Ancestors, please don't crawl out again.

Chapter 108 Seven Kill Order

The flood that swept southward and nearly engulfed Qingyuan County entered the spatial rift and remained on the other side.

That place is actually the capital of a modern island nation.

Therefore, their streets should now be being washed away by the raging Yellow River, leaving behind countless corpses dressed in Tang Dynasty armor.

How can modern scientists explain such a bizarre phenomenon...?

That has nothing to do with Yang Feng.

Since they admire Tang Dynasty culture, giving them a batch of Tang Dynasty relics would be a reward. As for the Yellow River carrying these relics...

What, they don't like the full version?
Having accomplished this miracle, Yang Feng immediately put away his jade axe. The river water beneath his feet, which had receded back into its channel, continued to flow downstream, submerging the previously exposed riverbed once more. The silt left behind by the floodwaters on both banks was littered with the corpses of Liang soldiers and their warhorses. Amidst the worship of the people of Qingyuan behind him, Yang Feng flew directly to a high ground on the west bank, where Zhu Youqian, the iron certificate enthusiast who had just witnessed the miracle, was kneeling in terror with his river soldiers.

Their initial formation was positioned slightly back, thus avoiding the impact of the flash flood; the Tangut cavalry of the Dingnan army were positioned in front of them.

The latter only had two thousand people to begin with.

The outcome of this war is irrelevant to the Dingnan Army. In fact, losing might be better, since Zhu Wen might look westward after conquering Hedong. However, Li Sijian is not like he was in the Western Xia era. The Dingnan Army is now just a minor player, and he still has to rely on flattering Zhu Wen to protect himself. Therefore, he can only contribute troops.

Then they were all wiped out.

The two thousand cavalrymen were positioned too close to the mountain pass, and they were all heavily armored cavalrymen, forming a dense formation to prepare to charge the Tang army.

As a result, they were swallowed up by the raging torrent, and it can be said that none of them escaped.

Terrified, Zhu Youqian fled without hesitation. Then, he witnessed the National Preceptor's miracle again. Since he was not a direct descendant of Zhu Wen, he naturally knelt down and worshipped the National Preceptor.

Yang Feng landed in front of them.

"I am guilty, I am a sinner..."

Zhu Youqian said tremblingly.

"Shut up. I know what you've done. Just kill yourself. Your family can be saved."

Yang Feng interrupted him, shouting rudely.

This guy is a typical fifth-generation warlord.

He was originally an officer in the Shaanxi-Guo army. After the death of Wang Chongying, the military governor of Shaanxi-Guo, his son Wang Gong succeeded him. Then his nephews Wang Ke and Wang Yao fought fiercely, each leading Zhu Wen, Li Keyong and other forces. In the end, Wang Gong was killed by Zhu Youqian, who was then called Zhu Jian, and another general Li Fan. But then Zhu Youqian killed Li Fan and went to kneel in front of Zhu Wen, saying that since we are both surnamed Zhu, you are like my own father.

Zhu Wen was very happy to recognize him as his son and renamed him Zhu Youqian, treating him the same as his biological son.

This can be described as a typical example of a proud and fierce general from the Five Dynasties period.

However, he was a sensible person who believed that his wealth and status were hard-won, and he always acted with caution and prudence.

As for his later death...

By then, he had already acted very sensibly, voluntarily relinquishing power and going to court. As a regional military governor, what more could be said about him doing such a thing?

But he never expected that Li Cunxu would be so shameless. He gave him an iron certificate in the first year and then wiped out his entire family in the second year!
Not only was he surprised, but even Xia Luqi, who was sent by Li Cunxu to exterminate his entire family, felt ashamed when he saw the brand-new iron certificate that his wife had thrown at his feet. Li Cunxu's alienation from his people could be said to have started the moment Zhu Youqian's wife threw the iron certificate at Xia Luqi's feet.

You can choose not to accept the iron certificate.

but……

You can't just give it a one-year validity period!

Old Zhu said, "I've given you over ten years, and I have to go through the process at least three times. You've only given me one year, and you're using it as toilet paper without even going through the first step. That's really going too far."

Zhu Youqian looked at the Imperial Advisor before him, tears welling in his eyes, while his subordinates behind him all lay quietly on the ground...

No one has spoken out in his defense.

He shakily drew his sword and held it to his neck with a trembling hand.

"This guilty subject thanks the Imperial Preceptor for granting him death."

He said.

After saying that, he suddenly pulled, and with blood gushing from the severed carotid artery, his corpse fell to the ground.

Then Yang Feng looked at the generals behind him.

"You should all kill yourselves too!"

He said.

The latter was completely dumbfounded.

"Imperial Preceptor, what crime have I committed?"

One of them said, filled with grief and indignation.

