frightfiction Chapter 1212: Three points of perfect acting skills.
Chapter 1212: Three points of perfect acting skills.
After the snow, icicles hung from the eaves of Chang'an, dazzling in the sunlight. The snow in front of each shop was swept clean, and steam rose from the bluestone road. People carrying New Year's goods shuttled back and forth, their shouts and laughter mingling with the sweet aroma of candied hawthorns, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Xu Shu accompanied the envoys through the market. Lu Su looked at the piles of cured meats on the street and the bright fabrics in the silk shops, and couldn't help but sigh: "Look at this bustling scene, the people are happy and the granaries are full."
Before he could finish speaking, Feng Ji interrupted him with a cold laugh: "Mr. Zijing, you see things very clearly, but I wonder how much snow is hidden beneath this 'abundance' that hasn't been swept away?"
Lu Su was taken aback and wanted to argue, but he noticed that the envoys' gazes had already shifted elsewhere. At some point, someone suggested going to the city tower for a panoramic view, saying that one could see the entire city of Chang'an from there. The group climbed the city tower, and their smiles froze on their faces as they watched the men pulling carts to deliver charcoal below sing a folk song.
At the foot of the city wall, just an arrow's throw from the market, stood a cluster of low shacks. Groups of refugees, dressed in tattered clothes, their eyes lifeless, huddled together. Further away, several refugees were scrambling to pluck rotten vegetable leaves thrown out by the city gate guards, their movements like those of starving wild dogs.
This scene, separated from the bustling city by a city wall, was even more jarring than what they had witnessed the day before. The envoys remained silent, recalling the cries of the displaced people in the city the previous night, and looking at these poor people before them who didn't even have the strength to cry, their initial doubts turned into absolute certainty.
"What a boastful old man." Yang Biao sneered, his gaze sweeping over the shacks below the city. "He can't even be bothered to cover up the scars right under his nose, yet he dares to boast about the people's prosperity?" His goodwill towards Xiliang had vanished. He had been secretly contacting Xiliang these past few days, but Ma Chao's harsh demands on the aristocratic families had left the old Grand Commandant dissatisfied. He had only thought that Ma Chao at least cared for the people like his own children, but what was this situation? He had come here on behalf of his son Yang Xiu and Zhong Yao's son Zhong Hui to analyze the pros and cons, concluding that Lü Bu, a mere commoner, was unlikely to achieve great things and that they wanted to find a more reliable backer. But it seemed that Ma Chao and Lü Bu were no different.
Wang Lei shook his head, his fingertips turning white as he clenched his fists: "Is this what Master Zijing meant by the people being at peace and the granaries being full?"
Lu Su's face flushed red and then turned pale. He opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a word.
The envoys said no more and turned to descend the city wall. The wind on the wall whipped up snowflakes that stung their faces, but no one complained as they had when they arrived. Compared to those below the wall who couldn't even keep out the cold wind, what was this little bit of cold?
From then on, whenever they heard the people of Xiliang say things like "loving the people like their own children" or "the granaries are full," they only saw mockery in their eyes.
The night was like a thick black cloth, pressing heavily over Chang'an. The envoys rested in their respective inns, their fatigue from the day just beginning to dissipate in the flickering candlelight, when suddenly a piercing shout came from outside the window, mixed with the cries of women and children and the clattering of objects.
"Get out of here! Take another step closer and I'll break your legs!"
"The authorities said that no one is allowed to linger near the post station after the curfew. Can't you understand human language?"
"Stop crying, kid! If you cry again, I'll throw you into the snowdrift!"
The sound approached from afar, then faded away again, like a dull knife repeatedly tugging at one's nerves in the silent night. The envoys almost simultaneously rose, put on their robes, and went to the window. In the dim moonlight, they saw several men dressed as soldiers using spear shafts to drive a group of ragged refugees. The refugees stumbled and staggered through the snow, clutching tattered rags or half-frozen cornbread to their chests, their cries shattering in the cold wind.
