Chapter 370

Under the strong assistance of Western firearms and cannons and other Western-made objects and industries, the long-oppressed Shun Dynasty actually gradually showed signs of revival!

Whether he is a mortal or a cultivator, after a round of random gunfire he will end up lying on the ground; even if there are those who have drunk talisman water and are invulnerable to blades and spears, it doesn't matter—a single cannon blast hitting his body will send him flying like lightning……

Moreover, the Shun Dynasty's successive victories on the battlefield not only boosted the morale of its own personnel but also made the enemy quite panicked!

Everyone had been bullying the Shun Dynasty for so long, constantly driving it westward and northward, signing one treaty after another, ceding land and paying indemnities… If it really managed to straighten up, wouldn't that be the end?!

"Ancestors! We can't hesitate any longer!"

The heads of each family urgently pleaded with the true god ancestor behind them: "Just for the sake of restoring the nation, use your divine power on the Great Shun!"

However, the gods did not act as everyone expected, delaying their move……

"This matter is not easy to handle!"

The gods temporarily set aside their prejudices, gathered together and held a small meeting… Someone worriedly said: "These Westerners' things are truly too powerful; they have no effect on us, but on the common folk……"

"What can we do?"

Someone beside him stroked his beard and sighed: "After all, we still need to observe some rules; it's fine for juniors to fight each other, but we can't just beat the youngsters and then jump in ourselves, can we?"

"Besides, even if we were to enter the fray, we couldn't be the first to do so… that half-Shun, half-Western barbarian chief is truly hateful!"

"Exactly! Our internal affairs in the Southern Continent—what business is it of his to meddle?"

As they discussed, the meeting turned into a special session attacking you, with everyone cursing you as a dog catching mice, meddling in others' affairs……

"Why not… we also learn Western ways?"

Suddenly someone proposed: "The feeble Shun, after merely learning Western technology, becomes full of martial virtue—if the bandits can go, so can we!"

"Isn't it just studying Western learning and conducting Western affairs? You talk as if nobody could do it! You think I only know how to drink talisman water and take strength pills? Today I'll show you a thing or two—let you see what a knockoff is!"

This proposal immediately received unanimous praise from everyone!

But merely learning a bit of Western barbarian affairs probably won't suffice, after all the Shun has in its grasp the genuine technology you support; having everyone produce a bunch of knockoffs to take on the genuine article is still rather doubtful……

"Got it!"

Someone clapped and laughed: "As the saying goes, rather than improve oneself, it's better to slander others!"

"Since even after learning Western affairs we still can't compete with them, let's think of ways to weaken the Shun Dynasty……"

After a round of secret plotting, a glimmer gradually appeared before everyone's eyes……

……

Not long after, several meaningful pieces of news spread across the land of Southern Jambudvipa.

"Western affairs are too great! With Western assistance, our Great Shun will surely be able to annihilate any invading enemy!"

"But such formidable technology—why would the West teach it to us for free?"

No one knows where this kind of similar doubt originated, but it certainly attracts attention.

The people of the Shun Dynasty, possessing a long historical tradition and rich historical culture, have always liked worldly affairs; thus when this almost-free benefit actually happened to them, everyone was happy on the surface but inwardly often filled with suspicion……

At this point, a batch of remarks mysteriously began circulating: "How could it be free? The terms of the Western barbarians are actually very harsh!"

"The Western barbarians not only demand that we cede territory, but also require the emperor to send them one million boys and girls each year!"

"Ah?!"

The ordinarily uninformed common folk were all stunned: "What do they want boys and girls for?"

That person spoke solemnly: "I've heard that the Western emperor likes to eat people, ten boys and girls per meal!"

"Sigh! I've heard that the Westerners' steam engine needs regular sacrifices of boys and girls, otherwise the machine won't run!"

"Exactly! And the Western guns—why can they break through talisman-water-protected blades and spears? Because the bullets are attached with infants' vengeful spirits……"

Such absurd rumors—anyone who has read shouldn't believe them, but most Shun Dynasty folks never went to school, will believe anything, and upon hearing these solemn-sounding claims, each one is terrified out of their wits!

Thus when Shun officials tried to go to the countryside again to find studious children, the peasant women and men clung desperately to their kids, refusing to let go no matter what, seriously disrupting governance……

Moreover, this wasn't the end; at that very moment another rumor spread, and this time they didn't slander Western technology but instead praised it extravagantly!

But after praising it, the talk took a sharp turn: "Actually you don't know—gunpowder originally belonged to our Great Shun; it was merely stolen by the West!"

Someone questioned: "Wasn't gunpowder normally transmitted? Furthermore, ours is black powder, while the West now uses new-type powder—how could that be called theft?"

The other party frowned: "Have you taken Western money? You're speaking up for the West—is the West your father?"

"You! ……"

After scolding the questioner roundly, this person then spoke vividly: "According to the ancient book *Changle Grand Canon* of the previous dynasty, not only is gunpowder ours, but so are weaving machines…… as well as steelmaking, papermaking, printing…… all of it!"

