Along the way, all the voices of the common people Yang Hong heard about the imperial court were positive and encouraging.
However, some scholars and literati were publicly criticizing Yang Jian and attacking the court.
Qingquan City, the prefectural city of Hongdong Prefecture, was 400 li from Hongdong Lake,
and it was also the most prosperous city in Hongdong Prefecture.
Yang Hong took seven days to travel from Hongdong Lake to Qingquan City,
purely to celebrate a more lively Mid-Autumn Festival.
He entered Qingquan City at noon, and the city already displayed the lanterns that had been lit in anticipation of the festival.
When the people's lives became prosperous, they had the time and energy to enrich their spiritual lives.
Seeing the smiles on the faces of the common people, Yang Hong's mood was also quite pleasant.
This scene of the people living and working in peace and contentment was something he had worked hard to achieve.
Even though the common people did not know it was his achievement, nor did they even know his name.
However, those happy smiles were his best reward.
Yet, in any world, there would always be some people who would complain after their needs were met.
"You think the Emperor is truly kind? I doubt it."
"Brother Wu, what do you mean?"
"Everyone knows that immortals descended before, and they descended upon Hongdong Lake in Hongdong Prefecture, right?"
"Yes, yes. I saw them from afar with many classmates.
The immortals can truly fly, and the fairy maidens are truly beautiful."
"Right, right~ I also secretly went to see. The wooden boats the immortals rode could fly."
"Yes, those fairy maidens were truly like goddesses descending to earth. I only took one glance and felt I had gained ten years of life."
Yang Hong sat down at the largest tavern in the city for lunch and overheard a group of young scholars in green robes discussing something. Out of curiosity, he sat at the table next to them.
"Hmph, hmph~ I think it would be a loss of ten years of life?
Have you forgotten the first question I mentioned earlier?"
The scholar in brocade robes, sitting in the east and speaking first, let out a cold snort. This not only attracted the attention of several excitedly discussing scholars but also made guests at nearby tables perk up their ears.
"Everyone should know that about five months ago, the imperial court issued an order for the villages near Hongdong Lake to relocate, right?"
"Most people in Hongdong Prefecture know about this."
"Yes. My family is from Hongdong County. At that time, the court ordered all villages and towns within a hundred li of Hongdong Lake to evacuate.
Hongdong County, being 102 li from Hongdong Lake, was spared."
"Good, if you know that, then do you know where the tens of thousands of people from several towns and hundreds of villages near Hongdong Lake went?"
The scholar in brocade robes, surnamed Wu, asked mysteriously.
"Weren't they dispersed by the court to nearby towns?
I remember each household was given twenty taels of silver as resettlement fees."
"Heh heh~ I'm not very talented, but I happen to have some connections and also received twenty taels."
Yang Hong was aware of this matter, and it was he who had first advised Yang Jian to arrange for it.
He had read several cultivation experiences and naturally knew that cultivators, especially rogue cultivators, treated human lives as insignificant.
If mortals accidentally offended a cultivator, they would surely be killed.
Even cultivators who practiced evil arts would actively kill mortals to advance their cultivation.
This was why the imperial court spent a great deal of money to relocate the population.
He was a little curious about what this scholar in brocade robes would say.
"Heh heh~ You are too naive!"
"Brother Wu, why do you say that?"
"Let me tell you, all those people, they are dead!"
The scholar surnamed Wu lowered his voice and said cryptically.
"Ah~"
"How is that possible!"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Spreading heresy!"
Not only the scholar's tablemates but also people at several nearby tables loudly reprimanded the scholar.
Everyone had great faith in the current imperial court and was unwilling to believe such a thing could happen.
"Hmph~ I knew you wouldn't believe me. But I have proof. If you don't believe me, you can go to Taojiang County, which is 210 li further east of Hongdong Lake, and see for yourselves.
It is now a scene of piled bones and a living hell."
"What?"
"Is this true?"
"You're lying, aren't you?"
Everyone in the tavern was drawn in by this shocking news and crowded around the scholars' table, wanting to hear the full story.
"Everyone probably knows that my Wu family's merchant caravan is not only one of the best in Hongdong Prefecture, but it's also a leader in the entire Donghe Province.
My family's caravan often travels to Taojiang County. This news was brought back two months ago, but it was suppressed by the court, so we didn't dare to speak of it."
The scholar surnamed Wu explained with a hint of smugness.
Immediately, a clever person retorted.
"You dared not say it before, why do you dare to say it openly now?"
"Heh heh~ Because those immortals have left. Without the protection of immortals for the court and the royal family,
I dare to speak now!"
"The immortals have left?"
"It seems the immortals have indeed left Hongdong Lake,
but how is this related to the immortals?"
Someone immediately pressed further.
"Because those dead people were killed by the immortals.
As far as I know, those immortals are not true immortals, but cultivators.
And not all cultivators are good; some even eat people."
"Hiss~ Immortals... immortals eat people?"
"This... this is too unbelievable?"
The people nearby were shocked. Many raised doubts, but the scholar surnamed Wu spoke with such conviction that it made them somewhat believe him.
Yang Hong knew that what the scholar said was true, but it was unreasonable for a scholar without martial arts cultivation to know about cultivators and even their distinctions.
"If you don't believe me, you can ask the merchants who have been to Taojiang County, or you can go and see for yourselves.
But hurry, otherwise the crimes in Taojiang County will be covered up by the court."
Seeing that the crowd was still hesitant, the scholar surnamed Wu continued to say with certainty.
"Alas~ The imperial court has no choice.
After all, those people are immortals. Even the imperial court is just mortals.
How could they dare to defy immortals?"
Someone suddenly sighed. Over the past year, they had benefited too much from the imperial court. Instinctively, they began to make excuses for the court and the royal family.
However, Yang Hong noticed a fleeting, sinister smile on the scholar surnamed Wu's face.
"You have all been deceived by the imperial court.
The imperial court knew that cultivators would eat people, so they deliberately gathered those people from Hongdong Lake to be eaten by the cultivators!"
Before the stunned crowd could ask, the scholar surnamed Wu continued.
"In fact, the Yang family's imperial clan are the shepherds chosen by those cultivators, and we common people are their livestock. As long as we live well, those cultivators will come to harvest us.
The reason the Yang family introduced high-yield grains is because they knew the cultivators were about to come and harvest."
"Everyone think about it. For over 300 years, have the Yang family introduced any good seeds or beneficial national policies?
It's only since last year that they've been particularly good to everyone.
Then this year, the cultivators descended."
"Following that, tens of thousands of people in Taojiang County were killed."
"Now do you understand?"
The scholar surnamed Wu finished speaking in one breath, and the entire tavern fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was stunned by this conclusion.
Many people were emitting a foul odor,
having wet themselves!
Yang Hong frowned. Such a rumor could not be baseless. He had to investigate.