"What's so difficult about that?"
Yun Chuhuan was still stuck on the realization that his Fifth Sister might not have been poisoned after all. Though he remained unclear on the exact circumstances, it seemed he may have simply misunderstood.
Just as that thought settled in his mind, he heard his Imperial Father speak, and without thinking, he responded instinctively.
"Father Emperor, why not simply issue an edict commanding them to relocate immediately? Would the common folk dare disobey an imperial decree?"
Such defiance would cost them their heads.
"It is not so simple."
Emperor Xuanwu gave his son a sidelong look, clearly unimpressed with such shallow thinking.
"The areas in question are trapped between a swollen riverbank and low-lying lands already flooded. Both paths are blocked. In order to evacuate the people safely, we would need boats, and we must also deploy enough manpower to manage the transfer."
But time waited for no one.
There were far too many citizens awaiting evacuation, and the imperial court could only send a limited number of officials and attendants.
"Can the army not be dispatched?" Yun Shu asked.
"What did you say?"
Originally, Emperor Xuanwu had raised the matter with Yun Shu in hopes that she might provide insight from one of her prophetic dreams, or at the very least become more familiar with state governance.
He did not expect that, before she had even paused to think, she would so readily offer a solution.
He blinked, caught off guard, while Yun Shu continued in a perfectly natural tone, as if stating something utterly obvious.
"Is the army not meant to protect the people?"
"That... is how you interpret it?" Yun Chuhuan was utterly baffled.
"The army protects the people on the battlefield. This is not a battlefield."
"But there are not that many battlefields these days."
Yun Shu shrugged lightly.
"And why would the form of protection matter, as long as it is protection?"
Yun Chuhuan opened his mouth, only to fall silent.
That... actually made some sense?
His scalp tingled. His brain suddenly felt like it had reached its limit. Was this really feasible?
In a rare moment of helplessness, Yun Chuhuan turned to his Imperial Father. But Emperor Xuanwu appeared deep in thought as well.
"In theory, your suggestion is sound," the Emperor replied slowly.
"However, the strained relationship between the military and the people is not new. If the army is sent in to assist the civilians... it may lead to new complications."
Strained relations between soldiers and civilians?
Yun Shu found the term oddly unfamiliar.
The word "army" alone conjured images of safety and strength. But after thinking for a moment, she recalled the historical reasons for such tensions.
In ancient times, joining the army was rarely a noble pursuit. Many were forced into service out of sheer desperation.
There were thugs, vagrants, and even criminals who had been conscripted as punishment. During wartime, when everyone shared a common enemy, there might still be a sense of camaraderie.
But in times of peace, unless the military was governed with strict discipline, abuses of power were not uncommon. When soldiers began to oppress the people, of course the relationship would sour.
Even so...
"It is precisely because soldiers and citizens are estranged that the army must step forward to help."
Yun Shu's thoughts shifted rapidly, and her tone turned earnest.
"Father Emperor, think of it this way. If a local thug is constantly reviled and spat upon wherever he goes, would he feel any guilt when he acts with cruelty?"
Before Emperor Xuanwu could respond, she continued confidently.
"Of course not. But if everyone around him praises him as a gentleman, honors him as a good man—would he not hesitate before betraying their trust?
No one truly desires scorn and hatred, not when they can be met with respect and admiration instead."
Yun Shu's voice was calm but resolute.
"Father Emperor, you could begin here and now. Let this be the turning point that reshapes the relationship between your army and your people. Imagine, if Tian Sheng can one day achieve true unity between the military and the citizenry..."
True unity between soldiers and citizens.
Even someone as steady as Emperor Xuanwu felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing those words.
Throughout the annals of history, there had never truly been a dynasty where such harmony was achieved.
If Tian Sheng could become the first...
But just as his thoughts began to race, the Simulation Life Selection System entered an upgrade state. Had it not, perhaps he might already know whether such a future was possible.
Suppressing the stir of excitement in his chest, Emperor Xuanwu focused again, this time fully engaging with Yun Shu's proposal.
"If we are to take the first step, then the soldiers sent to assist must be absolutely above reproach. No deception, no misconduct."
"Father Emperor could announce it openly in the barracks," Yun Shu suggested.
"Inform the troops that volunteers are needed to aid in the evacuation of trapped civilians. They may refuse without consequence. But those who choose to participate and are found to have taken even a single copper coin from the people shall be punished according to military law and made to repay double.
That should suffice for now. If enough soldiers volunteer, then we will know they came with sincere intentions to help.
If not, we may reconsider other options.
Once we have assembled the team, only then shall we inform them that there will be a silver reward for their service."
"A reward?" Emperor Xuanwu frowned slightly.
"We require a great many hands to carry out the rescue. If each is rewarded, the cost will be substantial. Besides, to truly achieve unity between soldiers and citizens, this one-time act will not be enough. If every campaign requires heavy rewards..."
"Of course we must offer a small taste of sweetness at the beginning." Yun Shu smiled.
"Once these soldiers become accustomed to the feeling of being admired and trusted by the people, even without silver, they will likely take pride in upholding that honor.
As for this time's rewards—"
She paused, then gritted her teeth and declared with quiet determination,
"If the Ministry of Revenue is unwilling to release the funds, then this daughter shall cover it herself."
"!!!"
Yun Chuhuan was dumbfounded.
So this is what it means to speak with the confidence of wealth?
