In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

The last day of March.

Yuan Tong and Yang Zhuo, after being delayed for so many days, have finally returned completely.

The spoils they were escorting filled more than fifty carriages, half of which were spoils from the Black Peak Ridge and the other half were the proceeds from the confiscation of the Luo family's property.

There are more than 8,000 jin of grain and more than 200 head of livestock such as sheep and chickens in Heifenggang.

The main attraction was the gold, silver, jewelry, and various goods looted from Black Peak Ridge over the years, estimated to be worth thousands of strings of cash.

According to the investigation, there are also large tracts of farmland behind Heifenggang Mountain, which were cultivated by the bandits themselves, totaling several hundred acres. Li Yuanchang has now taken them all.

Li Yuanchang was also very generous, directly allocating these hundreds of acres of land as official land to the officials of Wei County, headed by Yang Zhuo.

In addition, another 100 strings of cash will be allocated for the renovation and reorganization of the county government office in Wei County.

This impoverished county town took off all at once, which was also Li Yuanchang's support and compensation for Yang Zhuo.

As for the loot from the Luo family's house, it was even more outrageous, equivalent to three Black Peak Gangs, but Li Yuanchang did not take any of it, but instead reported it all to Chang'an.

The Luo family and Heifenggang are different in nature.

Black Peak Ridge is considered spoils of war, while the confiscation of the Luo family's property is a legal act, and there might be some risks involved in taking it.

The Luo family already had connections with the Censorate, so they couldn't be touched.

Li Yuanchang is no longer short of money thanks to his distilled spirits business, so there's no need for him to risk it for such a small profit.

April 3rd.

The assessment of the merit officer was held as scheduled.

But as Li Yuanchang had predicted, because the salaries and rewards were too meager, the officials who came out were mostly minor officials from remote, insignificant places, so few people participated, and basically no nobles or their sons even gave it a second glance.

Furthermore, Li Yuanchang's pickiness ultimately led to the failure of the recruitment process, foreshadowing the next formal recruitment.

April 6th.

Spring has arrived, all things are reviving, and sowing is in full swing in the fields of Liangzhou.

Li Yuanchang ordered that new seeds be provided to tenant farmers throughout Liangzhou at zero interest, and mobilized officials across the region to take the lead in reclaiming wasteland.

To this end, he even spent 500 strings of cash of his own money to set up a reward in Liangzhou, where whoever reclaimed the most wasteland could receive a reward proportionally.

This was unprecedented in the history of the Tang Dynasty.

The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the state!

Those who came to reclaim the wasteland were as numerous as carp crossing a river.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, good news! Many places have responded, and now the barren mountains outside the city are full of people reclaiming wasteland on their own."

"Everyone in the village is saying that His Highness the Prince of Han was sent by the Emperor to save Liangzhou!" Fang Weng ran into the backyard with a smile, his face rosy.

Li Yuanchang smiled and said, "That's good."

"Your Highness, wouldn't that mean we'll have a bountiful harvest in the summer?" Situ Lan asked hopefully, her hands busy dressing Li Yuanchang.

Li Yuanchang spread his arms, both amused and exasperated: "It's not that easy!"

"It was just clearing land, cutting through thorns and brambles, plowing wetlands, and carrying water up the mountain."

Whether there will be a good harvest depends on the weather, rain, soil, climate, insects, etc. Even farm tools are scarce in Liangzhou, with less than one tool for every ten people.

"There are still many problems."

Upon hearing this, Situ Lan and Fang Weng, along with their close associates, felt their joy diminish by half.

"What should we do?"

Li Yuanchang optimistically said, "Just do it, and when problems arise, solve them. If you mess things up badly, then fix them little by little."

Hearing such a novel idea, which was completely contrary to traditional thinking, Situ Lan, a young lady from a scholarly family, was stunned.

Then, she revealed a gentle smile: "Your Highness, we will definitely succeed!"

Li Yuanchang grinned and reached out to pinch his buttocks.

Situ Lan's cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes darted around nervously, and she gave him a reproachful look.

"Alright, I'm going to Liangzhou Prefecture now."

"Yes, Your Highness, please come back soon." Situ Lan subconsciously touched her belly. She was two months pregnant, and although her belly wasn't very noticeable, there was already a maternal glow in her eyes and brows.

After leaving the Prince of Han's residence, Li Yuanchang was preparing to go to Liangzhou Prefecture to handle official business.

But the carriage had barely set off when a commotion suddenly erupted in the street. Soldiers charged wildly on horseback, shouting repeatedly, "Make way! Make way!!"

The people were terrified and fled in all directions.

Li Yuanchang lifted the curtain, his brows furrowing slightly. He assumed it was an official chasing horses in the bustling city and intended to punish him, but suddenly, his gaze sharpened!

The carriage was badly damaged, and the people escorting it were covered in blood.

"They're from the Prince of Han's mansion!" Guo Chao exclaimed in surprise.

Li Yuanchang sensed something was wrong; this wasn't a horse chase in the bustling marketplace, but rather something seemed amiss.

He immediately jumped off the carriage and went out onto the street.

"Whoa!!"

The man stopped abruptly, and upon seeing it was Li Yuanchang, immediately knelt and bowed, pleading, "Your Highness, save me!"

"Lord Wang was assassinated while traveling."

boom!

The entire entourage of the Prince of Han was shocked, thinking they had misheard.

Li Yuanchang's expression changed, and he rushed forward, pulling open the curtain with a whoosh.

Inside the wrecked carriage, Wang Hongzhi was pale, his chest stained with blood, and a dagger was stuck in his chest.

"What's going on?" Li Yuanchang asked angrily.

Wang Hongzhi was not only his trusted right-hand man, but also his earliest friend who had followed him for a long time.

The guard knelt down and wailed, "Your Highness, we were accompanying Lord Wang on official business, concerning the relief of spring seeds. However, when the carriage reached a teahouse in the countryside, we encountered a beggar. Lord Wang took pity on him and gave him some money."

"But who knew that the beggar would suddenly attack, pulling out a dagger and stabbing us. We didn't have time to react, and that's how Lord Wang died!"

Li Yuanchang was furious.

He cursed under his breath!

"What are you all standing there for? Quickly carry him back to the government office and summon all the best doctors in the city!"

"I want him to live, not die!"

The angry shouts echoed through the long street.

"yes!!"

The carriage sped along, with guards clearing the way, and the person was sent back to the government office as quickly as possible.

Immediately afterwards, the heads of all the major medical clinics in Liangzhou City were taken away by the Prince of Han's Mansion and urgently transported to Liangzhou Prefecture.

From the main gate of the government office all the way to a certain side room, there were dripping drops of fresh blood all along the way, a shocking sight.

Li Yuanchang issued a death order to save Wang Hongzhi.

A total of thirteen elderly doctors over sixty years old, as well as military doctors from the Han Prince's inner court who were familiar with knife wounds, all came.

This is practically the highest level of medical care in the entire Liangzhou.

Watching the busy figures inside, with blood and hot water constantly being replaced, Li Yuanchang stood outside, his steps filled with extreme anxiety!

When we met again, I never expected it to be like this.

Wang Hongzhi was loyal and virtuous, and his abilities were outstanding. To him, Wang Hongzhi was like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui to Li Shimin.