LRAB Chapter 34 The Reputation Bonus and Side Effects of Yue Fei's Legacy
Chapter 34 The Reputation Bonus and Side Effects of Yue Fei's Legacy
After Shi Moming left, Yang Miaozhen, dressed in a light green dress, appeared in Yang Kang's bedroom.
"Countless people in the Central Plains regarded you as their savior, yet you still accepted the edict from the Mongols."
"I'm afraid this will inevitably attract criticism."
Yang Miaozhen casually sat down next to Yang Kang and spoke with a hint of worry.
With just over a month left until their wedding, the couple was indeed starting to act more and more like a married couple. Apart from that final step, they were practically indistinguishable from a real married couple.
"Countless people in this world may regard me as a god, but there is only one person who must never have such a thought, and that is myself."
Yang Kang raised his head and looked at Yang Miaozhen in front of him calmly.
"If I accept this imperial edict, countless scholars and writers will criticize me, and even my parents may have a problem with me."
"But apart from them, it is the opinions of those who cannot speak that truly matter to me."
"Miaozhen, do you know how many refugees have flooded into Shandong in just over a month?"
"Three hundred thousand!"
"Genghis Khan's plundering of Zhongdu has ceased, but the destruction caused by the hundreds of thousands of Mongol troops stationed there is like a knife plunged into the flesh and blood of the Central Plains; the bloodshed will never stop."
"In the future, there will be more and more refugees, more and more people will die, and there will be more and more things for us to do."
"Our time is so tight that we shouldn't waste it on irrelevant voices."
Yang Kang sighed and embraced Yang Miaozhen.
"I understand. We're about to become husband and wife, and husband and wife are one. There are some things you don't have the energy to do, so I'll do them for you."
Yang Miaozhen whispered in Yang Kang's arms, her words revealing a hint of sadness.
A cold glint immediately flashed in Yang Kang's eyes. Yang Miao was truly a heroine; to elicit such a sorrowful emotion from her was clearly not something an ordinary person could do.
"It's alright, don't take it too seriously. As long as they don't cause any trouble, we shouldn't waste our time on them."
Yang Kang kissed Yang Miaozhen's forehead, released his wife, and threw himself back into his busy day.
Late at night, Shi Tianze arrived at Yang Kang's desk in the shadows where no one could see him.
"Have you found out? Who has Miaozhen been in contact with during this time?"
"Who said something that upset her?"
Yang Kang stopped flipping through "The Military Manual of Yue Fei" and looked at Shi Tianze with great interest, asking a question.
"Yes...yes...it's the old lady."
Shi Tianze stammered for a long time, but gave an unexpected yet reasonable answer.
"My mother, it really is her."
"So even a woman like Miaozhen can be troubled by the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."
Yang Kang chuckled lightly, his eyes instantly turning cold again.
"Apart from Yang Tiexin and Wanyan Honglie, my mother had no ability to make anyone sad."
Even if she didn't like Miaozhen's personality, she only sent Nianci out to find me, trying to make me fall in love with Nianci.
"Someone is deliberately guiding her to do things that will distract me and Miaozhen."
"who's that person?"
"Is that Yang Tiexin?"
Yang Kang said indifferently.
Shi Tianze was not puzzled as to why Yang Kang addressed Yang Tiexin and Wanyan Honglie by their full names; this was commonplace for him.
"This matter is indeed related to the old master, but I don't think it was his original intention."
Shi Tianze nodded.
A murderous glint suddenly flashed in Yang Kang's eyes, causing Shi Tianze to instinctively tremble.
"Go on."
Yang Kang looked at Shi Tianze, signaling him to continue.
"Since the Mongols came south, refugees flooded into Shandong like a tide. Even in Yizhou Prefecture, homeless people could be seen everywhere."
"The headquarters was severely understaffed, so the old master and madam, along with their brothers, organized the resettlement of refugees and the maintenance of public order."
"Half a month ago, the Lin'an delegation arrived in Yizhou Prefecture. Among the refugees, a scholar named Fang Ming suddenly appeared, claiming to be a fellow villager from Niujia Village."
"When the old man spoke with him, everything in Niujia Village was exactly as described. The old man was overjoyed and invited the man into our World Society."
"Master, the old lady invites him to the mansion almost every day, and they always have a very pleasant conversation."
"That scholar, Fang Ming, is quite capable; he has helped us solve a lot of troubles these past few days."
"He also enjoyed considerable prestige among the refugees."
Shi Tianze clicked his tongue in amazement.
"How could someone from Niujia Village, who lived during the Southern Song Dynasty, have ended up in Shandong?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Kang also became interested.
