Chapter 2246: Springtime

“Jiang Cabinet Elder has established new merit once again! Leading Cabinet Elder Zhong Xuan Ao and Qin Zhi Ji, as well as Qi Country General Ji Zhao Nan and Qin Country Crown Prince Ying Wu, etc., surrounded and killed Asura King Emperor Night Feather in Yu Yuan, stabilizing the Great Wall defense line!”

Inside the Bai Yu Capital wine house, someone was loudly proclaiming, unable to contain their joy, sharing in the honor.

The glorious war achievements of several young heavenly talents in Yu Yuan had already galloped across ten thousand li, their voices resounding everywhere.

This was truly a grand feat!

Of course, the focus of the spread would differ slightly in different places.

For example, Qi Country would emphasize Ji Zhao Nan and also wouldn't skimp on the writing for several Tai Xu Cabinet members. Qin Country, of course, highlighted Crown Prince Ying Wu. As for the other hegemonic countries, they absolutely would not specifically proclaim it. Jing Country was still talking about the Sorrow Dragon Ferry.

If it were to spread to Jing, Mu, and other places, only a few sentences would be mentioned about Jiang Cabinet Elder — after all, he was the only one without party or faction.

As for a place like Xing Yue Plain, naturally, only Jiang Cabinet Elder was the main force. The other Cabinet Elders reluctantly followed due to their similar identities, and whether it was a general or a crown prince, they could only play supporting roles, finally being included in the word "etc."

The Bai Yu Capital wine house absolutely did not expand or establish influence, but through subtle influence, it inevitably became a symbol of Xing Yue Plain.

Zhu Wei Wo returned from training with Chu Yao and casually threw a letter onto the counter: “Your letter, sent from Yue Country. Just met the messenger and conveniently received it for you.”

Bai Yu Xia looked up from the account book, a little bewildered, and took the letter: “Who sent it?”

Not long ago, he had just gone back to see his family.

“This I don’t know. Who would dare to privately open your Shopkeeper Bai’s letter —” Zhu Wei Wo patted Chu Yao: “Go upstairs and practice writing.”

Chu Yao immediately obediently went upstairs.

He always completed the tasks assigned by his teacher, whether it was cultivating or learning, without fail.

Zhu Wei Wo also didn't care about the others and went to the backyard to chop today's firewood.

As he walked to the woodshed, he suddenly stopped and spread his large hand, grasping the worn firewood spear —

The woodshed door opened by itself without any wind.

Inside the woodshed sat a person.

He sat upright on the pile of firewood, completely devoid of breath, with a kind of cold feeling as if the firewood had become a spirit. He harmoniously blended in, as if he too were a piece of wood that had been cut down. Seeing Zhu Wei Wo at this time, he opened his eyes.

Mo Family, Xi Ming.

“Brother Zhu will soon attain the true essence, truly congratulations!” Xi Ming spoke with joy, clearly cultivating.

Zhu Wei Wo looked at him expressionlessly: “Something wrong?”

Xi Ming smiled politely: “Let me introduce myself first, my name is Xi Ming, a disciple of the Mo Family. I once traveled with Jiang Cabinet Elder in the Floating Land world and witnessed the traces of the former sage Wu Han Gong. We could still be considered to have some friendship.”

Zhu Wei Wo said without emotion: “Whatever relationship you have, it has nothing to do with me. Even if we wore the same pair of pants, we still have our own lives.”

Xi Ming, who originally intended to use Jiang Wang as a detour, immediately changed his tone: “Indeed, there is something related to Brother Zhu.”

He emphasized: “Very urgent.”

Zhu Wei Wo subconsciously took a step forward, finally shaking his ancient well-like eyes: “What are you referring to?”

“Don’t think too much.” Xi Ming quickly explained: “It has nothing to do with Miss Huang. She is living very well now and is also very free. I guarantee her safety in the name of Giant City.”

Zhu Wei Wo stood firm: “Whether she lives well or not is her feeling, not yours.”

Xi Ming sighed: “That matter is already settled, the original culprit Zhuang Gao Xian has been dead for a long time. Brother Zhu, the misunderstanding between us, it’s time to resolve it! If those people have knowledge after death, seeing that we two sides are still provoked and unable to mend the gap until now, how could they not laugh loudly and come back to life?”

