Chapter 69: Resentment like a sea, the suffering of all beings, Gu Jin Nian establishes destiny for the people【Seeking monthly ticke

Stars hang in the azure sky.

Night.

The cold wind whistles.

Gu Jin Nian slowly opened his eyes.

His consciousness was very blurry, with an indescribable feeling.

As if his primordial spirit had left his body, he wandered here.

He did not know where this was.

He also did not know what had happened.

Only under the stars, the surrounding trees were sparse, with only lines of people walking.

Their faces were full of fatigue.

They had no color.

Their clothes were utterly ragged; they were refugees, like walking corpses.

The bright moon hung high, with not a single star.

On the ground, looking up, corpses lay icy and foul-smelling.

Each person dragged their exhausted bodies forward.

There was no sound of speech.

Only the sound of footsteps could be heard.

He did not know how long had passed, until finally he saw the firelight.

This was beneath a city manor.

On the city wall stood rows of elite soldiers, weapons in hand, icy gazes fixed on the mountain-like crowd of refugees.

"Jiangning Prefecture has grain, but here there is none left; we cannot take in many more refugees."

"Leave quickly, for there is no food here; go to Jiangning Prefecture, head west—after another hundred li you will reach Jiangning Prefecture, where there is food."

A loud voice rang out.

It was an official.

He stood on the city wall and shouted loudly, urging the refugees to rush toward Jiangning Prefecture.

However, at the foot of the wall, countless refugees collapsed completely, wailing, pleading, crying, in an uproar.

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian realized this was Jiangning Commandery.

Moreover, it was the Jiangning Commandery of several days ago, for the present Jiangning Commandery could not be like this.

"Sir, please, we have come from the disaster zone after a long journey; we have gone four or five days without food—could you spare a bowl of porridge?"

"Sir, my child is about to die; please, show mercy, give us a bowl of porridge, your compassionate heart—please."

Cries and shouts rose up everywhere.

Refugees knelt on the ground, begging for a bowl of rice porridge.

Yet the official on the wall drew a deep breath, turned his back to the crowd, his body trembling, tears unstoppable.

But he could not open the granaries, for this prefecture had little grain, the townspeople were also panicked, and if he started this, it might invite even more refugees.

Then greater trouble would overwhelm this prefectural city.

But facing these refugees, he truly felt anguish.

"Issue the order: strengthen defenses, send a hundred elite troops in disguise to transport some grain; if there are households in dire straits, give them some rations."

The official spoke.

This was all he could do.

In the face of natural disaster, he could not relieve the suffering; all he could do was this.

A mournful wail.

A howling cry.

It drowned out everything.

But many were numb; someone rose, without cursing or weeping, but instead gathered family and fled toward the northwest.

Gu Jin Nian's gaze fell upon a household.

There were only seven people: a middle-aged man, a woman, plus five children—the eldest no more than fourteen or fifteen, the youngest only seven or eight, three boys and two girls.

They walked amid the vast night.

They picked tree roots, ate grass skins, and endured a harsh existence.

Along this road, Gu Jin Nian saw too many too many miserable sights.

He even saw with his own eyes someone stripping corpses.

The disaster grew worse day by day.

A three-hundred-li road could let many die along the way.

In the blink of an eye two days passed, and along the road there were no corpses left.

But there were still large numbers of refugees.

While still dozens of li from Jiangning Prefecture, they had not eaten their fill or drunk enough; each day they walked until their shoes wore out after only about ten li.

Moreover, the mountain road was winding, not flat ground.

They were hungry to the point of pallor, hungry to the point of dizziness and blurred vision.

Finally.

In the night, the head of the household took the little daughter and came to a black inn.

The youngest daughter did not know what place this was; she only knew that the innkeeper brought a bowl of rice, atop which lay chunks of meat.

Everything was silent.

Only the sound of the little girl wolfing down her food.

And the head of the household, gazing at his daughter, shed tears, ultimately bringing back a sack of rice and meat.

When the sunlight fell, the man set up a stove, stewed a pot of meat soup, the whole family feasted, yet also wondered where their little sister had gone.

But hunger left them with no mind to think about this.

Only their father and mother sat there silently, especially their mother, who didn't eat a bite.

Again, two days.

It was midnight; the man took away the second child.

But this time, the mother stopped him, crying and shouting, kneeling on the ground pleading.

Finally, the man wiped his tears, left the child behind, and took away his woman.

Two people went.

One person returned.

This time, the rice and meat brought back were much less than before.

But it could still last a few days.

