Love Lock

Chapter 220 Showing All Our Sincerity

Ten miles outside the south gate of Qingshui County, there is a place called Tuomugou. It is shaped like a funnel, with a narrow and treacherous terrain. There is only one valley through which it can pass, and the official road winds along this valley.

A fortress is being built here, and the people involved in its construction are refugees and beggars who remained in Qingshui County.

The cement that Han Lei left for Qingshui County was not used by Luo Hai to build roads. Instead, he followed Zhao Zun's orders to build a fort first.

Zhao Zun's disloyal intentions will be discovered by the court sooner or later, and Tuomugou is the only way for the court to attack Cangzhou.

Because the official road is flanked by high mountains and cliffs with lush vegetation, the afternoons in Tuomugou are not too hot.

Sunlight, fragmented by the branches and leaves of the trees, dappled across the foundation of the fortress under construction.

Hundreds of ragged refugees and beggars carried stones and mixed concrete slurry at the foreman's command, the clanging and banging echoing through the valley.

Cement, this magical building material, was not used for paving roads under Luo Hai's command, but was instead prioritized for military defense.

The grayish-white slurry was poured from the wooden barrel and solidified into an indestructible barrier in less than a day.

The bastion's nascent, protruding edges cast jagged shadows in the sunlight, resembling the fangs of some ancient behemoth.

"Everyone, take a break and have some water. Then we need to speed things up! This section of the wall must be finished before dark!" the foreman shouted.

A gaunt old man stumbled, nearly hitting his feet with the stone he was carrying on his shoulder. The foreman quickly helped him up and offered him a seat to rest, for which the old man thanked him profusely.

Just then, the clear sound of horse bells came from the distance in the valley.

A group of lavishly decorated carriages slowly approached, pulled by four snow-white horses. The carriages were adorned with gold trim, and the curtains were made of the finest silk, shimmering like pearls in the sunlight.

A python-patterned flag was planted on the carriage at the front of the caravan, swaying gently in the breeze.

The carriage stopped not far from the construction site. The driver jumped down and set up a footstool, and a middle-aged man dressed in a light blue brocade robe slowly stepped out of the carriage.

The mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from his waist was quite valuable, and it swayed gently with his steps, while the jade thumb ring on his thumb gleamed with a faint green light in the sunlight.

This person was none other than Liu Yan, the King of Jingzhou.

"Father, it's all dusty here, what's there to see?" A slender hand lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing the face of a beautiful young girl.

Liu Yan did not answer his daughter's question; his gaze was deeply captivated by the peculiar architectural structures.

Those protruding angles resemble neither a dwelling nor a fortress tower, but rather something deliberately designed to counter some kind of special attack.

He stroked his chin and slowly walked towards the laborers resting by the roadside.

"Old man, what kind of pass are you building?" Liu Yan's voice was gentle yet authoritative.

The old farmer, who was being questioned, hurriedly knelt down, his forehead almost touching the ground. "In reply to your question, sir, we were just following orders and had no idea what this was for."

His rough fingers nervously dug into the rubble on the ground. "The foreman said it was called something like... Bastion?"

“Bastion?” Liu Yan repeated the unfamiliar word softly, his brows furrowing slightly.

He crouched down and lightly touched the cement wall, which was not yet completely dry, with his fingertips. "This mortar is special. It dries so quickly and is so hard."

The old farmer didn't dare to look up, only nodding and bowing repeatedly: "It was given by the prefect... a new material called cement, which is much stronger than glutinous rice mortar."

Liu Yan stood up, his gaze sweeping along the unfinished city wall. This place was already narrow and treacherous, and now there was this thing called a bastion.

He didn't understand military affairs, but he noticed some clues.

These sharp angles are designed to eliminate blind spots; if a crossbow were to be set up here...

He suddenly shivered, realizing that this design was precisely what allowed him to control the only passage between Cangzhou and Jingzhou.

"Your Highness, it's getting late," a guard accompanying you whispered.

Liu Yan nodded, glanced one last time at the strange angles, and turned back to the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the Princess of Jingzhou was combing the hair of her twelve-year-old daughter. When she saw him enter, she asked softly, "Can you tell anything about it?"

"The King of Cangzhou seems to be making some preparations." Liu Yan cautiously glanced around the carriage, his voice extremely low, so that only his wife could hear him. "Moreover, it's the kind of preparations he's making to deal with the imperial army."

"Ah?" The Princess of Jingzhou paused, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. "Then shall we go to Cangzhou..."

Liu Yan lowered his eyes, a ruthless glint flashing within them.

"Since His Majesty treats me so well, I can't worry about anything else. As long as my family can live in peace, that's all that matters."

Liu Yan lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the construction site gradually receding into the distance, and ordered: "Pass down the order to speed up and make sure we get to Qingshui County before dark."

