Chapter 994: Slinging Mud

Liu Zheng had always known.

The process of escorting the coffin would not be that easy or simple.

The current Longyan is too chaotic.

The previous partisan strife in the Li Dynasty was like child's play compared to this Longyan.

Longyan is too vast; a single province is equivalent to an entire Li Dynasty. At this time, besides the established Old Aristocrats, New Aristocracy, and the Scholar-Official Group within this country, could there not be other miscellaneous forces?

There are.

Since ancient times, what Longyan has never lacked is ambitious people.

This time, Liu Zheng came with the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin. He certainly would not believe that no one wanted to stir up trouble for him along the way.

But fortunately.

From Qingzhou to Jinzhou, the journey was considered safe. It seems the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin still have very effective methods for controlling their own territories.

But now, they have arrived in Guanzhong.

Just as Liu Zheng and his party had relaxed a little, the trouble began.

Ankang City.

Having just entered the city, because Ankang is already very close to Jinghua, Liu Zheng and the others did not intend to linger here. Seeing that the time was still early, they planned to pass directly through Ankang and continue their journey. Of course, the most important thing was that the Prefect of Ankang was not a member of their New Aristocracy faction, but rather a wavering force.

That is to say, he was neither close to the Old Aristocrats nor the New Aristocracy, and likewise, he kept a certain distance from the Scholar-official group.

Such Prefects are actually quite numerous in Longyan.

Liu Zheng is not afraid of those Prefects with clear stances; what he fears is this kind of slippery character, because you cannot tell what his motives are.

Sure enough.

Hearing that Liu Zheng and the others intended to leave directly, the Prefect of Ankang, Zhang Chang, became a bit anxious and said with deep sorrow that since the Crown Prince's State Funeral was taking place, there were countless people in Ankang City who respected him and could not go to Lishan for the grand burial, so he hoped Vice Minister Liu could allow the public to pay their respects to the Crown Prince's coffin.

Put this way, Liu Zheng and the other two could not refuse and had to agree, letting the coffin make a circuit through the city before setting off again.

Zhang Chang was overjoyed and made arrangements immediately.

Just as the funeral procession reached the middle of the city, a group of men in black suddenly surged forth from the kneeling crowd.

"Kill!"

"Kill the dog thief Vice Minister Liu!"

"Vice Minister Liu, you wolf-hearted ambitionist!"

"Avenge the Crown Prince!"

"For the Crown Prince!"

"For Longyan!"

As soon as these people appeared, they immediately shouted slogans that shocked everyone, and each of them was highly skilled in martial arts. If Pei Qianyun had not been by Liu Zheng's side the whole time, several assassins would have nearly taken Liu Zheng's "dog head"!

"Audacious!"

"Who goes there! Seize them for me!"

The sudden assassination attempt caused Liu Zheng, the Prince of Wei, the Prince of Jin, and Qin Zhangfeng and others to all change their expressions.

Zhang Chang's face turned even more livid, and he roared: "You dare to disturb the Crown Prince's coffin? Kill them for me!"

Although he said to kill, his men were actually slow to arrive.

"Kill the thief Liu!"

"Purge the side of the ruler!"

"Kill the thief Liu!"

"Purge the side of the ruler!"

This gang of assassins each shouted high-sounding slogans.

Liu Zheng had almost fallen for it just now and still felt a lingering fear, but since Pei Qianyun had reacted, he naturally felt no more fear in his heart. He watched all of this quietly. Qin Zhangfeng had already led the guards here to engage in a bloody battle with that group, and the commoners on the street had long since fallen into chaos.

Swords flashed and blades crossed, back and forth.

Liu Zheng was not surprised by the situation before him.

As mentioned just now, in this world, there are all kinds of people, with all kinds of stances and all kinds of thoughts.

Some people think they are good people, so naturally, others think they are bad people.

Some people support him, thinking he is a talent for the ages, a pillar of the nation.

Then naturally, others think he is wolf-hearted and ambitious, coveting the imperial throne.

It is perfectly normal for there to be groups among the people who oppose him.

In this society, it is only natural for groups to oppose me.

Whether this was a grassroots organization or someone's deliberate arrangement no longer mattered.

Whether this is a grassroots organization before my eyes or a deliberate arrangement by others, it is no longer important.

"Kill the dog thief!"

This group of people came with a determination to die. Perhaps they believed that with their sacrifice, the imperial court would take the threat Liangzhou poses to Longyan seriously.

This group of people came with a heart prepared for death. Perhaps they believe that with their sacrifice, the imperial court will attach importance to the threat Liangzhou poses to Longyan.

This tactic is definitely useful.

But Liu Zheng does not care at this moment.

"Just by relying on you lot?"

Pei Qianyun roared, swinging his two great hammers. There were about a hundred of these people, but his single-handed intervention made it impossible for them to advance even an inch, not to mention the presence of Qin Zhangfeng and the others, as well as the guards of the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin.

Pei Qianyun roared, brandishing his two great hammers; there were about a hundred of these people, yet he alone prevented them from advancing even an inch, not to mention the presence of Qin Zhangfeng and the others, as well as the guards of the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Jin.

Once these people realized the situation, these assassins, who appeared to be martial artists, had absolutely no chance at all.

These people realized that this group of assassins, who appeared to be martial artists, had absolutely no chance at all.

"Run!"

Seeing that the situation was beyond saving, they all wanted to flee.

"Run?"

Pei Qianyun sneered and lunged forward once again.

And so.

The commoners, some terrified and others watching the spectacle, watched helplessly as this group of people were surrounded and killed one by one by these ruthless soldiers; in an instant, the street was flowing with blood, with remains everywhere.

Very quickly.

These one hundred people were cleaned out.

The scene was deathly silent.

"Th-th-this..."

The Prefect of Ankang, Zhang Chang, was already covered in sweat.

Prince Wei's face was livid, and Prince Jin was also silent.

Liu Zheng, however, wore a look that was half-smile, half-sneer.

"Your Highnesses, Your Highnesses, Lord Liu, th-th-this, I truly did not know about this matter, I did not know!"

With a thud, Zhang Chang knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Lord Zhang, why do this? You really must not..."

Liu Zheng hurriedly dismounted from his horse.

Prince Wei also sneered coldly: "What has come over Lord Zhang..."

Zhang Chang just kept kowtowing: "I didn't know, I truly didn't know... These wicked thieves dared to collide with the Crown Prince's coffin; they deserve to die ten thousand deaths, and I deserve to die ten thousand deaths!"

"Lord Zhang, there is no need for this; they were merely a rabble of martial artists."

Prince Wei also said indifferently.

Only then did Zhang Chang shakily stand up.

After much persuasion, the group finally continued on their way out of the city.

After such an incident, the three of them looked at one another inside the Horse Carriage.

Then they all burst into laughter.

"This Zhang Chang, it is not easy for him to stay alive."

Prince Wei laughed heartily.

Prince Jin also shook his head and smiled: "At the feet of the Emperor, it is just like this; how pitiful."

In truth, all three of them knew that this matter certainly had nothing to do with Zhang Chang. Who would be foolish enough to arrange such an assassination within their own city?

An assassination with a success rate of almost zero.

This time, these people were merely trying to smear Liu Zheng. In any case, with the current situation in Longyan, the more dirty water they could splash, the better; as long as those interest groups paid, these people throwing their lives away would come one after another.

It was just that.

This incident did indeed serve as a reminder to Liu Zheng.

He suddenly smiled and asked: "Do you think the Emperor believes the Crown Prince is dead?"

"Ah?"

Prince Wei and Prince Jin could not help but exchange a glance.

It seemed.

This was indeed a question worth pondering...