Chapter 355: The North-Lookers

Everyone, following Liu Zheng's gaze, looked toward Mang Mountain on the sand table.

Liu Zheng frowned and asked, "The Mang Mountain impasse, who exactly is responsible for it?"

This was a matter that left him completely baffled.

Logically speaking, during the time he had been researching the Torpedo and conquering Yongan Port, the Southern Barbarians should have already arrived outside Shuzhou City. According to Liu Zheng's estimation, these mere 150,000 Southern Barbarians, while capable of causing a certain amount of damage to Shuzhou City, would face the advantage of a city defense. Qin Zhangfeng himself had 65,000 troops, and adding the Imperial Guards who had just surrendered and the knights-errant and commoners determined to enlist, they could surely scrape together 100,000.

An army of 100,000, plus the natural barriers of Shuzhou, was more than enough to deal with the Southern Barbarians.

Who would have thought...

The Southern Barbarians had actually been circling Mang Mountain for several days, unable to find their way out?

This matter itself was bizarre.

At this moment, it made Liu Zheng feel even more that the affairs in Chuan Shu were truly leaving him at a loss.

It seemed that, hidden in the shadows, there were some people plotting something behind the scenes.

This feeling made Liu Zheng feel particularly uncomfortable.

He was a proud and arrogant man; he did not like situations that were not under his control, and he loathed the uncertainty that could arise at any moment.

Just then.

Xie Zhen, standing nearby, gave a wry smile: "Second Brother, this matter is indeed strange, but occurring in the land of Chuan Shu, it is perfectly normal."

"Oh?"

Several people looked over in confusion.

Xie Zhen sighed: "A few days ago, I was only suspicious, but seeing that Second Brother also feels this matter is fishy, then that group of people must be involved in this..."

That group of people?

Liu Zheng's spirit stirred, and his eyes lit up as he looked over.

Xie Zhen said patiently: "Second Brother, because of the unique Geography of Chuan Shu, there is a group of mysterious people here, and they are known as the 'Wangbei'!"

Wangbei?

Liu Zheng and the others looked blank.

Then, Xie Zhen began to explain in detail.

Since ancient times, the land of Chuan Shu has been filled with high mountains and steep ridges; this unique geographical environment first brought mystery and poor transportation to humanity. In these great mountains, there are too many corners forgotten by the world, forgotten tribes, and forgotten people. Because of this environment, many who wish to live in seclusion choose Chuan Shu first—building huts in the human realm, yet free from the noise of carriages and horses.

Most have only a thatched cottage, a few acres of fertile land, hemp ducks, and field frogs, and they might never be found for their entire lives.

Therefore, some who are weary of the times, some wanted criminals, and some great talents unwilling to serve as officials in the corrupt Longyan Dynasty, among others, all choose to build huts in Chuan Shu.

This has also resulted in Chuan Shu occasionally harboring world-shaking talents.

Another characteristic of Chuan Shu is its proximity to Qianzhou and Dianzhou.

These two great provinces are what later generations call Guizhou and Yunnan.

But in ancient times, Qianzhou had no sense of presence; although the climate there was pleasant and the land fertile, throughout the long river of history, it belonged to various minority tribes, and the most famous one was probably the "Yelang Kingdom" that asked, "Is Han larger than me?"

Even Dianzhou, that is, the Dian Kingdom, was a representative of a group of Southern Barbarians.

Of course, these historical reasons and historical formations shall not be discussed for now.

Liu Zheng, however, knew that whether it was Guizhou or Yunnan, they were actually wealthy lands, and there was definitely a significant population on these two pieces of land!

Thus, it was inevitable that in both Qian and Dian, there would be many people who, from birth, yearned for the culture of Zhongyuan. Among these people, it was inevitable that some gifted and brilliant talents would be born.

These people chased after Han culture from a young age, yet because of their origins, they were not recognized by the scholars of Zhongyuan. Even if they went to the land of Zhongyuan to study, they were not valued and would even be mocked and excluded by traditional scholars.

As time passed.

A mysterious Academy appeared in the land of Chuan Shu.

This Academy is called "Wangbei Academy"!

It is said that this Academy is built deep in Liangshan, extremely mysterious, and rarely visited. Perhaps due to pride, or perhaps due to the pride born of inferiority, these Wangbei do not deign to interact with the world. Therefore, only legends of the "Wangbei" circulate in Chuan Shu, and very few people know the true situation of these Wangbei.

"There is such a thing?"

Liu Zheng's eyes flickered as he listened.

How interesting!