Since the so-called "very urgent" matter had nothing to do with Huang Jin Mo, Zhu Wei Wo’s voice became even colder: “I have already said the same words to Lu Zhen Jun. These words are not for you all to say to me. Misunderstanding or not, Huang Jin Mo has her own feelings. If she feels there is no problem, then I also have no problem.”

Xi Ming couldn't help but say: “But you can influence her, perhaps you are the only one in the world who can resolve this matter —”

“If there is nothing else —” Zhu Wei Wo interrupted him: “Please leave!”

Feeling that Zhu Wei Wo was no longer concealing his breath, Xi Ming silently closed his mouth. He jumped down from the firewood pile, turned around, and left.

But before leaving, he still said: “Although Brother Zhu’s attitude is so stubborn, the Mo Family's good intentions still need to be known by you. My visit this time is indeed a reminder — Zhuang Country may have changes. I know that is Brother Zhu’s old country, and there may be some old friends there, so I came this trip.”

Having finished, he didn't look at how Zhu Wei Wo reacted and directly pulled away into the void.

Lian Yu Chan had just come down the stairs when she heard Bai Yu Xia say: “You look after the wine house, I'm going out for a bit.”

“Going where to play again —” Before Lian Yu Chan could finish speaking, she looked up and saw no one there.

She didn't mind and sat down in front of the counter, wanting to look at the account book, but the drawer couldn’t be pulled open. A secret lock had been put on at some point.

Shopkeeper Bai was really cautious.

Just as she was pondering whether to pry the lock or the cabinet, she looked up and saw Zhu Wei Wo walk past the counter. “I'm going out for a bit.”

“Oh, okay.” Lian Yu Chan casually responded but suddenly felt something was wrong: “Eh?”

She immediately remembered the last time they assassinated a true entity, and everyone in the wine house left, including the firewood boy from Rong Country, leaving her alone in the shop. And this time, the owner had just surrounded and killed an Asura King in Yu Yuan...

She quickly picked up her sword and rushed outside the building: “Why are you hiding from me again!”

But where could she still see anyone?

These people learned nothing else, but their movement techniques were faster than each other.

A frost-colored cloak flashed past.

Yet, Chu Yao heard the sound and excitedly jumped down from upstairs, letting out a shaking sound. He had a cloak imitating a sword immortal tied behind him, holding a sword in one hand, and excitedly said: “What happened, what happened, where are we going?”

Lian Yu Chan pointed at him with her finger: “Jump back.”

Chu Yao’s smiling face instantly vanished, but he really pulled up a green onion from the ground and jumped back upstairs to study.

It was precisely springtime, when all things were competing to show their vitality.

Xing Yue Plain was in a time when a hundred flowers bloomed together, with beautiful and varied postures; Zhongshan Country had a joyful underworld marriage, simple yet solemn; the ten thousand li away Zhuang Country, however, was quite solemn.

When the chill of spring struck, it was even more unbearable than the frost of winter.

Inside Xin An City, lanterns hung early, and thin frost adorned the tips of pedestrians' hair.

Li Jian Qiu quietly sat on the stone steps in the courtyard, thinking back to New Year's Eve in the third year of Qi Ming. At that time, he told Du Ye Hu that several years of effort had only proven one thing: if the problem of the Kai Mai Pill could not be solved, everything else was just minor details, and no matter how they cultivated, it would be useless, and the roots would inevitably rot and the tree would grow old one day.

At that time, Du Ye Hu said, they always had to try again.

And now they had tried to a dead end.

He had spent last year's New Year's Eve on state affairs and didn't remember what he ate. He only remembered that a riot had occurred in the nest area near the river, and in the end, Qing Jiang Water Monarch subsidized it with silver to appease the people's resentment.

In recent years, similar things had become more and more frequent.

The new policy that was conceived perfectly had frequent loopholes in the actual implementation process. As the influence of Zhuang Gao Xian's execution gradually receded, the problems of the new policy were magnified multiple times.

There was no opportunity to try again...

The waves of opposition to the new policy between the court and the people became more and more intense, eventually forming an irresistible flood that swept through this country. Today was the day of the coup.

It was a coup that had been planned for a long time, and he had also expected it long ago.

