The Empress Kneels in Her Palace to Admit Her Mistakes After Slaying Her Ways in the Female-Oriented

Ren Tianye nodded and shouted, "Enter the city!"

Wu Xingzhou followed behind, his face beaming with joy.

The soldiers knelt down on both sides, their faces beaming with even more joy than Wu Xingzhou's.

As Ren Tianye passed by, their eyes couldn't help but shine brightly, as if they were welcoming a righteous official.

Ren Tianye, observing this, stopped and said, "You have all rendered considerable service in this battle..."

Before the words were even finished, the crowd erupted in a clamor.

"Lord Duke, this is what we should do. We are just rebelling together."

"That's right, Duke, we're just putting pressure on Zhou Xiong."

"My lord, I... I... I was the one who relayed the messages to the outside world through Granny Sun."

"Lord Duke, it was I who first suggested closing the city gates and blocking Pei Wugou outside..."

……

Ren Tianye smiled.

These people, I don't know what they went through in Yunjing, they all seem afraid of not getting their credit, and now that they have an opportunity, they can't help but sell their treasures.

He then said, "Brothers, rest assured."

"I am the most impartial in rewarding and punishing."

"This is all thanks to you all. Our guild will have you all recorded, and no one will be left out."

The crowd erupted in cheers once again.

"Following the Duke is so great!"

"Just work hard to achieve success, and you don't need to worry about being love-struck or having your achievements taken by others."

"Lord Duke, you are loyal!"

……

Amidst the calls, the main force of the imperial army quickly arrived and poured into Pukou City.

Clearly, the message had already been spread, and a large number of people, all original residents of Pukou City, had gathered at the city gate.

Their faces were filled with joy and excitement as they called out "Lord Duke" in unison.

Wu Xingzhou was stunned by the scene.

Ren Tianye knew that these people were also the heroes who had helped capture Pukou City.

It was these people who constantly pressured Zhou Xiong, which led to the easy breach of the fortified city of Pukou, allowing him to so easily lead his army inside.

Ren Tianye has never been stingy with his praise for those who have made contributions.

He made the promise immediately while seated on horseback.

"Fellow villagers, I am Ren Tianye, the Duke of Ren. Now that Pukou City has been brought under the control of the imperial court, you have all accomplished a great feat!"

"Our guild will report this matter truthfully to the imperial court."

"I believe that, with the wisdom of the imperial court, it will surely reward all the citizens of Pukou City accordingly."

"Tax exemptions are a given."

"at the same time……"

"Within Pukou City, I will definitely conduct a thorough cleanup and sweep away the love-obsessed behavior that everyone despises in the shortest possible time."

"In the future, Pukou City will surely regain its former prosperity and become a true magnificent city in the south, a magnificent city where people can live and work in peace and contentment!"

As soon as Ren Tianye finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd once again.

"With the Duke's arrival, justice will prevail!"

"Young Master Song Shaoyi was right. Sure enough, as long as we open the door to welcome the Duke, our good days will begin."

"Lord Duke, we've finally been waiting for you!"

……

Amidst shouts, Ren Tianye led his team into the city lord's mansion.

Unlike the eager and joyful expression on his face just now, he now had a stern and cold expression, exuding a murderous aura.

Looking at the officials of all ranks kneeling before him, Ren Tianye's sword at his waist seemed to grow even colder.

"You are the local officials who are the parents of the people."

"To govern the people of a city."

"But this plunged the people of Pukou into misery."

"You lot, yet you spend your days chasing after some illusory love!"

He paused, then turned and said, "Su Jin!"

Su Jin stepped forward in response: "Your subordinate is here!"

"What crime should be committed for these actions?"

Su Jin immediately said, "Your Excellency, according to the regulations of the Demon Suppression Division, harming the country and disrupting the court due to personal feelings, including neglecting official duties, treason, betraying the country, abandoning the city, disobeying imperial orders, interfering in politics under the guise of love, and framing loyal officials, etc..."

"Depending on the severity of the offense, the offender shall be sentenced to death by slow slicing, beheading, or execution. The entire family of the principal offender within three generations shall be executed, their property confiscated, and their crimes published in the 'Suppressing Crimes List' for nationwide circulation as a warning to others."

As soon as the words were spoken, the city lord of Pukou and officials of all ranks turned pale and began to beg for mercy.

Ren Tianye simply nodded and said, "A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Since these people are acting so recklessly, the Demon Suppression Division will deal with them according to the law."

"Yes!" Su Jin agreed, and after coldly scanning the crowd, she immediately waved her hand, ordering the Demon Suppression Guards of the Demon Suppression Division to arrest all of them and send them to prison for trial and sentencing.

