My lord, spare his life!

"Are we just going to let this go?"

The group left the prefectural government office covered in cold sweat.

As they stepped through the gates of the prefectural government building and saw the street outside, a sense of relief washed over them. The pent-up frustration they had been holding in for so long could finally be released. They dared not linger, exchanged a few quick glances, and then each headed home.

They secretly gathered again at night to discuss countermeasures.

We can't let such a huge loss go unpunished.

Especially the family that bought more than four hundred horses in one go.

Even though these horses were purchased at only 10-20% of the market price, the sheer number of them was overwhelming. His family wasn't some wealthy clan with centuries of history; losing so much gold and silver at once would definitely impact their businesses and cause them cash flow problems.

If misfortune strikes again, even the monthly wages for servants, guards, and retainers might become a problem. They thought they were getting a windfall, but instead, they were being attacked from both sides. The Sun family quickly cashed out 10% of their goods, while Zhang Boyuan snatched all the goods from them.

Neither of them are good people.

If they hadn't known that Zhang Yang had forced Sun Ban to his death, they would have suspected that Zhang Yang and the Sun family had conspired to swindle them out of their money.

"Let's not go with that. Do you have a better idea?"

"But, but we can't accept that. Zhang's appetite isn't limited to this." As he spoke, the man almost burst into tears on the spot, his eyes red and his feet stamping his feet. "If we retreat one step today, we'll retreat ten steps tomorrow. If we get a night's rest, we'll wake up and see that Zhang is here again."

"In that case, shall we all work together to assassinate her?"

The person being asked the question almost choked and even burped.

No, is this guy even speaking human language?

If Zhang Boyuan were so easy to assassinate, how did Sun Zhaoruo die? They couldn't even handle Sun Zhaoruo, let alone Zhang Boyuan. They couldn't find a skilled assassin to infiltrate and kill Zhang Yang, they couldn't find a pretext to drug him at a banquet, and they certainly couldn't send someone close to him to have a spy carry out the assassination. None of that was realistic.

The man then offered another suggestion: "Or how about launching a mutiny?"

They found a pretext to take Zhang Yang out for pleasure, and took the opportunity to control the prefecture.

"Instead of thinking about these things, we should try to find out where the Sun family who took the money are. Getting the money back from them is a better chance than assassinating Zhang Boyuan." There were several factions in the mountain counties before, but now all of them have fallen into Zhang Yang's hands. How can there be a mutiny?

It's likely that no sooner had they decided to stage a coup than someone close to them secretly informed Zhang Yang, betraying them.

"Ask the Sun family for it?"

"Otherwise what? What kind of business do they do? They know Zhang's temperament perfectly well, yet they deliberately kept it from us and lured us into their trap. It's clearly premeditated. If we don't demand our money back from them, are we supposed to go after Zhang?" Compared to them, Sun seemed like an easy target.

They couldn't control Zhang Yang, let alone the fleeing Sun family.

Everyone fell silent.

Some people have kinship ties with the Sun family and have had business dealings with them for many years. If they were to demand compensation from the Sun family, wouldn't that be seen as kicking someone when they're down? It wouldn't look good on their reputation either; they still have some sense of shame. But shame is worthless in the face of profit.

Do you know which way the Sun family fled?

"They are probably plotting to leave the pass and join the Tianji sect."

Staying hidden in the mountains means they'll eventually be caught in a trap by Zhang Yang; leaving is their only chance of survival. Their search towards Hejian Pass should yield some clues. They'll only care about the lost money; they won't betray Zhang Yang, which is a final act of goodwill.

Sun Ban had secretly laid out this road while he was still alive.

"Then...the sooner the better?"

A few glances were exchanged and the group reached a consensus.

They sought redress from the Sun family, but that didn't mean the matter with Zhang Yang was over. The next day, many officials from various families, feigning illness, chose to go on strike, a silent protest. Zhang Yang was already immune to this tactic; he had it completely under his control.

Promote your own people.

Zhang Yang: "These people are really not smart."

At this time, it was even more important to diligently hold onto one's position and prevent Zhang Yang from having the opportunity to promote his own people. These people, however, thought that by striking and bringing the prefectural government to a standstill, they could cause trouble for Zhang Yang, little did they know that they were playing right into his hands. Zhang Yang had already seen this tactic before.

Xiao Sui laughed and said, "My lord is wise; what can a fool like me compare to him?"

After confiscating the warhorses from each household, Zhang Yang let everyone choose their favorite horses, including Ge Zhou. Xiao Sui, being from the Xiao clan, had seen all sorts of fine things and had no interest in this.

She preferred to be alone with Zhang Yang.

Let's not talk about serious matters, let's talk about the aesthetics of character creation.

After Xiao Sui distinguished herself, she received many human skins. Although she believed her natural beauty was unparalleled, it didn't mean she wouldn't want to try something new. Seeing different beauties in the mirror every day put her in a good mood. However, this required the Lord's intervention.

