Chapter 43: Fiefdom Struggle Update
Outside the side door of the Marquis's Mansion, several horses and five or six private guards were already waiting.
Liu Ziye and Jin Jie exited the side door, each mounted their horse, and galloped towards Xisai Lake. Spring had returned, and the scenery Liu Ziye witnessed along the way was vastly different from what he had seen the previous autumn and winter.
Horses tread on green mud.
The refreshing fragrance of green grass, leaves and flowers in the air filled Liu Ziye's nostrils and chest.
This vast West Gate, a thousand-mile-long frontier land, at this moment when spring returns to the earth, shows its vigorous vitality and endless vitality to Liu Ziye.
Thinking of the geographical and topographical maps of the thousand-mile Xiguan that the King of Xiguan left to the original owner, in Liu Ziye's eyes, beneath this map full of vitality, there are countless minerals and treasures.
The task assigned to her by the system was to rebel and become emperor.
According to the specifications of this task, the material assets she would need to achieve her goal would be a number that she could not even imagine at the moment.
Regardless of whether she can achieve the final mission goal, the natural resources contained in Xiguan County are her reliance for earning life points step by step.
That's where her hope lies.
Unfortunately, when she first showed this map to Du Hui, Jin Jie and others, Du Hui had directly pointed out -
Because she was demoted to a marquis and her fiefdom was revoked, she not only lost the right to mine the mineral resources in Xiguan County, but also lost the right to profit from it.
In other words, she could only look at the good things on the map but could not do anything.
Throughout the past winter, Du Hui had repeatedly thought about how to make good plans within the three years stipulated by His Majesty.
It was hoped that after the three-year period, the emperor would show mercy and allow the marquis Liu Ziye to obtain a portion of the fiefdom that was rightfully his.
Although he tried his best to plan and inquire about the news in Yanjing through his past connections, he also knew how small the possibility was!
Before Liu Ziye led the team out today, Du Hui had a conversation with her.
Du Hui said, "Back then, the young marquis, in order to avert Chi Mu's mansion raid, offered the court the large salt lake in Xiguan County as a reward, tempting Chi Mu to temporarily let go of the Xiguan Marquisate. This large salt mine on the north bank of Xisai Lake would inevitably be in jeopardy."
"It makes no difference to us who wants to get the mine. We can just stand by and watch."
"However, the most important thing is how to protect the other mineral deposits on the map left by the prince and enter the Xiguan Palace."
Liu Ziye certainly agreed with what Du Hui said.
However, today she still set off with her group.
Xisai Lake today looked completely different from the last time Liu Ziye visited. The snow and ice had melted away, leaving only a few struggling ice floes floating on the emerald green surface.
Xisai Lake is a freshwater lake. The cod, shrimps and crabs in the lake have always been the most important source of meat for the people of Xiguan County.
But a few miles from Xisai Lake, amidst the gravel, lies a saline-alkali land stretching dozens of miles in radius. Nature, through a subtle stroke of nature, has seamlessly separated these two areas with the remnant of the Qiansong Ridge. On one side lies vibrant green grass and lake water, while on the other lies a vast expanse of yellow-brown, white earth that even spring cannot touch.
Before Fu Zhener got into trouble, the salt crystals she wanted to see were right here.
On the map left by the King of Xiguan, it is almost clearly marked that there is more than one natural salt mine in this area.
When they discovered that Wang Yanpeng was in contact with a group of private soldiers of unknown origin and had been hanging around here for several days, Liu Ziye no longer had to doubt it.
She revealed to Chi Mu that there was a large salt lake in Xiguan County. This move marked the beginning of the second round.
Liu Ziye and Jin Jie left their horses some distance away on the southern shore of Xisai Lake. They trekked north along the lakeshore, choosing a spot within the pine forest of the Qiansongling Range that separated the two lands. They gazed from afar at the vast expanse of yellow-brown salt-alkali land ahead.
In the center of the saline land, there is a lake of medium size.