"My lord..."

After dealing with these matters, Su Jin added, "The Love Mutual Aid Alliance in Pukou City is also a bewitching demon that corrupts people's hearts, causing Pukou City to be in dire straits."

Ren Tianye nodded.

He was naturally aware of this matter.

After all, Chen Liang and Song Shaoyi had already sent him messages; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Wu Xingzhou to hurl insults every day while remaining inactive.

He said, "The Love Mutual Aid Alliance is guilty of the same crime as the Heart-to-Heart Alliance. You can refer to the way it was handled in Huai'an City and deal with them together."

"Unless it's an extremely serious matter, there's no need to report to me!"

"yes!

Su Jin accepted the order and left.

As expected, the love-struck people in Pukou City are about to experience an unprecedented disaster, but this is the kind of disaster that all the people of Pukou City most want to see.

After quickly and decisively handling these matters, Ren Tianye entered the city lord's mansion, where Granny Sun was already waiting.

"This old woman, Sun Rong, pays her respects to the Duke."

"Get up, Granny Sun!"

Ren Tianye personally helped her up and said with a smile, "Granny Sun, you deserve a lot of credit for my successful capture of Pukou City this time."

"You persuaded Zhou Xiong and rallied everyone to resist him. The process was arduous, but you did an unexpectedly good job and did not tarnish the reputation of your former Demon Suppression Division."

"I must reward you handsomely."

Granny Sun knelt down again with a "plop".

Upon seeing this scene, Ren Tianye knew that Granny Sun really had some kind of request.

Without showing any emotion, listen to what Granny Sun has to say.

"Lord Duke..." Granny Sun replied, "At my age, what reward can I possibly ask for? My only hope for the rest of my life is that our former Demon Suppression Division will no longer fall into ruin."

"so……"

"I dare to plead with the Duke on my behalf."

"Zhou Xiong is, after all, a descendant of my deceased relative. Although he has committed a grave offense, I hope that the Duke can show leniency and spare his life."

"It can be considered as preserving a spark of my former Demon Suppression Division."

Ren Tianye had already received intelligence about Zhou Xiong's affairs, including his activities in Pukou City, especially... Zhou Xiong's ambitions.

To be fair, no one in power wants their subordinates to be so ambitious and disloyal. So, although Ren Tianye never thought about how he would deal with Zhou Xiong after taking Pukou City, he subconsciously preferred to get rid of Zhou Xiong.

It's best to eliminate this kind of person completely.

However, Granny Sun, being an old hand at this, had also considered this possibility and pleaded for mercy early on.

Ren Tianye pondered for a moment and said, "I can spare his life for now; let him stay in prison."

"As for whether he will make a comeback, it depends on his own performance and... whether the situation requires him."

This already satisfied Granny Sun.

She was about to kowtow in gratitude when Ren Tianye helped her up again, smiling, "Is that all?"

"I know that in this Pukou City, besides Zhou Xiong, who isn't even a former employee of the Demon Suppression Division, there is another true young talent from the former Demon Suppression Division."

"I would also very much like to meet him."

Sun Mama knew perfectly well who Ren Tianye was talking about; it was undoubtedly Song Shaoyi, and... Song Shaoyi was also a hero in capturing Pukou City this time!

A true hero!

The residents of Pukou City were mobilized by Song Shaoyi.

and……

Granny Sun had long wanted to meet Song Shaoyi, since in their correspondence, Song Shaoyi had clearly stated that he had been ordered by the leader to come and help Ren Tianye.

My Lord!

Former leader of the Demon Suppression Division!

The leader who disappeared for many years, and whose core members of the former Demon Suppression Division are no longer here!

She desperately wanted to know the details.

However, the conditions haven't been right yet, and she hasn't met Song Shaoyi in a long time; she's really impatient.

He said, "Lord Duke, in my previous correspondence with Song Shaoyi, he clearly stated that he would come to pay his respects when you enter the city."

"I'm sure it's either at the door or on its way."

Ren Tianye laughed and said, "Then I should send someone to greet him."

He paused, then said, "Su Jin!"

Su Jin walked in from outside the door.

"Song Shaoyi was a key member of the former Demon Suppression Division, so in a sense, he's one of your people. He also had contact with the former leader of the Demon Suppression Division. Now..."

"When you went to meet him."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Su Jin's face was also full of curiosity. As the current commander of the Demon Suppression Division, she was no less interested in this former Demon Suppression Division leader who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

I went out to pick him up, but I ended up waiting for ages before I finally met Song Shaoyi.

