Outside of the Imperial City, a prisoner carriage was slowly headed towards the city gates.
As time entered the fourth month, the dark rain was relentless. The road which was covered in yellow soil because Emperor Yuanchen personally led the troops had once again became filled with holes and covered in soil.
The Cloud Crossing Carriage wasn’t affected, but the normal ones were.
When they arrived within ten miles of the Imperial City, one could see that the sides of the streets were filled with refugees, their clothes no longer covered their bodies. Their faces were yellow while their bodies were thin, filled with hunger and despair.
“Why are there so many refugees? Why don’t those rich families provide food for them?”
On the prisoner’s carriage, Rank Nine Ministry of Justice Inspector Zhang Li looked ahead with shock.
The sight ahead of him was pretty much hell.
“What else can they do? The people in the dynasty all say that Great Shang is prosperous, Emperor Yuanchen is a wise Ruler. At this moment, within the country, everyone is singing and dancing, the people having a good life. Which family would come out to hand out porridge? Won’t they be insulting his majesty? If someone heads out to help these jobless people, won’t they be afraid people will say that they have bad intentions? Even if his majesty doesn’t argue with you, those big families wouldn’t be able to take the punishment for trying to buy over the hearts of the people.”
The voice came from a small and narrow prisoner cage, its tone was filled with mocking intent.
Zhang Li’s face twitched and he looked behind, only to see a fatty sitting within. Even if he was a lowly prisoner, his face was glowing. The man was laughing coldly.
“Governance is failing, people are unable to work but he is using the argument of other countries going against the path to start a war against them. Can his grain last? With ten million troops fighting for a month, who knows how many hopeless people will appear on this world when it all ends!”
Zhang Li listened on and laughed bitterly. What would happen if other people heard those words?
He was only a Rank Nine Inspector, how could he take the blame?
He wanted to shut Jin Buhui up, however, he knew about his identity. Even if he got in trouble now, he still wasn’t a person that Zhang Li could offend.
“Sir Jin! Please be careful with your words!”
However, Jin Buhui didn’t bother and acted like he didn’t hear the warning. He continued to ramble on, “Millions of refugees are gathered near the Imperial City but his majesty knows nothing. No, it isn’t that he doesn’t know, but he acts like he doesn’t see it. He only acts like he doesn’t know…
“The granaries of the country have been sold by those officials and is at most left with only twenty percent. His majesty still thinks things are like when he just took the throne, back when he changed the ruling methods. He is worried about the Heavens, afraid he would lose the heart of the people, afraid that his country will go into chaos. However, the more he fears the more he loses.
“Great Shang has a total of 47 million troops. At least forty percent of the troops and horses in the country are non-existent. The 18 million they sent to the south are from the elites at the borders. It is good if they win, but if they lose, how will this huge dynasty continue on?
“The Art of War mentioned that before the battle, one must consider defeat before thinking about how to win. His majesty threw the dice without caring about the consequences. I really can’t understand, is his majesty crazy?
“That Zhu Zi needs to be killed! He knew that this country is in danger and the world is in chaos. But he didn’t persuade Hhs majesty to calm down the refugees and homeless and focus on governing. Instead, he tries to take revenge on personal matters to start a war. How is he a Saint?
“Zong Shou trained troops since he was young and has won all battles! With Kong Yao supporting him, how is he an easy opponent? If they drag on in the south, the Great Shang will collapse! They will definitely lose this! If the Great Shang wins, you can dig out my eyes!”
Each sentence of his made everyone’s heart jump. Beside the prison cart, a few constables had ashen white faces.
All of the words he said were rude and punishable. If others found out, they might even be dragged down by him.
Jin Buhui suddenly stopped and looked up. Only seeing a sword light flew over from afar.
“Senior Brother Suchen?”
A green-shirted person stood on that sword light. It was Hanshan Sect’s Suchen, his brow frowned as he looked at Jin Buhui in a complicated manner.
Jin Buhui smiled. “Did Master ask you to find me?”
“Your Master told me to save you and flee as far away as possible!”
Suchen sighed. “Their identity is inconvenient, so they told me to come. Your Master is regretting it, he said that he thought you were the most cunning and most suitable, so he let you come to the Great Shang. Who knew that it would end up like this. You were actually so steely on the inside.”
“I also didn’t expect that!”
Jin Buhui shook his head, his face filled with a self-mocking expression. “Every day, I wanted to act like I see nothing, but I always recalled what Master taught me when I was young. Although I didn’t read much, the righteousness in my chest can’t be wiped out. So what?”
“Righteousness? You really know how to brag.”
