"Report—!!"

"A great victory—!!"

The scouts sent back by Huan Yi had just entered the gates of Xianyang when they started shouting at the top of their lungs. Their loud, booming voice carried far and wide.

Countless people gathered on both sides of the street to watch, and the gloom on their faces brought by the disaster was somewhat dispelled.

"May I ask, sir, what great victory has been achieved?" an old man in the crowd asked, bowing respectfully.

Seeing that they looked pale and disheveled, the scouts knew they had suffered greatly from the disaster. They decided it would be better to tell them the good news and cheer them up.

"Old man, General Huan Yi has led his troops to destroy Kucha. Our Qin state will open a trade market in the Western Regions to earn a steady stream of money from the barbarians!"

The scout's actions were a risky move, potentially costing him his head. If taken seriously, not only would he face military law, but his family members might also be enslaved.

This matter was not exactly a secret, but before the royal decree was issued, it would have been a breach of etiquette for it to be spread.

"Really?!"

The eyes of the onlookers gleamed with anticipation. Since Ying Zheng took power, they had personally witnessed the changes in Qin and had no doubts whatsoever.

"Yes, Your Majesty and Grand Commandant are of one mind, and with their combined talents and strategies, our Qin state will surely become the strongest nation in the world in the future!" The scout's voice was full of pride and confidence.

"What about the army of Kucha? Did they not resist?" someone else asked curiously.

"Kucha is nothing but a small, barbarian land, but before General Huan Yi's wisdom and the bravery of my Qin warriors, they are as vulnerable as weeds," the scout replied decisively.

"General Huan Yi is truly a pillar of our Qin state!" A chorus of praise erupted from the crowd.

"Yes, with General Huan Yi here, our Qin borders will surely be impregnable!" the old man echoed excitedly.

As the news spread, the entire city of Xianyang was immersed in jubilation. People seemed to already envision a prosperous future for Qin in trade with the Western Regions, and how their lives would improve as a result.

The scout saw a glimmer of life emerging from the once-silent city, and a happy smile bloomed on his face. He was about to turn and leave when he saw the wicked husband in the crowd, who had just finished his inspection and was about to enter the palace.

"Greetings, Grand Commandant!"

The scout's heart skipped a beat, and he looked somewhat flustered. He quickly bowed and greeted the scout.

The wicked man nodded slightly, signaling the scout to stand up. Then, his gaze swept over the excited crowd around him. He knew all too well the importance of this news to the people's hearts.

"Grand Commandant, I... I beg you to punish me, but seeing the people in the city so depressed, I wanted to..." The scout stammered nervously.

The wicked man raised his hand and laughed, "General Huan Yi has truly lived up to everyone's expectations. This battle is a great victory, showcasing the might of our Great Qin and intimidating all sides." His voice was steady and powerful, and his words elicited an even louder cheer from the crowd.

"Grand Commandant, is our Qin state really going to establish that market and make money off foreigners?" someone in the crowd asked boldly.

The wicked man smiled slightly and nodded in agreement: "Of course, otherwise why would we go to such great lengths to destroy Kucha? It's all to make money so that our people can have money in their pockets and live a good life."

"Natural disasters are a pain that our Qin state does not want to experience. This is something that cannot be determined by human power, so we can only face it head-on."

"but!"

The wicked man raised his voice suddenly, his gaze sweeping firmly over every expectant face, "We, the people of Qin, will never be subdued by natural disasters!"

"The mighty Qin people, united in the face of national crisis, have never feared any challenge! After the natural disaster, we will surely rebuild our homeland and make the Qin Kingdom even more prosperous and powerful!"

The wicked husband's words were like a warm current, warming the hearts of everyone present. His words revealed an unwavering confidence in the future.

The people were encouraged by these words, and the flame of hope was rekindled in their eyes.

"Grand Commandant, we believe in you and the King, we believe in the Qin Kingdom!" someone shouted from the crowd, and others echoed in unison, their voices rising and falling, resounding through the sky.

The wicked man smiled and nodded. He knew that these words could not only inspire the people, but also unite their hearts and minds, and slightly alleviate the suffering brought to them by the disaster.

"Gentlemen, since today is a day of great victory, I, the Grand Commandant, hereby announce something!"

As soon as the wicked husband finished speaking, the crowd fell silent, and everyone's eyes turned to him, filled with anticipation.

"From this day forward, the imperial court will provide seeds and farming tools to all farmland damaged by natural disasters to help everyone resume cultivation as soon as possible. In addition, the imperial court will provide subsidies to families whose houses have been destroyed to alleviate their burden." The wicked man's voice echoed among the crowd, every word filled with strength and warmth.

"Grand Commandant, you are truly our savior!" someone in the crowd shouted excitedly.

"Not only that, the court will also reduce this year's taxes, giving the people more time and resources to rebuild their homes," the wicked man continued to announce, his gaze unwavering, as if telling everyone that the future of Qin was bright and that the difficulties were only temporary.

"Thank you, Grand Commandant! Thank you, Your Majesty!" The people knelt down, their gratitude overflowing.

The wicked man smiled and said in a deep voice, "How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes. The State of Qin will not abandon any of its citizens. This is the foundation of the State of Qin."

With the announcement of the wicked husband, the atmosphere in Xianyang became even more heated. People began to discuss how to take advantage of the imperial court's assistance.

At this moment, everyone's heart is filled with hope and strength. With such a ruler and minister governing the country, what do they have to fear?

In the past, our ancestors, dressed in rags and wielding wooden sticks, dared to fight against the Quanrong, just to gain a foothold in this small area. Now, it is nothing more than a mere natural disaster.

What does this even mean?

The wicked man did not linger there any longer and turned to walk into the palace. Although his decision would not anger Ying Zheng, he still had to appease him.

Exempting people from taxes and providing assistance to help them rebuild their homes and cultivate the land would require astronomical sums of money. Even if Ying Zheng could restrain himself, Meng Can, the moneybag, would definitely not be able to sit still.

As expected.

The moment the wicked husband made his pronouncements in the city, before he even entered the palace, the news had already reached Ying Zheng's ears.

Ying Zheng, who was discussing matters with his ministers, turned green upon hearing the message from the Black Ice Guard and stood there dumbfounded.

Seeing this, the ministers were quite curious and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Has the disaster worsened?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng snapped out of his daze, gave Meng Can a wry smile, and left the latter completely bewildered.

Meng Can subconsciously looked down at his clothes, and seeing that they were neat and tidy, he raised his hand to touch his face, thinking that he had been impolite.