The ice and snow on the salt lake have melted, revealing the emerald green water underground. The water washes over the lakeshore, leaving behind patches of dazzling white salt grains.
After all, the view in this pine forest is too far. Previously, people who came to the Marquis' Mansion to investigate usually only followed here at most, and it was inconvenient for them to go forward, so they could not clearly see what those people were doing.
Liu Ziye stood outside the pine forest, took in the distant scenery, then pulled out a cylinder from his waist and placed it in front of one eye.
Jin Jie looked at what Liu Ziye took out, which was still new and something he had never seen before.
There is an armrest on the cylinder, and at the connection between the armrest and the cylinder body is the gear and lightning symbol that he is already very familiar with.
Through this simple telescope, Liu Ziye saw from afar that there were several small tents set up in the open space outside the salt lake.
They had come all the way here at a rapid pace, hardly stopping for a moment, and it was only a few hours now. Indeed, at first glance, these people looked different, their build and movements not like those of ordinary people.
Liu Ziye recalled the Yanjing Imperial Guards led by Chi Mu, whom she had met just last year.
Comparing them with the soldiers in the distance, I felt that these people did not have the rigorous and solemn spirit of a soldier.
They are soldiers, but they don't look like regular troops.
Thinking of this, Liu Ziye smiled slightly and temporarily put down the telescope in his hand.
Turning her head, she saw Jin Jie staring at the thing in her hand. Liu Ziye handed it to him and said, "Take it and have a look."
Jin Jie saw that Liu Ziye had caught him peeking, and after a slight pause, he took the strange object that the young marquis had placed in front of his eyes and said, "Thank you, young marquis."
He followed Liu Ziye's example, closed his left eye, and placed one end of the cylinder in front of his right eyeball.
In an instant, Jin Jie realized that the silhouettes, which had been barely visible from miles away, had suddenly been pulled to within a hundred meters. Everyone was dressed as they were today, holding sieves and other tools. Meanwhile, a group of people were digging at the brine reservoir with shovels...
Even some people's hairstyles and skin can be seen clearly!
Jin Jie couldn't help but be startled. He suddenly took the cylinder from his hand, lowered his head and closed his eyes.
Then, as if summoning his courage, he looked out into the distance again. The people more than a dozen miles away were still standing where they were, and all he could see were just black dots.
Jin Jie looked at the cylindrical object in his hand in disbelief, then looked at the young Marquis of Xiguan who was watching him with a teasing smile.
He couldn't help but say, "Young Marquis, this..."
It was a rare opportunity for Liu Ziye to see Jin Jie's surprise and astonishment, and when his expression was rarely rich, he said to him in a good mood, "Take another look."
The temptation was so great that Jin Jie didn't bother to ask any more questions. He raised the cylinder again and looked over.
Sure enough, the soldiers pulled in again in an instant.
There are also their tents, the white salt flats on the shore of the salt lake, and the clearly defined sand and gravel on the ground around the salt lake.
As he turned the cylinder, scenes in the distance were clearly drawn in front of him.
Jin Jie took the cylinder and carefully held it in his hand to examine it.
It looked to be made of a log, its surface polished smooth, making it easy to hold in one hand. In the center of the small cylinder, directly in front of where his eyes had been, was a translucent crystal object.
This round object was purer than any gem he had ever seen.
Pure white, without any impurities.
Jin Jie was attracted by this shiny thing and was distracted, which was rare for him.
Suddenly, my hands were empty.
He raised his head in panic, only to see that Liu Ziye, the young marquis of Xiguan, had grasped the cylinder again in one hand.
In the lush green forest in spring, the mottled sunlight casts a shadow on Liu Ziye's face, a face that makes countless people feel heartbroken.
He didn't know whether it was the sunlight that burned his eyes or something else, but he couldn't tell whether the young Marquis of Xiguan was smiling or impatient when he looked at him.
The cylinder spun delicately in the young marquis's hands, and he said to himself, "This thing is called a 'telescope,' but I'm out here today on business, so I don't have time to study it!"
After saying that, Liu Ziye raised the telescope again to observe.
