Cheng Yuanzhi recalled the various atrocities the people faced during wartime, his eyes reddening: "Who among you had to flee the city with your entire family because the enemy attacked, and became refugees and beggars? Who had to gnaw on bark due to lack of food... or even exchange their children... to survive!"
Cheng Yuanzhi couldn't bear to say more, swallowing his words about eating their children, choked with emotion.
"Where were you when Xiliang slaughtered the city? Do you know how many generations of border people were killed? Men were slaughtered like livestock... Women were abused to death, countless in number! When Yan attacked our cities back then, slaughtering our people, they may not have allowed slavery, but they treated our people like cattle and horses, forcing them to build the Imperial Palace. Unless they died, they were not allowed to stop working, not even sparing the children. Have you all forgotten?"
