Capital.

The news of the Snowfield Living Buddha being suppressed by Xu Qing had already spread everywhere.

The key is, after Xu Qing's army crossed the Yellow River, they didn't rush to the Capital but advanced slowly by splitting into different forces. The first thing each army did upon taking over a city was to deal with the top three ranked nobles of the locale.

It's like loosening the soil before cultivation.

Xu Qing's intention was clear, which was to plow through the Northern lands again.

As for the charges, they were already prepared.

And those charges were rebellion!

Actually, many nobles in the Northern State Prefecture hadn't rebelled; most were neutral.

Regarding this matter, many Court officials pleaded, hoping Xu Qing could carefully discern who were the true rebels.

Xu Qing did not accept such suggestions.

He chose to act autocratically.

This didn't quite align with Xu Qing's usual style of doing things.

Often, he was still willing to discuss matters with Ministers.

But ultimately, Xu Liushou was Xu Liushou; once a decision was made, no amount of persuasion could sway him.

Some scholars privately remarked that Xu Qing was "overcorrecting."

Xu Qing did not offer any arguments against this, but instead issued a statement that overcorrection was necessary.

Although the forces were divided in many directions, the main army was still proceeding straight towards the Capital.

The sense of pressure was unparalleled.

It was more of a return to the Capital than a Northern Expedition.

Because even though Xu Qing made it clear he was targeting the noblemen of the Northern State Prefectures, not a single official army from these prefectures was willing to fight to the death for these noblemen.

It wasn't worth it.

Disciples of the Daoist School and true disciples of the Immortal Sect, as well as various forces under Xu Qing like the Military Statistical Investigation Department, had long spread the news through Dao Skills or other means and various small notes in the State Prefectures.

Anyone affiliated with those nobles set to be purged would be barred from the Imperial Examination and Clerk exams for three generations, be prohibited from Cultivation, and have their lands confiscated.

Even though there were loopholes considering execution issues, not everyone could ensure they would remain unaffected.

Some nobles who saw the ill omens had already scattered and fled with exchanged Longevity Silver Coins, either Overseas or to places like the Western Regions and Fusang.

At this time, the benefits of the Longevity Silver Coin became evident.

Previously, if someone fled beyond the Central Earth, it was difficult to take significant wealth with them.

Now it was much simpler.

The Longevity Silver Coin of the Great Yu Dynasty was now universally accepted in surrounding countries and was highly sought after, and also much more convenient to carry.

Many officials now only accepted silver coins, to conveniently take home after retirement.

In the past, retiring officials found fencing goods cumbersome. With silver coins, the middleman's margin became much smaller.

Moreover, with the rise of industry and commerce, as long as one had silver coins, anything was purchasable.

However, despite Xu Qing's orders, when it came to actual implementation, many small common households suffered along with the nobles.

Even though Xu Qing's trained army was disciplined, it still had its limits.

Official armies acting like bandits wasn't just talk.

At present, the order in the Northern lands had been greatly disrupted.

Of course, previously it was just the commoners being exploited by powerful nobles, Officials, Clerks, and Esoteric Buddhism Monks; now everyone was suffering together.

Many common people's resentment wasn't as great as before.

Also, with the Military Statistical Investigation Department in place, if things really got out of hand, military law would handle it.

Furthermore, ordinary people didn't have much wealth.

The real burden fell on the rich households.

However, the discipline of these troops deteriorated very quickly.

Xu Qing didn't attend to these matters for the time being.

A certain level of destruction was necessary for the establishment of better order later.

He was becoming increasingly cold-blooded.

Frankly speaking, many innocent people were implicated in this process.

In terms of evil karma, he might not have less than Prince Yu or the Snowfield Living Buddha.

Even with the great righteous cause presiding, Xu Qing did not believe he was doing something particularly remarkable.

In this position, he better understood the perspective of the Black Mountain Demon.

Heaven and Earth are unkind.

Unkindness is the ultimate kindness.

Absolute Emotionlessness from the powerful is actually self-protection.

Otherwise, conscience would be unbearable.

...

...

"Teacher Dai, you should leave." Prince Yu had not been to court for several days.

There was no need.

Because the officials in the Capital who could run had already fled, and those who hadn't were waiting to open the city gates to welcome the old Emperor and Xu Qing.

Currently, Prince Yu hadn't been arrested because the old Emperor hadn't convicted him.

Moreover, the royal grandson was greatly favored by the old Emperor.

Besides, Xu Qing was still the nominal teacher of the royal grandson.

So even those wishing to curry favor didn't dare push things too far.

Teacher Dai: "Your Highness, you have done meritorious deeds. As long as you stay quietly in the Prince Mansion in the future, you won't face any danger to your life."

"I...I've been timid all my life, but this time I want to be brave." Prince Yu smiled bitterly.

In fact, he was full of hate.

He wanted to wait for the old Emperor to return and then commit suicide, to let the world see how this saint-like ruler forced his own son to death.

By now, Prince Yu didn't hate Xu Qing, only the old Emperor.

Why push him to such a point?

Teacher Dai understood Prince Yu's sentiments.

He also knew that the reforms Prince Yu implemented in the Northern lands had saved Xu Qing and Your Majesty a lot of trouble.

Your Majesty was using Prince Yu as bait.

The most heartless, undoubtedly, is the Emperor.

He could even use his own son as bait to fish out those powerful nobles who opposed reform, and then settle scores.

Unstoppable and comprehensive governance was already an irreversible trend.

Whether the Black Mountain Demon triumphed or failed.

Because the Reform Faction had already reaped too many benefits and seen many glorious prospects.

Even if the Black Mountain Demon won, as long as he didn't take over the land, then the reform forces in the North and South would resolutely implement the strategies Xu Qing left behind.

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