He changed Tiwat

"You still won't give up?"

“Lord Ningguang, even birds will chirp when their nests are destroyed. Mingyun Town is the workers’ nest, and I don’t want to see it sink to the bottom of the water. Guili Plain is the nest I planned to build, and I don’t want to see it submerged either. So I can’t let go of either one.”

"I don't know whether to call you kind-hearted or stupid," Ningguang shook her head.

"What if the flood diversion area is Yaoguangtan?" Han Fulai asked.

“You know, as long as it’s not Liyue Harbor, it’s all the same to me,” Ningguang answered without hesitation.

Han Fulai nodded. "Yes, for the greater good, Lady Ningguang never hesitates to sacrifice... the Jade Pavilion, and Yaoguang Beach too. I just can't learn your ruthlessness. But you used to be someone who was willing to sacrifice the Jade Pavilion for Liyue. Is 'Heavenly Authority Supreme' really that important?"

Ningguang didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "So you just told Yanbo that only a joint order from me and Keqing could detonate the dike in Mingyun Town, was it because you couldn't bear to? You were afraid that I would detonate the dike prematurely and make the flood diversion a fait accompli?"

Han Fulai tacitly agreed.

Ningguang paused for a moment before speaking, "Yanbo is also from Mingyun Town, but he's willing to carry out this order. In fact, the people of Mingyun Town know that if left unattended, Mingyun Town will gradually disappear in a few years. At this time, as part of the flood diversion relocation, the Liyue government is actually providing subsidies. You're not from Mingyun Town, you're not even from Liyue, yet I feel that you care about these things more than they do... Why is that?"

Han Fulai smiled, bent down, and rolled up the cuffs of his gray overalls.

He had just come down from the embankment and had only put on his shoes; he hadn't had time to wash off the grime, and his calves were still covered in yellow mud.

Ningguang watched his actions with a puzzled look.

Han Fulai patted the mud off his legs and said, "Although I have now passed the civil service exam and become Yue Haiting's secretary, look at my legs... I have never forgotten that I am a peasant. A peasant cannot bear to see another peasant suffer; this is called sympathizing with one's own kind. So I will try my best to find a truly 'win-win' solution."

Ningguang shook her head again. "Ha, even if the 'successor of the Emperor' claims to be a peasant, it would take some people to believe him."

"Many people don't believe that Lady Ningguang used to be a fishing girl from Yaoguang Beach, but I do. I think you've never forgotten your past. Your grilled fish is delicious, really." Han Fulai straightened up, cupped his hands to Ningguang, and said, "Lady Ningguang, before the flood peak arrives, I need to check on Lady Keqing's condition, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

“…Wait a minute.” Ningguang called out to him.

Han Fulai turned around with some surprise: "Does Lady Ningguang intend to come with me?"

Ningguang's expression instantly turned serious.

"Xiao Han, this is your last chance. You need to make your choice as soon as possible."

Two months after their date by Luhua Pond, Ningguang called him "Xiao Han" again.

Han Fulai raised his right hand to Ningguang, the hand bearing the Three-Leaf Knot Contract mark, "I have no choice... and I don't want to choose."

He finally left to find Ke Qing.

Ningguang was left alone.

Watching Han Fulai's departing figure, Ningguang silently lowered her head.

Han Fulai might actually have a way to hold the Guiliyuan dike without activating the Mingyun Town flood diversion area, and Ningguang also knew that he might actually be able to achieve the so-called "best of both worlds".

Oser was like that back then, and so was Bazhe.

But Ningguang really doesn't want him to be able to do it this time.

"I told you this is your last chance, your chance to avoid dying."

"You had a choice... you just didn't choose me."

Chapter 377 The Unpopular Thousand Rock Army [4k]

A long dragon of firelight illuminated the night sky over Mingyun Town.

Within just two hours, everyone in Mingyun Town had gathered in this team.

Liyue has no internet, no cell phones, and no TV or radio stations, so it's very difficult to gather every single resident of the town in one night.

