Chapter 63: You, This Nemesis of Mine

Baiya!

This is a legendary place!

Within the entire territory of Liangzhou, the only place that can rival the capital, Liangzhou City, is Baiya. Baiya has a developed economy, is wealthy within its borders, its people live and work in peace and contentment, and its military strength is formidable. Most famous of all is that Baiya's War Horses are the best under heaven; Liangzhou has many Cavalry, and most of their War Horses come from Baiya.

But people might not believe it if I said it... The reason Baiya is so strong and can go toe-to-toe with Liangzhou is not because of the Prefect of Baiya, but because there is a group of bandits in Baiya... known as the Baiya Army!

The Baiya Army has three leaders, the most famous of whom is the head leader, Duan Yifeng! This man possesses the talent to cover the sky and map the earth, has connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, and has extremely wide influence. He started out as a horse trader, gradually grew stronger, recruited soldiers and bought horses, and now owns the largest horse farm in Liangzhou, with deep ties to the military. Precisely because he supplies the Liangzhou Army with top-quality War Horses, he is allowed to maintain a private army, falling into a category that is technically illegal but considered reasonable.

More importantly, this Duan Yifeng is by no means a person of shallow vision. He not only expanded the scale of his horse farm and dealt with all parties, but he was also proficient in business, making Baiya prosperous and wealthy, unlike other barren parts of Liangzhou. This also makes the common people support these illegal armed groups even more than the Taishoufu. The Prefect of Baiya truly seems to have no presence at all.

Therefore, whenever people mention Baiya, the first person they think of is Duan Yifeng, this Liangzhou warlord.

A warlord whose tiger whiskers even Chen Ping dares not touch.

"That can't be, right?"

Liu Zheng gave a wry smile, suddenly feeling a bit of a headache.

Zheng Yue Ru also felt it was somewhat absurd. The Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce had only just started, and it was already being targeted by this Baiya Army? That is an existence that can mobilize an army of one hundred thousand at the drop of a hat!

The two of them felt more and more of a headache the more they thought about it.

If it wasn't the Baiya Army, then who could it be?

Liu Zheng simply stopped thinking about it; in any case, soldiers come to block, water comes to earth to cover, and he would see everything once he reached Liangzhou.

Three more days passed, and they were only half a day away from Liangzhou when suddenly a rider galloped over. It was a clerk from the Zheng Family's flower house in Liangzhou. Liu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly; he had previously suspected that this Zheng Family flower house served a greater purpose in gathering intelligence. Seeing that even a clerk had such superb horsemanship, he became even more certain.

"Eldest Miss!"

"Young Master Liu!"

"Greetings, Lord County Marquis!"

The person who arrived was very capable and offered salutes one by one.

Zheng Yue Ru asked: "What is the matter that has you so flustered?"

The man said: "Lord County Marquis, Prefect Chen Ping, Lord Chen, is furious about the public disclosure of Yinzhou's income and expenditures this time, and has already instructed a Counselor to establish the Seven Deadly Sins for Yinzhou, just waiting for you to go and report for duty! Liu Dahao, please prepare early!"

Liu Dahao was startled and looked annoyed: "How unreasonable, what crime have I committed? That old thief Chen Ping, that old thief..."

Zheng Yue Ru also listened with a worried expression, not expecting that so many things would happen before they had even entered the gates of Liangzhou City. It seems that just as Liu Zheng said, the current Liangzhou is truly a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, and one does not know how many monsters and demons are waiting for them.

"Zheng, Zheng, what should we do? Why not return to Yinzhou? That old thief can do nothing to us there!"

Liu Dahao was anxious to the point of suffocation.

As the saying goes, a rank higher than you can crush you to death. If this Chen Ping really wants to cause trouble for you over such matters, he could peel a layer of skin off you even if he doesn't kill you!

Liu Zheng gave a cold laugh: "It seems this time it really has made these people unable to sit still."

It is evident how many under-the-table dealings there are in these so-called Taishoufu and County Marquis Mansions in this day and age. "Three years as a clean prefect, one hundred thousand silver snowflakes"—this is truly no exaggeration. Liu Zheng's move, in this era, was like throwing a bomb into a lake, sending ripples that would not fade for a long time. While gaining a reputation for Liu Dahao, it also offended far too many people.

