Chapter 583 - 247: Killing the Body, Striking at the Heart, When Soldiers Come, Generals Will Meet Them (Part 3)

Of course, having ambition is not a bad thing. It generally means being unsatisfied with one’s current life and wanting to strive for improvement, which is understandable.

But no matter how these two brothers treat others, at least towards their "Seventh Brother", they are quite sincere.

After they were captured by the Jianghu experts under the Thirteenth Prince of the Hu People and subjected to severe torture and arbitrary abuse, they never revealed anything about their "Seventh Brother".

Little Stool even lost his life for this.

Little Table’s personality changed as well, from being generous and broad-minded to becoming gloomy.

Chen Ping allowed him to study statecraft with Yuo Qiu because Little Table Zhuo Meng himself had talent and some aptitudes in this area. Seeing their past camaraderie, he decided to support him.

Even some of the unsavory events from his youth were dug up by others.

Chen Ping genuinely did not expect it.

The hidden mastermind, what else do they not know?

Some of the deepest hidden information, possibly known only to the person themselves, was not beyond the reach of this secretive manipulator.

As she spoke, Ji Mingyue’s voice grew increasingly somber.

"Zhang Yong, Wangg Hao, and Tang Zifeng of Liiyang City died on the spot, not before their secret dealings, receiving of benefits, and oppression of the people were exposed, or because of the riches and concubines they hid at home...

Additionally, the biggest incident was Qin Yuan, the Prefect of Guangyun, dying on the belly of his fourteenth concubine. On that day, people who came to mock him discovered a secret room under his bed from which they extracted one million taels of silver."

"So, did all these people die unexpectedly? And all their disgraceful deeds were spread out?"

Chen Ping vaguely understood the intention behind the other’s actions.

"The news certainly spread like wildfire, but the so-called accidental deaths are not necessarily the case. Thirty-six people often in critical positions of major cities have died, of which twenty-seven were killed by blades and swords.

The blade was the Deer Slaying Saber, and the sword was the Righteous Sword."

Ji Mingyue had a somewhat resigned expression.

"These blade and sword, under the pretense of acting on behalf of heaven, not only kill officials everywhere but also publicize those scandals all over the place. Nowadays, between the market towns, the most renowned are not Seventh Brother’s ’Righteousness Reaches the Heavens’ reputation, but these two people."

"The Deer Slaying Saber and Righteous Sword?"

Chen Ping picked up the freshly issued Wind and Cloud List, still warm, and saw that the Deer Slaying Saber was already ranked eighth on the Earth List. This person’s name was Zhang Daniu, born of a hunting family, bullied by wealthy households, lost both parents, and fled into the mountains to become a vagrant. Later, he had an adventure, practiced diligently, succeeded in the Jianghu, killed corrupt officials, and helped the weak.

The "deer" of the Deer Slaying Saber does not naturally refer to the hunting behavior of Zhang Daniu the hero, but is a metaphor for the world.

If Qin lost his deer, the world would pursue it.

To cut for the world, to scrape the bone and cure poison, what an astounding ambition it is.

In addition to this rustic and amusing name, isn’t it highly likely to be loved by the common folks at the bottom?

There’s no doubt about it.

Chen Ping even thought that based only on the deeds he had done these days, if he called out, followers would gather like clouds.

Of course, if he claimed that under King Ping’s rule, all was a den of corruption and filth, with the officials employed all wicked, the people would believe it.

No need to say much more.

Just expose the wealth and beauties of those corrupt... officials, listing their past misdeeds one by one.

Naturally, the common folks would unanimously rejoice, and someone high or low would say at least "Well done."

During ordinary times, even Chen Ping would have to say "Well done."

However, at this critical juncture, just as the Southern Region has stabilized, with Beizhou and Nanli eyeing covetously, exposing so many rotten people, and it wasn’t even done by Chen Ping’s own men or King Ping’s Army’s self-check, but by outsiders, it becomes a rather unspeakable situation.

Seeing the leaf and knowing it is autumn.

If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked.

Then, if those below are all like this, how good can those above be.

However it is, a name of "an official who reaps benefits without merit" cannot be avoided.

Enjoying the blessings and benefits, but you avoid doing the right thing, not doing proper work.

Bullying the common people, that is your specialty.

