As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 251 Mermaid

"Beidi?"

"Guests? What happened to the Northern Emperor?"

In Beilie, the Northern Emperor himself is the biggest background; what other background does he need?
However, as soon as Mingchen finished speaking, the boatman's eyes were filled with blankness, and he no longer had the calm and composed look he had just had.

She looked at Mingchen with some doubt, but her expression seemed genuine.

Mingchen just smiled and waved his hand: "It's nothing! Big brother, you should still steer the boat carefully..."

Tsk tsk tsk, you just leave because you can't win the argument?

"Forehead……"

The boatman felt a moment of disorientation as this unusual guest uttered something cryptic.

There seemed to be a lingering smell of blood in the air.

What just happened?
As his consciousness returned, he shuddered: "Guests, the bandits, where are the bandits?!"

It was clear that he had moved the bandit's body himself, but now he was asking Mingchen in a panic.

There was some confusion on the ship, and the sailors and boatmen were also confused.

Those ferocious and terrifying river bandits were dealt with, but now they've mysteriously disappeared again.

"I killed all the river bandits."

Mingchen shook his head and said to her in a low voice, "Big brother, don't worry about anything else, just keep sailing and get me there."

His eyes were sharp, and his tone was calm, making one instinctively want to believe him.

Kill them all?
Upon hearing this, the boatman swayed for a moment, glanced at Mingchen somewhat timidly, and dared not say anything more, only replying, "Okay."

We had just had a very heartfelt conversation, but now it feels like an insurmountable chasm has been created between us.

A thick barrier gradually formed between the two.

Rippling water, the ferry traveled north along the great river, carrying Mingchen to this magnificent land 'blessed by fate'.

……

"Wow~"

A gentle sea breeze blows, and the waves of the ocean surge and crash onto the beach.

Seagulls circled in the sky.

The flute begins to play, its elegant and melodious tune carried on the wind to the vast ocean.

A slender figure stood on the beach, her thin clothes swaying in the sea breeze.

The beautiful woman stood by the sea, holding a jade flute, gazing quietly at the ocean.

The musical instruments on the mainland are somewhat different from those on the islands. Before coming to the mainland, she had hardly ever touched them, but she is a musical genius.

After a short while of simple handling, you'll become proficient.

She played the flute, and it seemed as if the man's bold and cheerful voice was echoing in her ears.

"A hearty laugh echoes across the vast ocean, as tides surge on both shores..."

But memories are just memories.

All I could hear was the sound of waves crashing against the beach; there was no one around, and no singing.

She sings the best.

The name Kui Xian amazed the entire Bai Ling.

However, when she sang the song, something inexplicably seemed to be missing.

I cannot sing of that person's boldness and unrestrained spirit.

The melody stopped abruptly when a single syllable was off.

Hong Ling Shuang gazed at the sea, her mind blank, and without caring that the fine sand on the ground was dirty and messy and would get into her hair, she fell straight onto the beach.

The bright sunlight spread out, and the vast sea in the distance shimmered with light.

"I don't love the people..."

She lay on the ground, looking at the blue sky, her thoughts wandering freely.

For some reason, I remembered my previous conversation with Mingchen.

"So what?"

"If you look at the monarchs of your continent, how many of them truly love their people?"

"If they can do it, why can't I?"

She raised her hand, and the jade flute in her hand, glistening in the sunlight, emitted a soft, shimmering green glow, as she murmured softly…

She knew very well the tone of Mingchen's voice when he brought this up.

Mingchen would certainly consider this her biggest flaw.

As her thoughts wandered, a figure suddenly flashed by and knelt down behind Hong Ling Shuang.

Hong Ling Shuang also noticed this, her eyes sharpened, and she quickly gathered her thoughts.

He fiddled with the jade flute in his hand, without getting up, but asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"

"The Zhuyou Gang will send someone five days from now..."

The guard simply knelt on the ground and reported the intelligence to Hong Ling Shuang.

The intelligence is not complicated.

Zhu You disobeyed her orders and, despite her outward compliance, took it upon herself to send men to intercept and kill Ming Chen.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow, not angry but instead chuckled softly: "Heh~"

As if joking, it was unclear whether he was chatting with a secret guard or talking to himself: "He doesn't believe I'm full of holes!"

