Love Lock

Chapter 134 The Great Treasure?
The cement plant is not large at present. The iron oxide clay that the laborers carried a few days ago and that was hauled by tricycles yesterday is enough for the cement plant to use for a few days.

Therefore, the road from the mine to the cement plant can be temporarily closed for a few days so that road repairs can be carried out first.

When Yang Qiquan and these craftsmen were in Qingshui County, they had already built pigsties and paths in wasteland with concrete, so they knew how to do it.

When Zhao Zun and Han Lei inspected the cement plant and rushed to the mine, Yang Qiquan and the craftsmen had already mixed the cement and sand that Han Lei had left along the way, but there was no clean water to mix with the concrete.

Han Lei asked Zhao Zun to take her to the Qulin River. It was only a few hundred meters from the mountain path to the riverbank, but the riverbank was high above the water, making it inconvenient to fetch water.

Han Lei thought for a moment and bought a small water pump and engine directly from the system, as well as many water tanks. After the river water was pumped into the water tanks, it was then transported to the mountain roadside by three-wheeled vehicle.

With Zhao Zun and Han Lei carrying water back and forth, Yang Qiquan and his team were able to start road construction smoothly.

Dragging water like this for a long time is not a solution. In any case, the development of pig farms, chicken and duck farms, and military camps here all require water.

After discussing it, Han Lei and Zhao Zun decided that once the mountain road was repaired, they would have Yang Qiquan lead the craftsmen to build some irrigation canals to divert water from the Qulin River to various places.

Zhao Zun and Han Lei are so busy here every day, leaving early and returning late. Sometimes, they don't even get to see the old lady and Zhao Ling'er.

That day, the old lady was holding silver scissors, carefully pruning the branches of her beloved flowers in the courtyard and watering them.

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of the jujube tree in the courtyard, casting a soft glow on her graying temples.

Zhao Ling'er was playing shuttlecock with her maids in the courtyard. Her laughter was as clear as bells, and her skirts fluttered in the wind like a butterfly.

Suddenly, the steward led in a young man dressed in fine clothes.

"How did you end up in Fufeng County? We've been looking for you everywhere!"

Hua Tianyou, with a bundle slung over his shoulder, entered the room and laughed loudly, his voice carrying the arrogance typical of a young master from the capital.

Although his smile remained unrestrained, once he shed the armor and uniform of a border soldier and donned fine clothes, Hua Tianyou reverted to his former image as a dashing young gentleman. His tanned face now held a touch more maturity.

"God bless you?"

The old lady turned around and was slightly taken aback.

Although she knew that Hua Tianyou and Zhao Zun had been friends since childhood, she was still somewhat surprised to see the only son of the Duke of Heng in this remote Fufeng County.

Hua Tianyou is a prominent figure in the elite circles of Beijing, and he rarely leaves the bustling city. It is truly surprising that he has appeared in this remote and impoverished place today, looking travel-worn.

"aunt."

Hua Tianyou was a man of good manners. He bowed respectfully to the old lady, then turned his gaze to Zhao Ling'er, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

"This... must be Ling'er, right?"

The old lady nodded with a smile: "It is indeed Ling'er."

Hua Tianyou scrutinized her closely, his tone tinged with emotion.

"Since Zhao Zun went to the military camp, I have not set foot in your residence again. I never expected that my sister Ling'er would grow up to be so graceful and beautiful."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ling'er blushed slightly, quietly hid behind the old lady, lowered her head and remained silent, but gripped the shuttlecock in her hand even tighter.

"Auntie, where is Zhao Zun?" Hua Tianyou looked around but did not see Zhao Zun, so he asked.

The old lady hesitated for a moment, glanced at the sunset on the horizon, and said calmly, "He went to work by the mountain. He should be back by now."

Although the old lady didn't know exactly what the cement factory did, Hua Tianyou was, after all, a celebrity in the circle of playboys in Beijing.

Even though Zhao Zun was demoted to a prince and sent here, she still harbored resentment and was unwilling to let any news about her son be discussed by people in the capital.

Therefore, she was unwilling to tell Hua Tianyou and Zhao Zun the truth about their situation here.

"The mountainside?"

