Chapter 287: The Source of Trouble Rises Again

Liu Zheng naturally did not know what was happening in the direction of Lin Mountain at this moment.

Because he was already busy to the point of being overwhelmed on his side.

This time, the Emperor's Great Carriage was being escorted by Wei Kang, the Minister of Justice. Therefore, the preparations for Yinzhou still required Liu Zheng to coordinate directly with Wei Kang.

How to prepare, for instance.

Where would the Emperor stay after going to Yinzhou? What kind of itinerary, what kind of protocol? How to ensure safety along the way, what kind of meals to prepare upon arrival, and so on—every detail, no matter how small. Only at this time did Liu Zheng realize why the Emperor generally did not leave the palace. Because it was too troublesome!

Once the Emperor set out, everyone from top to bottom had to be turned upside down with busyness.

Naturally, there was no imperial palace in Yinzhou, so where would the Emperor stay upon arrival? It was certainly too late to build one now. Xie Tianyao was quite straightforward, saying that the Yinzhou Prefecture would suffice, which made Liu Zheng heave a sigh of relief. At the very least, there was no need to exhaust the people and drain the treasury to build an imperial palace in Yinzhou; that would have gone against his wishes.

These preliminary preparations took a full seven days.

Liu Zheng could not help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration.

He remembered watching something like *The Travels of Emperor Kangxi* in his past life, but looking at it now, that was truly nonsense. The emperors of this ancient era were actually subject to many restrictions; the Historians, the Scholar-officials, the Nine Ministers, and all sorts of others had various constraints on the Emperor's behavior and actions.

You want to travel incognito?

It was impossible even in your dreams!

Liu Zheng also finally understood why Sui Yangdi, in his later years, did not even know how many rebel armies there were in the world; it was because he had been firmly locked in the palace by various Eunuchs and Traitorous Officials.

Information was blocked!

Living in debauchery every day, how could he possibly know that the world was filled with war and that the people were groaning in misery under such circumstances? He had always thought the world was at peace.

Was Xie Tianyao not the same?

Comparing the two, Xie Tianyao had actually achieved the maximum he could in his control over the Longyan Dynasty. That he could see through the ills of the Longyan Dynasty at a glance already made him an enlightened ruler. It was just that history had created the Noble Class and the Scholar-official class, and it was still very difficult for him to change that with his own strength alone.

Therefore.

He wanted to change.

He could only seek external forces...

Now, this external force was Liu Zheng.

Someone who belonged neither to the nobles nor to the scholar-officials, a person who transcended the traditional shackles of the Longyan Dynasty.

"Depart!"

On this day, with a long chant from Grand Eunuch Zhou, the entire Great Carriage procession slowly began to move.

For the inspection of Yinzhou, Liu Dahao and a group of others naturally had to accompany them. His horse carriage followed behind the Emperor's dragon carriage.

As for Liu Zheng, he was in full military attire, walking side by side with Wei Kang, the Minister of Justice who was escorting the Great Carriage.

"Prefect Liu, I have heard that Yinzhou has transformed from a lawless land into a great city of the world today; it is a miracle of the current age. These rumors have made even this old man unable to resist coming to see it for himself!"

Wei Kang laughed heartily while riding his horse.

Liu Zheng looked humble: "Lord Wei is too kind. In a mere two years, how prosperous could it really be? Being favored by the Emperor this time will allow merchants from all over the world to flock here, bringing some benefits to the people of Yinzhou; that is enough to satisfy this humble official!"

Wei Kang nodded with a smile. He liked this humble young man; not being arrogant despite his achievements was truly rare. Most importantly, he could see the situation clearly. Wei Kang was actually quite surprised in his heart. Before coming to Liangzhou, he had thought this world-renowned Prefect Liu would be a hot-headed and spirited young man.

When he finally met him, he was shocked beyond measure. This kid was actually an old fox! He was someone cut out for the officialdom. Yet, he could not figure it out; logically speaking, this kid's growth trajectory should not have had any traces of the official world. Could it be that this child was born with such talent?

Wei Kang chuckled: "Prefect Liu, the Emperor coming to Liangzhou this time is, first, to see the governance of Liangzhou and whether the people are living and working in peace. Second, it is certainly to worry about Prefect Liu's marriage..."

Liu Zheng was left speechless and amused.

So it had come to this?

Sure enough.

Wei Kang laughed heartily: "My granddaughter is a famous talented woman in Jinghua, also both talented and beautiful. If Prefect Liu does not mind, shall I act as a matchmaker?"