But Yanbo did it.

The resident data of Mingyun Town that Yanbo and his team received was accurate down to the household level, clearly stating which family lived where and how many people lived in each household.

"Lady Ningguang knows everything."

—This is a common warning given to outsiders by the people of Liyue.

Merchants looking to exploit loopholes, a shrewd merchant hoarding goods, contraband carried by returning ships… Tianquan is aware of all these overt and covert pieces of information. It is said that a scholar from the Sumeru school, studying in Liyue, inadvertently obtained problematic accounts from a Nightstone transaction at Blackrock Depths ten years prior. That very night, Ningguang's attendant knocked on his window, inviting him to a meeting at the Jade Pavilion.

For Ningguang, obtaining population data for Mingyun Town would probably be a piece of cake.

But Yanbo's experience was far deeper than the rumors suggested.

Ningguang's information not only included the basic details, but also provided plans for relocation and resettlement, such as who were disabled and needed to be pushed by a cart, and who had relatives in Qingce Village or Liyue Harbor to seek refuge with. All these things were detailed in the information Ningguang provided.

Although Mingyun Town was abandoned, it still had a few acres of barren land with crops waiting to be harvested. Moreover, most of the elderly people were attached to their homeland and did not want to leave. However, Qianyan Army's meticulous relocation plan reassured them considerably—compared to the chaotic and trampled escape, this organized and disciplined relocation was clearly more likely to gain the cooperation of the residents.

Without the detailed information and comprehensive plan provided by Lady Ningguang, Yanbo knew that it would have been absolutely impossible to complete the task of gathering the townspeople in such a short time.

Although Ningguang may only say a few words when giving orders, she has been planning for a long time behind those words.

Such a detailed relocation plan could not possibly be completed in just a few hours while Keqing was ill. Even if the investigation and planning had started in early May, it would still be too much of a stretch.

Yanbo guessed that Lady Ningguang had been preparing for this for at least two months.

—Because his unit had actually been assigned by Ningguang two months earlier to receive training in installing and dismantling explosives.

If he knew that the high explosives produced by the Black Rock Factory, which were used to blow up the dam, had been buried at the bottom of the Qingxupu Ruins, and that Ningguang had already planned to repurpose these explosives, perhaps Yanbo's awe of Ningguang would have been even deeper.

—Using Mingyun Town as a flood reservoir was actually already part of Ningguang's planning blueprint.

If it's not in May, then it's either in July; if it's not this year, then it's next year.

Han Fulai was not the only one who saw the benefits of transforming Guili Plain. In Ningguang's eyes, it was the "Guili Collection" that had once been covered with lily-colored flowers.

Under the guidance of the soldiers of Qianyan Army, several hundred households began their relocation in an orderly manner.

Apart from essential clothing and dry food, all other belongings and supplies should be abandoned, and subsidies will be distributed by relevant personnel upon arrival at the resettlement location.

Before leaving, each household must open all doors and windows to allow the floodwaters to pass through.

Some residents used canes, some rode donkeys, and some pushed small carts, carrying their belongings. The able-bodied men in the families helped the elderly and children, and spontaneously assisted the lonely and widowed neighbors next door. Those who were unable to walk were carried by the soldiers of the Qianyan Army.

The migrating dragon soon arrived at the banks of the Bishui River.

Once you cross the bridge, you'll reach Guili Plains, and Liyue Harbor won't be far away.

As planned, the soldiers of the Qianyan Army paired up to help the original inhabitants of Guili cross the bridge.

Within half an hour, more than half of the residents had crossed the bridge.

Yanbo nodded to himself as he watched the long line slowly shrink in front of him, thinking that he wouldn't need to wait until tomorrow morning; at the latest, he would be able to complete the resettlement of the residents by midnight tonight.

Just then, a sharp shout suddenly came from the other end of the crowd: "Get out of the way!"

There were occasional banging and clanging sounds, as if someone had started fighting.

That direction... is it the riverbank?

Yanbo was startled.

