Forcible Seizure, Officials Attack You Hun

"State your business or retire!"

Before the official's words had even faded, a clamor erupted from the assembled ministers!

"Great King! This minister impeaches Lower Grand Master You Hun for extortion and robbery..."

"Great King! You must uphold justice for your minister! That scoundrel You Hun, with a roar, led troops into my estate and forcibly seized hundreds of my slaves!"

"Great King! I too was robbed of a thousand slaves, and every one of them was a strong, healthy man!"

Upon his throne, Di Xin's gaze was filled with surprise as he looked at You Hun, who was gazing up at the rafters. His heart was also full of astonishment:

Good heavens, I truly underestimated you. You've already harmed so many people in just three days. You truly live up to your reputation as a notorious traitor!

This operation is incredibly smooth! I approve of you!

Below the jade steps, You Hun seemed to sense Di Xin's gaze. He lowered his eyes from the rafters and fixed them on his own toes.

Hmph! A bunch of officials at my rank are yapping. Fools who don't understand the Great King's intentions. Even if I get rid of all of you, this minister won't suffer the slightest punishment!

"Enough, your noise is annoying me. Speak one by one, what exactly did You Hun do to you?"

Di Xin's heart bloomed with joy, but his tone was filled with impatience. He tapped his right hand on the throne, and the court immediately fell silent.

"Great King! This minister impeaches Lower Grand Master You Hun for extortion and robbery! Yesterday, Lower Grand Master You Hun led troops to my home and forcibly took three hundred bushels of grain in exchange for three hundred of my strongest slaves! In Chaoge City, at your very feet, Great King, such acts of robbery are occurring. Such a greedy and treacherous minister is a great misfortune for Yin Shang, Great King!"

"Such actions are indeed somewhat improper. You Hun, what do you say?"

Di Xin nodded and looked at You Hun: Come on, keep the music playing, keep the dancing going.

Only then did You Hun raise his head, a slight curl at the corner of his lips. He clasped his hands together and bowed forward:

"Great King! Lower Grand Master Gou Tao has already spoken for me: I traded three hundred bushels of grain for his three hundred slaves, so I have nothing more to say."

"You Hun, you're spouting nonsense! That grain, my slaves, you! I! Great King, you must uphold justice for your humble minister!"

Lower Grand Master Gou Tao was so enraged by You Hun that he couldn't even speak coherently. He bent over, bowed, and tears streamed down his face: That coarse grain, even pigs and dogs wouldn't eat it, and you still have the nerve to say that!

"Presumptuous! In the court, before the Great King, Gou Tao, how dare you openly curse! Where do you place the Great King!"

You Hun suddenly turned around, pointing his right finger at Gou Tao, and let out a furious roar. The latter immediately collapsed to the ground in fear.

"Great King, I, I am truly furious!"

"Enough. Three hundred bushels of grain for three hundred slaves. That's the market price, no loss! All of you, retire."

Di Xin yawned, tilting his head back. These fellows, sending a fool as the vanguard, it's utterly boring. I even prepared several plans, but now it seems none of them will be needed. In that case, I'll just have to let you bite each other for now.

Di Xin stopped tapping his right hand and his gaze, as if unintentionally, flickered towards Shang Rong:

"It's just a few slaves, and yet it's caused such a commotion. I truly didn't expect this."

Shang Rong was still pondering the meaning of Di Xin's gaze when he suddenly heard the emphasized pronunciation of the word "slaves." His eyes suddenly lit up, and he remembered something Di Xin had said to him before. It seemed to be applicable today!

"Great King! Please forgive this old minister's bluntness: slaves are also part of the Human Race! They are also your subjects, Great King! They are not just a mere 'few slaves'!"

Retreat to advance, turn enemies into friends. Let them acknowledge the human identity of slaves, and thus elevate the value of slaves first! This will gradually reduce future resistance.

Great King, did you think of this step from the very beginning?

"Great King! Prime Minister Shang Rong speaks the truth! Slaves are also people, how can they be bought for a bushel of rice?"

"Exactly, exactly! Slaves are part of the Human Race, flesh and blood like us. To buy them for a bushel of coarse grain is forced purchase and sale, extortion and robbery! I implore the Great King to punish You Hun!"

"Heh! Gou Tao, you old fool, according to your logic, can they be bought and sold if you add more money?"

"Exactly! We need to add money!"

Gou Tao, lured by You Hun, instantly changed the meaning of his words, causing the entire court to fall silent. He then realized the implication and, with a thud, knelt on the great hall:

"Great King, I, I was so angry I lost my head, no, no, it was You Hun who led me astray, that's why I said such a thing!"

Di Xin let out two cold laughs upon hearing this. He slowly stood up from his throne and walked step by step towards Gou Tao:

"Lost your head from anger? Or were you led astray? I see you're just inherently mercenary! So you don't think slaves are people, but rather that your own slaves were sold too cheaply, and you've come to me to complain! I only ask you, are slaves part of the Human Race?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Can they be bought and sold?"

"Yes... No! No!"

"Very well!"

Di Xin suddenly waved his sleeve, turned, and ascended the jade steps. With his back to the civil and military officials, he walked one step at a time, speaking one sentence per step:

"You Hun, strip him of his official position, confiscate his home, seize his wife and children, and demote them all to slavery! Send them to work at the Star-Gathering Pavilion! Keep that three hundred bushels of grain, and when the Star-Gathering Pavilion is completed, return it to him!"

"Yes!"

You Hun was overjoyed and walked up to Gou Tao in two or three steps:

"Slave, please?"

"Great King! No, Great King! This minister only misspoke once, Great King! I am a loyal subject of Yin Shang, you cannot treat me like this!"

Gou Tao got up and tried to climb the jade steps, but You Hun stopped him:

"Guards, where are you? Throw this slave out! Take your time, don't hurt him. The Great King still needs to give him three hundred dou of grain!"

"Great King! Great King..."

Gou Tao was dragged out by two guards, his voice growing weaker.

You Hun, having avenged himself, was in a great mood, not just because Di Xin had his back, but also because Gou Tao wouldn't die!

Yes, he wouldn't die!

Not a single one of the hundred thousand slaves at the Star-Gathering Pavilion could die, so Gou Tao's whole family would be safe. And through this incident, he could see that Di Xin was giving him a guarantee: he wouldn't discard him after he was no longer useful. Half of his life was now secure!

"Great King, although Gou Tao's words were lacking, they held some truth. Slaves are also citizens of Yin Shang. I beg that the Great King's mercy can be extended to them."

Shang Rong saw that Di Xin had already made an example of someone and stepped forward again, redirecting the conversation.

"The Prime Minister is right. The matter of exchanging grain for slaves was indeed something I considered carelessly."

Di Xin turned around, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, with a hint of amusement that was obscured by the beaded curtain, making it impossible to see clearly.

"I know everyone's intentions. I will treat the slaves well in the future. However, the construction of the Star-Gathering Pavilion is the priority right now, and these slaves can only be made to suffer. How about this: You Hun!"

"Your subject is here!"

"After gathering the hundred thousand slaves, I have only one requirement: not a single one of these hundred thousand slaves can die. If even one dies, I will hold you responsible!"

"Great King, this..."

"Hmm?"

"Yes!"

You Hun accepted the "heavy responsibility" with a "bitter smile," then turned to look at the assembled officials, his gaze filled with malice:

You heard that, right? I can continue doing this! I can only do this! Cooperate with me, or else... we all die together!