Qin Ao seemed to be asking, but in truth, he already had a leaning in his heart.
Having lived two lifetimes, both rising from humble beginnings, he knew the principle of eliminating the root of the problem. He also relished the satisfaction of thoroughly crushing his enemies.
In his view, Xiao Chen and the others were already turtles in a jar. Eliminating them was merely a matter of time.
However, Ye Fan did not immediately agree.
He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke, his voice clear and steady:
"Imperial Father, I believe that Xiao Chen, Han Yu, and the others are now like a candle in the wind, their momentum spent. The natural barrier of Cloud Dream Marsh may hold for a time, but it cannot withstand your radiant imperial might. Eliminating them is merely a question of timing, whether sooner or later, with no fundamental difference."
Qin Ao's eyes flickered with surprise upon hearing this. He had expected Ye Fan to be eager to prove himself, advocating for an immediate march to "avenge" himself. Yet he never imagined such a measured response.
"Oh?" Qin Ao looked at Ye Fan with interest. "Then in your view, what should be the priority?"
Ye Fan raised his head, meeting Qin Ao's gaze calmly, his tone growing solemn: "Imperial Father, I believe the priority is not eliminating mere remnants, but rather... transforming evil into righteousness, and winning the hearts of the people!"
"Transforming evil into righteousness?" Qin Ao's brow arched slightly. This phrase touched a sensitive nerve.
He came from the Demonic Path, seizing the world through bloody slaughter and overwhelming force. This was common knowledge, and the root cause of why many who styled themselves as righteous still resisted him in secret.
"Exactly!" Ye Fan's tone was firm as he continued. "Imperial Father, do you know why, even though the Holy Dynasty has unified the Central Province and our military might is invincible, there are still undercurrents of dissent?"
"Why some still harbor rebellious thoughts, and why even the remnants in Cloud Dream Marsh are still seen as 'hope' by some?"
He did not wait for Qin Ao to answer, answering his own question: "One of the root causes lies in the two words 'legitimacy'! Imperial Father's origins in the Demonic Path are known throughout the world."
"To many ignorant people, especially those hypocrites deeply poisoned by so-called 'righteous' ideology, demonic means evil, means wickedness! They fear your military power, but they are not truly convinced in their hearts."
"Even within our Holy Dynasty, some soldiers rely on your authority to act recklessly. Plundering, killing, and practicing evil arts are likely impossible to eradicate. This only confirms the outside world's slander of our dynasty as a 'Demonic Court'!"
Ye Fan's words struck Qin Ao's heart like a heavy hammer. He was not blind to these problems, but had always believed that before absolute power, such trivialities were insignificant. Being called out by Ye Fan now compelled him to reflect deeply.
"You mean..." Qin Ao's gaze grew profound.
Ye Fan took a deep breath and presented his carefully considered plan: "I believe that if Imperial Father wishes to establish an eternal, unshakable foundation, he must not rely on military deterrence alone. The priority now is to completely transform the Holy Dynasty's image!"
"Imperial Father can no longer be the 'Demon Sovereign'—you must become the 'Holy Emperor,' the enlightened ruler who sets things right and ends the chaos! The Holy Dynasty can no longer be a 'Demonic Court'—it must become the righteous leader, upright and benevolent to the people!"
"How do we transform it?" Qin Ao leaned forward slightly, clearly drawn in by this bold idea. He came from Earth, and deep down, he was not a pure slaughter fanatic. He understood the importance of public opinion and popular sentiment, but in this world where the strong preyed on the weak, he had previously placed greater faith in fists.
"Establish rules, practice kingly governance!" Ye Fan declared resolutely.
"I ask Imperial Father to immediately issue a strict decree, proclaiming to the world: from this day forward, all evil and demonic acts are strictly forbidden within the Holy Dynasty's domain! All soldiers, officials, and dependent cultivators of the Holy Dynasty shall not slaughter the innocent, shall not plunder the common people, and shall not practice malicious demonic arts that harm the natural order!"
