Chapter 248: Manipulating Hearts

The Protectorate was busy from top to bottom.

Including Xie Chan.

For these past few days, wearing the female general's military uniform that Liu Zheng had personally designed for her, she felt bewildered everywhere she went.

"General Xie!"

"Greetings, General Xie!"

"General Xie, these military supplies have been delivered today. Would you like to take a look?"

To be honest.

Xie Chan had never thought about becoming any kind of general since she was a child. She had originally only wanted to get close to Liu Zheng, but she hadn't expected that she would be overwhelmed and flustered next...

The Feathered Forest Army.

It would be the most elite internal guard unit of this Western Regions Protectorate, involving the appointment of officials at all levels, military supply reserves, the distribution of Weaponry and Equipment—and, the familiarity and understanding of the Yinzhou Army's Weaponry and Equipment.

The more she understood.

The more shocked she became...

The weapons of this Yinzhou Army were simply too formidable, weren't they? Things like the Long Spear, the Mo Dao, the wolf-brush... all kinds of things emerged one after another. More importantly, all of these were actually forged from Refined Steel?

Refined Steel!

How much silver would it take to accomplish such a thing!

The entire Dayuan Kingdom didn't have much Refined Steel, and it was said that that Refined Steel was still bought from the Longyan Dynasty at a high price. Who could have imagined that this Yinzhou, from top to bottom, was armed to the teeth, all with Refined Steel!

Not only that.

The strictness of the Yinzhou Army's military discipline also gave Xie Chan a shock.

Ranks were clearly defined, and orders were strictly followed.

The military style was tough, and alcohol was forbidden during wartime.

Thinking back to those armies of the Dayuan Kingdom... Xie Chan felt a bit confused. The Yanqi Army, the Qiuci Army, and the Jingjue Army were all scheming against each other, full of deceit, putting in no effort during battles, and using all sorts of tricks to claim military merit. They dressed in flashy, gaudy outfits, yet their combat effectiveness was extremely low. Not only that, but their military style was even more lazy, arrogant, and indulgent, bullying the common people.

This...

She finally understood why Yanqi was lost as soon as the Yinzhou Army arrived.

Could they even fight against this?

A feeling of powerlessness even welled up in her heart; could the gap between them be bridged just because she assassinated Liu Zheng?

Just as she finished handling the military affairs, Xiao Tao, also wearing a military uniform, ran over with a grave expression and whispered, "Miss, Miss, I heard that Governor Liu is going back to Yinzhou!"

"What?"

A sharp glint flashed in Xie Chan's eyes: "When is he leaving?"

"Tomorrow!"

She nodded and said, "We cannot wait any longer. We will assassinate him tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

Xie Chan knew that with the current situation in the Western Regions, once Liu Zheng was allowed to return to the Longyan Dynasty, the Dayuan Kingdom would truly have no more chances.

From Cheshi back to Yinzhou, one must pass through Dunhuang and Liangzhou.

If one took the route through Loulan, going back would be taking a detour.

Therefore, Liu Zheng decided to take the route directly through Dunhuang. Since the South-to-North Water Diversion project and the digging of the Grand Canal could never avoid Dunhuang, he had to find a way to get his hands on it! He had no need to avoid suspicion anymore.

The Western Regions Construction Corps.

Nowadays, it already had a scale of 350,000 people!

Apart from 150,000 prisoners, 50,000 craftsmen, and the 100,000 slaves bestowed by the Emperor, the rest were the 50,000 Yinzhou soldiers who volunteered to stay and develop the Western Regions—after all, the benefits were truly too generous. Staying in the Western Regions for five years meant achieving financial freedom directly; who wouldn't want that?

Therefore.

The number of Yinzhou soldiers planning to return to Yinzhou with Liu Zheng this time was only 90,000 left.

Successfully rebuilding the Western Regions Protectorate was a triumphant return.

Liu Zheng had already spent nearly a month deliberating on the specific work plans and systems of the Western Regions Construction Corps with Ling Chen. Now, with the digging of the Cheshi section of the Canal, the Western Regions Construction Corps had gradually taken shape and was operating normally.

"Sima, the Western Regions is entrusted to you!"

That evening, Liu Zheng hosted a banquet for the officials remaining at the Western Regions Protectorate, offering a toast to each of them.

Ling Chen had gained Liu Zheng's deep trust and had long ago sworn to serve Liu Zheng for this lifetime. Hearing these words, he was still moved to tears: "Young Master, rest assured. When you return, the Western Regions will surely be a paradise on earth!"

"Good!"

The crowd also cheered one after another.

Xie Chan had been feeling very conflicted all night, constantly watching Liu Zheng.

She felt...

That she was somewhat out of place with the joyful atmosphere of the night. What was even harder to understand was that she actually felt lost and dejected because of this feeling of being out of place?

