Chapter 646: The Rebirth of Xie Tianyao

Just as Liu Zheng had thought.

But it truly exceeded what Liu Zheng had anticipated.

Liu Zheng had thought that Xie Tianyao would personally come forward to resolve this matter.

But he had not expected that he would be so resolute.

Three thousand Imperial Guard set out, directly trampling the area in front of the Imperial City gate, which held a full tens of thousands of people. Two Vice Ministers bore the brunt of it; a Vice Minister, among the official ranks of the Longyan Dynasty, was already someone capable of looking down upon the masses with pride. But when facing the Imperial Guard, no matter how terrified or angry they were, they did not have the chance to say a single complete sentence.

Heads rolled.

Everyone present was scared witless, one by one.

"Ah!"

"Run!"

At a time like this, what was there to wait for?

The Emperor was truly enraged!

However, you scholars who held Sage Books, living in luxury and ease on ordinary days, how could you possibly outrun these elite soldiers, the Imperial Guard?

Kill!

Boundless terror assaulted their hearts, assaulted the streets!

Blades and swords are heartless.

Face after face that had just been filled with righteous indignation was now twisted. Struggling to escape while filled with immense terror, they scattered like birds and beasts, frantically searching for a direction in which to flee. Yet, more and more screams and an increasingly thick stench of blood began to spread from the roots of the Imperial City.

Many people realized.

They had already begun to step on the remains and severed limbs of others; they had already begun to step on that slippery blood.

Terror, chaos.

Caused many to burst into tears on the spot.

This time, the crying.

Was real crying.

Crying with bared fangs and brandished claws.

Crying with an extremely strong desire to survive.

At this moment, in their eyes, the Imperial Guard was even more ferocious and terrifying than the Grassland barbarians who had not yet withdrawn their troops. They had completely forgotten that it was the very Prefect Liu they had been bent on killing who had found a way to drive those barbarians away. One wonders if they would regret their actions of the past few days when facing death.

There were those who regretted it.

Those people who had been bewitched by the atmosphere at the time and had followed along to shout suddenly woke up.

So, that old Emperor who often stayed in the Yangxin Hall was still the old Emperor of before.

Decisive in killing, without a hint of hesitation.

At this time, he was not ill.

He had no headache.

He was not mentally deranged.

He was very clear-headed.

He was so clear-headed that he still remembered he was the Longyan Emperor, and no one could challenge his majesty.

Including any Noble Class.

Including any Scholar-Official Group.

Over these years, due to illness, he had accumulated displeasure toward these groups that dared to challenge his majesty, and he had just taken his revenge through slaughter. The Longyan imperial court truly needed a dose of iron and blood.

To prove his rebirth.

Without speaking of any reason.

Without looking at anyone's face.

Kill.

Bloody.

On this day, the slaughter at the Imperial City gate made the entire Jinghua City quiet.

Crown Prince Xie Fang cowered into a ball, covered in cold sweat.

Dong Shuyu wore a look of shock, unable to recover for a long time.

Zhu Zhen locked himself alone in his study, where sandalwood incense curled, and would see no one.

The Prince of Qin was the happiest one, because he felt that this time, at the final moment, he had bet on the right horse.

This slaughter.

Lasted for a full hour or more.

All sound simply vanished.

Following that.

The next day.

News came from the Yangxin Hall that the Emperor intended to preside over a court assembly.

A Grand Court Assembly.

People whose fear had not yet dissipated began to look at one another.

How long had it been since the Longyan Dynasty held a Grand Court Assembly?

Things had changed!

Xie Tianyao had changed!

Was this the Longyan Emperor after his resurrection?

Early in the morning.

The civil and military officials lined up to enter the court.

It was true.

The imposing Xie Tianyao, wearing his dragon robe, sat upon the high Dragon Throne with an expressionless face.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

Within a single day, the Longyan Dynasty had lost two vice ministers, and even a Duke, not to mention officials of other ranks. It was as if the people had yet to recover from the shock of this moment. Everyone wore an almost blank expression.

