Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

The crisp sound of Old Master Liu smashing the teacup was particularly harsh in the quiet study in the early morning, just like the collapse of the dam in his heart at this moment.

Delicate shards of porcelain and expensive tea were scattered everywhere, just as his secrets were revealed and exposed to invisible but deadly scrutiny.

"That's contraband salt. Are they doing this to fight the Liu family to the death?"

His voice was hoarse, and deep fear appeared in his cloudy old eyes for the first time. He was no longer the high-handed controller, but a poor guy who found his anus on fire.

The hidden mark of "Liu" on the bottom of the bag is one of the secrets on which the family relies for its survival, and it has been inextricably linked with the government for many years.

Once completely exposed, the imperial court would strike hard and the Liu family would be wiped out in an instant.

And the Ever-Victorious Army, this group of peasants whom he had never taken seriously, actually accurately dug up his deepest roots!

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!"

Old Master Liu's roar was broken.

"Find out all the corrupt officials in the family and the government's spies! Find out where the salt is, and more importantly, find out how they knew about it!"

He paced anxiously in the study, slamming his agarwood cane on the ground.

"Also, put more pressure on Black Wind Ridge! Since they've directed their attacks at that leopard, we must completely wipe out Black Wind Ridge! Leave no one alive! Let everyone see what happens if they mess with the Liu family!"

The butler was sweating profusely, nodded in response, and hurriedly retreated.

He knows better than anyone else.

The four words "leave no one alive" mean that a bloody storm is about to sweep across Black Wind Ridge.

It may also mean that more innocent people are drawn into the Liu family's crazy vortex.

At the same time, in the camp of Changbai Mountain.

Liu Yueli placed the bag of salt stained with Liu's secret mark on the rough wooden table, and the route map outlined with charcoal moved at her fingertips.

"The news has been released, and the Liu family will definitely be shocked.

As the general expected, they first rushed towards Black Wind Ridge.

He wanted to tear the leopard to pieces like a mad dog to divert his attention and anger.

Now, our drunkards in the tavern and Widow Wang have turned the flames even more violently on themselves.”

Chang Baishan pointed his finger at the location of Wild Wolf Valley. That place had been specially marked by the secret guards.

"These dozens of bags of official salt are enough to support the Liu family. What's going on with the county governor?"

"The spies reported that the county governor summoned his staff overnight, his face livid."

A cold arc appeared at the corner of Liu Yueli's mouth.

"The people at Tongbao Pavilion heard it clearly. Their staff suggested that the prefect immediately report the suppression of Black Wind Ridge and the salt bag incident to the provincial government. They wanted to be the first to impeach the Liu family for embezzling official salt, colluding with bandits, and stirring up local strife. They intended to throw all the blame on them so that he could extricate himself."

"Okay! The dog-eat-dog fight is about to begin."

There was a gleam in Chang Baishan's eyes.

"This is exactly the opportunity we've been waiting for. The Liu family is being put on the spot, and the county governor is busy distancing himself from the matter and expressing his loyalty. The rift between the two families will only deepen, and the government's energy will be seriously constrained. And we..."

He stood up, walked to the door of the big tent, and looked at the training ground in the distance.

The shouts of killing were deafening on the field, the troops were in good order, and their advance and retreat were well-organized.

Led by the veterans, the newly recruited men wielded their weapons clumsily but seriously.

In the corner, the blacksmith furnace was burning with fire, and there were several original rural blacksmiths "discovered" by Liu Yueli.

He was sweating profusely as he forged the captured weapon fragments.

Modified into more handy spears and hoes.

This is a long-handled curved-blade weapon modified from a farm tool, which is good for chopping.

Several skillful women gathered together, using thick needles and captured cowhide and old cloth to quickly sew simple leather armor. Although their technique was rough, it was extremely efficient.

"Our foundation is becoming stronger bit by bit!"

Chang Baishan's voice was full of power, "The Liu family thought we were bandits who only knew how to plunder.

The county governor thought we were just an ordinary rebel, just trying to protect ourselves.

They are all wrong!"

He turned around suddenly, his eyes burning.

"Yueli, proceed according to the plan! Have Tongbao Pavilion and the secret guards add fuel to the fire! I want to crush the Liu family's illegal salt business until they can barely breathe! We must make it known to everyone in and outside the county that the Liu family is the true traitor! Also, notify all teams to intensify training, replenish armor and rations, and be ready to march at any time! The Liu family's blood is almost shed by us. The next step is to make them feel the sharpness of this rusty knife!"

"understand!"

Liu Yueli accepted the order solemnly.

"Rumors will spread like a plague, from the beggars in the east to the wealthy merchants in the west. Soon everyone will unknowingly learn that the Liu family's warehouses contain even more official salt, and perhaps even secret letters indicating collusion with the enemy. They may even be preparing to lure barbarians into the city to protect themselves during chaos! The panic within the Liu family and the government will completely overwhelm them.

As for our people, they are always ready to fight!"

Three days later, the sky of the county town seemed to be filled with an atmosphere of oppression and restlessness.

Since a few days ago, the atmosphere inside the Liu Mansion has been so heavy that it seems like water could be squeezed out of it.

When the news of the massacre in Black Wind Ridge came, the head of the mountain leopard was hung outside the city gate.

But this not only failed to suppress public opinion, but instead aroused greater panic and suspicion.

The Liu family's clean and efficient annihilation of Black Wind Ridge seemed more like they were just trying to silence the witnesses!

Rumors about the Liu family smuggling salt and collaborating with the enemy crept into every corner like ghosts.

It's becoming more and more convincing.

The servants in the mansion looked at their master with glint in their eyes, and the Liu family's shop in the market was deserted.

On the contrary, the price of grain has risen strangely, and rumors in the market say that the Liu family is hoarding grain and preparing to run away!

Old Master Liu seemed to have aged ten years overnight, with sunken eye sockets.

The butler hurried in again, his voice trembling.

"Old lady... Old master, this is terrible! Several granaries in the south and north of the city were just... just robbed by a group of masked men! They didn't fight or kill, they just took the food. After the robbery, they shouted... they shouted that they would exchange the Liu family's illegal salt for rice, and that the Ever-Victorious Army would share the food without killing the Liu family dogs! And a few lieutenants from the city defense battalion said during a private drink that they no longer wanted to work for the illegal salt pests..."

"puff!"

Old Master Liu was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of dark red blood on the map in front of him. His body swayed and he was about to fall down.

"Old Master!"

The housekeeper hurried forward to support him.

"It's a rebellion, everything is a rebellion..."

Old Master Liu was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with resentment and despair.

"You all thought my Liu family was going to fall? Even those lowly people dared to have disloyal ideas? You forced me...you forced me!"

He roared with all his might.

"Prepare the carriage! Go to the prefectural governor's mansion! Gather the clan soldiers! Take out all the armor and weapons from the warehouse! Guard the treasury! Then go and deliver a letter to the governor! Send it quickly! Say that the prefectural capital is in turmoil, that the unruly people are colluding with bandits and spies to plot rebellion, and that the Liu family will do whatever it takes to maintain peace in this area... Clear out the imperial court!"

He shouted out this name that was enough to kill nine generations of his clan, obviously intending to fight to the death.