Chapter 604 – Legacy of Nan Sheng (3)
Feng Zhen chuckled, “Looks like we might have caught a big fish slipping through the net.”
Given Jiang Pengji’s nature, would she be so eager without any personal gain?
As it turned out, Jiang Pengji was indeed innocent this time; she had no intention of scheming against that person, merely lending a helping hand out of curiosity.
She caught the sarcasm in Feng Zhen’s words and replied helplessly, “You really are a bore. In your eyes, is your lord merely someone who fawns after fame and fortune? Can’t I show a little kindness and help a poor soul? Not everything has to be for profit.”
Feng Zhen, feeling cold, tightened his cloak and shivered slightly while puffing out white breaths, yet he still refused to back down.
“Your lord has too many past offenses; it’s hard not to be suspicious.”
Wei Ci frowned, “Since they are from Nan Sheng, how did they end up in Dongqing and join the Red Lotus Sect?”
No matter how much trouble the Red Lotus Sect and the Green Garment Army stirred up in the northern part of Dongqing, to many people, they were merely a ragtag bunch. Not to mention, the Red Lotus Sect was everywhere inciting the masses and spreading heretical teachings, while the Green Garment Army was pillaging and oppressing like locusts.
Forget about the noble houses looking down on them; even the common people spoke of these rebel forces with more contempt than praise.
Jiang Pengji shook her head, “Who knows what they’re thinking? They might be trying to borrow troops from Dongqing to restore Nan Sheng. Or perhaps they’re fleeing for their lives and hiding among the people. With the chaos in Dongqing, it’s the perfect time to fish in troubled waters.”
Her words made Wei Ci’s heart tighten, and his face turned slightly pale.
Dongqing’s Red Lotus Sect, the remnants of Nan Sheng, military assistance for restoring a country, and fishing in troubled waters… these key phrases gave him a foreboding feeling.
“What’s wrong, Zixiao? You don’t look so good,” Jiang Pengji noticed Wei Ci’s face had lost its color, looking somewhat pale with a tinge of blue. She couldn’t help but ask with concern, “The wind and snow outside are too fierce; you should retreat to the carriage for a while.”
Wei Ci snapped out of his trance at Jiang Pengji’s words, awkwardly replying, “It’s nothing, just an old issue.”
He certainly couldn’t go back now; he needed to see who that person was!
Just as he thought that, the man had finished washing up and put on clean clothes provided by the soldiers.
The man’s stature was similar to that of the soldiers, and the fitting was quite decent, warm and comfortable.
However, his frostbite was extensive, and the situation was quite severe; as his body warmed slightly, the frostbite areas itched unbearably, as if countless little bugs were crawling under his skin, making him itch to scratch. He managed to restrain that impulse, keeping his expression relatively natural.
“Lord, the person has been brought over.”
The soldier led the man to Jiang Pengji, who was discussing the situation in Nan Sheng with Feng Zhen and Wei Ci.
Indeed, Nan Sheng had fallen. Let’s not even mention the Southern Barbarians’ forces breaking through the Nan Sheng border, marching straight to the capital, committing countless atrocities along the way. On the day the capital fell, the massacre order issued by the Southern Barbarians stirred deep resentment among the scholars of the realm.
All the male members of the royal family had their heads displayed on the city wall, while the women were turned into camp prostitutes, ranging from young girls of three to women in their sixties, no one was spared. Some women, unable to bear the humiliation, took their own lives, with even noble ladies taking their young daughters with them.
Rather than continuing to live in shame and humiliation, they preferred an early release, returning their souls to the underworld.
In addition to these countless blood debts, the Southern Barbarians’ actions of using people as military food was even more disgusting.
After the fall of the Nan Sheng royal family, the noble houses had to unite to resist the Southern Barbarians.
As previously mentioned, the power of the aristocracy was significant, strong enough to influence the court and control the emperor’s succession.
