Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
In Gantian Mountain City, all the restaurants and tea houses were all filled up.
It wasn’t that people had mood to drink and feast while the country was at war with Great Shang, instead they gathered here on their own accord. In this place where information was spread easily, they were waiting for the news from the Central Cloud Continent.
Since a month ago the people in Gantian Mountain City were filled with panic.
Even if they had faith in Zong Shou, but the eighteen million troops from Great Shang placed too much pressure on them.
If it was in the past, normal people wouldn’t know about the existence of the six factions.
However Great Gan had established the many dojos, the Ruler did things righteously, not only not banning sects, instead promoting them to open dojos in public to recruit disciples.
Which was why even normal people were able to learn of the six factions.
Naturally one didn’t have to mention the Confucian Faction, the Taoist Faction had eyes and ears all over and there were three thousand sects. In terms of people power they were top of the Cloud World.
Demon Sect wasn’t much weaker, they also had many sects under them.
With the three of them working together, it definitely cause one to feel heavy. They had nothing to do everyday so they gathered in the tea houses and restaurants to discuss about the matters of the east.
Today in Jinyu Pavillion, a tea house and the south of the city famous for being elegant, it was really busy. Opposite it was a branch of Linhai College which opened within Gantian Mountain.
Gantian Mountain City was now a prosperous city that was comparable to the Great Shang Imperial Capital. Great Gan also supported dojos and colleges all over to promote education to make people smarter.
Although it was a branch of Linhai College but the teachers at the actual college wanted to move it over here. However at this moment the gates were closed and the college had stopped.
Although that was the case but there were still many Confucians gathered in the Jinyu Pavillion. Apart from that there were many nearby merchants and rich people.
As compared to usual, it was much busier.
“A month has passed already and the Great Shang army still hasn’t broken Min River?”
“This Kong Yao is actually so skilled! Using three million to fight an enemy six times her number. The imperial army can’t find a way through!”
“She is just relying on the Min River geography and the navy. I don’t think she will be able to last for much longer!”
“Demon, traitor! She is asking to be humiliated…”
Great Gan never punished people for words, so people spoke without any worries. As long as they didn’t purposely humiliate others then they won’t be punished.
However the few words said by the Confucian caused the faces of the people around to change and then they acted like nothing happened.
They didn’t fear anything. Great Gan was in trouble and who knew, if they woke up tomorrow it might have collapsed.
Who would bother to inform the officials and who would bother to punish them?
Going to jail might not be a bad thing. Instead they would be able to get famous among the Confucians and become a scholar.
“She isn’t a traitor but she is overestimating herself and doesn’t know what is right or wrong!”
“I heard that a few months ago Zong Shou used the hundreds of thousands of barbarians there to build a Jiuchi Palace, copying Jiezhou’s wine pond and meat forest. He also took tens of thousands of beautiful girls. The troops are fighting on the front lines while he has fun at the back.”
“As expected he is lustful and unruly! Wasn’t he the same before the battle? He had never bothered about politics and governance!”
“He really knows how to enjoy himself, who knows how long will it last?”
“He is a barbarian king! He can’t compare to the saint army of the Central Cloud Continent, the so called Great Gan will definitely die!”
In the restaurant it wasn’t purely Confucian people. There were many people who kept silent and there were some who were filled with rage.
“Nonsense! After Ruler took the throne he swept all around and has never lost. The policies are clean and the country is strong…”
“Sweep countries all around, never lost? In the past he didn’t lose doesn’t mean he won’t in the future. He just haven’t met an opponent.”
“A clean rule? Officials all chosen from ignorant commoners, what do these people know? Isn’t it just who is rich, who promises more benefits who will become officials?”
“So what? If those rich merchants and races want to be elected they would have to give us enough benefits first…”
“Ignorant! How will these people bother about the welfare of the people? Confucian Faction disciples are taught by the Saints and we strive to rule the world with peace and replicate the ideals of the ancient three emperors. In Zong Shou’s eyes we are people that should be killed! Even if we are used we are only minor officials. Even if we are fortunate to be given land to control, we will be monitored by that Meeting Hall. What nonsense?”
“What is the point of the imperial exams? Great Shang isn’t much better!”
“That is a system that spread for ten thousand years! It created numerous eras of prosperity, how is it something barbarian people like you can understand?”
“You all are slandering and insulting, once Great Gan returns victorious just look at how Ruler will deal with you all!”
“Haha, I am afraid he won’t have such a chance…”
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“Why would one fear death if he is dying for his own principles?”
There were also people who gathered at the side and were discussing softly. They didn’t argue, their faces filled with worry.
“Great Shang focuses on agriculture, soldiers, agriculture, workers and merchants. If they win I don’t know what would happen to us. Will those aristocrats take advantage of us?”
