Chapter 56: The Law is Greater than the King (Part 2)

  Yang Shuangfeng shifted his body to sit more comfortably and said calmly: "The struggle between the king and the law has never been elegant, it must have been bloody at first. At the beginning, this autocratic regime will dominate. However, when most people's consciousness feels that the emperor's power should be restrained, they will rise up against the king's tyranny. Such suppression and resistance may last for hundreds of years, but the law will ultimately prevail. In the distant future, the emperor will no longer be hereditary, but should be elected by the people, and the emperor's power will also be greatly reduced. A situation where one person can dominate everything will become a framework where a group of people govern together, and there will be no one who can do whatever they want."

  Geng Sang Lan took a deep breath, his expression complex as he said: "Yang Suo Feng... your thoughts are too startling... although we have thought of some vague content, but never expressed it as clearly as you did... where do your thoughts come from?"

  Yang Shuang said with a calm expression: "Sorry, this is something I came up with myself, and it's also an inevitable part of human development."

  Geng Sang Lan nodded repeatedly with a look of seeming understanding and non-understanding.

  Gong Yang let out a long sigh, his heart filled with regret, and said: "I never thought that our lifetime of research would be surpassed by an eight-word phrase from a young whippersnapper. This life of mine has truly been without interest. Yang Suofeng, although I'm extremely reluctant to praise others, I have no choice but to acknowledge that you're a genius in this regard."

  Yang Shuang's faint smile, but in her heart she was mercilessly mocking them. What are you guys? Those eight words were the bloody lessons that humanity got after half a century of repeated struggles. How many predecessors shed their last drop of blood for those eight words? You've spent your whole life studying and yet you think it's that easy to come up with such results?

  Geng Sanglan also seemed to be in a very downcast mood, weakly waving his hand and listlessly saying: "Yang Suofeng, you can go."

  Tang Zhi hastily said: "Third Brother, we can't let him go, he knows too much."

  Geng Sang's expression suddenly turned solemn, and he said bluntly: "What are you talking about? The rules of the Holy Church are right there, can you say that his answer is wrong? I have nothing to say! Since he answered correctly, he can leave!"

  Tang Zī suddenly turned his eyes and said sharply: "Yang Sōngfēng, we can let you go, but you must join the Red Refining Sect and become one of us!"

  Yang Shuang's unhesitating reply was: "This is impossible!"

  Geng Sanglan suddenly realized something and said eagerly: "General Yang, your talent is indeed unmatched. Tang Zhi's proposal is good, you should consider it. This time you returned to Meini to quell the rebellion, everyone knows what the emperor's intention is. If you go there, you can only die nine times out of ten, or even ten times without living. If that's the case, it would be a waste. If you are willing to join our Red Lotus Sect, we will work together for the happiness of the people..."

  Yang Shuangfen abruptly interrupted him, saying firmly: "Sorry, thank you for your kindness. There's an old saying that goes well, 'Different paths don't make for good company.' I have no good feelings towards the Chi Lian Sect at all; on the contrary, I quite detest you."

  "Your understanding is based on the court's misconceptions and slanders against us, you don't understand us at all..."

  Yang Shuang said faintly, "Yes, I don't understand you. But I can see your actions through facts. You started a rebellion in Tianyuan 1674 and were defeated in Tianyuan 1693, experiencing nineteen years of turmoil, with power spanning eleven provinces and over a billion people. In these nineteen years, I didn't see you do anything for the people or ordinary citizens, although your slogans attracted many people. However, in reality, apart from creating more refugees and homeless people, I haven't seen any beneficial construction projects for the people, not even an irrigation canal. You only know how to destroy, burning down city after city and village after village, forcing everyone into your army, then sweeping through every place like locusts. Oh, I forgot, you also have a grand construction project, the Heavenly King's Palace, with 300,000 workers invested, taking two years and still not completing half of it..."

  Gong Yang's face turned red with rage, and he shouted in a stern voice: "Yang Su Feng, shut up! You must not make progress by inches, slandering our Holy Church!"

  Yang Shuangfeng smiled slightly coldly and didn't say a word.

  "Geng Sang Lan said with a deep sigh, 'Yang Suo Feng, I admit it. We did make some fundamental mistakes earlier on. But you have to believe us, our starting point was absolutely good, and our ultimate goal is to let the common people live a good life... As for later on... there were just too many reasons, both subjective and objective, but the most fundamental problem is what Tang Zhi asked you just now - how to restrict the power of the top leader... I'm not afraid to say something that might offend our Heavenly King. Some of his actions earlier on did indeed chill the hearts of those old brothers who followed him for many years, which was why Yue Shen Zhou was able to drive us underground so quickly... But...' "

  Yang Shuang said coldly: "You don't need to explain anymore. No matter how you explain it, I won't agree with such a bloody behavior."

  Gong Yang sneered, "The country and the imperial court are not the same concept. Our goal is not to harm this country, but to make it stronger and more prosperous. The current imperial court is weak and incompetent, losing battles and humiliating the nation, and cannot lead our country forward. If the imperial court cannot develop the country, then replacing it is the way of heaven..."