However, her tone suddenly changed, and her bright smile vanished instantly.

Dark clouds obscured the bright sun overhead, a sudden gust of wind arose, and the waves seemed to surge even more violently.

She tightened her grip on the jade flute in her hand, her face turning cold: "How arrogant!"

"I've been supporting him and he's gotten used to everything going smoothly. Does he really think he can control everything?"

"I had intended to keep him around a little longer, but now it seems unnecessary."

"Have Jingtao take five people with him."

"The Zhu You Gang no longer needs Zhu You."

One second she was still smiling lightly, but the next she had completely withdrawn her composure and become excessively cold.

With just a few words, the behemoth that could stir up trouble in the city was wiped out.

If the knife in your hand becomes unruly, then break it and render it useless.

The monarch was capricious and unpredictable; no one could fathom her thoughts.

"Yes!"

The guard lowered his head and agreed.

His figure flashed and disappeared.

The beach returned to calm, leaving only Hong Ling Shuang alone.

"Mingchen... isn't that the solution?"

What kind of knife tip is this?
idiot!

The person she has set her sights on is not so easily taken away.
Speaking of the edge of a knife, Mingchen leisurely strolls across the continent, risks his life on the battlefield, and speaks eloquently before the monarch... Isn't he also someone who likes to dance on the edge of a knife?

How similar are they?
She smiled and shook her head.

Hong Ling Shuang wasn't worried about Ming Chen's safety at all.

If Mingchen had been dealt with so easily, he wouldn't be alive now; he would have died long ago.

This guy is incredibly clever! He can definitely see through everything.

She wasn't worried that the other party would misunderstand her.

Although we only met four times and spent less than a day together in total.

But that's enough for them!
Some people only need to be met once to enter one's heart.

She stood up and casually brushed the fine sand off her clothes.

We arrived at the seaside.

Just as she unleashed her fury, the weather changed drastically, the waves surged, and the sea, like her, was capricious and unpredictable.

She stood on the wet sand by the sea, waves of seawater surging in and soaking her ankles.

She looked down at the pouring seawater, the rippling blue waves reflecting her delicate face.

She's beautiful!
She was once rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the archipelago.

She also knew she was beautiful.

High spirits and confidence, flamboyant and unrestrained, unparalleled.

However, she was rude and barbaric in her actions, and capricious in her temper, which made her subjects tremble with fear and almost forget to appreciate her beauty.

Waves of seawater rippled.

The last wave of seawater reflected a beautiful face.

But the next wave gradually took on a different appearance.

It's not that it's no longer beautiful, but rather that it's become... a little strange.

Azure fish scales dotted her arms, and a curved fin, like a knife, extended backward from her elbow. Small fish scales also appeared on the side of her pretty face, and her ears had also turned into the shape of fish fins. Her bewitching eyes were slightly upturned, glistening with water, captivating and enchanting.

Can this even be considered human?

In the blink of an eye, the most beautiful leader of the alliance transformed into a monster.

How could he have known?

Hong Ling Shuang touched her face, looking at her reflection in the seawater, and murmured to herself.

That day, while swimming in the sea, Mingchen suddenly tricked her. Although she reacted quickly and appeared perfectly composed, the incident remained in her heart and she could never forget it.

This is her secret.

Seagulls circled overhead, and the fish in the sea seemed to be guided by something, and they came to the surface again, gazing at each other from afar.

She shook her head, clearing her mind, and leaped into the sea.

The vast and boundless sea allowed her to roam freely.

As it entered the deep water, a pair of smooth, slender legs swayed gently, growing scales, and invisible magical ripples flowed, transforming into a fish tail.

A stunningly beautiful mermaid frolics and swims freely in the water, surrounded by schools of fish—a truly breathtaking sight.

It's such a beautiful scene, but no one is appreciating it; it's such a pity.

……

"Tsk... What that person said wasn't wrong."

"If the Northern Emperor fails despite his efforts, it would truly be a cruel twist of fate for a hero."

"Bei Lie's resilience is truly remarkable."

Mingchen was unaware that in Bailing City, thousands of miles away, the dangerous mermaid leader was talking about him.

