Chapter 693: The First Hurdle

The rain has been falling continuously.

In the muddy autumn rain, a group of people, dragged along by long chains, are struggling forward.

"Faster, all of you, move faster!"

"Damn it, can you still walk? Do you need me to help you?"

Amidst the heavy rain, the sound of whips landing on these people rang out.

With a chorus of wails, these people quickened their pace.

A haughty soldier put away the whip in his hand, spat, and muttered, "What rotten luck, how did I end up with such a chore!"

A soldier next to him, also wearing a bamboo hat, laughed and said, "Isn't it the silver driving us? The master said, once these prisoners are delivered to Liaodong, we get a hundred taels of silver upon our return! A hundred taels! How much wine and song can that buy?"

The soldiers all laughed.

A hundred taels!

It was truly quite tempting.

And the round trip would take no more than three months. Three months to earn money that would take several years to make—who wouldn't be willing?

"We're almost there, everyone put in some effort, and keep a close eye on them!"

But soon, one person said, "Brothers, we are about to reach Wangchuan City, everyone keep your spirits up!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

Many trembled all over, their pupils filled with terror.

A bolt of lightning fell from the sky, tearing through the dim horizon. A few terrifying silver dragons highlighted the horror of the approaching Liaodong region.

"No, no, I don't want to go to Liaodong! Let me die! Let me die here!"

"No!"

The next moment, some of the prisoners in the group could no longer bear the atmosphere and began to struggle against their iron chains like madmen.

"Catch him!"

"Don't let him run!"

Puchi!

Blades have no eyes.

Fresh blood splattered everywhere.

But this still could not stop people from scattering and fleeing.

Wangchuan City!

That is a place that eats people!

"Wangchuan City?"

Liu Zheng was somewhat dumbfounded.

The Prince of Wei, the Prince of Yong, Tie Mu Cheng, and even Li Xuanya beside him, all nodded heavily in agreement.

"No, is it really that exaggerated?"

Liu Zheng was completely bewildered.

Listening to them, this Wangchuan City is not a city at all, but a valley. This long valley stretches between Qingzhou and the land of Liaodong. If one wants to go from Qingzhou to Liaodong, this Wangchuan City is a place one must pass through. However, there is a reason why this place is called "Wangchuan."

The environment of this valley is complex, extremely harsh, rampant with wild beasts, filled with poisonous miasma, and covered in swamps everywhere.

There are even rumors that in this Wangchuan City, evil ghosts run rampant and savages hold sway.

People eat people.

Heaven eats people.

Ghosts eat people.

Every year.

Out of the one hundred thousand prisoners transported here for exile, I fear only fifty thousand can pass through Wangchuan City safely!

It is that terrifying!

Therefore.

The Prince of Wei and the others suggested taking a detour.

However, if they were to take a detour, they would need to go around the Qiang Grassland, and the round trip would take nearly three months longer.

Liu Zheng had not expected this.

They were almost at Liaodong, and such a matter had to arise. His own party, all told, added up to seventy thousand people. Among them were fifty thousand soldiers and twenty thousand accompanying personnel. This was no small number.

"Vice Minister Liu, you must think carefully!"

"This Wangchuan City must absolutely not be rushed into recklessly!"

"Since things are already like this, why don't we take a detour..."

The group all tried to persuade Liu Zheng.

At this moment, this group was stationed in a small town in Qingzhou.

Ahead lay the direction of Wangchuan City.

To the west, one could detour through the Grassland.

How to choose?

"How about we rest for a few days first?"

Liu Zheng said in a deep voice.

Once this order was given, the accompanying soldiers and other personnel cheered one after another.

After a long journey of more than two months, it was finally time to rest. Although this town could not compare to any large city, it was small but complete with everything one needed. Restaurants and brothels, it had it all.

"You don't really intend to force your way through Wangchuan City, do you?"

Here, the one who understood Liu Zheng's personality best was likely Prince Yong; seeing Liu Zheng's actions, he knew exactly what this kid was thinking.

Liu Zheng knew he couldn't hide it from him and smiled slightly: "Does Prince Yong also believe that this Wangchuan City is merely a natural disaster?"

Prince Yong's expression changed drastically: "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Zheng smiled and said nothing.

He did not believe it.

He really wanted to go and meet this so-called Wangchuan City.

"What is the name of that Liaodong Envoy?"

He turned his head and glanced at Prince Yong.

"Qiao Yuan!"

Liu Zheng smiled slightly and nodded.

It seemed that this land of Liaodong was indeed not as simple as he had imagined...

Before even reaching Liaodong, the first hurdle had appeared.

Vice Minister Liu dared not move forward.

A single Wangchuan had frightened him.

At this, the people of Longyan all began to rejoice.

Wasn't he aggressive and ambitious? Didn't he want to develop Liaodong? He hadn't even entered the gates of Liaodong yet, and he had already been lingering here for seven days?

Soon.

Amidst the heavy rain, the entourage of Crown Prince Xie Fang arrived. Following them, the entourage of the Eleventh Prince, Xie Ming, also arrived. In addition, there were merchants and wealthy men from other provinces. They all gathered in this small town called "Taixi Stockade," making it quite lively.

"Hahahaha, Vice Minister Liu, trust you have been well, trust you have been well!"

With the Crown Prince having arrived, Liu Zheng and the others still had to come out to welcome him and pay their respects.

The look in Xie Fang's eyes as he watched Liu Zheng was full of mockery, though his face remained very courteous.

"Crown Prince, trust you have been well! Please, come in quickly."

Prince Wei was the host after all, so he had prepared high-quality food and wine.

These people had all come for the sake of the Liaodong land and were gathered together, but at this moment, they all looked at Liu Zheng in the center of the room with unspeakable expressions.

As if to say...

This grand plan for Liaodong was something you stirred up single-handedly. Now, everyone is waiting here, watching your next move.

Do you intend to charge through, or go around?

Everyone was waiting.

Everyone was watching the joke.

As Crown Prince, Xie Fang was toasted by everyone, and then he looked at Liu Zheng with a smile: "Vice Minister Liu, the weather is getting colder and colder... If we can't reach Liaodong in another month, in this Prince's view, everyone might as well pack up and go home early!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room burst into laughter.

Someone even immediately chimed in: "His Highness the Crown Prince is right, this won't do... Our Chamber of Commerce has brought all our assets this time, counting on Vice Minister Liu to lead us to wealth and prosperity! If we go back now, wouldn't we suffer a huge loss?"

"Exactly!"

"Vice Minister Liu, you must give us an explanation for this!"

A group of people began to stir up trouble.

Prince Yong grew anxious: "What are you arguing about? These Wangchuan Mountains are a natural chasm of heaven and earth, not something human power can resist. Before you came, did you not know that such a thing existed?"

"Prince Yong, while that may be true, we thought that Vice Minister Liu was ambitious and would have a Method to solve it. That is why we brought our families to support the development of Liaodong..."

"That's right..."

"How about this, Vice Minister Liu, give us a plan as soon as possible so we can set off early and go around through the Grassland? Although it will be a bit harder, at least it won't cost lives... But I'm afraid that if the road freezes, the issue of keeping warm..."

The whole room was chattering.

There were all kinds of voices.

Liu Zheng smiled slightly: "Who said I was going to go around?"

The whole room.

Suddenly went silent.

Everyone's pupils could not help but shrink.