Chapter 293: Xie Tianyao's Request

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng and Liu Dahao hurried out of the city to welcome them.

Seeing the two arrive in their Great Carriage, Grand Eunuch Zhou let out an "Aiyo" and said, "My two lords, why go to such lengths? Why go to such lengths? We are all old friends; this must absolutely not happen!"

Liu Zheng gave a wry smile: "Grand Eunuch Zhou, you did not return to Jinghua with the Emperor; what is this about?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou coughed and said, "Prefect Liu, do not think the Emperor does not trust you. It was I who volunteered to stay behind. I, myself, wish to see how you reform Liangzhou, and also experience it on behalf of the Emperor, no?"

The three looked at each other and laughed.

Liu Zheng was left between laughter and tears.

To put it bluntly, this was still Xie Tianyao not trusting him, having sent this Grand Eunuch Zhou to supervise him. To put it nicely, if Grand Eunuch Zhou remained in Liangzhou, certain political decrees would be more easily accepted by the world... after all, Grand Eunuch Zhou was an Imperial Envoy. But to put it bluntly, Xie Tianyao was still worried that Liu Zheng would mess around and build up his own military strength, so placing his most trusted person here would allow him to grasp the situation at any time.

Grand Eunuch Zhou staying in Liangzhou was naturally a major matter, and he had to be treated well, as he was currently representing the Emperor.

"Aiya, Lord Liu, do not be so polite, do not be so polite."

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled the whole way, his face crinkling like a chrysanthemum, while his mouth kept speaking polite pleasantries.

After arranging for Grand Eunuch Zhou to settle in, Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled and asked Liu Zheng: "Prefect Liu, the entire world is watching you now. Where do you intend to start with this reform of yours?"

Liu Zheng smiled and took out the documents and materials he had prepared along the way.

He first presented the *General Outline of the Liangzhou Cabinet System* to Grand Eunuch Zhou for his perusal.

Grand Eunuch Zhou took one look and was shocked: "Prefect Liu, what is this? White-clothed commoners and officials discussing government together? This, this, this is absurd!"

Once Liu Zheng returned to Liangzhou, the entire Liangzhou officialdom was actually in a state of panic.

At this moment.

The Ying Residence.

A group of civil and military officials of Liangzhou gathered together, clinking cups and discussing the world.

Ying Rong offered a toast and deliberately laughed: "Gentlemen, as the saying goes, 'new emperor, new ministers.' Chen Ping has already been beheaded, and the Liu father and son control Liangzhou. With the Emperor backing them, this reform is surely inevitable!"

The whole room buzzed with discussion.

One person laughed: "And so what? Lord Ying captured Chen Ping, a great achievement, so you should still be the head of the Liangzhou Prefecture officials! I see this Liangzhou Marshal position as belonging to none other than Lord Ying!"

Others echoed this sentiment.

Ying Rong could not help but let a smug smile flash across his face, yet he still waved his hand: "I dare not accept, I dare not accept. This old man is only worried that if this Imperial Examination begins, everyone will be on pins and needles..."

Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere became eerie.

Was it not?

If that Imperial Examination were to start in Liangzhou, who knows how many White-clothed commoners would stand out... and since there is only one hole for every radish, these official positions are limited. If others come, wouldn't they have to step down?

Competition!

The increasingly fierce competition made these people feel nervous as well.

Ying Rong continued: "This time, Prefect Liu has summoned all the local administrative officials together again; it seems there is going to be a major move..."

The crowd felt a tightness in their chests and asked one after another how to respond.

Ying Rong deliberately laughed for a while before slowly saying: "No matter how the reform goes, gentlemen, this Liangzhou Prefecture should still be the Liangzhou Prefecture. This Liangzhou is not that tiny place of Yinzhou; the coordinated operation of various institutions and departments is what he, Prefect Liu, wants!"

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Do you gentlemen understand?"

The crowd was shaken to the core.

How could they not understand?

It was very simple.

