Chapter 379: Stalemate 02

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  After that, Rongfu unexpectedly not only didn't feel disgusted towards Liu Zhi, but also became inseparable from him. The two people were almost like a day without seeing each other was like three autumns apart, reaching the level of being inseparable like fish and water. It's no wonder, one was a wronged woman who had been neglected, the other was an unmarried second son, in such a situation, they naturally clicked immediately, like fire and dry wood. However, what Liu Zhi didn't expect was that his affair with Rongfu would be discovered by the county magistrate so quickly.

  Although Liu Zhi had thought of coming here, since that night he and Rongfu experienced the passion of that night, tasting the joy of love between men and women, he could no longer control himself. Every time there was an opportunity, relying on his own excellent skills as a "Liángshàng Jūnzǐ" (a term for a skilled lover), he would sneak into the county magistrate's backyard to secretly meet with Rongfu. However, later on, they were unexpectedly caught in the act by the county magistrate, resulting in a miserable outcome. Fortunately, Liu Shanhe intervened and managed to save him from death.

  However, the events that followed made Liu Zhi extremely angry. Since Liu Shanhe saved his life, not only did Liu Zhi work harder for him, but he also listened to his advice and warnings. After hearing Liu Shanhe's words "Don't do those petty thefts anymore, you should do something honest", Liu Zhi actually took it to heart and stopped stealing. Instead, he went to the mountains every day to chop firewood and sold them at the market to make a living. Although life was harder and more tiring, he felt a sense of security and freedom in his heart because he was making a living through his own labor.

  However, the good times didn't last long. Rongfu couldn't bear the poverty and started to get into arguments with Liu Zhi all day long. Later on, she even secretly hooked up with a bachelor from the neighborhood while Liu Zhi was out chopping wood in the mountains. One day, Liu Zhi had already gone up the mountain, but he felt something wasn't right in his heart. He gritted his teeth and turned back along the original path. When he arrived at his own doorstep, he pushed the door open to find that it was bolted from the inside. What the...? Why would someone bolt the door in broad daylight? Liu Zhi hesitated for a moment before using his thieving skills to climb over the wall and sneak into the courtyard. He approached the door quietly and was about to push it open when he heard a woman's lewd screams coming from inside: "Ah～～～ah～～～" The voice was so familiar that it suddenly transported him back to that one night in the county magistrate's backyard, where he had first heard the sound of a woman crying, followed by the sound of her urinating, and then those same "ah" sounds. But this time, Liu Zhi was suddenly jolted awake - last time, it was at the county magistrate's house, and he had been the one to take advantage of someone else's wife; but this time, it was in his own home, and someone else was taking advantage of his own wife...

  Liu Zhi suddenly became furious, kicked the door open with one foot, and when he entered, he saw that the woman was being ridden by a man, looking like she was about to die. As soon as the man heard the sound of the door opening, he looked up and saw Liu Zhi holding an axe in his hand, and immediately lost his excitement from earlier. Before he could even get off the woman's body, Liu Zhi swung his axe down, and then the man's head fell to the ground. The woman had her eyes closed at first, but when she was enjoying this "sexual bliss", she suddenly felt something was not quite right, so she opened her eyes. However, as soon as she opened them, she saw Liu Zhi standing in front of her like a fierce god, holding an axe with fresh blood dripping from it.

  The woman looked at the scene and was stunned. When she looked at the man on her body, there was only a cavity left, his head had long since disappeared somewhere.

  "Ah~~~~~" The woman let out a loud shriek in fright.

  "You, you, you this adulterer, how dare you do such a thing! Hmph, good, good, good, aren't you thinking of being with that scoundrel? Good, today I'll fulfill your wish and let you be together forever!" With that, Liu Zhi took a step forward, then once again his hand rose and the knife fell. And so, very quickly, two heads rolled to one place...

  Liu Zhi had lost his mind at this time, he knew that he could no longer stay here, so he set a fire and burned down his own house, then turned around and left.