But when the man returned, he discovered that one of his sons had gone missing.

Missing? Stolen? He didn't know; after searching in vain, he could only continue walking with the child.

Heading toward Jiangning Prefecture.

Just a few hundred li of journey.

To them, it seemed like a journey they could never finish in a lifetime.

Three days later.

Originally a family of seven, now only four remain.

Again, three days.

They still had only three people left.

The eldest youngster is gone; only the father remains, along with one son and one daughter.

However, they finally arrived at Jiangning Prefecture.

They saw hope of life.

All four gates of Jiangning Prefecture were piled high with refugees, far more than those seen on the road.

The place for porridge distribution was even more crowded with people; more terrifyingly, no one was distributing porridge.

People said the government granaries had no grain.

To get grain, one could only buy it.

120 taels per stone.

This is an astronomical figure; for these refugees, even without disaster, they could not afford such expensive grain.

All the silver the man had on him totaled less than five taels.

He felt somewhat desperate, coinciding with a wealthy household in the city coming out to select maidservants.

No silver given; for those of outstanding appearance, five dou of rice, otherwise two dou.

In an instant, he brought his daughter over; to make sure she would be selected, he deliberately fetched some already unclean water to wipe her clean.

His daughter, under ten years old, was also fair-looking; after being brought into the crowd, she underwent half a shichen of selection.

His daughter was selected, earning two dou of rice.

These two dou of rice, like treasures, he hid in his bosom.

He hardly ate.

He gave all the grain to his last hope.

Even so, it was still not enough to eat.

In the blink of an eye, within Jiangning Prefecture, rice prices rose steadily, refugees dying one by one in despair.

Those cries.

Heart-rending.

That despair, numbing.

Someone died, but soon vanished completely.

Someone not yet dead, yet suffering worse than death.

Finally.

As a ray of sunlight fell.

The man was hungry again for two days; his son, from prolonged cold and hunger, fell ill.

Hearing the surrounding populace curse merchants, he was already desperate, carrying his child as he walked toward a certain place.

After two shichen.

He arrived at an inn.

An inn similar to the previous one.

Inside reeked of blood; at the door, dozens of sturdy men glared at refugees, yet many refugees still came with children or women.

After he entered.

He woke his son; before him lay a rich meat meal.

Watching his son wolf down the food, he smiled.

Afterward, he repeatedly whispered some words into his ear.

"From now on, be more careful; don't try to show off against others."

"Later someone will give you meat; hide it and keep it hidden."

"Eat a little each day, don't eat too much, understand?"

"When the disaster passes, you must earn silver properly, redeem your sister's life, don't forget."

These words entered the boy's ears, seeming somewhat insignificant, and the boy was almost faint from hunger, facing such food.

He only knew to gulp down the food wildly.

He also didn't know how long had passed.

After the boy ate his fill, when he turned back, he found his father missing.

A burly man at the inn brought a bundle containing dozens of jin of minced rice and meat, already cut into pieces, and handed it to the other party.

He said nothing.

The boy took the bundle and walked out.

The inn was desolate.

Wails rose from the courtyard.

He both knew and didn't know.

There was no crying.

Nor any sorrow.

Only numbness remained.

Along the way, he knew many things, but what he understood was that only by staying alive could there be hope.

Surviving, earning silver properly, redeeming his sister's life—this was his only hope.

But.

Less than half an hour after leaving the inn, a group of refugees surrounded him, seized all the food, and beat him.

He was covered in blood.

He lay on the ground for a long time, eventually survived, but was extremely weak.

Relying on his will.

He staggered toward Jiang Ning Prefecture.

Daybreak arrived.

He leaned against the wall of Jiang Ning Prefecture, bathing in sunlight.

But that sunlight could not dispel the cold in his heart, nor the chill in his body.

He closed his eyes.

He felt no emotion.

No anger, no joy, no sorrow; just like that he died.

At this moment.

Gu Jin Nian froze in place.

He stared blankly at everything.

A total of seven days.

A family of seven, only one remained, and was sold into Spring Tower.

Looking out.

Scene after scene suddenly flooded his mind.

There was a newlywed couple who, after a flood, fled with their family to Jiang Ning Prefecture; to exchange for grain, the newlywed wife sold herself into servitude, becoming someone else's maid, and three days later, the one sent out was a corpse.

There was an old woman who saw her own grandchild beaten to death before her eyes, not knowing where they were taken.

There was a woman cradling a swaddled infant, mentally incoherent, murmuring incomprehensibly, while the infant in the swaddle had long been silent.

