Chapter 145: Black and White Killing Each Other

Yang Ke stammered, unable to speak for a long time.

Liu Zheng accepted Du Biao's kneeling, then smiled bitterly: "Mr. Yang, please speak your mind. If I, Liu Zheng, can be of any help, I will naturally not shirk my duty!"

Only then did Yang Ke sigh: "You have surely met Wei Rong, Young Master. He is known as the number one playboy of the Baiya Army, stubborn and wicked, committing all kinds of evil. Yet, he is the son the eldest brother loves most."

Liu Zheng was stunned: "Mr. Yang, are you asking me to find a way to kidnap Wei Rong, and use him to threaten Wei Shao in exchange for the Account Book?"

The group fell silent all at once.

Yang Ke looked embarrassed, and Du Biao even more so.

Zheng Yueru, Hu Xi'er, and Jiang Xuan looked at each other. It seemed their Young Master had really guessed correctly. It was just that this Method was truly... damaging to their Young Master's reputation.

Seeing Liu Zheng's poor expression, Du Biao knelt down with a thud again: "Brother Liu, only you have a way now! The Baiya Army is in imminent danger, and it is inconvenient for us to come forward... Only you, only you..."

As he spoke, he became heartbroken again.

Liu Zheng also knew that if he really had to do such a thing, he was indeed the most suitable person.

First, if these people from the Baiya Army really kidnapped Wei Rong, Wei Shao might hand the Account Book over to the Prince of Wei in a fit of rage, and then the situation would truly spiral out of control.

Secondly, Liu Zheng was a party who had engaged in War Horse trade with the Baiya Army; if he took action to seize the real Account Book, he would have a legitimate reason and his own standing.

Furthermore, the fact that Wei Rong wanted to make things difficult for Liu Zheng and refused to give him face had already spread throughout the entire Baiya Prefecture. If Liu Zheng did this, others would understand, and many might even applaud and thank Liu Zheng for punishing the number one playboy of Baiya.

Finally...

With Liu Zheng's army of thirty thousand outside, even if others didn't know it was his doing, so what? Who would dare to make things difficult for him?

It was just that what made Liu Zheng uncomfortable was that he was actually being asked to do such a thing.

This indeed did not quite fit his style of conduct and his status.

Hu Xi'er also snorted coldly: "What kind of person do you take our Young Master for?"

Unexpectedly, Liu Zheng waved his hand and said indifferently: "I accept this matter."

"What?"

"Young Master, you cannot!"

"Brother Liu..."

Zheng Yueru and Jiang Xuan were actually both against it. They had begged Liu Zheng to come here, and the goal was just to use him as a tool?

Liu Zheng, however, was very stubborn: "I said, I accept this matter!"

Du Biao was overjoyed.

Yang Ke also said with emotion: "Young Master Liu's righteous act, the Baiya Army is deeply grateful! If the Baiya crisis passes this time, the Baiya Army will certainly leave a horse farm for Young Master Liu at the horse grounds!"

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up when he heard this.

The bait had finally arrived!

A horse farm!

This temptation was simply too great for him. One had to know that this was a real horse farm belonging to Yinzhou, completely free of any need for trade, nor did it need to be recorded in the Account Book—it was something he would truly possess!

"Good, it's a deal!"

Liu Zheng chuckled.

Yang Ke and Du Biao thanked him repeatedly before leaving.

"Young Master, this..."

"Brother Liu, what is the meaning of this?"

Once the two left, Jiang Xuan and Zheng Yueru were both anxious.

The smile on Liu Zheng's face was also slowly disappearing. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said indifferently: "It's strange, isn't it? Why didn't this accountant commit suicide earlier, but chose to do so only today?"

The three of them looked horrified at the same time.

Jiang Xuan stared wide-eyed: "Does the Young Master mean that this Yang Ke..."

Liu Zheng laughed: "Things are getting more and more interesting. Jiang Xuan!"

