Chapter 959: The Serpent-Slaying Plan
Though the Ise battle had concluded, the Fenglin campaign was far from over. Beyond pressing the Fenglin royal family to surrender, there was still another matter to resolve.
Before the February offensive, Sage Qingwei had personally drafted a list targeting the various ghosts and gods of Fenglin, dividing them into three categories—those who could be pacified, those who must be destroyed, and those to be left alone for the time being.
The top three candidates for pacification were Tamamo-no-Mae, Suzuka Gozen, and Ibaraki-Doji. Now that all three had surrendered, the Daoist Order had essentially achieved its initial goal in terms of pacification.
Next came the task of eliminating those marked for destruction.
Those who must be destroyed were those stubbornly opposed to the Daoist Order or those causing great harm to the region, endangering civilians, and hindering farming or trade.
There was one Great Yokai that perfectly fit both points—the Yamata-no-Orochi.
First, the Yamata-no-Orochi was under the control of the Tenmon Sect. Unlike Tamamo-no-Mae, it lacked any background, like Qingqiu Mountain. Naturally, it stood firmly in opposition to the Daoist Order.
Second, the eight-headed serpent had entrenched itself in Izumo for many years, not only blocking transportation routes but also devouring humans, deemed a grave threat.
Thus, the Daoist Order resolved to slay the Yamata-no-Orochi and remove this scourge. Susanoo’s slaying of the serpent had been sung for a thousand years. Once the Daoists slew it, they too would spread the tale widely, reinforcing the legitimacy and authority of their rule.
In truth, Easterners had always been pragmatic. The so-called Mandate of Heaven was but lip service. Deep down, they did not believe in the divine right of kings, nor did they revere bloodlines. To them, legitimacy lay in deeds, measured by accomplishments like expanding territory abroad or bringing peace and prosperity inland.