  However, the law net is loose but not leaking. Three days later, Liu Zhi was caught by the county magistrate. Five days later, after interrogation, Liu Zhi knew that he could no longer escape punishment this time, because after all, it was two lives. So he completely confessed. On the seventh day, the county magistrate had Liu Zhi killed.

  Since Liu Zhi committed the crime, Liu Shanhe never went to see the county magistrate again. Liu Shanhe had a number in his heart, last time, although the county magistrate gave himself a face, but in his heart, he must have been very unhappy. And this time, Liu Zhi carried two lives on his back, that was an unchangeable fate of being killed.

  Since then, Liu Shanhe's brothers have been more willing to work for him than before, all because of his cleverness. Throughout the year, some brothers would send him food, clothes, and other essentials, so he didn't have to worry about these things at all. Moreover, the county magistrate has been even more appreciative of the plan Liu Shanhe had given him since killing Liu Zhi, feeling that the subsequent development of events was almost entirely in line with what Liu Shanhe had said would happen. As a result, he couldn't help but think even more highly of Liu Shanhe as an invaluable talent, and thus treated him with even greater respect. In this way, Liu Shanhe's chances of getting opportunities later on also became even greater.

  That day, Liu Shanhe was drinking in a hotel in Wu Xi when suddenly he heard a commotion outside. Liu Shanhe furrowed his brow and said: "Who the hell is this? So rude, doesn't know that I'm drinking here?"

  The curses had just fallen when a voice outside responded, "Hey, I'm telling you, Liu San, you're really something! This is the first time I've ever heard someone dare to scold me, Xiao He! I think you must be tired of being the head of Si Shui Pavilion!"

  As the sound fell, Liu Shanhe saw that Xiao He, the chief officer of Pei County, walked in, followed by Cao Shen and Xiahou Ying, who were walking and talking incessantly.

  "Ah, it's you guys! I thought it was someone else!" Liu Shanhe said with embarrassment, then stood up and bowed deeply to the few who had just entered, his face full of smiles: "Heh heh, didn't know it was your esteemed selves visiting, earlier Liu Bang spoke rashly, please forgive him, sirs!"

  "You're something else, Liu Bang! You scold people and you flatter them, what's with that mouth of yours?! Haha, you really are something, you really are!" Xiao He said, pointing at Liu Bang's nose.

  Then the four of them started drinking again. Liu Shanhe asked Xi Mei to refill the dishes, and the banquet began once more.

  Liu Shanhe said with a hint of curiosity, "How is it? If I'm not mistaken, you several people came to find me together, there must be something going on. Otherwise, you wouldn't all gather here like this!"

  "Haha, I said Liu Bang, this time you really guessed it right. Hmm, this time, our county is going to send some laborers to Xianyang to build the Epang Palace. Hmm, after selecting and selecting, there isn't a single most suitable person. However, the county magistrate has entrusted me with this matter, saying that no matter what, I must select a suitable person for him. Well, in the end, having no other choice, I had to put your name forward. How about it, Liu Bang? Although this errand is a bit tiring, it's actually a great opportunity to broaden one's horizons! I've secured such an opportunity for you, don't scold me!" Xiao He said while drinking wine, explaining the situation to Liu Bang.

  "Oh, so that's how it is!" Liu Shanhe also took a sip of wine, then picked up some dishes and pondered, not rushing to answer. Yes, for something like this, he naturally had to weigh the pros and cons.

  While Liu Shanhe was hesitating, Cao Shen took a sip of wine and said: "Hmm, the current Xianyang is not like the original Xianyang. Look at those streets, they're really wide, five horse-drawn carriages can drive side by side! And that palace, it's truly majestic! I also heard that Qin Shi Huang collected all the weapons in the world and melted them into iron water, then cast nine large bronze men and placed them at the gate of the imperial palace. It looks incredibly powerful!" Cao Shen almost spat out his words.