Countless civilians stared at Jiang Ning Prefecture.

In their eyes was numbness.

In their eyes was despair.

Their severity was hatred.

Inside Jiang Ning Prefecture.

Rows of flower boats appeared, countless orioles and swallows.

Merchants gathered in groups, drinking fine wine and eating mountain delicacies and seafood.

The songstress's voice was exquisitely beautiful.

The gu zheng played, even with three thousand notes, it could not convey the people's suffering.

That laughter cannot cover the world's ugliness.

The masses' cries also cannot penetrate these extremely solemn walls.

The officers and soldiers stood atop the walls, numb and cold, witnessing all suffering.

Listen.

This crying irritates the heart.

Look.

The crowd piled like a mountain, humble as ants.

A scholar stood on a high platform, shedding endless tears.

An old Confucian scholar squandered his family fortune, yet could not obtain a few bushels of grain.

Someone wrote the people's hardships on paper.

A few strokes of ink, how could they ever fully describe this suffering?

Alas.

Alas.

Tears turn into a sea, yet they cannot melt these iron-stone hearts.

The wailing sounds like thunder, yet it cannot startle these merchants' bodies.

Fine wine flows like rivers, flower-boats roam the streets; beneath the laughter, all is white bones and flesh.

At this moment.

Gu Jin Nian stood there, stunned.

He could do nothing.

He could not utter a single word.

What met his eyes was the despair and numbness on countless refugees' faces.

Closing his eyes, a thunderous wail echoed in his ears.

At this moment.

Gu Jin Nian understood what was happening.

It was the refugees' resentment.

Holy Punishment's Light Shooting Upwards.

It sank into the ancient trees.

And he himself was undergoing these pains.

The despair before death.

The despair at the moment of parting.

Resentment, anger, grief.

Such terrifying resentment almost drove Gu Jin Nian to the brink of collapse.

And all those scenes.

Also gradually faded away at this moment.

The dead have already died.

The living await death.

The human world is a sea of suffering.

And at this moment.

Gu Jin Nian deeply understood where the sea of suffering lay.

In his view, the trouble in Jiangning Prefecture was a conspiracy.

Officials from all places gathered everything into a stack of memorials.

Everyone told themselves that under the flood disaster, the common folk suffered.

But Gu Jin Nian could not personally comprehend it.

Yet now, Gu Jin Nian thoroughly understood.

Two lines of clear tears fell.

An ineffable emotion welled up in his heart.

He could feel the despair of each departed person, and also the pain of each lost life.

At this moment.

He truly understood what it meant: to thrive on the people's suffering, to perish on the people's suffering.

Boom.

In an instant.

All scenes completely dissipated.

Da Xia Academy.

Inside the dormitory.

Gu Jin Nian opened his eyes.

Tear traces remained on his face.

Everything he had just experienced remained vivid before him, making it impossible to forget.

At this time.

He could not fall asleep.

At this time.

His inner self endured unparalleled torment.

The affairs of Jiangning Prefecture had nothing to do with him, yet having personally experienced all this, no ordinary person could bear it.

The resentment of myriad people.

Inside Jiangning Prefecture.

Casualties were countless; how many common folk buried themselves in the grain disaster.

If the flood disaster is merciless.

Yet humanity should have compassion.

Resentment.

Resentment.

Resentment.

The surging hatred boiled up in Gu Jin Nian's heart.

This is not only Gu Jin Nian's resentment.

It is also the resentment of the millions of people in Jiangning Prefecture.

If it were truly an merciless natural disaster, they would have nothing to say.

But what is the real cause of death?

Is it due to lack of food?

No.

But rather, someone is openly amassing wealth behind the scenes, for a few taels of silver, ignoring the suffering of the world, ignoring the people's hardship.

Those pairs of desperate eyes once again surfaced in Gu Jin Nian's mind.

Pain.

Pain.

Gu Jin Nian kept shedding tears; the ancient tree absorbed too much resentment, too much sorrow, almost causing Gu Jin Nian to break down.

However.

At this moment.

A dark-gold fruit appeared on the branch.

The fruit needed no picking; it fell on its own.

Then it coalesced into an ancient map.

【Map of a Thousand Li of Starving Corpses】

At this moment, Gu Jin Nian understood what he must do.

The resentment of the myriad people requires someone to repay blood debt with blood.

It was almost an instant.

Gu Jin Nian walked down from the bed.

He came to the desk.

He held a brush.

He dipped it in ink, wanting to write, to record the injustice in his heart.