High explosives from the Black Rock Factory have been planted along the riverbank; these are powerful explosives capable of blasting through hard rock in mines. Residents who haven't crossed the river yet are gathered not far from the embankment, and if the explosives detonate accidentally, it could easily cause casualties.

He then remembered Ningguang telling him, "If any residents go missing or are injured, I will hold you accountable," and Han Fulai's words, "When planting explosives, ensure safety and be cautious in guarding. Do not give anyone a chance to take advantage of the situation."

—Is there really anyone trying to exploit this loophole?

Could it be the Fools? Damn it.

Yanbo quickly pushed aside the crowd blocking his way and ran towards the source of the sound.

Zhenhai, fully armed and holding a white-tasseled spear, stood on the edge of the riverbank in Mingyun Town, his chest held high, occasionally touching the "smoke" in his arms.

Although it was actually just a firework tube, leftovers from the Lantern Festival fireworks display, which was later transformed into a smoke generator by craftsmen, the name "Wolf Smoke" always gave people a very high-class feeling and made them feel a great sense of mission.

In fact, Zhenhai does indeed bear a significant mission.

This was the first time he had carried out such an important mission since enlisting, and it would be a lie to say he wasn't excited.

His task was to stand guard on the river embankment in Mingyun Town before the explosion, and not allow any unauthorized personnel to approach.

The "smoke" he carried was actually a warning device.

Now, every twenty meters along this several-hundred-meter-long dike, a Thousand Rock Army soldier stands guard, surrounding the dike like an iron barrel, determined not to let anyone enter the detonation zone. Once the order to detonate the dike is given, they will all ignite and release the smoke generators they carry. These smoke generators will create a deafening roar, and the smoke column will linger for a long time. People who see or hear this will flee, preventing nearby civilians from accidentally entering the area.

After the fireworks are over, they will leave, and then the river embankment in Mingyun Town will be detonated.

If this were in modern times, what Zhenhai was doing would be called "firing a warning shot".

If the mission is carried out well, Zhenhai will indeed be commended.

"With military merit, I can brag to my cousin Baixiao later." Zhenhai felt a surge of pride just thinking about it.

Zhenhai is Ningguang's personal guard, and he usually stands guard on the prestigious Qunyu Pavilion.

He had only been with the Thousand Rocks Army for a little over two months, making him a typical greenhorn recruit. He shouldn't have been qualified to work at the Jade Pavilion. Soldiers in the Seven Star Guards were generally elites, and those responsible for guarding the Jade Pavilion were the best of the best, receiving far better treatment than ordinary soldiers. Zhenhai was certainly not qualified.

I was able to be assigned to the Qunyu Pavilion thanks to my cousin Bai Xiao from Zhenhai's persistent pleading with Lord Ningguang.

He wasn't cut out for studying, but luckily he was strong and made a living doing odd jobs. However, this young man in his early twenties didn't have a good job, so naturally, he wasn't well-regarded when looking for a wife. Zhenhai's parents then asked Baixiao to find him a way out.

It just so happened that Zhenhai had accompanied the construction team during the renovation of Qunyu Pavilion, and Baixiao took this opportunity to recommend him to Ningguang.

Considering that he was Bai Xiao's cousin and related by blood, and that Bai Xiao had always been loyal, Ning Guang approved the assignment.

Zhenhai knew that this job was hard-won, so he cherished it and always wanted to make contributions to repay his cousin Baixiao, and also let Lady Ningguang know that he had not made a mistake in hiring her.

Unfortunately, Ningguang's personal guard... is really idle.

Although called personal guards, their work is more like clerical duties. They generally follow the orders of Lady Ningguang—mainly her secretary—and run errands or deliver messages. Their daily duties are guarding the gate of Qunyu Pavilion; they are more like gatekeepers than a "personal guard."

In reality, being a gatekeeper was no different from having a sinecure. Qunyu Pavilion wasn't an ordinary mansion built on the ground; those who could come up were all distinguished guests invited by Lord Ningguang. It wasn't their place to question them. They stood outside mainly to serve as a ceremonial guard, just for show.

