To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 288 Autumn Harvest Sacrifice to the State!

Xiang Liang suddenly turned around, stared intently at Xiang Yu, and said in a deep voice:

"Therefore, we don't need to deliberately frame anyone!"

"What we need to do is make a drastic decision! Immediately issue the order to completely erase all traces and connections of the Xiang family in Jiangdong involved in the coal transportation and reception along the route, along with all those who knew about it! Leave no one alive!"

Xiang Yu's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he nodded heavily.

"Once we cut off this lead, the disappearance of this batch of coal will become an unsolved mystery!"

"good!"

Xiang Liang sneered repeatedly, "But that's not enough! Now that we've disappeared, this enormous amount of coal must find a place to go!"

"All we need to do is follow the Immortal Master's instructions, secretly send people to disguise themselves as bandits to create confusion, and then subtly spread the word, giving her a 'reasonable' use for the coal!"

"For example... she intercepted all the coal in Changzi County, using it to illegally set up iron furnaces and mass-produce weapons and armor, intending to rebel!"

"As long as this 'reasonable' excuse is thrown out!"

Xiang Liang stroked his beard smugly.

"The rest, we just need to stand by and watch, and go with the flow!"

"This is what they call sacrificing a friend to save yourself! Once she and the Black Ice Guard have fought to a standstill in Shangdang County, our Xiang Clan of Jiangdong can reap the benefits!"

……

Shangdang Prefecture, within Changzi County.

The next day.

The first rays of dawn had just broken through the clouds, bringing a touch of early autumn coolness into the courtyard.

"Bang!"

A sudden sound of a door being pushed open rang out.

Inside the room, the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty, Fusu, and Mofeng were sleeping soundly when, in the next second...

The two of them suddenly felt the brocade quilt covering them being ripped off!

"Get up! Get up!"

"What time is it? The sun's already high in the sky!"

Zhang Fan stood by the bed and, without any hesitation, pulled Fusu and Mofeng up from the bed with one hand each.

Fusu, with his messy hair, rubbed his eyes groggily!

Seeing the two of them with dark circles under their eyes and a dazed look as if they hadn't slept, Zhang Fan felt great.

The Xiang family has taken over the mess of dealing with this major coal theft case.

Xiang Liang went to orchestrate a plan to divert the court's anger!

All I need to do is sit back and observe!

Besides, if you think about it carefully, this should be my vacation time right now!

Bureau 749 granted himself leave so he could take a paid vacation and relax.

He hadn't even reported this wretched matter of rebellion and losing his head to his superiors, so there was no need to bother with it!

Let these ancient people go through their own crazy infighting; I'm going to enjoy my vacation!

Thinking about this...

Zhang Fan grinned broadly, patted Fusu's shoulder, and teased:

"Still sleeping in?"

"Quickly wash your face and refresh yourself! Come on, I heard there's a grand 'Gods and Grains Festival' in Changzi County today. It's harvest time, and the people are celebrating the bountiful harvest. The streets are bustling with activity. Let's go check it out and join in the fun!"

Upon hearing this...

Fusu, who was still a little dazed, suddenly snapped back to reality.

He stared at Zhang Fan in astonishment, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

"The...the sacrifice to the gods of the land?"

Fusu swallowed hard, glanced at Mofeng beside him, then at Zhang Fan, and blurted out anxiously, "Teacher, the situation is urgent, how can you still have the mind to go to the temple fair?"

"We have come to Shangdang on the orders of our father, the Emperor, to thoroughly investigate the major coal theft case committed by the remnants of the Chu Kingdom!"

"Aren't we going to investigate the coal theft anymore? If we can't find out anything, Father will be furious. How are we going to explain ourselves when we get back?"

Seeing how Fusu, the emperor, was more anxious than the eunuchs, one could see that Fusu was in a hurry.

Zhang Fan chuckled softly, reached out and straightened Fu Su's disheveled collar, then said with a meaningful smile:

"What's the panic?"

As the saying goes, one should remain calm in the face of great events.

Zhang Fan's lips curled slightly upward, a glint of extreme confidence flashing in his eyes: "I've already made arrangements regarding the coal theft!"

"In a few days, this mystery will be solved, and we will surely be able to give His Majesty a perfect explanation."

"Right now, all you need to do is follow me and have fun!"

Seeing Zhang Fan's confident look, Fu Su and Mo Feng exchanged a glance. Although they were still full of doubts, they eventually nodded obediently.

Before long, the three of them finished washing up and came to the main street of Changzi County.

Today is the day of the Earth God Festival, and the main street is bustling with people.

The roadside was lined with all sorts of stalls, some selling newly harvested grains, some hawking rough porcelain farm tools, and some street performers performing on the street corners, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

The people changed into clean autumn clothes, their faces beaming with the joy of a bountiful harvest, while children ran and darted through the crowd.

Looking at the prosperous scene before him, Fusu temporarily put his worries aside and a genuine smile appeared on his face.

He looked around and couldn't help but turn to Zhang Fan and say:

"Teacher, look at Changzi County. After the incident with Shantongtang, the local officials were rectified and the county has been completely transformed."

"The people's eyes have become more vibrant, no longer numb. Merchants from all over the country are coming and going on the streets in an endless stream. In terms of the prosperity of commerce alone, it is no less than that of Xianyang City."

Zhang Fan smiled and nodded, just about to speak.

Just then.

Several elderly women who were selecting fabrics nearby turned their heads by chance and saw Zhang Fan's face clearly.

They were taken aback at first, then immediately began to shout excitedly:

"He's our benefactor! He's the esteemed Immortal Master!"

This shout instantly attracted the attention of passersby.

The people on the street stopped in their tracks and quickly gathered around.

"It really was Lord Zhang! It's all thanks to Lord Zhang's intervention that my grandsons were able to return!"

"Lord Zhang has brought good days to Changzi County! Quickly, load up the newly harvested grain we just harvested for him!"

In no time at all, the people had Zhang Fan and his two companions surrounded by people in the middle of the street.

Some people offered Zhang Fan fresh fruits, while others brought him freshly baked pancakes, stuffing them into his hands with expressions of gratitude.

Seeing this, Fusu and Mofeng quickly stood on either side of Zhang Fan, but they also truly felt the love and respect that the local people had for Zhang Fan.

at the same time.

Just as Zhang Fan was being enthusiastically surrounded by the people, he repeatedly waved his hands to decline.

A small alleyway corner not far away.

A man dressed as an ordinary merchant was standing in the shadows.

His gaze lingered on Zhang Fan, who was surrounded by the crowd.

Then.

He lowered the brim of his straw hat, and taking advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was on Zhang Fan, he turned and walked into the depths of the alley, leaving the place quietly and quickly.