“If I want you dead, you must die. You will die whether you are guilty or innocent. If you talk nonsense again, I will kill your whole family. If you dare to continue talking nonsense, I will exterminate your entire clan. Besides, don’t you know whether you are guilty or not? According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, you are all guilty of treason. Killing your whole family is the least you can do. You still dare to ask me what my crime is? Remember this: when you return to Hezhong, kill this bastard’s whole family.”

Yang Feng shouted.

"Follow the order!"

The kneeling soldiers shouted in unison.

The general was dumbfounded, instinctively about to say something, but then he suddenly remembered the concept of nine generations of relatives. After all, killing the whole family wouldn't actually kill the entire family; there would be his clansmen and confidants who would find ways to hide his children and grandchildren before returning to Hezhong. This has always been the pattern. Most families killed would leave a few alive, since they would have the help of clansmen and in-laws. But if nine generations of relatives were exterminated, it would be all over. There would be nowhere to hide them, and those clansmen and in-laws might even kill his descendants out of anger.

So if you keep talking nonsense, we'll really wipe out your entire family.

He had no choice but to keep his mouth shut and tremblingly pull out the knife, holding it to his own neck.

The other generals didn't even dare to say anything, and they also tremblingly held their swords to their own necks.

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor, for ordering my death!"

……

With their desperate cries, one by one they committed suicide behind Zhu Youqian.

"You, lead them back to Hezhong and await the arrival of the new governor of Hezhong."

Yang Feng pointed to a young officer who looked older and said.

"Imperial Preceptor, please urge the court to act quickly, otherwise we will be powerless to stop the enemy from invading."

The latter said it with great self-awareness.

Yang Feng nodded.

The officer quickly got up and called to the officers and soldiers kneeling on the ground, then led them south back to the river.

At this time, the jurisdiction of the Hezhong Jiedushi (military governor) extended south of Huozhou, to Hezhong Prefecture or Puzhou, and westward from Linfen to the mountainous area along the Yellow River.

Meanwhile, the northern battlefield was essentially over. Xue Wanjun had breached the Liang army's defenses, cutting off their retreat to Jinyang. Kang Huaiying, severely wounded, committed suicide. Most of the remaining Liang troops trapped on the west bank surrendered. However, Yang Shihou, leading over 20,000 of his remaining troops inside Jinyang, escaped. They had been guarding the three northern cities. Li Si'an, who had not crossed the river, was another survivor. Those who did cross the river—Kang Huaiying (who committed suicide), Wang Tan (killed in battle by Kan Leng), and Li Zhouyi, the military governor of Heyang, drowned.

He was actually Li Maoxun, Li Maozhen's cousin. He changed his name after surrendering to Zhu Wen. He went to rescue Fengxiang when Zhu Wen besieged it to seize the emperor, but he was defeated and surrendered to Zhu Wen.

As for Chengde and Weibo armies, they were also completely wiped out. These two armies were not led by their military governors, but by their main generals. Li Honggui, the commander of Chengde's army, and Pan Yan, the commander of Weibo's army, were not even found dead.

It's very likely that they traveled through time.

Perhaps you can find them on the streets of some modern island nation.

Yang Feng looked down at the captured Liang army from the sky.

There are quite a few.

"Let's kill one out of ten, and all those above that will commit suicide."

He said it very simply.

A chorus of pleas erupted below, especially from the main generals. At this time, the military system was chaotic, but the "du" (都) system was already widespread. However, these "du" were not actually officials; each military governor appointed their own trusted subordinates to lead anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of "du" with various titles as their main field forces. These "du" were the epitome of arrogant and unruly soldiers, habitually leading troops to kill military governors. After killing the governors, they would then kill each other, with the winner becoming the new military governor.

Even if they are indeed all fierce generals, they certainly cannot be kept.

The Tang Dynasty is not lacking in fierce generals. Not to mention the elite troops brought by Yang Feng, there are also many capable young men recruited from the common people.

This era is excessive in both its fierce folk customs and its abundant martial spirit.

“If you don’t commit suicide, you will be executed. If you dare to utter another word, I will exterminate your entire family.”

Granting you the privilege of suicide is a grace; for each and every one of you, even death by a thousand cuts wouldn't be excessive. I descend to the mortal realm by the decree of the Jade Emperor, to do only one thing: kill, kill all those in this world who deserve to die. The disloyal deserve to die! The unfilial deserve to die! The unkind deserve to die! The unjust deserve to die! The impolite, the unwise, and the untrustworthy all deserve to die! You all need to ask yourselves honestly, which one of you doesn't deserve to die? Burning, killing, looting, massacring cities, killing and banishing generals, treating betrayal as commonplace—who dares to say they are innocent?

If the world is devoid of law, morality, discipline, and shame, do you still feel honored?
"My purpose in descending to the mortal realm is to slaughter you all, re-establish laws, rebuild morality, and ensure that the world abides by the principles of law and knows right from wrong!"

Yang Feng shouted.

