Chapter 286: Heads Roll

"Audacious!"

"A traitor to the state must be executed!"

"Spitting blood and slandering others!"

The scene fell into chaos.

In itself, it was normal for someone about to be executed along with their nine generations of kin to say anything. But these words from Chen Ping made people unable to stop themselves from overthinking. Because the reputation of this Prefectural Governor Liu was truly too resounding nowadays.

In a mere two years, he had made his own father a First-Rank Official of this Longyan Dynasty and the Western Regions Commissioner.

What kind of supernatural speed was this?

Nowadays, there was the Imperial Examination, the Grand Canal, the Inheritance Law, and the Public Schooling, all in full swing, striving for prosperity. If the imperial court of the Longyan Dynasty still held as steady as Mount Tai in its control over the regions, that would be one thing. But now, with Feudatory Kings standing like trees and each governing their own territory, Xie Tianyao was struggling to support it alone, lacking the strength to do more.

The stronger the Liu Family became, the greater the threat to the imperial court.

Although Chen Ping's words were malicious, they struck the vital point.

"Emperor, this humble official has absolutely no disloyal intentions, absolutely none!"

Liu Dahao was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt on the ground, expressing his loyalty.

Others also offered their Admonishment one after another.

Prefectural Governor Liu loved the people as his own children, was diligent in government affairs, reformed the judiciary, and feared not offending the powerful and the Powerful Clan; he was undoubtedly a good official and could not possibly have any disloyal intentions.

In ancient times, this was actually a standard for judging officials.

Why?

Because if Liu Dahao truly had the intention to raise a banner of rebellion, he would certainly use every Method to win over the Powerful Clan and the influential, dancing skillfully in every way.

As for the common people, he would not care about them at all.

However, he did not do so. Just after arriving in Liangzhou, he carried out judicial reform—this did not offend just a few people. Those privileged individuals actually had grievances. While reforming the judiciary, Liu Zheng was also leading a group of judicial practitioners to slowly revise the laws; this was the most important thing.

For example, the newly released Liangzhou Penal Code, as well as the Slave Law, the Civil Law, and so on, greatly improved the status of slaves, especially providing significant protection for the lives of slaves. At the very least, there would no longer be cases where the privileged could kill slaves without consequence.

Although it had not yet reached the point where the Son of Heaven would be punished for breaking the law just like a commoner.

But this had already touched the nerves of those with vested interests. However, they only grumbled in their mouths; after all, the Liu Family was now strong in troops and horses, and wealthy enough to rival the world.

There were many who slandered him in private, but few who truly dared to stand up and oppose him.

From this one point alone, it could be seen that the Liu Family's governance of Liangzhou held no selfish motives.

Of course... these were the thoughts of people in this era; they did not yet know the first principle that those who win the hearts of the people win the world.

"Emperor, the Liu Family has privately altered the laws, privately produced Refined Salt, privately traded overseas, evaded taxes, and engaged in militarism; for every single one of these crimes, they should be executed along with their nine generations of kin!"

"Emperor!"

"The Liu Family's intention to usurp the state is as clear as day!"

Chen Ping kept roaring, his crazed appearance making people curse him endlessly.

"Execute!"

Unexpectedly, Xie Tianyao said this lightly.

The Minister of Justice, Weikang, hurriedly wiped away cold sweat and shouted, "Execute!"

The involved parties, Chen Ping's family, immediately wailed; for a time, it was a scene of ghosts crying and wolves howling.

However, the executioners had long been prepared, and the heavy blades fell.

Streaks of fresh blood sprayed out; screams, sounds of terror, cheers, and curses—sounds of all kinds of emotions filled the entire scene.

Chen Ping's head finally rolled onto the ground.

The people of Liangzhou, each holding a steamed bun, rushed over to dip it in the blood; legend had it that such buns could cure a hundred illnesses. Moreover, it seemed that the greater the crimes of the person killed, the better the effect. Thus, Chen Ping's blood became a hot commodity.

Chen Ping's death signaled that Liangzhou had completely ended the period of Chen Ping's rule and was beginning to enter the period of Liu Dahao's rule.

A new chapter was about to begin.

The matters awaiting the Liu Family would also come one after another.

"Father!"

Right in Fengming Tower by the street, Chen Ruoshi saw her father beheaded in public and almost fainted from crying.

"Young Miss, Young Miss..."

The maidservant sent by Liu Zheng was startled and hurriedly pinched her philtrum.

Chen Ruoshi waved her hand with a miserable expression, indicating she was fine. She also knew that her father's crimes were too numerous to record. It was just that she had not expected that the once-great family would be left with only her.

Left with only her...

Then what was the point of her living?

But...

She did not have the courage to die.

She really wanted to see, really wanted to see—her father might not have governed Liangzhou well, but what about Liu Zheng? That man who often appeared in her dreams?

What kind of tricks could he pull off in Liangzhou?

This was the entire Liangzhou, not just a Yinzhou...

Thirty prefectures and counties—how would he govern them?

She clenched her fists tightly, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed several times in the direction where Chen Ping died: "Father, your daughter is unfilial and cannot follow you..."

"Your daughter will help you watch, help you watch over Liangzhou..."

Liangzhou.

This place where Chen Ping had struggled for a lifetime—what would its future be?

"By the grace of the Emperor, the decree states: Western Regions Commissioner and Prefectural Governor Liu Dahao has shown great merit in managing the plague, with outstanding achievements, and has presented Artemisia annua to the Hanlin Academy, bringing blessings to the world... Liu Dahao holds the people in his heart and wishes to depart from strife, thus voluntarily renouncing the title of King of a Different Surname..."

