Chapter 366: Zhai Yi's Last Struggle
"General Wang Xun. Continue to besiege the rebels, and if they want to surrender, it is acceptable. However, Liu Xin and Zhai Yi needed to be taken to the capital to be beheaded in order to set an example. Yan You cried.
Wang Xun cried: "If we surrender, we will not kill the rebels. In case His Majesty the Emperor reprimands. What do we do? β
"The soldiers of the rebellion are ignorant people. It's not meant to be! I can forgive them if something happens. I'm on top. Da Sima Yan You said with a smile.
"Lord Sima. You're thinking too simply. Your Majesty is suspicious by nature, if you do this, won't Your Majesty suspect that you are buying people's hearts? Wang Xun reminded.
He thought to himself: Yan You's martial arts strategy is indeed not comparable to ordinary people. But he was just too naΓ―ve. There is no notion of power. It's dangerous!
At this time, Wang Mang in the Weiyang Palace was also discussing with Wang Shun about the aftermath of the rebellion. Wang Mang opened the map of the Han Dynasty, looked at Nanyang, and said sadly: "Wang Shun." I've been thinking a lot about it these days. I think it's more important to get the world. Everything else is secondary. Naturally, the rebels need to be punished severely. β
Wang Shun stared at Wang Mang's angry expression, and thought: Wang Mang! Wang Mang! Looks like you're really going to slaughter living beings! Isn't your previous benevolence all for show? Or did your previous benevolent government all about fame and reputation? Why don't I understand you anymore!
Wang Mang thought to himself: The king must not have the kindness of a woman, otherwise the harm will be endless! That would be the misfortune of the common people!
So, the monarch needs to have the cunning of a fox and the cruelty of a lion. A monarch may sin, but not wrong. Committing a crime is nothing more than carrying the infamy of eternity, and making a mistake is a waste of all your previous achievements and a failure!
"Wang Shun, you immediately draft an edict: all the participants in Liu Xin's rebellion will exterminate the nine clans." Wang Mang roared.
"Your Majesty, there are millions of rebels! Did they really kill them all? Wang Shun was terrified. He thought to himself: Has Your Majesty lost his mind? More than a million lives! Is it really necessary to ignore human life?
"Kill them all. The rebellion was meant to be put to death. I am just pronouncing a sentence according to the "Han Law". What's wrong? Wang Mang said with a smile.
Wang Shun was stunned and thought: Your Majesty seems to be determined to destroy the traitors! No matter how much I try to persuade him, it won't help!
"Wang Shun. I know that your heart must be unhappy. Do you think I'm too brutal to do this? Wang Mang said with a smile.
"It's not. Governing the world requires strict punishment and strict law. Only when the law is severe, will there be nowhere to hide for those who commit adultery. In this way, we can achieve peace and prosperity. Wang Shun flattered.
Wang Mang thought to himself: Wang Shun has become too fast, right? Why do I think Wang Shun is also a cunning person? See the wind and rudder! I sometimes even feel like I can't trust him anymore. He's really a villain with both ends of the head!
Wang Shun continued: "Your Majesty, the minister will draft an edict to let the Great Sima Yanyou slaughter the rebels who are attached to it. β
Wang Shun's tone suddenly became hard.
Wang Mang looked at him with a keen gaze like an eagle.
At that time, in Wang Mang's heart, Wang Shun was actually already a person with a bad heart.
The rebels were at their last moment. Liu Xin and Zhai Yi were both drinking sullen wine.
"Zhai Yi. Why did we rebel in the first place? We are going to be slaughtered by Wang Mang now. In the future, we will remain in the history books as losers. Liu Xin held the rhinoceros wine glass and cried.
His tears dripped into the wine and made a ticking sound.
"No...... Your Majesty. Our Han clan has a large population. Sooner or later, someone will overthrow Wang Mang. We're just temporarily failing. In the future, we will surely go down in fame! Zhai Yi took the sword and said with a smile.
"That's a good point. However, I'm afraid we won't see this day anymore! Liu Xin cried.
"Yes! But we are all loyal ministers and good generals of the Han family. I will definitely see Wang Mang fall in heaven! Zhai Yi cried.
At this moment, the herald burst in, holding a letter that had been shot in by the enemy.
"Qi Da Sima, the reckless thief has shot in a letter of persuasion to surrender, please take a look at it."
Zhai Yi looked at it, and it read: "General Zhai Yi, you have been loyal to my Han for generations." You are not a traitor. Hopefully, you will be able to surrender. Although, this big Sima can't protect you. But at least your family can be pardoned. Other rebels can also be acquitted. I hope you think about it. β
Liu Xin also looked at Yan You's letter from the side, and said with a smile: "Haha...... Yan You is indeed a righteous gentleman! I believe in him. You go and surrender to Yan You! I'm going first! β
Then, Liu Xin picked up the sword and killed himself.
His blood dripped down the letters.
Zhai Yi hugged Liu Xin and cried: "Your Majesty, why are you killing yourself now? Your Majesty. Maybe we can protect you from breaking out! β
"Zhai Yi. It's useless. Wang Mang will definitely not let me go. Wang Mang may let you go because of his cherishing of talent. But it's impossible to let me go no matter what! Liu Xin cried.
"Your Majesty, you are wrong. Wang Mang won't let me go. He'll just die a few days later than you. Don't be in a hurry. I'll be with you soon! Zhai Yi was full of tears and cried.
Liu Xin died in Zhai Yi's arms.
Zhai Yi then walked out of the barracks and went to Yan You.
Yan You looked at Zhai Yi in front of him and said with a smile: "Zhai Yi Da Sima." Are you going to surrender? β
"Yes! I, Zhai Yi, do things by myself. I can be torn apart by a car. However, it is hoped that His Majesty the Emperor will spare the others who rebelled. May I? Zhai Yi looked at Yan You pitifully.
Yan You immediately replied: "No problem." Zhai Yi Da Sima. Others can be pardoned. However, you can really get torn apart. This is the order of His Majesty the Emperor. β
Wang Xun on the side smiled and said, "Zhai Yi, you go back to Chang'an City with us first." Everyone else will be pardoned. You can rest assured. β
Yan You tied Zhai Yi with iron chains.
Zhai Yi smiled: "I just wanted to meet Wang Mang." Wang Mang is also my childhood friend! In the past, we were all studying too much. β
Wang Xun thought to himself: This time with Zhai Yi and Liu Xin's corpse. I can do a lot! I don't know if His Majesty the Emperor will give me the title of king?
"General Wang Xun. We need to arrest the rebel comrades in Nanyang first. Yan You smiled.
"Who do you mean?" Wang Xun was puzzled.
"Of course, most of Nanyang's heroes! For example, Shinno's Yin family. Yan You smiled.
"Nanyang's Haoqiang didn't participate!" Wang Xun explained.
"General Wang Xun, how much gold and silver did you collect from the people of Nanyang? Did you give you tens of thousands of gold? Yan You smiled.
Wang Xun thought to himself: What should I do? In case Nanyang Haoqiang leaked my affairs to His Majesty. I'm miserable! No, I'm going to kill my mouth. Especially the Yin Lu of the Shinno Yin family.
So, what will happen to the Yin Land?