Chapter 407: Ding Yuan, Nailed to the Pillar of Shame
Chapter 407: Ding Yuan, Nailed to the Pillar of Shame
In this world, Lu HaiKong had an intimate understanding of the grassland forces bordering Bingzhou. Historically, the grassland forces along Bingzhou's borders were divided into three major racial powers: the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Huns.
The Bingzhou branch of the Southern Huns was relatively small, while the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes held greater influence and proximity to Wuyuan. Over the past year, they had suffered the most from Ding Yuan's poisonous tea.
Within a year, Ding Yuan had annihilated hundreds of Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes. If this were the original historical world, they would have likely been exterminated, but in this world, they survived, albeit in a pitiful state.
Their hatred for Ding Yuan ran deep, even affecting Li Xiong's relationship with the Xianbei.
Once unleashed, this hatred could generate tremendous energy. Coinciding with the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Ding Yuan led his troops to quell the chaos, but the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes rose up in revenge, launching an offensive against the Bingzhou border regions.
Lu HaiKong swore that he was not the one who set this rhythm in motion. He had initially planned to have Li Xiong guide them, but unexpectedly, the Wuhuan and Xianbei's resentment towards Ding Yuan ran deeper than he anticipated. Without much guidance, the two tribes united, and on April 183, the day before Ding Yuan's encirclement of Lu HaiKong, they launched an attack with hundreds of thousands of troops.
Ding Yuan was not entirely unprepared for these foreign tribes. He stationed Lu Bu and his cavalry there as a deterrent.
He had thought that with the presence of the God of War, Lu Bu, the foreign tribes would be sufficiently intimidated. However, he had not anticipated that the accumulated resentment of hundreds of thousands of people would be beyond Lu Bu's ability to suppress. Moreover, Lu Bu's cavalry, at its peak, numbered only five to six thousand, a mere fraction of the enemy's massive army.
The onslaught of hundreds of thousands of troops overwhelmed Lu Bu's Flying Wolf Cavalry, forcing them to retreat while fighting. Within a day, over half of Wuyuan County fell, displacing countless civilians.
When this intelligence reached Ding Yuan, it struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned. After a long pause, his eyes turned red, and his face contorted like a fierce ghost, as he glared at Lu HaiKong, who stood just over ten meters above him: "It's you! You're the one behind all this!"
"Me?" Lu HaiKong burst into laughter. After a while, he managed to stop, his face turning cold. "Do I have such power?"
Lu HaiKong stood up and spoke loudly: "Admit it! You are the one responsible for all this. It's your greed, the blood of hundreds of thousands of Wuhuan and Xianbei people drawn by your hands. If not for your extermination of their tribes and plunder of their resources, could you have sustained the development of Jiuyuan County? Every inch of prosperity in Jiuyuan County was built with their blood. Now they resist, and you blame me?"
"Sometimes, I truly struggle with you corrupt officials. Instead of using trade to acquire resources, you resort to force. In your eyes, the lives of these foreign tribes are worth less than the money in your pockets."
"Fine, I reluctantly agree with that. But what now? These foreign tribes have risen in retaliation, the county is under attack, and civilians are displaced. Have you considered the price they pay for your greed, your desires, and your blood-stained hands? Their lives are far more precious than the dirty money in your pockets."
"People say you, Ding Yuan, are the living Huo Qing, a national hero. I spit on that! You're nothing more than a butcher driven by money and interests, with blood on your hands."
On the city wall, Lu HaiKong stood tall, his anger palpable as he shouted with fervor. Each word and phrase seemed to carry his rage towards Ding Yuan and the corrupt officials, and anyone listening would feel the righteous indignation in his speech.
Below the wall, Ding Yuan was filled with fury, but he knew he could never win an argument against Lu HaiKong.
At this moment, he couldn't find words to refute, but Lu HaiKong showed no signs of stopping.
"Now, with the enemy at our doorstep, Bingzhou faces threats from within and without. The Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes invade from the outside, while the Yellow Turban rebels rise within. As the governor, instead of thinking of the country's defense, you only seek to eliminate dissenters and line your pockets with the people's money. Ask your conscience, are you fit to be an official? Fit to be the governor of this province? Are you even human?"
"I admit, Lu HaiKong, that I did wrong you in the past. But at this critical moment, when the nation is in peril and the people suffer, if you have any conscience left, if you are still a man, put aside your grievances and lead your troops to fight the invaders!"
"If you are unwilling, if you fear death, then go to Jinyang and enjoy your peace. I will take your soldiers, for I know each one of them. They are the sons of Bingzhou, their blood runs hot while yours is cold. They want to protect their homes and families, not stand idly by as you collude with the enemy!"
Lu HaiKong, in his scholarly robe, stood tall on the wall, surrounded by numerous torches that illuminated his presence for all to see.
He seemed to be amidst flames, radiating light and anger, his voice and movements carrying the force that struck at the heart, stirring up discontent and a desire to resist within the people below.
Below the wall, many of Ding Yuan's soldiers were deeply moved by Lu HaiKong's impassioned speech.
Most of them were from Bingzhou and Wuyuan, and though they hadn't heard the report about Ding Yuan, they heard Lu HaiKong's speech.
They learned that their hometowns were under invasion, and all the soldiers voiced their protest, wanting to return to save their families.
In this situation, Ding Yuan knew he had utterly lost. Without even deploying a single soldier, he had been defeated, a crushing loss. If he ordered an attack now, his troops were likely to mutiny.
Moreover, with the news of the Wuhuan and Xianbei rebellion, Ding Yuan had no other thoughts. All he wanted was to return and rescue Lu Bu, securing Jiuyuan County. But before he could find a way to retreat, Lu HaiKong on the wall had already raised his platform several dozen meters high.
Without a ladder or steps, Ding Yuan was stuck on the pillar of shame, unable to refute his predicament.
Unable to argue, Ding Yuan could only grit his teeth, clench his fists, and leave with his army, carrying the pillar of shame that Lu HaiKong had forced upon him.
Ding Yuan, who had been standing below the wall, turned back with an ashen face, a sight that Lu HaiKong observed closely.
Watching his defeated opponent leave, Lu HaiKong descended from the wall with a sense of satisfaction.
"Who wrote this speech? Have a word with them. Next time, avoid such embarrassing content, but the use of props was effective. It's a shame the prop is one-time use."
Lu HaiKong smiled, recalling the previous righteous indignation...
(End of Chapter)
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