Chapter 334: The Chaos Begins in Shu

Liu Zheng was in Yintan City, finally waiting for two letters from the direction of Chuan Shu.

One was from Qin Zhangfeng, telling Liu Zheng about the situation where he was being held back in Jian Ge. The main army was unable to provide support to Jiangzhou for a long time. The other letter made Liu Zheng extremely excited, because this letter was from Yan Lin in Chuan Shu!

Yan Lin!

This Chuan Shu bigwig was illustrious and known to all under heaven. In his letter, he sincerely invited Liu Zhe to enter Chuan Shu and detailed the situation in Shu at this time.

The Crown Prince Xie Zhen was simple-minded but kind-hearted; he would surely be a benevolent ruler in the future. The Third Prince Xie Yang, however, was extremely calculating and had henchmen everywhere; if this person were to become the master of Chuan Shu, I fear Chuan Shu would never have peace again.

Furthermore...

The Second Prince Xie Chen was born to the sister of the Prince of Xiang, and was currently stationed at Pengshui, not far from Yong'an...

Therefore.

The situation in Shu had already become a three-legged standoff. As it currently appeared, Xie Yang, who controlled Shuzhou City, and Xie Chen, who was garrisoned at Pengshui, had become the most powerful.

Once the King of Shu passed away, Shu would inevitably fall into great chaos.

Thus, under these circumstances, whether it was the pillars of state in Chuan Shu or the dying King of Shu, they could only seek one final opportunity: to welcome Liu Zhe into Shu!

But they had to make Liu Zhe agree to support the Crown Prince Xie Zhen in taking the stage, letting him inherit the throne of the King of Shu, never to be deposed for all eternity!

"Good!"

Qingyang Shuo saw this letter and laughed, "Young Master, in this way, your entry into Chuan Shu will be a matter of course... This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Since ancient times, in the struggle for power, one must first seize Chuan Shu; as for any promises, those can be discussed later.

At this time, Liu Zheng entering Chuan Shu was something the King of Shu was begging for, so naturally, he had a righteous cause, and no one could say anything against him!

Liu Zheng also smiled and nodded, but then asked, "It's just that Zhangfeng is trapped in Jian Ge, this..."

It was very clear that the other side was using the matter of grain and supplies to keep Qin Zhangfeng immobilized, and even wanted to wait until the King of Shu truly died before seeking to retake Jiangzhou. These people would never care about how many more people in Jiangzhou would die over such a long time... They only cared about their own immediate interests.

Qingyang Shuo smiled faintly, "If you wish to enter Chuan Shu, Young Master, taking the Shu road is no longer feasible; it would be better to take the waterway and bypass to Jiangzhou!"

Liu Zheng took a deep breath and looked down at the sand table.

He had been studying this map of Chuan Shu for several days. That Yong'an was located northeast of Jiangzhou. Yong'an had originally always been a city of Chuan Shu, but it had been swindled away by the Prince of Xiang during a marriage alliance, and he had refused to return it to Chuan Shu ever since. This Yong'an was the only path for the Jingchu lands to enter Chuan Shu, whether by land or by water.

Therefore.

If Liu Zheng wanted to pass through Yong'an to enter Jiangzhou, the best method was to take Yong'an back along the way!

Thinking of this, Liu Zheng smiled bitterly, "Sir, offending the Prince of Xiang at this time..."

Qingyang Shuo laughed nonchalantly, "Young Master, conflict with the Prince of Xiang upon entering Chuan Shu is inevitable; it is only a matter of time. Yong'an is a natural barrier and the gateway to Chuan Shu. If you take it first, Young Master, you will be in an invincible position!"

"Good!"

Liu Zheng's trust in Qingyang Shuo was absolute, beyond question.

Since it was decided to take the route through Yong'an, they would need enough Yinzhou warships. Fortunately, under the management of Rhodes, what Liu Zheng did not lack now were Yinzhou warships.

The Liangzhou Army had originally claimed to be an army of 150,000 entering Chuan Shu, but in the end, Qin Zhangfeng only took 50,000, leaving 100,000 behind for Jiang Xuan to lead back to the city to execute those corrupt officials. Now that Liangzhou was settled, the Liangzhou Army had long been ready to set off.

"Pass down the order: call the generals, muster the troops!"

Liu Zheng waved his hand.

The 150,000-strong army, this time, prepared full rations and set off together for Kezhou Port.