But.

He could not put brush to paper.

No words could express the pain of the millions of people in Jiangning Prefecture.

He took a deep breath.

Gu Jin Nian walked toward the door.

The room door opened.

Gu Jin Nian took another deep breath.

At this moment.

He no longer walked because of the hatred in his heart, no longer for scheming plots, nor for himself.

He would walk for the people of Jiangning Prefecture.

He would.

Enter the palace.

To plead guilty.

To make those merchants in Jiangning Prefecture who treat lives as grass repay blood debt with blood.

"I have seen Brother Gu."

"We have seen Brother Gu."

At this moment, someone saw Gu Jin Nian and bowed to him.

However, what surprised them was.

Gu Jin Nian ignored them, his gaze firm, as he walked out of the academy.

Observant people noticed tear marks on Gu Jin Nian's face, unaware of what had happened.

Upon seeing Gu Jin Nian leave, they immediately called the others to inform them of this.

Gu Jin Nian, step by step, walked toward the Da Xia Imperial Palace.

At this time.

Inside the Da Xia Imperial Palace.

A voice of angry rebuke sounded.

"Don't think I don't know what you are thinking."

"Now that Jiangning Prefecture has been pacified, you come here to plead guilty—isn't it just to win popular support?"

"Your clever schemes are really well laid out."

"Second Brother, regarding the Jiangning Prefecture matter, you couldn't help at all, yet now you rush to plead guilty to win popular support?"

"And you, Eldest Brother, you are truly formidable; these years you've been regent—aren't you just thinking of winning over the people's hearts?"

"Third Brother, shut up; what is your intention in coming here, do you think I don't know?"

"Tell you, the pacification of Jiangning Prefecture was achieved by Gu Jin Nian alone; this great merit should belong to him."

"It's not up to you three."

Inside the Hall of Nurturing Heart.

Emperor Yong Sheng flew into a thunderous rage; his three sons, who had come one after another, were actually here to plead guilty for the Jiangning Prefecture merchants.

If it were someone else, he wouldn't have anything to say.

If it were his own three sons, how could he not be angry?

Although the third son didn't apologize, what does it mean that he came running? He doesn't understand?

If there's something, he doesn't come up.

He comes to mooch off the merit?

What is he thinking about?

The three princes knelt on the ground, their faces looking rather grim.

The crown prince was very depressed; he was brought here under escort, and his subordinates insisted he come to apologize.

Now it's fine, let him get scolded.

As for the Prince of Qin, he was even more depressed; he had calculated everything, never expecting his own father to have already given this merit to Gu Jin Nian.

Had he known it would be like this, he would have been better off not coming.

As for the Prince of Wei, he's just the most damned unlucky; he was completely summoned by his own father, and as soon as he arrived he got scolded.

He insists on saying he also came to receive merit.

He wants to explain, but doesn't know how, so he can only lower his head and take the scolding.

After being scolded.

The Emperor Yongsheng exhaled, gazed at the three, and spoke with icy eyes.

"Jiangning Prefecture's affairs are known to me; it's not your turn to come here and lose face."

"When the morning hour arrives today, at the court assembly, I will handle it."

"All of you, get out of my sight."

He spoke, telling the three to scram.

The three stood in a line, slinking away, not daring to stay any longer.

After they left.

The Prince of Wei's voice involuntarily sounded.

"Eldest, Second, you're full and idle, why provoke the old man? Aren't you afraid of death?"

The Prince of Wei spoke, feeling somewhat depressed.

"What does it have to do with me? It's not anything but the eldest's doing."

The Prince of Qin slipped his hands into his sleeves and also spoke in a displeased tone.

"Me?" "How come it's my problem again?"

"You two, you really know how to talk."

The crown prince is fat and chubby, but he also doesn't compete with these two younger brothers.

"Alright, stop talking; this time the old man really seems to act against the Jiangning clans, but giving all this great merit to Gu Jin Nian is truly incomprehensible."

After leaving the palace.

The Prince of Qin couldn't help but speak, and his whole demeanor became more casual.

"Yeah, what's the point of giving it to Gu Jin Nian? Even if the populace owes him gratitude, he's ultimately not of our royal family; what's the use of so much popular support?"

The Prince of Wei also spoke up.

As for the crown prince, he didn't speak.

"There may not be that much popular support after all."

"At most, Gu Jin Nian will send a memorial."

"When the real merit comes later, you'll grab a bit, I'll grab a bit; in a few years, who in Jiangning Prefecture will still remember him?"