  On the other side, Liu Shanhe heard what Cao Can said. His mouth, which had been constantly chewing, suddenly stopped, and his eyes instantly radiated a dazzling light. Ah, that's also too attractive! Yes. Recently, Liu Shanhe has also been feeling somewhat depressed and has long wanted to go out for a stroll. And isn't this a great opportunity?

  Having thought of this, Liu Shanhe suddenly put down his wine cup and said sternly: "Alright, alright, I'll go, I'll go!"

  "Haha, good! That's right! I knew it, Brother Liu Bang will definitely accept this errand! Let's do it like this, we can't delay, and set off tomorrow. This task is being rushed from above, you know! And I also heard that the current Emperor is very particular about this mausoleum, and even moved up the completion date by three years! The people are all saying that our Emperor might not last much longer!"

  "Yes, I've heard a lot about that too. And I also heard that our emperor even sent people to the East Sea to find the elixir of immortality! They said there was an alchemist named Tian Fu who volunteered and took 500 boys and 500 girls on a boat to sail directly into the East Sea. But, it's been five years now, and they still haven't returned." Xia Houyan also chimed in from the side.

  "Alas, let's not bother with that for now. We should focus on our own affairs first. I'm telling you, Liu Bang, you're leaving tomorrow, and I have 500 taels of silver here. As the saying goes, 'A poor household has a smooth road, but a rich one has a difficult journey.' Come, take it first, and when you become successful in the future, you can return it to me then. Hehehe..." Xiang Yu said as he placed the 500 taels of silver in front of Liu Shanhe.

  Liu Shanhe knew that this five hundred taels of silver was equivalent to Xiao He's monthly salary! This Xiao He, really had a good sense of propriety, really had a good sense of propriety! Liu Shanhe couldn't help but exclaim in his heart.

  "Ah, here's mine, 300 coins!" Cao Can also put his 300 coins in front of Liu Shanhe.

  "This is mine, 300 coins! I'm telling you, Cao Shen, our income is low, we can't compare to Xiao He! Haha, Liu Bang brother, don't be stingy, show some sentiment!" As he spoke, Xia Houyu also put his 300 coins in front of Liu Shanhe.

  "Alright, then I won't be polite either!" Liu Shanhe chuckled and raised his wine cup, saying to the others: "Liu Bang thanks you all for your help today, come on, let's drink up!" With that, he took the lead and downed his wine in one gulp. The others followed suit, finishing their drinks as well.

  After a while, Liu Shanhe said to Xiao He with a serious expression: "Old Xiao, next to me is you. I have an idea that after I leave, my Cui Gu in the family, you can take care of her more for me. Alas, that little girl is still too young and doesn't know how to take care of herself..."

  "Alright, alright, Liu Bang brother, you can rest assured, I will definitely send someone to take care of Cui Gu at home. You just focus on doing your job well and don't worry about anything else. If this mission is accomplished successfully, when we return, the county magistrate will surely reward you heavily! If this mission is accomplished successfully, when we return, the county magistrate will surely reward you heavily!" Xiao He said as he grasped Liu Shanhe's hand, making a vow.

  "Ah, ah, I'm telling you, Old Xiao, look where you're going! This trip is tough, as long as I don't get sick or anything, and can complete the task smoothly, then I'll be burning incense and worshiping Buddha! As for whether there's a reward or not, who am I to even think about it? Haha, haha, I really dare not think about it! But let me tell you, Old Xiao, we don't have any outsiders here today, right? Although I did take this trip to broaden my horizons, it was also to give you some face, wasn't it? I thought about it, the county magistrate gave you this task, and if you chose someone unreliable, you wouldn't be at ease, thinking they couldn't complete the task, and it would be hard to explain to the county magistrate. So, you thought of me! Alas, who made us good brothers? As long as you, Old Xiao, tell me, Liu Bang, that I can do it, then I, Liu Bang, will absolutely not shirk my responsibility! You can rest assured on this point!" Liu Shanhe was also a bit drunk and overly excited, slapping his own chest while expressing his feelings to Xiao He.

