Chapter 66

Daxia Academy.

Iron cavalry galloped in, stirring up rolling yellow sand.

The Xuanwu Army, the elite iron cavalry of Daxia, was stationed in the capital.

At this moment, Gu Ningfan, clad in iron armor, his eyes filled with a killing intent, led a thousand Xuanwu soldiers to arrive.

The Xuanwu Army arrived, each soldier wearing iron armor, their faces obscured, only their eyes visible through their helmets.

Each one exuded a fierce aura.

This was a true elite iron cavalry, the killing intent in their eyes proving everything.

"Who dares to bully my nephew?"

A roar echoed.

With the appearance of the Xuanwu Army, thousands of scholars were surrounded.

Gu Ningya rode his warhorse, appearing in the crowd, his gaze immediately falling on Wang Xuan and others.

The arrival of the army.

Made these scholars pale, feeling a strange sense of fear in their hearts.

As the old saying goes, when scholars meet soldiers, they can't argue their case.

Moreover, these were not just soldiers, but generals, true commanders.

"Jinian, are you hurt?"

Gu Ningfan's gaze quickly fell on Gu Jinian, directly asking if he was injured.

"Uncle, I'm fine for now."

Gu Jinian replied.

Gu Ningfan nodded at that moment, then his gaze fell on the group of scholars, his eyes filled with coldness.

"Who led the trouble?"

Gu Ningfan spoke, his tone icy, questioning the group.

For a moment, their arrogance was instantly suppressed, each one looking at the others, unsure of what to say.

"Sir, we came today to seek justice. You, as a Xuanwu Army general, brought your troops here privately, what is your intention?"

Wang Xuan's voice echoed.

At this critical moment, he chose to be firm.

But the next moment.

Smack.

Gu Ningfan drew his whip and fiercely lashed Wang Xuan's face.

This lash left Wang Xuan's handsome face torn and bleeding profusely.

The intense pain made Wang Xuan cry out in agony.

"Ahh."

A pig-like scream echoed. Who is Gu Ningfan? A Xuanwu Army general, a warrior. How painful must it be to be whipped in the face?

Everyone was shocked.

Even the great scholar Wang Yun frowned.

"What the hell, I asked who led this, and you're talking nonsense here?"

"Do I need to ask how I brought my troops? Are you trying to say I brought them privately, are you trying to rebel?"

"Want to pin a hat on me? You're asking for death."

Gu Ningfan was ruthless. This lash was without any hesitation. Want to pin a hat on me? Dream on.

Not far away.

Gu Jinian quietly watched everything, but he was still somewhat taken aback. It was a good thing this person was his third uncle; if it were an enemy, he would be the one in trouble.

In the future, he would have to be more careful about who he accused. Accusing scholars was fine, but accusing soldiers had to be done with caution. Otherwise, one lash would be unbearable.

"General, this is going too far."

"He spoke arrogantly, but there was no substantial wrongdoing."

Wang Yun spoke, although he also despised these scholars for their misconduct, giving a lash right away was a bit too much, wasn't it?

"It's none of your business."

Gu Ningfan glanced at the other party, considering that he was a great scholar, his tone was not too harsh.

But soon, holding the whip, he again focused on the group of scholars.

"Mr. Gu, we did not overstep our bounds. Even if we caused trouble for Gu Jinian, we did not use force. You directly used force, which is too ruthless."

"Wang Xuan, speaking politely, did not do anything out of line. Such harsh measures, is your Gu family really the first family of Daxia?"

"We are scholars, students of the emperor. You privately mobilized troops to suppress our loyalty. Today, we will see if your Gu family's knives are sharper or our righteous spirit is stronger. Gentlemen, do not be afraid. We have three to four thousand people. If he has the ability, let him kill all of us. We will see if he dares or not."

Gu Ningfan's appearance suppressed their arrogance, but with someone continuing to incite in the dark, their emotions quickly rose again.

Moreover, seeing Wang Xuan's miserable state, they were both panicked and angry.

Listening to the words of the crowd.

Gu Ningfan's face was full of a cold smile.

"Xuanwu Army, listen to my command."

"Prepare the crossbows."

He spoke, his voice icy.

In an instant, a thousand iron cavalry all prepared their crossbows, the arrows gleaming in the sunlight.

These were fine iron crossbows, capable of piercing a fully realized martial artist within five hundred steps. Not to mention thousands of scholars, even if doubled, one round of crossbow fire would likely end most of them.

"No."

"Gu Ningfan, weapons do not kill scholars. They are ultimately scholars. If you kill them, it will cause a huge problem."

"The Gu family cannot bear it. Do not act rashly."

Wang Yun spoke first, trying to stop the situation, his eyes filled with panic.

Although these scholars had issues, they could not be killed. Killing scholars goes against the natural order.

"Hmph, precisely because scholars cannot be killed, I, Gu Ningfan, will see today whether the mouths of these scholars are sharper or the iron crossbows are sharper."