Wuwu... Could Fifth Sister help him pay off his tens of thousands in debt, too?
He had not expected that simply listening to his Imperial Father and Fifth Sister discuss policy would land him such a direct blow.
Yun Chuhuan wrapped his arms around his poor, penniless self in despair.
Emperor Xuanwu, too, was struck deeply.
He was aware that Yun Shu had amassed wealth through ventures like the underground heating system and establishments such as Tian Waitian Restaurant and Xianting.
But those were her private funds.
And yet, as a princess, she was willing to give freely of her own fortune, for the sake of the people and the nation.
When compared to the Crown Prince—who sought to line his pockets through the sale of official titles and the exploitation of the people...
Emperor Xuanwu's already growing desire to depose the Crown Prince and name a Crown Princess surged once again with even greater urgency.
===
A Personal Rant – Or Just Something That's Been on My Mind
While translating this chapter, something struck me that I can't quite stop thinking about. I've noticed how, in many Chinese novels—especially modern ones—there's this absolute confidence and trust in the military, whether it's the army or the police. It's a recurring theme I keep running into, and honestly, it baffles me. I keep asking myself, how is that even possible?
I'm not sure how things are where you live. But where I come from, the police have become more of a symbol than a force for justice. They rarely help uphold the law in any meaningful way. There are countless cases where reports filed with the police go nowhere, brushed off as unimportant. In many instances, if someone wants their case to be taken seriously, they are forced to offer bribes—sometimes these "unofficial payments" are as high as, or even higher than, the original damages or losses suffered.
There was a recent case where a woman reported a rape to the police. Unthinkably, she was assaulted again—by the officers at the very station where she sought help. In another case, the police advised a victim to "settle" with her rapist and even suggested she marry him. This is the reality we live in. The police here are not seen as protectors. They are not symbols of safety or trust. For many of us, they are simply not on the side of the people.
Even trust in the military has been eroding in recent years. Military generals and other high-ranking officers have begun to infiltrate civilian government roles, blurring a line that should never be crossed. In a healthy democracy, the military and the civilian government must remain separate. Here, that boundary is crumbling.
Journalists who publish articles critical of these power structures often face intimidation and threats. One such incident involved a well-known media outlet that published a critical report, after which the journalist received a pig's head as a warning. For context, my country is majority Muslim, and in Islam, pigs are considered haram—religiously forbidden, spiritually impure. Sending a severed pig's head is not just a threat. It is an intentional act of desecration, meant to terrorize and humiliate. That is the level of hostility and fear we are dealing with.
Recently, a revised military law was passed under suspicious circumstances. The bill was rushed through approval, quietly and without public awareness. To this day, accessing the draft of that legislation is nearly impossible for regular citizens.
This all brings back memories of a time I refer to as the dark era—the final years under our second president, Suharto, who held the military rank of Lieutenant General before rising to power. During his regime, the voices of the people were silenced. Civilian government was dominated by the military in what was known as "dwifungsi ABRI" (the dual function of the armed forces), where the military held power in both defense and civil affairs. Kidnappings and murders of journalists were commonplace. The rule of law was a fiction.
That period also witnessed horrific acts of mass violence. During the 1998 riots, ethnic Chinese women—even though they were legally citizens of this country—were targeted, raped, and brutalized, often by police and military personnel. Ethnic Chinese men were murdered in the streets. It was a period of unspeakable terror.
And now, our current president is Suharto's own son-in-law, Prabowo. He once held the rank of Lieutenant General before being discharged. His past includes numerous human rights abuse cases, to the point where he was once barred from entering several foreign countries.
What's worse, just one month ago—as I'm writing this—a member of the DPR (Indonesia's legislative body, similar to a national parliament or congress), Fadli Zon, stated publicly that the 1998 mass rapes "never happened." The public outcry was swift. People were furious, especially since our fourth president, Abdurrahman Wahid, had previously acknowledged those atrocities. International bodies have also documented them. To deny such events is not just cruel—it is dangerous.
At the same time, I've seen recent discussions go viral in the United States about ICE and the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz." Many people, including myself, believe it's more fitting to call it "Alligator Auschwitz." It is deeply disturbing to witness people being abducted and placed into camps. From what I've read, this isn't just about immigration status. Some of those detained were even U.S. citizens. To me, this feels more like an issue of race than legality. And when I look at those stories—at Trump's policies, at the public's response—I can't help but feel a chilling sense of déjà vu. It mirrors what I fear for my own country's future.
As someone born and raised in this country, I am frightened. Deeply so. It hurts to even write this.
I'm sorry if I started this note talking about "trust in the military" and ended up here. But the truth is, when the President himself is part of that institution, it's difficult not to stray into these topics. It is all connected.
Of course, I know not all soldiers or police officers are bad. Just as in any institution, there are good people and bad. But what is being exposed, what the public sees again and again, is corruption and abuse. And so, I genuinely cannot imagine how Chinese citizens in these stories can place such unwavering faith in their law enforcement or military.
That said, there is one bright spot. The fire department in my country has a strong, positive reputation. They are quick to respond, dependable, and respected. There was even a viral case recently where a victim of sexual assault and theft turned not to the police, but to the fire department for help. Though it wasn't within their legal duty, they listened. They offered empathy.
The case went viral for a reason. It didn't just highlight the kindness of the firefighters. It showed just how deeply people have lost faith in law enforcement.
What about your country? Is it the same? I'm just genuinely curious.