As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 275 I Have No Regrets

"Old Lu?"

Lu Guang forced a smile and said dryly, "Uh... General, forgive my poor eyesight, I think I must have seen wrong."

Xu Zhongling: ...

The two then summoned the guards outside the tent, and after a great deal of fuss, they finally felt relieved after confirming that there was really no problem.

"It's probably because Old Master Lu has been traveling a long way and is hallucinating. He should go and rest."

What a blunder! It was a false alarm.

Xu Zhongling wasn't angry; instead, she comforted the old man.

"Yes!"

The terrified old man, his face full of gratitude, stood up, bowed deeply, and slowly retreated.

Everyone left, and the camp returned to silence.

After Lu Guang's figure disappeared from sight, his gentle and forgiving face gradually turned cold.

Looking out of the tent, he murmured softly, "Elder Lu, Zhongling thanks you for your contributions to our Liang Dynasty."

The old man recovered soon after.

Lu Guang's head will be used to appease Emperor Qianlong's anger and to give his soldiers an explanation.

The reason given was that the envoy was ambitious and forged tokens and documents, leading Qian Yuan to mistakenly believe that the two sides had reached a cooperation agreement, that Qian Yuan had accepted their armed forces, and that he was willing to send troops.

The subsequent misunderstandings were all caused by the messenger lying out of greed for credit.

Xu Zhongling stood up and quietly looked at the sand table beside him.

A glint flashed in his eyes: "Wang Huai, Xiao Xinyue..."

……

"Have you heard? Our Marquis Jing'an went on a trip and, taking advantage of the Battle of Yueyang, captured the traitor Dong Zhuo from Yueyang."

"Marquis Jing'an is truly a divine being!"

"Hurry to the square! Today His Majesty will ascend the platform to offer sacrifices to Heaven and publicly execute this traitor."

"Marquis Jing'an is truly a lucky star for our Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Good riddance! Good riddance to Dong Zhuo! A traitor who plotted to usurp the country, the chaos that has befallen our Qian Yuan is all thanks to him."

"Great! Hahaha, our ancestors have shown their power!"

……

Jiqu was the capital of the Qian Yuan dynasty.

After Mingchen and Huang Xiao's meticulous preparations, and later as the capital of the new dynasty, the city flourished and prospered under Xiao Xinyue's rule, enjoying peace and harmony.

Inside the restaurant, toasts were exchanged and laughter filled the air; on the street, people came and went, discussing the matter animatedly.

The topic we're discussing is also a recent hot topic.

When we talk about things at the national level, the word "orthodoxy" carries a lot of weight.

Over several hundred years, through the changing of generations, the imprint of these ideas has been firmly etched into people's minds.

An emperor should be a member of a certain family, a member of a certain family by blood.

As long as the people are not pushed to the extreme and are not exploited by the officials to the point of ruin and death.

Instinctively, they still consider themselves to be people of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Within the territory of Daqian, there are the people of Daqian.

Even though the east was in chaos, with warlords vying for power and dynasties changing, people still referred to themselves as Qian Yuan people.

Not to mention the area west of the Shen River, which did not experience much chaos and exploitation and was quickly taken over by the princess's regime.

These people are all loyal subjects of the Qian Yuan dynasty.

Therefore, it is only natural that they deeply abhor the enemies and traitors to the country that Xiao Xinyue's regime promotes.

Amidst the chaos in the east, news suddenly arrived from Ji Qu that the Marquis of Jing'an had brought back Dong Zhenghong, the traitorous minister who had usurped the throne, and that he would soon be publicly executed to expound on his crimes.

As always, Xiao Xinyue did not take credit for Mingchen's work and openly publicized the matter.

This sparked a great deal of discussion among people.

After a period of silence, this marquis did some things again.

Compared to the eight hundred cavalrymen who charged across the grasslands, this event seemed less legendary, and no one knew the details.

However, it is still a remarkable achievement.

It's almost unbelievable that they managed to capture a high-ranking thief from afar during the war.

People praised him, while simultaneously despising the person who brought disaster to the country.

Amidst a chorus of curses, Dong Zhenghong, dressed in prison clothes, was led onto the execution platform.

Below the execution platform, a large crowd thronged, their eyes blazing with fury and excitement as they glared at him menacingly.

