Chapter 926: Stretched Thin

"Gee up, gee up, gee up!"

Dragon Flame Ancient Road.

The post station was bustling.

Military horses, one after another, shuttled back and forth without pause.

This caused the merchants and commoners resting at the post station to discuss it heatedly.

"The atmosphere lately seems a bit tense."

"Indeed, indeed, I fear something major is about to happen!"

"Don't you all know?"

Often, a "thrilling" chat that leaves one "convinced and impressed" begins with this very sentence.

People in groups of three or five sat together, ordered a pot of small wine, and discussed everything that had happened in Longyan these past few days.

First.

Remember the website address.

The Track Carriage made people excited; many spent a high price to experience this Track Carriage—fast, stable, and novel! With the laying of the tracks, people felt life was getting better and better.

In short, opinions varied, and they dared not discuss much more.

Once again.

Secondly, some said the Emperor had been away and was not in the palace!

This made many feel that the situation in Longyan seemed to have become somewhat mysterious. Some said the Emperor was ill, so he wanted to see more of his rivers and mountains before his time was up. Some said the Emperor had already passed away on the road, and others even said...

In the Central Asia war, the East India Company of Longyan had completely tasted the meat, which caused Longyan's patriotic sentiment and national cohesion to surge instantly.

And in Liaodong, more and more ownerless lands began to enter the territory of Longyan.

Vice Minister Liu had been in the Li Dynasty and had not returned; many people wanted his life.

Once again, again.

"Quick, quick, quick, change the horse for the military officer, quick!"

On this side, the soldier responsible for delivering the message had just dismounted; before he had time to eat anything or take a drink of water during his spare moment, he had to set off again immediately.

All kinds of news.

All kinds of speculation.

The soldier said coldly: "Stop the nonsense, this is a ten-thousand-mile urgent dispatch; if it is delayed, I fear your head won't be safe!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Military officer, eat something before you go?"

The person in charge of the post station smiled.

The horse was changed very quickly.

"Military officer, it's over here."

"Quick, quick, quick!"

The person in charge of the post station gave a sheepish smile.

Who would have thought that just as he turned a corner, a sharp blade appeared before his face.

"You..."

The person in charge pointed to the back.

The soldier did not suspect anything, nodded, and walked toward the empty area.

Opening the letter.

This person's eyes suddenly widened.

Before the word "you" could come out, he had already died on the spot.

The post station person in charge gave a cold smile, walked over, and searched the letter from his body.

At the same time.

"Quick, quick, quick, report to the official, report to the official!"

"Yes!"

Shangshu Mansion.

Zhu Zhen quietly looked at the contents of the letter.

In Longyan, several post stations were also experiencing the same thing.

And in Jinghua.

This matter was a major event for Longyan now. Everyone knew that Xie Tianyao was not going to make it. It was feared he would not be able to return to the palace alive. Under these circumstances, Zhu Zhen and the others had already begun various arrangements in the Capital.

Who would want Liu Zheng to return?

Withdraw the order to kill Vice Minister Liu?

What does the Emperor mean by this?

This is another Imperial Decree!

The Imperial Decree cannot be disobeyed!

No one wants to!

However.

A sharp light flashed in Zhu Zhen's eyes.

He immediately made a decision.

Cannot!

Absolutely cannot let Vice Minister Liu return alive!

He could explain to others that the Emperor was already muddled and had been exploited by those with ulterior motives to write this letter.

Hmm, for example, Grand Eunuch Zhou.

Give the order: no matter how many letters this Grand Eunuch Zhou sends out, intercept them all! Whether it is a carrier pigeon or an urgent dispatch, intercept them all!

Afterwards.

Furthermore.

Over in Joseon.

If Xie Ming truly ascends to the throne when the time comes, he can incidentally get rid of that old fox, Grand Eunuch Zhou.

Two birds with one stone!

Because he knew that this matter could not be dragged out for long.

He sighed deeply.

He urged that bunch of useless Southerner Party members again to take action, take action!

Qingyang Shuo watched the chessboard before him quietly.

Xie Tianyao had not returned to the palace for four months.

Yinzhou.

Yintan City.

The Young Master has not finished handling things over there.

At this time, Liangzhou, in the eyes of the world, had actually begun to become dangerous and awkward. Everyone knew that Liangzhou had strong soldiers and sturdy horses; everyone knew that Liangzhou was overflowing with wealth; and everyone knew that if the world were to fall into chaos, Liangzhou would very likely be the final winner.

This matter revealed something unusual inside and out.

If others could notice it, how could Qingyang Shuo not notice it?

This also clearly showed just how deep the foundation of Liangzhou was.

This was truly not bragging.

In this regard, no matter how deeply Liu Zheng hid it, it was of no use.

Because Liangzhou, at this time, had already launched at least three or four major wars involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

In ancient times, one cavalryman had to be equipped with at least three logistics soldiers.

For the Liangzhou Army, with even the most reasonable equipment, one combat unit still required at least twice as many logistics support personnel.

Just taking historical data as an example.

Throughout Huaxia civilization, even in the most prosperous period of the Longyan Dynasty—which was probably around the time of the Song Dynasty in Liu Zheng's previous life—the imperial court could mobilize troops, with the Forbidden Army reaching 2.3 million. Moreover, these two million-plus were not even all the combat troops.

Regarding this.

Qingyang Shuo naturally agreed as well.

Therefore.

Why did Liu Zheng never like war? Especially civil war, because he felt that war was just burning money and burning the common people.

Every time the great army set out on an expedition, it could almost empty out the entire Yintan City.

Just taking the present as an example.

Because he and Zheng Yueru were the ones truly managing the economy and running the household in Liangzhou.

One does not know the cost of firewood and rice until one manages the household.

If Xie Tianyao were to die and a nationwide war broke out, even Qingyang Shuo would have a headache; once the great army moved, where would this money be found again?

Provisions and fodder had certainly been prepared.

Over in Central Asia, they were still relying on investment from Yintan City to transport supplies and build factories.

Therefore.

Military rations alone were completely insufficient.

"Sir, this is the financial report for this quarter."

As early as last year, Yintan City had already specially opened up a large granary to store military rations.

However.

Zheng Yueru smiled bitterly: "If it's not enough, then we have no Method; money must be earned bit by bit."

"Sir, are you so pessimistic about this?"

At this moment, Zheng Yueru walked in.

Qingyang Shuo took a look and sighed: "Not enough, completely not enough."

This is something that is directly proportional.

Qingyang Shuo chuckled: "The reason I say it's not enough is precisely because of this, Yue Ru; look at this."

She couldn't help but ask, her face full of worry: "Then wouldn't the Young Master..."

The more tense the domestic situation became, the more dangerous the Young Master would be in the Li Dynasty.

He took a letter from his side and showed it to Zheng Yueru.

Zheng Yueru looked closely and her expression changed instantly: "Why is there no wind of this at all?"

Following that, she shuddered: "Someone is deliberately not wanting people to know!"

Qingyang Shuo nodded: "Therefore, we need to build momentum for the Young Master within the country."