Villain: After I died, all the heroines cried themselves to sleep.

With the evil dragon dead, the seas and rivers are now calm and peaceful.

As Luo Zheng unleashed the Divine Firmament Sword Technique, all the power of heaven and earth around him was exhausted.

He sheathed the Tai'a sword and floated back to the ground.

"Do you have any last words?"

Luo Zheng said to the shaman.

At this point, the shaman, having sacrificed his life and suffered the backlash from the death of the evil dragon, was already exhausted and on his last legs.

Even without anyone's help, it was clear that they wouldn't survive.

"Now I understand why that lord is so wary of you."

The shaman gazed intently at Luo Zheng.

Despite his young age, he possessed the majesty of an emperor; it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was exceptionally gifted.

Now that the Heavenly Gang has reversed its ways and annihilated the Crimson Dragon, in a few years, I fear no one will be able to stop it.

"Even if you defeat me, you will surely die today."

"Oh?"

Luo Zheng gripped his sword, wondering what other support his opponent might have.

Listen to the shaman's meaningful words.

"You only noticed me, but you don't know that I was just following orders. The real danger is not in me, but in the Han River itself."

"Could it be...?"

Luo Zheng had not yet spoken.

Feng and Li behind them exchanged a glance, both realizing something at the same time.

Immediately afterwards, it seemed as if the words of the shaman were being confirmed.

boom!!!

An explosion, almost devastating, resounded in the upper reaches of the Han River.

The once calm rivers and land trembled violently, as if a man-eating flood or ferocious beast was rapidly approaching.

"Hahaha……"

The shaman burst into wild laughter.

"The torrential rains continued, and the water level rose. That lord had already sent troops to infiltrate Hanzhong and divert the flow of the Han River upstream."

"It seems they have already breached the dikes, letting the Han River flood this place, and will exterminate you all."

"If I could be buried with Lord Hanyang, I would die without regret!"

After saying that, she looked towards the upper reaches of the Han River, waiting quietly for the flood to pour down.

Feng and Li also looked over.

Even the Hanyang residents who had been evacuated to the hilltop looked over there with fear on their faces.

Time ticked by, second by second...

Soon after, thick smoke billowed from the road upstream.

A cavalry force swept in from the high ground.

However, the shaman showed no joy.

Even his face, which had been glowing with a fleeting moment of lucidity, turned deathly pale in an instant.

The iron cavalry stopped not far away, and the leading general dismounted and walked to Luo Zheng to bow respectfully.

"Reporting to you, sir, I was ordered to set up an ambush on the upper reaches of the Han River, and the invading enemy has been completely annihilated."

"Huh? Hmm..."

Luo Zheng stared at Bai Jian for a moment, then nodded in a perfunctory manner.

What the hell?

Didn't I send Bai Jian to build fortifications?

Who ordered this guy to ambush the invading enemy troops? And the key point is that he actually won.

"Hahaha……"

At this moment, it was Feng Lu's turn to burst into laughter.

Whether Wu Zhuzhen was shocked or not, Luo Zheng was certainly taken aback when he spoke.

"How foolish you are! Your schemes have long been seen through by wise men."

"The wise man foresaw that you petty villains would breach the Han River's banks, so he had long ago ordered General Bai Jian to assist the Mohist Sui Qin in constructing water conservancy works upstream to prepare in advance and block the invading enemy."

"And if I'm not mistaken, your reinforcements are hidden in Guanzhong, preparing to launch a surprise attack via the Baoxie Plank Road."

Li Tonggu also spoke eloquently.

"Little did they know that when the sage entered Hanzhong, he had already anticipated your plan and destroyed the plank road in advance, forcing the enemy to detour through Chencang and preventing them from arriving as scheduled. Instead, they fell into General Bai Jian's ambush."

"Indeed, the gentleman ordered me to assist Sui Qin in building fortifications to control the floods. I then understood the gentleman's deeper meaning, which was to imply that someone intended to breach the dikes and launch a water attack, so I took the lead in setting up an ambush there."

Bai Jian echoed.

No one knew that three years ago, when he was welcoming Junzi back to the country, he discovered the commander's body while searching the mountains and forests.

