dognovel Chapter 1109 Murder is the lowest form of violence.
Chapter 1109 Murder is the lowest form of violence.
Murong Yan leaned against Lin Zhen's chest, feeling the warmth and solidity of his embrace. The slight turmoil in her heart caused by his ruthless methods gradually subsided.
She looked up at Lin Zhen's face, its features clearly defined in the dim candlelight, and asked softly:
"My lord, do we really have to... eliminate them all? Those powerful families have been entrenched in Jiangnan for many years, deeply rooted in the region. If we uproot them all, won't it cause even greater turmoil?"
There was a hint of worry in her voice.
She is the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty, and she cannot think about problems solely based on personal vendettas and grudges.
Jiangnan is the empire's treasury. If it is not handled properly and chaos breaks out there, it will be a fatal blow to the entire Great Qian Dynasty.
Lin Zhen looked down at the clear yet melancholy phoenix eyes of the person in his arms, and his heart softened.
He knew what she was worried about.
His Yan'er is no longer the princess who needs him to protect her at all times; she has grown into a monarch who truly cares about the world.
"Of course, not all of them." Lin Zhen reached out and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice steady and powerful.
“Killing is the lowest form of violence. What we need is to break their backbone completely, so that they will never have the will to resist again. At the same time, we also need to make the people of Jiangnan truly support us and support the Great Qian.”
He pulled Murong Yan to the simple table covered with a clean tablecloth, took out a list presented by the ghost from his pocket, and spread it out on the table.
“Look,” he said, pointing to the names on the list.
“Although these people all participated in this conspiracy, their intentions are different. The Wang family of Suzhou, for example, are loyalists of the previous dynasty and are determined to restore the country. These are the ‘chickens’ we need to kill. We must use the ruthless methods to crush them to the point of no return in order to deter the other ‘monkeys’.”
"As for the Zhang family in Hangzhou and the Sun family in Yangzhou, they are nothing but opportunists. They saw that Li Xian was using the banner of the former crown prince and had the prestigious Kong Zhiqian to assist him, so they thought they had an opportunity to take advantage of him and make some money. For such people, we should give them a way out and let them know that following us is much more promising than following that stray dog Li Xian."
Murong Yan listened attentively, and Lin Zhen's analysis instantly cleared her previously somewhat chaotic thoughts.
She stared at the dense markings on the map, her phoenix eyes gleaming with contemplation.
"So what exactly should we do?"
"Divide and weaken, use both kindness and force." Lin Zhen's fingers tapped lightly on the list.
"First, have Ghost Shadow's 'Night Owl' act immediately and seize all of the Wang family's properties in Jiangnan! Arrest all core family members! But don't rush to convict them; lock them up first. At the same time, find a suitable time to make public the evidence we've collected—the correspondence between them and Kong Zhiqian and Li Xian! I want everyone in Jiangnan to see what kind of shady dealings this so-called century-old family has been up to behind the scenes!"
“Then,” a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, “spread the word that Your Majesty and I are only going south to execute the ringleaders, and those who are coerced will not be punished. Anyone who voluntarily surrenders and reports the crimes of others will be pardoned, and may even be rewarded for their merits.”
Murong Yan's eyes lit up instantly!
She understood Lin Zhen's intention.
This is absolutely a heart-wrenching scheme!
The powerful families involved in the conspiracy were not a united front; each had its own agenda.
Now that disaster is imminent, if Lin Zhen throws out such a bait of "leniency for confession, severity for resistance," the pitiful trust between them will crumble instantly.
In order to protect themselves, they will not hesitate to betray their allies, and will even go to great lengths to fabricate charges against their opponents in order to "make a name for themselves".
At that time, the imperial court won't even need to take action; they'll start fighting each other like dogs, fighting to the death.
"My lord, your move was truly brilliant." Murong Yan's heart was filled with admiration and love for Lin Zhen.
He was not only an invincible war god on the battlefield, but also a master strategist who deeply understood human nature.
“To deal with these rats in the gutter, we need to use some extraordinary methods.” Lin Zhen smiled and pulled her back into his arms. “However, deterrence alone is not enough. We also need to show kindness.”
He looked at Murong Yan, his eyes softening:
"Yan'er, tomorrow you will inspect Suzhou as the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty. I have already instructed Ghost Shadow to arrange for some of the grain and money confiscated from the Wang family and other rebellious families to be distributed in your name to the poor people in the city. At the same time, I will also issue an imperial decree to reduce the taxes of the entire Jiangnan region by 30% this year."
"I want all the people of Jiangnan to see clearly who is truly the one who feeds them and gives them a good life! When the hearts of the people are with us, the so-called reputation and foundation of those powerful families will become a joke."
Murong Yan nodded heavily, her heart filled with boundless pride.
She knew that this was not just a reckoning with the rebels, but also a golden opportunity to reshape the political landscape of Jiangnan and bring this prosperous land under the control of the imperial power.
It was late at night, and only a single candle flickered in the inn's room.
Murong Yan didn't change out of her "Divine Phoenix Descending to Earth Dress." She simply leaned lazily against Lin Zhen's chest, enjoying the rare tranquility before the storm.
She was still wearing the Phoenix Descent Dress, her only nightgown. This time, she wasn't wearing a wedding robe, and she looked less like a king and more like a gentle wife.
The deep black Suzhou brocade base, under the dim candlelight, seems to absorb all the light, appearing profound and mysterious.
This cotton nightgown, woven with the light and breathable Suzhou brocade technique, has a huge skirt and a train that is five feet long, but it doesn't feel heavy at all when worn. The soft fabric clings to the skin, bringing a cool and comfortable touch.
As the two nestled together, the long, dark gold brocade train of their robes piled up and tangled freely on the floor behind them, creating a messy scene filled with languor and intimacy.
The candlelight flickered occasionally, illuminating the enormous phoenix embroidered with real gold thread on the hem of the skirt. A flash of gold light appeared on the phoenix feathers, as if the divine bird itself was immersed in the gentle night, concealing all its sharpness and leaving only silent protection.
"Husband, tell me... when will we finally be able to have a few days of peace?" Murong Yan's voice carried a hint of weariness and longing.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhen tightened his grip on her arms.
He lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, his voice hoarse yet gentle: "It will be soon, Yan'er. Once we've swept away all these demons and monsters, once the Great Qian Dynasty is truly peaceful and prosperous, I'll stay with you and not go anywhere. We'll watch the sunrise and sunset, watch the clouds drift by."
"Mmm." Murong Yan nodded heavily, burying her face deeply in his chest.