[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-45":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364314,4623,"Chapter 45: Cleanup","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-45",45,"\u003Cp>“My Lord Hou, you’re unharmed—what a blessing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing of the banquet ambush, Li Mu abandoned sleep and rushed over at once with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough of this nonsense—quickly deploy men to take control of Yangzhou’s defenses; don’t let the rebels escape!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Receiving the order from Marquis Wuyang, Li Mu knew the farce of tonight’s banquet had ended in victory for the Five City Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, the city is in chaos, and I’ve brought only a few soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, escort you and the other officials back; once we’ve gathered our forces, we’ll pursue the rebels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu gently advised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as trouble arose, a band of rebels conveniently appeared—targeting the imperial envoy’s party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timing, location, and occasion were all perfectly chosen—it was too convenient to be coincidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knows if they’re real rebels or fake ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we trap them and uncover information we shouldn’t know, it’ll blow the lid off everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, reasonable. First, take us back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See to the safety of all Yangzhou officials—under no circumstances must anything go wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang smiled knowingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Protecting their safety was a pretense; the real goal was to imprison Yangzhou’s officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court planned a major overhaul of the Two Huai salt administration, inevitably threatening these local powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With everyone gathered here, strike first—detain them before they can react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Lord, we have yamen soldiers guarding us—let your men go hunt the rebels first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many colleagues are still trapped in Changchun Pavilion; if we move quickly, we might still save many.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hao Xingfeng firmly refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was outright bullying—he’d kindly arranged the reception for the imperial envoy, received no thanks, and now faced house arrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he tolerated this, he might as well rename himself “Turtle Magistrate” of Yangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone in Yangzhou has colluded with rebels—Li Battalion Commander, investigate thoroughly and bring this traitor to justice!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang’s threat instantly silenced the furious Yangzhou officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wise man doesn’t provoke immediate danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around them were soldiers of the Five City Garrison; their own yamen runners stood no chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they turned hostile, these Beijing-bred soldiers wouldn’t fear their status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being beaten or humiliated was minor—they feared most that Marquis Wuyang would frame them with charges of colluding with rebels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, rest assured—I’ll spare no effort to root out the traitors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu immediately agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Marquis Wuyang’s order to investigate the rebel faction, Li Mu gained greater initiative in his future operations in Yangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Investigating a case requires evidence; arresting rebels only requires suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the Qinhuai River, a middle-aged man peered through a telescope imported from the West, watching the slaughter inside Changchun Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The battle’s over, yet Yangzhou’s troops haven’t arrived—looks like the hostages won’t be useful after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. The mission’s complete; no need to waste more time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding Yang, signal them—take the surviving hostages and evacuate Yangzhou immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than an hour had passed since the battle erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, officials fleeing Changchun Pavilion would have already led Yangzhou’s troops back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original plan was to use the hostages to force the troops to clear a path for their escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But plans change faster than expected—they had a plan, and so did the Five City Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Marquis Wuyang’s perspective, legally seizing control of Yangzhou was paramount; rescuing cannon fodder was secondary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Yangzhou official of any weight had been imprisoned by Li Mu’s men; all government offices were gradually taken over by the Five City Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Troops who had gathered upon receiving the alert were now being absorbed and reorganized by the Five City Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had no time to spare for this side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your subordinate…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Zhou, rest assured—we brothers are professionals at this kind of work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who on the Two Huai salt routes doesn’t know our methods are the cruelest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just capturing a few nobles—we can deliver even the dog imperial envoy’s head to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing his slip, Ding Yang quickly raised his voice and shifted tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Eye Dragon, I admire your style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t worry—after this job, you’ll be one of the Seven Families of the Two Huai Alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Future private salt trade in Da Yu will always have a share for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things go smoothly, you might even become one of the kings, marquises, and generals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man laughed heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These treasonous words were spoken without any regard for bystanders—those in nearby private rooms heard every word clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After boasting, the two leapt straight out the second-story window and vanished from the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed second by second; sunlight pierced the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a sleepless night, Li Mu and his soldiers slowly appeared at Changchun Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the throngs of onlookers—three layers inside, three layers outside—Li Mu was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chinese appetite for spectacle was insatiable; even a murder scene drew crowds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yamen investigation—onlookers, clear the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the soldiers’ shout, the crowd quickly parted—but the gawking continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Examine the scene. Search for survivors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pay close attention to evidence—leave no trace unexamined!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu emphasized his orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the night’s operation was orchestrated by the Eastern Depot or Embroidered Uniform Guard, the scene would bear clear, incriminating evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With rebels involved, the investigation must go to the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With suspicion alone, suspects can be summoned for questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the principals are imprisoned, the court holds the upper hand in this game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this kind of work, speed is essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once these people realize the court intends to strike hard, they won’t sit idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, Deputy Commander Chu is still alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his soldier’s report, Li Mu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surviving such a massacre? Truly, evil men live long!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Chu, younger brother of Imperial Consort Chu, was a notorious playboy in the capital—every vile deed done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d remained free not only due to his sister’s influence, but because he was a coward who bullied only the weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most infuriating—he’d dared call Li Mu “Little Li,” utterly ignorant of his own place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said, expression unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how unwilling he felt inside, appearances had to be kept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you waiting for? Carry Deputy Commander Chu out and take him to the yamen for treatment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—Deputy Commander Chu’s wounds aren’t fully sealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moving him now will cause bleeding—first, bandage him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu casually pointed to the soldier leading the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, I don’t know how to bandage wounds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young soldier replied, face twisted in distress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do it! Who’s born knowing how? There are plenty of corpses on the ground—rip a piece of cloth from one, wrap it twice around his wound!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are so many corpses on the ground; couldn't you just tear off a piece of cloth from any of them and wrap it twice around Deputy Commander Chu's wound?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under so many eyes, this was all he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Deputy Commander Chu survived this, he’d truly be blessed by fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Deputy Commander Chu can still survive after all this, he's truly lucky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1161,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","af40d2f053ab691082e3789d60dd4dc850457e47143fdc523ffecbc737119ed1","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-46","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-44",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]