Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 734: Infamy (Part 1)

After Zheng Chen wrote the manifesto, he waited for the court’s reaction.

The court’s counterattack came faster and more fiercely than he imagined.

There were two articles in the bulletin, one was a manifesto written by Minister Dong of the Ministry of Rites, and the other was a farewell letter from Duke An to his son.

Minister Dong denounced him as a rebel and traitor in the manifesto, colluding with the Vassal King to harm the Emperor, and now inciting the Yu State Army to raise a flag in rebellion, harming the people and endangering the court, he was a sinner who could never be forgiven.

The farewell letter from Duke An was even more spectacular. Speaking directly in the voice of a father, he cursed this son of his in all manners imaginable and declared him expelled from the Zheng Family. After his death, he would only be a wandering ghost unable to enter the Zheng Family ancestral hall.

Zheng Chen thought he had prepared himself mentally and wouldn’t stir with anger. It wasn’t until the moment when his hand clenched the bulletin tightly, veins showing prominently, that he had no choice but to face the fact he’d been avoiding.

The Zheng Family was his true root!

Jiang Shaohua had uprooted him entirely, severing his last tie to the Zheng Family, this move was exceedingly ruthless.

With this, he was destined to be ridiculed and spit upon by everyone, stayed infamous forever!

Zheng Chen’s expression was grim and fluctuating, his chest subtly rising and falling, as if a flame was burning within him, charring his insides.

Zhao Wu waited for a moment, seeing that Zheng Chen had not spoken, he directly asked, "May I have a look at the bulletin?"

Zheng Chen handed the bulletin to Zhao Wu with a blank expression. The manifesto did not only scold Zheng Chen, Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng were also scorned relentlessly.

Zhao Wu was quite resilient to scolding. After abandoning Peng City, he became like a rat on the street in Da Liang, everyone shouting and chasing him away. The more things happen, the less they matter, being scolded is just being scolded! It did not harm him in the least.

Zhao Wu even advised Zheng Chen, "Court bulletins can only be seen by those in government. Ordinary commoners can’t see or understand them at all. What we’re doing is the act of rebellion, who knows when the court might destroy us. Why fear a few words of scolding?"

Such plain truth left Zheng Chen speechless.

"I am a simple man, can’t speak those literary words, I say what’s on my mind directly." Zhao Wu continued, "Your previous thinking was to incite stationed troops and wandering bandits to rebel, at that time the court would fall into chaos, unable to subdue rebellions everywhere. We could then have more time to gather strength."

"For rebellion, talking is useless, it needs soldiers and grain. We already control most of Yu State, as long as we can hold Yu State City and confront the court’s army for some time. The court, worn out by a long expedition, will eventually retreat."

"Then we can become kings and overlords as in Pingzhou, and that would be satisfying and unrestrained."

Zhao Wu, imagining that day, grinned broadly.

Zheng Chen also tugged at the corners of his mouth, crumpled the bulletin into a ball, and tossed it back to Peng Sihai: "It’s clear General Zhao has a keen and carefree perspective. There’s no need to read this bulletin! General Zhao and I will go inspect the city walls together!"

Zhao Wu agreed gladly.

In a few short months, the Yu State City walls were reinforced and raised by three feet. The commoners pressed into service to build the walls moved stones like ants, slow and pained, cries of anguish and whipping constantly echoing, a scene resembling Hell on earth.

Zhao Wu ignored it, and Zheng Chen’s heart was similarly cold as iron, his expression unchanged.

They spent half a day circling the city walls. When night fell, the laboring commoners were driven to rest in tents beneath the walls. In the freezing cold, without even a sip of warm water, they huddled together to stay warm, their stomachs rumbling as they endured the night, waiting for dawn.

At least they had something to eat when daylight broke.

Someone, suddenly, started crying. The muffled sobbing immediately stirred the sorrow of the crowd, and soon the crying resounded one after another.

The patrolling officers, drawn by the sobbing, lashed out with whips indiscriminately: "What’s with the mourning! Shut your mouths, all of you! Anyone who dares cry again, I’ll send him straight to King Yan!"

The commoners in the tent, heads held low, endured painfully. Only when the mighty officers, tired of whipping, swaggered off, did they survive this ordeal.

"When will these days end?" The voices in the dark, full of pain and suppression, were lowered to avoid drawing the night patrols again.

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

"These rebel forces, every last one should be hacked to pieces, dying a terrible death."

"Once dead, they should be damned to the deepest Hell, flayed and stretched, boiled in oil, never to be reborn!"

This cursing was suffused with deep-seated hatred.

They were all ordinary folks, facing the earth as they tilled, paying heavy taxes, struggling to live already. Who would imagine the Yu State Army would rebel against the court, occupy Yu State City, and drag them into hard labor.

The familiar ones around them, one after the other, died from overwork or were beaten to death; those still alive lived daily in fear and anger, unable to show their fury or hatred on their faces. The more suppressed, the deeper the hatred inside grew.

Yet, regardless of how furious or hateful, when faced with the whip and cold blades, courage would dissipate like the tide. The will to survive took over once again, forcing them to swallow their pride and bear the burden to live.

Their only hope was for the court’s army to quickly quell the chaos. They comforted and encouraged themselves with the imagined scene of Yu State Rebel Army being annihilated by the court’s troops.

Such genuine and thick resentment filled and suffused the dozens of tents below the city walls.

Sadly, no one cared.

The patrolling soldiers didn’t care, General Lu and General Zhao, eating and drinking in their grand city mansions, didn’t care, and Zheng Chen, holding a pen in the study, cared even less.

"Young master, it’s already the third hour." Peng Sihai entered the study, speaking softly, "Young master should wash and rest early. Tomorrow you must rise early!"

Zheng Chen didn’t lift his head: "I don’t want to sleep, you may leave."

Peng Sihai had no choice but to leave in helplessness.

When it reached the fourth period of night, Peng Sihai couldn’t help but urge again.

His eyes slightly bloodshot, whether from staying up late or brooding frustration, Zheng Chen put down his pen and looked at his trusted aide: "Si Hai, in your opinion, what’s the chance of success for the Yu State Army?"

Peng Sihai answered smoothly: "Fifty-fifty."

"The court’s army will exhaust itself from long expeditions, their battle strength greatly reduced. We hold the advantage of city walls, holding out for a year or so is doable."

"As long as we endure the toughest times, and the court’s exhausted forces retreat, we’ll fully seize Yu State."

"Young master’s grand endeavor has only just begun."

In the flickering candlelight, Zheng Chen’s face appeared particularly cold: "You’re right. Everything is just beginning!"

"I will use Yu State as a foundation, slowly expand my influence. One day, I will lead troops to the Capital City and make Jiang Shaohua bow at my feet."