Chapter 720: Discussions of Liangzhou

The fifth day of the first lunar month, the "Spring Festival" in the narrowest sense, has already ended.

After the "Breaking of the Fifth," those most miserable people cannot even wait for the Lantern Festival before they have to pack their things and head out to work.

Tang Zhao is one of these people. He originally thought that since this mission required traveling thousands of miles down from Jingcheng and then required someone to travel thousands of miles back up to Jingcheng, it would surely be dragged out until after the Lantern Festival. Who would have thought that on the first day of the first lunar month, news would arrive that the Imperial Court was summoning all the marquises from various regions to the capital to enjoy the lanterns together on the night of the Lantern Festival.

An order issued on the first day of the first lunar month, requiring troops from all provinces to arrive by the fifteenth, the Lantern Festival. Among them, the vital border regions are ten thousand miles away; fifteen days is barely enough for a fast horse to arrive. What kind of absurd order is this?

"Bullshit imperial decree, not even letting people celebrate the festival?"

Although he says that, Tang Zhao still has to go. In order to investigate the rumors about the Lingzhi, he must go.

This is still Gaoyuan Marquis looking out for him, letting him set off after the fifth and just rendezvous with the Yunzhou team in the Central Plains, while the main envoy's team from Yunzhou set off as early as the second day of the first lunar month.

As for going alone and flying directly to Jingcheng to rendezvous with Yunzhou, that is impossible. What kind of place do you think Jingcheng is? Is it a place you can come and go as you please?

Without a legitimate reason, if a Sword Hero or Sword Guest enters the capital privately, be careful that a bolt of lightning doesn't strike you down.

This lightning strike is a physical lightning strike, a real strike.

Even though the local regions are full of signs of chaotic times, the heart of the Great Jin, Jingcheng, still possesses this protective strength like a vast net covering the sky. This, of course, can only be attributed to one person—the State Preceptor.

Therefore, the State Preceptor is truly the mentor of the Great Jin, with grace equal to that of parents. As long as the State Preceptor lives for one day, Jingcheng will not fall. As long as Jingcheng still stands, the orthodoxy of the Great Jin still remains; others cannot obtain the Nine Provinces Divine Artifacts, and in the end, it will all be in vain. The State Preceptor does not care about the de facto fragmentation of the outer provinces, but if anyone dares to proclaim themselves emperor, they will inevitably be struck by Heavenly Thunder. That is why there are many local emperors in the various provinces now, but none have lost their heads and raised a banner of rebellion. Even the Turtle Bandits are still lying in wait.

Yunzhou has always respected the imperial family. Gaoyuan Marquis has always been called a "Royalist Party" member. It is said that he received great kindness from the late emperor, was promoted from the ranks, rose rapidly in a few years, and almost became one of the ministers entrusted with the orphan. Although it ended with him going north alone to reorganize Yunzhou after the current emperor ascended the throne, and he was suspected of being ostracized, he still retained considerable connections and influence in Jingcheng, and he did not ignore the Imperial Court from then on, nor did he vow to take revenge or launch a surprise attack.

This time, the Yunzhou team is led by Gaoyuan Marquis. The two organizations of the Hou Mansion and the Dudu Mansion combined brought about a hundred people. Among them are two Sword Hero deputies, one retired old Commander, Commander Nan, and then there is Tang Zhao. No other capable Sword Hero assistants were brought, only a few young Sword Guests.

If one says it is not valued, what more could one want with over a hundred people and three Sword Heroes? Some marquises cannot even produce such a team.

If one says it is valued, no one with real power came. The top-tier ones like the Qilin Sword and the Pixiu Sword are all guarding the home base; the trusted middle-tier ones like the Li Hua Sword and the Pi Gan Jian are also not here; even Zhang Rong did not come. It is as if the whole group is just hiding in Jingcheng, and as long as Tang Zhao can escape, it will not affect the operation of Yunzhou. If this is not precaution, what is it? If it weren't for Tang Zhao insisting on coming, Gaoyuan Marquis's group wouldn't even be afraid of perishing together with others in Jingcheng.