  "Alright, alright, I'm telling you, Liu Bang, I've taken all your words to heart. I knew you'd give me this face! Come on, let's not say anything else, let's raise our glasses together and wish Liu Bang a smooth journey tomorrow! A smooth journey!"

  "Alright, thank you brothers, thank you brothers!" Liu Shanhe raised his wine cup and then drank it all in one gulp.

  Because Liu Shanhe was also going out for the first time, the scenery on the road attracted some of his attention. Although those wild grasses and flowers were basically the same as those in his hometown, Liu Shanhe thought they looked particularly beautiful.

  All the way, Liu Shanhe led those porters, traveling day and night, and after half a month, they finally arrived at Xianyang. And on the road, Liu Shanhe couldn't stop imagining what Xianyang would be like. Based on what he had heard from others, he added his own imagination to it. That Xianyang must be magnificent! The palace buildings were towering and majestic, with cars and horses galloping on the streets...

  But when he really arrived in Xianyang City, he found that there were not only luxurious mansions where the rich lived, but also dilapidated and low houses where the poor lived. On the road, although there were luxury cars of the wealthy, there were also poor people wearing tattered clothes. The contrast between the rich and the poor was extreme here. This contrast was particularly striking for Liu Shanhe. Although he had seen some scenes of extreme poverty in movies and TV shows in his 21st-century world, he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of shock at the stark contrast that he saw now.

  However, what really shocked Liu Shanhe was when he saw the Liaofang Palace. The scale is truly grand! Looking far and wide, it's simply impossible to see the edge! And inside the boundless and endless Afang Palace, various buildings are arranged high and low, some towering into the clouds, others winding and overlapping. Moreover, in some places, there are those horizontal corridors suspended in mid-air, nine curved galleries that seem to be floating in the clouds, mist...

  "This is the Epang Palace? This is where the Emperor lives? Ah, this is too grand, this is too great! Ah, ah, ah, this is too good, this is too good!" Liu Shanhe couldn't stop praising, thinking to himself, "This world really has a good place! And when can I also live in such a majestic palace?"

  Of course, Liu Shanhe didn't just indulge in sightseeing in Xianyang; he naturally remembered his official duties. He escorted the laborers who were transported from Pei County to the construction site of the emperor's mausoleum according to regulations. There, Liu Shanhe witnessed with his own eyes that too many laborers were worked to death and fell to the ground, never to get up again. Among the dead were old men and young adults. When someone fell down, others - possibly fellow villagers or relatives of the deceased - rushed over in a panic. However, before they could clearly see the face of the deceased, a group of officials and soldiers arrived, wielding whips and chasing them away. The body was kicked to the side of the road. Witnessing this cruel scene, Liu Shanhe's heart kept racing.

  In order to be able to go into the cemetery and take a look, Liu Shanhe also moved his thoughts. He took out the wine gourd he drank on the road, and then walked forward with full confidence.

  Although Liu Shanhe knew according to the rules that people like him who led the laborers here only needed to hand over the laborers they brought and then they could return, but would never be allowed to enter the construction site. Those who might know what was going on inside the construction site were also unlikely to come out again, to see that beautiful world again. Because anyone who participated in the tomb construction would not be able to come out alive. This had already been decided.

  "Come, come, brother, you've worked hard, drink a couple of mouthfuls of wine to relieve your fatigue!" Liu Shanhe saw that in front of him, someone who looked like a foreman was fiercely whipping a laborer with a leather whip. Seeing Liu Shanhe approaching, he didn't relax his actions, but instead coldly stared at Liu Shanhe and said: "Hey, you, where are you from? What brings you here?" The foreman loudly asked Liu Shanhe.

  However, when he saw the wine handed over by Liu Shanhe, he immediately changed his tone and said: "Oh, oh, misunderstanding, misunderstanding! Sir officer, please report your name first, other things, other things, that's also good to say, that's also good to say!" The man immediately asked with a smile.