Chapter 631: The Emperor's Vision

Upon hearing Xie Tianyao's words, Liu Zheng was instantly struck with great horror.

There was no other reason.

This concerned the Emperor's physical condition, which was the greatest secret of the Longyan Dynasty.

Even the Imperial Hospital dared not casually disclose this matter to outsiders... After all, the matter involved the Bitter Remonstrance for the throne and directly affected the overall situation of the Longyan Dynasty.

However...

This time.

Xie Tianyao was being completely frank and honest with Liu Zheng.

This was something Liu Zheng had absolutely not expected. For a moment, his heart was surging with waves. He took a deep breath and said with a solemn face, "Emperor, this subject will certainly do his utmost!"

Xie Tianyao, on the contrary, was very open-minded and laughed heartily: "Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are in the hands of Heaven! In this life, I have occupied the most supreme and wealthy position in the world! To have lived to the age of seventy is already a blessing from Heaven. I summoned you here today to tell you..."

His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he smiled faintly: "You have not broken your word regarding our one-year agreement. My heart is greatly comforted, my heart is greatly comforted!"

Liu Zheng smiled.

The one-year agreement—in one year, the economy of Liangzhou had developed rapidly, practically taking flight. After the implementation of the Imperial Examination, a large number of talents gushed forth. Yintan City grew larger and larger, becoming a money-making machine, and the Silk Road reached further and further, spreading the immense influence of the Longyan Dynasty to more and more countries.

In a very short time, the barren land of Liangzhou presented a scene of prosperity.

Who could ask for anything more from Governor Liu?

If other parts of the Longyan Dynasty were the same as Liangzhou, how would the imperial court still worry about the annual fiscal deficit?

National strength.

Economy and military are the symbols of national strength.

Liu Zheng hurriedly said, "This is the duty of a subject!"

Xie Tianyao shook his head and smiled: "If everyone had such a sense of duty, then what would it matter if I were to pass away today?"

Liu Zheng and Grand Eunuch Zhou turned pale with shock upon hearing this and hurriedly knelt to kowtow.

"Therefore..."

Xie Tianyao looked at Liu Zheng quietly: "Can you understand my intentions?"

Liu Zheng felt his heart surging with waves of shock again.

This was no longer just trust...

It was a form of entrustment!

Xie Tianyao had already prepared himself mentally. First, if it were truly as Liu Zheng said and he could prolong his life by a year, then everything would be fine, and he could continue for another year. Second, if he were to die because of Governor Liu's treatment, he hoped in his heart that the aging Longyan could welcome a new structure.

In other words...

Xie Tianyao said faintly: "Use your skills boldly! I have already had Lao Zhou guard the secret passage within the palace. If it succeeds, so be it; if it does not, Lao Zhou will send you and Chan'er back to Liangzhou!"

"Emperor!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Grand Eunuch Zhou wailed loudly.

Liu Zheng's nose also felt sour.

The structure!

Facing life and death, the breadth of Xie Tianyao's vision was truly incomparable to that of an ordinary person!

"Come, let us play a game of chess!"

Xie Tianyao, as if he had finished arranging his affairs after death, laughed heartily and took the black pieces to move first.

Liu Zheng also smiled and sat up again: "Very well! This subject will accompany the Emperor for a game!"

The entire Imperial Palace was heavily guarded.

The atmosphere was heavy.

"Has he started?"

"Has he started?"

"Imperial Physician Huang, what do you think? What are the chances of success for this Governor Liu?"

A group of officials gathered together.

But they could not get close to the Imperial Palace, because at this time, the Imperial Guard had sealed off every entrance to the palace. The fully armed Imperial Guard gave people a powerful psychological pressure.

That Imperial Physician Huang was the Grand Imperial Physician of the Imperial Hospital of the Longyan Dynasty.

Hearing this, his white beard began to tremble, and he snorted coldly: "Nonsense, simply nonsense! A matter that the entire Imperial Hospital has no method for, and this Governor Liu can do it? Are we in the Imperial Hospital just eating for free?"

"Hush..."

"Imperial Physician Huang, be careful with your words, be careful!"

A group of people hurriedly reminded him.

But Imperial Physician Huang still looked displeased.

The others in the Imperial Hospital were also filled with righteous indignation.

They had served the royal family their whole lives, especially Xie Tianyao. Since his health began to fail, the lifelong pursuit of the Imperial Hospital had been to make him live longer. However, his body was truly broken; a few months ago, the Imperial Hospital had already diagnosed that he had at most one month of life left...

But now.

A mere youth was actually bragging that he could make him live another year!

This was a slap in the face to the Imperial Hospital!

"Huang Lao, calm down, calm down... Perhaps this Governor Liu really is a divine physician!"

Xie Fang saw this scene, suppressed a laugh, and feigned a look of anticipation.

"Hmph!"

These words once again aroused the dissatisfaction of the group from the Imperial Hospital.

……

Xie Tianyao placed a piece, then chuckled as he looked at Liu Zheng: "My beloved subject, what do you think the various Military Governors intend this time?"

Liu Zheng felt a jolt in his heart upon hearing this.

He knew this was yet another test from that old fox, Xie Tianyao...

This kind of test could very well determine whether he lived or died today.

To a person like Xie Tianyao, promises were not reliable.

He could let Liu Zheng live, and naturally, he could also let Liu Zheng die.

Liu Zheng also placed a piece and said indifferently: "Your Majesty, I, your subject, believe that although the several Military Governors hold heavy troops, they may not necessarily have hearts of rebellion."

"Oh?"

Xie Tianyao's face was icy: "The trend of the remnants of the Prosperous Tang is rising again among the people; could it be that they are not fanning the flames?"

Liu Zheng smiled calmly: "Your Majesty, I, your subject, believe that what the people seek should be what the state seeks. The reaction of the people during the Birthday Ceremony was a manifestation of public opinion. The Military Governors of Longyan all guard the frontiers and should be the ones who can see the whole world at a glance; their demands should be the demands of the border people, the demands of other countries in the world! The demands of the barbarians seeking the civilization of Longyan, and the demands of the four hundred million people of Longyan who embrace all rivers!"

His voice grew higher and higher.

"It should also be the magnanimity of the Celestial Empire and the demand for the expansion of the Silk Road!"

"Since Your Majesty is worried about the remnants of the Prosperous Tang, why not open the gates of the Celestial Empire? Greatness comes from tolerance. In this way, the remnants of the Prosperous Tang will have no opportunity to exploit, and instead, we can use their own methods to deal with them, giving them a head-on blow. It can further manifest the magnanimity of our great Longyan. If Longyan can open land and water transport, the scourge of the Wa pirates can likewise be solved. What does Your Majesty think?"

Another piece was placed.

"Good! A good 'use their own methods to deal with them'! Good!"

Xie Tianyao's eyes lit up as he listened.

The group of old ministers beside him always advocated closing the country and acting high and mighty when faced with this kind of ideological encroachment.

Hearing Governor Liu say this today, it was as if he had suddenly seen the light. Open the national gates? A single Liangzhou, relying on the Silk Road, had an annual fiscal revenue that equaled half of Longyan! Then what if Longyan truly opened its gates? The remnants of the Prosperous Tang would have no opportunity to take advantage of the situation, and once maritime trade was opened, the chaos of the Wa pirates could be solved from the root.

What reason would those Military Governors have left to participate in the internal struggles of the country?

"What about Tiemu City on the Grassland?"

Xie Tianyao placed another piece and continued to ask.

Liu Zheng smiled slightly.