Not only interesting, but this so-called Academy made Liu Zheng's mind active. Although he was a Han, he also knew that all people are born equal, and these people from minority ethnic groups also possessed world-shaking talents!

He had always held these reclusive masters in high respect, and even wanted to win them over.

Xie Zhen smiled bitterly: "These Wangbei have probably existed for a thousand years, and some even say it is very possible that at the beginning of the founding of Longyan, some civil and military officials from the previous dynasty fled there... but because they are too mysterious, we do not know of them..."

"Furthermore, I suspect that the reach of these Wangbei has actually penetrated into every stratum of the land of Chuan Shu."

Shock!

Liu Zheng was startled to hear this.

He took a deep breath and smiled: "Then, this younger brother probably knows what is going on now."

Xie Zhen nodded: "This time, Second Brother entered Shu with such high profile; these people are likely here to test Second Brother..."

Liu Zheng laughed heartily: "But seeing them hold back the Southern Barbarians so that Shuzhou remains unharmed, one knows that although these people are proud and arrogant, they are not evil. Interesting, interesting."

Test him?

Test him on what?

Test whether he can avoid destroying the stability of this Land of Abundance, this earthly paradise of Chuan Shu?

One has to say.

The question before him truly stumped Liu Zheng for a moment.

However...

He felt that things were becoming interesting.

He chuckled: "Since that is the case, then I have an idea in my heart. Jiang Xuan!"

"This general is here!"

Liu Zheng's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he looked toward Mang Mountain: "On one hand, send a Messenger to negotiate and mediate with the Southern Barbarians of Jiangzhou; if necessary, they may act at their own discretion. On the other hand, mobilize troops to Mang Mountain. I want to ensure that not a single one of Agutuo's 150,000-strong army leaves Mang Mountain alive!"

"What?"

The crowd was shocked upon hearing this.

No one had expected Liu Zheng to suddenly become so ruthless.

Kill one, win over another, divide another.

Liu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly.

He did not believe that these Southern Barbarians, who were on the verge of defeat, remained a solid, unified block—because the Southern Barbarians of Jiangzhou had deliberately spread word that if the Liangzhou Army advanced ten miles, they would kill ten thousand people.

Yet they had not said that if the Liangzhou Army campaigned against Agutuo, they would kill a single person.

This... was truly quite meaningful.

Thus, it could be seen that these Southern Barbarians, who had never known the meaning of unity since ancient times, were now displaying their narrow-mindedness and shortsightedness in a fatal way.

Testing me?

Liu Zheng chuckled, walked out the door, and looked toward the towering mountain in the distance.

Then I...

Shall act as the Contemporary Sage on one hand, and the Human Butcher on the battlefield on the other.

I wonder if you group of Wangbei are satisfied?

Wangbei...

Interesting, interesting.

"Eh?"

At this moment.

Still in that Water Curtain Cave behind the waterfall.

Two old men were playing a game of chess on the board.

Seeing Agutuo's move to occupy Mang Mountain and choose to launch an ambush, they looked at each other in surprise.

One of them laughed loudly: "This barbarian must have had an expert guiding him."

The other chuckled and said: "Now, it is the turn of that Governor Liu to have a headache. Although the Southern Barbarians are bound to lose, if these hundreds of thousands of Southern Barbarians begin to scatter, the common people will inevitably suffer..."

"Master Situ, although these fifteen great commanderies are trapped, what of the common people of Jiangzhou?"

That man sighed.

The old man on this side said leisurely: "To lose in the east but gain in the west; since ancient times, how can one have both bear's paw and fish? This time, we shall see how Governor Liu chooses."

Master Situ continued to smile: "If he can see the trickery within, he can decisively wipe out the barbarians on Mang Mountain. But if he hesitates for two more days, once the clouds and mist clear, this Agutuo will not be content with just picking fruit on the mountain to eat; the households in the cities adjacent to this Mang Mountain will all suffer... By then, with Agutuo occupying the mountain to fight, having room to advance or retreat, he will truly be a scourge."

That Master Gao was startled: "This, this, this, Master Situ, if it truly comes to that, what should be done? Wouldn't the common people..."

The old man Situ laughed, his expression light and breezy: "If this Governor Liu is useless, I, this old man, will just have to bring the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation to life..."

Master Gao looked full of admiration and bowed deeply.

At this time.

The old man Situ then sighed: "Master Gao, that Luo Huo who is plaguing Jiangzhou is a Prince of the Jiaozhi Kingdom; one of your chess pieces has begun to lose control and slaughter the common people. Master Gao, for this matter, you must give the Academy an explanation..."

"This..."

Master Gao's face changed instantly, and he was filled with extreme panic.