At this banquet, everyone was in high spirits, appearing ready to display their grand ambitions, full of confidence to change the barren and desolate state of the Western Regions... and what about her?

She wanted to assassinate Liu Zheng!

She actually discovered that she had also been infected by the emotions of these people.

She even wanted to join in...

Could the Western Regions really be changed?

"General Xie, General Xie?"

Just then, a few calls disrupted Xie Chan's thoughts.

She snapped out of it and saw Liu Zheng, with a smile on his face, standing before her with a wine cup in his hand. She couldn't help but gasp and hurriedly stood up: "Yo... Young Master..."

Liu Zheng laughed: "The Feathered Forest Army is the vital organ of the Western Regions Construction Corps. Whether the Western Regions Construction Corps can remain stable internally will depend on you, General Xie!"

Xie Chan's mind was in a whirl, and she was just about to speak.

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would slowly lean his body over; because the distance was too close, Xie Chan's face even flushed, but she knew that Liu Zheng was not the type to be reckless, so she endured the blushing and listened to Liu Zheng's whisper.

"General Xie..."

"In the future, in this Protectorate, Ling Chen will manage the administration, and General Xie will manage the military affairs..."

He deliberately glanced at the high-spirited Ling Chen over there and said with a cautious face: "General Xie, that Ling Chen is unruly and extreme; the stability of the Construction Corps still depends on you. General Xie should know that the Construction Corps is, after all, primarily about military affairs..."

"What?"

Xie Chan's delicate body trembled, and her mind was instantly in a whirl.

What does this mean?

He wants her to supervise, or rather, keep Ling Chen in check?

But...

That's not right...

Why does he trust her so much?

Not right!

She is here to assassinate him!

Hey!

Don't be like this!

But Liu Zheng continued speaking, and the hot breath he exhaled made Xie Chan feel uncontrollably ticklish: "General Xie, this matter is of the utmost importance; it concerns the fate of the Protectorate and the well-being of the people. Liu Zheng thanks you in advance!"

After saying this, he raised his cup of wine and drank it down in one gulp.

This scene was something Xie Chan could never have imagined...

"This, this, this..."

Xie Chan was completely bewildered.

Brother!

I am here to assassinate you!

Why do you trust me so much!

You handed over the entire military affairs of the corps to me?

Why!

I am an enemy!

But looking at Liu Zheng's sincere expression, she opened her mouth to speak but stopped, and in the end, she also gulped down a cup of wine.

Damn guy!

She thought of the small dagger hidden in her shoe.

This makes her...

How could she bring herself to do it!

Assassinate tomorrow!

Tomorrow...

The next day.

Liu Zheng and his party, leading ninety thousand Yinzhou troops, began their journey amidst the fluttering banners as the officials remaining at the Western Regions Protectorate saw them off.

Inside the Horse Carriage.

Qingyang Shuo laughed heartily: "The Young Master's move is truly brilliant. Even with Miss Xie's meticulous mind, she would never have guessed that this was a trap set for her by the Young Master!"

Liu Zheng also chuckled: "Xie Chan... I heard Xie Xuan has a Princess who has been pampered since childhood; I didn't expect her to have infiltrated Yanqi."

Qingyang Shuo smiled: "Young Master, rest assured, that Feng Zhen has already made arrangements. If a mere woman is truly willing to integrate into the Construction Corps, then so be it. If she has even the slightest ulterior motive, she will surely die!"

"Good!"

Liu Zheng nodded.

When he first guessed Xie Chan's identity, he was very surprised and even wanted to kill her. But on one hand, Xie Chan's beauty was truly to his taste... On the other hand, Liu Zheng felt that killing a mere woman directly would be quite a mood-killer. Moreover, Xie Chan's identity was so sensitive.

So why not play a game with her?

Play with fire?

Turn her to his side!

She actually had several opportunities to assassinate him when she infiltrated Yanqi. Of course, the assassination might not have succeeded because Pei Qianyun was always following Liu Zheng, but it would have been possible to cause harm.

But she didn't.

Liu Zheng then pondered the reason for this.

Could it be that she was also hesitating?

Therefore, he simply played the final ruthless move: giving her sufficient high status and trust, while having Ling Chen and Feng Zhen monitor her together!

Let's see what kind of tricks she wants to play.

If he could truly succeed in turning her, the blow to the Dayuan Kingdom would undoubtedly be significant. When the time came to wage war, he would have a few more bargaining chips.

"Son, son, come quickly, come quickly, Father has found a good one for you!"

Just at this moment, the increasingly bloated Liu Dahao ran onto the Horse Carriage excitedly, holding a "Beauty Roster" in his hand; as soon as he got on, the entire Horse Carriage shook violently.

Qingyang Shuo stifled a laugh.

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes.

Here he goes again!