"Besides, who could he side with? The three great clans of Jiangning Prefecture are none easy to provoke; who knows whom he'll choose."

The Prince of Qin disagreed.

This merit, although it's enormous.

But the problem is who to give it to; giving it to the three of them is fine enough, after all they're princes, and whoever ascends the throne, it's a good thing for the state.

But giving it to Gu Jin Nian, its usefulness is actually much smaller.

Besides, actually not taking this merit doesn't matter; at least it avoids offending people, and offending any of the three great clans of Jiangning Prefecture entails risk.

So not getting involved isn't a bad thing either.

But just as the three were exchanging remarks.

Suddenly.

A voice.

From outside the palace gates, it slowly sounded.

"Student Gu Jin Nian."

"Today, on behalf of the myriad people of Jiangning Prefecture, I cry out injustice and plead guilty."

A voice imbued with righteous vigor sounded at this moment.

At this time.

The sky had not yet brightened.

This voice echoed throughout the Da Xia Capital, inexplicably possessing a strange power.

It transmitted to every place in the Da Xia Capital.

This moment.

Everyone was startled.

They were shaken by this voice.

In the palace, even the three crown princes could not hide their surprise.

As for within the palace.

The Eternal Prosperous Emperor frowned slightly; he knew Gu Jin Nian would certainly trouble those merchants, but he did not expect Gu Jin Nian to come so quickly—yet he had not even spoken.

In an instant.

Outside the palace gates.

A terrifying light surged up to the Ninth Heaven.

Holy Punishment's Light.

Yet it was indeed a black light, a grievance, a sky‑splitting grievance.

Like black clouds, at that moment it transformed into a famine‑wasting picture spanning a thousand li.

The starving dead, the desperate for life, the hopeless, those who eat their own children, even the vegetation that reddens the earth.

The terrifying famine‑wasting picture appeared across the firmament, delivering a tremendous shock to the world.

Outside the palace gates.

Gu Jin Nian bowed toward the palace.

His voice rang out again.

"Student Gu Jin Nian, today, on behalf of the ten‑million refugees of Jiang Ning Commandery, cries out injustice and begs forgiveness."

"Your Majesty, severely punish all merchant officials of Jiang Ning Commandery; those guilty of the crime of treason shall be beheaded and displayed."

The resonant voice sounded again.

The terrifying celestial phenomenon covered the entire Da Xia Capital.

Gu Jin Nian's words also rang in the ears of every Jiang Ning Commandery resident.

Every household was startled, and one by one they went out to look.

Looking up at the firmament, the thousand‑li famine‑wasting picture was a human inferno, leaving mouths agape.

The officials of Da Xia Capital were also stirred by this vast voice.

They looked toward the firmament.

For a moment they were frozen in place.

Such a celestial phenomenon.

Caused the entire Da Xia Capital, from top to bottom, to boil.

Even the hardest‑hearted, after seeing this celestial picture, were completely silent at this moment.

In the Xiang Residence.

Li Shan gazed at the celestial phenomenon and listened to Gu Jin Nian's words.

He could not help but close his eyes.

"Something big is about to happen."

He spoke slowly, knowing what was about to occur.

No matter how such a terrifying celestial phenomenon arose, the court must act; the three great families of Jiang Ning Commandery will likely not escape this disaster.

So Title: Minister of Personnel Hu Yong, looking at the phenomenon, could not help but swallow his saliva.

"Disaster omen, famine‑wasting across a thousand li."

"Gu Jin Nian, what power does he truly possess to condense such an inconceivable celestial phenomenon?"

Hu Yong was shocked; he knew everything in his heart.

Not only him, but officials of all ranks throughout Da Xia Capital also knew that something big was coming.

The plea for forgiveness.

No matter which of the three princes presents it, it is merely a move to suppress a family, to make an example.

Even if Gu Jin Nian goes, the result is the same.

But now, Gu Jin Nian has rallied the people's hearts, turning them into a celestial phenomenon—a thousand‑li famine‑wasting picture—who knows how many will be thrown into jail and beheaded for display.

This is no longer targeting a single family.

It now targets all families of Jiang Ning Commandery, and even any merchant involved; those who sell grain at high prices will surely die.

Waves of shocking voices rang out.

Within the Gu Family.

Grandfather Gu, looking at such a celestial phenomenon, could not help but fall silent.

He did not expect his grandson to use this method to beg forgiveness of the Jiang Ning Commandery merchants.

This was something he had never anticipated.

"Truly, something big is about to happen."

