I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

The hall remained silent for a long time.
Xu Jingzong finally broke the quiet. “After this strategy is implemented, the people of the Song Dynasty will surely resent their emperor and officials.”
He paused, his voice low. “Prime Minister Yang’s strategy kills the enemy without a trace. It is truly ruthless.”
Wei Yuanzhong and the others nodded slowly, their gazes turning to Yang Yi, filled with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. The strategy of
was indeed a psychological masterstroke, one that would force the Song Dynasty into self-destruction.
“It may even cause the remaining resistance forces in the north to collapse without a fight,” someone murmured. “After all, without a ‘country,’ what would they have to fight for?”
Wei Yuanzhong let out a deep sigh, his expression conflicted.
Yang Yi’s calm smile did not waver.
“Not only will they no longer have a country, but they will lose their homes as well. Southerners and Northerners will be forcibly separated. Families with fathers from the south and mothers from the north—or vice versa—will be torn apart. Countless homes will be shattered.”
His tone hardened, sharp as a blade.
“How could the people of the Song Dynasty not resent their court? At that moment, if our Great Zhou implements a lenient policy, promising to abolish this division after unifying the south and adopting benevolent governance, many of them might even welcome us as liberators. They might lead us south themselves.”
The hall fell into a stunned silence. Ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
Wu Zhao studied Yang Yi intently, her heart pounding in the quiet. His brilliance was startling—even unsettling. This strategy would pave the way for the complete collapse of the Song Dynasty.
Finally, she spoke, her tone measured.
“Let it be done as Minister Yang suggests. Use the strategy of
to force the Song Dynasty into seeking peace.”
“General, what does the letter say? Why have you been silent for so long?”
“Yes, General, what is His Majesty’s command?”
“General, what’s wrong?”
The gathered soldiers looked at Heichi Changzhi with puzzled expressions.
Heichi Changzhi clutched the letter tightly, his face pale with a mixture of awe and unease. As a seasoned soldier, he understood the implications of Yang Yi’s strategy far too well.
It chilled him to the bone.
He finally looked up, meeting the curious eyes of his men.
“Her Majesty has sent Prime Minister Yang’s strategy…”
The tent fell into immediate silence.
Prime Minister Yang’s strategy? The mere mention of Yang Yi’s name caused the soldiers to straighten, their unease palpable.
Guo Jingzhi cleared his throat nervously. “General, what exactly is Prime Minister Yang’s opinion on the situation?”
Heichi Changzhi stroked his beard, his expression grim.
“Prime Minister Yang suggests that we cannot afford to drag this out any longer. He has devised a strategy to dismantle the resistance forces in the north quickly.”
The men exchanged uneasy glances.
Dismantle Yue Fei’s forces
?
After fighting Yue Fei for so long, they all knew how formidable the Song general was. To defeat him in his own territory, with minimal effort, seemed almost impossible.
Guo Jingzhi voiced their collective doubts.
“General, doesn’t Prime Minister Yang know how stubborn these Song soldiers and civilians are?”
Heichi Changzhi shot him a sharp glare.
“Do you think Prime Minister Yang would not know that?”
Chastised, Guo Jingzhi fell silent.
Heichi Changzhi scanned the tent, his voice steady.
“Prime Minister Yang’s plan is simple: release one of the captured Song officials and have him deliver a message. The message will call for peace between our Great Zhou and the Song Dynasty, proposing that we hold the north while they retain the south. The two nations will be divided by the river, never to invade each other.”
The soldiers frowned, their confusion growing.
“That’s it?” one of them asked, puzzled.
Heichi Changzhi continued. “However, there is one condition: the Song Emperor must issue an imperial edict stating that
”
The tent fell silent once more.
“Southerners return south, Northerners return north?” someone repeated, incredulous.
Guo Jingzhi scratched his head.
“General, what does that even mean?”
Heichi Changzhi sighed, clearly exasperated.
“It means that people from the south must return south, and people from the north must return north. In other words, families will be forcibly separated based on their place of origin.”
The soldiers’ confusion turned to shock.
Guo Jingzhi’s voice trembled. “General, how can that dismantle the resistance forces in the north?”
Heichi Changzhi glared at him.
“Idiot! Do you think the people who joined Yue Fei’s army to resist us did so for personal gain? Most of them are patriotic, loyal to their emperor and their homeland. But if the Song Emperor abandons them—forces them into enemy-occupied territory and forbids them from ever returning south—how do you think they will feel?”
The realization hit the soldiers like a thunderclap.
Hisses filled the tent as chills ran down their spines.
Abandoned by their own emperor. Betrayed by the very country they fought to defend.
“This… this strategy…” Guo Jingzhi’s voice faltered. “Prime Minister Yang is ruthless beyond belief. These poor soldiers and civilians… it’s monstrous.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Heichi Changzhi slapped him.
“How dare you criticize Prime Minister Yang!”
“I wasn’t criticizing him!” Guo Jingzhi protested, rubbing his cheek. “I was praising him! Prime Minister Yang’s brilliance is unmatched. It’s just…” He hesitated. “It’s a bit heartless.”
The soldiers remained silent, their faces pale.