Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 191 A Bloody Lesson: If You Don't Kill the Snake, You'll Suffer the Consequences!

After Wang Cheng rose to a higher position, he naturally saw through the true nature of Luo Zhenren/Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng, and also saw the origins and backgrounds of the people under his Guishan Book Society.

His expression kept changing:

"So some of their ancestors were the tenth clan of the legendary Fang Xiaoru?!"
Not only did they survive the reign of Emperor Taizong, but they also established the secret organization Guishan Academy, which spent two hundred years recruiting scholars and gentry and manipulating the political situation of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Even the unexpected deaths of several rulers of the state are vaguely linked to their influence.

This is practically the shadow cabinet of the Great Zhao Dynasty!

Fengzhou Shanren was unaware that he had only been glanced at by [Rare Goods for Hoarding], and that one of the core secrets known only to a few high-ranking members had been leaked.

In fact, official history clearly states that Fang Xiaoru was not executed along with his entire paternal clan; only his paternal lineage was exterminated.

Back then, Fang Xiaoru, along with Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai, created a systemic disaster in the Dazhao court.

A total of 873 people benefited from the recommendation system, including 37 relatives and friends recommended by the Fang family. They were all in key departments, and many of them were illiterate playboys.

From then on, Fang's protégés and former officials were spread throughout the Six Ministries, forming a huge interest group with other recommended "talents".

In stark contrast, Huang Zicheng, another important minister of the Xiaokang era, rose to the position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, yet none of his sons or nephews were granted official positions through hereditary privilege.

Qi Tai, as the Minister of War, and his family members had always been farmers in their hometown of Fengyang.

The contrast between the three sets of examples highlights the true character of Fang Xiaoru, this "great Confucian scholar of his time": "He ruined the laws of the country with personal favors and disrupted the court with his students!"

Why was he later praised so highly among scholars? He almost became a representative of loyal ministers, upright officials, and honest scholars of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Naturally, it's because this old gentleman genuinely sought benefits for all civil servants!

If the fourth son of the Han family had not succeeded in continuing the Zhu family's destiny and quelling the rebellion, the Great Zhao Dynasty would probably have regressed by 1200 years.

With such a leader who dedicated his entire clan to the well-being of everyone, how could any writer not praise him when writing about him?

It's also Emperor Taizong's fault for not really taking decisive action, which ultimately sowed the seeds of future trouble.

These former students and officials who were not executed took the lead in establishing the earliest "Guishan Academy." These literati controlled the voice of public opinion and gradually built up their influence.

Starting with the notes of Zhu Zhishan, a talented scholar from Jiangnan, the so-called first case of the extermination of ten clans in Chinese history was artificially created to highlight the brutality of Han Laosi and the loyalty of Fang Xiaoru to the emperor.

A lie repeated a thousand times can lead many people to disregard historical facts and believe it.

As people's hearts changed, this fake imperial edict, "The Edict to Execute Fang Xiaoru's Ten Clans," also became a talisman and a talisman.

Their purpose was to conceal their identities to avoid being targeted by the imperial court, thus acquiring the ability to "net the net of heaven, which is vast yet has many gaps."

Even if one day the emperor were to send them a "Ten Clans Elimination Set," they could still use this treasure to leave many survivors.

Fengzhou Shanren looked at Wang Cheng, who was chasing after him, with a mixture of hatred and anger:
"Don't even mention the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden in the book; even if the ruler of the state issued an edict, it would be impossible to kill us all."

You're Wang Fugui, the one who just distinguished yourself in Yingzhou and received a royal unicorn robe, right? I've already remembered you, the lackey of the sovereign!

Let's see! "

Wang Cheng raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself:
"That's what Han Wugui told me back then, and then Pu Shouying's ten clans were gone. You two are quite destined."

He could understand why these surviving descendants of the "Tenth Clan," having lost the chance to become powerful clans again, were so hostile to the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Some even speculate that the faction of nobles was almost wiped out during the Tumu Crisis, which led to a complete imbalance between civil and military affairs. Could this have been a deliberate act of revenge?
"Originally, it should have been the Zhu family that suffered, but the Han family suffered as much as they did."

This was a bloody lesson for the royal family; they had been too lenient at first and hadn't eliminated the threat completely.

If you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer the consequences! It even harmed ten generations of people afterward.

Once targeted by these people, their bites will be ruthless and even the emperor will have to leave the palace to save his life.

By the way, the information about the Crown Prince of Guangze that we got from Mao Haifeng has also been connected to Guishan Bookstore.

Now, replacing the lineage of the eldest son Yun, Wen, Zun, Zu, Xun, Qin, Wu, Da, Jun, and Sheng on the throne is the lineage of the fourth son: Gao, Zhan, Qi, Jian, You, Hou, Zai, Yi, Chang, and You.

It seems only natural that Guishan Bookstore would share the same fate with Han Wugui, the last descendant of the eldest son's lineage and the heir of Guangze King.

Han Wugui belongs to the "Wu" generation, the same generation as the Crown Prince. Outliving Emperor Shaozhi would be a piece of cake for him. If he were to become a living ghost or god, he might actually have a chance.

Wang Cheng knew that there were far more people who hated the Great Zhao and missed the Yunmeng Empire than just these people; otherwise, the Guishan Academy wouldn't have such a large following.

The massacre of the Wang family, who were involved in the water collection, also originated from the conflict of interest between the Guishan Academy and the emperor and the state.

The Imperial Inspector Wang Bengu was merely an executor; there must be a mastermind hidden above him.

