Chapter 136: The Malady of Baiya

The three of them looked at each other in dismay.

Du Biao's face turned livid: "This, this, this... is this grandson tired of living! Search for them, go find those assassins! My Baiya Army must give Brother Liu an explanation!"

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "Don't go, it's useless."

Du Biao did not believe him.

But when half an hour passed, his subordinates reported that those assassins had suddenly vanished from Baiya City and could no longer be found!

Du Biao's face was livid; he slammed the table and stood up, gritting his teeth: "This Zhang Chengjiang..."

Liu Zheng shook his head and dissuaded him: "Brother Du, do not be rash. This is not the time to be hasty; we must deliberate carefully. Regardless of who these assassins are, if they had wanted to kill me, they would have smeared poison on their blades, and I fear I would have already breathed my last."

These words broke Du Biao out in a cold sweat.

Only after the physician Miao confirmed several times that there was no poison did he finally set his mind at ease.

Yang Ke also looked grave: "Does Young Master Liu mean that the other party is using this as a deterrent, intending to scare Young Master Liu away?"

Liu Zheng laughed: "That is why I am even more certain that this matter must be the work of the Taishoufu. Because they see that my thirty thousand troops are still outside the city, they are afraid of the consequences. They want to kill me, but they dare not, fearing that if the army attacks, this Baiya City will not be able to hold!"

Yang Ke took a deep breath: "In the current Baiya Prefecture, I fear there are only thirty thousand troops available to use, this..."

With a single sentence, Liu Zheng laid bare the complex situation of the current Baiya Prefecture. Previously, the Baiya Army had horse farms, money, and military strength, so the Taishoufu was naturally willing to act as a puppet. But now? After Chen Ping's attrition, the Baiya Army has lost more than half its strength, and now there are only a mere twenty thousand troops left. It would be strange if the Taishoufu didn't have some ideas...

Du Biao said angrily: "This Zhang Chengjiang is truly a snake-like creature, playing both sides! Back when Baiya Prefecture was mired in poverty, if not for the business of my Baiya Army, how could the common people have been fed? Now that he is kicking us while we are down, it really is..."

Liu Zheng and Yang Ke both remained silent.

Since ancient times, have there been few instances of people kicking others while they are down?

Moreover, your Baiya Army is, in itself, an illegal organization.

From your perspective, the Baiya Army has rendered great service. But from Zhang Chengjiang's perspective, the Baiya Army is occupying the magpie's nest. Who is righteous and who is evil cannot be defined by this alone.

If it comes to legal principles, the Taishoufu has the upper hand.

"Brother Liu, rest assured, I, Du Biao, will definitely get justice for you!"

Du Biao was both anxious and angry.

Liu Zheng and Yang Ke hurriedly urged him to calm down. At this time, the War Horse Contract Fair of Baiya Prefecture was about to begin, and recently, many Feudatory Kings, officials, generals, and merchants from other regions had begun to arrive in the city one after another.

To tear off the mask with the Taishoufu at this moment would be truly unwise.

But since the Taishoufu had already made a move, they could not afford to be unprepared.

Yang Ke took a deep breath: "The Prefect Zhang Chengjiang has always been cowardly by nature; this matter must be the work of his monstrous daughter!"

"Daughter?"

Liu Zheng was taken aback. He had indeed been wondering just now if there was an expert behind Zhang Chengjiang, but he had not expected it to be his daughter.

Yang Ke sneered: "Zhang Xiao! This girl is only sixteen, and has been known as a genius since she was a child, monstrously gifted. It's just that she was sent to Jinghua to study from a young age and only recently returned... Given Zhang Chengjiang's personality, I truly don't believe he would dare to do such a thing, but since Young Master Liu is certain it is the Taishoufu, then it is undoubtedly this Zhang Xiao!"

"Zhang Xiao?"

Liu Zheng smiled slightly. He suddenly felt like meeting this little girl who was called a monster.

Because after he arrived in Baiya Prefecture, he felt that this place was very abnormal...

