This villain has become a ghost

Wancheng and Yizhou are adjacent to each other, but in terms of military strength alone, they are like a stream versus a river, an egg versus a stone, and a rabbit versus a wolf.

Right now, there are countless pairs of eyes eyeing the piece of meat of Wancheng, but due to the strength of their competitors, no one is willing to act rashly, for fear that the mantis will stalk the cicada and the oriole will be waiting behind.

It's so scary.

Zhao Zhiming paced anxiously in the study, but there was no military intelligence report from outside.

Zhao Zhiming's wife is a calm woman. Although she is pregnant, she looks much calmer than her husband.

She advised, "...Master, please don't be impatient. There are so many rebellions along the way. Even if our forces are far less numerous than the expeditionary force led by His Majesty and General Kui Shao, it will still take some time."

"Alas, I know, I know..." Zhao Zhiming walked to the couch where they were resting, held his wife's hand tightly, and sighed, "...But Liangzhou has already fallen. I'm afraid Yizhou will suddenly attack, and we won't be able to hold out until His Majesty arrives."

"No," Madam Zhao shook his hand, her words gentle but powerful. "Although our military strength in Wancheng is weak, the people will not necessarily surrender."

Zhao Zhiming shook his head lightly and sighed:

"...That's what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid all our soldiers will die, and innocent civilians will take their place. I don't know how many people will die in that situation."

Zhao Zhiming's big, broad hand touched the fetus in her belly, and his eyes turned red.

"...I'm also afraid that I'm useless and can't protect you and the child, nor can I protect other people in Wancheng."

If there were no war, Wancheng would be peaceful. He has no ambitions, no excessive desires, and treats the people with peace and kindness, so he would also be a good city lord.

But when troubled times came, he became the most cowardly and incompetent city lord.

"Don't be afraid. Now that things have come to this, do your best." Madam Zhao looked at him with gentle yet firm eyes, and said softly to comfort him, "...I will always be with you."

Zhao Zhiming held her hand tightly and nodded slightly.

His wife is polite, knowledgeable, sensible, and has a kind and gentle temperament. She is the best wife in the world.

-

During the march, bandits appeared one after another, and even the government in the city ignored them. After Yizhou annexed Liangzhou, the four cities also seemed to be imitating each other, and some of them had close ties with Yizhou.

The army has passed through three cities, put down the rebellion, and has now arrived in Qicheng.

At night, the troops that had cleared out the bandits along the way stayed where they were.

The fire crackled.

Lin Yuan sat by the fire, his face reflected in the fire, looking even colder. He said:

"The bandits outside Qicheng Mountain have been wiped out. Tomorrow, the Lord of Qicheng will welcome us into the city. I will lead the troops to eliminate the scum hiding in the dark."

Nangong Mingzhu threw a piece of firewood into the fire. In the light of the fire, his profile was handsome and beautiful. He opened his lips and said:

"...I'm too lazy to play along with them. I won't enter the city tomorrow. I'll meet you outside. Once you're done, lead your army to join me."

"If necessary, use intimidation first. If that doesn't work, then eliminate the root of the problem and leave no hidden dangers."

Lin Yuan nodded and said, "I understand."

He has always been decisive and merciless in killing, which is why Nangong Mingzhu chose to lead the troops with him.

Lin Yuan took the two pancakes handed to him by the deputy general and handed the larger one to Nangong Mingzhu.

Nangong Mingzhu chuckled softly.

Over the past few days, except for being serious and having a cold face, Lin Yuan's other behaviors are very much like a loving old mother at home.

"Report——"

A soldier came hurriedly and saluted:

"Your Majesty, a carrier pigeon has arrived. It's a letter from Guard Feng to you, Your Majesty!"

A glimmer of light flashed imperceptibly in Nangong Mingzhu's dark eyes.

He pressed down the corners of his lips that were about to turn up, picked up the bread he had taken a few bites of, wiped his fingertips, and then took the letter.

Lin Yuan hesitated to speak.

...If you don't know, you might think that their respected Emperor is so eager to take over some grand plan of ruling the world.

Nangong Mingzhu might not even realize it himself, but he had a strange anticipation for the letter from Feng Ning.

So Lin Yuan was very curious. What on earth was Feng Ning doing? What news could make Nangong Mingzhu so concerned?

The handsome emperor unfolded the letter in the light of the fire. The letter was divided into several pages, and the ink marks on each page were different, which meant they were probably written at different times.

Your Majesty:

After going through untold hardships, I finally arrived in Wuzhou and have given Lord Yue the things you entrusted to me.

As for Mr. Yue’s recent schedule, it may be a bit complicated.

When I first met her, she was living in a bandit den and was very close to a bandit leader named Pei Duo. That scene almost made me doubt whether she had really become a bandit.

However, the facts proved that her behavior was absolutely incomprehensible to ordinary people like her subordinates.

Later, she used swift action to kill the governor of Quanzhou and capture the governor of Wuzhou and Murong Huai alive. She, Chang Geng, General Qi Sha, and the Princess Royal Highness all marched to Wuzhou. Consort Xian remained in Quanzhou with the bandit leader Pei Duo...

The subordinates ran all the way and followed them stealthily to Wuzhou.

During this period, he was discovered three times by Lord Yue, once by General Qi Sha, twice by Her Royal Highness the Princess, and once by General Chang Geng...

They all said that their subordinates were sick.

Only Her Royal Highness the Princess was different. Once, she called her subordinate a pervert and beat him up.

Now, I am exhausted both physically and mentally. Lord Yue said that this is a work-related injury. I can tell Your Majesty to give me a "salary increase", which means increasing my monthly salary.

This subordinate feels that Master Yue is truly a good person.]

……

Your Majesty:

Lady Yue is really not a good person. I have been fooled by her.

She also took the opportunity to secretly read all the letters written to you by your subordinates, and tore up several of them, saying that they were "false military intelligence" and asked your subordinates to rewrite them.

...Then I forgot what was written in those letters. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me.

...]

……

Your Majesty:

I didn't expect Wuzhou to become like this.

I thought Quanzhou was a hell on earth, but it wasn’t until I came to Wuzhou that I realized that hell on earth was just like this.

People were driven mad and deranged by something called "opium," and the city was full of starving people. What you see on paper is nothing compared to what you see with your own eyes. Even the subordinates felt the fear.

The governor of Wuzhou and Murong Huai were imprisoned by Lord Yue.

Lord Yue moved into the governor's mansion, opened the granary and transported some grain to Quanzhou to alleviate the famine, and ordered the entire city to be blocked.

She has been very busy these days.

...and it's particularly miserable.

Because she and Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal had put in a lot of effort to order the destruction of all the poppy fields in the city and to plant rice instead. She also personally went to the city gate to participate in the "opium burning ceremony."