Stronger by Killing

Chapter 114 - 113: The Dying Agent Scheme (5)

Yang Yuzhi shook his head and said, "Dragon Pass won’t fall."

Wu Yang let out a faint laugh. "The military intelligence and layout map uncovered by the Supply Battalion are real."

"I know they’re real," Yang Yuzhi said. "Only if they’re real would the White Lotus Sect truly be lured into attacking Dragon Pass."

Wu Yang said, "The garrison at Dragon Pass, having lost its fortress, cannot possibly withstand the overwhelming force of the White Lotus Sect."

Yang Yuzhi spoke slowly, "That is precisely why the Mystic Armor Guard appeared in Linjiang City. Before Wan Yan arrived, Yunzhou’s Langya Pass had already dispatched a large army to move quietly outside Dragon Pass. As soon as the White Lotus forces charge in, they will suffer attacks from both front and rear, leading to total annihilation.

The White Lotus Sect not only won’t break through Dragon Pass, but will also suffer heavy losses. Furthermore, they will be fully exposed under the sun, left for the Court to wipe them out in a single stroke. The White Lotus Celestial Maiden’s scheme will come to nothing. Now, with Linjiang County, the last retreat for the White Lotus Sect, cut off, Lord Wu, you have lost. The White Lotus Sect has lost as well."

Wu Yang was silent for a while, then raised his head to meet Yang Yuzhi’s gaze, and said slowly, "I nonetheless wish to ask the same question as at the start—was it worth it? Lord Yang, was it worth it, for this utterly rotten Great Xia? Did Wan Yan truly think it was worth it?

You keep saying the Emperor was deceived by traitorous ministers, thus allowing the White Lotus Sect to rampage, but you of all people should know—if not for the Emperor’s incompetence, how could the Court have rotted so completely? Lord Yang, for such an Emperor, for such a Court, Wan Yan gave his life, your whole family died—was it worth it?"

Yang Yuzhi fell silent. After a long pause, he shook his head and said, "I don’t know if it was worth it. Yet, to take the king’s salary and serve him loyally—that is the calling of all who serve. To govern a domain and protect its people is the duty of a parent-official. If the White Lotus Sect succeeds, war will sweep the land—how many people will be driven from their homes, how many families will be torn apart and destroyed?"

Wu Yang laughed softly. "Then do you think the commonfolk, under this decaying Court, live well? Are there not already countless who wander destitute, starve for want of food, or wish for death over life? So long as Great Xia does not fall, the numbers living such lives will only grow. Lord Yang, how many people can you save? You’re only helping this era drag on a little longer."

Yang Yuzhi shook his head. "It’s not the same. So long as the Court is someday cleansed of corruption, the evil ministers purged, the world will once again bask in the light of day."

"Heh," Wu Yang sneered. "If our paths differ, we cannot work together."

Yang Yuzhi gently closed his eyes for a moment. "Let me ask you in return, Lord Wu—was it worth it?"

"Worth it. Why wouldn’t it be?" Wu Yang replied with a rhetorical question.

Yang Yuzhi shook his head. "As for the other Noble Family Heads, they colluded with the White Lotus Sect, seeking greater gain for their families, seduced and blinded by the White Lotus, so they wagered everything on rebellion—I can understand that.

But you—not you. I’ve been your colleague for many years and I know how you see the world. The White Lotus Sect cannot possibly succeed. Since ancient times, anyone who tries to control minds through religion or through tales of spirits and gods, anyone who mobilizes the masses to rebel in this way—their fate has always been failure, doomed from the start.

This truth—you cannot be ignorant of it. I cannot understand why you have chosen to follow the White Lotus in rebellion, even at the cost of your whole clan."

Wu Yang sat quietly, silent for a long time, then finally asked, "Lord Yang, last year, in the Northern Territory of Yunzhou, there was a great drought. Not a grain of harvest. Countless people fled a thousand miles in search of food. The Court’s relief grain never arrived, and parents traded their children for food. Did you know that?"

"I did," Yang Yuzhi said.

"No, you didn’t," Wu Yang replied gravely. "What you know is just the words on the report—trading children for food, mass migrations over a thousand li. But you do not know what it truly means. You don’t know what it is to truly trade children for food, or to flee a thousand miles. A thousand miles of wasteland—nothing grows, not a blade of grass remains, Lord Yang. Not the bark of a tree is left, Lord Yang. Have you ever witnessed dozens fighting and killing for a single piece of tree bark?

I have seen it,

It is a sight that scars the soul, Lord Yang,

I’ve traveled the Northern Territory. For over a year, whenever I dreamed of those scenes, I would be startled awake in fear, do you know that? Too terrifying. Humanity, country—such things are worthless. Even beasts have more humanity than those refugees!"

Yang Yuzhi could not help but shiver.

Wu Yang took a deep breath. "I know the White Lotus Sect is doomed to fail. I know that wherever the White Lotus goes, they devour everything like locusts. I know too that the White Lotus can slaughter a city or raze a town at a whim. But... this ruined world needs a fire!

It needs a fire to stir the consciousness of the people. Someone must begin, so more can awaken, so they come to realize: the centuries-old Great Xia is but a dying, skeletal tiger—one that can be slain!"

Yang Yuzhi paused and reflected, then said, "But by doing this, how many innocent lives must be lost? How many cities razed?"

"Let some die at once, rather than let all die forever. Let one city die, to save ten others. Let one era perish, to make way for centuries of peace—why not?" Wu Yang replied heavily.

Yang Yuzhi heaved a sigh. "If our paths differ, we cannot work together."

"Indeed. Our paths differ."

Wu Yang let out a soft chuckle, slowly rose, adjusted his robes, and said, "Lord Yang, your spy operation was flawless. I concede my defeat completely. But in truth, I have not truly lost."

Yang Yuzhi frowned. "Why?"

Wu Yang said slowly, "You’ve overlooked one thing. The Great Xia is already rotten beyond repair. You alone cannot save it.

Lord Yang, the road ahead is long. I’ll go first!"

With those words,

Wu Yang slowly produced a dagger.

Yuan Xing prepared to seize it, but was stopped by a single look from Yang Yuzhi.

"Pfft..."

The dagger slit his throat. Blood spurted forth,

Wu Yang slowly collapsed, his body convulsed a few times and then was still.

"Bury him with honor."

Yang Yuzhi quietly lowered the curtain.

Yuan Xing lightly grasped the rigid form, took the reins, and drove the carriage toward the Prefecture Government, leaving several guards behind to handle the corpse.

...

Within the Prefecture Government,

All was chaos. After one short but fierce assault, the dozens of Mystic Armor Guards now had to rest. That is the inherent weakness of Heavy Armored Cavalry: mighty but unable to sustain lengthy combat. Moreover, every Heavy Armored Cavalryman costs a fortune,

Even a single Heavy Armored Cavalryman needs at least twenty attendants for maintenance and care—an exceedingly complex affair in itself,

As the Prefect of Linjiang County, Yang Yuzhi could hardly manage to keep even these few dozen Heavy Armored Cavalrymen hidden within the city.

By now,

The Prefecture Government had already been handed over in full to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The one in charge of the aftermath was Rong Yichu.

Yang Yuzhi entered and asked, "Where is Lord Gu?"

Rong Yichu cupped his fists. "Gone to wipe out a household!"

Yang Yuzhi’s mouth twitched—somewhat embarrassed, he muttered, "Such a murderous nature—he couldn’t wait a single moment..."