He still vividly remembers the vicious sword wound on the corpse's throat.

Therefore, he knew that a gentleman was a person who kept his true abilities hidden.

"..."

The shaman's pupils dilated violently.

She could hardly believe that this entire scheme was part of Hanyang Jun's calculations.

Could it be that Lord Hanyang is a prophet with supernatural insight?

The shaman stared intently at Luo Zheng.

"..."

Don't look at me, I don't know either.

Luo Zheng listened to his subordinate's explanation and was equally speechless.

He had previously thought he was on the third floor.

Unexpectedly, he was in the atmosphere this time.

Although he was indeed aware of the need to prevent flooding, he was not fully aware of the shaman's entire plan.

But the atmosphere had already reached this point...

Luo Zheng coughed lightly, shamelessly puffed out his chest, and said nonchalantly.

"It's just a precaution."

"...The cycle of fortune turns, so why does destiny favor the exceptional?"

The shaman gave a bitter smile, holding his sword horizontally to his neck.

"Lord Hanyang, you have defied the natural order of things. Even if you seize the Mandate of Heaven, it cannot last. You will ultimately be devoured by Heaven and Earth, suffering disgrace, ruin, and the destruction of your kingdom!"

He left behind these words that seemed like a prophecy, or perhaps a curse.

The shaman committed suicide and returned to heaven.

……

With the evil dragon killed and the shaman committing suicide, the matter of the River God taking a wife ended in a great victory for Luo Zheng.

After this incident, news of Lord Hanyang's slaying of the evil dragon spread throughout Hanyang, and Luo Zheng's prestige instantly reached an unprecedented peak.

The people of Hanyang remembered Luo Zheng vividly and even planned to build a shrine for him and hold a sacrifice every year on this day.

Finally, Luo Zheng ordered it to stop.

"If you have money but nowhere to spend it, then hand it over to the country!"

Luo Zheng was speechless.

The Marquis's Mansion has now completely taken over all affairs in Hanyang.

The results were shocking; you wouldn't believe it until you looked into it.

Due to the floods in recent years, coupled with the incompetence of the Du, Gong, and Pu families in managing the situation.

The city of Hanyang was so poor that people were almost starving.

Even the current funds of the Marquis's mansion come from the taxes collected by the three families from the residents under the pretext of the River God's marriage.

In order to live a life of extravagance and debauchery as soon as possible, Luo Zheng had no choice but to set his sights on the families of Du, Gong, and Pu.

Fortunately, after the incident of the River God taking a wife, the three families completely submitted to Luo Zheng.

They all voluntarily offered their family fortunes to Luo Zheng.

Yes, I really mean it.

The entire city of Hanyang was thus brought under Luo Zheng's control in one fell swoop.

"My lord, although the evil dragon has been slain, the damage caused by the previous floods remains. Many people in Hanyang City have been affected by the disaster, and we will probably need a lot of food and supplies for disaster relief."

Feng Lu, the clerk of the Marquis's residence, stepped forward to report.

Luo Zheng looked at Feng Lu suspiciously.

He truly deserves to be called a treacherous and wicked minister.

This guy knows the Marquis's mansion is rich, and he wants to be like Heshen so quickly, embezzling grain and salaries under the guise of disaster relief.

"Directly distributing food and wages is not advisable. I intend to build water conservancy projects and construct roads. Go and call Sui Qin here first. We will then use work as a form of relief so that the disaster victims can make the most of their remaining energy."

To be rich, build roads first.

Luo Zheng would never allow his subordinates to just eat and do nothing.

His goal was to become a tyrannical ruler who indulged in extravagance and debauchery, but even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice, so he could only focus on operations first, cultivating the followers before harvesting them.

He casually dismissed Feng Lu.

Not long after, the steward Li Tonggu came to report that Shen Xie from the State of Chu had come to request an audience.

"Shen Jun needs to see me again?"

Luo Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

Is that guy perhaps planning to ask for the Tai'a Sword?

But Shen Xie gracefully bowed and greeted them.

"I have come here to bid farewell to you, sir, and to express my gratitude."

"A virtuous man wields his sword to slay the evil dragon, his heroic spirit unparalleled. Now that the Han River is calm, we may leave."

