Chapter 1406

Du Xiuwen's sudden anger left Chen Guanlou somewhat taken aback.

"In other words, you started an armed rebellion because the officials looked down on you and didn't take your words seriously."

"I am pleading for the people!"

Du Xiuwen repeatedly emphasized the righteousness of his actions. This point was beyond doubt and not subject to dispute.

Chen Guanlou, however, began to laugh, "Give it a rest. Regardless of your starting point, you must have studied the Great Qian laws, so you should know that, first, you led troops to attack the county seat—in the eyes of the law, this is rebellion. Second, without the court's permission, you opened the granaries to distribute grain—in the eyes of the law, this is called rebellion. Third, without the government's consent, you gathered commoners and held sharp weapons—regardless of what you intended to do, the mere act of gathering touches the line of rebellion. Scholar Du, you are a rebel! Please recognize your identity clearly!"

Du Xiuwen did not agree and argued vehemently, "Even if my actions had flaws, my starting point was good; it was to preserve the lives of my fellow villagers. Even if the court sentences me to immediate execution, it does not mean I was wrong."

Chen Guanlou stared at him, looking him up and down, his expression somewhat playful.

Those familiar with him knew he was preparing to strike at the heart.

Killing someone is just a matter of a head hitting the ground; how could that be as satisfying as striking at the heart?

He not only wanted to eliminate the other party physically but also spiritually.

He hated people who did things halfway the most! Either don't do it, or if you do, do it well and do it thoroughly!

He withdrew his expression and said solemnly, "No! You are dead wrong! As far as I know, after you disbanded your troops, you waited at home, waiting for the government to come and arrest you. You thought you were great, that your generous sacrifice would surely move everyone.

But why, before you were arrested, did not a single person—not even your neighbors or your fellow students—report to you? After you were arrested, why did not a single person cry out that you were wronged or speak up for you?

Once you entered the county jail, why did not a single prisoner sympathize with you, and not a single prison guard remember your kindness? Nor did the commoners gather to plead for you!

Those commoners who received grain from your hands do not thank you; they even hate you. Those commoners who trusted you and followed you to attack the county seat hate you just the same! The government also hates you. Tell me, why is that? You worked so hard and busied yourself, only to end up with everyone hating you. Scholar Du, you truly make one look at you with new eyes."

"No, it's not like that." Du Xiuwen denied it sharply, "You are talking nonsense."

"I'm talking nonsense?" Chen Guanlou laughed in anger; he decided to teach the other party a good lesson, "You are also a scholar; please cast aside all your emotions and look at the matter of you leading troops to attack the county seat objectively.

First, you opened the granaries to distribute grain; logically, the people should be grateful to you. But why does everyone hate you in the end? Because you couldn't protect their grain, and you couldn't protect their safety.

Because of your grain distribution, afterward, they not only had to return the grain, but some individuals were even beheaded by the government as a warning to others. Countless commoners were beaten and injured by the government.

This is the first hatred! Hatred for you stirring up trouble but being unable to settle it. If you had persisted a little longer, persisted for a few months instead of immediately disbanding your troops, they wouldn't have suffered this disaster.

The second hatred: you led commoners to attack the county seat. They listened to you because they trusted you, thinking you were going to lead them to do something great and change their destiny. Even if they died one day, it would have been worth it!

But what did you do? You actually disbanded the troops! You turned them into scattered sand. Afterward, to escape the court's pursuit, they had to flee for their lives, and from then on, their fates took a completely different path. They trusted you, yet you betrayed their trust and shattered their hopes. Tell me, shouldn't they hate you?

The third hatred: the government hates you. Of course they hate you. You attacked the county seat and opened the granaries; if this matter went wrong, everyone from the county office up to the provincial officials would be beheaded. Even though you disbanded the troops afterward, seemingly making amends, the capital crime had already been committed.

You ruined their prospects, and they wish they could skin you alive and drink your blood. If the court hadn't specified that you be sent to the capital for trial, you would have already died an obscure death in a local prison. Instead of being here, talking big to me and saying, 'I am not a rebel!' You are truly good at deceiving yourself!"

"What do you know? As a Heavenly Prison Warden, you eat and drink all day; how could you know to what extent the North has deteriorated? 'Exchanging children to eat'—in history books, it's just four words, but it is the pain of thousands of families, the pain of tens of thousands of people. Am I wrong?"

Du Xiuwen was exasperated and roared loudly, trying to vindicate himself.

He was right, right, he was not wrong.

He gritted his teeth, constantly brainwashing himself and strengthening his conviction.

Chen Guanlou sneered, "We've been chatting for so long; from beginning to end, have I ever said that your rebellion was wrong, or anything of the sort? Have I?"

Du Xiuwen was stunned; it seemed, apparently, he hadn't.

"If you can't survive and have no other path to choose, then rebel—this is only natural." Chen Guanlou said with a resounding thud, shocking the other party into speechlessness and disbelief.

It was as if he had heard something treasonous, and he even looked around cautiously, fearing it would spread and lead the Emperor to execute his nine generations.

Chen Guanlou continued, "Since you chose to rebel, you should have just gone all the way to the end—either live or die. Even if you die, you should die on the battlefield fighting the court. Instead of being a tiger's head with a snake's tail, rebelling halfway and playing some game of disbanding the troops for me.

You are incredibly foolish, stupid without knowing it, and deserve to be hated by everyone! Doing things halfway—what are you aiming for? Just for a bite to eat, you caused such a huge commotion? Are you an idiot?

This is like taking the imperial examination; you finally pass as a Jinshi, but then you say you won't be an official, and you won't let your friends be officials either. You call it, 'I just came to test the depth of the imperial examination and prove my talent.' Give it a rest! If you dared to do that, everyone would want to hammer you to death.

People followed you to rebel, aiming for a future and a career, aiming to eat well and live well. And you, good fellow, you feed them one meal and send them packing. So, helping you attack the county seat and take down the government was only worth one full meal? Just for this one meal, they had to pay with their lives?

If anyone dared to mess with me like that, I would have slaughtered them on the spot. That you are alive today, I can only say that those commoners were still too simple. If anyone had seen through your thoughts on the spot, you would already be headless!"

Du Xiuwen's face turned deathly pale, filled with immense lingering fear.

Only then did he realize he had taken a stroll through the gates of Hell.

He recalled the scene when he disbanded the troops; what was it he said?

The specifics were a bit blurry, but the main point was: I am thinking of everyone! Everyone must believe in me! Follow me and there will be food!

Haha...

Hahaha...

He seemed to be laughing and crying, "I really just wanted everyone to have food! My original intention has not changed! Don't you dare slander me! You don't know anything at all; don't you dare judge me!"