Twenty Yinzhou warships had long been waiting in full force, and they began to ride the wind and break the waves in a grand and imposing manner.

The Longyan Dynasty was shocked to hear this news.

Liu Zheng had set out in person?

And looking at this posture, he was heading straight for Yong'an?

"What are you saying?"

At this moment.

In Shuzhou City. Xie Yang was so shocked he stood up abruptly, killing intent fully revealed in his eyes: "These old things, to actually commit such an act of treason! Bringing this wolf-like and tiger-like army into Chuan Shu is tantamount to selling out the country!"

Bang!

He slammed the table hard and raged, "Old man Yan Lin, this is trying to cut off my escape route! Arrest them! Arrest all those corrupt old thieves for me!"

"Yes!"

"Your Highness, that Pei Yanran is still in Shuzhou; why don't we..."

A subordinate chuckled.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yang's eyes lit up instantly. This Pei Yanran was flirting with that Qin Zhangfeng who had come to reinforce Chuan Shu. If he could keep this Pei Yanran under his control, it would be equivalent to having a protective talisman, allowing him to remain in an invincible position!

"Place her under house arrest!"

"Yes!"

This Xie Yang had previously been in control of the Shuzhou Imperial Guard, so at least within the power center of Chuan Shu, he held the initiative.

"Your Highness... then we..."

A ruthless look flashed in Xie Yang's eyes, because he knew that once he began deploying these Imperial Guards, it would be equivalent to rebellion! In that case, he might as well go all the way...

"Come with me to the Wanggong to see Father..."

He smiled coldly.

Everyone else looked horrified. Was this Xie Yang planning to kill his father and brother? But since ancient times, the struggle for the succession had always been this bloody. By the time the Crown Prince Xie Zhen brought the Liangzhou Army into Chuan Shu, it would be too late!

In an instant.

The Imperial Guard controlled by Xie Yang began their swift and decisive actions. The entire city was plunged into a white terror. Soon, several old officials were arrested along with their entire households, causing chaos everywhere.

"What are you doing?"

At the Pei Family.

The number one talented woman of Chuan Shu, Pei Yanran, dressed in white, berated the Imperial Guards who were blocking the Pei Family entrance: "Jiangzhou has been slaughtered, yet you lot, who eat the King's salary, are colluding with that Xie Yang; heaven and earth will not tolerate this!"

That group of Imperial Guards remained cold-faced.

Pei Yanran was anxious.

This time, with the Southern Barbarians invading Jiangzhou, she had acted as a spiritual leader across the land of Chuan Shu, not only writing to request aid from Qin Zhangfeng but also organizing many civilian merchant alliances and organizations to continuously transport grain, fodder, weapons, and supplies to Jiangzhou... Now that she was besieged in her own home, all the matters over there had come to a standstill, so how could she not be anxious?

"Do not be anxious, Miss Pei; the affairs of Shuzhou will soon be settled, and when that time comes, we can then plan for Jiangzhou!"

A general of the Imperial Guard sneered coldly.

Pei Yanran's delicate body trembled upon hearing this, and a look of shock and fury flashed across her peerless, beautiful face: "Is Xie Yang trying to commit treason?"

And at this moment.

The King of Shu was surrounded by a group of extremely anxious physicians.

"Leave, all of you leave..."

The dying King of Shu no longer possessed the high spirits he had when he led his troops to campaign against Hanzhong; this poisoned arrow had already burned his life away to nothing.

He waved his hand and laughed at himself: "In this life, I have fought on the battlefield and struggled against the Prince of Yong in Hanzhong for a lifetime, yet I failed to raise my own sons well, and in the end, I have caused the common people of Shu to suffer; it is my fault, it is my fault..."

"Your Highness!"

"King of Shu..."

Seemingly sensing the extreme tension and chaos currently gripping Shuzhou City, these physicians and ministers wept and knelt on the ground one after another.

Using almost his last breath, the King of Shu sighed: "Do not stop them; whoever wants to come in, let them come, do not stop anyone..."

"There is no need to let the soldiers throw away their lives and slaughter each other... Send Zhen out through the North Gate, send him out..."

"Father!"

For a moment, the sound of weeping rose again.

At this time.

In the Wanggong of the King of Shu, the sound of horse hooves was urgent.

The King of Shu tilted his head, and finally passed away.