"There are so many people involved. Especially the uncles and aunts of this king...... Arin, you have to understand. ”

Wu Lin's heart beat faster as the agitation of anger flowed through his veins: "They are taking what is rightfully yours, especially the land and the people. Have you forgotten all this? ”

"Of course not." Hu Yaoxian's expression was a little unnatural, not so much an explanation as an excuse: "They have approached me and want to reconcile. ”

"Reconciliation?" The muscles on Wu Lin's face twitched slightly: "How to reconcile?" Are they willing to hand over all the land and slaves? ”

"Half, or two-thirds, the exact number is still being discussed." Hu Yaoxian's words were very general: "I think it's okay to be this way, you don't need to be so tough, you can take care of more people." Change doesn't have to be bloody, we can take a gentler approach. ”

Wu Lin's face was stunned, he opened his mouth, his lips trembling with shock: "...... What do you mean by that? ”

"That's it!" Hu Yao thought for a few seconds before making a decision. He comforted the national teacher: "Alin, I know that you have suffered a lot of grievances during this time, especially your family...... To be honest, you're fighting each other and I'm having a hard time in the middle. In this way, everyone take a step back and stop pursuing your family's affairs, as for their side...... I'm going to give them an order now, so that they stop. ”

The deep horror pressed over like a mountain, Wu Lin bit his lip hard, his skin was broken, blood flowed out, and he slowly opened: "So you already knew?" ”

Hu Yaoxian didn't reply directly, his expression was serious: "I have to take everyone's thoughts into account." ”

"I ...... My family, all dead. Wu Lin let out a hoarse roar full of anger: "They are behind the scenes, they did everything." Right now...... You're going to let me stop there? ”

"Then what do you want this king?" Hu Yaoxian raised his voice impatiently, especially accentuating the pronunciation of the word "Ben Wang": "Do you want me to kill them and give you their heads to make bone bowls?" ”

Wu Lin stared at Hu Yaoxian, his eyes quickly filled with blood, contrasting sharply with his pale skin.

Hu Yaoxian has already shown his true thoughts about this reform.

He needed land, he needed population, so from the beginning he stood in opposition to the royal family and other powerful nobles.

The king's will is irreversible, and with the addition of Wu Lin as the national teacher, the whole plan can be implemented from top to bottom.

They were frightened and chose to surrender.

Whoever is forcibly deprived of half or even most of their wealth will feel reluctant. However, no one has the ability to provoke the Tiger King, and the nobles whose interests are damaged can only take Wulin as a target to vent their anger in their hearts.

"You got the benefit, but I became your victim." Wu Lin laughed miserably and shook his head, his whole person seemed to be drained of his muscles and bones in an instant, and he sat down on the chair softly: "Do you remember how you promised me at the beginning?" We want to make the Tiger Clan stronger and unify the whole north. ”

"You've gotten enough." Hu Yaoxian's face changed slightly, and he couldn't allow anyone to violate his authority in person: "It was this king who made you a national teacher, and you are now above ten thousand people under one person, what else is there to be dissatisfied?" ”

"Is family that important?" His next cold words made Wu Lin's angry thinking stagnant: "The old man will always die, either today or tomorrow." With your current status, you want to have any kind of woman. You can have dozens of children as long as you want. ”

Wu Lin suddenly looked up and looked at Hu Yaoxian with unbelievable eyes.

The Tiger King also felt that the words he blurted out without thinking just now were not appropriate. He slowed down his tone and persuaded in a low voice, "Alin, look away." It has happened, and people cannot be resurrected from death. Listen to my advice...... Forget it! ”

In Wu Lin's heart, a tall building that had been built many years ago and was constantly adding bricks and tiles collapsed.

Enthusiasm, youth, faith, ideals...... Everything is in ashes.

Rain and flames followed, as well as an abyss that suddenly appeared at the feet and could not be crossed.

“…… Never mind? The national teacher opened his mouth and spat out these two dry syllables from the deepest part of his throat, like a useless moan from a dying person.

