Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 131: Resistant
Imperial Edict! It really is an imperial edict! Unlike ordinary materials, the material of the imperial edict has very special requirements because it needs—royal aura!
In the Immortal Realm, imperial edicts are not made of fabric or paper; they are actually a type of low-level magical artifact. However, this artifact has a unique aspect—it requires royal aura, the aura of an emperor. Thus, the authenticity of the edict can be judged at a glance—at least, that’s the idea! There are many talented people in the Immortal Realm who can replicate it, but the cost would be a bit high.
Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Bei Chen Yuqing slowly unfurls the imperial edict, with the setting sun adding an air of grandeur. “By heavenly mandate… I command the Governor of Luliang, Zhao Guoshan, to set out immediately, with no mistakes!”
After reading the edict, Bei Chen Yuqing looks at Zhao Guoshan, who is clearly dazed on the city wall, and snorts coldly, “Governor Zhao, receive the edict.”
There really is an imperial edict?! At this moment, Zhao Guoshan’s internal struggle goes without saying.
Beside him, Li Yuanming whispers, “My lord, quickly accept the edict. But remember to do it like this, like that…”
Upon hearing Li Yuanming’s suggestion, Zhao Guoshan suddenly laughs; then, he straightens his clothes, unbuckles his sword, and slowly flies toward Bei Chen Yuqing, saying as he flies, “I, Zhao Guoshan, receive the edict.”
Bei Chen Yuqing feels a sense of vigilance, thinking that Zhao Guoshan’s smile seems too “satisfied.” Shouldn’t he be frowning in distress right now?
But Zhao Guoshan has already arrived before Bei Chen Yuqing, slowly bowing and extending both hands, adopting a respectful posture.
Seeing nothing wrong, Bei Chen Yuqing places the sacred edict into Zhao Guoshan’s hands.
However…
In the next moment, Zhao Guoshan suddenly channels his true essence, forcefully turning the edict to ashes; and Zhao Guoshan himself “spits blood and flies back,” crashing violently into the city wall.
Li Yuanming, standing on the city wall, is “shocked and dismayed,” shouting, “My lord! Hurry, someone come! What a despicable act from Anyang, you actually… you actually… such treachery!”
Guo Guibang reacts the quickest, instantly flying down from the city wall and scooping up the “seriously injured” Zhao Guoshan. Standing on the wall, Zhao Guoshan keeps spitting blood, his face full of despair, “The imperial edict is fake! It’s an illusion! Anyang falsely transmitted the imperial edict, trying to deceive this governor! Bei Chen Yuqing, Anyang, and Li Xian, you are the real rebels!”
Bei Chen Yuqing is dumbfounded—how ruthless!
To directly use true essence, instead of spells, to shatter the edict, and to turn it to ashes is no simple feat. Moreover, Zhao Guoshan’s final blood-spitting and flying back were largely due to overexerting his true essence. In addition, there’s the internal injury caused by the shockwave of his own true essence.
But the situation has evolved to this point, and even Bei Chen Yuqing did not anticipate it. Then, Bei Chen Yuqing sees Li Yuanming beside Zhao Guoshan, noticing that Li Yuanming is smiling very happily. Bei Chen Yuqing snorts in anger; ultimately, thinking quickly, he resorts to the final trick of a cultivator: a vow!
“I, Bei Chen Yuqing, swear to the heavens, the imperial edict is real! Governor Zhao Guoshan, do you dare to swear?”
Zhao Guoshan snorts coldly, “Hmph! How do I know this isn’t just another trap of yours! Always swearing like this, you really are quite boring!”
Bei Chen Yuqing is thoroughly enraged by Zhao Guoshan this time. “Very well, Zhao Guoshan, the edict has been delivered, yet you dare to destroy it. Since you’ve severed your own path to survival, I will no longer hold back.
“All those in the South Liang Prefecture listen: Zhao Guoshan has destroyed the imperial edict, and his rebellious intentions are clear. However, considering the innocent people in the city, I will give everyone a night to escape.
“At dawn tomorrow, everyone in the city will be treated as conspirators, and there will be no mercy!”