Then why, with such strength, did Nan Sheng still fall?
It’s essential to know that every noble house had its own interests, and there existed competition and hostility between them, creating a system of checks and balances.
Initially, the fate of Nan Sheng seemed inconsequential to the local noble families for three reasons.
First, the Nan Sheng royal family was destroyed; they could just establish a new lord, and they didn’t care who became emperor.
Second, the nobility regarded the Southern Barbarians with disdain; although they hated them, they didn’t see these savage tribes as a real threat.
Third, Nan Sheng brought its downfall upon itself with various blunders, even attempting to suppress the noble families, damaging their interests.
Little did they know, after the fall of Nan Sheng, they wouldn’t benefit from it either.
The Southern Barbarians were utterly unreasonable; they didn’t care for the worth of the nobility.
Nobility has money?
Kill and seize it!
Nobility has women?
Kill and seize them!
Nobility has food?
Kill and seize it!
Since the Southern Barbarians destroyed Nan Sheng and brutally massacred numerous noble families, men were brutally killed, and women were used to fulfill desires and procreate; if there was insufficient food, they would even be cooked and eaten.
At this point, the noble families of Nan Sheng finally realized the urgency, recruiting soldiers and rising in rebellion against the Southern Barbarians’ brutality.
In such a scenario, many people undoubtedly fled to other countries seeking refuge.
Jiang Pengji spoke with Wei Ci and Feng Zhen about this and looked down upon the Southern Barbarians.
Wei Ci warned, “Lord, you must not take this lightly.”
Jiang Pengji responded, “My taunts towards the Southern Barbarians don’t stem from underestimating their combat ability. On the contrary, these barbarians are indeed skilled in battle. Considering the decline of Nan Sheng’s strength and policy failures, they bear the brunt of their demise. In a chaotic world, it comes down to who can fight and win. In this regard, the Southern Barbarians are stronger than Nan Sheng. But what comes after victory? With such foolishness, they can only flaunt themselves in the Central Plains for a while. Establishing a stable regime that lasts for generations? Ha! Dream on!”
Waging war isn’t the tough part; the challenge lies in rebuilding after the fight.
“A race that only knows destruction without understanding preservation, creation, or continuation is bound for obscurity.” Jiang Pengji scoffed, “As the saying goes, ‘What goes around comes around.’ Who can guarantee that the common people of Nan Sheng won’t retaliate? With the Southern Barbarians’ situation, their unity isn’t absolute. If a successful counterattack occurs, only extinction awaits them!”
Feng Zhen furrowed his brow, saying, “Extinguishing the Southern Barbarians? From the look of Nan Sheng now, that seems quite precarious. The common people have had no moment to rest and recuperate. Barbarians can kill with a swift stroke, whereas the populace needs a decade to raise their children.”
Before annihilation, Nan Sheng would likely be wiped out.
Yet Wei Ci countered, “Not necessarily.”
“Huh?” Feng Zhen exclaimed, “Why not?”
Feng Zhen didn’t know, but Wei Ci understood well: the Southern Barbarians truly faced annihilation.
He couldn’t reveal the truth, so he fumbled through with some vague spiritual mumbo jumbo.
“The way of heaven is constant, and decay and growth follow a sequence. Every action has a reaction and is determined. The Southern Barbarians slaughtered over three hundred thousand common people, their sins are grotesque. Wouldn’t it be normal for the people of Nan Sheng to rise up and exterminate them?” Wei Ci said with a serious face, spouting nonsense.
Feng Zhen’s lips twitched, chuckling while scolding, “I can’t believe I bought that! You’re just messing around with your flimsy nonsense to fool others, and now you want to terrify me?”
Wei Ci could only smile ruefully.
Indeed, the Southern Barbarians were extinct; the total was over sixty-three thousand eight hundred, whether they were men, women, elderly, children, or even infants, almost none survived.
The one who ordered the massacre was Wei Ci’s former lord—An Huan.