At this moment, even Grandfather Gu felt an indescribable sensation deep within.

The three great families of Jiang Ning Commandery have far‑reaching connections behind them.

The Eternal Prosperous Emperor surely intends to act and eliminate them.

Yet even the emperor finds it hard to strike.

But now it is different.

The celestial phenomenon has appeared, the people's hearts are aligned; this blade must fall.

Yet all the consequences will be borne by Gu Jin Nian.

The only advantage is that the people's hearts are with him.

This grandson of his has won the hearts of the Da Xia populace.

Facing this scene, Grandfather Gu remained silent; he said nothing.

Although it would bring huge trouble, Grandfather Gu is not afraid at all.

As long as he is present, there will be no problem.

Inside the palace.

When Gu Jin Nian's voice rang out.

Emperor Yongsheng could not help but step outside.

He gazed at the Thousand‑mile Starving Corpses Diagram.

He fell into complete silence.

He knows how much suffering there is in Jiang Ning County, and also how terrifying the refugee disaster is.

But when the Thousand‑mile Starving Corpses Diagram appears.

His heart still cannot help but tremble.

Ordinary people cannot bear such a sight.

He looks up.

All living beings in the picture cry and struggle, despondent and numb, fighting over a single grain of rice until heads burst with blood, eating dirt and grass, even resorting to cannibalism.

The blood‑soaked scene made him involuntarily take a deep breath.

Inside the palace.

The three Crown Princes were also profoundly shocked as they looked toward the heavens.

Especially the Crown Prince, who, looking at such a scene, inexplicably shed tears, his heart in immense pain.

Prince Qin lowered his head, unable to bear looking directly.

People ultimately cannot stand to see suffering.

As for Prince Wei, he remained calm; he is a man of the Provincial Office, his heart as iron, and seeing such a scene caused little change.

Yet to speak of his inner feelings, there was still an indescribable taste.

Sounds of mournful cries rose.

Inside the Da Xia Academy.

Su Wenjing gazed at the Da Xia Capital, silent.

The Thousand‑mile Starving Corpses Diagram gave people an overwhelming impact.

It is unbearable for people.

"Advocating for the living, the choice of Heaven's Mandate."

After a brief moment, Su Wenjing slowly spoke.

He looked at Gu Jin Nian's silhouette.

Under the celestial phenomenon.

Though thin, it gives one a sense of boundless power.

This is the true scholar.

The academy students could not see Gu Jin Nian, yet they could hear Gu Jin Nian's voice.

They looked again at the celestial phenomenon.

Many people shed tears; some suddenly realized why Gu Jin Nian's face bore tears today.

Ten million refugees, subsisting on bark—this was only on paper, they could not comprehend.

But now, they fully understand.

In the palace.

Emperor Yongsheng took a deep breath.

Then he slowly spoke.

"Gu Jin Nian, how shall I, the emperor, redress the grievances of the Jiang Ning people?"

His voice rang out, reaching every corner of Da Xia Capital.

This is the voice of the emperor.

The common folk held their breath, listening to these words of ruler and subject.

"Jiang Ning County has been struck by flood disaster, tens of thousands of people displaced."

"Refugees are rising, turning the world into a furnace; in Jiang Ning County's Nineteen Prefectures, merchants collude, inflating rice prices."

"Ignoring the living, for a few pieces of broken silver they profit, disregarding lives; this is intolerable to Heaven and to Da Xia."

"The students earnestly request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate Jiang Ning merchants; anyone involved in inflating grain prices shall be publicly beheaded, their property confiscated; considering the heavens' benevolence, there is no need to annihilate entire families, preserve the good intentions."

"Outside the prefectural city, refugees sell their children; they hope the court allocates funds for redemption at equal price, returning them home. If parents are absent, the government shall support them until adulthood, repaying with labor."

"All who profit from the nation's calamity shall not be spared a single person."

"The Zheng, Xu, and Liu families of Jiang Ning are heavily implicated, causing widespread public resentment; they should be severely punished as an example."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty, investigate those behind the scenes; if any are suspected, punish them together."

"The king kills the king."

"The official kills the official."

"This is the spirit and resolve of Da Xia, shaping the hearts of Da Xia's people."

Gu Jin Nian spoke.

He spoke word for word, without any hesitation, voicing all his thoughts.

No matter who is behind the Zheng family, nor the Xu family, nor what background the Liu family has.

Even if they are princes, they shall be executed without delay.

Even if they are high officials of the court, they shall be executed without delay.

