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

The hall was silent for a long moment. Wu Zhao rubbed her temples, hesitating.
“All of you, leave. I need time to consider.”
Yang Yi smiled faintly. A plan this ruthless—no wonder the Empress needed time to think it over.
He blinked and said, “Your Majesty, it’s best to decide soon. While our Great Zhou stands at the height of its power…”
Wu Zhao’s lips twitched as she shot him a glare. “I understand.”
Two days later, the Empress’s
and
were swiftly issued.
…
By now, Great Zhou’s soldiers were stationed in large numbers across the Khanate. The vast empire, formed by many tribes, cared little about Jie Li Khan’s defeat. Powerful chieftains, learning of his downfall, were already locked in vicious struggles for the title of the next Khan. Each sought to unite the Khanate under their rule.
When news of the orders reached them, every ambitious contender was dumbfounded.
Great Zhou wanted to wipe out the Turkic identity completely. Forcing them to change their hair and clothing?
They had never seen an order this ruthless.
…
Several men in traditional Turkic attire sat together in silence.
After a long pause, one of them spoke.
“Doesn’t seem like Zhou intends to spare us. They want to erase us completely.”
His words sent a ripple of unrest through the group.
“Exactly! We Turkic people cannot simply submit!”
“Do they really think a
and a
will scare us?”
“
Defeating Jie Li doesn’t mean they’ve conquered the Turkic people.”
“Zhou is arrogant beyond reason! We won’t be so easy to subdue.”
“I’ve heard that defying these orders means death. If their soldiers really start killing, what do we do?”
The room fell silent again. Talking big was easy, but Great Zhou wasn’t bluffing.
The orders were clear—refuse, and die.
The tent grew heavy with an oppressive atmosphere.
After a while, someone muttered, “If we unite, we can resist together. Zhou won’t be able to force us.”
The man in the center sneered. “Jie Li’s army of tens of thousands was crushed—what do we have to fight them with? And now, our warhorses are fewer than before. Our cavalry is nothing like it once was…”
Another man frowned. “So what? Should we just submit? Don’t forget, Ashina Chiji, you bear the Ashina name.”
Ashina Chiji’s eyes darkened. Anger flared in his gaze as he roared, “Of course, I know my own name!” His fists clenched. “But I will not lead my people to die for nothing.”
The others sneered but said nothing.
After a long silence, a stocky man spoke. “If even Ashina Chiji gives up, the others will surrender even faster. We must stand together. If we do, Zhou won’t dare force us. I don’t believe they’ll actually resort to mass slaughter.
“Ashina Chiji, you’re of the royal lineage. You should take the lead. We Turkic people cannot surrender in such disgrace.”
The men nodded.
Ashina Chiji took a deep breath. His eyes hardened with resolve.
“I will unite our tribes. We will never obey Great Zhou’s orders.”
Hoofbeats thundered as Guo Jingzhi led his soldiers to a halt. Turning to his deputy, he ordered, “Bring them out.”
The deputy obeyed. Moments later, the tribe’s people were rounded up.
Guo Jingzhi’s voice was calm. “Why haven’t you changed your hair and clothes?”
The translator relayed his words.
A Turkic man at the front glared at Guo Jingzhi and spat a string of furious curses.
Guo Jingzhi remained expressionless. With a flick of his hand, a Great Zhou soldier spurred his horse forward and cleaved off the man’s head. Blood gushed as the body crumpled to the ground.
Screams erupted.
Guo Jingzhi’s tone didn’t change. “Cut your braids now, and I will spare your lives.”
The translator hurriedly repeated his words.
Terror filled the faces of the gathered people. Many were elderly, women, and children. Hesitation flickered among them.
Guo Jingzhi was unmoved. He waved his hand again.
The soldier beheaded two more men. Blood seeped into the dirt. The remaining Turks trembled, nearly collapsing in fear.
This time, the translator didn’t wait for Guo Jingzhi to speak. He asked them again. Without hesitation, they nodded.
Hair meant nothing compared to life. Guo Jingzhi left a warning before moving on.
Next time he returned, they had better have changed their clothes.
…
Many Turks were now too afraid to resist.
…
Ashina Chiji stood motionless, watching Guo Jingzhi from a distance. His fists clenched, veins bulging with suppressed rage.
That executioner. In just ten days, he had slaughtered over a thousand Turks.
Guo Jingzhi’s cold voice carried through the wind. “Why haven’t you changed your hair and clothes?”
He had asked this question so many times it had lost meaning. These stubborn fools had to be killed before they would submit.
Ashina Chiji’s face twisted with fury. His gaze burned with killing intent.
“Zhou people, you refuse peace when offered. You’d rather drink the wine of punishment. You—”
Before he could finish, Guo Jingzhi waved his hand impatiently. The Great Zhou soldiers charged. As Guo Jingzhi had said, even Jie Li Khan couldn’t stop them.
What chance did scattered tribes have?
By midday, the battle was over.
Ashina Chiji trembled as he stared at the ground littered with severed limbs and rivers of blood.
Guo Jingzhi’s voice was cold. “Did you truly think a few allied tribes could resist us?”
Ashina Chiji looked up sharply, stunned that Guo Jingzhi knew of their plans.
Guo Jingzhi smirked. “Where there are those who resist, there are those who submit. Not everyone is as stubborn as you.”