513 Marquis Yun Has Changed (1/2)
Yun Yang's area of focus was so wide that even Marquis Yun felt that the wanton killing was taking a toll on him, but Yun Yang was still collecting information daily with a straight face, even urging a few people to head out and do some killing and robbing of their own.
”Isn't this slightly over the top? Not everyone who has done wrong deserves to die…”
It was obvious that Marquis Yun's was experiencing a crisis of conscience as the man had tried to persuade Yun Yang to tone down his efforts more than once.
”The leopard can't change its spots. Even if we know that some people can change, what if they don't and continue on with their evil ways? I don't want to wager on possibilities because we may not be able to notice or do anything about these. Why not nip them all in the bud? Yes, we will bear this infamous reputation now, shoulder a lot of sins, but we can give at least eight to ten years of peace to the children and wives of the millions of fallen soldiers. With this reprieve, the children can grow up and become the new pillars of their homes!”
Yun Yang said loftily, ”Despite our reluctance, despite the overbearing strictness, despite the fact that the crimes of many of our targets need not be punished by death, we shall kill them all… At least, the perished souls will be at peace. That'll be more than enough!”
”So, I kill without a guilty conscience.”
”Besides, Yutang is at war all the time, and the treasury is beyond empty. After this war, I guess that they won't even be able to afford sufficient pensions much less additional rewards…”
Yun Yang said, ”As we kill and rob along our way back home, we can contribute at least hundreds of millions of silver taels to the treasury by the time we return to the capital. With this sum, the treasury's burdens can be lightened.”
Marquis Yun's chuckle was devoid of humor. ”It's not just about solving crises… We've only traveled less than three thousand miles, but the silver taels we managed to loot have gone up to seventy million taels… As we move forward, the wealthier ones will become our next targets, what more those who are residing near the capital… Several hundred million… is not even the limit.”
”It's great that it's not the limit, the more the better.” Yun Yang said faintly, ”Marquis Yun, I don't know if you've noticed that the tyrants' homes are usually much, much richer than ordinary homes in a town. It begs the question – how much of their wealth belongs to the people? I wonder if this has crossed your mind.”
”It's only because these people are feared and loathed by everyone that anything they do becomes so easy, without any scruples. That's how they managed to accumulate so much wealth in a short amount of time!”
”These years, times have changed. People aren't as honest as they used to be, so much so that a lot of places have this saying…” Yun Yang kept quiet for a bit and chanted, ”Those who kill and set fires wear golden belts, while those who repair bridges and pave roads die without leaving anything behind!”
Hearing the oddly eloquent phrase, Marquis Yun fell silent.
He who had roamed the world all year round had heard this phrase only once, but it was already one too many times!
”How much bitterness and helplessness must there be for the people to circulate such a phrase?” Yun Yang said coldly, ”Doing kind deeds are less worthy than being an oppressor! Those who repair bridges and pave roads are worse off than those who kill and set fires!”
”The existence of such phenomena is due to the loss of the country's morals.”
”As for these people we kill, they're only the former half of this phrase!” Yun Yang said, ”This massacre of ours is tackling violence with violence, but it tells the people that good will be rewarded with good, and evil with evil; if karma is not forthcoming, it's because the time has yet to come, and when it does, it comes in a spectacular manner.”
”It will then let the people know that there is still benefit to those who do good, who repair bridges and pave roads. God may not see it, but the ones in power or practitioners of justice will!”
”This is the primary reason I insist on killing all the way throughout our journey!”
”I wish to use blood and a violent massacre to tell our people that God sees it! Above the faraway imperial court, there are other eyes watching this world! I will dispel the belief that heaven is too high to reach and the emperor is far away!”
Yun Yang raised his gaze and looked at Marquis Yun with fervor, ”Hence, we must not only carry this sin, we must carry more of it, and continue to carry it for as long as we can.”
Marquis Yun's emotions were greatly stirred as he took in a few gulps of air and said slowly, ”That's right! We must carry it! Lots of it! God may pardon them, but we won't.”
He looked at Yun Yang, finally reassured, and said with a sigh, ”Yun Yang... how nice it must be if you were truly my son.”
Yun Yang pursed his lips and said, ”Please. You… don't even have a wife. Thinking to have a son would be too far a stretch.”
Marquis Yun was immediately exasperated – could he not spend all his time speaking with pricks?