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Chapter 734: Bad Reputation (I)

After Zheng Chen wrote the manifesto, he waited for the court's response.

The court's counterattack came faster and more violently than he had imagined.

There were two articles in the official gazette, one was a manifesto written by Dong Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites, and the other was a farewell letter between Duke Anguo and his son.

In his manifesto, Minister Dong denounced him as a traitor and a rebel who colluded with the princes to murder the emperor. Now he was inciting the Yuzhou army to rebel, killing the people and endangering the court. He was an unforgivable sinner.

The farewell letter between Duke Anguo and his son is even more interesting. He directly scolded his son in the tone of a father, and declared that he would expel him from the Zheng family. When he died in the future, he would just be a lonely ghost and could not enter the Zheng family ancestral hall.

Zheng Chen thought he had prepared himself mentally and would not get angry in vain. It was not until the veins on his hand clenched tightly around the newspaper that he had to face the fact he had been avoiding.

The Zheng family is his roots!
Jiang Shaohua simply dug him up with his roots, severing the last trace of his kinship with the Zheng family. This move was extremely cruel.

After this incident, he was destined to be laughed at and despised by everyone and become a celebrity for all eternity!

Zheng Chen's face was gloomy and uncertain, and his chest was heaving. It was as if there was a flame burning in his chest, trying to roast his internal organs.

Zhao Wu waited for a moment, and seeing that Zheng Chen hadn't spoken, he asked directly, "Can I take a look at the court report?"

Zheng Chen reported the news to Zhao Wu with a blank expression. The article not only scolded Zheng Chen, but also Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng, who were scolded as worse than beasts.

Zhao Wu was very tolerant of being scolded. After he abandoned Pengcheng, he became a rat crossing the street in Daliang, and everyone wanted to beat him. He didn't worry about too many things, and he didn't feel itchy when he had too many debts. He just let him be scolded! It wouldn't hurt him at all.

Zhao Wu even tried to persuade Zheng Chen: "The court bulletins are only seen by government officials. Ordinary people can't see them at all, and can't understand them. What we are doing is a rebellious act that is punishable by death. We may be destroyed by the court at any time. Are you afraid of being scolded by others?"

Zheng Chen was speechless after hearing such a huge truth.

"I'm a rough man, I can't speak those flowery words, I just say what's on my mind." Zhao Wu continued: "My lord's previous idea was to incite the garrisons and bandits in various places to rebel, then the court would fall into chaos, and it would be difficult to quell the rebellion everywhere. We would have more time to accumulate strength."

"As for rebellion, no matter how much we talk, it's useless. We still need soldiers and food. We have occupied most of Yuzhou now. As long as we can hold Yuzhou City and confront the imperial army for a while, the imperial court will withdraw its troops if it can't stand it anymore after a long expedition."

"We can rule a place and rule the country like Pingzhou did back then, and that would be enough to make us happy and relaxed."

Zhao Wuyao thought back to that day and grinned.

Zheng Chen also pulled the corner of his mouth, crumpled up the report and threw it back into Peng Sihai's hands: "General Zhao is still clear-sighted and free-spirited. Don't read this report! General Zhao and I will go to inspect the city wall together!"

Zhao Wu readily agreed.

In just a few months, the walls of Yuzhou were reinforced and raised by three feet. The people who were captured to build the walls moved stones bit by bit like ants, their steps were slow, their faces were full of pain, and from time to time they could hear screams of being whipped. This scene was like hell on earth.

Zhao Wu turned a blind eye and Zheng Chen was equally cold-hearted and expressionless.

The two of them spent half a day walking around the city wall. When it got dark, the people who did hard labor were driven to the tents under the city wall to rest. It was very cold and there was not even a cup of hot water. The people could only lean together to keep warm, and they endured the night with hunger and waited for dawn.

When the sun rose, at least there was still something to eat.

Someone suddenly started crying. The sobbing sound immediately aroused the grief of everyone, and soon the crying sounded one after another.

The night patrol officer was attracted by the crying and started whipping them all over the head with a whip: "Why are you crying? Shut up! Whoever dares to cry again, I will send him to see the King of Hell immediately!" The people in the tents held their heads and endured the pain. They only survived this disaster when the majestic officer got tired of whipping them and walked away with a proud look on his face.

"When will this end?" The voice in the darkness was full of pain and depression, and was suppressed very quietly for fear of attracting the patrolling soldiers again.

"Just wait! The court will send troops to rescue us!"

"Every one of these rebellious soldiers should be cut into pieces and die a miserable death."

"Once you die, you should go to the eighteenth level of hell, where you will be skinned, your tendons pulled out, and thrown into a frying pan, and you will never be able to be reborn!"

There was deep hatred in the curse.

They were all ordinary people, working hard in the fields and paying heavy taxes, and their lives were already difficult enough. Who would have thought that the Yuzhou army would rebel against the court, occupy Yuzhou City, and capture them to do hard labor?

The people around me were exhausted or beaten to death one by one, and those who were still alive lived in fear and anger all day long. They couldn't even show their anger and hatred on their faces. The more they suppressed it, the stronger the hatred in their hearts.

However, no matter how much hatred and anger he had, his courage would fade away like the tide when he faced the long whip and the cold sword and gun. The desire to survive once again prevailed, and he continued to bow his head and endure the humiliation to survive.

Their only hope was that the imperial army would come soon to quell the rebellion. They comforted and encouraged themselves by thinking of the moment when the Yuzhou rebellion was wiped out by the imperial army.

Such real and strong resentment filled dozens of tents under the city wall.

Unfortunately, no one cares.

The soldiers on night patrol didn't care, General Lu and General Zhao who were eating and drinking well in their mansions in the city didn't care, and Zheng Chen who was writing in his study didn't care even more.

"Sir, it's already three o'clock in the morning." Peng Sihai entered the study and whispered, "Sir, you should wash up and go to bed early! You have to get up early tomorrow!"

Zheng Chen didn't even raise his head: "I don't want to sleep, you leave first."

Peng Sihai had no choice but to retreat.

When it was the fourth watch, Peng Sihai couldn't help but urge him again.

Zheng Chen's eyes were bloodshot, whether it was from staying up late or being depressed. He put down his pen and looked up at his trusted guard: "Si Hai, in your opinion, what are the chances of Yuzhou Army succeeding?"

Peng Sihai answered smoothly: "Fifty-fifty."

"The imperial army has traveled a long way, so their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced. We have the advantage of the city wall, so it won't be a problem for us to hold out for a year or two."

"As long as we get through the most difficult times first, when the imperial court is unable to conquer us and withdraws its troops, we will be able to completely occupy Yuzhou."

"Young Master's great journey has just begun."

The candlelight flickered, and Zheng Chen's face looked particularly cold in the flickering candlelight: "You are right. Everything has just begun!"

"I will use Yuzhou as my base and slowly expand my power. One day, I will lead my troops to the capital and make Jiang Shaohua crawl at my feet."