After being blocked by the "Edict to Execute Fang Xiaoru's Ten Clans," the forces of Guishan Academy and Huan Tongxian quickly scattered.

At the same time, the world in the book begins to dim.

The ten volumes of "The Loyal and Righteous Water Margin" constitute a complete world, with each volume serving as an entry point and medium for a specific plot.

If their connection with the original manuscript and the world within the book is severed, they will have to search for other manuscripts like looking for a needle in a haystack if they want to leave. Over time, they will continue to be assimilated by the world within the book and lose themselves.

Fengzhou Shanren is deliberately trying to force them out, eliminate the most unreasonable variable, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, and then attempt to surround and kill them with superior forces.

"Junior brother, let's fight our way out and fight them!" Zheng Qian, who had returned to his original form, realized that the "Water and Thunder Tun" hexagram was none other than his junior brother who cultivated both Bai Shui Lang (Water) and Chao Feng Lang (Thunder).

Without hesitation, they clung to his coattails and followed his lead.

The other civilian officials, who had been rescued by bookworms and freed from the constraints of their roles, were also filled with righteous indignation.

"Captain Wang/Lord Wang saved us from danger. Even if it costs us our lives, we will protect you."

"I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. If you need my help, I will not hesitate to ask."

"That's right. Even if we are outnumbered, what is the water collector's duty to fight? What is the duty of dying?"

Wang Cheng remained calm and composed.

"Everyone, please calm down. Who said we are few in number?"

Time's almost up. You bookworm!

Wow——!
She winked at the bookworm spirit, who had transformed back into a lady in blue robes. The latter waved her hand, and a page of a book suddenly flipped open in the void in front of her, revealing the scenery outside.

The local nun Miaojing had already warned the Qingque Nunnery outside.

The monk soldiers, trained over many years, fought against the endless stream of ferocious pirates under Zeng Yiben's command while surrounding the meditation room where the original manuscript of the three volumes of Water Margin was kept.

Three layers inside and three layers outside, with Wang Cheng and his group being completely surrounded on the innermost side.

The Fengzhou Mountain Man and the Rejuvenating Immortal's forces originally intended to join forces to kill Wang Cheng, but they were all dumbfounded as soon as they escaped the world in the book.

"Hiss—! What is this?"

An invisible veil was lifted before them, revealing the combined fleet of Wang, Zheng, and Lin, which had been hiding beneath the guise of a feint!

A fleet of dozens of large warships was already lined up at sea, even the worst of them was a 400-ton warship modified with breech-loading cannons.

Hundreds of cannons of various sizes were already aimed at the heads of these men.

Zheng Shiniang and Lin Daoqian's stronghold was located on Yizhou Island, which is separated from Minzhou by the sea. The shortest distance between them is less than 300 li.

With the three forces joining forces, this sea area is their de facto territory. Even if the imperial navy comes, they have to first offer tea and pay their respects to the big boss.

Upon returning from Yingzhou, he was naturally greeted by a massive army of soldiers.

"At sea, law enforcement officers should stay away!"
If there is any accidental injury, the perpetrator will bear the consequences!

The combined fleet was just looking for an excuse to bombard Qingque Temple.

Just then, a notorious pirate, whose name was once listed in one of these wanted posters, appeared out of nowhere, like a pillow delivered to someone who had just fallen asleep.

Wang Fugui is a fifth-rank commander of Zhenhai Guard, while Zheng Shiniang and Lin Daoqian are both fifth-rank generals of Zhenhai Guard. Their duties are to combat pirates and protect the people, which is a perfect match for their professions.

Zhang Wu, a salt official who was already a seventh-rank captain in the Baoshan Thousand-Household Garrison of Zhenhaiwei, shouted his routine orders at the top of his lungs before directly issuing commands to the fleet behind him:
"The captain has given the order: there are no unauthorized personnel here. Fire!"

boom! boom! boom! boom! boom!
The roar of cannons and the orange-red flames illuminated the sea in the night, and the scorching shockwaves seemed to repel the entire ocean in an instant.

Countless streaks of fire streaked across the night sky from different directions, then converged above Qingque Temple before crashing down.

next moment.

Walls collapsed, roofs shattered, beams broke, and flames shot into the sky.
The cannons on the two sailing warships, which had been consecrated using the gilding technique, had long been transformed by Wang Cheng into mighty generals. Each shot blasted a sea of ​​fire in this filthy nunnery.

This large-scale war weapon possesses not only physical destructive power but also powerful magical damage, and even the unique skills and techniques of divine officials cannot resist it.

The cannonballs from 【Bloodstained Boat】 even come with their own blood and flame splatter.

The explosion does not ignite buildings but burns flesh and blood until it completely burns through the bones before extinguishing, making it the nemesis of the Blood God Soldiers under the command of the Rejuvenating Immortal.

The Rejuvenating Immortal and the Phoenix Mountain Man originally intended to win with their superior numbers, but now they are being attacked from both sides by Wang Cheng. They cannot defeat the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden inside, nor can they defeat the large fleet outside.

Unable to advance or retreat, they were immediately beaten to a pulp.

"Help! Ahhhhh!"

"Do not kill me!"

"Wang Fugui!!! You peasants and stinking soldiers! You've completely lost your minds! Don't you know we have connections in the government?"

"Once I write a letter, crushing you will be easier than crushing ants."

The screams were mixed with several angry threats.

Wang Cheng scratched his ear, forced to agree with them:

"You're right, I know you have connections in higher places."

But next, I hope you will have someone below you!
"Come on, saturation bombardment! Three rounds of rapid fire! Open fire on me! Send them all down!"

(End of this chapter)