That Lord Ningguang usually doesn't take them with him when he goes out, unless it's for some secret mission like moving the "Immortal Ancestor's Manifestation" to the "Golden House," in which case they might be used.

Zhenhai actually envied this kind of experience of carrying out secret missions. He joined the army late and never got to participate in any major events. He could only spend his days idly in the Jade Pavilion, enjoying the scenery or stealing glances at Ningguang. When the senior members of the team gathered to brag, he could only stand by with starry eyes, acting like a sycophant, dreaming of making a great contribution.

Today, Ningguang dispatched him to Mingyun Town to guard the river embankment alongside Squadron Leader Yanbo, which is a great achievement for him.

Zhenhai was on high alert, determined to ensure that nothing went wrong.

So when the old man from the relocation team approached with his cane, Zhenhai immediately blocked him with his spear.

Actually, he was quite polite in his words: "Old man, please don't go any further. There are explosives planted on the riverbank here. It's very dangerous. You shouldn't go near it. You should leave quickly."

Zhenhai felt that what he said was really correct.

But the old man seemed not to understand him and suddenly swung his cane and hit him in the face.

Zhenhai quickly raised his gun.

The old man, seeing him blocking his way, was furious and roared "Get out of the way!" as he tried to force his way in.

I really don't know where this temper comes from; it's so inexplicable.

The old man looked to be over seventy years old. He was hunched over and could barely walk steadily. When Zhenhai hit him with his cane, he realized that the old man didn't actually have much strength. Zhenhai thought that the old man was senile.

But that's the real problem. Let him hit him? What kind of image would it be for a dignified Ningguang Guard to be beaten up by an old man? Counterattack? If he landed a punch, wouldn't that old man be treated to a lavish banquet at the Hall of Rebirth right there and then?

Zhenhai had no choice but to hold the person in his arms while calling for help from his colleagues.

Some of the surrounding crowd gathered around, some to watch the commotion, some to try to break up the fight, and some to shout "Qianyan Army is beating people!" to help. This brought in even more soldiers to stop them, and before they knew it, the scene had turned into Zhenhai holding the old man, with soldiers holding guns forming a defensive line and confronting the residents of Mingyun Town.

When Yanbo arrived, this chaotic scene was what he saw.

Although the cause of the incident is unknown, it appears to be a conflict between townspeople and soldiers guarding the dike.

His prior arrangements were quite meticulous. The personal guards transferred from Ningguang's side were responsible for the outer perimeter security, while the detonation points for the explosives were closely guarded by veterans from his squadron, forming the inner perimeter.

The Chiyan Army's company structure is similar to that of the Fools' corps, with a company size ranging from one hundred to two hundred men, depending on the mission requirements. The company that Hikobo brought, together with Ningguang's personal guard, totaled two hundred men, half of whom were assigned to guard the dike here.

While the outer circle was in turmoil, the inner circle remained unharmed.

Seeing that the explosives were safe, Yanbo was temporarily relieved.

He quickly observed the situation and soon discovered the core of the conflict. He immediately stepped forward and stood between the two, grabbing the old man with one hand and pushing Zhenhai away with the other, forcibly separating the two.

"What's going on?" Yanbo glared angrily at Zhenhai.

Zhenhai replied, sounding aggrieved, "Reporting to the captain, this old man... he insisted on breaking through the cordon, so I had to stop him."

"Then you should also try to persuade him properly. What kind of behavior is it to start fighting? Shut up and stand at attention." Yanbo didn't give Zhenhai a chance to refute and turned to comfort the old man in front of him.

If anything goes wrong with the relocation of residents, he will be the first to take responsibility.

“Old man, please tell me what’s wrong. My name is Yanbo, and I’m the company commander of this Qianyan Army…” Yanbo stopped halfway through his sentence.

In the dim light of the night, it was difficult to see clearly, but now, by the firelight on the embankment, Yanbo finally made out the old man's face: "...Uncle?"

The old man snorted.