Yes, it was far too different from the Baiya he had imagined! He had always believed that the Baiya Army was the uncrowned king of Baiya Prefecture, possessing absolute control over everything here, whether it was politics, the military, or the hearts of the people...

Yet today.

Just when he was being assassinated, he discovered a very incredible situation.

That was, even though Yang Ke was by his side, the common people in Baiya Prefecture simply let this assassination happen right before their eyes, without the surge of support for the Baiya Army that Liu Zheng had imagined.

Why was this?

This showed that the Baiya Army was not as popular in Baiya as he had imagined!

Regarding this complex situation, Liu Zheng intended to observe for a few more days.

Just then, a swarm of people suddenly rushed in from outside.

"Is Brother Yang back?"

"Brother Yang!"

"Hahaha, the brothers have missed you to death!"

"Brother Yang, the heavy losses this time were not your fault..."

A group of people came over, offering all sorts of concern.

Liu Zheng squinted as he watched, and immediately smiled.

At this time, in the Baiya Taishoufu.

Zhang Chengjiang had just returned and nearly collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat: "Scared me to death, scared me to death! That Du Biao almost killed me!"

"Bandits, a bunch of bandits!"

The officials around Zhang Chengjiang looked at each other. Within this Baiya Prefecture, who dared to speak ill of the Baiya Army? Which of the officials here didn't have some interest-based relationship with the Baiya Army? Therefore, regarding this matter, they didn't dare to say a single word.

"Hmph, useless fellows!"

Zhang Chengjiang shouted angrily: "Get out, all of you, get out!"

Finally, only two of the officials remained. Zhang Chengjiang then slowly stood up, shedding his previous cowardly appearance, and smiled coldly: "A bunch of turncoats, let's go!"

The three of them walked into the inner residence.

In front of a boudoir, Zhang Chengjiang took a deep breath, just about to speak.

A cold voice came from inside.

"How did that Liu Zheng react?"

Zhang Chengjiang said cautiously: "He didn't really react, just as you thought. He didn't send the Baiya Army to hold us accountable. Ha, I don't think they even realized it!"

"Ignorant!"

That voice said coldly.

The two people beside them hurriedly lowered their heads.

Logically speaking, as a daughter, one should not reprimand one's own father in terms of reason and law. But in Zhang Chengjiang's home, the situation was different. This young lady of the Zhang family, Zhang Xiao, had been well-versed in the classics since the age of six and was taken to Jinghua by a prominent figure to be carefully groomed. Now that she had returned to this Baiya Prefecture, she was carrying out her own mission...

Compared to his daughter, Zhang Chengjiang was practically scum.

Therefore, Zhang Chengjiang only dared to laugh sheepishly: "Xiao'er is right, your father is ignorant, your father is ignorant."

That voice said coldly again: "This Young Master Liu has just returned from a great victory, yet he is forbearing and does not wait for rewards; do you think he is as dull-witted as you?"

Zhang Chengjiang listened, cold sweat trickling down: "Xiao'er, teach me!"

Zhang Xiao said coldly: "I have been teaching you since I was ten, teaching you, and only then did we have today's golden opportunity. If this Young Master Liu had not come, Baiya Prefecture would surely have returned to your hands, but the moment this Young Master Liu arrived, he became a variable..."

Zhang Chengjiang said disdainfully: "A mere yellow-mouthed child, what is there to fear?"

"If it weren't for the fear of those thirty thousand troops outside the city, he would be dead today!"

Zhang Chengjiang wore an angry expression: "This Baiya Army truly does not take me, this Prefect, seriously! They brought in thirty thousand troops without even notifying my Taishoufu!"

Zhang Xiao said coldly: "Remember, the more arrogant they are, the more opportunities you have, understand?"

"Go down now, I need to deliberate carefully..."

"Very well!"

Liu Zheng looked at these people before him with a smile.

Suddenly, he had a feeling of being an intruder in a different world.

A big, dark man holding two Giant Axes, his face covered in a thick beard, was staring with eyes as large as copper bells, his laughter shaking the heavens. Looking next to him, standing there was a charming and alluring woman; these two seemed to have a deep relationship, giving one a visual impact.