Although the political means of the Yuan Lao Association were sharp, the root cause was that their implementation of the new policy had not achieved the expected success. So, reaching this point was not something to resent.

Between the court and the people, flags changed overnight, the new party collapsed without resistance, and not many persisted.

Not to mention governing for five years, they several people didn't even have cronies. But it was a political failure that made them directly give up power.

From beginning to end, the several of them did not strive for power itself. Rather, it was the opportunity to reform this country.

They already possessed the opportunity, but they did not grasp it well.

Ideals were always like the stars in the sky, reality was the rugged, sick bones.

The cold wind of the morning rolled up the corner of his clothes, and the Peach Branch Sword lay quietly beside him. Li Jian Qiu held a piece of paper in his hand — this kind of article had already spread throughout the borders of Zhuang Country.

He held this paper and read softly: “Dividing districts within the borders, dividing levels by nests, harsh and shameless, dividing people into human livestock! This is the first crime.”

This was a terribly big bad name.

He was silent for a while, then sighed: “Nest areas and non-nest areas indeed bred differences and differentiated levels. The so-called fair division of districts did not grasp fairness. The country’s policy says that flowing water does not rot, but in reality, it was on respective boundaries, making traffic difficult. Governing politics for five years, actually giving birth to ‘nest people,’ this is the prime minister’s fault!”

The thing that made him feel most guilty in recent years was the birth of the "nest people" level after dividing districts within the borders. Those people who lived the most difficult lives in this country all stayed in the nest areas.

According to their original conception, the people in the nest areas should be striving people, people who were enthusiastic and wanted to fight for opportunities. But in the end, those who stayed in the nest areas were all people who had no other way.

Li Jian Qiu read again: “Weak in foreign affairs, not awe-inspiring in all directions. Humble and fawning for peace, greatly losing national dignity! This is the second crime.”

Since Zhuang Country changed its era to "Qi Ming," it had indeed welcomed a period of peace, with no wars on all sides and a peaceful border. But there were also quite a few people who felt that when Zhuang Gao Xian was in power, Zhuang Country swept all sides, hitting whoever it wanted to hit, even repeatedly suppressing Yong Country, being overbearing. Now the court was too weak, making those ambitious people lack the pride of a great country.

Li Jian Qiu was steady, finally saying to himself: “Last year, there was border friction with Mo Country. The great general wanted to attack it, and I went to discuss it. Although it was to pacify the war, I did indeed ignore the grievances of the border people. Saying I was ‘humble and fawning for peace’ is not an overstatement.”

He always acted simply. In the vast prime minister's mansion, there were originally not many servants, and now they were also dismissed. At this moment, the courtyard was empty, and in this thin fog morning, there was a kind of indescribable desolation.

Li Jian Qiu’s voice continued to read: “Greed for pleasure and fame, reducing the production of Kai Mai Pills, unable to offer to the upper country, again damaging the foundation of the country. This is the third crime!”

There was indeed nothing good to say about this matter. Reducing beast nests was the fundamental national policy of the Qi Ming new policy. Since the new policy failed, this national policy also naturally became a crime.

His eyes drooped slightly: “Harsh and shameless, humble and fawning, greedy for fame and damaging the country, these three crimes fall upon me, truly heaven’s reason cannot tolerate it. I should be cut into a thousand pieces…”

The wind blew the page, as if echoing.

He held the thin paper firmly and continued to read: “Its fourth crime —”

Creak.

The courtyard door was pushed open.

The former Guo Dao Yuan sacrifice wine, now the president of the Yuan Lao Association, Zhang Ren, appeared outside the courtyard.

He interrupted Li Jian Qiu’s self-trial, looking at this young prime minister with complex eyes, and sighed: “Everything has ended, child.”

Zhuang Country’s best prime minister was Du Ru Hui, Du Ru Hui’s best successor was Dong A, and Li Jian Qiu inherited Dong A’s mantle.

Zhang Ren, as Guo Dao Yuan sacrifice wine, couldn’t help but feel emotional.

But Zhang Ren, as the president of the Yuan Lao Association, was not allowed to have too much emotion.

The Zhuang Country royal family had already perished. Now, he only represented Dao Country.