After exchanging identities, Song Shaoyi apologized, "Commander, I did not mean to be late. It was just that Brother Chen Liang was leaving and I was worried about him, so I accompanied him for a while, which caused the slight delay."

Su Jin smiled.

This Song Shaoyi is quite interesting.

He immediately started calling her "subordinate," which means he's directly acknowledging her as his boss!

He nodded and smiled, "It's alright!"

"However, the Duke is already waiting, so please come with me."

"yes!"

After paying his respects to Ren Tianye, Song Shaoyi recounted the story of sending Chen Liang to his new home.

"Young Master Chen received kindness from others on his way to Yunjing. Now that the matter in Pukou City has been resolved, he says he wants to repay the kindness first before he can serve the Duke. I hope the Duke will understand."

Ren Tianye thought to himself that it was a pity.

You should know that Pei Jingzhi has always been thinking about Chen Liang. The two of them fought side by side back then, although... they didn't accomplish anything, but their revolutionary friendship remains.

He even wanted to meet Chen Liang.

In Kyoto, Chen Liang was just an unknown nobody to him, but when he arrived in Yunjing, he felt a sense of kinship with him.

Of course, Ren Tianye wasn't demanding. On the contrary, he had something else he wanted to know, so he smiled and said, "Let Chen Liang leave for now."

"I am quite interested in you."

"In your letter to me, you clearly stated that you were sent by the former leader of the Demon Suppression Division to assist me. I'd like to know..."

"What did the former leader of the Demon Suppression Division say in his letter to you?"

Song Shaoyi quickly replied, "Lord Duke, there are only two things."

"The first thing is that Zhou Xiong of Pukou City might become the obstacle for the Duke in taking Yunjing. I need to come to Pukou City as soon as possible to make arrangements and help the Duke."

"The second thing is that after I finish dealing with things in Pukou City, I should go back to find my master and ask him to come down the mountain to help the Duke."

Ren Tianye was somewhat disappointed; these two pieces of information weren't very useful. He asked, "Is there any other news... for example, when will your former leader of the Demon Suppression Division appear?"

"Since he is willing to support me, he should meet with me."

Song Shaoyi said with trepidation, "Lord Duke, the leader did not mention these things in his letter, and he is always elusive. I believe that when the time comes, he will naturally come to pay his respects to you, Lord Duke."

Ren Tianye was somewhat discouraged: "Then he didn't tell you why the former Demon Suppression Division was established?"

"No, we don't have that either!"

Song Shaoyi said, "However..."

"I once heard my master say something that felt like there was some connection."

Ren Tianye, who had been disappointed, suddenly perked up and exclaimed, "What?"

Song Shaoyi quickly replied, "I often hear my master say things like..."

"If a nation faces no external threats, its military preparedness becomes unnecessary!"

"When there is no way forward, the morale of the soldiers will collapse!"

"When wealth is abundant, extravagance flourishes!"

"If moral education is neglected, people's desires will be unrestrained!"

"When the world values ​​literature over martial arts, masculinity diminishes and femininity flourishes!"

"When all five are present, the world will be consumed by romance and people's hearts will be filled with selfish desires!"

"As the ancient Confucian scholars also said: If this trend persists, people will only know about romantic love and affection, and will not care about the relationship between ruler and subject, or the state; they will only seek immediate pleasure and will not consider the dangers of the future, which will eventually lead to the decline and destruction of the world!"

Ren Tianye's initial excitement immediately subsided.

These remarks are clearly those of Confucian scholars. Although they explain the situation, they are not very meaningful. After all, throughout five thousand years of history, such trends as effeminacy, romantic love, idle talk, and hedonism have all existed.

But never before has the world been as turbulent as it is now!

It was so overwhelming it was incomprehensible!

until……

Song Shaoyi continued, "Master used to keep talking about this, but in the last two years, he's started talking about things like the Heavenly Dao, star officials, Ziwei, the Daoist sect, earth veins, the Five Elements, and the fate of the nation..."

"I feel like he's acting strangely."

"However, it seems to make sense, but I can't quite figure it out."

Ren Tianye also frowned slightly.

How did I suddenly get involved with these mysterious and esoteric things?

However, considering the absurdities of the world, it seems that only these mysterious and enigmatic things can explain them.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about it anymore.

After all, he wasn't an expert in these areas, so he couldn't figure it out.

Why not just invite Song Shaoyi's master over?

He said, "I wish to see your teacher. I wonder if Young Master Song could arrange it for me?"

Song Shaoyi immediately knelt down: "Lord Duke, this was originally the leader's intention. If you agree, I will immediately return to Yunjing and bring my master back."

……