Madam, don't do this!

Chapter 102: Son-in-law, a Lowly One (3)

Intrigues and scheming between the bigwigs in the court are played out every day, but no matter who it is, they have to admit that physical destruction is definitely the best way to solve problems.

Although it is a bit embarrassing.

In the court, there was an endless debate about Song Yan's matter. As for Yang Jingshuo, the recommender, and the three families of Yang Siye, Yang Zhongning, and Yang Chengen, no one mentioned them again, as if they had been forgotten.

The five thousand soldiers preparing for war against Japan also caused some controversy.

The main thing was that the Minister of Revenue stood up and said: No money!

Now the major border troops are having trouble paying their salaries, so where is the money to set up an army to prepare for Japan?

Therefore, under the wise suggestion of Fang De, the military pay regulations and general arrangements of the 5,000 troops preparing for the Japanese invasion were all decided by Princess An Ning Luo Yuheng herself. At the same time, the military pay was also raised by Luo Yuheng herself.

……

The weather was nice that day. There was thick fog in the morning and it gradually dissipated until 9:00 PM.

It had only been autumn for half a month, and the scorching heat of summer had not yet completely dissipated, mixed with the coolness of autumn. White clouds were spreading in the sky, and the willow leaves on the banks of the Yiluo River were dyed golden. Kong Chan was sitting on the river bank, with a pair of small feet dangling and swaying gently, but he had taken off his shoes and socks. His toes accidentally touched the river water, causing ripples.

He was humming a folk song from somewhere unknown, with a slight accent. Although I couldn't understand it, it was clear and pleasant, like the sound of an oriole.

Gu Banxia sat on the grass by the river, and Song Yan lay on Gu Banxia's legs as usual. He felt soft and comfortable, and his white fingers gently stroked Song Yan's scalp and hair.

Song Yun died, Song Zhen died, and Yang Miaoqing died.

Revenge is something that cannot be rushed. Although there are still a large number of enemies left, only Song Hongtao and Song Lu are still in Ningping.

However, Song Hongtao had to be alive before all his sons died. As for Song Lu, he had no chance to take action for the time being. Song Lu seemed to have noticed something and had been living in the academy during this period and rarely returned to the Duke's Mansion.

Song Yan had some free time, so the family went on an outing together. For him, this was a somewhat novel experience, probably the first time in his two lifetimes.

Songzhou is already relatively prosperous, and with the Japanese pirates' attacks repelled some time ago, the entire city is now filled with a joyful atmosphere. You can often see families in groups of three or two wearing clean and tidy clothes playing in the water, children holding adults' hands and swinging, or groups of three or five playing on the grass by the river, their clear laughter always echoing in your ears.

Even Luo Caiyi and Luo Qingyi are no exception.

That was in ancient times. If it were a generation ago, adults probably would not allow children to play like this by the river.

Although they were out for a picnic, my sister-in-law was still the same as usual, leaning against the willow tree with a long sword in her arms, her eyes slightly closed, looking cool.

Luo Yuheng lazily leaned against a rock. After all, she wasn't a little girl like Kong Chan, so she couldn't do things like taking off her shoes and socks to play in the water. Luo Yuheng was no longer the heroic figure she had that night, but had returned to her usual lazy and elegant temperament.

Beside her was the head maid Li Qingyue, who was serving her.

Luo Yuheng has eight personal maids, and Li Qingyue is the oldest one, perhaps even older than Luo Yuheng.

Although she looks ordinary, she is clever and dexterous, which makes Luo Yuheng like her very much.

The two were talking in low voices, and from time to time one could hear bursts of laughter.

Occasionally, you can see a pleasure boat sailing back and forth along the Yiluo River. When the wind blows, some early yellow fallen leaves will flutter in the air. Sometimes, if the angle is right, they will reflect a dazzling golden light.

There were also some scholars gathering by the river.

Looking up, you can see some ragged refugees begging in the crowd.

Perhaps because they were happy, they could always beg for some food or some coins.

“There are a lot more refugees.”

After taking a few glances, Song Yan looked away and muttered softly.

"Sir, you don't know that most of these refugees come from Liaodong." Gu Banxia sighed and said in a low voice.

"Liaodong?" Song Yan thought about it. If he looked at the map of his previous life, Ningguo was probably located in an area on the right and above the center of Nanzhili. Among the four countries in the Central Plains, Ningguo had a smaller area, and Liaodong was located in the northernmost part of Ningguo, bordering Goryeo, Silla and Jurchen.