To match the different styles of human skins, Xiao Sui even used her Light Gift to tailor new clothes. Each human skin had to be perfected, and with so many requirements, Zhang Yang, who was known as the Nuwa-style face-sculpting master, had to frequently rework it, making revisions until her eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

Today, Xiao Sui is using a new character skin.

If her voice and fan hadn't remained unchanged, Ge Zhou would have arrested her on the spot as a suspicious target. When he learned that Xiao Sui was a ghost disguised as a human, Ge Zhou was dumbfounded. Changing skin looked more like changing clothes!

The emperor and his minister let their horses roam freely until they reached a hillside.

"Xiuying, do you think Sun Zhaoruo has ever seen the sunset over the horse farm?" Zhang Yang sat on his horse, gazing at the vast wilderness. A cool breeze blew, and his mind cleared for a moment. "If a horse farm can have such scenery, I wonder how enchanting it would be to have mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas all in one's hands."

Xiao Sui: "We'll see it eventually."

Only the lord dares to dream such a dream that others wouldn't dare to have.

When Zhang Yang and Ge Zhou returned from their walk, everyone else had already chosen their preferred warhorses. Ge Zhou, in particular, kept grinning foolishly, sometimes stroking a horse's mane, sometimes petting its body, her eyes gleaming with a familiar fervor. Zhang Yang asked her, "How did you choose this one?"

This horse wasn't from the best batch.

Ge Zhou: "It was tall and strong."

The best horses were indeed tempting, possessing every trait a military general would desire; however, their physiques did not meet Ge Zhou's requirements. When Ge Zhou saw this warhorse whose shoulder height was comparable to her own, she felt an instant, irrevocably drawn to it.

Xiao Sui smiled and said, "That's right. General Ge has an incomparably majestic physique, so naturally he should be worthy of such a large horse."

Other horses are just foals compared to this one.

Ge Zhou happily rode it around several times to warm up.

Returning home with a full load, this rare good mood didn't last long.

Fan You rushed over, carrying a scroll of official documents sent from Tianyue's side. Judging from the stamp color, it wasn't urgent, but Zhang Yang wasn't quite sure based on Fan You's expression.

"What is it?"

"Does my lord still remember Shen Zhi?"

"You mean Shude? Something happened to him?" Zhang Yang naturally remembered Shen Zhi. Now, thinking back, he was the first human she had ever met in this world, holding a special significance for her. "I remember he went to find his brother? Has his brother been found yet?"

As she spoke, she read it carefully. She had thought Shen Zhi had come to seek refuge with her, but she hadn't expected him to be working for the Dou Kingdom's royal family.

Zhang Yang calculated the time it would take for Shen Zhi to go to Tianyue.

She inquired, "We've wasted too much time in the mountains. How about ordering people to speed things up and try to set off within three days?"

"Three days is about right, but does Your Majesty wish to return to Tianyue via the trade routes within the Dongfan Mountains, or return via Dongxian?"

Zhang Yang asked him, "Is there a difference between the two?"

"The former is faster, while the latter can reach Dongxian."

Wang Ba verbally promised to give Dongxian to his son, and that Dongxian would follow Wang Qi wherever he went. Wang Qi also expressed his willingness to follow Zhang Yang more than once. However, these were all just words; anyone can say nice things. Unless Dongxian was actually given to Zhang Yang.

Fan Youcai was willing to believe that the father and son were not lying.

"Besides, it can also deter Tianjiang County," Fan You continued. "Shen Zhi left Tianyue and went to Tianjiang. Tianjiang County does not want to get involved in the conflict, but some things are beyond human control. I am worried that Tianjiang's stance may change, so it would be better to use military force to deter them."

simply put--

Fan You wanted to take both Dongxian and Tianjiang under his control.

Only in this way can the rear be secured.

Only then can the ruler feel at ease intervening in the messy affairs of Zhao Chai, Qin Huang, and the royal family, not only allowing him to gracefully withdraw unscathed but also giving him the opportunity to subdue all three parties. Besides these three major powers, some smaller forces in the surrounding area are also taking advantage of the chaos.

Zhang Yang pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

The mountain prefectures were newly conquered territories, and the situation was not yet fully stable. Therefore, withdrawing troops at this time required careful consideration of who would remain to guard them. Zhang Yang appointed his men to nominal positions in the prefectures, granting them the title of prefectural governor, but they would not reside in the prefectural capitals. Instead, they would remain by Zhang Yang's side to handle official duties, with the prefectural affairs managed by the chief clerk and assistant prefect. These men could choose their own trusted confidants.

Use the existing team if it's usable, replace it if it's not.

This treatment is already excellent.

In addition, Zhang Yang made other arrangements.

She looked at Zhe Meng and Lü Yuan and said, "I want to choose one of you to keep a close watch on the counties in the mountains for me, and the other to stay by my side. You can tell me your thoughts."

Lu Yuan and Zhe Meng stepped forward almost simultaneously.

"I--"

"I--"

The two spoke in unison, glaring at each other angrily.