From the soldiers' camps, to the various tools scattered on the ground, the white crystals on the lakeshore, and the terrain and minerals in front, behind, and around the salt lake, he looked at them all.
She pondered for a moment and put the telescope back into the cloth bag sewn by Ahuan.
Said to Jin Jie: "Let's go over and meet him."
Liu Ziye smiled slightly and said, "Since you can't stand in public, we are both equally matched, so we can have a good fight."
Around the white and emerald green lake surface, lake salt particles are being scooped out one by one with winnowing baskets, and then the snow-white sand salt is poured into the big pot for boiling brine.
In the wilderness filled with gravel and devoid of life even in spring, the group of people had no idea that their every move had been seen by others.
Suddenly, a soldier who was carrying out the salt-boiling process turned around and found that in the distance of the yellow and white land, a group of people suddenly appeared and were heading towards them with a clear goal.
"Captain! Someone is coming towards us!"
He hurried into the simple tent not far away and reported the news to their leader.
When the others heard the noise, they stopped what they were doing and quickly became alert.
The leader came out of the tent and shouted, "Be on guard!"
Everyone put down their tools, drew their weapons, and quickly formed a formation.
The team leader stood at the front of the team, looking at the few people who were walking towards them slowly.
They just stayed where they were, and the people coming from the opposite side seemed extremely calm. They walked calmly and crossed the distance of several miles between the two teams as if it were a breeze.
There were only seven or eight of them. How come they didn't show any fear when facing their team of thirty people who were obviously not easy to deal with?
When they were finally able to discern the faces of the people, they were shocked to discover that the outstanding person in the middle, who could attract everyone's attention at any time and anywhere...
It turned out to be the young marquis of Xiguan!
"Captain...why did this young Marquis of Xiguan suddenly come here?"
A soldier nearby asked in a slightly panicked tone.
The team leader also frowned and thought about the current situation after recognizing the person.
He did not answer the soldier's question because the same question was lingering in his mind.
Although this young Marquis of Xiguan has a bad character, reputation and strength, he should not have any real influence on them.
But what the team leader was worried about was the young Marquis of Xiguan’s temperament, which was never in line with common sense!
If it were someone else, he would either try to persuade him or just do it in this deserted wilderness. He was confident that he could handle it well.
But right now...
The leader's mind was racing as he thought of a countermeasure. The voice of the young Marquis of Xiguan was heard from the front: "Who are you? What are you doing in my Xiguan County Salt Lake?"
The leader's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he whispered to his men, "Pretend you don't recognize us and follow my instructions!"
Upon hearing this, the team all said in unison: "Yes!"
He took a few steps forward and turned a deaf ear to the questions asked by the young marquis of Xiguan.
Without a word, he drew his sword from his waist and said to his group of soldiers, "Flank them from the left, center, and right. Except for the young Marquis of Xiguan, leave no one alive."
In an instant, twenty long swords were drawn out, divided into three teams, and rushed towards the people in front.
Jin Ji mobilized several private soldiers from the marquis's mansion who came with him, and protected Liu Ziye in the middle. They drew their swords without fear and aimed at the people who surrounded them.
He said, "You are so brave, but do you know who is surrounding you?"
The team leader clearly didn't want to expose Liu Ziye's identity, so he said, "No matter who you are, since you've seen me do this, don't even think about leaving here alive!"
He deliberately acted as if he didn't know anyone and was ready to kill everyone, including Liu Ziye. This was completely different from his previous stern demeanor. He shouted to his men in a barbaric tone, "Kill them all! Send them to the Heaven of Eternal Life!"
Jin Jie frowned when he heard this.
In the face of the crisis, he only said one sentence: "Protect the young marquis."
Then he stepped forward with his sword and stopped the first soldier who approached.
Immediately afterwards, the clanging sound of metal colliding spread across the wilderness.
Liu Ziye was not panicked.
She knew very well that these people had been lurking in Yucheng for a long time and had secret dealings with Wang Yanpeng, the governor of Xiguan County, so it was impossible for them not to know her.
