Chapter 591: Variable Reborn

At this moment.

Far away in Loulan of the Western Regions.

Today, Loulan is likewise incomparably bustling.

Early in the morning, the entire city was celebrating with extraordinary liveliness.

There is only one reason.

The Silk Road has finally been opened!

Yes.

The four-thousand-li-long Silk Road has finally been successfully opened! This is undoubtedly a monumental feat in human history. Moreover, it is entirely a Cement Road, and in some places, it is even an Asphalt Road! Beside this road, a dirt road has also been prepared specifically for horse teams to gallop on!

It can be said that the configuration is luxurious and extremely high-end.

The Silk Road constructed here in Loulan has naturally also successfully connected to Europe...

In short.

Today's Loulan has truly become the center of the Western Regions, a genuine trade hub, and a future world metropolis is currently being built here.

Reguli sat in a golden Horse Carriage, looking at the increasingly prosperous and grander buildings of Loulan, and chuckled: "Oh my, do you think Prefect Liu will be happy when he sees the Hu Xuan dance I carefully prepared for him?"

Those around her were left speechless.

Happy?

Could he possibly be happy?

You aren't going to give Prefect Liu a gift; you are going to give Prefect Liu a bomb...

Without waiting for anyone to answer, Reguli, this monstrous beauty who seems like she will never age no matter how old she gets, gave a playful smile: "It would be best if I could make him rebel against the Longyan imperial court! That way he would come to the Western Regions, don't you think? Right now, our Loulan has all the people and money we need; we can help him fight back to Longyan to become Emperor, and as for me, I'll just be the Empress! Tee-hee..."

"Pfft..."

The accompanying ministers all had black lines on their faces.

Oh, this?

However, one thing Reguli said was truly correct... Today's Loulan really does have all the people and money it needs, with a full national treasury and strong military equipment. Loulan has now gathered the wealth of the world: to the east is Longyan, to the north is the Protectorate, to the west is the Western Ocean, and to the south are the Southern Barbarians...

Regardless of how developed they are, these people must come to Loulan, this trade transit hub, if they want to buy things from Yintan City.

This is the current situation in Loulan.

The foreign population exceeds the local population.

Therefore, they suddenly discovered that they only need to handle military readiness well. Any manufacturing or agriculture can be completely ignored.

Although... in one respect, they are more dependent on Prefect Liu and more dependent on Yintan City—once this trade system is broken, Loulan will fall into the abyss.

But...

As long as they keep following behind Prefect Liu to eat meat and drink soup, won't that be enough?

Why would they want to betray him?

Following Prefect Liu, there is meat to eat and wine to drink!

That is enough!

The entire city of Loulan was filled with joy.

This time, the true opening of the Silk Road means that the prosperity of the Loulan people will rise to a new level!

"Loulan!"

"Loulan!"

"Empress Dowager!"

"Prefect Liu!"

Reguli finally arrived at the opening ceremony site followed by countless people, where Xiang Chenglin was already waiting.

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, the people cheered like a landslide or a tsunami.

The sound of firecrackers rang out in bursts.

Just as she smiled beautifully and was about to speak.

Suddenly, not far away, a War Horse galloping at extreme speed appeared before everyone, carrying a person covered in blood.

The scene was shocked.

Reguli frowned slightly, seemingly annoyed that the security was not strict enough.

Xiang Chenglin frowned as he looked over, and when he saw the person's appearance clearly, his expression changed instantly: "Mire!"

The entire crowd gasped in surprise.

Mire?

Lord Mire?

The Hu Xuan dance...

Once again stirred up a frenzy among the crowd.

Following that...

There was "Yan Music"...

"Qing Shang Music"!

"Tianzhu Music"!

"Rentao Dance..."

And even "Qiuci Music"...

It could be said to be colorful and spectacular. Undoubtedly, these dances of different styles and customs pushed the atmosphere of the Christmas Ceremony to its peak. Because just from the visual effect alone, the scene was undoubtedly very shocking.

The Eighteen Envoys had indeed pulled out all the stops this time.

The cheers at the scene came in wave after wave.

Something is wrong!

Liu Zheng felt that something was not right!

What had he overlooked?

What had he ignored?

His mind was in chaos at this moment; it seemed this thought had been in his head all along, but he could not grasp it!

Was there some other variable here in Jinghua?

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, it's beautiful, it's so beautiful!"

Beside him, Gu Jin was jumping up and down like a madwoman. At this moment, she could not care about any political stance and shouted loudly. Because, from a purely artistic perspective, this Christmas Ceremony was indeed the most spectacular one during the reign of Xie Tianyao...

"What are you thinking about? Look, look quickly, it's so beautiful!"

Gu Jin saw Liu Zheng staring blankly and tugged on his arm.

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile.

Could she not see how livid the old Emperor's face was at this moment? Even those around Xie Tianyao were secretly wiping away cold sweat. What was going on this year? Was it agreed upon to reminisce about the Prosperous Tang together?

Reminiscing about the Prosperous Tang...

Suddenly...

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up.

He knew what he had overlooked!

Admittedly.

In everyone's view, the internal struggle in Jinghua at this time should be among these few seemingly fixed factions... First, the Crown Prince's side and the Noble Class supporting him. Second, the newly emerged Dong Guifei and the Eleventh Prince, who were ostensibly supported by the Scholar-official class. Third, Xie Chan and the Liangzhou side; they did not need anyone's support and were already an existence that crushed everything.

Then...

Could there be a fourth?

Theoretically, there should not be.

But...

Liu Zheng suddenly thought, in this tripartite balance of power, which one was the most unstable?

The Scholar-officials!

That's right!

It was the Scholar-officials led by Zhu Zhen! Why? They were just a bunch of fence-sitters! If Xie Ling died, they could turn around and support Xie Ming! And if Xie Ming died?

Then, were they truly supporting Xie Ming?

Then...

Did they have some other backup plan?

Thinking of this, Liu Zheng's pupils contracted sharply, and he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

Regional Commanders!

The Nine Regional Commanders!

Everyone had failed to account for this!

That's right!

The times had changed; the Longyan of today was no longer the Longyan of the past. It was no longer an era where only the Noble Class and the Scholar-official class were pitted against each other. As these military bigwigs who guarded the borders had more contact with the outside world, they felt the world changing faster and faster...

With their own armies and power, they were, in fact, no worse than any Feudatory King in terms of military strength.

Then...

Was there a Regional Commander participating in this cultural collision and cultural fusion?

What were they doing?

Were they using this method to pressure the imperial court?

What were they trying to do?

Rebel?

Force an abdication?

"Come over here!"

Just then, the sweat-drenched Prince of Yong ran over with an ugly expression and whispered into Liu Zheng's ear.