, a sneer of utter contempt on his face: "What I mean is, what have the wild dogs of my Great Ming done to deserve to eat such filth? The ocean and rivers, like water, are of the highest good; how can they be defiled like this?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng's expression softened slightly, and he asked, "What's your opinion?"

"Half of them are still alive..."

"Why not order people to dig a pit on the spot, burn them to ashes, cover them with scorched earth, and then ask His Majesty to issue an imperial decree to build a latrine that will stand for eternity, so as to relieve the hatred of the people of Quanzhou who suffered in the disaster?"

Xiao Lie's suggestion made Qin Feng's eyes light up.

The Cangyun Army and Tian Ce soldiers who followed also nodded silently.

I think this suggestion is brilliant.

But a new problem lay before them. While this action was certainly gratifying, obtaining a royal decree from their emperor would not be so simple…

Before Qin Feng and Xiao Lie could finish their thoughts, Zhu Jinzhen's voice rang out from high above: "Granted!"

Zhu Jinzhen's divine sense did not leave; instead, it was gazing at a small island across the sea, his mind swirling between sinking the island and destroying it, hesitating somewhat.

Naturally, they also heard Qin Feng and Xiao Lie arguing.

Compared to chopping him up and feeding him to the dogs, Zhu Jinzhen admitted that Xiao Lie's method was more satisfying.

Qin Feng and Xiao Lie heard Zhu Jinzhen's voice again.

"Tell the Fujian Provincial Governor that this is my decree."

"The imperial edict will be issued retroactively after I ascend the throne."

"If he has any objections, I authorize you to write a temporary order and throw it in his face."

"Yes, I will obey your orders."

The two bowed deeply in the direction of the capital.

The next moment, Qin Feng and Xiao Lie straightened their remote sensing and waved their hands: "Those in the Profound Realm and Celestial Realm, help dig the pit. Those in the Vajra Realm, go and capture people. Capture all Japanese pirates, regardless of their true or false identities, whether they are alive or dead."

"The others, go and prepare firewood and kerosene."

"Yes!"

Squads of Cangyun Army and Tian Ce soldiers quickly set out.

Those surviving residents of Quanzhou Prefecture, hiding in their homes or in inconspicuous places, could be clearly seen leaping about, carrying firewood or kerosene, and excitedly rushing towards one place.

I also saw those Japanese pirates who attacked Quanzhou City, whether dead or alive, were casually tied to their ankles or necks with ropes or thick hemp strips and dragged along, accompanied by bursts of pitiful howls and barking dogs.

"Father, those Japanese pirates seem to be..."

"Shh, keep your voice down, you're asking for trouble."

In a family's woodpile, a father and his sons huddled together, trembling. Suddenly, they saw a bright light before their eyes. A soldier in black armor had swept up most of the woodpile they were using to hide in, and they were instantly terrified.

"General, spare my life! My lord, spare my life!"

The middle-aged man knelt down with a thud, pleading loudly for mercy. But without warning, he suddenly raised the wood-chopping knife in his hand and slashed at the person in front of him, shouting behind him, "Lotus, take care of your brother and take them away quickly."

"clang!"

Facing the middle-aged man who suddenly attacked, Guo Xiao neither dodged nor avoided, taking the blow head-on.

But the middle-aged man who suddenly jumped up was so shocked by the force of the recoil that his arm went numb, and the wood-chopping knife he was holding was thrown away by the force and crashed heavily against the wall.

The others' eyes widened in fury, and several women, baring their teeth and claws, charged at Guo Xiao with reckless abandon, shouting, "I'll fight you to the death..."

Seeing this family so protective and fearless, Guo Xiao was both amused and exasperated. With a wave of his hand, he channeled his inner energy, blocking them three steps away, and revealed his identity: "I am Guo Xiao, the former Prince Su, now serving under His Majesty the Emperor in the Cangyun Army, not a Japanese pirate."

"No...not Japanese pirates?"

The group paused for a moment, then looked Guo Xiao up and down again. The armor he wore was indeed not that of the Japanese pirates dressed in mournful customs, but rather the armor of a regular army.

"Why did it take you so long to get here!" Old Man Cheng collapsed to the ground with a thud, tears streaming down his face, a mixture of fear and relief at surviving a disaster.

The other people in the small farmhouse also hugged each other and cried with emotion.

Guo Xiao opened his mouth, wanting to say that even the fastest 800-li express courier service from Quanzhou to the capital would take at least twelve days. The secret guards traveled day and night, using countless fine horses and skilled light-footed warriors to rush the journey, all to deliver the message to His Majesty within three days.

It was only through His Majesty's great power that the connection between the two places was forcibly severed, allowing them to be sent here.

However, looking at the family wailing in front of him and the tragic state of Quanzhou, Guo Xiao ultimately didn't say the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

(End of this chapter)