By the sixth day, Tang Zhao finally finished handling a series of matters at hand and set off with a grave expression.

The team had set off for four days, but Tang Zhao only used two hours to catch up.

Gaoyuan Marquis was riding on a horse, swaying along. It was a team where even the servants were Knights-Errant, and their walking speed was about the same as a Scholar riding a donkey.

"Yo, you really came? I thought you wouldn't come." Gaoyuan Marquis said to Tang Zhao, half-jokingly: "I even thought you had changed your mind and stayed to guard the home base, but it's a pity you wouldn't."

Tang Zhao smiled awkwardly: "How could I change what was agreed upon? How could I let the Marquis wait in vain?"

He came here to investigate the matter of the Lingzhi, a matter he did not tell Gaoyuan Marquis about. It is not that he does not trust the Marquis, but that this matter is too important; the fewer people who know, the better. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to entrust others to investigate, and only he himself can make this trip.

"Where is Commander Nan?"

"Old Nan? After walking for two days, he felt a tightness in his chest. It looks like his old ailment has flared up. I let him rest in the carriage. For such a long journey, it's hard on his old bones."

What a team of elite soldiers and strong generals!

Do Sword Heroes also have old ailments?

Actually, they certainly do. Sword Heroes may not catch the illnesses that ordinary people catch, but they also suffer dangers that ordinary people do not. Like Commander Nan, who is said to be much older than Gaoyuan Marquis, who knows what injuries he suffered back then that have left him with lifelong afflictions.

"To take care of Commander Nan, the pace will be a bit slower. It is estimated that it will take another four or five days to reach Jingcheng."

Tang Zhao calculated and said: "That is more than enough. Today is only the sixth, so we will arrive by the tenth. We can arrive four or five days early."

Gaoyuan Marquis shook his head and said: "How can we arrive right on time? We must always leave time for socializing and gathering information. Otherwise, if we get hit with a club upon arrival, it will be too late to regret."

"Furthermore, no province or prefecture will arrive right on time. You can't arrive later than Kungang, can you?"

Tang Zhao smiled and said: "The directions are different. It snows in the north, so isn't it hard to travel in heavy snow? Those provinces in the south don't have snow. We just need to be faster than Liangzhou, right?"

Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said: "That is certainly impossible to beat, as the Prefect of Liangzhou is currently in Jingcheng."

Tang Zhao was stunned, then vaguely remembered that this was the case, and said: "It seems the Prefect of Liangzhou didn't go to take up his post?"

Gaoyuan Marquis nodded and said: "Appointed three years ago, he has always refused to take up the post. Successive Prefects have disliked Liangzhou for being difficult and chaotic, either lingering in Jingcheng and not going, or staying in the Jade City of Liangzhou without stepping out, never caring about the people's livelihood or administrative affairs. And the less people care, the more difficult and chaotic Liangzhou becomes. Now, the land of the great Shenzhou has become a wild, desolate place."

Tang Zhao said softly: "The people of Liangzhou should be hoping for someone like the Marquis back then to go north to set things right and turn the tide, right?"

Gaoyuan Marquis shook her head and said: "Even the me of back then wouldn't be able to do it. The conditions in Liangzhou are far worse than in Yunzhou; it is barren and desolate, with barbarian tribes living together. Unless transformed by Supernatural Power, human effort is difficult. Moreover, after years of chaos, the hearts of the people in Liangzhou have turned away from the Imperial Court. The first thing you face when you go there is the people of Liangzhou; I fear it won't be settled without a great slaughter. But if there is a great slaughter, the hearts of the people will be even harder to win over. Without many years of recuperation, I fear one would be stuck in a quagmire and unable to move an inch."

Her gaze swept across the surroundings, seeing that the official road was straight and empty, and said: "Actually, the person most suitable to be the master of Liangzhou is you."

Tang Zhao was stunned and said: "Me? Please stop joking?"

Gaoyuan Marquis said: "How could I be joking? Have you forgotten what you once did in Liangzhou?"

