Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 250 Flood Control (Part 1)

Lü Shang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers, and ascended the steps to the general's platform.

Standing on the command platform, the surrounding area was solemn. Lü Shang stood with his whip in hand and loudly issued the order: "The entire army shall break camp and return to Liangzhou."

"Here!"

The four generals below the stage, along with the soldiers behind them, responded in unison.

The order was given like a mountain, and the army set off. After they were ready, the vanguard led the way, the central army followed, and the rearguard brought up the rear. Banners fluttered, and the infantry and cavalry moved like a flowing river. They left Diezhou and headed northwest in a grand procession.

Lü Shang and Fang Yanqian rode side by side, surrounded by attendants. The wind whipped the banners, making them flutter and the horses' hooves thundered on the ground.

Thousands of Xiliang infantry and cavalry, with spears and halberds like a forest, shields and halberds linked together, swept through the land, dust and sand obscuring the sky, demons and monsters retreating, and ghosts and gods trembling in fear.

After marching for several days, the north wind grew stronger. As they approached Shanggui in Qinzhou, Lü Shang frowned slightly, suddenly reined in his horse, and gazed at the banks of the Wei River.

"My lord,"

Seeing that Lü Shang had reined in his horse and stopped, and that his expression was unusual, Fang Yanqian, who was standing nearby, quickly pulled back the reins.

"Wei River,"

Lü Shang frowned and looked around with his divine eyes. Wherever his divine eyes fell, the Wei River was surging with huge waves and turbid waves that reached the sky. The river surface, which stretched for hundreds of miles, was almost boiling.

"Let's go, let's get into the city first,"

After regaining his senses, Lü Shang spurred his horse, and Zidian Hanshuang neighed loudly.

"Enter the city,"

Fang Yanqian cracked his whip and followed closely behind, the thunderous sound of hooves echoing as they caught up.

Just as Lü Shang and his men were riding towards Shanggui, the duty officer on the city wall of Shanggui also saw billowing smoke and dust in the distance, with banners like dragons.

"It's the Liangzhou army,"

The captain was startled at first, then quickly bent down to take a closer look. After recognizing the flag, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Someone, quickly inform the governor that the Liangzhou army has arrived outside the city,"

The guards on the side received the order, immediately went down from the city wall, found a fast horse, mounted it, and headed straight for the governor's office.

A short while later, horns sounded from the city tower, the drawbridge was slowly lowered, and the city gates opened wide to welcome the arrival of guests.

When Lü Shang led his army to the city, Wei Ji, the governor of Qin Province, was already standing by the roadside with a group of officials.

"Lu Gong's rebellion was arduous, and he endured a long and weary journey."

Seeing Lü Shang standing in front, Wei Ji's expression turned solemn as he slowly stepped forward.

Lu Shang's gaze swept over the group of Qin officials standing solemnly before the city gate. He dismounted and said, "Lord Wei, you are too kind. It was Commander Liu who truly exerted the greatest effort in quelling the Qiang rebellion."

"If it weren't for Commander Liu's decisive defeat of the Zhong Qiang and Dangchang Qiang, this Qiang rebellion wouldn't have been quelled so quickly. I dare not complain about the hardships I've endured,"

Upon hearing this, Wei Ji said solemnly, "Lord Lu is too modest. Although Commander Liu has made great achievements, the suppression of the Qiang rebellion was not entirely due to him alone."

"Duke Lu's troops advanced into Dazhen Pass and suppressed the Qiang tribes, which was a great achievement. How can we take it lightly?"

Having said that, Wei Ji turned to the side and said, "The wind is too strong outside the city. Let's go into the city and rest in the warm pavilion of my residence. I've warmed some wine there."

"Brother Wei's hospitality is too kind of me to refuse,"

Lü Shang nodded, then turned to Fang Yanqian behind him and instructed, "Xiao Chong, lead the troops to the northern camp and await my orders."

"Here!"

Fang Yanqian responded in a deep voice, turned his horse around, and directed the troops.

After watching Fang Yanqian leave, Lü Shang and Wei Ji entered the city together. Upon arriving at the governor's office, Wei Ji led Lü Shang into the main hall, where they took their seats as host and guest.

