Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 457: Cutting down the mountain and destroying the temple, putting an end to the faith in the Wolf God_1
The crackdown on the Wolf God faith began swiftly, with actions such as deforestation, temple destruction, denunciations, and the mandatory cessation of worship and rituals, among other things.
Such forceful methods were initially met with resistance from the Northern Hu Lu.
However, as public opinion shifted and their tangible interests suffered, this resistance gradually faded.
On the public opinion front, the information network and the Great Families naturally began to spread propaganda: The Great Shaman and the Wolf God had attempted to assassinate and severely injure Wang Linchi. Furthermore, they aimed to restore the Khan’s Imperial Court, to make everyone return to their former lives.
In light of this, most of the Hu Lu wavered.
They knew Wang Linchi had treated them well and were grateful for their current prosperous lives. Consequently, their resistance lessened considerably. Then, hearing that The Great Shaman and the Wolf God planned to restore the old order and return them to their former lives of serfdom, they exploded with anger.
The Wolf God faith had to be severed. This realization further reduced their resistance.
Why should they give up their good lives to return to being serfs, not only unable to eat their fill or dress warmly, but also with their very lives in peril? The thought enraged them.
The remaining resistance dwindled as the mainstream sentiment shifted. Furthermore, after The Great Shaman and the Wolf God were painted as villains, most quickly fell in line.
The final holdouts were the die-hards, a small minority of true Zealous Believers who clung steadfastly to their faith.
However, Wang Linchi showed no tolerance for these people. Any tribe with such die-hards present would have its existing welfare system immediately canceled until the tribe dealt with them.
Wang Linchi did not care whether they were killed or persuaded to abandon their faith.
Restricting one person might not faze them, especially with their spiritual convictions. But when everyone around them suffered as a consequence, their living conditions would deteriorate, and those around them would grow to hate and resent them.
Once the issue was resolved, Wang Linchi would reinstate the welfare system and establish inspection and denunciation systems.
Inspectors would periodically conduct surprise checks in various tribes. If anyone in a tribe that had reported no Wolf God worship was found secretly practicing the faith, the entire village would lose its welfare benefits and be placed under strict regulation until the Wolf God faith completely disappeared.
Of course, they could refuse regulation, but then everyone in that tribe would be considered a serious felon, complicit in the assassination of Court ministers.
Furthermore, there was the denunciation system. If you discovered someone in your tribe who had publicly renounced the Wolf God faith but was still secretly worshipping, reporting them would bring a lavish reward—one that would make everyone envious.
With the denunciation system in place, Hu Lu who still believed in the Wolf God became like rats scurrying across a street, hunted by everyone eager to expose one.
When faith in a god not only failed to improve your life but instead brought danger, hunger, and the hatred of everyone around you, everything changed.
Even if you worshipped in secret, people were always hunting for hidden believers. Once you slipped up, you would be turned in for a bounty, exchanged for wealth and status.
Under pressure from all sides, the Wolf God faith was swiftly obliterated.
Of course, it was not just the Wolf God faith that was eradicated. All faiths related to Demon Gods among the Hu Lu were also extinguished, caught in the sweeping purge.
Although Wang Linchi had specifically targeted the Wolf God faith, anyone who believed in Demon Gods received the same treatment.
Between material prosperity and spirituality, the Hu Lu chose the material. Demon Gods were not true deities, merely a group of malevolent gods who delighted in human sacrifices and blood offerings. Given the propaganda and immense pressure, abandoning such faiths was quite natural.
"Now, the faith in Demon Gods in the North has been essentially eradicated. All the Shamans have lost their demonic powers and become ordinary people."
"With the Hu Lu no longer having that source of power to support them, we can further advance our development plan," Wang Linchi said, looking at the plan in his hand.
"Grand Scholar Wang is truly a great talent," Zhang Lin commented with a smile.
He had returned to the Northern Prairie, primarily to express his gratitude.
The first batch of investment returns had been delivered to the Court and the various Great Families. The Court received eighty percent, and the Great Families twenty percent. Though their share was smaller, the Great Families were not yet powerful enough to confront the Court.
Yet, even with only twenty percent, after it was divided among them, they all profited handsomely.
As for the initial investment? That had been recouped long ago.
"I wouldn’t dare call myself a great talent. Recently, the people under you have become somewhat arrogant and conceited. When you return, warn them. If they want to make money, they must obey my orders obediently. Otherwise..." Wang Linchi trailed off, but Zhang Lin interjected.
"I will deal with them first, I assure you. Grand Scholar Wang will be satisfied," Zhang Lin immediately declared.
