Chapter 423: Fifty Thousand Can Battle Liangshan

At this moment.

Yinzhou residence.

Xie Ling and Yang Xiao watched as cart after cart of gold, silver, and Yinzhou Coin were pulled inside.

In the residence, only half of the grain they had long stockpiled had been used.

Xie Ling could not have been more excited, laughing aloud: "Old Yang, do you see? Haven't we made a fortune now?"

Yang Xiao, however, gave a wry smile: "Your Highness, this real gold and silver is nothing, but how are we to handle these Yinzhou Coin now? I hear the orders for Yintan City are already booked until the year after next, this..."

In this situation, Yintan City dared not refuse orders; wouldn't that be slapping their own face? Not acknowledging the legal status of Yinzhou Coin?

But, the year after next...

Who knows what the world will be like by the year after next?

Xie Ling sneered coldly: "Old Yang, then continue to apply pressure, pressure them until Yintan City truly collapses!"

He gritted his teeth and barked: "If he doesn't accept them, there are fools in Liangzhou who will. Isn't it fine to take them to purchase other things? A slight loss on our part can send Governor Liu to his doom!"

His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he repeated: "I want him to be doomed!"

Yang Xiao was left between laughter and tears.

A dignified Third Prince of the current dynasty, yet driven to such madness by a Governor Liu.

If not for Xie Ling's prominent status, he would never want to set himself against someone like Governor Liu.

"Hahahaha, Old Yang, this chaos in Liangzhou is just missing the final straw!"

Xie Ling laughed sinisterly: "Rest assured, Old Yang, this time, Governor Liu absolutely has no chance of a comeback. He will inevitably die in that Daliang Mountain!"

"What?"

Yang Xiao was shocked.

Xie Ling smiled slightly.

He could lure Luo Huo to invade Shuzhou, so how could he not have connections with the Nanzhao Kingdom? What if there is a rebellion of the Southern Barbarians?

Is a terrifying place like Liangshan somewhere you can just go, take, and leave as you please?

Xie Ling had long since witnessed the Earth Smoke produced in Liangshan.

Would they tolerate Governor Liu destroying that bone-eroding, soul-stealing stuff?

This time.

Xie Ling passed a message to the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Horse Gang.

Kill Governor Liu.

This Prince will allow your Earth Smoke to enter the land of Zhongyuan!

Whether you want money or Weaponry and Equipment, anything is fine!

As long as he dies!

Xie Ling only wanted Liu Zheng dead!

Liu Zheng looked at Huobu Quli speechlessly and couldn't help but laugh: "I really don't know how you, a Headman of the Lesser Bitter Horn, managed to become one."

For so many years, he actually didn't know that opium was rampant in the Liangshan region?

Huobu Quli was also very helpless.

Didn't he think it was some kind of Divine Medicine?

Besides, those two other Headmen didn't include me in their games, so where was I supposed to find out?

He still advised: "My Lord, since the matter is impossible..."

Who would have thought, Liu Zheng chuckled: "Who said it's impossible?"

What?

The few people beside him were stunned upon hearing this.

Before them, it was clearly a dead end!

In the Liangshan region, tribes live in groups. With a population of several million, almost all the young and able-bodied are combat-ready. But looking at the Liangzhou Army, there are only fifty thousand, and even with the Lesser Bitter Horn side, they are at a disadvantage.

If a conflict really broke out, how would they fight?

Liu Zheng looked at the map on the table and chuckled: "The Liangshan People are skilled in jungle warfare. Our Cavalry is no match for that."

Everyone nodded.

This was the key point.

"Therefore..."

Liu Zheng pointed to the location of the farm, the Yuexi Plain, and said lightly with a smile: "But if we fight here, fifty thousand Liangzhou Army can shake the entire Liangshan!"

Everyone understood this logic.

It was just that the farm on the Yuexi Plain was hiding fifty thousand Nanzhao soldiers, and it was heavily guarded.

How could it be that simple to seize the farm?

Once both sides clashed and were caught in a pincer attack, the Liangzhou Army would certainly suffer huge losses.