After taking their seats, before Wei Ji could speak, Lü Shang asked directly, "Brother Wei, just now I observed the Wei River from afar and saw that its surging waves were far beyond what was usually observed. I wonder if Brother Wei knows the reason for this?"

The Wei River is in trouble, which is no small matter. Putting aside the good relationship between Lü Shang and the Dragon King of the Wei River, he cannot ignore the fact that if the Wei River floods and affects hundreds of thousands or even millions of people on both banks, he will not be able to do anything about it.

Although Lü Shang was naturally cold-hearted, it did not mean he lacked compassion. Naturally, he would not stand idly by and watch millions of people suffer.

The Taoist patriarch said, "I have three treasures, which I hold and cherish: the first is compassion, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world."

Among these, 'compassion' is the most revered treasure by the Taoist patriarch.

Wei Ji's expression turned grave. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed, "Lord Lu has keen insight; this is indeed no ordinary flood situation."

"About two weeks ago, a sudden downpour hit the upper reaches of the Wei River, lasting for seven days. I initially thought it was just a normal flood season, but after the rain stopped, the water level of the Wei River rose daily, and the wind and waves became increasingly turbulent."

"Later, I invited a master from Zhaoxuan Temple. After the master went to the Wei River to pray for salvation, I realized that something terrible had happened."

"Oh?"

Lu Shang raised an eyebrow and asked, "What exactly happened?"

Wei Ji lowered his voice and said, "The master said it was a princess from the Wei River Dragon King's family who was abducted by demons on the banks of the Wei River."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lü Shang's eyes as he said, "What? You're saying that the princess of the Wei River Dragon Lord's family was kidnapped on her own territory?"

"Um,"

Wei Ji nodded and said, "That's what Master Yuanhui said. According to him, the dragon girl went to visit relatives in the South China Sea, and on her way back to the Wei River, she was swept away by a black wind on the banks of the Wei River."

Lu Shang shook his head and said, "What an audacious fiend! Truly lawless and reckless!"

Wei Ji sighed and said, "Who can argue with that? I wonder where this fiend came from, so ferocious. Now the Dragon Lord is enraged, the Water Palace is in turmoil, affecting both banks of the river. I wonder how this will end."

Lu Shang remained silent for a moment, then said, "If this continues, the banks of the Wei River will surely become a vast swamp. Brother Wei, what is the current situation of the people along the river?"

"It's hard to put it into words,"

Wei Ji, with a worried expression, said, "The Wei River's current is rising daily, and it's beyond human control. Several counties upstream have already been flooded, and fields have been completely submerged. I can only advise the people to help the elderly and children and move to higher ground as much as possible."

"However, such a treatment only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. It may provide temporary relief, but it is not a long-term solution."

"Brother Wei is right. If the flood problem isn't solved, it will cause a major problem sooner or later."

Lü Shang frowned, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Brother Wei, I have met the Dragon Lord of the Wei River several times, and we can be considered to have some acquaintance."

"As far as I know, the Dragon Lord is not an unreasonable person. The Wei River is now flooded, surely because his beloved daughter was kidnapped, and he has lost his composure and sense of reason."

"I can go to the Wei River and meet with the Dragon King to plead with him to temporarily quell his wrath. If I can persuade the Dragon King, the danger of the two banks being swept away can be averted."

"The Dragon King of the Wei River?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Ji's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I never expected that Duke Lu would have a past relationship with the Dragon King. With Duke Lu's intervention, the lives of millions of people in dozens of counties along the Wei River will be saved!"

"Brother Wei, there's no need for that,"

Lu Shang stood up, his eyes deep and serious, and said, "Saving people from suffering is our duty."

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on the Wei River, his expression cold and stern.

At this time, Lü Shang possessed 3,200 supernatural powers. Although he had not yet reached the great realm of having a path to heaven and a door to the earth, he was still impervious to water and fire. There were few places in the world that he could not go.

Not only that, he also mastered the Heavenly Gang Orthodox Method and the Golden Light of the Earth, and had treasures such as the Eight Steeds of King Mu and the Xuanyuan Illuminating Mind, so his own confidence was extraordinary.

This is also the fundamental reason why Lü Shang was confident in going to the Wei River Water Palace, meeting the Wei River Dragon King, and persuading him to calm the floodwaters.

(End of this chapter)