"For past actions, whether compelled by circumstance or committed by individual scoundrels, Imperial Father may issue a special amnesty. But from the day the decree is issued, anyone who violates it—"
Ye Fan's eyes flashed with cold light as he made a slashing gesture: "Regardless of status or merit, once confirmed, they shall be publicly executed to uphold the law!"
We must let the people of the world see that Imperial Father's realm is one of rules, one of clarity and justice!
We must use the harshest means to cleanse the last traces of 'demonic nature' from within the Holy Dynasty!
We kill to establish authority, but we kill those within our own ranks who break the rules! Only thus can we win the people's trust most quickly!
Ye Fan's voice grew impassioned: "Imperial Father, from now on, you are the righteous path! The Holy Dynasty is the righteous path!"
"We hold the mandate of righteousness, command absolute power, and implement benevolent governance, selecting talent regardless of origin. Let the common people live in peace, let cultivators have clear guidelines to follow... Over time, the hearts of the people will naturally gravitate toward us."
Finally, he pointed at Cloud Dream Marsh on the map, his tone carrying the composure of one who could foresee the future: "When the people's hearts have been won and they praise Imperial Father's wisdom, the 'righteous banner' held by Xiao Chen and those remnants will collapse on its own!"
"They will become true rebels, stumbling blocks obstructing the peace of the world! By then, even their own ranks will fracture, and the common people will voluntarily provide us with their whereabouts!"
"Eliminating them will be nothing more than a single imperial decree, or perhaps we won't even need to act ourselves—those eager for merit or those harassed by them will do the job for us! This is the supreme strategy of pulling the firewood from under the pot, far better than mindless military aggression, and it will better demonstrate Imperial Father's wisdom and consolidate the Holy Dynasty's foundation!"
This speech was organized, far-sighted, and not only identified the root of the problem but also proposed a concrete, viable strategy with long-term vision.
Qin Ao listened, saying nothing for a long while as he carefully digested every word Ye Fan had spoken.
His soul from modern society could clearly discern that Ye Fan's words were not sycophancy, but genuinely spoken from a ruler's perspective, considering the eternal stability of his empire!
The political acumen and grasp of human nature within even made this two-lifetime veteran secretly nod in approval.
In particular, Ye Fan's phrases "Imperial Father is the righteous path" and "kill our own people to establish authority" struck right at his heart.
Did Qin Ao wish to forever wear the hat of a "demon"? Who wouldn't want to be remembered in history, revered by the masses?
Moreover, if this plan succeeded, it would not only dismantle the enemy's foundation but also greatly consolidate his rule and eliminate internal destabilizing factors.
At this thought, Qin Ao's gaze toward Ye Fan filled with even greater admiration and delight.
This "son" was not only commendably loyal but possessed such outstanding political vision and skill—he was practically a gift from heaven!
"Good! Good! Good!" Qin Ao clapped his hands and laughed, saying "good" three times, his face radiating the joy of sudden clarity.
"Fan'er, your words are truly golden counsel, farsighted and profound! Every sentence strikes at my heart! I have been so consumed by conquest that I neglected this crucial aspect of winning over the people!"
"Indeed, what I want is not a world filled with fear, but a realm where the people's hearts are won and the land is truly unified!"
The more he looked at Ye Fan, the more satisfied he became. That hidden anxiety from being unable to conceive seemed to have faded considerably. With such a son, what more could he ask for?
"Someone!" Qin Ao called out spiritedly, his voice ringing with authority.
The attendants standing outside the hall immediately entered with bowed heads.
"Draft the decree at once!" Qin Ao's voice was resonant, carrying an unshakable will. "In my name, proclaim to the world..."
One decree after another, destined to profoundly change the Holy Dynasty's future, aimed at "transforming evil into righteousness," was issued from this temporary palace on this very night. Like stones cast into a lake, they would surely send ripples across this land freshly baptized by war.
And Ye Fan, who had presented this strategy, undoubtedly rose even further in Qin Ao's esteem.
...
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