"Besides, Western history is all fake! They fundamentally have no culture; a few hundred years ago they were still monkeys in the trees!"

"Right! I've heard that the Western barbarian chief named Lin Six was originally one of our Great Shun people; after he went to the West, the Westerners only then came down from the trees… Isn't that obvious? It's all Lin Six stealing from us!"

This barrage of claims left the farmers blinking in disbelief: "So that's how it is……"

And the questioner who had just been scolded finally couldn't hold back: "Your nonsense! According to you, the monkeys in the Western trees only needed a hundred-odd years to surpass us… Are you sure you're not boasting about the West? You've blown the Westerners up into immortals!"

His objection was quite reasonable, but that person gave no reply; instead a crowd of those who truly believed began to blame him. "You little brat must have studied, right? One look and it's obvious you've been brainwashed by the West!"

"Exactly, exactly, exactly! Our Great Shun's is still the best—read more of the *Changle Grand Canon*!"

"Could you possibly be as wise as our ancestors?"

"I……"

The furious questioner's protests were useless; he could only be drowned in the tumultuous torrent of abuse stirred up by the absurd rumors……

……

Such large-scale rumor-mongering and spreading naturally attracted the Shun Dynasty authorities' attention right away.

Seeing the turbulent public opinion gradually showing signs of unrest, the Shun Emperor immediately issued an order to dispel rumors and to apprehend the rumor-mongers and spreaders!

But the rumor-mongers backed by the true god certainly couldn't be caught; the Shun Dynasty's efforts resulted only in arresting countless people who truly believed and spread the rumors.

Even if the prisons were filled to capacity, the popular sentiment did not visibly improve; on the contrary, because of this intense crackdown, it actually gave them a handle, which was greatly exploited by those with ulterior motives……

"Anxious, anxious! The Westerners are his father—we can't curse them!"

"It's merely the master's task."

【"Can't handle foreigners, can't even handle you?"】

【"Faced with such vicious remarks, going along with Shun is not an option, nor is retreating."】

【"And such remarks and chaos also spread quickly—'spreading without legs'—and somehow crossed the vast ocean, anyway they ended up transmitted to various Western lands…"】

【"What?!"】

【"Western Continent commoners exploded in anger upon hearing: 'Those Shun people really said that?'"】

【"Damn! Indeed, it's easy to change the landscape but hard to change one's nature; the Shun people are still that despicable lot!"】

【"Great, Lin Pasha! Far-sighted and visionary, far beyond what us ordinary mortals can compare to!"】

【"The Yin-Yang people, who had long laid down their arms, suddenly revived again, seizing the Shun dynasty's popular turmoil to open fire: 'Measure the Western lands' material strength, and unite with the Shun state's goodwill!'"】

【"Indeed, the Sultan still hasn't forgotten his roots; no matter how difficult, he must aid his homeland's development! Great, no need for many words!"】

【"Even if you wear a foreigner's flesh, your heart is still that of Great Shun…… The Shun emperor ought to kowtow to you, for you are his true ancestor!"】

【"…"】

【"Lin Six took a deep breath; despite three lifetimes of bitter cultivation, he now feels a surge of anger! Isn't it obvious someone is behind this?"】

【"But he ultimately held back……"】

【"The Yin-Yang people's mockery is certainly hateful, but since you've taken this path, you've long been prepared mentally for it."】

【"You know full well that as long as you don't lose your composure, the Western Continent will be as solid as gold and bronze; those petty Yin-Yang people could never overturn it."】

【"As for Great Shun……"】

【"Fellow Daoist, you should take care of that side."】

【"Faced with Li Ziliang personally coming to apologize, you made a calm suggestion as best you could."】

【"Understood……"】

【"Li Ziliang's face was full of shame; after all, no matter how you say it, this is also his problem—if not handled well, it's not handled well……"】

【"But as long as we two don't fall into chaos, that pack of demons and monsters could never overturn things."】

【"Seeing his sincere attitude, you again comforted him: 'The West-Shun relationship will last forever; as long as we cooperate for mutual benefit……'"】

【"You hadn't finished speaking when a sudden transmission of flowing light shot forth, flying straight to land before Li Ziliang!"】

【"He looked bewildered, but still took a look; upon seeing it, his expression suddenly changed!"】

【"……"】

【"In the year 206 of Great Shun, while the Shun dynasty was busy with domestic reform and external suppression, and deeply mired in popular rumors and chaos, a rebel army suddenly rose up out of nowhere and proceeded to capture several cities held by the Shun dynasty and various restoration armies!"】

【"But the biggest problem isn't how many cities they captured, but their banner."】

【"Their banner is clear: 'Overthrow the impoverished and weak Great Shun, eliminate all the warring factions across the world!'"】

【"No one in the Southern Jambu Continent can lead us onto a bright the Great Dao; only the Western Continent is the light of civilization!"】

【"Lin Six Pasha is the sun destined by heaven's mandate! He is our savior!"】

【"Lord, it's Lin Six!"】

【"Lord = 6!"】

【"……"】

【"(Chapter complete)"】