Chapter 721: I Want to Blast My Way Through

Set off!

Target, Wangchuan Deep Mountains!

Everyone in the entire Taixi Stockade was in a fervor.

Half a month had passed, and Envoy Liu was still alive!

This news swept away everyone's doubts about Liu Zheng and their fear of the Wangchuan Deep Mountains. Did this mean it was safe inside?

A group of wealthy merchants finally set their minds at ease.

Depart!

Set off!

On this day, Taixi Stockade was extremely lively; the sound of cart axles rolling, the sound of people shouting, the sound of gold and silver clashing, and the sound of packing up valuables.

Sounds of farewells, sounds of instructions, sounds of cheering...

It had become bustling.

Xie Fang watched all of this, his expression terrifyingly gloomy, clenching his fists tightly!

Why?

This was Liu Zheng's power of appeal!

Why?

He had such charisma in Longyan, while he himself was like a clown every day?

Every time he built up momentum, it was easily shattered by this Envoy Liu!

He was not reconciled!

He refused to accept it!

This was merely a single letter from Liu Zheng, yet it made countless wealthy merchants flock to him, exceptionally excited, one could even say they had lost their senses.

"Bastard!"

"A bunch of fence-sitters!"

"Trash!"

Xie Fang cursed fiercely, his gloomy eyes glaring at Liang Zheng: "Why didn't he die? Tell me!"

Liang Zheng and the others lowered their heads and said nothing.

"Your Highness, we..."

"Enter the mountains, what else! Quickly, go pack your things!"

Xie Fang's final shout was almost hoarse: "This Mandarin wants to see what kind of tricks he, a mere Liu Zheng, can pull!"

"Yes..."

The next day.

The Prince of Wei and the Prince of Yong traveled together, and in addition, they brought an army of fifty thousand. What was surprising was that this army of fifty thousand was not riding horses, but each one was pushing a cart covered with oilcloth.

People began to discuss, what were these carts?

Some wanted to go over and take a look, but they were all blocked by the soldiers, and those who didn't believe it were even executed on the spot!

"It's money!"

Someone exclaimed.

Looking at how strenuous it was, if it wasn't money, what was it? At this, many people were ecstatic... Who said Envoy Liu had no money? Wasn't it full of it right here?

Xie Fang's eyes also became much more vicious.

Money...

So much money...

Truly damn rich!

The smoother things went for Liu Zheng, the more unhappy he felt inside!

Very soon.

The wealthy merchants, craftsmen, and farmers in Taixi Stockade who intended to go to Liaodong Commandery all gathered at the gate of Taixi Stockade.

The Prince of Wei laughed loudly: "Is everyone here? Then this Mandarin won't waste words! Envoy Liu is already waiting for us inside! I believe this trip to Liaodong will fulfill everyone's wishes, and we shall create brilliance together!"

"Create brilliance together!"

"Create brilliance together!"

Everyone followed along, becoming excited.

Thus, a total of over two hundred thousand people set off in such a grand manner.

Xie Fang and Xie Ming's people also followed among them.

However, they had their own plans, walking at the very back of the troops.

No matter what happened, they could turn around and run, couldn't they?

In any case, Xie Fang did not believe that Envoy Liu could guarantee the safety of so many people in Wangchuan Mountain! Even if a fraction of these wealthy merchants were lost, it would be enough to make that kid suffer!

Thinking of this, he became happy again.

"What are you saying, they haven't moved for three days?"

Ji Yong was in his pavilion, and before he had been smug for many days, he received the report from his subordinates.

"Yes, General, looking at the situation, they seem to be waiting for someone..."

"Waiting for someone?"

A sharp glint flashed in Ji Yong's eyes, and he chuckled: "What does that mean? Waiting for reinforcements? Hahahaha, what's the use of waiting for reinforcements? Where is this? This is Wangchuan Valley! No matter how many people there are, they are all our prey!"

The subordinates also laughed incessantly.

A Strategist beside him said with a smile, "General, it seems this Vice Minister Liu is also a person of undeserved reputation. He thinks that having many people means safety... It seems this time, he has called over all the merchants from Taixi Stockade..."

Ji Yong's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"General, I heard that this time, they are carrying tens of millions in gold!"

"Tens of millions, all in cash!"

Hearing this staggering number, everyone present was stunned, swallowing hard, their throats bobbing.

Tens of millions in gold?

How much silver would that be?

Being poor at math, they were momentarily unable to calculate it...

Ji Yong reacted immediately and jumped up: "Quick, quick, quick, send a letter to the Mandarin, tell him to dispatch another 100,000 troops! This time, I must wipe out this Vice Minister Liu and all this gold and silver in one fell swoop!"

"Yes!"

Tens of millions in gold...

The more Ji Yong thought about it, the more excited he became, pacing back and forth. How many slaves would they have to sell to earn that much money? As long as they had this money, why worry about not accomplishing their great cause?

Soon.

Qiao Yuan in Liaodong Commandery received the news from Ji Yong's side.

"What? Tens of millions in gold?"

Even this local emperor of Liaodong was startled. One must know that the entire annual fiscal revenue of the Longyan Dynasty was only 20 million taels of silver! These tens of millions in gold were equivalent to the total fiscal revenue of Longyan for several decades!

"Mandarin, General Ji means... as long as he is given another 100,000 troops, he can completely devour these people and this gold and silver!"

"Mandarin, this is a great opportunity for us!"

"Indeed... with this money, we can completely break away from Longyan!"

"Mandarin..."

Qiao Yuan suddenly jumped up: "No!"

The whole room went silent, everyone looking at each other.

Qiao Yuan laughed heartily: "No, 100,000 troops is not enough, 200,000! The Mandarin wants to be absolutely sure, do you understand? Quick, send 200,000 troops over immediately! Tell Ji Yong, if he doesn't take these 30 million gold this time, he needn't bother coming back alive!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the 200,000 troops of Liaodong Commandery were assembled.

No one could resist the temptation of 30 million gold, including Qiao Yuan, the biggest slave trader in Longyan.

Since he did not want to let Vice Minister Liu come to take over his position as Regional Commander, and he wanted these 30 million gold, there was only one path: kill!

In this Liaodong where the mountains are high and the emperor is far away, he did not mind letting Wangchuan Valley become a living Hell.

Isn't Wangchuan just Hell?

This was, after all, the Hell he had prepared for everyone.

Before Wangchuan Valley.

Gu Guan was filled with worry; he handed a flask of wine to Liu Zheng and sighed in a low voice: "Why does Your Excellency not let our 100,000 prisoners go and test the waters first, instead of waiting for that main force to arrive? If there is the slightest mishap..."

Liu Zheng was shaken to his core; only then did he realize that Gu Guan's character was truly so heroic and daring.

To think he actually had the idea of putting himself in danger!

Gu Guan likely saw what Liu Zheng's expression meant and gave a bitter smile: "The Prince of Jin has treated my family well; if the great plan for Liaodong can truly succeed, then it is Gu Guan repaying a great kindness! What does it matter if I die? Your Excellency, once those merchants arrive with the heavy gold, they will surely draw the army of that dog Qiao Yuan to attack, and at that time..."

Liu Zheng felt moved in his heart; although Gu Guan looked honest and simple, he was actually meticulous and possessed great courage.

Remembering how, with Pei Qianyun absent along the way, he had taken care of him, he couldn't help but blurt out: "Brother Gu, to tell you the truth, Liu Zheng never intended to just pass through this Wangchuan Valley!"

"What?"

Gu Guan looked horrified.

Liu Zheng nodded slowly: "I intend to blast my way through!"

"Ah?"