Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 735: Infamy (Part 2)

Zheng Chen spoke each word deliberately, as if he had to crush his teeth to force out the name Jiang Shaohua.

Peng Sihai couldn’t help but look at his master: "Young master hates the Commandery Princess that much?"

Jiang Shaohua is already the Emperor of Da Liang. However, Zheng Chen never acknowledges this fact, so Peng Sihai only refers to her by the old title.

Hatred flashed in Zheng Chen’s eyes: "If it weren’t for her, on the day of the coup, Jiang Yi and I would have succeeded. I would have been the Da Liang Chancellor long ago!"

Otherwise, how would I end up like this, hiding in Yu State like a lost dog?

In the eyes of Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng, having taken over most of Yu State with nearly thirty thousand soldiers was already immense wealth and power. Little did they know that Zheng Chen considered it a humiliation.

In his past life, he was the Chancellor of Da Liang, stirring waves in the court and palace. With a single move, he set the court in turmoil, and everyone revered him. His power was even greater than that of Prime Minister Wang at his peak.

In this life, he was always one step behind Jiang Shaohua. Six months ago, Jiang Shaohua charged into Zhaohai Palace with a spear and killed Jiang Yi before his very eyes. He knew then that he had already lost.

He fled the Capital City hastily, not daring to go to the border army, and escaped directly to the Yu State Military Camp, raising the banner of the rebel army to occupy Yu State. Afterwards, he killed officials, looted the wealthy, seized silver and grain, recruited new soldiers, and forced civilians to build city walls—acts he used to scorn as bandit behavior.

During the day, he strategized with calm composure, never revealing anything, but at night, when alone, he was in unbearable pain.

Peng Sihai, who had been accompanying his master for many years, understood Zheng Chen’s pride. Seeing his young master in such agony weighed heavy on his heart: "Young master, your plan failed at the last moment, forcing you to distance yourself from the Capital City. One day, young master will lead troops back in triumph, and then you can settle your scores with the Commandery Princess!"

Zheng Chen sneered: "I want to kill Cui Du first, and then Wang Jin. As for Jiang Shaohua, I won’t kill her; I will keep her alive and torment her day by day until my heart’s hatred is soothed."

No matter what Zheng Chen said, Peng Sihai followed suit.

After Zheng Chen vented his anger, he went to rest on the bed. It wasn’t two hours before dawn broke.

Peng Sihai, burdened with worries, also lay down to sleep. Thinking of the almost crazed young master, Peng Sihai couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

One wrong step, and every step after is wrong.

The young master’s ambition was too great, using even his own father as a pawn. Now, is he not suffering the backlash?

The farewell letter written by Duke An firmly nailed the young master to the pillar of disgrace for impiety and rebellion. Inevitably, history would not fail to record this. With the young master’s arrogance, how could he endure it? How could he not go mad?

And the Commandery Princess... a woman who ascended the throne as Emperor of Da Liang, stabilized the court in just six months, suppressed the Grand Empress Dowager, and even made the proud Left General bow to her command and lead the army to pacify Yu State. Can the young master truly compare to such a formidable figure?

Thinking of this, Peng Sihai felt as if he’d been scalded by fire and couldn’t help but roll over, continuing his worries in his heart.

Rebellion is such a thing where the possibility of failure is too great, and the hope for success is slim. The Da Liang Dynasty has been established for two hundred years, and no traitors have met a good end.

Moreover, the Yu State Army is in disarray with no discipline, adept at plundering civilians but weak in genuine combat strength, as any insider can see.

Not to mention comparing with Nanyang County’s trusted aide, even any random army from the Capital City could easily subdue the Yu State Army.

In the past few months, a considerable number of new soldiers have been recruited. But nine out of ten of these new soldiers are common civilians, most forcibly conscripted into the camp. They’re now kept in the camp for routine drills. If placed on the city walls, who knows what chaos it would be like? Certainly not a match for the court’s army.

It’s all about luck and seeing how long they can hold out.

The young master is as clear as a mirror; how could he not think of these?

He’s not mentioning it now; frantically fortifying the city walls is just preparing to rely on them to last a bit longer. Hopefully, unrest arises in various parts of Da Liang, or Rouran sends troops again, leaving the court preoccupied and sparing Yu State... Only then could there be a glimmer of hope.

The young master has already embarked on this path and can no longer turn back, only to tread forward into the darkness. As his trusted aide, I can only remain loyal until death.

Peng Sihai let out a long sigh and closed his eyes to sleep.

The next day, Zheng Chen appeared before Peng Sihai with a gloomy face and shadowed eyes.

Peng Sihai, familiar with his master’s temperament, dared not ask too many questions.

It was Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng, who, upon seeing Zheng Chen, asked, "Did the young master not sleep well last night? You don’t look too good."

"Ah, the nonsense written in the court’s bulletin is nothing to worry about. Young master, just eat and sleep well and don’t pay it any mind."

"I have a few beauties with me; tonight, I’ll have them sent to the young master’s bed for entertainment."

Those vulgar women were something only the coarse military generals, Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng, could enjoy tirelessly.

There was no choice but to mix with such people in this fallen state.

Suppressing his contempt from showing on his face, Zheng Chen responded, "The Fan Family just died not long ago, and having been her husband, I ought to observe mourning for a year. I can only appreciate the generals’ kindness."

Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng eagerly flattered him, saying, "The young master truly is a man of deep emotion and righteousness."

"If the Fan Family knew in the afterlife, they would feel no regret."

Zheng Chen mustered his energy to exchange a few pleasantries and quickly moved on to serious matters.

At present, Yu State Army has only three main tasks. One is targeting the big households to kill and seize silver and grain. The Yu State Army’s combat power may be average, but it is sufficient against the major households. In the past six months, most of the big families in several counties of Yu State have been wiped out, and the seized silver and grain fill the military camp’s warehouses, enough to support an army of thirty thousand for five or six years.

The second task is training new soldiers, a major responsibility entrusted to Lu Cheng.

The third task is capturing civilians to build city walls, which Zhao Wu primarily oversees.

Zheng Chen now proclaims himself as King of Yu State, naturally taking charge of Yu State’s civil and government affairs. Unfortunately, most officials in Yu State’s counties have been killed, leaving only a few spineless ones who surrendered and joined the rebel ranks. Zheng Chen had no major government matters to handle; the court’s large army is already settled outside Yu State. The top priority is defending the city.

The three gathered together, with Zheng Chen making decisions and issuing orders, while Zhao Wu and Lu Cheng acted accordingly, maintaining harmony.

Suddenly, there was unrest on the city wall.

Zheng Chen frowned and went up to the city gate with Lu Cheng and Zhao Wu. From the high vantage point, they looked out to see the Heroic Guard Camp’s banner fluttering in the wind. Additionally, there were two large flags waving.

One was the banner of the Left General; the other was the Red Flood Dragon Banner.