The cabin was quiet, yet it was charged with an undercurrent of intense emotion.
Niu Gao had wanted to explain everything, but upon hearing Yang Yao's final decision, he could only sigh softly.
In Yang Yao's eyes, everything was already decided.
Yet Yang Yao refused to remain silent, sneering, "Zhao Gou begs for peace and pillages the fat and marrow of his people to offer to the Jurchens, leaving the common people barely able to survive, their suffering indescribable. Zhao Gou doesn't care whether the people live or die, all he wants is to safeguard his current imperial throne. I, Yang Yao, have indeed been collecting wealth around Xiang Lake, no different from what he does. But why can he lay siege to me, while I can't attack him? Why is that?"
No one responded.
This question was difficult to answer because even the most clever rhetoric couldn't justify a foundation built on quicksand.
"Just because he bears the Zhao surname, he is allowed to do whatever he pleases?"
