Inside Xiyun Hall, on the east side of the royal palace in Luoyang City.
Thousands of people were bound and brought in, momentarily making Ding Yun's palace rather crowded. Fortunately, these individuals had already received a period of "loving" education beforehand.
They understood the principle that obedience and quietness could avert punishment.
Therefore, it wasn't too noisy.
"Welcome, everyone, as guests. I heard you intended to recruit four hundred thousand soldiers to commit acts that enrage Heaven and people. This is truly too wicked and harmful, which is why I've specially invited you to Luoyang to have a chat."
Looking at the group below, who dared to be angry but dared not speak, Ding Yun found it genuinely amusing.
She immediately continued to speak with a rather unapologetic smile:
"As the saying goes...
Oh, right, it's 'He who doesn't listen to elders dies before me.' So, you must listen carefully to my advice. If you accidentally miss anything later,
Or misunderstand.
I fear something might leak from your bodies.
First point, the restoration of the Song State has my son's permission. It's not your place, a mere Viscount, to object, is it? So, I kindly ask Viscount Chu to be quiet.
A lower noble has no right to rebel against authority.
Second point, I sent so many people and spent so much time inviting you here. All the travel expenses, medical fees, and accommodation costs along the way must be borne by you. After all, I'm not running a charity. The list is here; you can check it later.
However, I know you came in a hurry and don't have much money on hand, so I won't sell you for now. Later, each family will select a representative, yes, the eldest legitimate son of each family. I, this Highness, grant a special pardon allowing the eldest legitimate son of each family to return and bring money to Luoyang to redeem you.
As for whether they will come to redeem you after they return.
Whether they come to redeem or simply ascend the throne, that's not my concern. It depends on their filial piety.
If they don't come to redeem you, I'll have to see if you have any enemies, see if anyone is willing to take you. If no one is willing, the nearby mines are short of slaves!"
"I'm afraid your little heads won't be able to comprehend or remember anything more, so let's leave it at that. Oh, right, those who are going back must remember clearly, I can invite you here once, and I can invite you a second, third, or even a fourth or fifth time.
So, don't disappoint me after you go back!
After all, I most likely won't be in the mood to invite you three, four, or five times. I'll just invite you to heaven or hell. I imagine your ancestors will be very happy to welcome you.
Pick out the eldest legitimate sons.
And give them the bill..."
Ding Yun's so-called bill was, of course, not a simple invoice. All the expenses were inflated by about ten to a hundred times. It was less of a bill and more of a list of reparations for their defeat.
As for whether they were willing.
What right did a group of prisoners have to be unwilling?
It was said they were invited as guests, but anyone who truly considered themselves invited by Ding Yun as a guest would be far too naive.
Those who received the bill all gasped in shock, some even hesitated, wondering if their families could afford such a sum of goods and currency. However, none dared to directly say they couldn't.
After all, they were still here, not yet home.
Even if they couldn't afford it, they would deal with it after returning home. At worst, they wouldn't come to redeem them. They imagined their parents, uncles, and even siblings or children would understand their well-intentioned efforts to preserve the family line and ancestral fortune.
After finishing these matters, Ding Yun lost interest in looking at these people any longer. So, with a wave of her hand, she ordered her subordinates to escort them away and then to summon her son.
Upon receiving Ding Yun's summons, King Jing of Zhou rushed over eagerly, running all the way to Ding Yun and asking with bright, excited eyes, "Mother, what do you need me for?"
King Jing of Zhou now had immense reverence and admiration for Ding Yun. After all, what Ding Yun was doing now was something his father, grandfather, and even great-grandfather had dreamed of accomplishing their entire lives without success. He had initially thought that after being humiliated by the envoy from the King of Chu, he would have no choice but to endure it.
He never imagined that one day he could directly capture the King of Chu, humiliate him personally, and beat him soundly for satisfaction.
It was like a dream, too wonderful.
"I've called you here today to prepare several imperial edicts, summoning the rulers of other vassal states to my Luoyang court to resume the past practice of timely tribute and audience.
Originally, I didn't intend to reveal my hand so soon.
However, since the King of Chu has already been invited, I imagine even if I don't do this, the other vassal kings will be uneasy. Instead of letting them remain uneasy, it's better to have them come for an audience and pay tribute to be at peace.
You know how to write the edicts. You can add a sentence at the end saying that if they don't come on their own, I will personally send people to invite them. However, if I send people to invite them, they will have to bear all the expenses. The time, however, should not be too pressing.
They need to know about the fate of the State of Chu.
So, let's set it for three months later.
It will be right after the autumn harvest, for them to come for an audience!"
Ding Yun currently did not have enough manpower to unify and govern the world. Therefore, she could only initially strive to restore the Zhou royal family's position as overlord, regaining the authority to mobilize some resources from the various vassal states for development.
As for whether she would unify the world later.
We'll see.
As Ding Yun finished speaking, her son trembled with excitement. This was something their family had dreamed of for generations since the decline of the Zhou royal family. He never imagined that the grand undertaking of restoration, which generations of ancestors had strived for nearly two hundred years and failed for nearly two hundred years, had actually been accomplished by his mother.
How could King Jing of Zhou not be excited?
However, amidst his excitement, he also had some concerns: "Mother, will they come? What if they refuse and even unite to attack Luoyang?"
"Given their speed, before they can unite to attack Luoyang, it will be enough for me to invite two or three more vassal kings' entire families to Luoyang as guests. If they truly abandon all restraint, then I can also, in the shortest possible time, make the vassal states that joined forces to attack mourn their lost nations and families. You can rest assured and issue the edict.
I will handle everything else.
As if! Even though Ding Yun can currently only purchase certain items from interstellar worlds through the Myriad Realms Shopping app, she has enough confidence to crush these current vassal states. The only difference is whether she is willing to be ruthless and commit more slaughter.
For example, the insecticide sold in the interstellar world's pharmacies is harmless to people who have been injected with gene enhancers, but for ordinary ancient people, it could kill a crowd in minutes.
A few flying toys bought casually from a toy store would be enough to deliver the insecticide to the capitals of various kingdoms in a very short time.