Hua Tianyou raised an eyebrow, clearly somewhat surprised by the answer.

Just as he was about to ask again, the old lady instructed the servants to set out tea and snacks, and then asked, "Why did you suddenly come to Fufeng County?"

Hua Tianyou sat down, picked up his teacup, and spoke with a hint of smugness.

“My father sent me to Zhao Zun’s military camp to earn some military merit so that I could be assigned to a position in the Ministry of War or the Imperial Guard after I returned. Now that I have made great contributions, I am ready to go back.”

Zhao Ling'er quietly raised her eyes, her gaze lingering on Hua Tianyou for a moment. Seeing him chatting and laughing, his brows full of confidence and ease, she couldn't help but smile slightly, a hint of curiosity and admiration flashing in her eyes.

As they were talking, Zhao Zun and Han Lei dragged their weary bodies into the courtyard side by side. Both of them were covered in dust, clearly having just returned from the construction site.

Zhao Zun frowned as soon as he saw Hua Tianyou.

"Tianyou, what are you doing here?"

When Hua Tianyou saw Zhao Zun and Han Lei, he laughed and stood up.

“Last time, Li Gang reported me for the greatest merit in the raid on the Turks and I gained military merit. I was planning to return to the capital. When I got to Qingshui County, I heard from Magistrate Luo that you were here, so I took a detour to see you.”

"The greatest credit?"

Seeing Hua Tianyou's smug expression when he talked about "first merit," Zhao Zun and Han Lei exchanged a glance, a meaningful smile playing on their lips, but they said nothing more.

A servant brought hot water, and Zhao Zun and Han Lei quickly washed themselves.

Hua Tianyou frowned when he saw that they were covered in mud.

"What have you been doing? Why are you all in such a mess?"

Zhao Zun wiped his hands and said casually, "It's just building a cement plant."

"A cement plant?" A hint of curiosity flashed in Hua Tianyou's eyes. "What's that?"

Zhao Zun lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "What is it? Hmm... I can't really say."

"You don't even know? Then why did you do it?" Hua Tianyou said, disbelievingly. "No way, I'm going to go with you guys to take a look tomorrow."

After spending time with Han Lei and personally using a pistol to kill enemies on the battlefield, he finally witnessed Han Lei's strength firsthand.

Now, upon hearing that there was another cement factory, his curiosity was instantly piqued, and he naturally didn't want to miss the opportunity to see it for himself.

Zhao Zun glanced at him and said in a serious tone, "You can go. However, you must promise that you will never tell anyone what you see or hear here."

"what?"

Upon hearing Zhao Zun's words, Hua Tianyou was taken aback. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he slapped his forehead and exclaimed in annoyance, "Oh dear! Why didn't you say so earlier? I've already told everyone about the pistol!"

"Who did you tell?" Zhao Zun's gaze darkened, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"Those brothers in the barracks! I... I was just bragging to them."

Hua Tianyou's voice trailed off, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.

Upon hearing this, Han Lei couldn't help but glare at him, her cute yet fierce voice immediately echoing in the courtyard.

"Are you an idiot? How can you say something like that? Do you know you could get Zhao Zun killed?"

“Uh…” Hua Tianyou lowered his head and said awkwardly, “I know now.”

Han Lei snorted and rolled her eyes: "I knew you were unreliable."

Hua Tianyou quickly raised his hand and solemnly swore, "I promise I will never tell anyone about anything here again!"

The last time she went to the battlefield, it was too rushed, and Han Lei forgot to give him a heads-up beforehand.

Zhao Zun understood Hua Tianyou. Although he was flamboyant, he was loyal and trustworthy, and he would always keep his promises.

Zhao Zun sighed and said no more, promising to take him to the cement factory the next day.

The next day, the group arrived at the cement plant. Han Lei went to attend to her own work, while Zhao Zun took Hua Tianyou on a three-wheeled vehicle, touring back and forth between the cement plant and the mining site.

When Hua Tianyou saw the towering corrugated steel roof, the three-wheeled vehicles shuttling back and forth, the roaring water pumps by the river, and the cement road that had been maintained and was now open to traffic, his mouth remained agape, his jaw almost unable to close, his eyes filled with novelty and admiration.