"It's Liaodong." Yang Siyao on the other side also frowned slightly and sighed, "The weather this year is a bit abnormal. Early autumn used to be very hot, but this year it's already a bit cool." "If Songzhou is like this, Liaodong must be even colder. I heard that there have been two freezing rains there, and frost has already fallen."

"As for areas further north in Liaodong, snow has even begun to fall. Because the snowfall came so suddenly, countless cattle and sheep froze to death among the northern barbarians, the Xiongnu, and the Jurchens in Liaodong."

"In previous years, they would not come south to plunder until winter, but this year they came early."

Although she was talking about being robbed, Yang Siyao's tone seemed unusually calm, as if she was used to it.

"There should be border troops, right?"

"If we can't even pay the soldiers, how many of them are willing to resist the Jurchen cavalry? Even if they are willing, how can they do it with hungry stomachs?" Yang Siyao shook her head and looked at the refugees. "I heard that the Jurchens have already captured several cities."

"Wherever he went, no one was left alive."

"There were also several border troops who fought desperately, but they were all defeated. Among these refugees, there may be former border soldiers. They are also pitiful."

"As for the court, the ministers will naturally not care about these trivial matters. After all, even if the Jurchens were brutal, they only plundered the Liaodong region and could not possibly reach Dongling. They naturally wouldn't care."

After all, the two worlds are different.

"Is there any news from the Yang family recently?" It was too heavy, so Song Yan changed the subject.

"Not yet. However, I am just a tool for the Yang family, and they can't tell me many confidential matters. But from what I know about the Yang family, they will definitely not let this go after suffering such a huge loss this time."

"Maybe they have already taken action, but we just don't know it yet."

Song Yan kept this matter in mind.

If a thousand-year-old family like the Yang family really retaliates, the methods they use will certainly be extremely cruel, so he has to be on guard.

At this moment, a voice came from not far away:
"...Although Song Yan said that Luo Yuheng had made great contributions in resisting the Japanese pirates, he slaughtered tens of thousands of them, a large number of whom were burned to death in the raging fire. This act was too cruel and violated the harmony of nature."

"These barbarians are not born this way; they are simply ignorant of education. We should practice benevolence and righteousness, and educate them with poetry, literature, and etiquette. Only then can these barbarians understand what benevolence, righteousness, and morality are. As the saying goes, when barbarians enter China, principles prevail. This is the right way."

The sudden sound was loud and melodious, and it entered my ears even if I didn't want to hear it.

Song Yan became curious and looked up, only to see that it was a group of scholars. Among them was a young man in a gray cloth gown sitting at a stone table. He had a serious expression and was talking about benevolence, righteousness, and morality in a sharp voice with an excited look.

Especially when he noticed that everyone's eyes were on him, he became even more excited, as if he really enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

Yang Siyao, Gu Banxia, ​​even her sister-in-law who was leaning against a tree with a sword in her arms, and even Luo Yuheng who was not far away almost all frowned.

Song Yan also laughed in silence.

No way, is Confucianism declining so quickly?
The ancestors of Confucianism were all ruthless people. It has only been a few years, and today's Confucian students have become like this?

Not to mention Song Yan and the others, even many tourists nearby had unhappy expressions on their faces.

However, the other scholars beside him clapped their hands in praise, "Brother Linghu's words resonate deeply with me. How can we, a nation of rites and propriety, be trapped by petty hatred? As the saying goes, revenge is the end."

"Although the Japanese pirates are often brutal, we must also have a heart of benevolence and righteousness. Only by repaying evil with kindness can we make those Japanese pirates understand what benevolence and righteousness are. When the Japanese pirates are also influenced by the Four Books and Five Classics, they will naturally have the concept of benevolence and righteousness, and from then on, the Japanese threat along the coast will be completely eliminated."

"I wonder what Brother Linghu thinks of Song Yan?"

The scholar in the grey robe sneered, "A son-in-law is a lowly man."

"They kill with fire, and their nature is brutal, no different from animals. Since you were able to defeat the Japanese pirates, why didn't you let them go and show your benevolence and righteousness? If you can make the Japanese pirates feel benevolent and righteous, they will not attack again."

"Songzhou Governor Fang Hai actually wanted to take credit for such a murderer. He is truly foolish and incompetent. We scholars are the future of Ning State."

"In my opinion, such people should be arrested and handed over to the Japanese pirates for punishment. Otherwise, the Japanese pirates will certainly harbor hatred. If the Japanese pirates gather an army of 100,000 to seek revenge, how can Songzhou stop them?"

Song Yan suddenly smiled. Is this the Yang family's revenge?

(End of this chapter)