Otherwise, the resentment of millions of refugees—who will quell it? Boom boom boom.

Above the firmament, the map of thousands of miles of starving corpses trembles incessantly, transforming into thunder, sweeping gusts of wind.

This is the people's anger, and it also represents their approval.

At this moment.

Six Ministries officials, capital officials, are also hastening their pace, rushing to the palace.

This matter is too significant, because Gu Jin Nian intends to cleanse all the aristocratic clans of Jiang Ning Commandery in one fell swoop.

Although borrowing public sentiment, doing this will likely invite greater trouble.

They wish to quell Gu Jin Nian's anger.

It can be killed.

But it cannot be wholly killed.

However, before the capital officials arrive.

The voice of Emperor Yong Sheng has already sounded.

"I, consent."

These two simple words represent everything that could be obliterated.

The emperor agreed.

It truly means to strike at these merchants, and also to strike at these aristocratic clans.

With this stroke, at least thousands of heads will roll to the ground.

And the impact it brings behind is unparalleled.

But just after the emperor's agreement, in less than an instant.

"Your Majesty."

Li Shan's voice sounded.

He rushed to outside the palace, employing noble righteous aura, to deliver the message.

"The plight of Jiang Ning Commandery is a calamity of Da Xia; upon viewing this map, my heart fills with myriad emotions."

"The matter of merchants grain price gouging must be thoroughly investigated, but must not be overly radical, lest we alert the enemy."

Li Shan spoke.

It is not to offend those merchants, but because too many people are involved, there is no need for such a spirited dispute.

Gu Jin Nian's fervent passion, as a scholar, makes him a youth.

He can understand that.

But many things are absolutely not as simple as they appear.

As Prime Minister, he must step forward on many matters to mediate.

Just point it out and stop.

Now that Jiang Ning Commandery has been pacified, there is truly no need to continue this turmoil.

"We acknowledge what Li Minister said."

"We hope Your Majesty will think thrice before acting."

Officials spoke, they could understand Gu Jin Nian's heartfelt hatred.

But what is clearer is one point.

Profit is the kingly way.

These youths' fervent passion will ultimately lead to mischief.

One must not invite greater trouble due to a moment's emotion.

At this moment.

Inside the palace.

Emperor Yong Sheng did not speak.

This intention is simple; persuading him is useless, we must persuade Gu Jin Nian.

Li Shan instantly understood, then he looked at Gu Jin Nian, his tone carrying advice.

"Crown Prince."

"The disaster of Jiang Ning Commandery keeps us officials awake at night; now Jiang Ning Commandery lies in ruin awaiting revival, and we still need them."

"We should let them repair Jiang Ning Commandery, rebuild their homes, and only after thorough pacification punish them—it would not be too late."

Li Shan spoke.

He looked at Gu Jin Nian and voiced his opinion.

Although these words are pleasant to hear.

But in Gu Jin Nian's ears, they are full of mockery.

Such merchants, expecting them to rebuild homes? He is not unaware; Li Shan's idea is merely to avoid greater trouble, wanting to slowly develop work, not to be so radical.

After all, the disaster in Jiang Ning Commandery has ended; next is rebuilding homes, and Li Shan does not wish to invite further complications.

He is the Prime Minister; such matters are certainly his to handle.

Of course, the main point is that killing these three clans would provoke much trouble, in court dynamics, in the crown prince's position, and even other factors.

As for what exactly, it is unknown.

"Crown Prince, your childlike heart we admire, but the dead are dead; rather than blame and punish, it would be better to fine them to pay silver for disaster relief."

"Yes, Crown Prince, if truly for the people, Li Minister's words are entirely true, and also beneficial to Da Xia."

One after another voices sounded.

These civil officials spoke up one after another.

However, there wasn't a single scholar-official.

From the perspective of the scholar-officials, they supported Gu Jin Nian, so they did not come forward.

Facing the crowd, he spoke earnestly.

Gu Jin Nian did not speak.

Instead, he slowly raised his hand.

For these people who are rotten to the core, Gu Jin Nian did not want to say anything.

He could understand why these people were like that.

It was not entirely due to interests, but the court had worn down their edges.

Yet, officials doing nothing—how is that not a kind of fault? Gu Jin Nian, having lived two lives, also no longer had youthful fervor.

But he at least had basic principles; he did not seek to act on Heaven's behalf, yet he sought a clear conscience.

If not for the ancient tree letting him feel the hardship of Jiangning Prefecture.

Perhaps, for the greater good, Gu Jin Nian would choose to step back.