In the height of summer, even the wind carries a dry, crisp scent.

Mingchen led the child, walked the dog and the bird, and looked at the surrounding scenery, and couldn't help but sigh.

Although he was nominally there to meet his friend, His Majesty the Northern Emperor, he did not go directly to Qingcang City, the most prosperous capital of Beilie, but continued north to another region.

He had studied the geography of this place and talked about it many times. It was also the place where he made his fortune and became famous, located between the Linshui and Xushui rivers, tributaries of the Liehe River.

This is the place where he proposed a strategy to the Northern Emperor to exchange half a prefecture for the construction of an irrigation canal.

The environment in Beilie is indeed not very good.

Winters are cold, summers are hot, and there is little rain; the land is also infertile, resulting in low grain yields.

The Qian Yuan and Bei Lie were one family thousands of years ago, but they have been separated and reunited many times, and have been constantly at war.

The two countries are sworn enemies and dislike each other.

In particular, seventy years ago, the God of War Qian Yuan forced the Northern Emperor to commit suicide to atone for his sins, which nearly caused the collapse of the entire country and further intensified the hatred between the two countries.

When Qian Yuan mentioned Bei Lie, he was filled with hatred. He said that these people were crude, barbaric, tyrannical, stubborn, and foolish. They only knew how to kill and plunder, and had the ambition of wolves.

Bei Lie also hated Qian Yuan, hated the humiliation of forcing the emperor to commit suicide, hated the cunning of the Southern people, and hated them for occupying such a good environment to seek pleasure and waste resources.

However, Mingchen didn't feel anything about these hatreds.

If they still dream of unifying the world and ruling over them, then the idea of ​​different social classes will arise, and they will divide the people into different ranks, which is destined to be short-lived.

This is different from those brainless barbarians like the Xiongnu, who believed that those who are not of our race must have different intentions.

We are all of the same ethnicity, speak the same Central Plains language, were one family thousands of years ago, eat the same grains, and share common ancestors.

In other words, the different regimes have led to the current situation of division and fragmentation.

Different cultures and different environments have shaped different social landscapes.

The Northern Lie people are barbaric and crude, prone to aggression and slaughter, but they are also straightforward, hardworking, loyal, persistent, and tenacious... all of which are admirable qualities.

It is truly remarkable that the Northern Fierce Army, rooted in such an environment, has nurtured the formidable Northern Fierce Cavalry that roams the world.

We must proceed with extreme caution and prudence, ensuring that every penny of food and supplies is used wisely.

In comparison, Qian Yuan was somewhat embarrassed.

Occupying fertile land and with a wealthy population, they indulged in pleasure and wrote whatever they pleased.

Corruption, internal strife, waste... all continue.

As a nation grows weaker and weaker, it's no wonder that others attack it.

How could a prodigy born from a poor family possibly look down on a rich playboy who indulges in pleasure and squanders his wealth?

"Big brother, I'm thirsty!"

"Give me a cup of tea to quench my thirst!"

The midday sun was shining brightly, and the weather was hot.

Although he was in good health, Mingchen felt hot and led the child to a tea shop, waving to the shopkeeper.

"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir/madam."

The waiter, with his keen eye, recognized that Mingchen was a person of extraordinary status and position. He cheerfully agreed and ran to fetch the teapot.

Not far away, there was a big tree, and under the tree, a few farmers from the northern region sat in twos and threes, enjoying the cool shade.

They sat casually on the ground, shirtless, fanning themselves gently with palm-leaf fans, looking at the bright sun overhead, and complaining incessantly, "It's so hot today!"

“I prayed to the martyr mother all night yesterday, but I don’t know if it had any effect.”

"Heavens above, don't you have any pity on me and send down some rain!"

"Sigh... what kind of life is this?"

Another dark-skinned old man shook his head, wiped the sweat from his face, and said, "Rain? Forget about it!"

"I still have to go up the mountain this afternoon! If I don't water them now, all our work this year will have been for nothing."

"Old Liu, are you still going up the mountain in this weather?!"

"Sigh~ I wonder when this will ever end!"

Farmers, who toil from dawn till dusk, rely on the heavens and the earth for their livelihood!
The sun is scorching hot, the land is parched, and the people are sighing and complaining. How can they not be suffering?