Not far away, Bai Houde, the Vice Minister of Rites during the Qian Yuan era, stood solemnly, holding a brocade letter, and shouted loudly: "When there are treacherous officials in the country, the nation is in danger; when there are corrupt officials in the court, the people suffer. Now there is a traitor, Dong Zhenghong, who holds a high position but harbors a viper in his heart. He outwardly appears loyal but inwardly plots wickedness. His crimes are heinous and arouse the wrath of both gods and men! If we do not condemn his evil and punish him according to the law, how can we appease the people of the world? How can we comfort the spirits of our ancestors?"

"His crimes are obvious and too numerous to count. First, he usurped power and disrupted the government, obstructed the emperor's hearing, and harmed the country and the people. This villain formed cliques for personal gain and blocked the emperor's wisdom. He forged imperial edicts to act for his own selfish purposes, abused power to denounce loyal and good officials, and even plotted to usurp the throne, depose the emperor and steal the country, destroying the foundation of our Qian Yuan dynasty that had lasted for a hundred years in an instant."

"Secondly, they framed loyal and virtuous people, harmed good people, led troops into the palace, and massacred the royal family. Fortunately, our Emperor Qian Yuan was blessed with great fortune and divine assistance, which saved us from disaster."

"Thirdly, he colluded with foreign enemies, betraying our country and humiliating our nation. Our nation's territory stretches for thousands of miles, and every single inch of it was won through the blood and sweat of our ancestors. This traitor, in order to protect his own interests, gave away three provinces with a mere slap of his lips. He is truly a sinner for all time!"

"Fourth..."

Bai Houde's voice was loud and clear, carrying far and wide.

The bustling crowd below could hear it, the dignified emperor sitting on the high platform could hear it, and the eternal sinner kneeling on the execution ground could also hear it.

One by one, the things Dong Zhenghong had done were made public and heard by everyone.

The people's eyes blazed with fury as they hurled insults and vented their emotions.

Even after ascending the throne, Xiao Xinyue seemed unable to contain her emotions, her face as cold as frost as she looked at the prisoner.

Dong Zhenghong is actually just a representative of bureaucratic power.

The situation in Qian Yuan was already beyond saving. The Xiao royal court could not be as ruthless as the Blood-Clad Army in cutting off all the noble families in half. They could only resort to intrigue and power struggles to wear them down... This required a huge investment of resources and talent to clean up.

Even if Dong Zhenghong were killed back then, a second, a third would eventually emerge...

Even if Dong Zhenghong is eliminated, the city will still be besieged by the blood-clad army.

That's why Xiao Zhengyang listened to Mingchen's words, withered away in the capital, and bravely cut off his own arm to send Xiao Xinyue out of the capital, placing all his hopes on his sister to seek that sliver of hope.

Destruction precedes construction; everything starts anew, everything is rebuilt.

Dong Zhenghong is just one example.

But... in any case, he committed all these crimes, and he cannot escape the consequences.

Xiao Xinyue hated him for forcing her brother to his death, hated him for cutting off the Qian Yuan dynasty and destroying her ancestors' foundation.

The winner takes all, the loser is doomed.

Now, it is only right that they bear the brunt of everyone's anger.

The old man, dressed in prison clothes, with his hair disheveled and his cloudy old eyes lowered, quietly watched the insults and anger coming from all directions.

He was very old. He had lived a life of luxury in the first half of his life, but in his old age he suffered too many mental breakdowns, madness, and pain. He looked like he was on his deathbed.

If I don't hurry up and kill them, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on and will die first.

He is the greatest sinner, and he is hated by everyone.

However, now that things have come to this, he is quite calm.

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on the platform where the officials sat. He saw the handsome young man.

From the very beginning, their son died at his hands, and they became irreconcilable enemies.

But he never seized the opportunity, and now that it's come to an end, in the end... this person is the winner.

Eyes facing each other.

"Old man, do you regret it?"

In a daze, he seemed to hear the voice of that mocking young man.

"Do you regret it? Do you regret it?"

His eyes were downcast, and his withered lips murmured softly.

Bai Houde's loud and clear voice still echoes in our ears, and the people's gazes are sharp as knives, their resentment almost tangible.

However, the old man unconsciously moved his lips, revealing a faint smile.

He is going to die.

He knew what his fate would be.

Not only will he disappear from the concept of life, but everything he did will be recorded in history books, cursed and hated by millions of descendants, leaving a lasting infamy.

The old man looked up at the bright sunshine, tears streaming down his face: "I have no regrets... I have no regrets... Hehehe, hahaha!"