"May Heaven bless Longyan, the plague is halted. Promote Liu Dahao to First-Class Earl and Marquis of the Frontier! He shall govern Liangzhou and oversee the Western Regions. Respect this!"

Liu Dahao and the others knelt, shouting in unison, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Long live, long live, long live!"

Liu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Thank goodness, thank goodness, he wasn't made a prince!

What he feared most was this old Emperor having a sudden whim and, regardless of the consequences, insisting on conferring a princely title upon him; that would have been a massive problem.

By then, Liangzhou would truly have become a target for all, bearing a great deal of pressure for Prince Wei.

That was not what Liu Zheng wanted.

"Prefect Liu, your use of Artemisia annua to treat the plague has benefited the world. You are promoted to Imperial Academy Chancellor and appointed Prefect of Liangzhou!"

Liu Zheng continued to express his gratitude.

Fifth-rank official!

A full department-level official! Good heavens. Previously, Liu Zheng was the Prefect of Yinzhou, which was a local-level prefecture, but now he was the Prefect of Liangzhou, a provincial-level prefecture. He had gone straight from deputy department-level to full department-level! Thinking of this, Liu Zheng couldn't help but feel a bit carried away.

Who has ever seen a twenty-two-year-old full department-level official?

That's incredibly awesome, isn't it!

……

"Young Master, the Emperor is going to Yinzhou. What should we do?"

After the execution was over and Liu Zheng had just returned to the residence, he was called by Zheng Yue Ru into Qingyang Shuo's room.

Liu Zheng was not surprised when he heard this.

If things were as he had guessed, Xie Tianyao's main purpose this time was to see the situation in Liangzhou, so he should even more so go to Yinzhou to take a look—that was where the effects of his sweeping reforms could be seen.

"You mean, the Refined Salt?"

Liu Zheng frowned; this was indeed a problem.

In ancient times, Refined Salt was strictly controlled by the state. The laws of the Longyan Dynasty stipulated that only those with princely titles had the right to produce Refined Salt. If Liu Dahao had been made a prince this time, it would have been nothing, and the production of Refined Salt could have been fully opened up. But this time, he had only received the title of First-Class Earl.

Liangzhou only had the right to sell salt, but not the legal right to produce it.

Liu Zheng looked at Qingyang Shuo.

Qingyang Shuo chuckled: "Young Master, since you believe the Emperor is a person of broad mind, why fear him seeing the Refined Salt?"

Liu Zheng was shaken: "Does Sir mean that we have no need to conceal it at all?"

Qingyang Shuo nodded with a smile: "What does the Emperor's Secret Guard not know? Since the Emperor did not kill you this time, he certainly will not vent his anger on you because of this."

Liu Zheng was overjoyed to hear this.

There were many things to prepare for the Emperor's travels. The safety, food, clothing, housing, and transportation along the way were, of course, all being handled by Liangzhou. Therefore, Liu Dahao and Liu Zheng would be very busy from here on out.

Liu Zheng's thoughts were very simple.

Now...

The Imperial Examination was about to be piloted in Liangzhou; this was an order from the Emperor. However... the Emperor had not mentioned a word about the digging of the Grand Canal during this visit to Liangzhou. This made Liu Zheng feel a bit uneasy. After all, the Grand Canal was truly too important to him. Once the Grand Canal was connected, the entire Longyan would be as easy to traverse as flat ground.

He had to make the old Emperor support his Grand Canal plan!

And whether he supported it or not, this inspection had become very important.

He had Zheng Yue Ru return to Yinzhou first to prepare for the arrival of the Imperial carriage, while he stayed here, busy with the arrangements.

In his heart, he was actually still a bit anxious.

Could it be that the Emperor was not worried at all about what Chen Ping had said before the execution?

The heart of usurping the state...

Liu Zheng did not believe that he was not worried at all.

But after that audience, Xie Tianyao had never summoned Liu Zheng again.

The heart of a monarch is truly unfathomable.

……

The digging of the canal in the Cheshi section was proceeding very smoothly.

One month!

Only one month had passed, and under the internal competition of the Construction Corps, the people of the Western Regions Protectorate had launched a vigorous, leap-forward mass production.

In just one short month.

More than a dozen water wells had been dug near Cheshi, which greatly solved the current water shortage and drought problems in Cheshi.

The work of afforestation had also begun.

Of course, more importantly, there was the digging of the canal—although there was no water yet, they were still strictly following the requirements of Liu Zheng's blueprints and kept digging.

However.

Just as the canal was progressing at a rapid speed, a difficult problem confronted the current Protectorate Sima, Ling Chen.

"Lord Ling, how should we get past this Lin Mountain?"

"If we go around from here, it will add several hundred miles to the journey!"

"But this Lin Mountain is adjacent to Rongshan Pass in Liangzhou. If we blast this mountain open, will it..."

A group of people was discussing it.

When Liu Zheng designed the blueprints, he hadn't perfected the section near Liangzhou, so this Lin Mountain had been overlooked by him.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen laughed: "Everyone, is there anything left to consider? Liangzhou is now governed by the Lord and the Young Master; does blasting a mere Lin Mountain still require deliberation? Blast it! Transport the Quelehuoduo over and blast it open!"

Blasting this mountain open would save nearly ten days of work; why not do it?

However, what Ling Chen did not expect was.

This decision almost cost him his life.

It almost caused Liu Zheng to fall into an abyss.