The Demon Lords

Sun Liang stood up, walked outside, and after the servant whispered something to him, he immediately returned to the hall and said:

"Father, elder brother, something has happened."

"What is it?" Sun Youdao asked.

"That Lord Pingye of the Yan people has taken troops to the Academic Affairs Office, and I heard blood has been shed there."

Upon hearing this news,

Sun Ying, who was sitting there, suddenly had a change in his expression.

"The Academic Affairs Office?" Sun Youdao slightly frowned. It was a newly established government office he was not familiar with; he only knew it was responsible for holding and managing the imperial examinations, and of course, for establishing schools and promoting education. But the most memorable function was its first one.

Those who passed the exams could either be selected as officials on the spot or gain eligibility to go to Yanjing to participate in the Spring Exam. If they excelled in the Spring Exam, their future would not be limited to Ying Capital City.

Soon,

new pieces of news kept coming in,

each more shocking than the last.

"The personal guards of Lord Pingye massacred the Academic Affairs Office."

"Governor Mao failed to stop them."

"Lord Pingye has left the city."

"The Yan Army from the East Gate garrison suddenly entered the city!"

"Lord Pingye has entered the Governor’s Mansion!"

"The Jingnan Army has started breaking in to arrest people, targeting scholars and officials suspected of corruption in the examinations."

"Outside the Governor’s Mansion, blood is flowing like a river, and heads are rolling!"

As these pieces of news kept coming, the Sun family members in the hall no longer had any mood for celebrating a birthday.

Without trial, there is a wanton slaughter;

then brought troops into the city to enact collective punishment.

The ones killed weren’t any common folk, nor was it a case of gaining false military merit on the battlefield. Those who died were officials, people of some stature.

Although the chief officer of the Academic Affairs Office was of Yan origin, and there were several Yan officials inside, the majority were still Jin. Additionally, those currently being forcibly arrested by the Jingnan Army were also mostly Jin.

Sun Liang reached out and patted his forehead, instructed the servants to bring a basin of water, and wiped his face, saying:

"Father, what exactly is happening?"

Sun Youdao spoke:

"Matters are not that simple, and that Lord Pingye of the Yan people is no madman. Moreover, civil and military affairs are separate; it shouldn’t have fallen to him to deal with a corruption case in the imperial exams.

Even if he were to do it, it shouldn’t be in such a bloody and direct manner.

From his use of troops, it seems he is skilled in taking risky moves with surprising results, but his judgment of priorities and urgencies is often very precise. Though he is a general, he has a knack for slow and steady strategies."

Sun Youdao’s prowess is undoubtedly high, but after retiring, his access to information might not be as smooth.

At this time, Sun Ying spoke:

"Father, do you mean that what Lord Pingye is doing now is just a facade, and he has another purpose?"

Sun Youdao nodded and said:

"It is certain. You cannot foolishly think that someone smarter than you would suddenly act stupidly.

Most likely, the fool is not him but you."

"..." Sun Ying.

Actually, Sun Youdao did not say this with any specific intention, but rather to explain a principle. Coincidentally, Sun Ying thought his father had already sensed what he was doing, and at this moment, his father was reminding him.

In an instant, sweat started to seep through Sun Ying’s back, and his breathing became uneven.

Wanton slaughter,

enacting collective punishment,

even deliberately bringing troops into the city,

without trial, without involving the authorities to pass judgment, directly sentencing decapitation,

this is not how ordinary cases are handled!

Evidently,

evidently,

this is clearly only the swift resolution employed in handling major cases of treason!

Sun Liang then asked:

"Father, do you know Lord Pingye’s purpose?"

Sun Youdao shook his head,

sighed,

he had not been involved in the political scene for a long time.

After retiring, he received the honorable title of Grand Tutor, while his son Sun Liang took on the role of Transport Envoy in Ying Capital City, which was considered the current standing of the Sun family, but Sun Liang was now utterly confused.

Seeing this,

Sun Youdao had to look at his eldest son again,

thinking that if his eldest son hadn’t been crippled, it would have been him managing the family affairs, and he would not have been so clueless about the signs.

This second son of his,

in the end, is just mediocre.

With this realization,

Sun Youdao felt compelled to say once more:

"Do not aimlessly get involved, nor try to meddle in things you should not touch. I rose from humble beginnings, followed the late emperor half my life, not for the wealth of the Sun family, but I still hope you can live your lives peacefully.

A person,

when they grow old,

has no other desires,

but only wishes for the peace and safety of their descendants."

This statement was truly heartfelt.

However,

in Sun Ying’s ears, it struck like a series of thunderclaps.

Father,

has almost explicitly pointed it out to me!

Indeed,

Father is so wise, even though he is resting at home after retirement, is there anything in Ying Capital City that he wishes to know but cannot?

Father means,

I did wrong, and it is going to bring great trouble to the family?

Sun Liang did not understand why his father would further admonish him, but he still bowed and said:

"I have been taught, and will surely remember it."

Then,

Sun Liang said again:

"Father, could this matter implicate our family?"

"It should not. Now, according to the servants’ reports, those apprehended are all mid-level officials, none of the truly influential families have been disturbed.

The Sun family’s status is still intact, and should remain unharmed in this turmoil."

At this moment,

Sun Ying suddenly said: "Father, I need to relieve myself."