Killing Monks

Yin Ping sighed, his gray hair trembling slightly in the wind.

"I was just... speaking a few truths."

He looked towards the distant mountains and said, "Last year, the Yellow River flooded, turning more than thirty counties east of Luoyang into a vast expanse of water. People were displaced and starved to death."

"This spring, Hebei suffered a severe drought. The wheat seedlings had just sprouted when they all withered and died."

"But what about His Majesty?"

Yin Ping sighed and said, "His Majesty wants to build a garden. He wants to build a 'Wanchun Garden' in the west of Luoyang, covering an area of ​​three hundred hectares, moving mountains and filling lakes, and collecting rare flowers and stones from all over the world."

"The Ministry of Revenue said they had no money, so His Majesty ordered an increase in taxes!"

"The disaster victims along the Yellow River barely survived the flood, so where could they find food to hand over? They were beaten to death in their homes by the yamen runners."

"In the drought-stricken areas of Hebei, where can we find money and food during a severe drought? With the increased taxes, farmers sell their children, and if they still can't raise enough money, they all jump into wells."

Yin Ping turned his head and looked at Guangyuan.

"I merely said in court: Your Majesty, if this continues, something terrible will happen."

He gave a wry smile.

"Then something happened."

Guangyuan nodded, and calmly said, "This emperor can't keep his word."

Yin Ping was taken aback: "What did you say?"

Guangyuan looked up at him and said:

"In this world, the farmers are all poor, you can't squeeze any oil out of them. On the contrary, the officials and the wealthy merchants are all rolling in money."

"Instead of getting money from these people, why bother ripping off those poor bastards? How much can they possibly get out of them?"

Yin Ping was stunned, looking at the monk in front of him with a strange expression.

That's the logic.

But who would dare say such a thing in the imperial court?

Who would dare to touch the money of those officials and those tycoons?

He was silent for a moment, then sighed.

"The money of those officials and wealthy merchants is also the hard-earned money of the people. They were just looking for an excuse to plunder the people, and His Majesty's large-scale construction projects have given them a legitimate pretext."

"Once the imperial edict was issued, local officials began to impose additional taxes and levies. They were ruthless and exploitative, forcing people to sell their children and causing families to be destroyed."

"After layers of embezzlement, less than 30% of the collected money and grain actually reaches His Majesty."

He paused.

"Therefore, I have submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, urging you to be considerate of the people's plight and postpone the construction of the garden."

After listening, Guangyuan remained silent for a while.

"What do you mean, sir?" He looked at Yin Ping, "The Emperor of Great Zhou isn't incapable of math, but rather, he calculates it very clearly?"

After passing through the hands of civil and military officials, about 30% of that money would eventually end up in the emperor's pocket.

If taxes were levied directly on the officials, I'm afraid not even a tenth of it would be collected.

What does it matter if a few civilians die?

The people are like grass; once you cut one crop, another grows back.

As long as the officials still listen to the emperor and do things according to his orders, the emperor can still enjoy everything and still rule the Great Zhou!

How to get officials to obey?

Surely it can't really be loyalty to the emperor and patriotism?

It's naturally about power and money.

Yin Ping met his gaze and did not deny it.

"The monk is indeed intelligent; he understands immediately," he nodded and said.

The third sword walked at the front of the group, with his back to the carriage, his eyes scanning the surrounding darkness warily.

He heard Guangyuan and Yinping's conversation clearly.

But he didn't say anything.

What emperor can't do math? What officials exploit people to the bone? What common people are treated like dirt?

He knew all of this because his husband had told them.

He had heard of Yin Ping.

During the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he was known for his uprightness, integrity, and outspoken advice.

He was stubborn and unyielding, and his colleagues secretly called him "Stone Yin." But when the common people mentioned him, they always gave him a thumbs up.

This is the man who, even after being dismissed from office and returning to his hometown, is still not spared by the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Kill them all.

The third sword strike tightened its grip.

The rulers of the world act so recklessly precisely because no one can restrain them.

They can kill whomever they want, and exploit whomever they want.

Today it's Yin Ping, who will it be tomorrow? And the day after?

Their ten swords are meant to be swords hanging over the heads of monarchs.

Hanging above our heads, so that those high and mighty people will know!

There are still people in this world who can govern you.

The power of ten swords is still too small, but one day they will become stronger.

Guangyuan and Yinping chatted all the way.

They talked about everything from the Yellow River floods to the drought in Hebei, from court factional struggles to local officials.

When Yin Ping spoke of what he had witnessed over the years, his tone remained calm, but Guang Yuan could hear a sense of despair in his words.

The despair of knowing the building is about to collapse but being powerless to stop it.

Five or six days passed in the blink of an eye.

The group finally arrived at Nanting Township, Yin Ping's hometown.

"Monk, please stay for a few days," Yin Ping urged.

"Yes, Master, please rest before you go," the couple also advised.

Guangyuan shook his head and declined.

He still had to go back to Qujiang County, where a mute man was waiting for him at the Prajna Temple.

After bidding farewell to Yin Ping's family and the Third Sword, Guangyuan embarked on his journey home alone.

After walking for two days, he took a shortcut.

A valley with steep cliffs on both sides and only a narrow path in the middle. The valley was eerily quiet; not even a bird could be heard.

Guangyuan looked up at the sky, where a sliver of sunlight peeked down from the top of the cliff.

He paused for a moment, then continued walking.

As we reached the center of the valley, a whooshing sound suddenly came from above.

A dark shadow descended from the sky, accompanied by a howling wind, and crashed straight down on his head!

Guangyuan suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking sharply.

The man was surrounded by illusory nine dragon phantoms, which was the protective aura of the Nine Dragons Overlord Body.

With a single palm strike, the force was like a mountain pressing down, its momentum overwhelming.

There's no escaping it.

Guangyuan gritted his teeth, clasped his hands together, and used the Karmic Obstacle Subduing Demon Technique in reverse, simultaneously activating the dual intentions of withering and flourishing!

"boom--!"

The moment their fists and palms collided, Guangyuan felt an overwhelming force surge into his body.

His withering and flourishing spirit only had time to dissipate 30% of its force; the remaining 70% struck him solidly.

He was slammed into the ground, his feet sinking half a foot into the mud.

"puff!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the gravel at his feet.

The man in black landed in front of him, and the dragon shadow around him slowly dissipated.

Guangyuan looked up and saw the person's figure clearly.

The leader of the men in black.

"You ruined our plans, and you think you can just run away?"

The leader of the men in black gave a cold smile and raised his hand.

Figures moved about in front of and behind the valley.

Dark figures emerged from behind rocks and bushes, instantly blocking both ends of the valley entrance.

Guangyuan counted them; there were at least twenty people.

Each of them exuded a calm and composed aura, wore armor, and held a long spear, emanating a chilling and murderous presence.

There were dark red bloodstains on the long spear.

They had already dealt with Yin Ping's family and followed the trail, setting up an ambush in the valley beforehand.

Blood still clung to Guangyuan's lips, his internal organs churning. The blow he'd just received had left him reeling.

There were more than twenty people.

They were all skilled fighters with the Nine Dragons Overlord Body armor.

This is a sure-fire strategy, and the price of meddling in other people's business!

He raised his hand and slowly reached into his robes.

Take out a bronze mirror.

Guangyuan raised his head, meeting the gazes of the twenty-odd people: "Do you really think you've already won?"