Chapter 1506: Imposing Style

When He Lingchuan was investigating the case of the missing courier in Chiyan, Zhongsun Mou, who had consistently obstructed him, was also there to gain some experience under the guise of an Inspector from Lingxu City. He ended up running into a formidable obstacle.

"The battlefield has no room for personal favors, but unfortunately, Beijia can never escape this cycle. Bai Mojin's assignment to the Jintao front line was a favor, and Lu Wushuang's promotion from Xiluo Supervisor to Acting General of Beijia was also a favor."

Xin Yi asked, surprised, "Didn't you say Lu Wushuang was quite formidable?"

"Formidable she may be, but her rise was still due to Qinggong's influence. If it were anyone else, or if she held a different status, she would never have had such an opportunity."

Xin Yi sighed softly, "Even the Demon Emperor cannot employ talent without bias. Beijia is truly showing its age."

Bai Mojin suffered a loss here, and Beijia lost face here. Yet, the Demon Emperor continued to extend personal favors for a second time. Was it arrogance or helplessness?

He Lingchuan shook his head. "Everyone can only maneuver within a limited space; even someone as powerful as the Demon Emperor is no exception."

The next day, before dawn, a sparrowhawk hastily flew into He Lingchuan's window, crashing into the barrier he had set up. It chirped in pain.

He Lingchuan was meditating. Hearing the sound, he opened his eyes and picked the bird up from the ground. "What happened?" he asked, surprised by its recklessness.

The sparrowhawk flapped its wings. "War has broken out on the Northwest front!"

War, finally! Panlong City had secretly prepared for the Battle of Xianyou for two years. He Lingchuan's heart tightened. "Attacking Xianyou?"

"Yes!" The sparrowhawk had flown too fast and was panting with its mouth open. "They marched at midnight and crossed the Buqiao River within an hour!"

After acquiring the Maohe Plain, Panlong City seized the opportunity of spiritual energy resurgence, and its power rapidly expanded. It then turned the tables on Xianyou and Baling, the two nations that had previously bullied it, leaving them crying out in alarm. Xianyou had been the most vocally abusive, leading to Panlong City gradually encroaching on its territory. To this day, Xianyou's land has been reduced by half, and it has repeatedly sought aid from Beijia.

He Lingchuan clearly understood Zhong Shengguang's intention: to uproot Xianyou! Only by doing so could the security of Panlong City's northwest border be fundamentally guaranteed.

As for Baling, it had become increasingly amenable in recent years, frequently showing goodwill to Panlong City and now no longer wished to choose sides between Panlong City and Beijia.

Zhong Shengguang chose this moment to launch a full-scale attack on Xianyou due to factors within Panlong City, but the situation on Yuxing's eastern front was also a consideration.

Bai Mojin had been transferred, and the new general had not yet arrived. This created a gap of over fifty days, which was an excellent opportunity for Panlong City to launch a lightning strike on Xianyou!

As for Lu Wushuang, the Qinggong aide leading the front-line military affairs, she had no distinguished military achievements in the past, so Zhong Shengguang would not delay the operation because of her.

He Lingchuan immediately rose, washed, straightened his attire, and strode out. "Convene a military council!"

Since war had begun on the Northwest front, the Jintao front line would soon face a new round of pressure!

Lu Wushuang had finally risen to power. The Beijia army under her leadership and the Yuxing army commanded by He Lingchuan were about to embark on a new round of contention.

Over the next two days, gossip about the "Shocking Events at King Yao's Birthday Celebration" spread rapidly throughout Tianshui City, among both the court and the common people, becoming the hottest topic of the summer.

All the officials were eyewitnesses, personally witnessing the mutual struggle between King Yao and Qingyang.

First, the King appointed He Xiao, severely humiliating Qingyang. But Qingyang quickly retaliated by destroying the King's beloved old pear tree in Yuquan Palace.

A life for a life, then.

At the very center of the public opinion whirlwind, He Xiao's reputation boomed like thunder, spreading far and wide.

Now, not to mention the upper-class nobility, even casual visitors at tea houses in the city had heard of "He Xiao," his name echoing like thunder.

He was a strong fighter who had calmly killed the head of the Qing Guard in a one-on-one confrontation!

And in the Shanjing Plains, strength was most highly revered.

The methods he used were also a hot topic of conversation.

That battle was a test of both ruthlessness and wealth.

Whoever had the most powerful magical artifacts would survive. No matter how good Qinggong's artifacts were, they couldn't protect the life of the Qing Guard leader.

The topic of "contending with wealth" had always generated its own buzz. Even the displaced people in the ramshackle houses, while picking fleas from their ragged clothes, excitedly described to their companions the extravagant, dazzling, and money-infused battle at the birthday celebration!

However, some voices expressed deep concern: "By offending the Regent like this, won't Beijia truly be angered? What if..."

"It was just a guard who died, not the Reg—"

"Hush, don't speak carelessly!"

"People die every year during the imperial performances; that's just the rule."

"Will Beijia care about our country's rules? If they are displeased with us, won't we be finished?"

A single birthday celebration contest stirred up turmoil throughout the city.

From the second day of King Yao's birthday celebration, the threshold of Sanmentou Inn was almost worn down by visitors, and invitations poured in like snowflakes. It was one thing to be wealthy, powerful, and well-connected, but He Xiao also possessed such cultivation. Everyone said he deserved to be Tianshui City's rising star.

However, He Lingchuan only met a few new visitors and declined all others.

Time was precious, and he invested it all in the construction of Youhu Villa.