"That man said that Niujia Village was destroyed by government troops in the past, and he was captured and forced into the army. Later, when the war broke out again on the border between Jin and Song, he was captured by the Jin people and enslaved in Zhongdu."
"After the fall of Zhongdu, he narrowly escaped with his life."
"Upon hearing that the gang leader had obtained the 'Wumu Legacy' and was carrying on the will of Prince Yue, he followed the others to join the World Society."
Shi Tianze continued.
"It seems Wanyan Honglie's propaganda work is quite effective. Even a slave in Zhongdu City knows that I have the 'Wumu's Legacy'."
Yang Kang chuckled.
"Yue Fei's loyalty and bravery are admired by all under heaven."
"After his death, nine out of ten people in the Jin state painted portraits of him and offered sacrifices to him."
"Before the Song Dynasty exonerated Yue Fei, Yue Fei temples had already been built throughout the Jin Dynasty. Even in my Yizhou Prefecture, there was a Yue Fei temple where incense burned continuously."
"After the Mingchang era, the Jin dynasty continued to impose harsh policies, and the soldiers were more ferocious than bandits, while the officials were more ferocious than soldiers."
"The people all hope that Yue Fei will be resurrected and restore the Han dynasty."
"The fact that the gang leader obtained the 'Wumu Legacy' has given the people of the Central Plains this hope."
"This person's reasoning is indeed impeccable."
"only...."
Shi Tianze hesitated again when he got to this point.
"Just what?"
Yang Kang raised an eyebrow slightly.
"This person usually speaks highly of the gang leader and our Tianxia Society."
"They say my conduct in the world is quite like that of Yue Fei's army back in the day: they would rather freeze to death than dismantle a house, and starve to death than plunder."
"But there is one thing: this person always talks about Yue Fei's loyalty to the Song Dynasty."
"It's a pity that although the leader of the gang has inherited the legacy of Yue Fei, he has been slow to lead the people to return to the Song Dynasty and help his motherland in the Northern Expedition."
"Among those refugees, many were people who had fled from the Southern Dynasty, and they deeply agreed with this."
"The old man spent all his time with this man and was influenced by him. He always talked about persuading the leader to lead the troops to surrender to the Song Dynasty."
"The old master must have told the madam about this. The madam mentioned it during a casual conversation with the deputy leader, which is why the deputy leader is worried."
As Shi Tianze spoke, he also looked at Yang Kang with concern, as if he was afraid that Yang Kang might actually have the idea of leading the country to surrender to the Song Dynasty.
"Even without this person, Yang Tiexin thought so too."
Yang Kang snorted coldly.
"The day the delegation from Lin'an arrived was half a month ago."
"What a coincidence, isn't it?"
Yang Kang suddenly said.
"Bring him to me tomorrow."
Yang Kang casually gave the order and then lowered his head again to study the "Wumu's Legacy".
Shi Tianze respectfully withdrew and disappeared into the night.
At dawn, on a wasteland outside Yizhou Prefecture, countless refugees were being organized by the World Society to build temporary shelters.
Yang Tiexin, dressed in coarse linen clothes, was inconspicuous among the people working enthusiastically.
Yang Tiexin wiped his sweat and handed a piece of wood to the man next to him.
The man took it and grinned.
"Old Yang, take a rest, this work isn't tiring."
The aroma of rice wafted from a soup kitchen in the distance, and several disciples of the Tianxia Society carried large pots, preparing rations for the disaster victims during the transition period.
An old woman was about to kneel down with her grandson when her disciple helped her up.
"Auntie, the leader has ordered that wherever the World Society is located, that is where the people live."
"No kneeling allowed. Anyone who dares to kneel, get out of here. Those who have drunk the porridge, hurry over there and get your straw mats."
One of the disciples of the World Society snapped impatiently, already tired of telling others not to kneel every day.
"This is unbelievable! I never thought it would be so difficult to stop someone from kneeling down."
The disciple muttered to himself.
The old woman's eyes filled with tears as she murmured.
"It seems Lord Yue's military treatise has indeed been passed down to Chief Yang!"
"That mannerism, it's so similar, so very similar..."
Although the old woman was quite old, she could not have seen Yue Fei's army, but her parents had.
Yang Tiexin looked around and saw no forced requisitioning or oppression; the hundreds of refugees were orderly.
He recalled the stories of Yue Fei's army that he had heard in his childhood, and also the book "The Legacy of Yue Fei" on Yang Kang's desk.
He suddenly remembered the sigh of his fellow townsman, Fang Yu.
"Yes, if Kang'er can lead the land to surrender to Song, this achievement will be unprecedented."
Yang Tiexin sighed.
Suddenly, a disciple came before him and bowed respectfully.
"Sir, the gang leader requests your presence for a chat."