Li Jian Qiu threw away the "charge of crime" in his hand, looked up at Zhang Ren: “Zhang Yuan Lao, how many zhang of thunder will there be?”

Zhang Ren said: “Decided by the Yuan Lao Association — Prime Minister Li Jian Qiu is removed, Great General Du Ye Hu is dismissed, Water Monarch Song Qing Yue abdicates, and the new policy is abolished.”

The last point was expected, the rest were all unexpected.

Li Jian Qiu raised his eyebrows: “Changes in court politics are big matters, isn’t it difficult not to need several heads to apologize? When the world changes, how can there be no blood?”

“No need.” Zhang Ren looked at him: “You are free now.”

This empire’s yuan old added: “This is the freedom your teacher could never obtain.”

“He couldn’t obtain freedom, and I also couldn’t obtain it.” Li Jian Qiu laughed: “What kind of freedom is this?”

He let the spring wind blow away the hair on his forehead. He loosened his hand, letting the paper with the crime charge fly into the air.

He suddenly grasped the Peach Branch and placed its edge horizontally at his neck!

Zhang Ren split his hand and pressed down, separating the sword, stopping his suicide.

“What are you doing?” Zhang Ren frowned and asked.

Li Jian Qiu solemnly said: “I am the prime minister of Zhuang Country, bearing the main political responsibility. My Dao has been denied, and I should die for it.”

Zhang Ren shook his head: “You cannot die.”

Li Jian Qiu didn't understand: “You know my will, and you are not stingy with my life. Why?”

Zhang Ren didn’t answer.

They faced each other for a moment, and Li Jian Qiu “ha”ed: “I know why now.”

“Since you know, then go, leave here far, far away.” Zhang Ren turned around and left.

“Next, you all will govern the country, will you do better?” Li Jian Qiu shouted behind him.

“What is good, what is bad, that depends on who it is for.” Zhang Ren didn't turn his head back: “I feel it will be better. But perhaps you don't agree.”

“Do the people agree?” Li Jian Qiu pressed on.

Zhang Ren finally stopped, shook his head, and walked forward again: “Did the people agree with you?”

Li Jian Qiu opened his mouth, speechless.

The Xin An prime minister's mansion still retained that deliberate style of that year.

The Qing Jiang Water Mansion was no longer as luxurious as it used to be.

It wasn’t that the current Qing Jiang Water Clan was poor. With the implementation of the new policy in recent years, stopping war and promoting business, the people of Zhuang Country had more silver in their hands, and the prosperity of the water clan also surpassed the past.

But the contemporary water monarch was not good at enjoying himself. He often gave money to the nest areas, and his own palace was not well repaired or managed. After a long time, it naturally appeared not magnificent enough.

At this time, Song Qing Yue stood outside the palace gate, with Song Qing Zhi standing gracefully to one side.

And a little distance away from the palace gate, stood two teams of Ji Xing Si cultivators, several county mansion officials, and the county guard of Qing Jiang County, standing even farther away.

Song Qing Yue looked up: “Is the county guard here to supervise the execution of this monarch?”

The Qing Jiang County guard took a step back and said in a low voice: “Dare not.”

Song Qing Yue asked: “Then are you here to detain me?”

The Qing Jiang County guard said: “You are noble and extraordinary, not to that extent.”

“Not killing, not detaining.” Song Qing Yue asked: “How did the Yuan Lao Association arrange it?”

The Qing Jiang County guard then said: “The water monarch brothers and sisters can leave, the Qing Jiang Water Clan cannot move. This is the bottom line.”

“Wanting to seize this monarch’s clan members, and yet letting this monarch live.” Song Qing Yue grinned: “Strange indeed! Since ancient times, how could there be such a power grab?”

The Qing Jiang County guard lowered his voice: “Your contributions over the years, we all see with our own eyes…”

Song Qing Yue thought for a moment and then asked: “Du Ye Hu?”

The Qing Jiang County guard did not speak. The head of the Ji Xing Si beside him said: “General Du can leave, the soldiers cannot move. This is also the bottom line.”

Song Qing Yue understood after thinking, and smiled bitterly: “One person gains the Dao, and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, ah.”

Thanks to book friend “20210301105379101420” for becoming the alliance master of this book. This is the 728th alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!