All eyes were on Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao merely scanned the venue, a sense of satisfaction in his heart.
That Ito Masamune had not reappeared was a considerable relief.
He had intended to take revenge for Ito Hideyoshi's death and cause him trouble publicly. After his plan was foiled, Ito Masamune had quickly come to apologize. The speed of his change in demeanor and his patient attitude were truly admirable.
Enemies like him were far more troublesome and disgusting than those like Dugu Xiao. After all, it was hard to fight someone with a smile on their face, and he held the title of envoy.
Currently, the Great Gan Kingdom's primary enemies were the barbarians and the Peacock Dynasty in the southwest. They had no spare capacity to sail out and launch a distant expedition to the Izumo Kingdom.
He and Zhuo Zifang could not trouble Ito Masamune further, but after their conversation last night, Ito Masamune would find it difficult to maintain the moral high ground and badger them relentlessly.
"Lord Zhuo, perhaps Marquis Anguo can offer some profound insights first?" He Jingyun seized the opportunity, proposing it publicly. The crowd below responded with a chorus of agreement.
Gongyang He and his associates, their faces grim, glared at Liang Xiao.
He had dominated the spotlight at the Jiangnan Spring Banquet for the past three days. They were waiting for Liang Xiao to take the stage and speak, intending to pick apart his words!
Gongyang Long, in particular, was gazing longingly at Jian Qin Wan and the other two in the distance, wishing he could humiliate Liang Xiao on the spot, even snatching Jian Qin Wan away!
Zhuo Zifang invited Liang Xiao to speak, and Liang Xiao did not refuse. His gaze swept across the assembled guests, his voice clear and resonant.
"The people and land of Jiangnan are truly extraordinary, living up to their reputation! You are all learned scholars. I have heard many of your insights these past few days, each profound and worthy of your reputation. The nation is currently in dire need of talent. I hope you will not forget your original aspirations for learning. Whether you seek to rise high in officialdom or find solace in nature, you can all benefit the country and its people!"
"The prosperity of the Great Gan Kingdom does not depend on one or two wise ministers, but on countless individuals who are dedicated to governing. With strong enemies encircling us, especially the barbarians whose desire to destroy our Great Gan is unwavering, the shame of Yanzhou is still fresh in our minds. The Great Gan Kingdom and the barbarians are destined for war!"
The crowd below nodded in unison, their hearts filled with righteous indignation.
Although they resided in Jiangnan, if Yanzhou were to fall, it would inevitably lead to widespread chaos, and no one would be able to remain unscathed.
Liang Xiao paused, ultimately deciding not to mention the Izumo Kingdom.
After all, this was two different worlds. He certainly would not impose the resentments of his homeland's recent history onto the citizens of the Great Gan Kingdom. However, if the Izumo Kingdom was as cunning and malicious as the island nation bordering his homeland, the Great Gan Kingdom could not afford to be lenient.
It was entirely possible that the Izumo Kingdom would take advantage of the situation when the barbarians invaded again!
Especially since the ancient cultures of the island nations in both worlds were so similar, both fearing power but lacking virtue. Liang Xiao had to be on guard, but for now, only he and a few like-minded individuals could watch.
Currently, the East Sea and the northern border garrisons were heavily guarded, so they had no fear of the Izumo Kingdom's forces.
Before Liang Xiao could continue, Gongyang Long was the first to stand, sneering, "Marquis Anguo, your words are misplaced! Going to war with the barbarians is a grave mistake that only burdens the people and depletes resources!"
"Burdens the people and depletes resources?" Liang Xiao looked at Gongyang Long, a smile forming on his lips.
"Precisely!" Gongyang Long declared proudly.
Liang Xiao asked, "Then do you know the devastation the barbarians wrought upon Yanzhou? It was far more than just a burden on the people and a depletion of resources. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians perished under the blades of the barbarian cavalry!"
Gongyang Long sneered, "Wasn't it because our relations with the barbarians were tense? If we had sought peace with them earlier, why would the barbarians have invaded?"
Liang Xiao asked, "How would we have achieved peace? Did the barbarians not break the treaty and invade?"