Yang Biao gripped the window frame tightly, his knuckles turning white. Born into a prominent family, he knew the hardships of chaotic times, but he rarely heard such vivid suffering up close. The soldiers' shouts were as fierce as the cries of the refugees, each one a piercing pain in his heart.
"Is this what they call 'enlightened rule'?" he muttered angrily, his voice filled with barely concealed disappointment. "They paint a rosy picture of peace and prosperity by day, but at night they turn on the people with violence. What kind of heroes are they, so two-faced!"
Wang Lei stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the retreating figures of the refugees disappearing around the street corner. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times. "Wasn't the scene on the city wall during the day clear enough? They only care about how glamorous their facade is; they don't care about the lives of the people below." He thought of his own soldiers, who, though strict, would never tolerate such brutality towards the common people. For a moment, his impression of Xiliang plummeted.
The envoys fell silent, yet the same thought arose in their minds: the carefully crafted "abundance" and "peace" of the daytime were nothing but an elaborate deception. True governance could never be concealed by a facade of peace; the cries of expulsion and wailing in the dead of night were the true face of Xiliang.
The candlelight flickered gently in the wind, illuminating the solemn faces of the envoys. They came from different camps, each with their own stances and ambitions, yet at this moment, because of the biting cold and desperate cries outside the window, their perception of Xiliang was twisted into a shared contempt and disdain.
"Such actions will ultimately lose the hearts of the people." Someone murmured, but it was like a stone thrown into water, creating ripples of agreement in everyone's hearts.
The support or opposition of the people has always been the foundation of power struggles in chaotic times. How far can a regime that cannot even show the most basic compassion for its people go by relying solely on bluffing and intrigue?
On New Year's Eve, the Liang King's Palace was brightly lit, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. Gilded palace lanterns illuminated the delicacies laid out in the hall, and the civil and military officials of Xiliang raised their cups to toast Ma Chao, who sat in the main seat, their words full of flattery.
Ma Chao was beaming with pride from the praise he received. Already known for his magnanimous nature, he laughed heartily and raised his cup in response: "You all flatter me! Tonight is New Year's Eve, let's not talk about war, let's just drink to our hearts' content!"
The various envoys seated at the lower end of the table seemed somewhat out of place. Wang Lei looked at the lavish banquet before him, listened to the exaggerated praise, and recalled the scenes he had witnessed outside the city over the past two days. He felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, and he could hardly contain himself.
He slammed down his wine cup, the bottom of which collided with the table with a loud clang, instantly silencing the lively atmosphere in the hall.
"Your Majesty, the city is filled with singing and dancing, a truly prosperous scene." Wang Lei's voice carried a hint of coldness as he stared directly at Ma Chao. "But I wonder if Your Majesty is aware that the refugees outside the city are freezing and starving to death in the cold wind? Everyone says that King Ma Chao of Liang loves his people like his own children, but in my opinion, it's nothing but an empty reputation!"
These words were like a block of ice thrown into boiling oil; the hall fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Wang Lei.
Ma Chao's smile vanished instantly. He slammed his hand on the table, spilling wine, and glared at Wang Lei: "Envoy Wang, what are you saying! Even if your lord Liu Zhang were here, he wouldn't dare to insult me like this!"
"Although the envoy's words were harsh, they were not entirely unfounded." Feng Ji also put down his wine cup, his tone laced with sarcasm. "In terms of martial prowess and the strength of his troops, the King of Liang is indeed worthy of the title. But how are the people under his rule living? I suppose the King of Liang is preoccupied with wars and has no time to care about that, has he?"
Ma Chao's face turned ashen, and he said angrily, "Just say what you have to say! Why beat around the bush! I hate this kind of thing!"