What began as a faint smile gradually grew wilder and more ferocious.

Tears and grime mingled together, his old face was wrinkled and gnarled, his white teeth were menacing and terrifying.

During his time in prison, he quietly faced the wall, figured out many things, and calmly accepted his current fate.

What is there to regret?
What is there to regret?

To be scorned by millions?

That's something that hundreds of millions of people remember!

Even if he sat on the throne for a day, he was still an emperor! It's just that he failed after trying his best.

What if he succeeds? He will be the founding emperor of the Great Chen Kingdom!
These messy sins can also be whitewashed.

It's all about the victor taking all and the loser being condemned!

There is a group of monsters in this era. Xiao Zhengyang, who fought against him all his life, was a monster. Even in death, he could not rest in peace.

Xiao Zhengyang's sister is a monster; she escaped even the most elaborate traps.

Wang Huai is a monster; a mere commoner, yet he has amassed a million followers and reigned supreme over the world.

Qin Lou, Hong Ling Shuang...

And then there's... this Mingchen, whom I've never truly understood.

This era is unfair to him; how can there be so many monsters!

He couldn't beat these monsters, so isn't it normal for him to lose?

He also left his name.

A bad reputation is still a reputation!
What's there to regret!
Now that he is going to die, so be it!
He persisted, under the sunlight, on this execution platform, in full view of the public, amidst the people's curses... until he was beheaded.

He doesn't regret it!
"It's noon, carry out the execution!"

After the countless crimes were read aloud, the midday sun hung high in the sky.

The executioner, his face grim, roared angrily.

The executioner raised his blade high, its gleaming edge radiating a chilling aura in the sunlight.

"Crack!"

A flash of light, blood splattered, and a grinning head flew high into the sky.

The sinner, who bore the brunt of everyone's resentment, vanished at this moment.

For some reason, a gentle breeze blew in from the east, and the cursing people involuntarily shivered. They felt a chilling laugh echoing in their ears, and a sudden coldness rose in their hearts.

The old head fell to the ground, rolled twice, and then stood up. The old, cloudy eyes did not close; they grinned menacingly, sending chills down one's spine.

Although he hadn't met with Dong Zhenghong before, Mingchen still came this time and quietly watched the process unfold.

The lazy marquis rarely attended a formal court event.

This old man had been possessed by a powerful being from the underworld before. He didn't know if the other party had any special abilities, or if he would be able to get his head chopped off easily.

Secondly, he also wanted to confirm whether the old man's death would leave his name in the Immortal Jade Record.

However, perhaps he was overthinking it, as the public execution went smoothly without any unexpected incidents.

The old man died a quick and decisive death.

At the same time, the soft jade in his hand trembled slightly.

The ancient pages, visible only to him, have turned to a brand new one.

An elderly man with a sinister aura sat on the throne, a strange smile on his face, his old eyes cold and piercing, as if he could see into people's hearts.

Dong Zhenghong, a madman who usurped the country's power.

……

With everything settled, the execution of Dong Zhenghong was neither a major nor a minor matter.

Qian Yuan didn't pay any price; in the end, he only beheaded a criminal.

The fall of the State of Chen has little impact on the international situation.

However, it has great political significance.

The traitor who stole the country has been executed.

Xiao Xinyue fulfilled her promise, greatly pleasing the officials and the people, enhancing her prestige and legitimacy.

Ultimately, it all comes down to letting the people live in peace.

People clearly still identify more with themselves as people of the Qian Yuan era.

The will of the people is the general trend.

The Great Qi in the east is a chaotic collection of separatist forces, which are ultimately bandits.

This matter can be considered to have come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Time passed slowly, and everything returned to peace.

……

“Wang Huai left Yueyang and went south, suppressing all the rebellions along the way.”

"This man always leads from the front, is exceptionally brave, and no one can stop him wherever he goes. He is truly formidable."

In the small courtyard of the Marquis of Jing'an's residence, the older sister leaned against Mingchen, chattering on about her experiences in the imperial court.

Everything returned to normal.

Mingchen's life is very simple. During the day, he stays at home playing with monsters, goes out for a stroll, and goes to the armory to work on some small inventions...

At night, they fiercely dipped beans in the sauce, and the three of them engaged in a chaotic battle.

Tournament format, individual competition, team competition... a variety of formats are available.

However, he was too lazy to queue at the palace gate early in the morning, so he basically did not attend court.