You, Prefect Liu, want to reform? Fine, then reform. But if you want to touch the interests of these people, then sorry... these people may not be enough to accomplish things, but they are certainly more than enough to ruin them! It would be easy to paralyze a few of your departments!

"Good!"

"Lord Ying is absolutely right!"

"We must uphold this pact together!"

Liu Zheng had long known that Grand Eunuch Zhou would definitely have such a reaction.

The Longyan Dynasty placed great importance on the distinction between White-clothed commoners and those with official status; this was a class difference.

He chuckled: "Grand Eunuch Zhou, what is broken must be rebuilt; that is how it is. Moreover, White-clothed commoners discussing government are still White-clothed commoners; they have merely read into the status of a 'people's representative.' They only have the right to participate and the right to suggest, but they do not have the right to deliberate on government or the right to make decisions. What does Grand Eunuch Zhou think?"

Only then did Grand Eunuch Zhou heave a sigh of relief: "Aiyo, Prefect Liu, you gave me a fright! I thought these White-clothed commoners were going to enter the hall and take their seats! Hehe, that is fine, that is fine! Bold, a bold innovation, haha!"

Liu Zheng chuckled, though there was something he didn't say...

Once this People's Congress began, he would certainly find ways to increase the status and voice of the attendees from all walks of life! Of course, that was a matter for later.

Since Grand Eunuch Zhou had no objections, Liu Zheng planned to begin.

Who would have thought that after finishing the official business, Grand Eunuch Zhou would pull back Liu Zheng, who was planning to leave, and look outside the door with shifty eyes. Only after confirming no one was there did he say: "Prefect Liu, actually, the reason the Emperor had me stay in Liangzhou is because there is a secret matter that I need to convey to you. But this matter involves the Imperial family, so you should understand..."

Liu Zheng was dumbfounded.

Grand Eunuch Zhou let out an "Aiya" and whispered: "The Emperor had an heir who, over a dozen years ago, was abducted by Xie Xuan along with the child's mother... Because of this, the Emperor has been afraid to act rashly and has not left the Imperial Palace for over a decade... At this time, the Emperor finds it hard to speak of it, so he let me... Hehe, if Prefect Liu can provide some assistance, this would be a great achievement!"

"What?"

Liu Zheng listened, completely dumbfounded.

Suddenly.

The image of Xie Chan flashed through his mind once again.

Could it be her?

No...

Is this matter not a bit absurd?

The next moment, he stood up abruptly, his expression changing drastically: "Quick, quick, call Jiang Xuan here!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou was left stunned, not understanding why.

Seeing no one answer, Liu Zheng had already run out himself.

……

"Young Miss, Young Miss, please rest a moment, just a moment..."

At this moment.

On the ramparts of Cheshi, the city walls just reinforced by the Western Regions Construction Corps were covered almost everywhere in the remains of soldiers from both armies; smoke from the fires of war rose everywhere, and the flames of battle reached the sky.

Zheng Yuxing had launched a full-scale attack on Cheshi by surprise; at this point, he had already jumped down from the moral high ground and begun an unjust war.

Three days!

Three consecutive days of fierce attacks! Xie Chan had barely slept in these three days; at this moment, clad in full armor, her face was pale, and her body was covered in blood and gore. She no longer knew how many Northern Border Army soldiers had died by her blade. Xiao Tao, standing by her side, felt heartbroken just watching.

"Rest my ass, rest!"

Xie Chan turned back and shouted coldly: "I am the Great General of the Construction Corps, how can I rest?"

"West Gate, hold the West Gate for me, send another thousand troops!"

At the West Gate, a rumbling sound had already begun; her expression changed, and she issued the order.

"Yes!"

Xiao Tao looked aggrieved: "Young Miss, we, why must we..."

She really wanted to say.

You are a Princess of the Dayuan Kingdom, why must you serve as a general for others in Cheshi?

Xie Chan roared: "This young lady is serving as a general for the first time; are you going to let me die with regret in Cheshi? If the people of the world find out, how will I have the face to see anyone?"