As time goes by, the people’s hearts are lost, blessings gone, Qi drastically declines, it appears that the losses are not significant, but in reality, it is eroding Chen Ping’s foundation.

This is the reason why Chen Ping finds it troublesome.

"Are you saying that riots erupted simultaneously in 318 cities, with some assassinated, others facing reputational ruin, and more living in constant fear, not even daring to step outside?"

"Yes, if the Deer Slaying Saber and Righteous Sword are not captured, there could be major troubles. Moreover, this Deer Slaying Saber seems to have an extremely elusive movement, today in East Sea, tomorrow possibly in Liiyang, and in a few days might reappear in Chongyang City."

Princess Mingyue was also somewhat puzzled.

She wrinkled her pretty brows, showing a slightly cautious expression.

She suspected that these two were extremely formidable grandmasters, pretending to be in the Innate Realm, so as to let others underestimate them, allowing them to strike repeatedly.

"Oh you, you are focusing too much on trivialities now. Can’t you see that these two perhaps are not just two people, but two titles? And coincidentally, at the most appropriate moment, they rise to the Earth List, one at fifth place, the other at eighth, both hailing from common backgrounds."

One born of a hunter refugee.

One born of a tenant farmer refugee.

The Deer Slaying Saber and Righteous Sword, named Zhang Daniu and Li Goudan, how convenient, almost deliberately designed.

Moreover, the most convenient part is, whatever they do, they always end up revealing secrets, always standing by the people, always, standing at the moral high ground.

This sequence of moves played out.

Even Chen Ping felt as if he indeed was a heinous villain.

His subordinates were nothing but rotten fish and shrimps, a den of thieves.

He even sensed the loss of Fortune from 14 points gradually declining to 13 points, and it might continue to fall daily.

"Are you suggesting this is a tactic of the Great Li Dynasty, or perhaps the Beizhou Barbarians?"

"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t, but one point is for sure, the Wind and Cloud List is definitely at work."

Chen Ping said with a smile.

Without waiting for young Ji Mingyue to ponder, he directly revealed the mystery.

"You are confused by your involvement. Holding the Celestial Heart Pavilion, do you think that there are so many people who would know so many secrets?

Some dark secret events, even the intelligence net of your Celestial Heart Pavilion hasn’t discovered. How could they be so well-informed?

Except for an organization, there is no one who could accomplish this."

Chen Ping saw through the intrigue at a glance.

All along, he had felt that the Wind and Cloud List was somewhat unscientific.

Why is it that as soon as I made a move, my details were seen through? Even hiding in the depths of the dark forest, my techniques and cultivation levels couldn’t be hidden from the Wind and Cloud List.

What kind of mechanism is this thing operating under?

And why produce a ranking list?

Doesn’t anyone know that when a ranking list appears, the world will be turbulent?

If in the past life, who dared to rashly issue such a list would undoubtedly attract the violent crackdowns from institutions.

When it comes to literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second.

For a ranking, to kill back and forth, creating bloody turmoil, any mature institution would not allow the existence of such a force.

To exist continuously, it’s obvious that the person behind this list cannot be dealt with.

Only this reason.

The one fooling behind the scenes becomes very clear.

"At this moment, there is no room for patience. All experts of the Celestial Heart Pavilion, move to hunt this group down, and this time, let Senior Sister join the fray, the full force of the Primordial Iron Cavalry mobilized."

Chen Ping commanded coldly.

You have Zhang Liang’s stratagems, I have my climbing ladder.

You scheme the people’s heart, scheme the fortune of Qi and Fate, yet do not realize that the people are inherently fickle, today they hate you to the bone, tomorrow they will turn and forget.

They remember neither kindness nor hatred, neither what they consume nor their punishment.

In the long run, clearing out so many rotten people is indeed beneficial for purifying the team.

Once this force that targets officials everywhere is thoroughly eradicated, issuing a few soothing notices would equate to nothing having ever happened.

When it comes to acquiring Fortune and stabilizing Qi, Chen Ping is serious.

This time he is ready to employ heavy measures, refusing to go easy even while dealing with the most mysterious faction.

"Yes."

Princess Mingyue then saluted with folded hands, dispatching troops with murderous intent, and sought Han Xiaoru, preparing to make a full strike.

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