bookrandom Chapter 1136 must be completed within one month.
Chapter 1136 must be completed within one month.
"Turn the entire city of Chang'an upside down?"
Murong Yan was so shocked by Lin Zhen's bold and almost insane idea that she was speechless for a long time.
How enormous was Chang'an?
It is home to millions of military personnel and civilians!
Its underground pipeline system is as intricate and complex as a spider web, stretching for hundreds of miles!
To completely renovate the underground of such a giant city would require an astronomical amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources!
More importantly, time!
They don't have time!
"Husband, have you gone mad?" Murong Yan's voice trembled. "This is simply impossible! Even if we empty the national treasury and conscript laborers from all over the country, it would take at least three to five years to accomplish this!"
"Who said it would take three to five years?" A mysterious smile appeared on Lin Zhen's lips.
He looked at Murong Yan's pretty face, which was filled with shock and confusion, and reached out to gently stroke the tip of her nose.
"My silly Yan'er, have you forgotten that we now have the perfect excuse?"
"Pretext?" Murong Yan was taken aback.
"A triumphant celebration!" A hunter's excited gleam shone in Lin Zhen's eyes.
"We can announce to the public that, in order to welcome this unprecedented triumphant ceremony, to demonstrate the national power of our Great Qian Dynasty, and to allow all the people of the city to better participate in this celebration, the imperial court has decided to carry out an unprecedented large-scale 'renovation' of Chang'an City!"
"We can say that we need to widen the streets, repair the walls, dredge the ditches, strengthen the city defenses... In short, we can use every excuse we can think of!"
"Under the guise of 'repair,' we can legitimately mobilize the twelve guards of the capital, conscript artisans and laborers from the city, and conduct a thorough investigation and renovation of the entire underground pipe network of Chang'an without arousing any suspicion or panic!"
"Don't they want to see a spectacular flood of Chang'an during our celebration?"
"Then let's play along!"
"Let them see with their own eyes how we, right under their noses, completely dismantle their proud 'Final Plan'!"
Lin Zhen's words were like a bolt of lightning, instantly illuminating Murong Yan's heart, which had been shrouded in gloom!
Yup!
Why didn't she think of that!
Under the guise of celebration, they are actually carrying out renovations!
This is simply a brilliant and ingenious plan to deceive everyone!
"Husband, you...you are truly a genius!" Murong Yan looked at Lin Zhen, her beautiful phoenix eyes instantly bursting with dazzling light!
That light was filled with adoration, love and unparalleled pride for him!
She knew that in this world, only her husband could come up with such an imaginative yet practical way to break the deadlock in such a hopeless situation!
"Now is not the time to flatter." Lin Zhen pinched her cheek, his expression turning serious again.
"This plan sounds simple, but it's incredibly difficult to execute."
"Time is our greatest enemy."
"We must complete all the investigation and renovation work before the first heavy rain hits Chang'an! Otherwise, all our previous efforts will be in vain!"
"Also, keep it a secret!"
His voice grew increasingly cold.
"This matter must not be known to a sixth person other than you, me, Prime Minister Du, Zhao Wuji, and the Minister of Works who is in charge of the construction! Otherwise, if the news leaks and causes panic among the people in the city, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
“I understand!” Murong Yan nodded emphatically.
She knew that from this moment on, an invisible battle, far more dangerous than any war, had quietly begun.
And she and Lin Zhen were the supreme commanders of this war.
"Issue the decree!" Murong Yan's voice instantly returned to that of a decisive and ruthless empress.
"Immediately summon Du Ruhui, Zhou Xing, Minister of Works Li Ge, and Zhao Wuji to the palace for an audience! Now! Immediately! Right now!"
……
It was very late at night.
However, inside the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace, the lights were on full display, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.
After listening to Lin Zhen and Murong Yan's account of Kong Zhiqian's vicious "Purification Plan," Du Ruhui, Zhou Xing, Li Ge, and Zhao Wuji were all shocked, their faces turning pale, and their bodies drenched in cold sweat.
"Beast! This Kong Zhiqian is utterly depraved! He's worse than a pig or a dog!" Zhou Xing, the Minister of Revenue, whose temper was the most fiery, was the first to slam his fist on the table and stand up, trembling with rage. "Your Majesty! Your Highness! This old minister begs you to bring this scoundrel out of the imperial prison! To have him torn to pieces and his bones crushed to ashes! Only then can I vent my hatred!"
"Minister Zhou, please calm down." Although Du Ruhui was also furious and his face was ashen, he still managed to remain composed. "Now is not the time to pursue the responsibility of that traitor. The most urgent task is to figure out how to avert this imminent, catastrophic disaster!"
Minister of Works Li Ge was so frightened that he could barely speak.
As the highest-ranking official in charge of national engineering construction, he knew better than anyone how massive and terrifying the task of transforming the entire underground pipe network of Chang'an was!
"Your Majesty...Your Highness," his voice trembled, "this project is just...too huge...and we don't even know the blueprints yet, or where that traitor Kong Zhiqian tampered with them. If we investigate one by one, it will probably take at least a year and a half..."
"Not even a year or two!" Lin Zhen's voice interrupted him coldly.
"I'll only give you one month!"
"A month?!" Li Ge exclaimed in shock. "Your Highness! This...this is absolutely impossible! This is simply..."
"Nothing is impossible!" Lin Zhen's gaze was like two sharp knives, fixed on his face. "Lord Li, I don't care what methods you use! Even if you have your craftsmen work without eating, drinking, or sleeping, you must complete the task for me within a month!"
"If you don't finish it, you'll come back to me with your head!"
Li Ge was so frightened by Lin Zhen's undeniable, iron-blooded killing intent that his legs went weak and he slumped into a chair.
"Your Highness... Your subject... Your subject..."
"Lord Li." Just then, Murong Yan, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke.
Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it possessed an irresistible power.
"I know this task is difficult."
"But I also hope you can understand."
She stood up, walked over to Li Ge, and personally helped him up from the chair.
"Behind you are millions of people in Chang'an."
"Their lives and fortunes are now entirely in your hands."
"You are the Minister of Works of the Great Qian Dynasty. It is your duty to share the country's burdens and relieve the people's difficulties."
"I believe you."
"The Emperor, the Prince, and all the people of this city are waiting for you."
Murong Yan's words were a combination of soft and hard tactics, employing both kindness and severity.
Tears of emotion welled up in Li Ge's eyes instantly.
Looking at the young, stunningly beautiful, yet wise and responsible empress before him, the slight hesitation he felt due to fear and embarrassment vanished instantly!
Instead, there is an unprecedented sense of responsibility and mission!
"Your Majesty! Your Highness!" He knelt down with a thud and, with all his might, kowtowed heavily!
"Your subject! I would gladly die a thousand deaths!"
"Even if it costs me my life, I will definitely complete the mission within a month! I will never betray the trust of Your Majesty and the Prince!"