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

Tiger attacks in Liangzhou were not uncommon. Sometimes they would only eat one or two people and no one would know, but other times they would wipe out an entire village.

This is the ancient ecological environment!

He planned to deal with the landslide at Luoma Post Station and, once the caravans could pass normally, also resolve the tiger problem!

Firstly, it was to protect the territory and its people; secondly, it was to earn some extra money.

It is well known that tiger skins and bones were extremely valuable in the Tang Dynasty. If one could obtain a large quantity of such goods, their value would be so significant that even someone of Li Yuanchang's stature could not ignore them.

It would also make a good gift.

Moreover, he was now penniless. Li Shimin had confiscated all his salary, and he was supporting such a large group of guards and advisors. Before distilled liquor was successfully invented, he didn't even have the money to buy Situ Lan a decent piece of jewelry.

Time passed by day after day.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of people, Luoma Post Station is gradually being restored, and the post road is becoming cleaner at a visible rate every day.

And it was during this process that more and more bodies were unearthed!

Those missing people were almost all eventually thrown out of the ground. They did not receive warnings from the officials at Luomayi when a large-scale landslide occurred, and because they were too close, they were unable to escape.

Out of respect for the dead, Li Yuanchang gathered the bodies together and buried them.

January 18th.

Finally, the entire Luoma Post Road has been reopened to traffic!

For a time, cheers and tears of joy filled the post road.

Li Yuanchang also showed a relieved smile. Finally, it was all done. This godforsaken place made his back ache every night. The Prince's mansion was much better.

"Miss Qin." Li Yuanchang found Qin Keyu.

For such a long time, Qin Keyu did not leave, and the two were practically inseparable. Having gone through the tiger attack and the poisoning together, their relationship could be described as very close.

"You used to call me Keyu, now you call me Miss Qin. You're just throwing me away when I'm no longer useful." Qin Keyu pouted her red lips, quite dissatisfied.

"Hahaha!"

"Isn't it because there are too many people?"

"What if word gets out that we're calling each other too intimately and it ruins your reputation?"

"You!" Qin Keyu was furious, biting her red lips tightly. She was too embarrassed to say "you're already broken" out loud, but for some reason, hearing those words made her uncomfortable.

"Just kidding."

"I have important matters to discuss with you."

Qin Keyu rolled her eyes, but still listened.

"Now that the post road has been cleared, I have promised these refugees that I will find them a place to stay and a livelihood."

"The Imperial Household Department has already done a count. There are more than 300 households here, as well as more than 20 orphans. I intend to take the orphans back to the Royal Palace."

"I intend to select one person from each household to work in the distillery."

Qin Keyu nodded without hesitation: "Your Highness, this is a small matter. Leave it to me. They are quite pitiful."

Li Yuanchang nodded without saying thank you, because Qin Keyu would get angry if he did.

"Then I will leave the rest to you. I will send Guo Chao with one hundred men to escort you back to Liangzhou."

"And what about you?" Qin Keyu immediately retorted, her eyes sparkling like jewels.

"I have one more thing to do."

"What is it? Can you tell me?" Qin Keyu asked curiously.

"The tiger problem is too serious. These days, when I go out hunting, I have basically locked down the activity range of the tigers by their droppings and footprints. They should be in the Blackback Mountains east of Luomayi."

"I intend to wipe them out to prevent them from harming the people again."

Qin Keyu turned pale at the mention of tigers; she still couldn't forget the shadow of that night.

"Your Highness, that's too dangerous!"

"We have to do it even if it's dangerous, and those tiger skins and bones are incredibly valuable. If we hunt a lot of them, it can solve our immediate problem."

He had barely finished speaking when Qin Keyu interrupted, "Your Highness, I'll give you whatever money you need. Don't do something so dangerous!"

Li Yuanchang was taken aback, almost forgetting that she was also a wealthy heiress.

"It's not entirely about money; money is just a side effect."

"The tiger infestation in Liangzhou is rampant. I must eliminate it, otherwise, it will be difficult to maintain peace and stability in the long term."

Qin Keyu frowned deeply: "But..."

"Alright, no buts. This time, I am the hunter and the tigers are the prey. They can't possibly make me look as bad as they did last time."

"Go back first and help me resolve the refugees' worries."

"When we return to Liangzhou, I'll treat you to a drink," Li Yuanchang grinned, patting Qin Keyu's shoulder.

In ancient times, this gesture was considered a very intimate act, especially among unmarried women.

Qin Keyu, a person who felt offended and disgusted by even a glance from others, did not subconsciously contradict Li Yuanchang at all.

"Well... okay."

"Your Highness, you must be careful and not act recklessly. If things go wrong, have the guards escort you away, understand?" she repeatedly instructed.

Li Yuanchang grinned and teased, "You're concerned about me?"

Qin Keyu's eyes suddenly darted away: "I'm just afraid that if something happens to His Highness, Sister Situ will cry her eyes out, and the Qin family's business will be ruined."

"Oh, really? Okay." Li Yuanchang feigned disappointment.

Qin Keyu panicked slightly: "But, but I hope Your Highness is safe and sound."

Li Yuanchang immediately looked at him ambiguously again.

Qin Keyu realized she had been tricked, feigned anger, and shoved him aside before leaving.

A faint scent of Qin Keyu wafted past Li Yuanchang's nose. Gazing at her, he couldn't help but think to himself, "I wonder how fragrant and tender she must be."

One day later.

Thousands of refugees followed the Qin family's convoy, which, led by Guo Chao and his guards, sped toward Liangzhou.

Once the post road is cleared, the journey will be very fast. In addition, the closer we get to Liangzhou, the more barren the mountains become, making it unlikely that tigers will appear.

Li Yuanchang personally escorted them for twenty li before leading his men back the way they came.

The camp was extremely empty at night. With more than a thousand people suddenly gone, it was like a ghost town, with only the sounds of torches and footsteps.

The bamboo spears piled up in the open space were extremely sharp, cutting through the cold wind.

Not only bamboo spears, but also a large number of ropes, all of which were hemp ropes used by the Qin family's caravan to tie up their goods; they were sturdy and durable.

These were all prepared to eliminate the tiger threat.

Late at night, Yuan Tong and several deputy captains of the guard were summoned by Li Yuanchang and talked for more than an hour before leaving.

Early the next morning.

Fifty men remained at the camp to look after the horses.

The remaining two hundred-plus people, led by Li Yuanchang, set off from the camp and plunged into the area where tigers were most active, the Blackback Mountains!