Hearing that these soldiers had nothing to do with him, Shen Tang's tense nerves relaxed, and he raised his hand to lower the sunshade hat. Sitting in the corner, drinking tea in sheep's clothing, he tried to reduce his presence: "Geng country's soldiers... Why are they here?"
After saying this, Qi Shan almost choked on his tea.
This Mr. Shen really didn't disappoint him, every question was beyond his expectations.
"Where are the Geng country's soldiers if they're not here?"
Chen Tang: “…”
Her intuition told her that she seemed to be asking a stupid question.
Shen Tang tried to save the situation.
"But this shouldn't be Chongtai, no, Xin Kingdom? How could the soldiers of Geng Kingdom..."
As she was talking, she stopped herself and covered her eyes with one hand, trying not to look at the way Qi Shan looked at the fool - she remembered Qi Shan mentioned the news that Chongtai, that is, the Xin Kingdom was destroyed and the national seal was suspected to be hidden by the Gong family - at that time, all attention was on the national seal and the Gong family, and she never thought about who was the force that destroyed the Xin Kingdom.
Looking at it again now, it is most likely Geng Country.
This question fully exposed her "naivety and ignorance". Fortunately, Qi Shan was used to Mr. Shen's "unexpected" behavior and did not delve into it.
Chen Tang was embarrassed: "I... don't really understand these..."
"It's not too late to understand now." Qi Shan smiled, tapped the table three times with his fingers, and silently recited the words "The law is not passed on to the six ears". The invisible literary aura surged and dissipated without a trace, "Mr. Shen is obviously a noble scholar who is supported by gold and jade. I can understand. You are still good. Other dandies may be more ignorant and fearless. They only know how to ride horses in Zhangtai, lean on red and green, be romantic and unrestrained, and play with the world. How can they know the national hatred and family hatred, and the suffering of the people?"
Chen Tang: “…”
As long as she doesn't take it personally, Qi Shan is not talking about her.
Chen Tang said shamelessly: “Mr. Qi is right.”
Qi Shan was bored. He just couldn't control his emotions.
Geng State destroyed Xin State, which was known to three-year-old children and farmers in the fields. But Mr. Shen, who had a close connection with the Gong family, was so stupid as to say he didn't know.
He didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
Chen Tang lowered his head and drank his tea guiltily.
"However, Xin and Geng are both of the same ilk. It makes no difference whether they are destroyed or not. For the common people, it is just that the mountain above their heads has changed from a foolish ruler to a tyrant..."
Shen Tang was surprised after hearing this.
She glanced at the Geng soldiers outside the teahouse and was relieved to see that they didn't notice her. "From what you said, Mr. Qi, you have a lot of opinions about the destruction of the Xin Kingdom, but didn't you say before..."
When the two first met, Qi Shan was hostile to her because she was a "Gong family member". He hinted that Gong family was involved in the destruction of Xin State and hid the national seal. Chen Tang thought Qi Shan loved his homeland very much, but now he heard that this was not the case.
Qi Shan raised his eyelids lazily.
“The two are not in conflict.”
Seeing that he had no intention of continuing the conversation, Chen Tang had no choice but to change the subject and try to get more information about this world. She pointed to the top of her head and said, "That gentleman from Geng country... has such a low opinion of him?"
The Xin State was destroyed, and the princes were stupid and should be blamed. It is not an exaggeration to call them "stupid kings". However, the Geng State was strong, and the princes expanded the territory during their reign. How could Qi Shan describe him as a "tyrant"
Qi Shan sneered: "If that is not considered a tyrant, then which prince can't be called a 'benevolent ruler'? Just wait and see. If the tyrant Zheng Qiao is not killed within five years, the Geng Kingdom will surely destroy itself."
Chen Tang became more gossipy.
"Where exactly is the violence?"
Qi Shan was about to give a popular science lesson when a series of ear-piercing shouts and curses came from the prisoner's van outside the teahouse. Soon, only the sound of whipping and shrill screams remained. Chen Tang looked out through the gap in the bamboo curtain of the teahouse and vaguely saw blood dripping from a corner of the prisoner's van.