"Present!"

"Continue your investigation; not a single piece of information can be missed!"

"Yes!"

"Yue Ru."

"Yes?"

"The commercial affairs of the War Horse Fair these few days will be left to you to handle."

Zheng Yueru smiled bitterly: "It is my responsibility, and I will not shirk it."

"Xi'er!"

"What?"

"Play chess with me!"

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng quickly set up a chessboard and then fell into silence. He suddenly realized that this was the first time he had been in such a complex situation in Baiya Prefecture since returning to the Longyan Dynasty. These complex people and events made him feel that his brain was not enough.

But he...

Had a feeling that the more complex it was, the more excited he became!

Yet he understood that this kind of excitement was actually the most undesirable, the most prone to impulsive judgment errors. The more such a situation, the more he needed to calm down. So he felt he needed a game of chess at this moment!

Finally, he understood why Qingyang Shuo had not brought him a few silk pouches this time, but had sent Hu Xi'er to him instead.

He needed a chess opponent of equal strength.

He needed to set up a game of chess that was equally matched to the complex situation in Baiya at this moment.

Watching the slaughter on the chessboard with Hu Xi'er, with swords and blades crossing, black and white killing each other, he unknowingly felt a sense of detachment from the tangled struggle; the bystander sees clearly! The one holding the pieces sees the truth!

Qingyang Shuo was teaching him a principle.

To become a true superior, one must always keep their position in check; devising strategies is what one needs to do. He needs to keep his mind clear and his stance, perspective, and position distinct at all times to remain forever invincible!

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Liu Zheng let out a sound of surprise; he had been wiped out in a large area by a hidden move from Hu Xi'er!

Yinzhou.

Yintan City.

A game of chess was also being played there.

Only this game of chess looked a bit miserable for the black side, as it was being eaten up piece by piece by the white side.

"Oh my, sir, why must you do this? Always bullying a merchant and pawn like me!"

Liu Dahao wore a bitter expression, begging for mercy.

Sitting opposite him, Qingyang Shuo smiled slightly: "State Marquis, that is where you are wrong. Being in a high position, how can you belittle yourself so? Yinzhou is peaceful and prosperous, and the State Marquis deserves the greatest credit. With nothing to do, I can only disturb the State Marquis. Let us play again."

Liu Dahao felt guilty: "Sir, it is fine to say such things to others, but how can you not know that Yinzhou having today is all thanks to my son, Liu Zheng."

Qingyang Shuo said: "Since that is the case, State Marquis, are you not worried about people whispering behind your back that your talent does not match your position?"

Liu Dahao shuddered, only then realizing that Qingyang Shuo was giving him guidance.

As for this Liu Dahao, ever since he arrived in Yinzhou, he had spent his days eating and drinking; he had wanted to govern diligently before, but seeing Liu Zheng doing such a good job, he simply became a hands-off manager and let Liu Zheng do as he pleased.

In less than a year, he had gained several circles of fat.

Qingyang Shuo smiled slightly, urging him to start another game.

Liu Dahao could only agree.

Yet, after only a quarter of an hour, he was again defeated completely; he hesitated with his piece, covered in cold sweat, seeing no chance of victory at all.

Qingyang Shuo said calmly: "The current situation of the young master is exactly like this."

Liu Dahao looked up in shock: "What?"

Qingyang Shuo smiled slightly and swept his hand across the chessboard, causing all the black and white pieces to fall; he looked at Liu Dahao with burning eyes and said: "State Marquis, how can you sit still?"

Liu Dahao jumped up in anxiety: "Sir, teach me!"

Qingyang Shuo laughed freely: "Our Yinzhou still has fifty thousand elite troops; why does the State Marquis not lead them out on an expedition, and under the name of suppressing the Xiongnu remnants causing chaos in Liangzhou, take a trip to that Baiya?"

"Ah!"

Hearing this, Liu Dahao's eyes widened to the size of copper bells.