When the King of Jingzhou's convoy arrived at the gate of Qingshui County, the last ray of sunlight was slipping off the eaves of the city tower.

The soldiers guarding the city stepped forward with torches to inspect the carriages, and the family crests on the carriages were clearly visible in the torchlight.

"It's the carriage from the Prince of Jingzhou's residence!" the leading soldier exclaimed, immediately kneeling on one knee. "We were unaware of Your Highness's arrival and have failed to greet you properly!"

Liu Yan nodded slightly: "No need for formalities. I have come as a guest at the invitation of the King of Cangzhou. This is my travel permit."

The soldier took the travel permit with both hands, glanced at it quickly, and respectfully handed it back: "Your Highness, please enter the city! Should I send someone to inform the prefect?"

"No need, you all go about your business!" Liu Yan waved his hand. "I will make the arrangements myself."

The convoy slowly drove into the city gate, the sound of horses' hooves echoing on the stone road.

Although Qingshui County is not as prosperous as Jingzhou, its streets are clean and lined with shops, showing that it is well-governed.

Liu Yan noticed that there was a luminous pearl every hundred steps along the roadside, but he knew that it must be a lamp.

One by one, the solar-powered lights lit up, their light bright and steady, unlike the dim and flickering light of ordinary oil lamps.

"Father, the lights here are so bright!" the little princess exclaimed, peering out the carriage window.

Liu Yan squinted and looked closely, finding the lamp very dazzling, and dared not look directly at it.

“Interesting…” he murmured to himself.

The convoy stopped in front of the largest inn in the city, the "Yuelai Inn." The innkeeper, having already heard the commotion, came out to greet them, kneeling before the door and kowtowing repeatedly.

"I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival. My humble abode is honored! A superior room has been prepared. Please follow me, Your Highness."

After settling his family in, Liu Yan decided to inquire about the whereabouts of the Prince of Cangzhou at the prefectural government office. He changed into plain clothes and went out with only two personal guards.

As dusk fell, the streets of Qingshui County emptied of pedestrians, the air filled with the aroma of food. Following directions from passersby, he quickly arrived at the prefectural government office. Four guards with swords stood on either side of the gate, one of whom happened to be the same one who had previously slighted Han Lei.

As someone approached, the guard stepped forward, about to question him, when Liu Yan asked, "Is Prefect Luo Hai here?"

"Who are you? Why do you dare to address my master by his name?" The guard at the door frowned.

Liu Yan chuckled: "Who I am is not important. What is important is that the King of Cangzhou invited me here. I came specifically to inquire about the King of Cangzhou's whereabouts from Luo Hai."

"Huh? You..." The guard who had previously neglected Han Lei looked him over and asked uncertainly, "You said the King of Cangzhou invited you?"

“Yes! Please go and report this.” Liu Yan nodded, exuding the air of a nobleman.

那守卫听到苍州王的名号顿时一个激灵。上次韩蕾报出苍州王，他说不知道苍州王是谁，害得韩蕾差点丢了锁情扣，结果被赵樽狠揍了一顿。

This time he was smarter; the person in front of him exuded an air of nobility and must have a significant background.

He quickly bent down and said, "You...you wait here, I'll go and report to the magistrate right away."

With that, he scrambled into the government office. A moment later, Prefect Luo Hai, looking suspicious, followed the guards out.

The guard said that the person called him by his name and said that he was invited by the King of Cangzhou. He knew that this was not someone he could offend, but he did not know who it was, so he followed him out to see.

Before Luo Hai took office in Qingshui County, his family lived in the capital. He had met almost all the important people in the capital, big and small.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the government office, they were surprised to find that the person standing at the bottom of the steps was none other than the King of Jingzhou.

"Oh dear! Your Highness!" He was so frightened that he lifted his official robe and ran down the steps quickly, even tilting his official hat crookedly.

"Your Highness, I, Luo Hai, pay my respects!" Luo Hai knelt on the bluestone slab, his voice trembling. "I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and have failed to greet you properly. I deserve to die!"

The guard who had been disrespectful to Han Lei was so frightened by the fact that the visitor was the King of Jingzhou that he dared not utter a sound.

He quickly knelt down, secretly relieved: luckily he was quick-witted just now, otherwise he would have caused trouble again today and might have gotten another beating.

Liu Yan gestured for him to rise, saying, "Lord Luo, please rise. I apologize for my intrusion in visiting you."

Luo Hai stood up cautiously, beads of sweat instantly forming on his forehead, glistening in the light of the lanterns in the government office.

"Your Highness is too kind! Please, Your Highness, come inside and we'll have tea!"

Upon entering the flower hall, a maidservant served fragrant tea. Liu Yan took a sip; it was excellent new tea.