Then...

A Daoist, a monk, a nun...

A fat man, a short man, a tailor, a butcher...

Among this group, there were all kinds of characters; as long as you could imagine it, everything was here, with no need to run around searching.

Yang Ke was also very happy, greeting these brothers and sisters, and then looked at Liu Zheng and smiled: "Brothers, this is the famous Prefectural Assistant Liu of Liangzhou, Young Master Liu! Young Master Liu, these are all brothers of our Baiya Army; this is the Black Vajra Rantu, born with divine strength! This is Sister Meiniang, with astonishing martial arts! This is Abbot Old Donkey, with a body of Hard Qigong; this is Guimei, with invincible Charm Technique; this is Boss Liu, whose leg strength is quite remarkable, traveling a thousand miles a day..."

One by one, they all greeted Liu Zheng.

For a moment, Liu Zheng couldn't even breathe, and he fiercely wiped his face with his hand.

This...

Is this a sense of déjà vu from Water Margin?

This Baiya Army was indeed full of the spirit of the pugilistic world. The dignified Second Leader Yang Ke and Third Leader Du Biao were calling these people brothers, making no distinction between themselves. For a time, the place became exceptionally lively, with everyone talking at once, and Liu Zheng's eardrums were buzzing.

Hearing that Liu Zheng had been assassinated, Rantu let out a roar, grabbed his two axes, and was about to go out to find the assassin.

Several people had to use a great deal of effort to stop him. Fortunately, Du Biao did not mention that he suspected the Taishoufu, otherwise, they really wouldn't have been able to hold him back.

"Alright, alright, brothers, let's stop the commotion for now. This great battle resulted in heavy losses, and it is all my, Yang Ke's, fault! When the Great Leader returns, I will go and ask for punishment!"

Seeing that Liu Zheng remained silent, Yang Ke knew it was truly too noisy and hurriedly let these people leave.

Rantu stuck out his neck and said: "Hmph, Second Brother, when the time comes, I will go and ask for punishment with you. I want to see who dares to bully my Second Brother!"

After saying this, the group of people finally left.

Only then did Yang Ke smile bitterly: "Young Master Liu, please don't mind them, these brothers..."

Liu Zheng smiled: "Very good."

People of the pugilistic world, the spirit of the pugilistic world, the night rain of the pugilistic world—these were all things Liu Zheng had once yearned for.

But!

He finally knew where the problem with the Baiya Army lay.

This organization lacked a strict system! In other words, it succeeded because of the pugilistic spirit, and it failed because of the pugilistic spirit!

In the later generations, Liu Zheng had once seen a very apt metaphor.

That is, why was Liubei so popular during the Three Kingdoms period, yet still unable to fight his way back to the Central Plains? Aside from Caocao occupying the orthodoxy and holding the Emperor to command the feudal lords, in fact, the biggest reason was that what Liubei led was actually just a military legion.

Even though he occupied the Land of Abundance like Bashu, he still only treated his own legion as guests of Bashu...

He never thought about governing Bashu as a state! He didn't even formulate a decent policy or system to truly give this place the configuration of a state!

This was the most important reason!

However, what about Caocao?

During Caocao's rule, the land of the Central Plains followed the Han system and had a set of official rank systems acknowledged and recognized by the world.

Under Caocao's governance, the Central Plains region tended toward stability; it was the Great Trend.

Liubei, however, was bellicose and always played the role of something like a "Crusader."

Therefore, when he was in Bashu, he was actually the least popular.

At that time, the great Bashu scholar Liu Ba turned a deaf ear to Liubei's repeated requests for talent and even spoke harshly; that actually made sense. Because he knew that Liubei only treated Bashu as a granary, using the population of Bashu to fight wars; his heart was not in Bashu at all...

In this way, as one grew, the other waned.

Liubei's failure was inevitable.

And what about the current Baiya Army?

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile.

In his view, they were even worse than Liubei!

【Author's Note】

I took a day off yesterday. Happy 2021, everyone. Thank you all for your support and tips. May the coming year be peaceful, may you get rich every day, and may you marry three wives!