But after personally experiencing the disaster in Jiangning Prefecture.

Then he had no personal grudges, only righteousness in his heart.

Everyone was curious, not knowing why Gu Jin Nian raised his hand.

At that moment, above the firmament, Holy Punishment's Clouds rolled, and only strands of white light appeared in his hand.

This is the brush of the people's hearts.

He had no nonsense.

He put brush to the void.

【Peaks gather like a crowd, waves surge like anger, the mountains and rivers inside and out are the Tongguan Pass road.】

【Gazing toward the western capital, intent hesitates.】

【At the sorrowful place where Qin and Han once passed, palaces and towers numbering thousands have become dust.】

Gu Jin Nian put brush to paper.

His expression was firm, each stroke containing his feelings.

He made no changes to any character.

Although Da Xia has no Tongguan Pass road, although Da Xia has no Qin and Han.

But this is a kind of imitation.

He did not want to criticize the court, because the sovereign had done no wrong.

Everyone gazed at this poem.

Some did not understand.

They could not understand what it meant.

But when Gu Jin Nian's final strokes landed.

The whole place fell silent.

【Prosperity, the people suffer.】

【Ruination, the people suffer.】

After the final two lines, the finishing touch, fell.

Brilliant light, again shot up into the heavens.

But this time, it was not a state‑protecting poem.

But rather, a poem for the ages.

Above the firmament.

Thunder stretched myriad zhang.

The lingering sound is the people's suffering.

In the heavenly phenomena, the wailing cries, like thunder, shook the Da Xia Capital.

All the people, at this moment, were stunned.

They all stared at this dreadful portent.

They also deeply felt Gu Jin Nian's inner sorrow.

Within the Da Xia Academy.

Some Great Scholars widened their eyes, gazing at the poem Gu Jin Nian had written.

Their whole bodies went numb.

"Prosperity, the people suffer."

"Ruination, the people suffer."

"He is establishing a mandate for the people!"

The Great Scholars all spoke, their voices trembling, unable to imagine that Gu Jin Nian was only sixteen.

Yet he could do this.

Within the academy.

Su Wenjing also could not help feeling astonished.

He was a quasi‑Half Saint.

He had painstakingly studied the sages' books for decades, yet today he still fell short of Gu Jin Nian.

This moment.

Capital's commoners.

Many knelt down.

They paid homage to Gu Jin Nian, only because Gu Jin Nian had petitioned for them.

He petitioned for the tens of thousands of unyielding people of Jiangning Commandery.

He petitioned for those dead commoners.

The entire court of civil and military officials was astonished.

Li Shan stared straight at Gu Jin Nian, unable to utter a word.

This poem.

It represented Gu Jin Nian's unwavering heart.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

The three crown princes also had dazed gazes, looking at all this.

The Picture of a Thousand Miles of Starving Corpses was thought to already be Gu Jin Nian's greatest ability.

But unexpectedly, at this time he could actually write a timeless poem.

The scenery of the Da Xia Capital.

Illuminated by heaven and earth, it appeared amidst Jiangning Commandery.

The commoners were astonished.

For a moment, they didn't know what to say.

With the influence of the timeless poem, the commoners also fully understood what Gu Jin Nian was doing.

In an instant.

Countless commoners knelt on the ground, for their families, for their miserable state, for the injustice and unwillingness in their hearts, they knelt.

Gu Jin Nian.

Fear nothing.

The bearing of a scholar.

To establish life for the people.

To seek redress for wronged souls.

Such a grand deed, since the founding of Da Xia, there has never been anything like it.

"Student."

"Gu Jin Nian."

"Today, I thrice petition Your Majesty: kill the corrupt officials, behead the female merchant, and restore the bright heavens and earth."

"Please, Your Majesty, grant grace."

The voice sounded again.

Outside the Imperial Palace.

Gu Jin Nian slowly knelt down.

His kneeling.

Not kneeling to imperial authority.

But kneeling for the refugees.

Kneeling for those refugees who died an unjust death.

If not kill the merchant.

This anger in his heart.

Cannot swallow.

If not severely punish.

He is not a scholar.

As for the consequences?

Never mind if the flood is raging.

I, ask my heart, feel no guilt.

Boom—

At this moment, thunder roared loudly.

Heavy rain poured down.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

A resolute voice sounded.

"I, approve."

If you enjoyed reading, please vote for monthly tickets!!!!

Thanks to all readers, old sirs!!!!!! Chapter after chapter, tens of thousands of words!

(End of chapter)