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "I am also very dissatisfied with the current imperial court, and I hope someone will replace it! Replacing it requires paying a bloody price, but your previous behavior has far exceeded the range that the country can tolerate. Before the fall of Chilian Divine Capital, you collectively pushed all willing and unwilling ordinary people into the fire pit, requiring them to sacrifice for your cause. Just this one item alone resulted in more than 5 million innocent ordinary people suffering. How can you be accountable to those innocent ordinary people?"

  "Those who have dedicated themselves to a great cause will all be immortalized in the flames."

  Yang Shuangfen rebuked them bluntly: "Yes! You may be willing to sacrifice yourselves, but you can't impose your will on others! I dare say that among the 500,000 people who were forcibly burned to death by you, at least 400,000 of them were coerced and didn't want to die! The purpose of overthrowing the imperial court is not just to replace an emperor, but to let the common people live a better life and make the country more prosperous! If this can't be achieved, it's better to let this imperial court continue to linger on!"

  He suddenly stood up with a burst of anger, his hair standing on end, and his fingers cracking with a loud crack.

  Yang Shuangfeng stared back at him without showing any weakness.

  A loud punch slammed into the wall beside him, causing dust to fall down with a rustling sound.

  Geng Sang Lan stared at him for five minutes, his sharp eyes seeming to want to split open his innermost secrets, but Yang Su Feng calmly and fearlessly met his gaze, with only serenity and tranquility in his eyes.

  Geng Sang Luan finally let out a long sigh and said reluctantly: "Since that's the case, we don't have to force it either. Yang Su Feng, we can give you an opportunity to leave, and we won't need your donation of property anymore. Our only additional condition is that you must keep our secret, the secret of the Chi Lian Sect. I know you don't have a good impression of us, but we don't care. If you want to eliminate us, please meet us on the battlefield in the future."

  Tang Zhi hastily said: "Third Brother, how can you... our Red Refining Sect's secret..."

  Geng Sanglan slightly waved his hand, indicating to Tang Zhi not to get excited. He looked at Yang Shuang and slowly said: "Yang Shuang, I hope you don't do anything stupid. Don't implicate your family members. Although the Menis area is far away, our assassins can make a round trip there in less than a month. I think you understand my meaning."

  Yang Shuangfeng coldly smiled and said: "I naturally understand your meaning, among the world's ten thousand snakes, the red practiced snake is the most venomous. Alright, I promise you, I won't reveal your secret. However, in the future when we meet on the battlefield, you are not allowed to take my family as targets."

  Gang Yang Lie said with a burst of energy: "Yang Suo Feng, you can either stay in the Meini region or come back and talk about it!"

  Geng Sang Wanwei smiled and said, "Yang Shuang Feng, if that day really comes, it means you have already pacified the Meini region. Since you can defeat the captors and Fang Fei Qingfeng, I think you also have enough power to protect your family. However, I can promise you that within our capabilities, we will openly decide the outcome on the battlefield and never take a detour."

  Yang Shuang said faintly: "Thank you."

  Tang Zī suddenly interrupted and said: "Yang Sù Fēng, you must raise your right hand and swear that you will never reveal any secrets about the Red Lotus Sect to anyone, no matter when or where. Otherwise, you will suffer heavenly thunderbolts and die, your Yang family will be forever exterminated, every single member of the Yang family will receive the most poisonous curse, dying in bed..."

  Yang Shuang said coldly, "Tang Zhi, I'm not a despicable person like you. Since I promised to keep your secret, I will do it. My credit is more effective than taking an oath. You are simply measuring my noble heart with your petty mind."

  Tang Zicoldly said: "Good, I hope you never forget it at any time."

  Geng Sang Luan turned his head, looked up at the roof and said in a low voice: "You can go. Within the range of Fangchuan Road, you will no longer be obstructed by our Chi Lian Sect. Tang Zhi, send him away, remember my words, don't make me lose credibility."

  Although Tang Zixi was extremely unwilling in her heart, she still had to say respectfully: "I understand."

  But then heard outside a faint sound of someone knocking on something similar to a wind chime, Tang Zhi frowned and said: "Dong Que, what's going on outside?"

  "Quickly, Financial God, the slaves of Bao Ying Fu have rebelled again, it's Mu Tian Wang's organization! They've defeated the guards and are now burning, killing and looting in Bao Ying Fu, preparing to head south on the Yuan Chuan Road..." Suddenly seeing Yang Suo Fen, he hastily stopped speaking, his expression filled with shock.

  Tang Zhi's face changed color, his body swayed, and he almost fell over. His lips moved several times, but nothing came out.

  Geng Sang and Gou Yang Lie also stood up suddenly, their faces filled with shock and horror. Gou Yang Lie's hair was standing on end as he shouted in anger: "It's Mu Zi Xian again! What does he want to do? Such a big thing, and he didn't even notify us? Does he still consider us in his eyes?"

  Geng Sang Lan's face was gloomy, and he glanced at Yang Shuofeng before saying calmly: "Tang Zhi, you first send General Yang off. The matter of the rebellion in Bao Ying Fu can be discussed when you return."

  Tang Zi hesitated for a moment and reluctantly replied: "Yes."