Chapter 691: The Land That Eats People

"Viscount Jin! That damned Viscount Jin! What does he think he's doing!"

"Hm? What does he think he's doing!"

Inside his luxurious carriage, Xie Fang was so furious his face looked ferocious.

Twenty million gold!

Good heavens!

He had originally thought that it would not be an easy task for Liu Zheng to scrape together enough money to develop Liaodong this time. He never expected, he never expected, that the man would just take a trip around Jinzhou and secure so much money!

Isn't this just like the old saying: compare people and they should die, compare goods and they should be thrown away?

Xie Fang had been trying to win over Viscount Jin for a long time during the struggle for the succession. But this old fox would help no one and rely on no one, content to just earn his own silver.

And the result?

What a fickle, opportunistic creature!

"I'm so angry, I'm so angry!"

Xie Fang was so furious he kicked the stove inside the horse carriage hard.

The people around him were startled, and regardless of whether it was hot or not, they hurriedly steadied the stove with their hands, terrified that the charcoal might fly out and set the carriage on fire.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

"Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

Xie Fang roared: "Calm my anger? How do you expect this Prince to calm his anger? Hm? Twenty million gold! Why don't you go and rob him, go and snatch it away!"

The crowd looked bitter and dared not speak.

How could they rob him?

Trying to find a Method to obstruct Liu Zheng in terms of money and supplies was already a dead end.

Liang Zheng, standing to the side, pondered: "Your Highness, Viscount Jin's sudden defection is indeed catching us off guard. But this old subject believes that we are not necessarily without the strength to fight."

"Oh?"

Xie Fang gave a cold smile: "Go on."

A thick murderous intent flashed in Liang Zheng's eyes: "Your Highness, this Vice Minister Liu—in the Capital, I fear no one can do anything to him. However, that is the land of Liaodong, and the land of Liaodong is filled with barbarians..."

Xie Fang shuddered: "Does Teacher mean..."

Liang Zheng chuckled: "This old subject believes that the Liaodong natives, the hundreds of thousands of prisoners, and the Liaodong Envoy are all troops we can use! As long as we maneuver slightly, I fear it will be very difficult for this Vice Minister Liu to survive in the land of Liaodong..."

The crowd was overjoyed.

Xie Fang was even more delighted: "Teacher, how should you instruct me?"

Liang Zheng nodded and said: "As far as I know, among the prisoners being escorted to Liaodong this time, there have already been many instances of them escaping halfway or killing soldiers to seek death... After all, that is the land of Liaodong; since ancient times, only those exiled were sent there. So, although there is a nominal amnesty, these people do not want to die... This old subject believes these people's hearts can be used!"

"The Liaodong natives, while not powerful, have the advantage of being familiar with the terrain and fighting in the mountains and forests. We can first send people to make contact with them..."

"As for this Liaodong Envoy..."

Liang Zheng laughed coldly: "He, too, likely does not welcome Vice Minister Liu."

"There is such a thing?"

Xie Fang and the others were completely bewildered.

They could understand the first two points. But they could not understand this final Envoy. One had to know that the land of Liaodong was bitter, cold, and barren; if given a choice, people would definitely return to Zhongyuan rather than stay there. But hearing Liang Zheng say this, the Liaodong Envoy didn't want to go back?

This time.

Liu Zheng was coming with another identity, which was to take over as the Liaodong Envoy!

And the current Liaodong Envoy was to be transferred to serve as the Envoy of Liangzhou and the Western Regions.

At first glance, it seemed like a lateral transfer. But in reality, everyone envied him endlessly. After all, the current Western Regions and Liangzhou were prosperous lands. They were far better than this land of Liaodong.

Therefore.

When Liang Zheng said this, these people were stunned.

"Hahahaha!"

Liang Zheng shook his head and said faintly: "Your Highness, this Liaodong Envoy Qiao Yuan is not a simple character..."

He chuckled: "Your Highness, the land of Liaodong has always been for exiling prisoners..."

"Then, may I ask Your Highness..."

"In such a place, if you wanted to scrape some profit out of it, who would you set your sights on?"

Xie Fang had been pampered since childhood, after all, and did not understand these ways; he was immediately confused.

Someone nearby had already changed color: "The prisoners!"

Liang Zheng nodded: "That's right, this Qiao Yuan makes his living off these prisoners!"

He smiled coldly: "The living, the dead, he eats them all..."

"Ah!"

To Liaodong!

Develop Liaodong!

Liaodong Economic Special Zone.

The formation of the Northern Alliance Pact caused a massive stir in the Longyan Dynasty. Viscount Jin's lavish spending made people focus their attention on the land of Liaodong once again.

This time.

Many wealthy people with spare money could no longer sit still.

After all, Liu Zheng had already created a miracle in Liangzhou, turning such a barren land into a Land of Abundance. So what about Liaodong?

Could it be the next place where the economy would take off?

They had not grasped the Dividend of Liangzhou.

What about Liaodong?

The chain reaction from this was quite powerful. Coupled with Liu Zheng's concept of sustainable development, merchants from all over the Longyan Dynasty suddenly began to set out on their journeys.

Some were already quite wealthy and intended to invest. Even if they couldn't invest, going to take a look and join in the excitement was fine, just treating it as a trip.

Some were at the end of their rope and intended to gamble. These people were determined to go and participate. If they succeeded, they would rise to wealth and status; if they failed, they would jump straight into the sea.

There were also some who were starting a business for the first time, wanting to go to this ownerless land to see if there were any opportunities to get a foothold.

Of course.

There were even more farmers and craftsmen.

Developing territory and building infrastructure—how could these people be left out?

And so.

Groups upon groups of farmers and craftsmen also set out in company.

No one noticed.

A type of small-scale, private, cooperative group similar to the "Foreman" of later generations appeared in the historical progression of the Longyan Dynasty just like that. This also meant that under the leadership of Liu Zheng, the economic structure of the Longyan Dynasty was already undergoing a subtle transformation.

In short.

It was very lively.

In short.

As for the matter of money, Vice Minister Liu had absolutely no need to worry.

Liu Zheng and his party, having entered the borders of Qingzhou, were no longer harassed by any other parties.

The journey went very smoothly.

Except for Li Xuanya, who occasionally came to "seduce him with her uniform," which made Liu Zheng feel a headache, he felt that life had finally enjoyed a long-lost period of peace.

Of course.

He also knew that peace is always temporary.

Because just a few days ago, the Prince of Wei had warned him with a single sentence, telling him not to be too blindly confident.

Liaodong is a place that eats people.

This caused some wariness to arise in Liu Zheng's heart.

Liangzhou, at most, could only be considered a place that didn't support people in the past.

But that was still a far cry from eating people.

People starving to death.

And people eating people.

The two have an essential difference.

So.

Why is this land of Liaodong a place that eats people?

Is it Heaven that wants to eat people?

Or is it people eating people?