“Although the Great Gan system is messed up, but there is no need to worry about those aristocrats and nobles abusing their power. As long as one is rich enough, we can even have a say in matters. That would be totally impossible in Great Shang.”
“Let’s not think about it. We moved from the mid plains over here. The current Great Shang is problematic, the officials are like wolves. All of us are just like sheep in their eyes waiting to be slaughtered.”
“What a waste, the Ruler doesn’t take donations and also doesn’t want to increase taxes. Even if I donate half of my assets, I am willing to do so!”
“It is not that serious, even if we lose there are still hundreds of thousands of miles of cloud ocean…”
At this moment there was a part of Jinyu Pavilion which was totally silent. Three people sat there, all of them not making a sound and were listening quietly.
Two of them were close to thirty, the one at the side was a teen around sixteen to seventeen. His actions were really old and looked solemn.
“Brother Yangming, what do you think? Who do you think will win this Shang and Gan war.”
The person who said this was the one who sat facing the north, his skin was slightly tan but his face was really good looking. His tone was one of seeking advice.
“Wen Wei why are you asking me that for?”
The person who was called, who was called Yangming shook his head and laughed, his expression turned serious.
“Wen Wei you obviously know what the situation with Great Shang is like? Their granaries are mostly empty. Eighteen million troops sound really strong but the grain they amassed could only be provided for that month. Looking at Great Gan, we have seen people worry about the battle and people scolding out but have we seen anyone worried about food and clothing?”
That Wenwei was also a really smart person and instantly understood, “Speaking of which Brother Yangming doesn’t have high hopes for Great Shang? You feel that if this continues to drag on Great Shang would definitely lose?”
Great Gan people have no worries about food and clothing. Which meant that the war hadn’t exceeded what Great Gan could support.
Based on what he knew, in the mid plains civilians were separated from their families and there were large patches of hungry people all around.
It wasn’t due to natural disasters but caused by the actions of people.
“Looking at how Kong Yao uses troops, she is really skilled. As expected from a famous commander. Not to mention a month, give Great Shang half a year and they might not be able to breakthrough Min River.”
That Yangming held the wine glass and said in deep thought, “His Majesty didn’t know before the war but he should notice now and would seek to end it. Looking at the Great Gan Emperor, he also doesn’t want to drag this on. So there are still many opportunities for changes in this battle. The battle would probably end soon. However Shouren, just look at the Great Gan Ruler. His Majesty isn’t his match…”
That Wen Wei took in a deep cold breath. He knew that the person in front of him was not only a genius, his martial path and art of war skills were also top notch, no weaker than any talent in the world.
Especially in the Art of War, no one in the same generation is on his level. Each time that there was a war, whatever he said would come through.
Although he mocked himself for only speaking in theory, but to Wen Wei, he definitely wasn’t someone who could just talk about things.
If he could command million troops on the battlefield, he might be someone like Kong Yao.
When he was not on a horse he could rule well, on the horse he could lead troops, an all rounded talent.
His archery could even kill Saint Realm experts within a thousand miles!
Great Shang was facing the enemy with six times their number but this person felt that they would definitely lose.
The key to this battle concerned the dominance of the Cloud World, who the south of the Central Cloud Continent would belong to.
If it was as he expected, this world was probably going to have a huge change…
The teen was slightly unhappy.
“Teacher! That Zong Shou is someone Zhu Zi says to be the enemy of the Confucians! During the battle for country fate he built a wine pond and meat forest, he probably isn’t a good Ruler. How will our Great Shang lose to him? Emperor Yuanchen is a great Ruler, how can he even compare to him?”
That Yangming laughed, he didn’t argue and just smacked his head with a dagger.
“Just wait and see! For Donglin such a barbaric land to become so prosperous, how can the Ruler be as ignorant as they say? How can we judge him based on what others say?”
The teen exclaimed but he didn’t dare to say anything. His teacher never bothered to talk sense to him and only spoke with violence.
He said shamefully, “Meng Zi said that if one uses violence to make others yield you won’t be able to earn their heart. Only by winning them over by virtue will one trust you sincerely!”
“To win one over by virtue? Zong Xi you really memorised it well!”
Yangming laughed and smacked his head once more.
“I am teaching you so don’t try to argue! Even if you want to go against my words you must take out a logical reasoning! Our Confucian Faction scriptures have many conflicting points as it lacks logic.”
Wen Wei smiled, “I heard that during these ten years that Ruler didn’t really bother about matters. Rather than say it was his work, it was more of his subjects!”
He laughed, “Moreover that Graet Shang Ruler building the palace at the south is the truth.”
“That is the thing that I don’t understand!”
Yangming shook his head, “After the Qin and Han, they all said that doing lesser things was the best. Qin Sui dying early was an example. However looking at Great Gan, there are signs of prosperity all around. Looking at the people of Donglin, who looks troubled and unwilling?”