Liu Zheng was caught off guard for a moment and could only excuse himself by saying that he would listen to the Emperor's arrangements regarding this matter.

For a dignified Minister of Justice to act as a matchmaker personally, the honor was not insignificant, but Liu Zheng truly did not want to act rashly. Just as Qingyang Shuo had said, his choice in this matter could directly influence the world's landscape within the Longyan Dynasty. The reason was none other than the fact that those of the Noble Class were currently close to Liu Zheng.

But scholar-officials like the Minister of Justice, Wei Kang, also wanted to win over Liu Zheng and his father, the Western Regions Commissioner.

Liu Zheng's choice would mean the tilting of the balance between the two opposing forces.

Therefore.

He could not agree lightly.

Seeing that Liu Zheng did not express his stance, Wei Kang also chuckled and stopped mentioning the topic. He was only testing the waters; now, in the entire imperial court, among all the Feudatory Kings in the world, who was not eyeing Prefect Liu, and who did not want him to become their son-in-law?

As a Minister of Justice, while his qualifications were sufficient, he was still far behind those Feudatory Kings.

Just at this moment.

"Prefect Liu, the Emperor summons you!"

Liu Zheng felt a surge of energy.

Was it time to begin the inspection?

Rongshan Pass.

Zheng Yuxing looked from afar at Lin Mountain, which seemed as if it were at the edge of the world. His face, weathered and slightly stiff, now held a hint of conflict.

"Uncle, time waits for no one! Cui Gong has sent word from Cheshi City that Sima Lingchen of the Western Regions Construction Corps will blow up the mountain in a few days. This is our only chance!"

The Third Prince, Xie Ling, appeared behind him, his tone cold.

Zheng Yuxing gave a bitter, sorrowful laugh: "Your Highness, I, Zheng Yuxing, have guarded the Beijing for over thirty years with a clean reputation all my life, yet today I must bury the lives of one thousand of my Beijing soldiers just to trade for a future for myself?"

He could not bear it!

Those were brothers who had been through life and death with him!

Furthermore...

He knew that if this matter were decided, he and that Prefect Liu would be in a situation of life and death.

And he...

Had never felt any ill will toward Prefect Liu.

The Third Prince, Xie Ling, gritted his teeth fiercely and knelt down with a thud: "Uncle, this concerns the fate of the nation, not just a single city or territory! Uncle, this Liu Zheng is already on the verge of controlling Liangzhou. If he remains unstoppable like this, how will you fare, Uncle?"

Zheng Yuxing was startled; he turned around and hurried to help the Third Prince up. Although he was a Pingdi General, his status could not compare to that of this noble Third Prince. How could he accept such a kneeling?

"Your Highness, you absolutely must not, this is..."

Tears streamed down Xie Ling's face, yet he refused to rise, clutching Zheng Yuxing's legs and wailing: "Uncle, although Xie Ling is untalented, I am still somewhat better than the Crown Prince. If this world falls into the hands of the Crown Prince, the nation will be in danger! Our lives will also be brutally slaughtered! Uncle, save your nephew! At the same time, this is also saving yourself!"

Zheng Yuxing closed his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth fiercely: "Fine! Let Your Highness make the arrangements!"

Xie Ling rose in great joy.

He waved his hand.

One thousand Liangzhou Northern Border Army troops began to set out toward Lin Mountain—the pretext being to train in Lin Mountain and practice wilderness warfare.

Watching the one thousand brothers depart, Zheng Yuxing's steel-like face finally shed two lines of old tears.

"All troops, prepare for battle!"

"Yes!"

On the Cheshi side, enough Quelehuoduo had already been prepared. The goal was to blow open this Lin Mountain. Lin Mountain was not considered tall, but it blocked the path of the Grand Canal.

A full several thousand barrels of Quelehuoduo were transported to Lin Mountain.

"My Lord, is it really unnecessary to communicate with the Liangzhou side?"

A subordinate suggested.

Ling Chen laughed heartily: "The Young Master has a saying: time is tight and the task is heavy. Within another two months, we must open up the path to Dunhuang! This is a death order I have given you all!"

At this moment, Ling Chen was in high spirits and unparalleled in his glory. The entire Western Regions Construction Corps looked to him for leadership. Naturally, there was still a bit of arrogance in his heart.

Of course, his loyalty to Liu Zheng remained unaffected! At this moment, he just wanted to achieve some results early and then give a surprise to Young Master Liu, who had shown him such great favor!

Four months!

