Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 104 Destroy their ancestral temples and eradicate their descendants (2)

Song Yan's voice wasn't loud; he simply read out a series of numbers in a very indifferent tone.

But these numbers silenced everyone. They could almost see the blood-soaked ruins, the twisted and mangled corpses, and hear the shrill and desperate screams.

Yes.

The Japanese pirates were the most cruel beasts in the world.

Since the founding of Ningguo, how many people have died at the hands of Japanese pirates in the more than 100 years since then?
Even Songzhou Prefecture was once massacred. Is it really safe here?
Silence fell over the scene; no one spoke, and the atmosphere was unusually oppressive. Even Linghu Rui and his fellow scholars changed their expressions. They could sense that the people, who had been misled, were beginning to break free of control.

Damn it, he's just a lowly son-in-law, how can he be so sharp-tongued?

Linghu Rui frowned and was about to speak, but Song Yan did not give him a chance to speak: "May I ask, Brother Linghu, since the founding of Ningguo, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives at the hands of Japanese pirates. Compared with these Japanese pirates, who is the real butcher?"

Linghu Rui opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words: "Right, right, as the saying goes, revenge only leads to more revenge. We should act with benevolence and righteousness..."

"According to Brother Linghu, we should just offer our necks to be slaughtered when the Japanese pirates attack?" Song Yan's voice became slightly urgent: "Do you scholars think that the lives of foreign Japanese pirates are lives, but the lives of people from the Central Plains are not?"

Anyone can attack someone's heart.

Upon hearing this, countless people looked at Linghu Rui and his group of scholars with hostility and disgust. People like Linghu Rui would be considered traitors no matter what era they lived in.

If someone is paid to do something, Song Yan can barely understand it, but if it's done voluntarily, that's what's most despicable.

The spine is broken.

“That’s not what I meant.” Cold sweat beaded on Linghu Rui’s forehead. He never imagined that he, who usually prided himself on his vast knowledge, would be rendered speechless by a mere son-in-law. “What I meant was that they just lack an opportunity. If they could be nurtured by benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, they would also become good people.”

Song Yan's expression grew increasingly cold: "Then may I ask, Brother Linghu, who should be in charge of the education and guidance?"

"We are scholars!" Linghu Rui said proudly, and the other scholars also straightened their chests.

The arrogance of scholars was on full display at this moment.

"Let me ask you again, Brother Linghu, in the past thousand years, has any barbarian tribe been civilized?"

Linghu Rui's breath hitched, his arrogance deflated like a punctured balloon, and his face flushed red: "That's because no one has yet taught them. As long as someone..."

A breeze blew by, and it got a bit chilly.

Song Yan tightened his clothes, and Gu Banxia took out a long robe from somewhere behind him and draped it over Song Yan's shoulders, which made him much warmer.

Linghu Rui and several scholars were visibly jealous, thinking that even a maid was prettier than the young lady from a prominent family whom they had worked so hard to pursue.

How outrageous! He's just a live-in son-in-law, yet he receives such treatment. Are these women blind? Can't they see that there's such an outstanding cultured man like me right in front of them?
Thinking this, he stopped arguing.

Song Yan simply smiled and said, "Brother Linghu is right, but why is it that for hundreds of years no scholar has been willing to educate those barbarians?"

Is it that you don't want to? Are you unwilling? Or are you afraid?

"Or are you scholars simply trying to use our lives to enhance your own reputation for benevolence and righteousness?"

"Or perhaps you simply stand on a moral high ground, pointing fingers and barking at others, spouting nonsense about poetry, etiquette, and morality to demonstrate your own superiority?"

Song Yan's words were succinct and eloquent, without a single insult, yet they brutally peeled away the facade of Linghu Rui and his ilk, revealing their bloody ugliness.

Song Yan did not exclude scholars.

On the contrary, Song Yan respected scholars with great knowledge, but he despised this good-for-nothing who was all show and no substance and only knew how to talk big.

Ningguo promoted the imperial examination system in the hope of recruiting talented people from the common people to compete with powerful clans, but unexpectedly, most of those recruited to the court were pedantic and useless fools.

The group of scholars blushed with shame at these words. One of them even pointed a trembling finger at Song Yan: "Nonsense! This is nonsense! How can a butcher like you understand the aspirations of us scholars? We only want to create a world of harmony and peace, not for everyone to live in hatred..."

Song Yan sneered: "Have you ever heard a saying?"

"Even a feud spanning ten generations can be avenged!"

hum.

As soon as these words were spoken, rustling sounds immediately came from all around.

These seven short words seemed to stimulate everyone's nerves, making many people's breathing quicken. Yes, their ancestors were robbed and slaughtered by Japanese pirates for generations. If they, as descendants, could not wash away the shame of their ancestors and could only live a lowly life, how were they any different from pigs and dogs?
Throughout China's five thousand years of history, every capable monarch has remembered hatred.

The Gongyang School, a branch of Confucianism, flourished during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. If Emperor Wu had continued his cycle of revenge like Linghu Rui, when would it have ended? How could there have been no royal court south of the Gobi Desert? How could there have been the sealing of the wolf's lair?
If Li Shimin had forgotten the humiliation of the Wei River Alliance, how could there have been a dance performance by Khagan Jieli in Chang'an four years later?

Even the Yongle Emperor, in order to conquer the northern deserts, had to search through historical records to find an excuse to avenge the siege of Baideng by Emperor Gaozu of Han.

This is the backbone of the Han people.