After speaking, the soldiers of Anyang immediately retreated ten miles, set up pots to cook, and began to rest. The necessary patrols and vigilance went without saying.
The artillery crew was the busiest, with everyone rushing to use their true energy to “melt” steel and repair the cannon that had been damaged during the day. Although the hardness of the repaired steel was not as good as the original, it was sufficient for temporary use.
After dinner, Yan Zhengqing found Beichen Yuqing. “I have a few words I want to say to you, Beichen.”
“Please sit down. Is it about the people in the city?” Upon hearing this, Yan Zhengqing became slightly angry. “You know very well why you are doing this. Tonight, Zhao Guoshan will undoubtedly suppress the ordinary citizens with great force, and there will be no way for them to escape from the Nanliang Prefecture. Are you planning to treat all the citizens of the city as rebels and kill them? Do you intend to massacre the city?”
Beichen Yuqing calmly brewed tea. “General Yan, what do you think should be done?”
“Of course, it should be to appease the citizens and announce that only the chief criminals will be punished.”
Beichen Yuqing continued brewing tea with an elegant flow. “That won’t do, that won’t do. If you really do that, then the citizens will help defend the city without restraint, which will only add to the variables.”
“That’s nonsense! By doing this, you are forcing the citizens to ‘live or die with the city’!”
“No, no, no, there are two outcomes to this. First, the citizens will flee overnight. If Zhao Guoshan obstructs them, the city will descend into chaos. Second, if the citizens do not resist or fail in their resistance, they will have to submit to Zhao Guoshan.
But whether it’s the first situation or the second, it will cause a division within the Nanliang Prefecture, and that’s what I want.”
“What if all the citizens are incited by Zhao Guoshan or Li Yuanming to live or die with the city? Li Yuanming is not easy to deal with!”
Beichen Yuqing had already finished brewing the tea. “Here, try this; it’s the tea the young master likes the most.
As for what you said about living or dying with the city, it’s even simpler: just massacre the city!”
Hearing Beichen Yuqing casually mention “massacre the city,” Yan Zhengqing became genuinely angry. “How can you be so cold-hearted? Do you know how many innocent people are here?”
Beichen Yuqing replied leisurely, “Innocent people? Innocent people, huh? I remember a few months ago, there was a family in the Cai Kingdom that almost starved to death. At that time, it seemed that not many people spoke of innocence.”
Yan Zhengqing fell silent. That was a painful and tormenting time for the entire Yan family, a time from which they could never turn back. This torment was not just physical; it was also spiritual— the Yan family had devoted all their efforts to support the Cai Kingdom on the path to revitalization, only to have the emperor of the Cai Kingdom turn against them when they no longer needed them!
Seeing that Yan Zhengqing was silent, Beichen Yuqing finally put down his tea cup and sighed. “You know, the young master once told us a story.
This story is about the relationship between robbers and hostages, also known as the hostage crisis. The situation goes like this…
The young master concluded with these words: this seemingly protective approach towards hostages only breeds evil, and all bad people will start taking hostages. The most effective method is to disregard the fate of the hostages and directly eliminate the robbers. Only then can we truly eliminate the hostage crisis.
Of course, this is a very extreme way of thinking, and it is not practical in reality; but perhaps this idea is worth your consideration.
Right now, the citizens in the Nanliang Prefecture are essentially hostages. If we are not firm enough, we will not only be led by Zhao Guoshan, but in the end, we will achieve nothing; and if a prolonged standoff occurs, it will inevitably lead to more casualties.
Moreover, Anyang is ultimately too small to withstand such turmoil! If sacrifices must be made, then I choose to protect the citizens of Anyang, rather than those of the Nanliang Prefecture!”
Ad
That night, Yan Zhengqing stayed awake, continuously thinking until dawn.
The next day at dawn, when Beichen Yuqing and Yan Zhengqing led the army back to the city, changes had occurred overnight—the city walls were stained with blood, and there were more corpses in front of the walls!
Beichen Yuqing smirked, “It seems that Zhao Guo is prepared to resist to the end!”