Chapter 600 (1/2)
Ten Thousand Miles of Hardship for the Hearts of the Citizens
Feng Yu Heng did a quick count and estimated that there were no more than ten officials from Da Shun that had come to celebrate a birthday. Including their families, the majority could not be saved.
Someone crawled forward a few steps and said while wiping away tears: “This guilty official’s lowly name would sully your Highness and imperial daughter’s ears. It would be fine to not bring it up. This trip to the North was made with the hopes of currying favor with Duan Mu An Guo in an attempt to take another step forward in the official ranks; however, who knew that Duan Mu An Guo had such a strong ambition and actually submitted to Qian Zhou. That made my attempts to curry favor become a treasonous act. Despite all the twists and turns, it was my own mistake and it must be punished. I originally thought that this would be an inescapable end; however, I did not expect your Highness and imperial daughter to put forth so much effort to save us, actually managing to dig us up. The grace of being reborn will be difficult to repay in this life. I would like to spend the remainder of my life making amends for this crime. This guilty official wishes to remain in the North to help it develop a brighter future!”
With him speaking out first, the rest of the officials made their stances clear, stating that they wished to do something of merit for Da Shun.
Xuan Tian Ming nodded but did not answer the officials. He just faced the citizens of Song Zhou and loudly said: “This prince will make some impartial remarks. In truth, whether these provinces belong to Qian Zhou or Da Shun does not make too much of a difference to the average citizen. If it belonged to Qian Zhou, you would still be living here. If it belonged to Da Shun, you would still be unable to see his Majesty every day. The politics and division of territory was originally something managed by the court. As for the thing that is actually related to you is whether or not you can live well. Whoever can provide you with the best life is the one that should be your ruler.”
His words caused the citizens to think carefully. Everyone then fell silent and did not discuss it with anyone else. They focused their attention on Xuan Tian Ming while thinking about what he had just said.
As for Xuan Tian Ming, he had not finished speaking. He continued: “In the past 100 years, the greatest failure of Da Shun’s court was trusting the Duan Mu family to lead the North. This was especially true with Duan Mu An Guo. He tried to implant the idea of having your roots come from Qian Zhou in your minds. He wanted you to feel that Qian Zhou is better. He wanted you to feel that you needed to be with Qian Zhou. But in truth, your roots are here. This land did not move. You have lived here for generations, but is there any difference from before? Instead, it was Duan Mu An Guo that used the benefit of being exempt from taxes to leave you with no choice but to send your underaged daughters into the Winter Palace, allow them to die or suffer humiliation to survive. What you did not know, however, was that Da Shun has never collected taxes from the North for over 100 years!”
These words immediately caused a ripple in the crowd. The officials of Da Shun, including Zhao Tian Qi, began to help Xuan Tian Ming tell the citizens about Da Shun’s policies for the North. It was only now that the people of Song Zhou suddenly understand that they had all been scammed by Duan Mu An Guo. This scam had lasted for many generations.
Of the citizens, there was an old man that was the first to react. They just saw him move forward and kneel on the ground while shaking before loudly saying: “Would your Highness the ninth prince please give us justice. Would your Highness the ninth prince please give us a peaceful life!”
Building a country and keeping the peace, soldiers marched thousands of miles for the hearts of the citizens. At this moment, even Feng Yu Heng felt emotional.
She raised her head slightly but saw that Xuan Tian Ming’s gold mask covered up a look of pride, while a look of determination and brightness could be seen in his eyes. Through the wind and snow, it gave everyone a feeling of trust.
Xuan Tian Ming said: “Da Shun will not give up on any citizen. Regardless of whether they are wealthy or poor, happy or suffering, as long as they have Da Shun in their hearts, Da Shun will not allow anyone to fall into an abyss of suffering.” He stopped speaking here and looked around the crowd. In the end, his eyes stopped on the prefect of Guan Zhou, Zhao Tian Qi. He then raised his voice and loudly said: “Zhao Tian Qi, come forward and hear this decree!”
Zhao Tian Qi’s nerves were given a shock. He quickly ran forward then kneeled on the ground, “This official, Zhao Tian Qi, is present!”
Xuan Tian Ming said: “Zhao Tian Qi, this prince was given an imperial order to lead an army to the North toward Qian Zhou and has been given the right to determine the leader of this area. I have the power to appoint and dismiss any officials of the North. With Duan Mu An Guo defecting to the enemy, the North was unified from that day forward with him removed. He became a wanted criminal in the world, his properties confiscated and extended family punished. Starting today, this prince confers you the title of leader of the North. I hope that you can do your part to support the citizens and will not disappoint this prince. Once Qian Zhou has been pacified, this prince will return to the capital and will personally confer you your title and officially present it to you.”
Hot tears appeared in Zhao Tian Qi’s eyes, as he kowtowed deeply. Without worrying about his status, he began to cry.
It had been over ten years. He had watched the North develop a foul atmosphere under Duan Mu An Guo’s leadership. He had watched as the policies enacted for the North by Da Shun’s court fail to reflect the reality presented by Duan Mu An Guo. To the ambitious Zhao Tian Qi, needing to work in Guan Zhou for a while was a heavy blow.
After ten years, he did not just send one or two reports to the court; however, they were all intercepted by Duan Mu An Guo’s people. Eventually, he stopped sending them. Instead, he secretly kept a ledger for Duan Mu An Guo. He also kept track of every official from Da Shun that went to the North.
This day finally came for Zhao Tian Qi. He promised to Xuan Tian Ming and all of the citizens present: “The remainder of my, Zhao Tian Qi’s, life will be offered to the North.”
Xuan Tian Ming’s army remained in Song Zhou City for another five days before setting up camp in and out of the city. They helped the citizens whose houses had been damaged by the fighting. At the same time, they sent the treasures that had been dug up from the Winter Palace over to the new prefectural office. They were recorded by Zhao Tian Qi then distributed to the citizens.
Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng used these few days to explore the underground palace built by Duan Mu An Guo using Qian Zhou’s money. At the same time, they repaired the city’s defenses.