Hearing the sounds coming from all around, Linghu Rui knew he had lost. His throat bobbed as he forced himself to say, "Then how do you intend to deal with the issue of the alien races? Are we, the people of Zhongyuan, destined to fight against the alien races generation after generation? Do you know how many people will die that way?"

Song Yan smirked: "Then... kill!"

"Kill?" Linghu Rui was taken aback.

"We, the sons of the Central Plains, would rather be fierce tigers who die in battle than lambs waiting to be slaughtered."

“If one of my fellow tribesmen kills me, I will slaughter their entire family.”

“When alien races discover that they cannot afford the cost of attacking the atomic people, even the fiercest and cruelest alien races will become good at singing and dancing.” “If they still do not learn their lesson, then destroy their ancestral temples and exterminate their descendants.”

"When there are no more foreign tribes around the Central Plains, then naturally there will be no need to face the problem of foreign tribes."

Perhaps it was the chill of autumn, but Song Yan's words were full of murderous intent, and when they reached the ears of the people around him, they all felt goosebumps rise on their skin.

Is it fear?
Or is it excitement?

"It's magnificent."

The silence was finally broken by a long howl. Turning around, they saw a ragged refugee who had probably not eaten for a long time. He was emaciated, but his body was still tall.

His face was dark and dirty, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

Scars can be seen on his face, arms, chest, and even neck.

The man, along with the others around him, bowed deeply to Song Yan.
"If all the men of Ningguo were like you, sir, how could we have fallen to this state?"

“Sir, your noble character deserves our deepest respect.”

Song Yan quickly stepped aside. He had already guessed the identities of these people, so how could he accept their generous gifts?

He can't afford it.

He hurried over from the other side and helped the men up, saying, "You're too kind, young man. If anyone should be bowing, it should be me bowing to you all."

Seeing that the scene was somewhat chaotic, Linghu Rui and the others exchanged glances and prepared to slip away. The situation was no longer under their control, and leaving as soon as possible would save them from humiliation.

"Hey hey..."

Just then, a sinister voice suddenly came from the side.

Turning my head, I noticed that three eunuchs had appeared in the crowd.

The three old eunuchs had beads of sweat on their foreheads, clearly indicating that they had been running for a long time.

"Your Highness, it's been quite a search for you." The head eunuch, who was over fifty years old, recognized Luo Yuheng at a glance. Clearly, he had interacted with Luo Yuheng quite a bit when she was in the palace. His gaze towards Luo Yuheng was somewhat resentful: "For this imperial edict, this old servant has been traveling day and night without stopping. I first arrived in Ningping, only to hear that you have come to Songzhou."

"I rushed to Songzhou, only to hear from the servants that you had gone out to play again."

"You seem to be having a lot of fun, but this old servant's legs are about to break."

That high-pitched, affected voice gave Song Yan goosebumps all over.

Good heavens, are all eunuchs this scary? They weren't like this even at their weddings, were they?
Luo Yuheng, on the other hand, was clearly used to it. He glared at the old eunuch with annoyance and said, "Wei Liang, you old codger, you're still the same as before. Tell me, what's wrong with my brother this time?"

Wei Liang chuckled, not caring much about being called an "old codger," and took out a scroll of imperial edict from his sleeve: "Your Highness, let's accept the edict first."

As soon as the imperial edict was taken out, everyone around knelt down.

Even those scholars who were planning to slip away missed their chance.

Wei Liang cleared his throat:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Princess Luo Yuheng is gentle, kind, humble, and possesses both strength and grace..."

"When the Japanese pirates attacked, she donned armor and took command, defeated the Japanese invaders, and brought glory to the Great Ning Kingdom. She was granted the title of Princess Anning, restored to the status of the eldest princess, and given the fief of Ningping."

"Because the coastal areas are frequently harassed by Japanese pirates, Princess Anning is hereby granted permission to recruit 5,000 soldiers to defend against them. Princess Anning may decide on the military pay and official system. This is hereby decreed."

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

It was expected that Luo Yuheng would regain her status as the eldest princess, but the title of Anning had a completely different meaning.

Moreover, they were able to recruit 5,000 soldiers, which was a first in Ningguo's history.

It seems that this is the result of the power struggle between Emperor Ninghe and the Yang family in the imperial court.

Linghu Rui and the others turned ashen-faced; they were doomed.

They had previously criticized Luo Yuheng for donning armor and leading troops, deeming it improper and immoral. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, Luo Yuheng would regain her status as the eldest princess?

That's it, we're doomed.

Luo Yuheng also breathed a slight sigh of relief and prepared to express his gratitude and accept the imperial decree.

"Don't worry, don't worry, there's another imperial edict." Wei Liang took out another imperial edict from his sleeve:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have been granted the mandate of Heaven to rule over all lands. You, Song Yan, are exceptionally talented and naturally loyal and filial. In the nineteenth year of the Ninghe era, when the Japanese invaders attacked, you personally braved arrows and stones, forged a wolf-tooth spear, burned the enemy, and achieved extraordinary merit. I am greatly pleased and hereby grant you the title of Baron of Anning County!"

"Furthermore, Xinhou County was attacked by the Jurchens, and the county magistrate Yin Feng abandoned the city and fled. I am heartbroken. However, a county cannot be without a ruler. Therefore, I hereby appoint Song Yan as the magistrate of Xinhou County to ensure the peace and tranquility of Xinhou. This is my decree."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the Luo family changed drastically.

However, Linghu Rui and his group couldn't help but show smug smiles on their faces.

Xinhou County.

Now, Song Yan is doomed.

(End of this chapter)