"Brother Liu..."

Zheng Yue Ru was also very anxious.

It seems that no matter what, this Chen Ping is determined to give this father and son of the Liu Family a show of force! Even if he cannot shake the foundation of the Yinzhou Prefecture, he must severely humiliate this Liu Dahao!

Liu Zheng took a deep breath, his face calm.

At this moment, this group of people had already reached the gate of Liangzhou City.

Looking up, Liangzhou was right there.

Advance? Retreat?

There was almost no room for consideration.

Advance, and it will be a larger stage.

Retreat, and one can only shrink back to Yinzhou.

He said indifferently: "Let's go in!"

"Zheng!"

"Brother Liu!"

Both of them changed color and looked over.

Liu Zheng chuckled, looked at Jiang Xuan, who had just recovered from his serious injuries, and asked: "Little Xuanzi, what should be done at this time?"

For the past few days, Jiang Xuan had not dared to speak to Liu Zheng, feeling guilty in his heart. That bottle of Imperial Essence was worth a fortune, yet Liu Zheng had taken it out without hesitation to heal his wounds. In Zheng Yue Ru's words, Young Master Liu is strict with you because he has great expectations for you; in reality, he cherishes you immensely, you should cherish yourself...

Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, cupped his hands and said: "Young Master, Jiang Xuan has a plan... it's just."

Liu Dahao was anxious: "You blockhead, just what? Say it quickly!"

"It's just, it's just..."

Jiang Xuan was covered in sweat, even with a sobbing tone. No matter how Liu Dahao and Zheng Yue Ru pressed him, he refused to say it.

Liu Zheng laughed loudly, glanced at Jiang Xuan, and shouted: "Hesitation leads to disaster; when did you become so indecisive, kid? Remember, you must not be like this in the future!"

After saying this, Liu Zheng took that Crossbow Bolt from the Liangzhou Prefecture out of his pocket, gritted his teeth, and fiercely stabbed it into his own chest.

"Zheng!"

"Brother Liu!"

Liu Dahao and Zheng Yue Ru were startled, not knowing why Liu Zheng did this.

It really hurt!

Liu Zheng clutched his chest, gritting his teeth, and said: "Carry me to the Liangzhou Prefecture, let's see how he, Chen Ping, argues his way out of this!"

Zheng Yue Ru's delicate body trembled, her heart aching to the extreme. Only then did she understand Liu Zheng's intention. Looking at Jiang Xuan again, the latter did not even dare to lift his head, but there were tears swirling in his eyes as he looked at Liu Zheng.

At this time.

Liangzhou Prefecture.

The place was bustling with noise and excitement. Chen Ping sat at the highest point, watching this group of people below with cold eyes.

Every year, once the Spring Festival passes, these County Marquises within the borders of Liangzhou come to Liangzhou Prefecture to report on their duties and brief the Prefect on the year's work. Due to the varying distances and the state of ancient transportation, these County Marquises and State Marquises mostly arrive between the third and fifth days of the first lunar month. Today is exactly the fourth day, and what surprises Chen Ping is that this year, these County Marquises are no longer dragging their feet; for the first time ever, they have all arrived at Liangzhou Prefecture a day early.

As for the reason...

"My Lord, that Liu Dahao is truly detestable. My Kezhou has many Powerful Clans, and upon hearing of this matter, they have one after another submitted petitions, demanding that I make the income and expenditures of Kezhou public. What is to be done about this?"

"Indeed! Liu Dahao has the ambition of a wolf; he must not be forgiven!"

"If things continue this way, who will be in charge?"

"Where is the dignity of the County Marquis Mansion?"

Among the thirty states and counties of Liangzhou, at this moment, over twenty State Marquises and County Marquises are filled with righteous indignation and deep sorrow, loudly denouncing the crimes of that Liu Dahao.

Chen Ping watches coldly, not saying a word.

If you were truly innocent, would you fear making your financial income and expenditures public? It is likely that you cannot even straighten out your own accounts! But he knows that this is a characteristic of this era; which County Marquis could be clean enough to be beyond reproach?

Under the condition of heaven-bestowed royal authority, they are "acting kings" governing the local areas, not servants to the group of Commoners in those places! Traveling a thousand miles to serve as an official only for the sake of wealth—this is a difference in concept that has been formed since ancient times. Therefore, in their view, what Liu Dahao is doing is simply having no shame at all!

