Chapter 275: Towering Power

Chen Ruoshi.

She also followed in the procession of Liu Zheng returning to Liangzhou.

Along the way, she listened to the commoners seeing them off, shouting on one hand in gratitude to Prefectural Governor Liu, the Contemporary Sage, and on the other hand cursing her as the daughter of a national traitor, someone everyone should kill.

This intense contradiction caused the color to drain from her face.

Having experienced such long-standing confusion, she had actually come to terms with it. Ever since the day she was rescued by Liu Zheng, Liu Zheng had never spoken to her again; only a sharp-eyed and fierce-looking maidservant followed her constantly.

How would he dispose of her?

Would he have her taken away to be beheaded?

Chen Ruoshi gave a self-deprecating smile.

The whole world wanted to kill her; Liu Zheng surely would not go against the whole world, would he?

That is fine, too...

Isn't it just death?

In Changzhou and Dunhuang, because of the plague, were there few who died? As the daughter of the culprit, she should bear some of the blame, right...

"Burn the daughter of the national traitor to death!"

"Burn her to death!"

"Don't let her die easily!"

The commoners' curses grew more and more distant.

A few days later, the Yinzhou Army, having traveled long distances for months, finally returned to Liangzhou. The soldiers' attachment to their homeland was still very strong. The same welcoming formation, commoners lining the streets to welcome them, and that group of civil and military officials in the Liangzhou Prefecture had also long since changed their clothes... Didn't this Prefectural Governor Liu like green military uniforms?

Then the official robes were also green!

All of them green!

So, at a glance, Liu Zheng thought, good heavens, it was a sea of green; it was about the same as the stock market funds in later generations...

He was somewhat between laughter and tears.

But he could also understand these people's thoughts. Chen Ping had been convicted and his nine generations executed; these officials who had always followed Chen Ping naturally wanted to distance themselves.

Moreover...

Liangzhou was different from Yinzhou and Yangzhou; Liu Zheng could not overthrow and rebuild it. He had to preserve the previous official structure. Only in this way could he ensure the stability of Liangzhou without causing major upheaval.

After all, these officials represented every social stratum and different factions in Liangzhou.

Among them were commoner officials, Powerful Clans, literary giants, Nobles, and people of the Scholar-officials... intertwined and extremely complex. Liangzhou was the capital of the entire Yongliang, and Liu Zheng did not want the social order to become chaotic.

These people naturally wanted to curry favor with Liu Dahao, who was about to be enfeoffed as a king, first.

"Greetings, Prefectural Governor!"

"Prefectural Governor, you have worked hard on the journey; please hurry home and rest!"

"Greetings, Prefectural Governor Liu!"

A crowd of people, paying their respects in various ways.

"Home?"

Liu Dahao was even stunned for a moment.

That white-haired old man, named Ying Rong, was the current head of the Ying Family in Liangzhou and served as the Salt Transport Commissioner of the Liangzhou Salt Transport Department in the Liangzhou Prefecture. In ancient times, salt was a lucrative position, so he had very high prestige, which allowed him to lead a group of Chen Ping's former subordinates to defect at a critical moment. Hearing Liu Dahao's words at this time, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Prefectural Governor, the old Liu Family residence has already been renovated. Prefectural Governor, this Liangzhou was originally your home!"

The crowd also followed with flattery.

Once Liu Dahao heard this, his eyes indeed lit up: "Good, good, good, hurry, hurry!"

Liu Zheng was also between laughter and tears.

Sure enough.

Power, in any era, is something that can make people go crazy. Surrounded by a group of people, returning to the Liu residence in Liangzhou again, Liu Zheng also sighed with emotion.

The massive Liu residence had indeed been renovated, and those antiques and famous paintings that had once been scrambled for by various wealthy merchants were also sent back one after another. Not only that, but many exquisite items that Liu Dahao liked to use to feign elegance had also been added.

Once upon a time, he and Liu Dahao were so destitute that they had to sell off their family property, and finally rode two donkeys to Yinzhou. At that time, it was miserable; some mocked them, some kicked them while they were down, some sent coffins, some sent silver...

Now that they had gained power, everyone flocked to them.

The various states of human life are truly spectacular.

"Wow, is this the young master's home?"

Jiang Xuan was stunned: "It's so big!"

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "No need to be polite, just find a room and stay. I reckon that when the Emperor comes to Liangzhou, it will take at least half a month. Have a good time. Pass down the order: let the soldiers play to their hearts' content. As long as the expenses are within Liangzhou, this young master will pay for everything!"

Once the military order was given, everyone cheered.

From the Western Regions to Dunhuang, along this journey, the Yinzhou Army had indeed worked hard. It was said that on the first day of their return, they had almost drunk all the wine in Liangzhou.

The brothels and taverns in the bustling districts of Liangzhou were all filled with the Yinzhou Army. Fortunately, the Yinzhou Army had strict military discipline and would not be too dissolute in the local area.

This also allowed the merchants and commoners of Liangzhou to breathe a sigh of relief.

The feeling of changing flags and banners seemed quite good?

However.

What Liu Zheng did not expect was.

He originally wanted to rest for a few days.

Something happened anyway.

On the third day after he returned, Jiang Xuan ran over with an anxious face: "Young master, something happened, something happened!"

Liu Zheng's heart skipped a beat: "What's the situation?"

Western Regions.

Cheshi.

Xie Chan has been very busy lately.

Every day upon waking, she would rally a group of Yinzhou troops to begin excavating the Canal. This female general, dressed in full military attire, quickly won everyone's approval.

"Miss, Miss, wait for me!"

Xiao Tao wiped her face and followed behind, pouting.

Xie Chan gave her a cold look: "What are you dawdling for? Do you not want your points? Look at Feng Zhen's group, how capable they are. And you lot? You lot? I am being dragged down by you!"

Xiao Tao was left speechless.

She felt it was necessary to remind her Miss that they were not here to earn points, but to assassinate... no, wait, that person had already run away!

Then why were they still staying here?

She could not figure it out.

She really could not figure it out.

Xie Chan saw what her maid was thinking; she gave a bitter smile, slowed her pace, and patted Xiao Tao on the head: "Xiao Tao, let me ask you, if this canal were truly excavated and connected, what would become of the Western Regions?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Tao touched her head, thought for a moment, and said earnestly: "There wouldn't be a water shortage."

Xie Chan smiled: "Exactly! If the Western Regions had water, wouldn't all problems be solved? You silly girl, now that someone is providing the labor, the effort, and even the silver to help our Western Regions do this, isn't that a good thing?"

Xiao Tao nodded: "But Miss, the assassination..."

Xie Chan gave a cold snort: "Wait until this Canal is connected, then assassinate. Wouldn't this Canal then be something in the pocket of my Western Regions?"

Xiao Tao took a deep breath, her eyes widening.

Good heavens!

Her Highness the Princess has immense ambition!

Well done!

This is the kind of person who does great things! This is the Princess in her heart who can shoulder the sky for the Western Regions!

The next moment.

Xie Chan had already ridden to the construction site. Seeing her brothers slacking off and loafing, she immediately rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a shovel, jumped off her horse, and shouted: "What are you doing? What are you all doing? Get to work, hurry up! If we don't finish three miles today, nobody is sleeping! Come on, give me the chant!"

"Canal Diggers!"

"Canal Diggers, the soul of the Canal Diggers!"

"Roll up your sleeves and work hard!"

"Grab the points, open the Canal!"

"In seven days, we can reach Yangzhou!"