All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 398: Unpopular

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Zhou Linghuai’s gaze darkened. “You should know that after my father’s death, it wasn’t just the vassal lords who were restless. There were also those rebels and bandits hidden in various parts of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Ye Hanyuan knocked on the drum and cried out for my father. These stinky rats spread words like ‘a fatuous ruler is tyrannical and persecutes loyal people’ all over the country. They sowed discord among the people, causing anger to rise everywhere. These rebels used the people’s anger to cause chaos everywhere.”

 

The matter of the people’s anger had something to do with him, but he was not the one in charge.

The recent turmoil had nothing to do with him.

However, Li Qiguang’s rebellion was his doing.

Li Qiguang “occupied land as a king” in Shandong. The clan had conflicts with the Imperial Court, and the situation in Shandong was long out of the Imperial Court’s control. Li Qiguang’s intention to rebel was obvious, and the rebellion would erupt sooner or later.

 

He had only pushed the time forward.

Yu Youyao frowned. “These people are causing chaos everywhere. In order to suppress the chaos, the government will definitely cause bloodshed or human lives. Wouldn’t that confirm that the ruler is incompetent? This way, the anger of the people will become more and more intense, and the imperial court’s suppression will become even more cruel. The anger of the people will evolve into officials forcing the people to rebel. Wouldn’t it be logical for these people to gather the commoners and raise the rebel flag?” At this point, her heart skipped a beat. “Many of this is done by the vassal lords!”

The ones who wanted to rebel the most and had the most strength were the vassal lords. It was impossible for them to be indifferent.

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “The anger of the people will not subside. If the rebellion is unfair, I have to go to Shandong. Once Li Qiguang grows up in Shandong and takes a good position in Shandong, he will wantonly absorb the rebel forces from all over the world and form a force that can compete with the Imperial Court.”

 

Yu Youyao understood.

As he was the heir of King You, Yin Huaixi, he was the only one who could go to Shandong.

If he did not go, the people would be indignant and the rebellion would not be appeased.

Yu Youyao’s breathing tightened as she grabbed her cousin’s hand. “Cousin, can you not go?!”

She did not think at all that her cousin should go to Shandong to calm the chaos, nor did she think that the people’s anger would definitely be calmed by her cousin. It did not just happen in a day. The people’s anger rose everywhere. Although there were people who were trying to stir up trouble, didn’t it reflect that the Great Zhou Dynasty was rotten inside and out and was not popular with the people?

The situation in Shandong was dangerous. Even the brave and skilled old generals in the court did not dare to challenge it.

 

The Marquis of Ningyuan, who had received the emperor’s grace, had to resign even if it meant angering the emperor.

How could her cousin deal with such a complicated situation in Shandong?

Zhou Linghuai lowered his eyes. “If I don’t go, the world will definitely be in chaos. At that time, the people…”

Yu Youyao did not even think about it. “But I don’t want anything to happen to Cousin. Although I don’t want to see the world in chaos and the people suffering from the flames of war and being displaced, I also know that if I’m successful, I’ll be able to rule the world. If I’m poor, I’ll be able to protect myself. I can’t do it all now. I just want Cousin to be well.”

She was willing to do good deeds, but kindness that exceeded her ability was not kindness, let alone virtue. It was stupidity.

She wasn’t stupid.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly smiled and stopped teasing her. “Silly girl, if I didn’t have the confidence to win, how could I have taken the initiative to fight?!”

Just now, he was just a little curious. What would the little girl’s attitude be towards him going to Shandong to calm the chaos?

 

He was surprised that the little girl did not let him go.

Yu Youyao did not believe it, and her expression did not look too good. “Cousin, are you really confident in quelling the rebellion in Shandong, or are you deliberately lying to me to reassure me? I heard that in the past, the Great Zhou Dynasty has sent troops to suppress the forces of the Shandong Clan several times, but in the was inconvenient for him to move. What if he was injured again?

Also, her cousin was peerlessly smart, but he had never really led end, it was left unsettled. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I know that you’re very powerful, but…”

Firstly, how could her cousin’s health take the long journey?

Secondly, she had heard that any large clan that could establish themselves in the Shandong area always had some strange and unpredictable methods. Her cousin’s leg had yet to recover and it was inconvenient for him to move. What if he was injured again?

Also, her cousin was peerlessly smart, but he had never really led troops into battle and was inexperienced…

… .

Her mind was in a mess. There were thousands of reasons why she didn’t want her cousin to go to Shandong. Every one of them made her even more worried.

Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “I’ve already asked for permission to calm the chaos in the royal court, and the emperor has also given an oral decree. In a few days, this news will spread throughout the world. There’s no reason for me to go back on my word.”

Yu Youyao pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Was she angry?!

Was she angry with him for not discussing such a big matter with her?

Zhou Linghuai’s scalp went numb as he understood. “The situation in Shandong isn’t as complicated as you think. The reason why Li Qiguang could start a rebellion is because he joined forces with the local clans and borrowed their strength.”

 

Yu Youyao’s eyes turned red as she complained loudly, “You lied to Zhou Linghuai panicked and opened his mouth to explain.

She was already so worried, but her cousin still acted as if nothing me!”

The little girl pouted, her eyes so red that she was about to cry.

Zhou Linghuai panicked and opened his mouth to explain.

She was already so worried, but her cousin still acted as if nothing had happened. Yu Youyao was furious. She glared at her cousin and questioned loudly, “If the situation in Shandong isn’t complicated, why didn’t any of the civil and military officials step forward to fight?”

Zhou Linghuai wanted to say that although the situation in Shandong was complicated, it was only relative to others…

However, Yu Youyao was in a fit of anger. “If it weren’t for the fact that the situation in Shandong is too tricky, why would the court let a guilty heir take over the military power and suppress the rebels? You’re lying to a child!”

The “countering of the rebellion” was a rare opportunity to make a contribution. Those bandits were all a motley crew and could not compare to the regular army of the Imperial Court. As soon as the army came down hard, they would basically be defeated.

It was not dangerous, and it was easy to fight.

Therefore, “countering the rebellion” was also a springboard for the rise of noble descendants.

In the past, as long as they encountered such a good thing, all the generals in the court would fight to lead the troops. The court officials would also fight until their faces turned red.

However, the situation in Shandong was different. The peaceful rebellion had become complicated. Others couldn’t wait to hide far away, but her cousin actually volunteered himself.

The more Yu Youyao thought about it, the angrier she became. She raised her voice again. “You didn’t even tell me about such a big matter. Why are you trying to be a hero? There are so many experienced old generals in the court. Even if no one asks to fight, the emperor will still assign them. When is it your turn to stand up for yourself?”

The little girl’s face was flushed red from being too agitated. Her eyes were bright and shockingly clear.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly remembered that every time his father was injured in the past, his mother would always hold back her tears and help treat his father’s injuries while scolding him angrily.

He was the most ruthless person who rushed on the battlefield more fiercely than anyone else. He was just short of carving the word “obedient” on his forehead, let alone replying.