Chapter Eighteen: Rebellion
The sound signaling the end of the contest drifted through the air, and Long Yu rose and made his way toward the Sky Viewing Platform. Upon the platform, the emperor and numerous ministers were already waiting for the victor’s return.
Long Yu walked onto the Sky Viewing Platform, his steps watched by the ministers, their gazes complex. The old emperor, his face radiant with joy, came forward and grasped Long Yu’s hand, loudly proclaiming to the gathered officials, “This is the future Crown Prince.”
Congratulations filled the air. The two surviving princes had vanished without a trace. What followed was an elaborate and intricate ceremony, and Long Yu, like an automaton, allowed himself to be guided through it all. He barely endured the long proceedings.
The old emperor began to delegate his power, permitting Long Yu to assist in managing state affairs henceforth.
In the days that followed, the residence of the Fourth Prince was bustling and lively, joy evident on every face. With the Fourth Prince’s ascension to Crown Prince, everyone in his household would become his closest aides. When he became emperor, they would enjoy inexhaustible wealth and honor.
When one rises, all around him share in his fortune; naturally, their hearts brimmed with happiness. The nobles and ministers, too, could not resist offering their congratulations. Who would not wish to curry favor with the future emperor?
Each sought to lavish upon Long Yu every word of praise they had ever learned—extolling his peerless martial prowess, his extraordinary talent, his wisdom and courage.
Long Yu listened, neither disgusted nor pleased. These were people who spoke whatever the situation demanded, their words honeyed when one was in favor, able to praise him above the gods themselves. But should he fall from grace, they would likely be the first to strike him down.
Yet Long Yu’s power was thin; he still needed their support.
The former residence of the Fourth Prince, now the Crown Prince’s manor, remained lively for several days before finally quieting. Long Yu at last extricated himself from the festivities.
From that day on, he assisted his father each morning in state affairs, devoting his afternoons and evenings to refining his martial skills, using precious medicinal herbs to strengthen himself.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Long Yu’s Nine-Star Step and Battle Fist had reached a level not inferior to those of the two greatest masters. His Mountain-Splitting Palm was nearly perfected, his physical strength now at 130. With such prowess, even in the entire Great Song Kingdom, few could match him.
On this day, Long Yu was in the palace, discussing affairs with his father, when a guard hurried in from outside to report that rebellion had broken out in the southeastern provinces, the situation dire.
The old emperor was greatly alarmed—the uprising had come swiftly and without warning.
Long Yu volunteered to suppress the rebellion.
“My son, this journey will be fraught with danger, but the emperors of the Great Song Kingdom do not fear death. Sooner or later, an eaglet must leave its parents, and you too must step out from my protection and stand alone…” The old emperor spoke with heartfelt gravity, patting Long Yu’s shoulder, and assigned him two generals whom he considered exceptionally capable to assist him.
“Father, rest assured. I will quell the rebellion and not disappoint your expectations,” Long Yu vowed immediately, his manner pleasing his father, who praised him continuously.
On the day of departure, the emperor and all the officials came to personally see them off.
Leaving the imperial city, the troops drew nearer to the rebellious provinces. Long Yu was taken aback by what he saw. The closer they came to the rebellion’s heart, the more desolate the landscape became. Large numbers of refugees appeared before him, each gaunt and sickly.
“General Su, what is the meaning of this?” Long Yu asked a general beside him.
“Your Highness, these are unruly peasants unwilling to work their land,” replied General Su respectfully, his gaze toward the refugees filled with malice, as if itching to destroy them.
The other general, equally furious, resented those who abandoned their land for the life of a refugee.
These two—Su and Liu—were both renowned for their military accomplishments.
“Men, disperse these refugees!” General Liu shouted.
“Wait,” Long Yu interjected.
“Generals, we are here to quell the rebellion. Why not examine these refugees? Perhaps we’ll uncover the cause of the uprising.”
Seeing the refugees, Long Yu already understood much. As a modern man, he naturally knew why common people rebel.
“Your Highness, is there any need to investigate? The local government has already explained—the unruly peasants stir up trouble for no reason!”
“No, their words may not be trustworthy,” Long Yu replied with a smile and a shake of his head.
In the end, led by Long Yu, the two generals accompanied him into the crowd of refugees.
The refugees were clearly frightened, retreating from them.
Long Yu spoke out, “Do not be afraid. If you have any grievances, speak to us—I will ensure justice for you.”
For a long while, no voice replied. At last, a timid voice asked, “Will you really stand up for us?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Our land is long gone. The village gentry have forcibly bought it all. We have no choice but to work for them to survive, but the rent is so high we cannot go on. We had to become refugees.”
The crowd echoed the sentiment.
“Yes, we cannot survive, so we had to flee.”
“Our family was forced out by the gentry.”
Hearing this, Long Yu understood the cause.
He turned to the two generals, “Now you know why they became refugees?”
“Your Highness, we… thank you for your guidance,” replied the two, their faces flushed with shame.
As senior officials of the Great Song Kingdom, they had always lived in comfort, and found it difficult to imagine such hardship.
“Sometimes those who rebel are not bent on rebellion—they may be forced by others.”
“Notify the surrounding governments to properly resettle the refugees—do not neglect them.”
Leaving these instructions, Long Yu pressed forward with his troops.
The two generals were silent along the way, evidently learning of these realities for the first time.
Upon reaching the rebellious province, the local government began to enumerate the rebels’ sins—how many they had killed, whose grain they had stolen.
As a modern man, Long Yu had little sympathy for these officials, and instead felt compassion for the rebels.
After investigating thoroughly, Long Yu realized the rebellion was organized by martial artists among the populace. The root cause was severe land monopolization and a succession of disaster years—people simply could not survive.
Having understood everything, Long Yu issued a shocking order:
All landlords, wealthy merchants, and local governments must open their granaries and distribute food to the disaster-stricken people.
Not long after the order, the Inspector of the southeastern provinces came to plead.
“Your Highness! I cannot comprehend your command! Many of these disaster victims are rebels—are we to give food to traitors?”
“Do you know why they became traitors? Because they were forced by wealthy merchants and the gentry!”
Long Yu, watching so many die of starvation, seeing countless forced into rebellion, felt his anger ignite, his voice thunderous.
Faced with the Crown Prince’s wrath, the Inspector could utter no further words.