To open the canal from Cheshi to Dunhuang, who else could do it? This feat would absolutely make him, Ling Chen, famous overnight! Over two hundred thousand laborers were almost entirely invested in the project of excavating the canal. They were moving forward at a speed of several li per day.

Thus.

How could he be willing to let the project be hindered and delayed because of the obstruction of Lin Mountain?

Go and communicate with Liangzhou?

Wouldn't that take another month of time going back and forth?

He could not wait.

Furthermore...

That Lin Mountain is just a desolate wilderness, what is there to fear?

"What does General Xie think?"

However, he still asked Xie Chan, who was by his side.

After all, the Construction Corps was currently led by the two of them.

One was him, and the other was Xie Chan.

Xie Chan, dressed in military attire, let out an "ah" and then scratched her head: "Lord Ling can just make the decision."

Ling Chen laughed out loud: "Good! Start the preparations!"

The people of the Western Regions Construction Corps began to bury the barrels of Quelehuoduo all over Lin Mountain according to Ling Chen's instructions.

Over a thousand barrels!

Additionally, a lot of Black Powder was placed.

And at this time.

The one thousand Liangzhou Army troops who were practicing field concealment in Lin Mountain were lying in the mountain forest, watching this group of people moving things back and forth.

A soldier asked curiously: "Lord Military Clerk, what are they doing?"

The Military Clerk glared at him: "Shut your mouth! This is naturally the training arranged for us by the General. Remember, everyone, no one is allowed to make a sound, and we cannot be discovered by these people! This training is about concealment under any circumstances! If we are not discovered by them, we will have passed this training!"

The soldier was shocked, nodded quickly, and passed the Military Clerk's order down the line.

Afterward, the young and clever-looking soldier hiding in the thorn bushes grinned: "Lord Military Clerk, after this field training, I want to go back and get married, is that okay?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh in low voices.

"Er Dan, how old are you to be getting married?"

"Hahahaha, do you even know how to hold a wife on the kang? Do you need me to teach you?"

Er Dan blushed and muttered in a low voice: "My mother said she arranged a marriage for me, and I've saved quite a bit of silver over these two years! Look, this is the token of love the woman gave me!"

He took out a dog tooth hanging around his neck and rubbed it against his face like a treasure.

The others continued to tease him good-naturedly.

The Military Clerk couldn't help but laugh as well: "Fine, once this training is over, I'll allow you to go back and get married!"

"Thank you, My Lord!"

Er Dan excitedly buried his head in the thorn bushes, not caring at all that the thorns were scratching his face. Because ahead, several people splashing oil had arrived one hundred paces in front of them.

Quelehuoduo paired with Black Powder.

It was enough to level this small mountain.

"My Lord, everything is ready!"

Ling Chen asked cautiously: "Has the whole mountain been checked to ensure no one is there?"

"There is definitely no one!"

"Good!"

Ling Chen was invigorated: "Everyone, withdraw from Lin Mountain and prepare to light the fire!"

"Prepare to ignite!"

"Withdraw from Lin Mountain!"

"Prepare to ignite!"

Everyone could not help but look over.

This scene would certainly be stunning. Such a feat as blowing up a mountain could probably only be conceived by a member of the Radical Faction like Ling Chen.

"Ignite!"

"Boom!"

Under the gaze of over a hundred thousand people, a loud explosion followed by a massive mushroom cloud shot into the sky. Lin Mountain was instantly submerged in this sea of fire.

"My god..."

"Good heavens..."

Everyone was shocked beyond measure.

Looking from afar, that small mountain had been almost razed to the ground amidst the thick smoke.

"My lord, it's a success!"

"Congratulations, my lord!"

"Haha, this Quelehuoduo of ours is truly powerful!"

Ling Chen also smiled slightly.

Once this mountain is leveled, completing the construction period in four months will no longer be a dream.

Who would have thought that at this very moment.

Suddenly, the Scout responsible for scouting ran back, scrambling and crawling: "My lord, my lord, it's bad!"

Ling Chen's heart tightened: "What is it?"

The Scout reported in a panic: "Behind Lin Mountain, many corpses were discovered. They... they must have been killed by our explosion!"

"What?"

Everyone was startled.

Ling Chen was also struck as if by a thunderbolt, his eyes splitting with rage: "Who are they?"

"Looking at the clothing that wasn't burned, they... they should be the Liangzhou Army from the direction of Rongshan Pass!"

"What?"

"Liangzhou Army?"

"Rongshan Pass?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Wasn't it said there was no one in the mountain? What is going on?

Ling Chen panicked instantly: "Quick, quick, follow me to take a look!"

Once they arrived there.

Sure enough.