Hu Yaoxian looked at him coldly, and his emotionless words slashed Wu Lin's heart like a knife: "If you continue like this, the entire Tiger Clan will become panicked. Commoners are not nobles after all, they cannot understand our ideals. Only with the support of the aristocracy could more decrees be implemented. Think about it, our Tiger Clan has more than 3 million people and nearly 4 million people, so many cities and villages, can you and I manage it alone? Even if the people below show obedience in person, but disobey in private, what should I do when the time comes? The common people will only count this account on our heads. ”

Wu Lin's face was bloodless, and his lips trembled: "Replace them...... We've talked about this situation before, and there are a lot of people who are better suited than them. ”

Hu Yaoxian did not answer. His gloomy face was like a rock, hard and incomparably hard.

After a long time, he said slowly: "You better rest for a while!" ”

These words were like a shot in the arm, which stimulated the pupils in Wu Lin's eyes to constrict instantly: "What do you mean?" ”

"You're tired, put aside the things at hand during this time and take care of the things at home. This king will order the full control of Bloodclaw City, and no one will work against you again. Rather than persuasion, it was better to say that Hu Yao first gave an order in an indifferent tone: "Someone will hand you over later." Leave the things you are currently responsible for to him. ”

A realization rose in Wu Lin's heart. He was no longer angry, only more bitter and sad welling up from the depths of his mind, pouring through his body like a toxin.

"You're going to replace me?" Wu Lin smiled miserably: "No wonder the plan I arranged on the border was disrupted, no wonder there were rumors everywhere in Bloodclaw City during my absence, no wonder those suppressed nobles jumped out one after another...... So you're behind all this? ”

"I didn't!" Hu Yao was enraged first, he jumped like thunder, and shouted, "I have been protecting you. If it weren't for the forcible suppression of this king, you would be dead by now! ”

"Really?" Wu Lin let out a feeble scoff, "I really don't know when you'll give them back control of the army. I think it was with great difficulty that we were able to remove those commanders. Remember that old proverb? "Self-destructing the Great Wall", what is the difference between what you are doing now and this? ”

"Self-destructing the Great Wall?" Hu Yao put away the anger on his face first, shook his head and sneered, "I don't think so. ”

"We've been good friends since we were kids. I'll admit, you've always been smart, smarter than me. But the identity between us can never be reversed———— I am the king of the tiger clan, and you are the national teacher. ”

"Actually, I never doubted your loyalty. You have won my trust with your actions. But...... Then things changed, people only knew your name, and many people paid tribute to you in public, saying that you had won more benefits for them, and that you had become a benefactor in their hearts. Hehe...... Alin, have you explained this? Why don't you make things clear in front of them? Whether it is land or slaves, the extra rations in winter, and the cloth distributed every summer, are in fact the result of my repeated discussions with you and the formation of a plan. At the end of the day, they only know that you are the greatest benefactor. But what about me? Who will pay lip service to me, the king, and honor me all the time as he has done to you? ”

Wu Lin's heart suddenly tightened, he wanted to defend himself, and in fact he had never thought of betrayal. He sensed a potential danger from Hu Yaoxian, and a sharp spearhead was gradually emerging from the mist.

"I've been trying to persuade myself to dispel thoughts like this. However, the living reality taught me a lesson. Hu Yaoxian's eyes flashed with a dangerous light, and he said slowly, "This example is the Niu Clan. The king of the bull died, leaving behind two sons and a daughter. Wu Peng, the great master of the Niu Clan, is a true sage, and he has been recognized by everyone up and down the Niu Clan, and then has controlled the power of the entire clan. According to clan rules, when the first king did not designate an heir, the male heirs of the royal family who became adults competed with each other to elect a new king after a year. But as a result, Niu Weizhan and Niu Weifang died. ”

"It's funny, isn't it? I also think it's a big joke. There must be a conspiracy in this, but why did the two princes die instead of the national teacher himself? ”

"Looking back, if all the heirs to the throne are dead, who will benefit the most?"

Wu Lin stiffened, and cold sweat was dripping on his back.