"Remember your words. I have ways to let you eat meat, and I also have ways to make you choke on it."
"A deal is a deal. I detest those who don’t abide by the rules, especially when they’ve already benefited. If there’s a next time, don’t blame me for resorting to harsh measures," Wang Linchi stated bluntly.
Zhang Lin had made his stance clear, yet it was merely a verbal commitment for now. Wang Linchi would give them face this time and not pursue the matter further, but corresponding actions had to follow. Otherwise, it would all be empty talk, utterly useless.
Concealing each other’s faults was a common tactic among the Great Families. Wang Linchi was forcing them to choose: either cooperate obediently and make money together, or take their arrogance and get lost.
"By tonight, we will have an explanation for Grand Scholar Wang." Zhang Lin knew he had truly crossed Wang Linchi’s line this time; otherwise, Wang Linchi would not have spoken so harshly.
"That would be best. I hope it’s not a scapegoat. If your reputation is damaged by even a fraction now, all of you will lose a tenth of your profits tomorrow," Wang Linchi warned coldly.
Zhang Lin naturally took Wang Linchi’s words to heart. He knew Wang Linchi’s method of making money was faster than robbery, a feat he could neither replicate nor achieve on such a scale. Attempting it would not only fail to make money but would result in losses.
"Understood. Rest assured, Grand Scholar Wang. Even if it’s my own son, he will be duly punished," Zhang Lin repeatedly affirmed, stressing he would not bend the law for personal reasons.
"It’s getting late. Chief Assistant Zhang should probably go and apprehend the person now. Don’t fail to provide an explanation by tonight." Wang Linchi was clearly dismissing him.
"In that case, I shall take my leave." Chief Assistant Zhang knew Wang Linchi was genuinely enraged this time. It was fortunate he had arrived when he did; otherwise, Wang Linchi might have taken matters into his own hands.
Losing face would have been one thing, but if Wang Linchi had gotten a hold over them, that would have been truly troublesome.
Who knew what other plans Wang Linchi might have been harboring?
Only after Zhang Lin had departed did Li Zheng enter.
"Sir, your actions were quite severe. Will this offend the Great Families..." Li Zheng voiced his concern.
"Do you know why you merely run errands and deliver messages for His Majesty, and do the same for me?" Wang Linchi asked.
"Er..." Li Zheng was taken aback by Wang Linchi’s question.
"Because you are overly cautious and too smooth. I need a machete that can hack through thorns and brambles. His Majesty needs a sharp blade that kills without drawing blood. You’re so smooth you have neither a cutting edge nor a sharp point. The only reason I let you handle these tasks is out of consideration for our friendship." As Wang Linchi spoke, Li Zheng’s face turned ashen.
"It’s not that I want to be smooth; I just desire a peaceful end," Li Zheng replied. He knew that attending to a ruler was like accompanying a tiger, especially for someone like him who handled dirty work and was privy to various secrets.
Therefore, appearing smooth and somewhat useless was a survival tactic, a way to live a bit longer.
Escape? How could I escape? he thought. I’m constantly under the watch of the Imperial Guards. The slightest unusual movement, and I’d be apprehended immediately.
If I held power over the Imperial Guards, perhaps I wouldn’t necessarily try to escape. But as it stands, I’m just an empty shell, forced to remain.
"A peaceful end is not such a great ambition," Wang Linchi quickly changed the subject. "What is it?"
"His Majesty vomited blood during the morning court session today. He fainted for about an hour before regaining consciousness."
"It seems he has inherited the previous emperor’s fate of a short life, and it’s even more severe in his case." Li Zheng now understood why Emperor Jing wanted to designate a Crown Prince; it was due to his poor health.
If not for this public episode of vomiting blood, no one would have realized it. He usually appeared quite robust.
Wang Linchi was somewhat baffled. This shouldn’t be happening, he thought. The slow-acting poison I gave Emperor Jing doesn’t have an effect that causes one to vomit blood.
Logically, this situation shouldn’t occur, and it’s not yet time for the poison to take full effect either.
It’s not an issue with my slow-acting poison. Could someone else have acted before me? This thought surfaced in Wang Linchi’s mind.
"Hmm. Send some unique nourishing tonics from the prairie over to him, as a token of my concern."
Wang Linchi could not say much more at this point and could only proceed this way.
Returning to the capital was out of the question. He was currently responsible for the development of the Northern Prairie and could not leave easily without an official summons.
At the very least, he would have to wait until Emperor Jing passed away before going to offer his condolences.