Corpses lay scattered in all directions, all charred. Judging by this, they must have been soldiers stationed at Lin Mountain, training here.

Ling Chen backed away in horror a few steps: "What is going on, what is going on!"

He roared, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Xie Chan was also shocked; looking at the charred, blasted remains, she almost vomited.

"My lord, my lord..."

In a thorn bush that hadn't been completely burned, a young Viscount was left with only half his body. He was still struggling, and in his blood-soaked hand, he held a dog tooth strung on a rope...

His whole body charred black...

At this moment, his eyes were filled with terror, filled with despair...

He probably could not have imagined.

Just a few moments ago, he was still fantasizing about marrying a fair and tender wife; now, he was only a breath away from death...

Ling Chen watched all this with a blank mind...

He did not react for a long moment.

"My lord, my lord, look! People are coming from over there!"

Suddenly, someone shouted.

Ling Chen looked over in horror.

Sure enough.

From the direction of Rongshan Pass, dense ranks of elite cavalry kicked up clouds of dust, rushing toward this side with great momentum.

A premonition of a conspiracy struck his heart.

His expression changed drastically on the spot: "It's ruined, retreat, retreat!"

However...

It was already too late.

"Who are you people? Where are my brothers?"

The leading old general was none other than Zheng Yuxing, who had guarded the Beijing for over thirty years. He rode his horse to this place, and seeing such a scene, his eyes were already splitting with rage, filled with murderous intent.

Ling Chen was so scared his legs went soft: "General, this is a misunderstanding, we didn't know... I, I am a Sima of the Western Regions Construction Corps! General, we are all on the same side!"

Zheng Yuxing's eyes dripped with blood as he roared: "You did this, didn't you? My one thousand brothers, they were just blown to death by you?"

"Kill him!"

"Avenge our brothers!"

The elite cavalry of the Northern Border!

A full one hundred thousand of them!

In an instant, they surrounded them from all directions.

But looking at Ling Chen's side, they were all people holding various tools, with very few swords or blades; how could they be a match for this elite Northern Border cavalry?

Ling Chen said in a panic, "General, I am the Viscount of Liangzhou..."

Zheng Yuxing was furious: "You killed one thousand of my soldiers; even if the Viscount of Liangzhou came himself, I would execute him, let alone a mere Sima like you? Pay with your life!"

He no longer cared for Ling Chen's explanation, kicked his horse's belly with both legs, and charged forward.

"My lord, watch out!"

Ling Chen, a scholar who lacked the strength to truss a chicken, almost fell victim, but fortunately, two guards nearby saved him at the cost of their lives.

If Ling Chen did not realize he had fallen into a trap by now, he would be a fool, so he shouted, "Retreat, fight while retreating!"

"Retreat?"

Zheng Yuxing said coldly, "Let's see where you can retreat to. You killed one thousand of my brothers, so I will have one hundred thousand heads to pay for it!"

"Kill them all!"

The one hundred thousand elite cavalry of the Northern Border poured out in full force.

Xie Chan's side had some soldiers equipped with complete Weaponry and Equipment.

But there were only ten thousand of them, and upon encountering this elite Northern Border cavalry, they suffered heavy casualties in the very first clash!

Run!

At this moment, there was only one word.

And that was to run!

The twenty-some thousand people of the Western Regions Construction Corps began to flee in a rout toward Cheshi.

Zheng Yuxing, leading his elite Northern Border cavalry, had also killed until his eyes were bloodshot this time.

It was unclear whether he was heartbroken over his one thousand brothers or filled with indignation because of the Third Prince's vicious scheme.

Kill!

He needed to vent!

He needed to vent the unhappiness and suppressed rage in his heart!

Seeing their commander showing his might and charging into the fray, how could the elite Northern Border cavalry not risk their lives?

Kill!

It was almost like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.

This day.

A piece of news shocked the world.

The Western Regions Construction Corps deliberately blew up one thousand Liangzhou Army soldiers to provoke a conflict. Zheng Yuxing rose in vengeance, drove one hundred thousand elite cavalry in pursuit, killed thirty thousand men of the Western Regions Construction Corps, and two days later, the Sima of the Western Regions Construction Corps, Ling Chen, returned to Cheshi in a panic.

Of the twenty-some thousand laborers, losses reached sixty thousand!

And the one hundred thousand Northern Border Army of Liangzhou remained surrounding the city, refusing to leave.

Zheng Yuxing camped outside the city, waiting for Liu Zheng to come and give him an explanation.

Cheshi, which had only been stable for two months.

Once again fell into chaos.