"Let's fight this freak to the death!"

A general roared, filled with grief and indignation.

He then stood up, as if to rush forward.

however……

No one answered!
Everyone else obediently continued to lie down.

spell?
How to spell it?
He's in heaven!
The man stood there awkwardly, looking at the heavily armored, long-sword-wielding Mo Dao soldiers around him with a fawning gaze.

"Remember, exterminate his entire family. By the way, what's his name?"

Yang Feng said.

"Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, his name is Wen Tao, and he is the Prefect of Yaozhou."

A kneeling general quickly spoke up.

"This guy is actually a prefect?"

Yang Feng said in surprise.

"Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, he's just a mountain bandit. He previously ruled over Mount Cuo'e, only holding the title of Prefect. When the court cleared out bandits near Chang'an, he couldn't stay in Mount Cuo'e anymore. Besides, he had previously looted several imperial tombs and didn't dare to surrender, so he had to flee east with some of his men. The rebel Zhu Wen of Daliang didn't want to support him for nothing, so he brought him to Hedong, promising him a military governorship if they conquered Hedong. That's why he came. As for the Imperial Preceptor executing his entire clan, he's just a bandit; he probably doesn't care about anything like that."

"Imperial Preceptor, I've said so much, can you spare my life?"

The general said pitifully.

"No mercy."

Yang Feng said.

The general lay there and cried.

Wen Tao remained standing there awkwardly. He had originally intended to incite the generals and then try to escape in the chaos. Although the hope was indeed slim, not struggling meant certain death, and he certainly didn't care about the consequences for his entire family. He was originally a bandit, a mountain king in Yaozhou's Cuo'e Mountain. His area was originally the border between the controlled territories of Li Maozhen and Zhu Wen. The two forces moved back and forth, and whoever passed through his territory, he would surrender to. His livelihood depended on digging up the tombs of Tang Dynasty emperors.

But after the establishment of the new Tang Dynasty, there was no place for him there.

Li Daoxuan and others in Chang'an were not idle either. The newly rebuilt Sixteen Guards were definitely going to suppress bandits around Chang'an. At this time, even Liu Zhijun was hiding in Huazhou, living in fear. The Tang army was already moving south and began to expand into Wang Jian's territory. Wen Tao was less than a hundred miles away from Chang'an. How could they let him stay there?

Could a lowly bandit like him defeat Qin Qiong or Luo Shixin?

They had no choice but to flee.

Then Zhu Wen made use of him.

Then his entire army was wiped out, and he himself became a prisoner.

"You still robbed imperial tombs? Did you rob Zhaoling? Tell the truth, I can find out if you lie, and then I'll skin you alive."

Yang Feng shouted.

Wen Tao immediately knelt down again.

"Imperial Preceptor, spare my life! Zhaoling is in Li Jihui's territory. How dare I rob it? Even if someone were to rob it, it would be him. I only took some burial items from Chongling at the foot of Mount Cuo'e and Zhenling to the west."

He said while lying on the ground.

The claim that he looted all the Tang Dynasty imperial tombs is largely a scapegoat. He was previously just a mountain bandit chieftain of Mount Cuo'e, controlling only a small area around the mountain. Even after Li Maozhen appointed him as a military governor, he only governed Yaozhou and Dingzhou, which were essentially just Huayuan and Meiyuan counties. The vast majority of the Tang tombs weren't on his territory; in fact, most were on Li Maozhen's territory, including the territory of Li Jihui within Li Maozhen's faction, and some were on Liu Zhijun's territory. Would he have dared to make a fortune in those three territories? Would he have been courting death?
Any one of these three could crush him.

Even if he actually dug it up, the vast majority of it would eventually have to be given to these people.

Therefore, looting the Tang Dynasty imperial tombs was a common practice among the warlords in Guanzhong, but ultimately someone had to be blamed for it.

Is there anyone more suitable than a nobody like him?

He did indeed rob, but he was just an insignificant nobody; he was the one who carried these seventeen imperial tombs on his back.

Of course, he is still one of them.

and so……

"Peel him! Drag him aside and skin him alive!"

Yang Feng said.

"Imperial Advisor, Imperial Advisor, you have broken your promise."

Wen Tao screamed in terror.

Then he tried to escape at all costs.

But the Mo Dao soldiers who were watching them immediately stepped forward.

Wen Tao ran among the generals lying on the ground, constantly being tripped up by them, then anxiously getting up to continue running, but he watched as one after another, the iron-clad Mo Dao soldiers surrounded him.

“I am a god, I can do whatever I want. You, an ant, have the right to talk about trust with a god? Do you deserve it? Besides, what have I promised you? Did I say I wouldn’t skin you alive if you told the truth? You dare to accuse me of breaking my promise? This is blasphemy. Skin this blasphemous dog alive and send it to Zhenling.”

Yang Feng shouted.

(End of this chapter)