The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Yes, we've finally had a wise and benevolent emperor, and a good official like Minister Chen. Good days are just around the corner, how can we not be afraid..."

Whispers could be heard from the crowd.

Chen Huai'an suddenly became speechless.

Perhaps it is wrong to view the people of this era through his own lens.

In his view, neither the present nor the future is something that can be given up.

In the eyes of ordinary people in this era, as long as the future is good and their descendants can live a good life, it doesn't matter how hard or tiring it is for them.

Even ordinary people know that this is a good era. As long as they can get through these years of natural disasters, good days will come.

Because the current emperor is a good emperor, and the current officials are all very good officials.

The long-standing suffering has numbed them, so they dare not give up even the slightest hope, nor take the slightest risk.

That's why they were so angry when they learned of his death.

Officials like Chen Huai'an are the kind of officials they've been waiting for.

"Perhaps... you're right." Chen Huai'an nodded, not denying the old farmer's words, and then said, "But what I want to tell you is that even heaven cannot take away our right to live."

"Because your lives were not given by God, but by your mother, who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you."

"She brought you into this world not so that so-called God could arbitrarily control your lives, but so that you could continue her life, live your lives well little by little, and then go and see the rivers and mountains that she never got to see properly."

Chen Huai'an said softly, "I am like you, I came from a poor background. My parents were ordinary farmers. My father farmed and would go to the mountains to dig for medicinal herbs in his spare time."

"My mother was also a weaver, just like Zhang Peng's mother. She spun and wove day and night for a little bit of meager pay, and went blind from exhaustion. I understand your hardships and I know how difficult it is for you."

At this point, everyone's expressions became somewhat moved.

Chen Huai'an's background is no longer a secret; everyone knows it.

The last court report mentioned that Chen Huai'an, who came from humble origins, rose through the ranks to become a high-ranking official of the third rank, a powerful figure whose every move could shake the entire country.

Moreover, Chen Huai'an's actions after taking office, coupled with his background, have long made him a role model in the hearts of the people.

"Gentlemen," Chen Huai'an said loudly, "When I was a young student, I witnessed the collapse of the Sui Dynasty and the suffering of countless lives. One after another, vibrant lives were trampled like weeds, and fell like seedlings in the field. The upper echelons were firmly controlled by powerful families. At that time, I made a vow that if one day I rose to prominence and held great power, I would definitely pave a path for everyone and create a bright and just world!"

"I declared before my ministers that I would establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, secure a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of the sages, and usher in an era of peace for all generations."

Therefore, my ambition is not just the ambition of Chen Huai'an alone.

"This is His Majesty's will, the will of his ministers, the will of the army, and the will of all the people!"

"It is the will of the world, a single spark that ignites a prairie fire... the aspiration of millions!!"

"Heaven doesn't pity you, earth doesn't grant you anything, and people don't bestow anything upon you?"

"I, Chen Huai'an, will help you!!!"

Every word and phrase resonated powerfully, and the bustling street fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared at the young minister, who was dressed in brocade robes, with a beautifully carved jade pendant hanging from his waist, and whose appearance was exceptionally handsome.

He sat down on the dirty, messy steps, on the dusty ground that had been trampled on at will, without a care in the world. His voice seemed to come from afar, like a series of thunderous drumbeats, gradually entering from the smallest details, and then exploding outwards, deafeningly loud.

Heaven does not pity you, earth does not grant you anything, and people do not bestow upon you anything?

I, Chen Huai'an, will help you!

For some reason, the person who had endured countless hardships and survived with great difficulty, and whose heart had long since become numb, suddenly had tears in their eyes at this moment.

They finally got what they'd been waiting for.

We finally met the people's officials.

"..."

"Your Excellency, let's go back and kill the locusts!"

"Yes, kill the locusts!"

"I've wanted to kill it for a long time, but it's all my dad's fault. He insisted that celestial worms can't be killed. Today I'll kill it and see what God can do to me!"

Voices rose and fell from the crowd, each person filled with excitement.

Chen Huai'an stood up, patted his backside, and said to everyone, "Just kill them all. Didn't His Majesty say so in the court gazette?"

"If there is any guilt, Your Majesty shall bear it all alone."

"If you're still worried, then I, Chen Huai'an, will take responsibility for you. Kill them all, one by one. They're nothing but ants, easily crushed with a single step. Why be afraid of them?"

"Last year, I personally ordered the digging up of locust eggs when reclaiming wasteland. The number of locusts that died because of me is countless, but have you seen anything happen to me?"

"Don't I still eat meat and drink alcohol to my heart's content every day?"

Everyone laughed when he said that.

There's another reason why they like Chen Huai'an: he's genuinely unpretentious.

He speaks his mind freely, and he can openly tell these poor people that he eats meat and drinks alcohol every day.

In fact, the common people are all sensible. Even some small business owners can live a comfortable life. So what's wrong with a high-ranking official like Chen Huai'an drinking and eating meat?

What they dislike are those officials who, despite living in luxury, pretend to be incorruptible.

It's disgusting.

"Your Excellency, did you really order the locust eggs to be killed?" someone asked curiously.

"Of course," Chen Huai'an said casually. "This isn't a secret. I personally gave the order. The people who were recruited to reclaim the wasteland and kill the locust eggs were the common people. You can just ask any of them and you'll know."

"How could it be fake?"

"I know about this," Huang Yun said with a smile. "My cousin has been reclaiming wasteland for the government in the Guanzhong region. Last year, my cousin said that the riverbank was covered with countless locust eggs, which were all dug up and probably all froze to death over the winter."

Now the people were completely convinced, and their last bit of doubt disappeared.

Chen Huai'an said, "Did you hear that? If it really is some kind of celestial worm, would I, the one who gave the order, still be able to eat and drink every day? Would those who personally dug up the locust eggs still be alright?"

"They're doing well now," Huang Yun explained. "My cousin recently finished repairing the house and is discussing having another big, healthy boy with my cousin's wife."

"They haven't suffered any retribution!"

"..."