Suddenly, a younger voice said, "Uncle Liu, don't worry! Good days are coming soon for our village!"

"Oh? The second son of the Zhang family! How so?"

The speaker was a young farmer, his eyes sparkling with hope for a bright future: "Does everyone know about the canal His Majesty built north of our village? Once the canal is completed, the rainwater will flow endlessly into it, and our place will have plenty of water for irrigation. Even barren, saline land can be turned into fertile fields!"

"Can it really work?"

"His Majesty takes this matter very seriously! All the soldiers from the front lines have been recalled, and even the Crown Prince has come personally to oversee the canal repair."

What does "泽卤" mean?

"I heard that His Majesty followed a strategy suggested by a southerner, what was his name again? Mingchen?"

"A Southerner would be so kind as to offer advice to His Majesty?"

"I know, I know! That person is extraordinary. It's said that with just this one strategy, he exchanged half of our province's land! I've heard that our Emperor once fought with the Qian Emperor over this person!"

When the topic of canal construction came up, people were no longer sleepy and started discussing it animatedly, the conversation even veering off-topic.

However, the old man shook his head with a wry smile: "Second Brother, you're speaking too soon! Do you know that this canal is hundreds of miles long and will take many years to build!"

"This old man's bones are so tough now, I reckon the grass on his grave will be a foot high, and he won't be able to bear seeing the Lin River anymore."

"You young people are so great, you have hope for the future!"

However, the young man waved his hand, leaned closer, and said mysteriously, "No, no..."

"Uncle Liu, let me tell you this: at the latest next year, you will definitely see the Linhe River flowing in torrents."

"My cousin's second sister's husband works at the canal construction site. He secretly told me that when he was relieving himself at night, he saw a strange man at the construction site. He stomped his foot on the ground, and the earth shook, creating a huge ditch. The next day, they only needed to dig along the ditch. Rumor has it that some people can divert water, and some can break rocks and open mountains... Our Emperor is truly a born god. When he was born, there was the sound of a tiger roaring in the mountains. Now, with such a supernatural immortal helping him, the construction period has been greatly shortened."

"I heard that the canal is almost finished, and all that's left is to draw water."

"What? Really fake!"

"Can't be wrong!"

"If that's the case, that would be wonderful! God bless, Your Majesty bless!"

"We'll have water now?"

People chatted in small groups, their eyes filled with longing for the future.

Unbeknownst to them, another person at a nearby tea stall was watching them with great interest and listening to their conversation.

"Sir? Sir?"

The waiter brought tea and, seeing Mingchen looking outside, called out to him twice.

"Your tea."

"Ok!"

Mingchen nodded, took out a tael of silver, and pushed it toward him.

"Sir, what's wrong with you...?"

The waiter's eyes lit up. He looked around, his gaze a mixture of eagerness and fear.

Mingchen remained calm, pointed to the farmers outside who were discussing the matter, and said in a low voice, "Tell me about the irrigation canal."

"Aqueduct?"

The waiter couldn't help but smile upon hearing this, and accepted the money Mingchen gave him: "Sir, you're not a local, are you? This isn't anything new!"

"Our Emperor invited some immortals to perform rituals, and the canal, which was originally expected to take at least ten years to complete, is progressing much faster..."

"First it was five years, then it was three years, and now it seems like it's about to be completed!"

"By then, this place will also be a land of plenty!"

"If you're interested in buying land here, you'd better hurry. Several wealthy families have already heard the news and come to investigate!"

According to Mingchen's previous life, this place is an economic development zone supported by the government.

With a bright future ahead, this local guy's eyes naturally shone with hope.

He raised his head, patted his chest, and said he was proud of it.

"Oh?"

Mingchen narrowed his eyes: "Is that so?"

Tsk tsk tsk... You still say there was no 'other person' involved?

Isn't this considered 'someone else'?

The waiter kept reminding Mingchen, "However, sir, you must not go to the canal to investigate!"

"Our Emperor takes this matter very seriously. Even the Crown Prince has been summoned to handle it personally. Many people have been arrested and imprisoned for secretly going to the canal to look."

(End of this chapter)