Liu Dahao is the anomaly!

They are the reasonable ones!

These people have exactly these thoughts at this moment.

Their anger can thus be imagined.

"Quiet, quiet!"

The Counselor beside Chen Ping shouts.

Only then do the people resentfully shut their mouths, but it is clear that their emotions are still very agitated and cannot be calmed down.

Only then does Chen Ping laugh and say: "Everyone, stay calm. Since Liu Dahao took office as the Yinzhou County Marquis, he has acted eccentrically, disregarded the law, privately altered statutes, and colluded with merchants. This year, during the duty report, he will surely find it difficult to escape legal accountability!"

The crowd hears this and cheers one after another, congratulating each other.

However, just at this moment, someone runs in from outside in a panic: "My Lord, My Lord, it is bad!"

Chen Ping glares and shouts: "What is the meaning of this clamor?"

That person says: "County Marquis Liu has already arrived in Liangzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd laughs out loud; they were just waiting to see him get his comeuppance, and if he didn't come, they would truly have nothing to watch!

Chen Ping also laughs: "If he comes, then he comes. What is there to be panicked about? Quickly bring him here under escort so that I may hold him accountable!"

The servant says with a bitter face: "He, he is carrying a stretcher, and his pace is slow..."

Chen Ping is stunned: "What stretcher?"

The others also look at each other in dismay; what kind of trick is this Liu Dahao playing again?

"My Lord... that Lord Liu, he, he, he is walking all the way from the city gate, wailing all the way, saying that Liangzhou Prefecture sent assassins to kill his son!"

"What?"

Chen Ping feels dizzy, stands up abruptly, almost losing his footing, and says with an angry face: "False accusations! When, when did I ever send assassins to kill him?"

"Go and see!"

A group of people runs out of Liangzhou Prefecture.

Little do they know, at this time, the Liangzhou city gate is already bustling with activity.

Zheng Yue Ru rides her horse with a calm expression, yet her fists are secretly clenched tight. Because that Liu Dahao in front is crying too miserably; he deliberately walks in front of the Horse Carriage, leaning over Liu Zheng on the stretcher, with snot and tears, his sobbing even carrying the mournful and moving cadence of the Qinchuan work songs, touching the heart and soul.

"Zheng, Father has failed you!"

"Father will definitely get justice for you!"

"I, Liu Dahao, entered a lawless land, exhausted my heart and efforts, and in a few months, the people's hearts were won and order was restored!"

"Yet, I encountered an ambush by assassins from Liangzhou Prefecture on the road!"

"Where is the Heavenly Principle? Where is justice?"

Passersby hear this and look over one after another, gathering around.

"Who is this person?"

"Why does he look so familiar?"

"Heavens, isn't that County Marquis Liu Dahao?"

"Then this injured one is Young Master Liu?"

The entire city explodes.

Can this be allowed to pass?

Although this former number one playboy of Liangzhou had only been gone for three months, his reputation remained. Especially those courtesans of the Liangzhou flower houses, upon hearing that Young Master Liu had returned, one by one they dressed up, flew to the streets, and shouted loudly.

"My dear enemy!"

"You have finally returned..."

"Once the golden wind and jade dew meet, it surpasses countless encounters in the human world. Sob sob sob, my dear enemy... you have made me suffer so much!"

For a time, there is the sound of warbling birds and the scent of face powder.

Zheng Yue Ru is completely bewildered, waving her hand to drive away the powder drifting in front of her, looking speechlessly at Liu Zheng on the stretcher.

Is this guy really this popular in Liangzhou?

Just at this moment, a red figure rides over on horseback.

"Giddyap, giddyap!"

"All of you, get out of the way for this young lady!"

A long horse whip lashes out, and with a 'crack', it knocks that courtesan to the side.

Everyone is shocked.

Zheng Yue Ru also looks on in horror.

She sees a peerless beauty looking at Liu Zheng with wet, red eyes, biting her red lips, on the verge of tears.

"You dead ghost, at least there was a donkey when you left Liangzhou that day!"

"Now that you've returned today, have you ended up on a stretcher?"

"You dead ghost..."

【Author's Note】

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