Fang Ke hurried along and finally reached the capital city by noon.
Upon entering the city, before he even saw the gates of the Northern Pacification Commission, he heard no less than ten different versions of rumors swirling around the streets and alleys.
Some people were spreading the word that Marquis Luting Yang Erlang alone with a blade repelled a great army of thirty thousand from the government forces!
Some people were spreading the word that Marquis Luting Yang Erlang charged into the Golden Throne Hall during this morning’s court session and slaughtered half the ministers with his blade!
There were also rumors that Marquis Luting showed up at court this morning, drew his sword, and threatened all the civil and military officials to stabilize grain prices within half a month; if they failed to control the grain prices, he would take care of them…
Fang Ke was completely unnerved.
He had only set out half a day later than his own master... Such a short time and his master had turned the court upside down?
You say you big figures, he was living well in his own residence at Lu Ting, why did you have to play mind games with him?
Now look what’s happened…
You’ve played too far and lost your lives.
He has come out and killed so many people, I’m afraid he can’t return to Lu Ting to live his peaceful life anymore.
Isn’t this a case of both parties suffering?
Fang Ke sighed and led his horse through the gate of the Northern Pacification Commission, only to find that he could neither find his master nor his commander there; he eventually learned that his master had not set foot in the Northern Pacification Commission since entering the capital, always staying at the Western Factory.
...
The Western Factory.
The place had been cleaned, but there was still a faint smell of blood lingering in the air.
Yang Ge, having changed into his regular clothes, and Nangong Feiying were sitting in the main hall, enjoying some light dishes as they chatted.
"Later, seal these case files and put them into storage..."
Yang Ge pointed at the mountain of case files piled high in the hall with his chopsticks, but before he could finish speaking, he suddenly changed his mind and said, "Never mind, no need to bother, just send someone later to deliver these files back to their corresponding owners household by household."
Nangong Feiying was taken aback, asking in confusion, "Forgive my slowness, sir, but if we’re not planning to continue the investigation, there’s no reason to just cross out these cases like this, right? These people don’t deserve it!"
"It’s hard to say about the future,"
Yang Ge shook his head slightly: "But right now, it’s indeed not wise to continue the investigation. I had just pressed them to clean up this mess; if I turn around and keep on killing, I’m afraid it would drive them into a corner... The matter of rising grain prices cannot be delayed any longer!"
Nangong Feiying pondered for a few seconds, then with a sudden realization whispered, "You mean... as long as they clean up this mess, we’ll let bygones be bygones?"
Yang Ge looked at him and smiled, "You really aren’t that bright. This mess was their doing in the first place; it’s only right that they should clean it up themselves. Why should I erase all their dirty deeds just because they’ve made up for some of their mistakes? Because they have thick faces?"
"Giving them the case files is to remind them that I’m aware of all the shady things they’ve done. If they don’t do their jobs properly, I can go chop off their heads at any time!"
Nangong Feiying got the message and gave a thumbs-up, then asked quietly, "After this is over, do you still plan to take care of them? If so, we should prepare earlier; we can’t let others accuse you of punishing without teaching, of killing the innocent!"
Yang Ge lowered his eyelids, his expression weary as he shook his head slightly, "If they can clean up this mess, I don’t plan on killing anyone anymore. The remaining issues... let’s leave them to the Emperor to deal with; it’s time to give him a chance to flex his muscles."
No one would believe it if it was spoken out loud…
He actually didn’t like the sight of blood.
Especially the blood of his compatriots.
One man with a blade chasing down twenty or thirty thousand people sounds awe-inspiring indeed.
But there were many details he didn’t dare to think about...
There is a poem that says: Alas for the bones by the bank of Wei River, they remain the dream of those in the spring boudoir.
Those government soldiers from last night were someone’s sons, husbands, fathers, and surely among them were those who weren’t inherently evil, simply following orders...
But Yang Ge had no choice; it was he who came to the capital to trouble these corrupt officials, forcing them into a desperate mutiny.
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He had to block those thirty thousand government soldiers; he couldn’t let them enter the city.
Last night, he had done his utmost to suppress his killing intent, not really fighting those thirty thousand soldiers seriously...
Yet even so, at least five or six thousand soldiers fell under his blade, perhaps not even a complete corpse could be put together.
Even though he believed himself to be innocent and confident that he was doing the right thing, the heavy accounting of these unclear actions ultimately still weighed on him!
Nangong Feiying saw the weariness in his brow, and the food in his bowl suddenly lost its taste...
’Being a human being, you can do anything, just don’t be a good man...’
He sighed inwardly, yet still said with a smile, "That’s good, it’s an opportunity for His Majesty to reshape the court order!"
After a pause, he brought up casually, "By the way, Second Master, old Zhou once built you a big mansion at the foot of Dongying Mount Fuji; have you not seen it yet? Let me tell you, that mansion is impressive, not any less than the royal mansions here in the capital. Behind the mansion, there are several hot springs. Living there, with nothing to do, you can brew a pot of hot tea, enjoy the view of snow-capped mountains, gaze out at the ocean, and when you’re tired, take a dip in the hot springs... Isn’t that even better than a fairy-tale life?"
He was animated as he gestured to Yang Ge what kind of paradise on earth it was.
Yang Ge glanced at him, snorted dismissively, and said, "What, you find me a nuisance, and you’re rushing me away?"