"Our Great Gan Kingdom is vast and abundant in resources. If we had offered them sufficient silks, textiles, money, and grain, it would have been more than enough to avert disaster!" Gongyang Long replied arrogantly, then added with a sharp tone, "Unlike those martial brutes, who are always thinking of fighting and killing. They only drain the nation's coffers and cost the lives of soldiers!"
Liang Xiao's expression darkened immediately. "Where would the money to avert disaster come from?"
Gongyang Long replied without hesitation, "Naturally, from the national treasury!"
"Where does the money in the national treasury come from?" Liang Xiao continued to ask.
Gongyang Long burst into laughter, "You don't even have this basic common sense? The money in the national treasury naturally comes from the taxes collected from the people!"
Zhuo Zifang and the others couldn't help but frown.
Liang Xiao said coldly, "So, we still use the people's money to offer tribute to the barbarians, all to avert disaster? Then let me ask you, if the barbarians demand one hundred thousand taels today, you give it. Tomorrow, they demand two hundred thousand taels, will you still give it? The day after tomorrow, they demand four hundred thousand taels, will you still give it?"
Gongyang Long was speechless for a moment, then replied, "Of course, we must give what is required!"
"Utter nonsense!" Zhuo Zifang and Liu Feng and the others below finally erupted in anger.
Liang Xiao laughed uproariously to the heavens.
"If you search through the annals of history, you will know that the barbarians are no different from wolves, jackals, tigers, and leopards! Did the Great Zhou Dynasty not give the barbarians money? Did the Great Heng Kingdom not give them money? In the end, it only benefited them, fattening the barbarians, arming them with sharper blades and sturdier armor, strengthening their forces, and making their invasion of this land all the more successful! You only wish for appeasement because it is not your own money being spent! What if this money had to come from you, the appeasement faction?"
Gongyang Long was rendered speechless.
Liang Xiao cast a cold glance at Gongyang Long and said sternly, "And you can only speak empty words and utter falsehoods! The nation could not withstand the barbarians precisely because you repeatedly nurtured a tiger's potential for disaster, only to suffer the backlash in the end. Yet you have the audacity to stand here and boast, babbling about peace?"
Gongyang Long was enraged, but felt as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Dugu Xiao, seeing this, quickly stood up and said, "Liang Xiao, others respect you as Marquis Anguo, but my father is also a marquis! I will say only this: war between two nations is not necessarily caused by appeasing and nurturing a tiger's potential for disaster. Rather, it is because you vigorously advocate for war, escalating the contradictions between the two sides, leaving the barbarians with no sense of security, and causing them to deploy forces meant for conquering the east, west, and north towards Yanzhou's northern border in the south!"
Liang Xiao's brow furrowed. "Then why were the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Heng Kingdom, which fawned over the barbarians in their late stages, still invaded by the barbarians?"
Dugu Xiao was speechless for a moment, then sneered, "Times are different, how can they be compared! The barbarians are not as unforgivable as you claim. There is still an opportunity to mend relations between the two countries, provided that you do not continue to cause trouble!"
Liang Xiao's eyes sharpened. "Forgiveness? Then let me ask you, those tens of thousands of unfortunate Yanzhou civilians, to whom should they appeal for justice?"
Dugu Xiao was speechless.
"You wouldn't dare say it's the fault of our Great Gan soldiers again, would you? If you hadn't interfered with our defenses, and our Great Gan soldiers had been arrayed at the border earlier, how could the barbarians have seized the opportunity?" Liang Xiao squinted, appraising Dugu Xiao.
"This... in war, how can there be no casualties?" Dugu Xiao's breath hitched. He noticed some people in the crowd glaring at him with hatred, feeling as if thorns were pricking him.
Liang Xiao's expression changed again, his voice unusually dark and angry. "You disregard these victims, so what right do you have to speak of forgiveness on their behalf? Whether to forgive them is their business. The duty of our Great Gan soldiers is to send them to meet these victims, and this is the only mercy we can offer our enemies!"
A wave of applause and cheers erupted from below.
Dugu Xiao's face turned ashen, his body trembling. For a moment, he was unable to reply.
Ouyang Sheng quickly stood up and said, "Liang Xiao, you are simply spewing seditious words to confuse the masses! Our Great Gan Kingdom is a great nation that has always championed benevolence and righteousness. Seeking peace is a matter of course, and it is beneficial for the recuperation of both nations, bringing advantages to the people of both countries!"