"Besides, Cheshi is also the territory of our Western Regions; by what right does he, Zheng Yuxing, come to attack?"

"Hold them off, hold them off for me!"

So many days.

The troops from Yanqi had also come over in significant numbers—but they were limited after all; Ling Chen would not be so foolish as to leave a place as important as Yanqi exposed to the Dayuan Kingdom once again.

Fortunately.

The Western Regions Construction Corps had a full three hundred thousand people, with two hundred thousand having combat capability; having lost seventy thousand in the past few days, there were still over one hundred thousand left. Although they could not be mentioned in the same breath as the well-trained soldiers of the Northern Border Army, they were more than enough to defend the city.

At this moment.

As the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce brought in cart after cart of grain, fodder, and Weaponry and Equipment, the morale of the army stabilized instantly.

But even so, in terms of military command, Xie Chan, who was slightly inexperienced, still felt inadequate when facing an old fox like Zheng Yuxing.

Several times, Cheshi was nearly taken. Several times, she was forced to send troops out of the city to block them—as a result, these soldiers became cannon fodder.

Zheng Yuxing.

This time, he truly did not care about anything; he did not care about your righteousness, nor did he care about your morality.

A thief does not leave empty-handed!

With so much grain and fodder already consumed, could he just slink back in defeat?

He could not do it!

Zheng Yuxing at this moment was furious and desperate. A furious and desperate Zheng Yuxing was quite terrifying.

In this battle, he brought out all of his thirty-plus years of experience as a general.

It was just that...

He had not expected.

That after attacking like this for seven days, he had actually still not taken Cheshi?

"Who is the general on the opposite side?"

He could not help but ask.

Xie Ling also wondered: "Liu Zheng should not have left behind any great generals."

Logically speaking, this rabble in Cheshi should not have anyone so well-versed in the art of war.

Just at this moment, a Scout ran over.

"General, a secret Han from Cui Gong in Cheshi!"

The two opened the secret Han and looked at it.

"Xie Chan?"

"It is a woman?"

"The Xie Clan?"

The two looked at each other in dismay.

Xie Ling frowned: "Continue to scout, who is this Xie Chan!"

"Yes!"

The Scout left.

"Has our grain and fodder arrived?"

Zheng Yuxing turned back and asked.

"General, the supply train sent by the Prince of Lu has already arrived!"

Only then did Zheng Yuxing set his mind at ease.

He gave a cold smile.

Governor Liu does not send a single soldier, but only supports with supplies?

He wants to exhaust me to death?

This is truly committing a great taboo in military strategy!

Why?

Because Zheng Yuxing, and his Northern Border Army, already knew at this time that Cheshi City was piled full of grain, fodder, and military supplies... what would they think?

Attack the city!

Attack the city with their lives on the line!

Once they took it, wouldn't all these things be theirs?

Especially given that their own forces were strong and Cheshi had no defenses to hold, the grain and supplies in the city would only make Zheng Yuxing's Northern Border Army burn their bridges and fight to the death!

Thinking of this.

Zheng Yuxing gave a cold laugh: "His Highness, the fifty thousand soldiers of Rongshan Pass can set out!"

The Third Prince shuddered: "Uncle, should we not wait a little longer? Prince Lu's grain has only just had one shipment arrive, I fear..."

Zheng Yuxing shook his head decisively: "We cannot wait any longer, we must take Cheshi first! Seize the grain and retreat!"

The Third Prince gritted his teeth hard and nodded.

He still had not waited for Liu Zheng's reinforcements, and naturally, he was unwilling to accept it...

But things had reached this point, and he could only cut his losses in time.

Yet the two of them never dreamed that.

The military order here had only just been sent out.

The Western Regions Construction Corps in Cheshi had actually launched a counterattack!

At this moment.

The whole world was shocked.

Had Sima Lingchen of this Western Regions Construction Corps truly had his brain burned out?