"A few months ago, my nephew nearly drowned, clearly wronged, yet suffered various slanders and false accusations, all from you scholars behind the scenes."

"Today, my nephew, who has finally achieved something, bringing honor to the Gu family, is still being insulted and defamed by you."

"Do you really think the Gu family is a soft target, to be manipulated at will?"

Gu Ningfan's voice boomed.

Echoing throughout the Daxia Academy.

These words were not just for the scholars, but for everyone to hear.

Once or twice might be fine.

But repeatedly bullying the Gu family? Are you really tired of living?

"Prepare the crossbows."

He roared, and in an instant, all the iron cavalry prepared their crossbows. All it would take is a light press, and these thousands of scholars would instantly become corpses.

"Absolutely not."

"General Gu, do not act rashly."

"This matter can be investigated, there is no need for such measures."

"Gu Jinian, quickly persuade your uncle."

At this moment, various great scholars and teachers appeared. They could not continue to watch the show and rushed out to persuade.

Because they could sense that Gu Ningfan was truly intent on causing trouble.

If he really killed them, the entire capital would likely be in turmoil, and Gu Ningfan would face severe punishment.

This was unnecessary, and neither side would benefit.

So they all came out to persuade, even pulling in Gu Jinian to plead for mercy.

However, Gu Jinian quietly watched, not saying a word.

Because his third uncle was right.

Almost drowning, clearly the weaker party, yet these scholars slandered and spread rumors, portraying him as a villain.

Even now, after his strategy, which should have been obvious with a bit of thought, they still led the narrative.

Accusing him of colluding with merchants to harm the people?

Exploiting the people?

These people were either stupid or evil.

They deserved to die.

However, he also knew that killing so many scholars would cause major problems.

But not killing would only encourage evil winds.

"Gentlemen, do not fear authority. If he kills a scholar today, the emperor will surely punish the Gu family tomorrow."

"Let's see if the Gu family can truly rise above the imperial power."

"Even if we die, we will be for the people, and we are gentlemen."

"That's right, even if we die, we will be for the people, not fearing authority."

"Gu Jinian can kill us, but he cannot silence our voices. Justice will prevail in the hearts of the people."

Voices echoed again, becoming the backbone of the group, continuing to incite the crowd's emotions.

But in an instant.

Su Huaiyu took action.

Bang, bang, bang.

He moved quickly, directly pulling out dozens of people from the crowd who were inciting trouble.

Not many, thirty people. Su Huaiyu had been paying attention to these troublemakers.

Now, all of them were caught, and their faces changed, realizing the situation was bad.

"Prince, they have been inciting trouble in the dark."

Su Huaiyu spoke, looking at Gu Jinian.

"What incitement? We are speaking from the heart. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"We are seeking justice for the people. How can it be incitement in your mouth? Truly ridiculous."

"Want to use us as examples to scare others? You have miscalculated. We have studied the classics, cultivated a righteous spirit, and do not fear authority. Even if we die here today, we will not be afraid."

"Compared to the suffering of millions in Jiangning, our pain is nothing. If you have the ability, kill us."

Those caught on the spot showed no fear, instead continuing to provoke.

This was clearly unusual.

These people were likely fanatics, thoroughly brainwashed, not fearing death.

Indeed, with their voices, they instantly created a sense of fearlessness and defiance.

This further heightened the crowd's emotions.

If these people were really killed, the situation would likely become even more complicated.

"You bastards, you are truly sharp-tongued. Bring them to the prison, and let the Xuan Deng Si people come. I want to see if you still talk tough in the Xuan Deng Si."

Gu Ningfan spoke, the main troublemakers were found, making the situation easier to handle. Sending them to the Xuan Deng Si, he was sure they would talk.

However.

At this moment, the resentment had almost been absorbed, forming a resentment fruit.

And Gu Jinian's voice echoed.

"Third Uncle."

Gu Jinian spoke.

Then he looked at the thirty-odd people.

Without any hesitation, he directly spoke.

"Instigating trouble, deceiving the people, you deserve death."

This was Gu Jinian's voice.

And his intention and attitude.

But when the words fell, everyone was stunned.

They thought Gu Jinian would come out to explain or confront them.

But unexpectedly, Gu Jinian spoke to have them executed.

"Then let's see if you dare."

Someone spoke up, staring at Gu Jinian, betting he wouldn't dare to kill.

But Gu Jinian didn't speak, only looking at his third uncle.

The latter immediately understood, knowing what Gu Jinian meant.

However, Gu Ningfan was somewhat hesitant.

He was just putting on a show earlier. He wasn't afraid to use force, but the impact would be too great.

"Third Uncle."

"They are bullying the Gu family. Are you not going to act?"

Seeing his third uncle hesitate, Gu Jinian couldn't help but speak.

"Kill."

Hearing Gu Jinian's words, Gu Ningfan had nothing more to say.

He wasn't cowardly.

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