They would absolutely not give the Liangzhou Army a chance for a quick victory.

Liu Zheng shook his head with a smile: "At that time, Huobu Quli will lead men to feign an attack on Yuexi, and the enemy will surely send massive reinforcements. The Liangzhou Army will then fall back to the next best option and occupy Qionghai!"

The few people were dumbfounded.

Occupy Qionghai? What is the point of that?

Liu Zheng then continued, smiling as he asked Qin Zhangfeng: "Does General Qin still remember our battle at Loulan in the Western Regions?"

Qin Zhangfeng was stunned for a moment, then said with pleasant surprise: "Water Submerging Seven Armies?"

"What?"

The group of people were startled and rose to their feet.

Water Submerging Seven Armies!

The Yuexi Plain lies twenty li southwest of Qionghai. The terrain is relatively flat and low, and Qionghai is the mother river for most of the Liangshan region. The Yuexi Plain, naturally, must also rely on the water of Qionghai.

Therefore.

Qionghai is upstream of the Yuexi Plain!

The water output of Qionghai is beyond doubt.

At that time, if the Liangzhou Army occupies Qionghai, they can store water and wait.

When the time comes for the general offensive, opening the sluice gates will turn the Yuexi Plain into a vast ocean!

"Good!"

Huobu Quli could not help but offer a word of praise.

Liu Zheng had used this tactic of Water Submerging Seven Armies back when he was in the Western Regions, though the situation was different then. At that time, he needed to mobilize his soldiers to melt ice for water.

But now, the water is ready-made!

Since that is the case, why not do it? In war, one must use every means possible!

When this sufficient amount of water disrupts the formation on the Yuexi Plain, that will be the moment for the Liangzhou Army to begin their charge!

Huobu Quli said excitedly, "My lord's plan is brilliant! It just so happens that after the Torch Festival every year, there is a period of torrential rain; I hope the heavens will be just as favorable this year!"

Liu Zheng rubbed his temples and said, "The premise for everything is that this time, Aluba must become the Great Bimo; otherwise, he might as well wash up and get lost early!"

Huobu Quli chuckled, "Everything the lord has arranged, Huobu has already prepared; when the time comes, our Great Bimo will surely stun the entire audience!"

Liu Zheng smiled, "Then we shall see tomorrow."

The group reached an agreement and then departed one by one.

At this time, the area around Qionghai, which had been bustling with noise and excitement, had already begun to quiet down.

Occasionally, one could recall the unbearable sounds of moaning and groaning from the grass.

These love-struck men and women had no idea that a great battle, one that would change the landscape of Liangshan, was about to arrive.

The next day.

The official Torch Festival finally began.

In order to follow the local customs, Liu Zheng, Qin Zhangfeng, Pei Yanran, and the others also changed into the ethnic attire they liked.

The first day of the festival had no competitive events, so people simply reveled.

They slaughtered cattle and sheep, drank wine, and ate meat.

Liu Zheng and his group naturally had to be with those Headmen and bigwigs.

Shama Zhuoyi, Naibao Rize, and a group of other Headmen were, at least on the surface, happy and cheerful once again.

It was very lively.

There were all kinds of musical instruments Liu Zheng had never seen, tools he had never seen, and tunes he had never heard.

"My lord, it will be fun in a while when we get to the altar," Huobu Quli whispered with a smile from the side.

Liu Zheng nodded.

A large altar had long been set up beside Qionghai. According to the procedures of the Torch Festival, someone would use flint to light a fire here in the way of the ancestors, followed by a Bimo chanting scriptures to worship the fire. Then, everyone present would use this sacred fire to light their own torches, using the torches to illuminate every corner to drive away evil spirits and seek good fortune.

So then.

The problem arises.

At this time, there are eight Great Bimos in the Liangshan region.

Who will chant the scriptures?

This is the time for the Great Bimo of each tribe to show their unique skills.

The first day of the festival.

This is the most attractive program.

Whoever appears the most divine will receive the pious kowtows of the Liangshan people.

Liu Zheng smiled lightly.

Competing to see who is the bigger charlatan?

This is something he is good at!