He sat down next to Zhao Zun with a shameless grin, clinging to Zhao Zun's arm that was tightly gripping the handle.

“These things are really interesting! I’ve decided not to go back to the capital. I’m going to stay here and play with these things with you guys.”

Zhao Zun chuckled, "You can stay if you want, but you have to work. Don't use your playboy ways here."

"Of course, no problem! I haven't wasted these past few months in the military. I'm now disciplined and full of vigor..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Zun freed one hand and quickly flicked him twice on the head.

"Young Master, I'm calling you Young Master. Who are you calling Young Master to?"

"No, no! Ouch, that hurts! Hahaha..."

Zhao Zun drove the three-wheeled motorcycle, the two of them playfully frolicking as they drove towards the cement factory. ...I'm a lazy dividing line...

These past few days, Luo Hai hasn't gone to the wasteland.

He locked himself in his study, where sunlight streamed through the window paper, casting a soft yellow glow on the books on his desk.

The study was quiet, with only the occasional sigh accompanying his heavy breathing.

His thoughts, like fallen leaves scattered by the wind, drifted between the past and the future, unable to find peace.

Pingchuan's words echoed repeatedly in his mind, like an invisible thread pulling him toward a predetermined ending.

"What Your Highness has done is for the people of Cangzhou and for the future of Dajing."

These words were like a key, unlocking the long-dormant doubts and anxieties in his heart.

He recalled the years since Emperor Jing ascended the throne, the ever-changing political landscape of the court, the constant turnover of officials in various regions, and how former meritorious officials and generals had all become victims of power struggles.

Especially Zhao Zun, the once-illustrious Marshal of Beiguan, ultimately met a tragic end, being insulted and trampled upon.

The Zhao family, father and son, served the Great Jing Dynasty loyally guarding the border, but what did they get in return?
One died on the battlefield, and the other was distrusted by the emperor and even driven to the brink of despair.

Luo Hai's fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the desk, a bitter feeling rising in his heart.

As for himself, he was conscientious and diligent in his work as county magistrate, always thinking about bringing benefits to the local people.

But now that Emperor Jing has ascended the throne, the court is no longer what it used to be.

Will he be replaced by Emperor Jing one day?
Will he one day be discarded by Emperor Jing like Zhao Zun?
In Emperor Jing's eyes, there was only the consolidation of imperial power and the balancing of interests. What were political achievements, meritorious officials, or common people? In the emperor's eyes, they were nothing more than pawns.

Luo Hai felt a wave of powerlessness, as if all his efforts over the years had been in vain.

He is over fifty years old and has lived more than half of his life.

The ambitions of the past have now faded away like dust blown away by the wind, gradually dissipating into the air.

He once thought that as long as he worked diligently as an official and achieved outstanding political results, he would one day gain the emperor's appreciation and rise through the ranks.

But now he understands that in the eyes of a ruler who doesn't know how to appoint people based on merit, his efforts will always be hidden in the dust.

Thinking of this, a sense of determination suddenly welled up in Luo Hai's heart.

Rather than lingering in this hopeless officialdom, it's better to stand with Zhao Zun and work together to do something great for the people of Dajing.

In the future, even if I cannot go down in history, I can at least meet my ancestors in glory.

Take advantage of a favorable wind!

Zhao Zun now has a capable advisor like Han Lei by his side, as well as a group of loyal bodyguards. Zhao Zun himself also has rich experience in commanding troops and knows how to manage an army and appoint people based on merit.

Just by looking at the management methods he and Han Lei left behind in the wasteland project, and how they treated the wounded soldiers who could not go to the battlefield, Luo Hai could tell that Zhao Zun was no ordinary person.

With the existence of that mysterious weapon, Luo Hai could almost conclude that the imperial court had already lost before the formal confrontation even began.

Based on Zhao Zun's character and integrity, he believed that Zhao Zun would become a powerful and ruthless leader, or even a wise and benevolent ruler.

With this thought in mind, Luo Hai felt a sense of clarity. The road ahead might be fraught with peril, but he no longer hesitated.

He stood up, walked to his desk, packed all the dozen or so walkie-talkies into a bundle, and carried the bundle out the door.