He put down his teacup and got straight to the point: "To be honest, I am here at the invitation of the King and Queen of Cangzhou to stay in Cangzhou for a while. I am passing through Qingshui County and have come to inquire about the location of the King's residence in Cangzhou."

Luo Hai nearly dropped his teacup: "The...the Princess invited me?" His expression changed several times; he had no idea about this.

"Uh..." Luo Hai was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't say that he didn't know, so he said, "The King of Cangzhou is in Beiguan, and the Princess Consort has gone to Fufeng County. She probably doesn't know that the King has arrived today. I will inform the Princess Consort right away."

Luo Hai took the walkie-talkie from his waist, pressed the button, and made a call.

"Hello! Hello! This is Qingshui County calling Huachang County. Tell the Princess that the Prince of Jingzhou is visiting and is currently at the Prefectural Government Office. Please respond upon receipt."

The King of Jingzhou stared blankly at Luo Hai, then suddenly began talking to himself in front of the black box in his hand, seemingly to no one.

"Lord Luo, who...who are you talking to?" the King of Jingzhou asked curiously.

Luo Hai explained with a smile, "This humble official is having them inform the Princess that Your Highness has arrived in Qingshui County."

"them?"

The King of Jingzhou was taken aback. He looked around and found that there was no one else in the room except for the maid serving tea.

He felt a chill run down his spine. Ever since arriving in Tuomugou, he had felt that everything in Cangzhou seemed different from other places.

Just then, the black box in Luo Hai's hand suddenly emitted a "buzzing" sound, followed by a clear male voice.

"Communication station calling Lord Luo, is Lord Luo there? Please respond upon receipt."

Liu Yan suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open: "Who is it?!"

Startled, Luo Hai hurriedly pressed the call button: "This is Luo Hai, please speak."

"A message from the Princess came from Huachang County: The Prince of Jingzhou is a distinguished guest of the Prince's Palace. Please, Lord Luo, be sure to treat him with great hospitality. You can arrange a visit to the wasteland project, or recommend dining at Tongfu Restaurant. The Princess said she will definitely return for the Mid-Autumn Festival."

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet hall. Liu Yan stared intently at the talking black box, his face filled with disbelief.

"What...what kind of monster is this? Why is it making a sound?"

"Your Highness, don't be afraid! This is not a demon." Luo Hai wiped his sweat and patiently explained, "This is called a 'walkie-talkie,' a tool for communication, uh... just like a carrier pigeon."

"A message sent by carrier pigeon?" Liu Yan's voice rose eight octaves. "I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. This is clearly a real-time conversation! The voice said that the Princess Consort was in Huachang County? The two places are more than a hundred miles apart. Even a pigeon would take half a day to fly there!"

Luo Hai sighed, unsure how to answer. He could only explain it using a carrier pigeon; he himself knew nothing else about it.

Just then, the walkie-talkie crackled to life again: "Lord Luo, is Lord Luo here? The Princess Consort is asking if the King of Jingzhou has already seen the cement bastion at Tuomugou?"

Liu Yan's face turned deathly pale instantly. He slowly sat back in his chair, his fingers nervously tapping on the table.

Should he answer whether he saw it or not?
The King of Cangzhou built a fortress in Tuomugou, which was clearly Sima Zhao's intention, and he certainly knew what it meant.

Since he came from Tuomugou, it would seem insincere of him to answer that he hadn't seen it.

Now, the imperial court has no affection for him whatsoever. He is now fleeing with his family. Since he has chosen to seek refuge in Cangzhou, he must show all his sincerity.

So, his mind raced for a moment, and he nodded to Luo Hai.

Luo Hai immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "Tell the Princess that the King of Jingzhou said he has seen the fortress."

Hearing Luo Hai's shout, the King of Jingzhou thought to himself: It seems that the King of Cangzhou's strength is even more unfathomable than I imagined...

A voice came through the walkie-talkie again: "Lord Luo, Lord Luo. The Princess said that since the King of Jingzhou saw the fortress at Tuomugou, he should know that Cangzhou is very safe. Therefore, please rest assured that the King of Jingzhou can stay in Cangzhou without worry. As long as he is within the territory of Cangzhou, that person will not be able to touch a hair on his head."

The voice on the walkie-talkie was exceptionally clear, every word penetrating the ears of the King of Jingzhou.

Others might not know what was being said on the walkie-talkie, but Liu Yan, the King of Jingzhou, knew it very well.

When he was at his lowest point, hearing Han Lei's promise filled the King of Jingzhou with deep emotion.

His eyes filled with tears, and he stood up and bowed deeply to the walkie-talkie in Luo Hai's hand.

"Lord Luo, please tell the Princess that I, Liu Yan, and my entire family... thank you in advance!"