Suchen broke into a laugh and shook his head, he then said seriously, “Do you know that you are asking to die? The Great Shang was ordered by Zhu Zi to attack the south, everyone is singing songs and praising them, saying that Emperor Yuanchen is wise. You are the only one to send up such a document. Not only is Emperor Yuanchen furious, but Confucian Faction’s Zhu Zi hates you. Why did you do that?”
Ever since Suchen came, Zhang Li and the others were unable to move due to his sword intent suppression.
When they heard those words, they were astonished. They didn’t even try to hide their words at all.
Because this Suchen was a sword cultivator, he probably didn’t think about letting them live.
“In other words… His majesty wants to kill me? To use my head to calm down those aristocrats?”
Jin Buhui’s brow rose up, he expected this to happen. However, he was still really calm. “I already knew this would happen when I sent it.”
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“Since you know, then follow me!”
Suchen’s heart sank when he said that, he had a really bad feeling.
“It isn’t only your sect, but even your brother Zong Shou cares about your safety. He told me to tell you that the Great Shang is in chaos and it is best if you leave.”
“In chaos? Leave?”
Jin Buhui muttered and was distracted, “He really has confidence! To be able to unify Donglin in two years… crushing those 18 million troops won’t be much of a problem for him.”
He then sighed and said apologetically, “I am sorry. Brother Su, let me be stubborn once. I still want to try… I want to see if the Great Shang can be saved.”
Zhang Li listened on and scolded in his heart. Upon hearing what the two of them were saying, it was like the Great Shang was about to collapse at any moment.
However, there were only a few people causing problems, this could be solved in just a short time. How is it as bad as the two of them mentioned?
Suchen was stunned before his face turned serious. “A bird chooses a good tree to live in! That Emperor Yuanchen failed you, so why do you need to bury yourself with him? If you want to be an official, then go over to the Great Gan.”
Suchen was a core member of Sword Sect, the future head of Hanshan Sect.
He naturally knew that the Sword Sect was prepared to join the Great Gan.
Although he didn’t know what the specifics were, he predicted that there was a reason for them in doing so.
It was said that Hua Ruo, who was the best at divination, lost his spirit eye after looking at Zong Shou’s fate. The former lost dozens of years of lifespan.
His old friend’s fate must be really noble! He might be the future owner of this land.
“I am not doing so for the Great Shang! I am doing it for the people.”
Jin Buhui shook his head. “If the Great Shang is in chaos, who knows how many people would lose their homes? How many of them would die due to the chaos? Since Zong Shou is the Ruler of Great Gan and he might not care, but I have to care!”
With Zong Shou’s personality, he would just calm down his own country. What would the lives of those from other countries do with him?
Suchen frowned and wanted to persuade him once more. However, he suddenly felt something and quickly hid himself.
In a few moments, a bunch of cavalries protecting dozens of carriages came out from within.
Just as the prisoner’s carriage passed, the people in front suddenly stopped.
“Eh, isn’t this Censorate Minister Jin Buhui? Why have you become a prisoner?”
The person who spoke wore a green-shirt while riding a Lion Qilin Beast. He was laughing coldly and looking over.
“No! He is an Ex-censorate Minister, two years ago, he was made County Magistrate. But his rank has been taken away and he’s no different from a normal person now.”
When those words were said, the curtains of the Cloud Crossing Carriage were opened. Inside, a bunch of people were revealed wearing Rank Five and above robes or were children of officials.
“So it’s him!”
“The one that sent letters to reduce vassal states, trying to revolutionalise the exams.”
“This person is really bold and preposterous. He actually blamed the ruler and scolded Zhu Zi.”
“He said that the Great Gan’s rule is clean and they are prosperous. If we attack them, we would definitely return in defeat.”
“I heard that before he joined, he was good friends with that violent ruler named Zong Shou, which was why he tried to stop the attack.”
“He takes money from his majesty but cares about past relationships? He deserved to end up in his current state!”
Jin Buhui looked at all of them expressionlessly. He recognised a lot of them, they were all officials like him.
The person who spoke just now was one of the children of the Yang Family.
Because of what he did, the Yang Family was shaken and at least ten of them lost their jobs. Among those were members with many important positions, this was why they definitely hated him to the core.
‘A traitor?”
Jin Buhui shook his head. “The matters of the south is not over yet, we have numerous refugees in the country and our problems are still not solved. You all still have the mood to go out to play. How could we win?”
The moment he said this, the expressions of all the people inside the carriage changed.
“Shut up!”
“This— bullshit!”
“You are speaking up for the enemy? How preposterous!”
Everyone chided in and the green-shirted prince said coldly, “Emperor Yuanchen is wise and valiant, he is leading millions of troops to crush the enemy. The enemy will be destroyed with a flick of the finger. They will be able to return in victory not long from now!”