Tang Zhao thought for a moment and said: "Is it... the matter of Wangliang Mountain?"

Gaoyuan Marquis said: "Exactly. Wangliang Mountain is a malignant tumor in the Human World; isn't it also a malignant tumor of Liangzhou? And to the people of Liangzhou, it is not only a tumor, but also a poison imported from outside. Throwing all the world's evils into Yunzhou as evidence of crime is also proof that the Central Plains looks down on Yunzhou."

"So, besides Wangliang Mountain, you have a great kindness to Yunzhou."

Tang Zhao hurriedly said: "That was not my strength alone, but Yunzhou and Baiyujing..."

Gaoyuan Marquis smiled and said: "But you are the most dazzling one. Don't say that the battle achievements of Yunzhou shouldn't be made public; even if they were, how could they compare to a young hero like the sun that people love? Now, even the desert has epic legends about you."

Tang Zhao felt a bit embarrassed, but also secretly pleased.

Gaoyuan Marquis continued: "Those who escaped from Wangliang Mountain, in order not to appear incompetent, also portrayed you as a ghost or god. They also helped you spread your fame. So now in Liangzhou, you have both prestige and popularity."

She paused and added: "As for a team, you also have a team."

Tang Zhao could not understand this for a moment. He lowered his head and thought, then said: "The White-haired Swordsman?"

Gaoyuan Marquis nodded and said: "Exactly. Wangliang Mountain is gone, but these Sword Guests are still there, several hundred of them. These people are temporarily placed in the army, but we in Yunzhou actually cannot use so many Sword Guests. However, if we put them all on the front line, Qianjin City is also a force of the Great Jin; being so conspicuous, it won't be hidden for long, and there will be trouble. If we disband them all..."

She shook her head and said: "Do you know what kind of trouble it would be to have hundreds of free Sword Guests suddenly appear in the Human World? Moreover, although they were all forced into Wangliang Mountain, they have been influenced by their environment in such a place. Near ink, one gets stained; who knows what kind of people they are now? Furthermore, they don't have much time left to live, and they are free and have no property. No one can guarantee what they will do in their final days, so they cannot be easily scattered."

"The most suitable method is to organize them separately and do meaningful things. For example, go to Liangzhou to develop."

Tang Zhao listened, becoming gradually absorbed. He discovered that Gaoyuan Marquis was not telling a joke, but was seriously analyzing a meaningful matter.

Gaoyuan Marquis said: "If you are interested in pacifying Liangzhou, you can start from the old site of Wangliang Mountain. That place has been cleared and is now ownerless land. It is also in the middle of the desert, far from the Central Plains, so surely no one will covet it. With a little activity in Jingcheng, it won't be difficult to exchange those two remote fiefs you were granted for this place. But actually, with the accumulation of Wangliang Mountain over these years, there are quite a few cities. These cities are now like trees without roots and water without a source; if no one takes them over, they will eventually decline. But fortunately, there is a water source, and after breaking through the Sighing Wall, the trade route to the west will be open, so there are conditions for development."

"If you manage it with peace of mind for a few years, stabilize the foundation, and then send people to spread the legend of your pacification of Wangliang Mountain in the desert, after a few years, ask the Imperial Court to appoint you as the Prefect of Liangzhou, a position no one wants to go to. At that time, you can legitimately take Liangzhou. Not to say how you will govern it to be peaceful and prosperous, but at least give the people of Liangzhou some peace."

Tang Zhao was very moved. Although this was "drawing a cake," it was drawn right into his heart. He lowered his head and thought, then smiled bitterly: "But I don't have the time. I have too many tasks of my own, and I simply can't finish them all."

Gaoyuan Marquis said: "Then that depends on you. Whatever you do, as long as it is a beneficial thing, everyone will support you. The matter of Liangzhou is certainly suitable for you, but there are other places that cannot do without you..."

Just then, the team's scout returned and said: "Reporting to the Marquis, the team of marquises heading to the capital has been discovered ahead."