Bai Tan, however, did not go to see He Lingchuan again. His household steward came to ask him, "The second young master is getting married and wishes to invite He Xiao. What do you think?"

It was time to send out invitations widely.

"No need," Bai Tan said without looking up, as he was busy writing in his study. "He Xiao may not have time, and we won't join in that excitement."

"Understood." If General Bai didn't approve, the second young master would likely be disappointed. Just the day before yesterday, He Xiao had been invited to the grand banquet at the Gu family.

Bai Tan seemed to hear his thoughts, stopped writing, and told the servant by the door, "Everyone out."

In an instant, only the master and his steward remained in the study.

The old steward had served the Bai family for thirty years and was fiercely loyal. Only then did Bai Tan speak plainly to him: "He Xiao has mortally offended the Regent sent by Beijia, and his days are numbered. No matter how glorious he seems now, it's nothing but a fleeting illusion. We should not associate with such a person."

He Xiao's current meteoric rise was due to his own self-destructive actions; who would dare to imitate him?

When the King no longer needed him, that would be the day he died.

Therefore, amidst all the city's hustle and bustle, he remained a detached observer.

"General, you are wise," the old steward said, genuinely convinced. Others might say General Bai was straightforward and blunt, but in this vast Tianshui City, how many people saw things more clearly than he did?

Just three days later, the main gate of Youhu Villa was completed.

This speed was beyond anyone's imagination, including He Lingchuan himself. It was due to two factors: firstly, the blue square stones that Tonglinji had dismantled from an abandoned mountain villa for him were already cut and shaped to the required specifications.

Secondly, after the birthday celebration, King Yao ordered the Ministry of Public Works to send him several colossal gatehead stones. These were already pre-carved, with patterns and lines so exquisite that even veteran stonemasons with over twenty years of experience praised their beauty. Once transported to the site, they only needed minor adjustments before being lifted, set, and installed, completing the work.

When Foreman Guan saw these gatehead stones, he gasped in surprise, "Panjin Stone?!"

These were actually Panjin Stones, exclusively used by the royal family!

The official from the Ministry of Public Works responsible for escorting them explained that these Panjin Stones were originally intended for building a new palace. However, the King anticipated a shortage of materials at Youhu Villa, so he prioritized supplying them here.

As for the regulations and etiquette concerning the use of the stones, He Lingchuan didn't need to worry. The royal family often bestowed Panjin Stones upon important officials and meritorious subjects, though usually in small quantities—enough for a gatehead stone or a pair of guardian beasts.

Rules, after all, were always flexible for those in power.

The fact that King Yao had given such a large quantity of Panjin Stone material, already finely carved and polished, indicated his great satisfaction with He Lingchuan's actions!

Killing Heyang was a heavy blow to Qingyang. Although the Qing Guard was full of talented individuals, it wouldn't be difficult to choose another Left Commander. However, those in power knew that the most valuable quality of their direct subordinates was not intelligence or resourcefulness, but loyalty!

No matter how intelligent or shrewd one was, if they always harbored ulterior motives, they would ultimately fail to gain the monarch's trust.

Moreover, cultivating a devoted subordinate like Heyang required a long time.

Qingyang must have deeply resented his loss.

From the moment Heyang died at He Xiao's hands, King Yao knew he had won this round. He then had to press his advantage and quickly win over the court officials.

Therefore, the construction progress of Youhu Villa had to be accelerated.

Currently, the Royal Workshops and the Ministry of Public Works complied with all of He Lingchuan's requests. They even followed the King's command to mobilize over six hundred artisans, who worked day and night on the southern shore of Youhu Lake.

At this point, they no longer demanded "ten years or more" of experience; any skilled worker could join. Besides building the main gate, the first villa under Prince Qing's estate was also being constructed with accelerated efforts.

The villa's roads, drainage, plant transplantation, rock gardens, and springs were also progressing rapidly.

With sufficient manpower, the construction progress naturally surged forward.

In recent days, the southern shore of Youhu Lake had become a bustling construction site. It was then that Foreman Guan's capabilities truly shone; he could manage small teams of a dozen people just as easily as large groups of several hundred, with everything arranged in perfect order.

King Yao specially dispatched a battalion of elite soldiers to be stationed at the site to ensure the security of the entire construction area.

Everyone implicitly understood whom they were guarding against.

At such a time, no mishaps could be allowed.

After selecting an auspicious date, He Lingchuan immediately distributed invitations to the city's dignitaries, inviting them to the unveiling ceremony for the villa's grand gate.

On the day of the ceremony, the weather was perfect again, with clear skies stretching for miles.

Most of the dignitaries, including Gu Xuan, had not been near the southern shore of Youhu Lake for the past year, their impression limited to its emerald mountains, scenic waters, and tranquil vegetation. But on this bright, sunny morning, as they once again entered the Youhu wetlands, everyone could not help but exclaim in admiration.

What a magnificent gatehouse!

It stood nearly 20 meters tall, and its width reached an astonishing nearly 30 meters!

It was wide enough to allow over a dozen carriages to pass abreast.

Even well-traveled individuals like Gu Xuan and Yuwen Yong had never before seen such an expansive gate.

Furthermore, it was built on a man-made knoll, with the top of the gate standing a full 23 meters above the low-lying lake shore.

At that moment, the morning sun from the east shone upon the gatehouse. The ochre-red stone pillars gleamed with a faint golden light, and the delicate auspicious animal patterns were beautifully sculpted. The stone material itself, without needing any artificial aging, exuded a sense of ancient grandeur and power.