He said he would chop everyone to death, but none of the swung swords even tried to cut him, the obvious leader.
Those who know and fear their own identity and dare not really take their own lives——
They are definitely soldiers from the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is futile for them to pretend to be from the Eight Tribes of the Grassland!
She sneered, pushed aside the private guards of the Marquis' Mansion who were protecting her, and rushed towards the soldiers on the opposite side who were fighting.
The next moment...
The sword that was halfway through its swing suddenly stopped.
Although he was the one holding the sword and in a strong position, he showed a look of fear and terror in his eyes.
Upon seeing this, the private guards of the Marquis' Mansion kicked the man and knocked him to the ground covered in salt and alkali.
Liu Ziye followed suit and actively acted as the vanguard of the private guard team, specifically picking out the most difficult people to deal with.
The leader of the other team had just encountered Jin Ji, who had attacked two or three of them. Unprepared, the young Marquis of Xiguan rushed out and got sandwiched between the two of them.
Jin Jie originally didn't want Liu Ziye to take risks, so he moved aside and was about to stop him behind him.
Liu Ziye waved his hand, grabbed his arm and said, "No need, just watch."
She turned to face the leader of the opposing team, who had taken a step back, and teased, "What's the matter? You don't dare to chop me down? Don't you Hu people hate the people of the Great Zhou Emperor's family the most? I'm the youngest grandson of the Emperor! Why don't you take action?"
Jin Jie, who was easily grabbed by Liu Ziye, just looked at his young marquis's blatant provocation without even noticing it himself, and actually showed a helpless smile.
Faced with Liu Ziye's approaching pressure, the person on the opposite side retreated in embarrassment.
In this way, there is no need to do anything else, as their true identities are already clear.
The leader had no choice but to put down his sword and said to the others who were still fighting, "Stop."
Then he sheathed his sword, knelt on one knee and saluted, saying, "Commoners, greet the young Marquis of Xiguan."
The leader had already struck the head, and the others also stopped fighting, bowed and knelt, saying in succession: "This humble servant greets the young Marquis of Xiguan."
Liu Ziye looked at the people he brought with him. After all, there were not enough people, and some people had been injured in the brief confrontation just now.
She looked at the group of people kneeling on the ground and asked, "Common people? Who are you, common people, to have such audacity? Not only did you steal the salt from Xiguan County, but you also dared to kill the people around me?"
She looked at the leader, who was standing there with his head bowed and silent, and asked, "What kind of common people are you to have such great martial arts skills and such neat and uniform military discipline?"
Now, those who are so afraid of the life of a young marquis from Xiguan who is down and out, must be those who have just received a lesson from Eunuch Liu and Pan Yi.
At that time, the group of people who were most alerted by this incident were undoubtedly the eunuchs and imperial guards of Yanjing, as well as the palace soldiers of Xiguan County.
Her expression changed slightly, and she smiled knowingly and asked, "Tell me, was it my cousin the Crown Prince who asked you to come?"
The leader, still prone, clenched his palms and exclaimed, "What prince? We're just bandits in the mountains. Having lost our livelihood, we're forced to come to the border of Xiguan to make a living, which is a life-threatening one! How could we possibly have any connection with the prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Seeing that they denied it, Liu Ziye continued to question them anxiously.
He only said to Jin Jie: "Take away all their weapons and tie them up."
Jin Jie nodded and started to move with a few people. The leader looked up at him in panic: "Young Marquis! Young Marquis..."
Once they completely surrender, it doesn't matter if they are tied up and tortured by this young marquis of Xiguan, but if the news leaks out, it will be a complete disaster!
They had just tried this desperate tactic. As long as this young Marquis of Xiguan continued to use himself as a human shield and vanguard, even if they had the advantage in numbers, they would ultimately gain nothing...
With his mind racing, the leader quickly stood up and shouted, "Retreat!"
Everyone climbed up the mountain from the ground, broke free from the private guards of the Marquis' Mansion who had already approached them, and ran away at full speed.
