V2: Chapter 188: Let's Build Our Empire!
"Ahem."
Liang Di and Liang Lin's grand gesture quickly attracted the attention of the common people.
For the past few months, the Langwendi family had been distributing bread under this statue, always wearing their family crest. So, when a carriage bearing the Langwendi family crest passed by, people immediately spread the word, assuming that more bread was being distributed.
"The young lady of the Langwendi family is such a beautiful and kind angel!"
"And Miss Liang Lin too. I always heard she was a wicked woman, but now it seems she's a completely kind young lady."
"Ah... are people distributing bread again today? Shouldn't it be every two days? I remember the Langwendi family came just yesterday, didn't they?"
People crowded towards the square.
"I heard it's the two young ladies from the Langwendi family!"
"I saw them! Miss Liang Di looks like she's injured her leg!"
"Oh... my God, who could be so heartless as to harm such a beautiful and kind young lady?"
The crowd surged in from all directions like a tidal wave, blurring the horizon into a sea of people. Shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot, they seemed to feel each other's breath.
As the refugee tide surged in, the square was instantly engulfed by an endless torrent of suffering and hope. Thick clouds obscured the sky, preventing sunlight from penetrating, adding to the heaviness and oppression.
Everyone was ragged, their faces haggard, their eyes gleaming with fear and longing for their unknown fate.
Families and children alike jostled and pushed, trying to find a sliver of solace and shelter in this limited space. The cries of children, the sighs of women, the whispers of men—a mournful cacophony—echoed across the square.
Every inch of the square was occupied; people sat or lay down, huddled together, seeking a sliver of warmth and comfort. The air was thick with the scent of hunger and exhaustion; the occasional aroma of food only intensified the unbearable longing.
The vendors' stalls remained, but they were no longer a bustling market; they had become the refugees' last hope for survival. They might be selling their remaining food and necessities at extremely low prices, but even so, for most refugees, these remained unattainable luxuries.
Liang Di held Liang Lin's hand, standing beneath the statue; the sorrow in her eyes was genuine.
Liang Lin took a deep breath, her voice clear and powerful, piercing through the clamor of the crowd and striking the depths of everyone's hearts:
"My dear compatriots, we gather here not to escape, but to face it. To face an empire rotten to its very core, a ruler who knows only oppression and exploitation, yet remains blind to the suffering of his people."
"I once had complete faith in the empire, wanting to serve it, but the empire has disappointed me time and time again! I! Liang Lin! The year I disappeared from the capital, I abandoned my current name and went to the border to protect the empire I loved! I led my valiant soldiers, repelled the empire, and restored food and clothing to the people of the border! I feel I have never failed the Empire!"
Liang Lin clenched her fist and placed it against her chest, her voice growing even more sorrowful.
"But what I received in return was the previous king's men hunting me down!"
A murmur of uproar rippled through the crowd.
"She's that female general?!"
"If you calculate the timeline, it seems to match up."
"Wasn't it said that the general was killed by assassins from the enemy country? Why..."
"My God! This dark country."
"God, why do good people not get good rewards..."
Liang Lin continued:
"After I escaped by sheer luck, I was filled with disillusionment with this corrupt empire! I returned to the Langwendi family, wanting to live my life with disappointment and regret, but... I simply couldn't bear to see you all like this! To see the empire like this! Is this still the once-renowned Soteland Empire of a hundred years ago?!"
"And my tragedy has been repeated in my sister Liang Di! Today, the royal knights broke into our home and harmed my kind sister! You can see, my sister's leg was stabbed by the knights! It was an order from the current King! I am filled with grief and anger! I am helpless!"
Liang Lin took a deep breath, stepped back half a step, and let Liang Di step forward.
Liang Di wore a simple yet elegant long dress, her long hair gently tied up.
Around her, a dense crowd of commoners stood or sat, their eyes filled with both expectation and doubt, seemingly waiting for a miracle to change their fate.
"Our land, which should have been fertile and bountiful, has become barren due to the greed and incompetence of the nobles and royalty; our children, who should have been learning and growing happily, are forced to struggle in hunger and ignorance due to a lack of education; our elderly, who should have enjoyed their twilight years in peace, shiver in the cold wind, ignored and forgotten."
Liang Di's words were like sharp blades, dissecting the festering sores beneath the empire's glamorous exterior.
Her voice grew increasingly impassioned, each word like a hammer blow striking the hearts of everyone present.
“We can no longer remain silent! Silence is acquiescence, it is condoning tyranny. We must unite and fight for a just, equal, and free new world for our future and for our descendants!”
Liang Di began to elaborate on her ideas and plans, from reforming the tax system, strengthening education, and guaranteeing people's livelihoods to establishing a more transparent system. Every proposal was filled with deep concern for the well-being of ordinary people. Her words contained both a profound critique of the status quo and a beautiful vision for the future, resonating with everyone present.
“Fellow countrymen, change will not fall from the sky; it requires the efforts and sacrifices of each and every one of us!”
Liang Di clenched her fist and placed it on her chest.
“I appeal to everyone, whether noble or commoner, no matter where you come from, as long as we share the same dream, we can form an unstoppable force.”
Liang Di raised her hands, her eyes shining with hope.
“Let us join hands and prove with our actions that nothing is impossible! We will overthrow this useless and corrupt empire!”
With her call, the crowd began to boil, cheers and applause rising and falling. Some were moved to tears, while others clenched their fists, vowing to fight for their future.
At this moment, Liang Lin and Liang Di were no longer just young ladies of the Langwendi family, but leaders of all those who yearned for freedom and justice.
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