Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkey?

"I wasn't wrong!"

Old Li wore a serious expression. Looking at the others, he said, "I've heard stories saying that Emperor Taizong of the Tang, from centuries ago, was a good emperor! Even the Immortals said so."

"Under his rule, common folk had white flour to eat and peaceful sleep to enjoy! They could marry wives and have children."

"Wasn't that better than now?"

The moment he said that, everyone fell silent.

The young commander smiled.

"Yes..."

"Emperor Taizong of the Tang was a good emperor."

"Unfortunately, that was already in the past."

"Ah, yes!"

Old Li sighed, his voice full of feeling.

The young commander walked over and patted Old Li on the shoulder. "Old Li! Don't be so dejected. Who says Great Song can't get better?"

That pat made Old Li bare his teeth in pain. "Ow! You hit way too hard. These old bones of mine can't take it..."

He rubbed his shoulder and looked up at the youth.

"Really?"

"They've been fighting wars for decades."

"It started when I was old enough to remember, and it still hasn't ended. Even if things do improve, I probably won't live to see it."

Old Li spoke as he sighed.

The youth pressed her lips together.

"Ah!"

"People like us are destined never to see peace!"

Old Li lamented, then called out to the others.

"Sleep, all of you. We have training at dawn tomorrow. Hey... Commander, you should sleep too. Young people may be healthy, but even they can't endure going without sleep."

"Mm."

The youth nodded.

Someone snuffed out the candle.

In the darkness, the youth's eyes shone brightly.

She was Verdant Green Maiden.

Yet in these people's eyes, she was a young commander who had somehow gotten in through connections.

What Old Li had said was