Their tents and all the tools for washing and boiling brine were also thrown away.
A group of people ran quickly across the wilderness and disappeared into the dense forest.
After all, Liu Ziye had brought only a small number of people today. If they were determined to escape, it would be difficult to stop them. Besides, she didn't want to have too much interaction with these people.
Today's warning is enough to alert the enemy.
She chose a simple felt tent left by these people to take shelter from the wind and unfolded the map she brought today.
She also clicked on the system's reward redemption interface.
Just yesterday, with the land reclamation and spring plowing going on inside and outside Yucheng, the farming results in Xiguan County this year have been determined, and Liu Ziye once again received a wave of system points settlement notifications.
At the same time, the system also unlocks new item reward redemption items.
"Copper Prospecting Cone Design Drawing, Required Exchange Points: 100 points;
Portable magnetic prospector blueprint, required redemption points: 150 points;
Wedge-shaped stone splitter design, 200 points;
Chain hammer drill blueprint, 200 points;
Dump truck design, 200 points;
Ventilated Bamboo Tube Array Planning Manual, 300 points;
Mine Support Frame Design Manual, 500 points;
Wooden track mine track (including wind/hydraulic gear traction power unit) planning manual, 600 points;"
This time, the system unlocked two new books, namely "Encyclopedia of Mining and Metallurgy" with 100 points and "Elementary Geological Exploration" with 100 points.
The system once again clearly pointed out the next direction for her spring plowing.
Xiguan County has mines, and the mineral deposits are quite rich. What she doesn't have is the power to develop the mineral deposits reasonably and low-key.
Outside the tent, Jin Jie and the private guards of the Marquis' Mansion who came with him were almost done counting the things left behind by the group of people when Liu Ziye also lifted the curtain and walked out.
She said, "Leave half of the people here to camp and guard the place. You don't need to do anything. They will definitely return the day after tomorrow at the latest. I will bring more people when that happens."
Two days later, Liu Ziye again led more than ten people from Yucheng and came to the pine forest belt on the north bank of Xisai Lake.
However, this time Liu Ziye and his team did not stop at all, but drove their horses through the pine forest.
When they reached the northern edge of the pine forest, Jin Jie pulled the horse's reins, and the horse leaped out of the forest with a neigh.
The iron hooves landed on the ground, followed by a burst of flying sand and rocks.
Liu Ziye, who had just managed to ride his horse safely out of the pine forest, turned his head slightly to glance at her, the cool captain of his private guards.
Good job, boy.
He usually seems quiet, but you wouldn't know that he's actually a reserved and reserved person who likes to act cool sometimes!
When Jin Jie was stared at by Liu Ziye, he subconsciously tightened the reins.
Tell his mount to calm down quickly and stop showing off in front of the young marquis.
No matter how arrogant you are, the young marquis is not prepared to ride on your saddle today.
Here, more than a dozen horses appeared from the pine forest in an instant, making a huge noise.
In the distance, where several tents were located in the saline land, the attention of both sides who were in a standoff was attracted.
In the wilderness of spring, Liu Ziye was wearing a thin green shirt, and her hair was still tied in a ponytail with a jade ring, swaying in the warm wind with a strong salty smell.
As the two groups of people in front of the salt lake watched with some nervousness or excitement, Liu Ziye pulled the reins and jumped off the horse.
The private guards of the Marquis' Mansion who were left by her to guard here instantly ran over excitedly and joined together, as if their morale had been boosted by the arrival of reinforcements.
And Liu Ziye, not surprisingly, saw an old acquaintance, Wang Yanpeng, the governor of Xiguan, among the other group of people who had left and returned.
Wang Yanpeng was not surprised at the appearance of Xiguan Hou here, as he had obviously known the previous situation.
Even though he knew that he would have some disagreements with the young marquis today, he still put on a flattering smile from the bottom of his heart when facing his 'god of official luck'.
He came forward and said, "So it's the young Marquis of Xiguan. Your humble servant is very polite!"
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