Seeing this, Yang Biao stood up, cupped his hands, and said in a heavy tone, "Your Majesty, in the past few days, many refugees have appeared in the city, but they have been driven out of the city by the soldiers. Tonight is New Year's Eve, and those people outside the city have nothing to eat or wear, suffering from hunger and cold. We are here singing and dancing, enjoying delicious food. Is Your Majesty really unaware of this?"
Ma Chao frowned, looked at Jia Xu, Xu Shu, Lu Su and others, and asked by name, "Yuanzhi, Zijing, is this true?"
Jia Xu spoke first, a calm smile on his face: "Your Majesty, how could this be? Our Xiliang is well-gathered and the people live in peace and prosperity. How could such a situation exist? It must be that someone has mistaken refugees from elsewhere for people under our Xiliang rule."
Li Ru stroked his beard and echoed, "Your Majesty, the snow was heavy this year, and some people did suffer. But we have already taken remedial measures, opening granaries to distribute grain and building warm sheds. There are absolutely no refugees freezing or starving on the streets. You envoys must have believed false rumors."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's expression softened slightly. He looked at Wang Lei and the others and said, "Gentlemen, you see, there's no such thing. Why let these absurd rumors spoil the fun? On New Year's Eve, let's all just drink to our hearts' content!"
"If Your Majesty does not believe me, come with us to the city tomorrow and see for yourself!" King Lei said with a pained expression. He could not tolerate such an attitude of ignoring the suffering of the people.
Enraged, Ma Chao abruptly stood up, his sword flashing as it was pulled halfway from his waist: "You really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"
Wang Lei straightened his neck and met Ma Chao's gaze without fear, saying loudly, "Although I, Wang Lei, am just an envoy, I know that the people are the foundation of the state, and when the foundation is firm, the state is at peace! If Your Majesty can treat the people well, I will die without regret; if Your Majesty insists on whitewashing the truth and ignoring the suffering of the people, even if you kill me, the people of the world will see Your Majesty's true colors!"
A deathly silence fell over the hall once more. Everyone held their breath, watching the two men, swords drawn. The music had ceased; only the candlelight flickered in the wind, reflecting the varied expressions on everyone's faces.
Seeing Ma Chao's tense stance, Cao Ang quickly stepped forward to block Wang Lei, cupped his hands, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Although the envoy's words were urgent, they were out of concern for the people and he had no intention of offending us. Moreover, this matter has not yet been investigated. If you kill the envoy in a moment of anger, it will only damage Your Majesty's reputation. It would be better to send someone to investigate the facts first before making a decision."
Guan Yu's hand on the hilt of his sword loosened slightly. His phoenix eyes swept over Ma Chao, then looked at the arm that Zhuge Liang was holding. Seeing Zhuge Liang gently shake his head, he suppressed his temper and said in a deep voice, "What Young Master Cao said is absolutely right. A gentleman does not raise an army in anger, much less kill people in anger. Even if the envoy's words are not entirely appropriate, we should allow him to explain."
Zhuge Liang lightly twirled his feather fan, his gaze shifting between Ma Chao and Wang Lei, and whispered to Guan Yu, "Be patient and just keep watching."
Sima Yi kept his eyes lowered, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of his wine cup, as if the dispute in the hall had nothing to do with him.
Ma Chao stared at Cao Ang for a moment. Seeing his earnest expression and remembering that he was his sister's husband, he finally snorted and sheathed his sword: "Since my brother-in-law is pleading for me, I will let it go for now."
He turned to Wang Lei, his eyes still sharp: "But tomorrow morning, I will take you outside the city to investigate. If there are indeed refugees freezing and starving on the streets, I, Ma Chao, will publicly apologize to you; the loss of face for the King of Liang is nothing. But if no such thing is found, and you are deliberately spreading rumors—"
Before he could finish speaking, a fierce aura emanated from him: "Don't blame me, Ma Chao, for showing no mercy then!"
Wang Lei straightened his back and said loudly, "Very well! Tomorrow we will go with Your Majesty. If what we have said is untrue, we will be at Your Majesty's mercy!"