Chapter 720: Setting Off on the Journey

Wangchuan Valley.

It is a very large canyon.

How large? Large enough to accommodate one hundred thousand people passing through at the same time. In Gu Guan's impression, this canyon is a full three li long. Once past this canyon, one begins to enter the most difficult stage of this mountain. Wild beasts emerge in swarms, and there are poisonous miasma and swamps everywhere.

Liu Zheng stopped.

Because he did not intend to move forward.

From a military strategist's perspective, this canyon is the most suitable place to launch an ambush. Yes, there is no place more suitable than this canyon. Without needing to expend a single soldier or horse, the opponent could wipe out these one hundred thousand people!

With a single order, set up camp!

Thus, these one hundred thousand people, in a mighty and vast formation, were blocked right at the entrance of the canyon. For a moment, hearing that they were to rest here for a few days, these prisoners were extremely happy. They knew what this canyon meant; once they walked inside, they would not know what was waiting for them ahead!

"My lord... this, are we really not moving on?"

Gu Guan was dumbfounded.

Liu Zheng gave the order: stand by in place!

Liu Zheng laughed: "Brother Gu, are you truly certain we have already walked half the distance?"

Gu Guan said: "Half a month has already passed, and I remember that when I followed my master through Wangchuan, it took a total of one month. Moreover, the subsequent road is even harder to walk, which means we have actually already covered more than half the journey!"

Half the journey can be interpreted in two ways.

One is by distance, the other is by time.

What Gu Guan was saying at this moment was naturally about the distance.

"More than half..."

Liu Zheng chuckled and nodded.

On this journey, he could consider his goal achieved.

First, he figured out what kind of things were playing god in these mountains. The Liao people are actually just a group of people, nothing to be afraid of. He could even make use of them!

Second, he figured out how big this mountain is, and how much dynamite he needs...

Third, looking at the terrain of Wangchuan now, Liaodong Commandery will not station too many troops in these mountains. It will not exceed one hundred thousand! Because in this kind of mountain forest warfare, if the number exceeds one hundred thousand, the numerical advantage becomes less and less important.

At this time, why would he still let these one hundred thousand people take risks?

A message by carrier pigeon was sent out.

The carrier pigeon fluttered its wings and flew toward the direction of Taixi Stockade.

"General, General, they have come!"

"They have already reached the canyon!"

Several subordinates ran over in a hurry, their faces full of joy.

Ji Yong was incomparably excited when he heard this and stood up: "One hundred thousand prisoners?"

The subordinate nodded: "At least one hundred thousand! They are resting outside the canyon, and it is estimated that they will enter the valley in a few days!"

"Good!"

A sinister look flashed across Ji Yong's face, and then he looked at Pei Qianyun in the cage and laughed: "Great General Pei, this time, let's see where your Vice Minister Liu can escape to!"

Pei Qianyun roared again, and the cage shook violently.

"Hahahaha!"

Ji Yong smiled faintly: "Do you think I don't know what Vice Minister Liu wants to do by entering the mountain? Want to see how many people we have here? Is that it? Then I might as well tell you, it is impossible to tell from outside the canyon... If he wants to find out exactly how many troops there are, he must come in at least one li!"

"But as long as he dares to come in..."

"He will surely die!"

"Go to hell!"

Hearing this, Pei Qianyun's eyes were already splitting with rage.

Ji Yong continued to laugh wildly.

At this moment, he was standing in the pavilion he had built above the canyon. He sat down slowly, and the tea on the tea table beside him was already warm; he picked it up smugly and took a sip.

He felt that this time, he had already secured the victory.

At this moment, in this Wangchuan Valley, he had fifty thousand elite soldiers!

And there were thirty thousand Liao people at his disposal!

No matter how many people Vice Minister Liu brought, he could wipe them all out!

Taixi Stockade.

It had already been more than half a month since Liu Zheng entered Wangchuan!

Today, the entire Taixi Stockade was in an uproar.

"No, is this Vice Minister Liu actually capable or not?"

"That's right, not a single message has come out since he went in! He wouldn't have already..."

"Whether he is capable or not, if he isn't, we should just take a detour!"

At this time, the people gathered at Taixi Stockade were all the wealthy tycoons and bigwigs from Longyan. Although they were optimistic about Vice Minister Liu's reputation, they had already been waiting here for half a month! In this icy and snowy weather, having come from so far away with all their assets to wait in this remote place, what was the point?

"Exactly, come out and give us an explanation!"

"What kind of development of the Great Northern Wilderness is this? Don't let him throw his own life away!"

"Where is the Prince of Wei? Come out and say something!"

Xie Fang had also come over at this time; how could he miss such excitement?

He laughed loudly: "In this prince's view, why not just set off early and take a detour instead!"

The crowd began to clamor one after another.

But someone also stood out and laughed: "His Highness the Crown Prince, going around is fine, but this Liaodong grand plan was proposed by Vice Minister Liu... Now that this Vice Minister Liu's life or death is unknown, if we go over and Vice Minister Liu is missing, what should we do then?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they drew agreement from everyone.

Prince Wei kept a cold face and said loudly: "Everyone, no news has come from Vice Minister Liu, he must have been delayed by something! I ask that you all wait a few more days..."

"Wait longer? The day lilies are already cold!"

"Exactly, we won't wait! If things go on like this, we'll have to go back; maybe if we go back now, we can still make it in time for the New Year!"

"Right!"

Prince Wei became anxious all of a sudden.

Prince Yong also wore a grave expression. Whether these people went or not didn't matter... but they had come with large amounts of capital this time! The money currently in Liu Zheng's hands could not support the development of Liaodong on its own. Therefore, he had repeatedly urged them to ensure Prince Wei and Prince Yong pacified the emotions of these people. Without them, Liaodong could not be developed!

"Everyone, everyone..."

"You must trust Vice Minister Liu!"

"This Wangchuan is nothing to be afraid of!"

"We are already preparing..."

But the words of the two men clearly had no effect at this moment! Many people were already shaking their heads and leaving, and many merchants had already begun packing their luggage, with one Horse Carriage after another preparing to leave this place.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, a person came running over in a panic from the crowd.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, a letter has arrived!"

"A letter from Wangchuan has arrived!"

"It is from Vice Minister Liu!"

Prince Wei and Prince Yong were excited for a moment: "It's here?"

Xie Fang and the others, however, had their expressions change slightly.

The entire scene erupted into an uproar.

Vice Minister Liu is still alive?

Those people who intended to leave also stopped in their tracks once again.

"Quick, open it and see, read it out!"

Prince Wei was impatient.

Prince Yong took it over.

Both of them let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

The messenger opened the letter and then said with great joy: "Wangchuan is passable!"

"Good!"

"Everyone go back and prepare, we set off tomorrow!"

The expressions of Xie Fang and the others turned black in an instant.