Another prisoner cursed angrily: "Even if you beat me to death, I will still say that Zheng Qiao, you are a cheap sycophant and a lowly creature. You made me wear mourning clothes and sackcloth. You are just dreaming about your ancestors! I am beating gongs and drums to attend your funeral!"
This gentleman has white hair and a muscular body. He speaks with a powerful voice like thunder.
This was the first time that Chen Tang read about abusive literature from another world.
Awesome!
Of course, the Geng soldiers would not allow him to shout and curse.
He immediately swung the whip at him, leaving a bloody mark with every swing. The man gritted his teeth and didn't utter a scream or beg for mercy. The harder he was beaten, the louder he cursed.
The soldier beat the man until he was almost dead. He gasped and spat at the prisoner in the prison van: "You unlucky old thing!"
"Young Master Shen just asked, 'Where is the tyrant?' Isn't this what we saw?" Qi Shanxu pointed in the direction outside the teahouse. Worried that Chen Tang didn't understand, he started from the beginning. "Zheng Qiao is the current ruler of Geng State. He was taken to the harem of Xin State as a hostage at the age of five. It is said that he was intelligent and studious since childhood, and was also born with a beautiful appearance. He became famous in the capital at the age of fifteen. The ruler of Xin State was delighted and gave him the name 'Nv Jiao'."
"Is the King of Xin seriously ill?"
Qi Shan said: "He is indeed sick, incompetent and lustful. He accidentally set his eyes on Juan, a maid from another country, who is Zheng Qiao's biological mother. He used trickery and force to get her here, and also gave her a hostage, Zheng Qiao."
"This Zheng Qiao is also pitiful..."
Qi Shan laughed at her naivety and asked, "Do you think Zheng Qiao was forced by the powerful and had no choice but to do it?"
"Isn't it?"
Subconsciously, everyone would think that it was a tyrant who robbed and plundered, right
Qi Shan shook his head regretfully, "If it were, Zheng Qiao would be pitiful, but unfortunately he is not. He is very good at killing people with borrowed knives. Over the years, he killed many loyal officials and eliminated dissidents. Those who offended him, called him a flatterer or a concubine, would soon be imprisoned, and no matter whether they were wronged or not, they would be sentenced to death."
What is "the ultimate punishment of destroying the house"
The cruel means of destroying the Dan Mansion could not be restored, even if the case was overturned. Zheng Qiao also bullied the weak and feared the strong, and only killed the poor targets with no background or weak foundation.
I don’t know how many promising scholars and warriors were ruined.
The situation in Xin State was relatively stable in its early years, and the national strength was not weak. Even if there was a tyrant who did not attend court for 365 days a year, spent all day in the harem, plowed women, and secretly ordered people to look for beauties everywhere, the people could still live a miserable life.
But after Zheng Qiao appeared, the situation became more chaotic.
Later, Gengguo was in turmoil, and thought of Zheng Qiao, who was a hostage in another country. Zheng Qiao was also ambitious and unwilling to accept the status quo, so he used money and prospects to win over the ministers of Xinguo, and successfully persuaded the king of Xinguo to let him return to his country.
In just five years, Geng State took advantage of the drought in Xin State and the lack of military strength to launch a surprise attack, and marched all the way to the royal city. Every time he conquered a place, he would allow his soldiers to burn, kill, plunder, and rape women, while he would humiliate the old ministers of Xin State in every possible way.
"Speaking of which, Zheng Qiao has a connection with the Gong family."
Chen Tang's scalp went numb when he heard this.
She really doesn't know this.
But Qishan said it with a smile.
"Back then, the Gong family was the main force supporting Zheng Qiao's return to Geng State. What's interesting is that the Gong family was confiscated and exterminated. The men were sent to the border as coolies, and the women were sent to Xiaocheng Jiaofang. This was the first order Zheng Qiao issued after he conquered the capital of Xin State."