He stepped out of the study, the sunlight shining on his face, warm and bright.

Upon arriving at the government office, he once again instructed them to safeguard all messages sent out of Cangzhou. Then he summoned several trusted yamen runners.

He instructed his trusted confidants to go to neighboring counties to purchase wasteland and shops, recruit craftsmen and laborers, and prepare to make a big splash by replicating and promoting the wasteland project in Qingshui County.

He then walked toward the prison cells, intending to release Wei Dabao and the others.

In the past, when Zhao Zun, as a military general, undertook projects to improve people's livelihoods, he was criticized for trying to win over the people.

But now, as the prince of Cangzhou, it is only natural and reasonable for Zhao Zun to promote wasteland projects and vigorously develop people's livelihoods.

Therefore, imprisoning Wei Dabao and the others is pointless. Keeping them in jail would only waste the county government's food supplies.

In Qingshui County, the long-awaited sunlight shone on the bluestone road outside the prison cells, so bright that it was almost impossible to open one's eyes.

Wei Dabao stood at the cell door, squinting slightly and then raising his hand to shield his eyes, as if this long-lost light was a gift from another world.

He had lost a lot of weight; his once round cheeks were sunken, and his eye sockets were deep, making him look haggard and disheveled.

More than three months of imprisonment, like a dull knife, gradually eroded his sharpness and physique.

After his eyes adjusted to the outside light, Wei Dabao rubbed his aching back and prepared to go home.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard another creaking sound from behind.

"Squeak!"

"Get out of here! The magistrate has shown mercy and released you. Behave yourselves from now on."

Wei Dabao turned his head and saw that the cell door was open again.

A constable pushed a prisoner with each hand, forcefully shoving them out of the cell door.

Two prisoners stumbled and fell forward outside the cell door, before they could regain their balance. Another bailiff pushed two more prisoners out of the cell door.

Then, another bailiff came. The three bailiffs pushed out a total of six prisoners.

The staggering bodies of the prisoners behind them knocked all those in front to the ground, tumbling together like a human pyramid.

In the past, seeing such a scene would have made Wei Dabao burst into laughter, but today he was not in the mood. He merely glanced at them indifferently before turning to leave.

Just then, he heard Zhang San's voice.

"Master, master, is that you? What brings you in?"

Zhang San's voice trembled slightly, as if it were being squeezed out from deep in his throat.

Wei Dabao's eyelids twitched, and he looked closely, asking uncertainly.

"Zhang San?"

"Ah, it's you, sir."

"It really is the master."

The six men quickly scrambled to their feet, staring intently at Wei Dabao, as if they couldn't believe that the thin man before them was the same plump and well-off master they once knew.

Wei Dabao stared at them, equally incredulous.

They were all ragged and pale. Their beards grew haphazardly, and their hair, like a tangled mess, obscured their faces.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with complex emotions—surprise, anger, helplessness, and a hint of relief at surviving a disaster.

It took Wei Dabao a while to react.

"So, you were also locked up by that bastard Luo Hai. I thought you had disappeared."

"Master, we've found their hideout! We've discovered many luminous pearls, and..."

Zhang San spoke urgently, his voice low, as if afraid of being overheard. His eyes flickered with a mixture of excitement and fear.

“No wonder! The luminous pearl.” Wei Dabao’s brows furrowed sharply, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “So you were arrested because you discovered Luo Hai’s secret.”

Wei Dabao's voice was low and laced with suppressed anger. He had long suspected that the servants he had sent out to gather information must have discovered some unspeakable secret, which was why they had mysteriously disappeared.

He thought he had been murdered to silence him, but he never expected that Luo Guan had actually taken him into custody.

Li Si chimed in, "Sir, their hideout was lit with luminous pearls and heavily guarded; there must be a great treasure inside. Unfortunately, we were caught as soon as we got close."

A great treasure?
The other four servants also gathered around, about to recount their experiences. Wei Dabao suddenly put his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.

"Shh!"

This is next to the county government office, in Luo Hai's territory, and it's a place with many people and eyes.

Wei Dabao cautiously looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he waved.

"Let's go back and talk about it."

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