"Furthermore, I would like to thank you for saving my daughter. I will always remember this kindness and repay it in the future."

"A princess? What princess?"

Luo Zheng pretended to be clueless.

Saving Ji Mi is an act of kindness, but taking the Tai'a sword is not.

Only a fool would abandon this handsome and powerful divine weapon for a concubine who loves another and will be forced into marriage sooner or later.

Fortunately, he didn't tell Ji Mi her name back then, as the underwater darkness made it impossible to see her face.

As long as you don't admit it, the other party has no evidence.

"..."

Shen Xie was also embarrassed.

After Ji Mi woke up, she told him about her experience in the water and earnestly begged him to find that gentleman.

After hearing Ji Mi's account, Shen Xie felt that it was most likely Hanyang Jun.

So I came here specifically to verify this.

But the Lord of Hanyang in front of him refused to admit it, and the expression on his face did not seem fake.

For a moment, Shen Xie was also confused.

Could it be someone else?

Shen Xie was completely baffled, and finally gave an awkward smile before taking his leave of Luo Zheng.

Shen Xie left, but Zhang Mo stayed a little longer.

He said respectfully.

"You, a gentleman, are able to summon the thunder of the Purple Heaven. I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to you in your talent for following the natural way."

"I have gained a lot from this trip down the mountain, and I am especially grateful for your reminder, which helped me find the way of the Celestial Master through talismans and summoning gods."

After saying this, he solemnly cupped his hands in greeting several times and left without looking back.

"..."

Have all the Celestial Masters come?

Luo Zheng watched Zhang Mo leave, his lips twitching slightly.

The Taoism in this world is not the same as the Taoist sect; it is more of a school of thought that focuses on contemplating and experiencing nature. Various Taoist schools and sects have not yet developed.

……

Shen Xie and his group crossed the river and returned to their homeland, while Zhang Mo also returned to the mountains and countryside.

As governance in Hanyang gradually got back on track, Luo Zheng even took the time to meet with Sui Qin. Through coercion, enticement, and moral blackmail, he managed to keep this Mohist scholar in Hanyang and encourage him to contribute to the city's reconstruction.

After all, the Mohists, who were engaged in scientific research, were essential for farming by advancing their technology.

As Luo Zheng had envisioned, the next few years would likely be filled with the boring and lengthy routine of farming.

From production to technological advancement, from recruiting talented individuals to training a new generation of soldiers.

If I were to write it all down, it would probably trigger a new wave of floods.

Several more days passed.

The Marquis's residence received treasures presented by the people of Hanyang, led by the Du, Gong, and Pu families.

Luo Zheng saw this treasure in the side room of his own courtyard.

A beautiful woman dressed in a plain dress sat quietly there.

Her hair was as black as ink, her lips as red as cinnabar, and her expression was indifferent and cold, with hardly a smile to be seen.

"She was the virgin who was originally to marry the River God, and her name was Li Si."

The elderly woman who was taking care of the woman explained.

"A few days ago, there was a rebellion in Shu. The Li family of Baoshui was implicated and the whole family was wiped out. Only this girl survived and has been temporarily taken care of by the old woman."

"Just then, Hanyang was flooded, and the shaman said that the River God should take a wife. The three elders in the city suggested that she be married to the River God."

"Now that you have slain the evil dragon, we have heard that you desire this woman. In gratitude, we have decided to offer her to you."

"She is also a pitiful person, destined to be alone and no one dares to get close to her. Perhaps only a virtuous person can bear it."

"..."

Luo Zheng stared blankly at Li Si in the room.

It wasn't that I was attracted by her beauty.

It wasn't because I was scared by any solitary fate.

But the woman in front of him, Li Si, was not unfamiliar to him; in fact, he could say he was quite familiar with her.

They know it so well that they remember every single hair.

Because this woman is also his wife!

In the course of fate, after King Zheng of Liang assumed power, the people of Ba and Shu offered him Li Si, the most beautiful woman in Ba and Shu, in order to please him.

Heaven knows why Li Si appeared here and became a sacrifice for the River God's wedding.

Moreover, Luo Zhengcai discovered something.

"Baoshui...Li Si...Bao...Bao Si?"

not good!

I've become King You!