Hu Yao stared at him with Sen Han's eyes first, not so much sighing as moaning: "As long as Wu Peng is willing, he can become the king of the Niu clan." But he is not a member of the royal family of the Niu clan and has no royal blood. He's just an outsider...... An outsider! ”

Wu Lin's heart was full of bitterness, and the words and voice of his defense were pale and weak: "I have never had such thoughts. I...... Everything I do is to make the Tiger Clan strong. ”

"I know."

Hu Yao said lightly: "So you have always been my national teacher." But nothing lasts forever, and if you've been in this position for a long time, it's hard to guarantee that you won't have other thoughts. ”

Wu Lin's whole body trembled violently, and he suddenly figured out a lot of questions that he had doubts before: "So...... So you offered to trade horses with other tribes, and I was solely responsible for it? ”

"I'm here to help you." The corners of Hu Yaoxian's mouth curved slightly upward, and a hint of contempt floated, more of a superiority smile: "You are an excellent national teacher, with excellent ability and keen eyes. But you have to understand that people who are too good will attract jealousy. As the king of the clan, I have to balance this. Alin, you can't always be right, you can't always be so perfect when it comes to guiding and dealing with problems. You've made other people feel frustrated like this, and I can't always be on your side to help favor others. ”

Wu Lin suddenly felt ridiculous: "Are you jealous of me? ”

"You should ask the civilians outside the palace." Hu Yaoxian's expression was calm: "When they encounter problems, they will only think of you, the national teacher, and will not think of asking me, the Tiger King, for help." ”

"No, you're mistaken." Wu Lin had a wry smile on his face: "I am the executor of your will and the executor of your orders. ”

"I've got to change that." Hu Yaoxian turned a deaf ear to this: "So you have to make some mistakes, and it's the kind that can't be forgiven by most people." In fact, we all know very well that after the Battle of Red Moon City, it is imperative to trade war horses with foreign races. But there must be a sufficient amount of weight for someone to dominate it. This is destined to be saddled with eternal infamy, so from the moment you accept the order, I know that you are still loyal to me. ”

Wu Lin fell silent. He had already guessed what Hu Yaoxian was going to say next, and he had no interest or strength to continue to defend himself.

"Loyalty alone is not enough." Hu Yaoxian's tone regained its strength and majesty: "I must let others see that you are being suppressed, only in this way can I gain their allegiance. Like I said before, the Tiger Clan is huge, and I can't rule and manage the entire clan by relying on you alone. One to ten, maybe even one to hundred...... Alin, I don't have a choice. ”

"So you acquiesced in them killing my family?" Wu Lin felt his heart dripping blood.

"I need to reassure them that you are losing my favor." Hu Yao first said in a high-sounding manner: "You have done a lot for me, you have opened up a way forward, and it is better to leave the next work to others." I will give you enough wealth, and you will always be my most trusted friend. I promise that at some point in the future, I will continue to use you, and I will also be in the position of national teacher. ”

When he left the palace, Wu Lin felt like he had completely lost his soul. His steps were staggering and slow, as if he had suddenly aged a few dozen years.

Mu Ran and sluggishness control the brain, like a walking corpse.

The guards swarmed him through the streets and returned to the mansion.

Sitting in the living room, I heard the noise and chaos coming from outside.

Wu Lin knew that it was Hu Yao who had sent troops to pacify the people and maintain order.

Rising from his chair, he stepped out of his stiff legs and feet, walked over to the unrecognizable corpse of his brother, and held the blurred pile of flesh in his arms.

He didn't cry, he kept whispering.

"I'm so stupid."

"I was so naïve."

"I swear to the gods that I will avenge you."

The voice was so low, and the amplitude of the lips was so small that no one knew what he was saying except Wu Lin himself.

The corpses are getting colder and colder.

His heart was in a frenzy, burning with flames.

……

Territory of the Ox Clan, White Deer City.

The god of spring returns to the earth and drives away the bitter cold.

The foundation of domination built by Tianhao has played a powerful role, and the entire spring plowing work has been carried out smoothly.

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