Xie Tianyao smiled faintly.

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Emperor!"

Xie Tianyao surveyed the room and said coldly, "Three matters for today's Grand Court Session."

Everyone shuddered and knelt to listen.

Grand Eunuch Zhou brought out the Imperial Edict and read: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: In the thirty-eighth year of Pingyu, auspicious signs have descended from the heavens, and my health is robust. Heaven possesses the virtue of cherishing life, and our great nation possesses the might to subdue the barbarians. The lands of the Qi are poor, crops do not grow, and the people suffer in cold and hardship; my heart is heavy for them. Upon my birthday, the Qi People Royal Court offered great treasures, and my heart is much gratified. Thus, I have signed a contract with the Qi People Royal Court to jointly develop Liaodong, granting the Qi a place to survive to manifest the might of our great nation."

"From this day forth, I grant amnesty to the world; Longyan prisoners shall be sent to Liaodong together..."

"The Economic Special Zone shall be coordinated by Governor Liu..."

"Liaodong Port..."

Everyone, kneeling, listened quietly.

Although their hearts were in turmoil, they could only endure it for now.

It was decided.

This matter was decided just like that!

Xie Tianyao would not allow any dissent!

The Liaodong Economic Special Zone was to begin construction just like this. Just as when Liu Zheng had developed the Western Regions, it began with an amnesty, with the prisoners going first. For these prisoners, it was another path to regain their freedom, which would naturally make things much easier. Furthermore, there were various support policies provided by the Liangzhou side.

For the first five years, merchants entering Liaodong would be exempt from all taxes!

For the first five years, farmers entering Liaodong would receive financial subsidies!

Land would be permanently tax-exempt!

For the first five years, Longyan people who went to the land of Liaodong would receive bonus points for the Imperial Examination!

Wave after wave of shock struck the hearts of the civil and military officials present.

Xie Tianyao had been reborn.

Longyan was about to change again...

And this time.

The old Emperor seemed to trust Liu Zheng exceptionally.

No one dared to speak.

No one dared to dissent.

There was only the collective cry of "Long live, long live, long live the Emperor."

Very soon.

News of the Liaodong Economic Special Zone began to spread throughout Longyan.

"What did you say? An Economic Special Zone?"

"Who would go to that godforsaken place?"

"Has Governor Liu gone mad?"

"No way, managing that kind of barren land?"

Almost everyone who heard this for the first time thought it was a rumor. But when the actual policies and announcements were posted by local governments, they were left speechless.

This...

By this estimate, the Liangzhou Chamber of Commerce of this Governor Liu was going to suffer a massive loss!

It was the same policy again! Farmers and craftsmen were all given preferential treatment!

The whole country was in an uproar.

"Pfft..."

In Yintan City, Zheng Yue Ru had also just received this news.

Her face turned black!

"Tell me, what is he trying to do, hmm? What is he trying to do!"

Zheng Yue Ru was about to go crazy.

He had only been in the Capital for a few months, and he had already stirred up so much trouble! Do you think Yintan City is really here to mint money for you!

A few days ago.

Jiang Xuan had just taken a large sum of money from here!

Now...

Again?

How is one supposed to live like this!

"Calm down, calm down!"

"Manager..."

"General Zheng... General Zheng!"

A group of people stood to the side, trying to persuade her.

Zheng Yue Ru felt like crying but had no tears: "No, this is tens of millions of taels, tens of millions of taels, and it is very likely that this is a bottomless pit! What on earth is he thinking... is there enough in our accounts?"

The group of people looked at each other in dismay.

"Shopkeeper..."

"Hmm, if it is only the twenty million taels on the books, then it should be enough."

"But..."

"If it is truly as you say, a continuous investment, a bottomless pit."

Everyone spoke in unison.

"It's not enough!"

Zheng Yue Ru nearly fainted.

This meant...

Overnight, she had gone from being the richest woman in Longyan to a "female debtor"?

She was done managing this household!

Go find those vixens of yours!