Lu Yuanfei quickly acknowledged his own shortcomings and immediately cast his vote for Zhe Meng: "Godmother, I am not as composed as Kuangquan, nor does I have the same upright and clean reputation among the people. This important task should be undertaken by her."

Zhe Meng was so angry that he said, "Godmother, my age, qualifications and connections are not as good as Ba Feng's. If I were to take on such an important task, I'm afraid I would not be able to win people's hearts."

Lu Yuan said, "How can you not win people over? Even if these people don't care about you, they won't disregard the reputation of your godmother. You just need to stay here and suppress them in the name of your godmother..."

Can't you even handle something like this?

That's really useless.

Zhe Meng: "I—"

Her downfall was that she lacked the shamelessness of Lu Yuan.

Zhang Yang was pleased to see that the two sisters did not compete or fight, and that they were harmonious.

Little did they know, Lü Yuan and Zhe Meng both had their own agendas.

Staying behind in the mountain prefectures to oversee the newly conquered territories for his adoptive mother seems to imply he enjoys immense trust, but in reality, it's not so good. His adoptive mother is far from content with just one mountain region; this time, she's leading the troops back to prepare for a larger war, which also means there are limitless opportunities ahead. Being content with just one mountain region while being far from his adoptive mother and the center of power is a huge loss.

Therefore, the two voted for each other without hesitation.

Not only that, they also exposed their own shortcomings.

Seeing that they were about to fall into a disadvantageous position, Zhe Meng's eyes lit up with an idea: "Godmother, I think there is another candidate."

Zhang Yang: "Who is it?"

Zhe Meng said, "Chao Xiaoyu."

Chao Tan's character is reassuring, and being from the Imperial Throne City, this location allows her to monitor the movements of several important counties in the mountains. In case of any problems, she can react promptly.

Lu Yuan: "It's good, but it's still a step short."

It's not that Chao Tan lacked ability, but rather that their "relationship" was lacking.

Lu Yuan and Zhe Meng are both adopted daughters, so they're family. Although Chao Tan and Zhang Yang have a good relationship and Chao Tan contributed significantly to the battle in the mountains, the Imperial Throne City acts cautiously, and Chao Tan only truly joined the cause in the later stages. In short, Chao Tan isn't of impeccable lineage.

After thinking for a long time, Zhang Yang finally said, "Fine, I'll ask Xiaoyu. If she refuses, you two can draw lots."

Someone must be left to guard the mountains.

Chao Tan was still a little dazed when he was summoned.

Upon hearing that it was such a momentous task, she was almost dumbfounded. Her face flushed with excitement, and she suppressed her emotions, saying, "This humble general is unworthy of this task. I am afraid I will fail to live up to the trust of my lord."

Zhang Yang: "Why are you all so humble?"

She usually seems quite confident.

Chao Tan then realized that Lu Yuan and Zhe Meng had been ahead of her, but both of them had declined, insisting on staying by their lord's side. Realizing this, Chao Tan's mind raced, understanding why the two had acted this way. She cursed them inwardly for their despicable behavior.

Now, he finds himself in a predicament.

If Chao Tan refused, she could only use her own incompetence as an excuse. If she left the lord with the impression of being useless, how could she ever recover in the future? But she was unwilling to go along with Lu Yuan and the other two. In a flash, Chao Tan had an idea.

She went from kneeling on one knee to kneeling on both knees.

Lu Yuan and his companion were initially taken aback, but then they realized something.

Chao Tan had already begun his performance: "If my lord does not abandon me, I will risk my life to protect the mountains. However, there is something I find difficult to say. For the past few years, I have been confined to the capital city, and have had little contact with the counties in the mountains, let alone spread my illustrious reputation. My lord has suddenly entrusted me with such an important task, and I am worried that I will not be able to win the hearts of the people. If my lord does not abandon me, I am willing to become your godmother. In this way, with the status of mother and daughter, I can also use your prestige to deter those who dare to harm me in the shadows."

Even if Chao Tan had to admit defeat, he still wanted to get some benefits.

Now is the perfect opportunity to speak up. With a formal title, even if her adoptive mother goes on campaigns in other places, she won't forget her.

Ritsumoto: "!!!"

Zhe Meng: "!!!"

The two men glared angrily at Chao Tan.

He cursed the scoundrel inwardly for taking advantage of his vulnerability!

Zhang Yang was caught off guard by Chao Tan's move; she never imagined she'd become a mother of three at such a young age. However, thinking of the elderly woman in the survivor base who had adopted hundreds of millions of grandchildren, and considering the world's custom of readily adopting parents or children, Zhang Yang felt she should follow suit. Her children just wanted a mother, to relive maternal love; they didn't want the stars and the moon.

Looking into Chao Tan's bright eyes, Zhang Yang assumed it was a sign of filial piety and said earnestly, "Good child, get up."

Lu Yuan and Zhe Meng exchanged a glance.

That's what you call letting a wolf into the house!

? ?(σ???)σ..:*☆

Waaah, I'll never brag again.