My sister, who's a bit slow, is very diligent; she goes to work whenever she's supposed to.

When she got back, she started telling Mingchen stories non-stop.

Mingchen didn't attend court, but it was almost the same as attending; he knew all the information he needed to know.

He might know things he shouldn't know.

This is their daily routine. Life isn't all legends; the ordinary, mundane discussions are the norm.

Of course, the content of Mingchen and his friends' casual conversation was something that ordinary people could not possibly know.

"Haha, impressive? Can my older brother be as impressive as my silly older sister?"

Mingchen patted Lingyu's head and said with a smile.

As someone close to Mingchen, Ling Yu had long known about the relationship between Mingchen and Wang Huai.

I feel like you're making fun of me.

This person always speaks with a sarcastic tone.

I can't tell if it's real or fake.

As an old married couple, they were much more relaxed in their interactions.

"How could I dare?"

Ling Yu glared at the villain: "You're finished, I'm warning you!"

How come I never saw this side of him before?!

Of course, I can tell, and I guess they still like it...

Sister Dai's current catchphrase is that she likes to say these kinds of harsh words that have absolutely no effect.

What happens tonight is another matter.

"News has also come from the east that Xu Zhongling has falsely claimed to have His Majesty's support and has built up considerable momentum in the east by leveraging the reputation of our Qian Yuan. People are flocking to join him, and he has made many promises in the name of His Majesty. The soldiers are fighting bravely and have already captured several cities as they march south. They are about to reach Xiaoyao City."

"Oh?"

The name Xu Zhongling appeared once again.

Mingchen raised an eyebrow.

As expected, my hunch was correct.

Xu Zhongling is no simple man; he won't give up until he achieves his goal. Once he sets his sights on you, it's like he's sticking to you like glue, impossible to shake off.

Mingchen sighed, "They're just desperate..."

After all, Wang Huai's army had already set out, having overcome numerous obstacles along the way. The soldiers were more numerous and elite, and the generals were stronger. With Wang Huai himself personally leading the expedition, they were unstoppable.

To survive, one must do everything possible to increase one's strength.

This is for survival.

There weren't many options available to Xu Zhongling.

Mingchen wasn't angry about this; he simply smiled and asked, "What's the situation at court?"

"General Liu has a fiery temper. He directly cursed Xu Zhongling as a faithless villain who forged imperial edicts and alliances. This is a capital offense. Such behavior cannot be let off easily. If Xu Zhongling sets a precedent, others will surely follow suit. He must be severely punished. I advise His Majesty to send troops to annihilate him. We are still allies with the Great Qi. If we join forces with the Qi Emperor, we will surely be able to easily wipe him out."

"Lord Zhang said that this would not be advisable. Although Xu Zhongling falsely conveyed the imperial edict and his crime was unforgivable, the people he recruited were loyal to the Great Qian Dynasty. A hasty attack might discourage the people. The Great Qi Dynasty still occupies our Qian Yuan territory and its reputation is not good. Helping the Great Qi Dynasty might damage His Majesty's prestige. It would be better to take advantage of Wang Huai's stalemate with Xu Zhongling while he is heading south, and instead march east from Luzhou in the north, directly attack Yueyang, and return to the old capital."

"Lord Yun believes that the situation is unclear now, so it is better to wait and see. There is no need to make a statement now. Holding the knife in your hand is the most intimidating thing. Let these forces in the east fight each other and wear each other down while we develop steadily. Later, when they have fought each other to a certain extent, and the time is right, we will reap the benefits."

In general, the voices in the court were divided into three factions, arguing endlessly.

They can either attack Xu Zhongling, attack Wang Huai, or simply watch and enjoy the show.

Each side has its own reasons, advantages, and disadvantages.

After Xiao Xinyue's efforts during this period, including the holding of the imperial examinations, her team has been basically fully established.

Regardless of how many virtuous and talented individuals there were, the ministers dared to speak out, were willing to speak out, considered and pondered with their own wisdom, debated with others, and offered opinions to Xiao Xinyue.

This is a very healthy atmosphere in the court, full of vitality and prosperity.

It's not necessarily a matter of who's right or wrong, and some things aren't about right or wrong, but about greater or lesser interests. The significance of discussion lies in summarizing everyone's thoughts, minimizing oversights, presenting all aspects, and finally leaving it to Xiao Xinyue to judge.

(End of this chapter)