Yang Tiexin was slightly puzzled upon hearing this. Although Yang Kang recognized him as his father, they had never been close. This was the first time Yang Kang had taken the initiative to invite him to meet.
Although he had doubts, he didn't think much of it.
The World Society, in its backyard.
Yang Miaozhen, Bao Xiruo, Mu Nianci, Cheng Yaojia, Wang Chuyi, and other close associates of Yang Kang were all present.
It looked like a family gathering, but among this group of people, the figure of Gou Mengyu, the envoy from the Southern Song Dynasty, stood out unusually.
"Kang'er, Lord Gou."
"What are you doing?"
Seeing this prospect, Yang Tiexin asked, completely bewildered.
Gou Mengyu smiled awkwardly at Yang Tiexin. He didn't know why Yang Kang had invited him, such a minor envoy, to the back of the Tianxia Society.
Yang Kang sat expressionlessly among the guests and clapped his hands.
Shi Tianze brought Fang Yu, who was bound, in from outside the door and threw her on the ground.
"Boss, this person has confessed everything."
"He has a sharp tongue, but not much backbone, which is quite in line with the temperament of Southern Song Dynasty literati."
Shi Tianze cupped his hands and said with a smile.
"Brother Fang, Kang'er, what are you doing? Untie them right now!"
Yang Tiexin shouted, his face ashen.
"Father, don't be in a hurry. Why don't you listen to your brother Fang's story?"
Fang Yu trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly.
"I, I was indeed instructed by Prime Minister Shi Miyuan to infiltrate among the refugees, hoping to use Hero Yang's words to persuade the gang leader to return to the Song Dynasty."
"The imperial court has said that as long as the leader is willing to lead Shandong to submit, he will be granted the titles of military governor and pacification commissioner, and will be stationed in Shandong hereditarily..."
Yang Tiexin snorted coldly.
"What's wrong with that?"
"You have inherited the true teachings of Yue Fei, so you should be loyal to the Song Dynasty. You are originally a Song citizen."
Upon hearing Yang Tiexin's speech, Wang Chuyi almost burst into a tirade of profanity.
Fang Yu raised his head, swallowed, and said again.
"His Majesty said that once the gang leader has an heir, his wife and children can be brought to Lin'an to live and enjoy a life of honor."
Upon hearing this, Yang Kang couldn't help but sneer.
"Tianze, are the Song people really this inexplicably confident?"
"I haven't even agreed to submit yet, and they're already asking me to send hostages."
"I'm not even married yet, why would I send him a hostage?"
Yang Kang's joking words made Shi Tianze shake his head and laugh speechlessly, puzzled by the Southern Song Dynasty's bizarre actions.
Yang Miaozhen stared at Fang Yu on the ground with murderous intent in her eyes.
At this moment, the thought of trampling Lin'an on horseback was incredibly intense in her heart.
"Brother Fang..."
Yang Tiexin was startled, and the words he was about to say were stuck in his throat.
He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, and slumped down.
Yang Kang nodded slightly to Yang Miaozhen, who immediately rushed out, drew her sword, and instantly beheaded Fang Yu.
"what!"
The bloody scene made Bao Xiruo scream in horror.
Of everyone present, she was the only one who couldn't bear to see death.
"How could you be so careless? You've gotten your hands all dirty."
Yang Kang, however, seemed not to notice and took a handkerchief to wipe Yang Miaozhen's hands.
Seeing this, Yang Tiexin wanted to say something, but he finally realized that he could never be a true father and son with Yang Kang again.
He almost became a knife that an outsider used to stab his own son.
After letting out a silent sigh, Yang Tiexin helped Bao Xiruo back.
Mu Nianci lowered her eyes, her heart aching.
She only longed for her family to be reunited, and for her hero to stand upright between heaven and earth.
But that sword strike just now not only severed a person's head, but also all her unrealistic fantasies.
He was never someone she could get close to.
Cheng Yaojia followed silently behind, her fingertips slightly cool.
Uncle Wang Chuyi once said that Senior Brother Yang walks the path of the king and the hegemon, a path that cannot tolerate too much sentimentality.
Only after seeing her today did she realize that the path was too far and too cold, so far that even her own parents couldn't get close, let alone her fellow disciple.
She gently shook her head, suppressing the slight ripple in her heart.
Mu Nianci and Cheng Yaojia retreated dejectedly.
"Yang the Hero and Madam Bao have the mindset of farmers, but their hearts are good."
"This is truly a hardship for you, and for them as well."
Wang Chuyi sighed and turned to leave.
Yang Kang did not speak, but turned to Gou Mengyu, the envoy from Lin'an.
"Lord Gou, you've been pretending for so long."
Aren't you tired?
Yang Kang said with great interest.