Chapter 476: New Year's Eve! (Thanks to Kang Ming, Scent of Books 69, and Maxfan for the tips!)
The first month of the lunar year, New Year’s Eve.

The streets and alleys of Dongning were filled with a festive and peaceful atmosphere. Bright and beautiful fireworks kept blooming in the sky and the sound of firecrackers was endless. Although Liaoyang had suffered from war in the past year, with Ye Mingsheng's administration, Liaoyang's administration and security situation had been completely renewed.

All those corrupt officials who had been sitting in their positions doing nothing and colluding with businessmen in the past were removed from their posts, and a large number of capable, motivated and ethical officials were given important positions. The bandit problem that had plagued Liaoyang for decades quickly collapsed and disappeared under Ye Mingsheng's determination and the iron fist of the Fengwu Army, and was swept into the garbage dump of history. The security situation in Liaoyang has been greatly improved...
In addition, Ye Mingsheng focused on suppressing the gentry power headed by the three clans in Liaoyang, redeeming land to stabilize prices, and public-private partnerships of major businesses. These series of actions, while protecting the lives and property rights of the people, also greatly improved the living standards and quality of life of the people, allowing the people to have food to eat, clothes to wear, and land to farm. This also made Ye Mingsheng, Governor Ye, loved and supported by the people!
Military Governor's Office
In the past, Liang Hong married Meng Guang, and now the fairy meets the King of Xiang

I secretly laughed at my brother for planning a vicious plot to harm King Liu.

The matchmaker is actually Qiao Guozhang, even if something big happens, it's okay
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On the makeshift stage, actors are singing the story of Liu Bei marrying Lady Sun during the Three Kingdoms period. It is most appropriate to listen to such music during such a festive occasion.

The actors on the stage sang beautifully, and Ye Cui in the audience was so excited that she couldn't help but sing along in a low voice. Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng, who was sitting nearby, nodded secretly in his heart and felt relieved.

Although the plays at Dongting Theater were good, because of the Shen Yutong incident, the little good impression Ye Mingsheng had for them was gone. Although he did not want to embarrass them, he did not want to listen to their plays anymore, so he instructed his subordinates to find another famous theater in Liaoyang Liyuan, Tingchunlou, to perform the big play during the New Year in the mansion.

Before, Ye Mingsheng was a little worried whether Tingchunlou’s business level could satisfy Ye Cui, but now it seems that he was worrying too much...

Thinking of this, the corner of Ye Mingsheng's eyes unconsciously drifted to the right, where An Miaoyi was sitting, and next to An Miaoyi was Shen Yutong!
Ever since she entered the mansion, An Miaoyi has been very good to Shen Yutong. She personally arranged a courtyard for her and hired servants and maids to serve her. If you didn't know, you would think that Shen Yutong was An Miaoyi's biological sister, or her close friend.

When Shen Yutong came into the mansion, she behaved very quietly. She usually read books and played the piano in the yard. Ye Mingsheng also heard that she raised a puppy in the yard and dug a small pond to raise fish. It seemed that she was living a peaceful life.

The more Shen Yutong acted like this, the more curious Ye Mingsheng became about her. Ever since he understood the story of this unfortunate woman, Ye Mingsheng felt a little pity for her. He also thought that the reason she was willing to come to him was perhaps because she wanted to use his power to take revenge on the Murong family in the future.

With this idea in mind, Ye Mingsheng initially thought that Shen Yutong would compete for favor like Jinyu and Bai Yuanyuan when she entered the mansion. However, as time passed, looking at Shen Yutong's quiet and indifferent appearance, Ye Mingsheng began to feel that he seemed to have underestimated Shen Yutong...
Now Ye Mingsheng began to feel that either he had been wrong from the beginning, and Shen Yutong did not come to the mansion to borrow his power to deal with the Murong family, but for some other reason, or Shen Yutong's level was higher than he imagined, and Shen Yutong was playing hard to get with him, and those who were willing to take the bait would be caught!
Although he didn't know which possibility it was, Ye Mingsheng had to admit that he did have a little interest in Shen Yutong! This also made Ye Mingsheng start to hang Shen Yutong. He, Ye, wanted to see if you were really calm and peaceful, or if you were just pretending!

Shen Yutong, who was sitting next to An Miaoyi, felt a gaze on her and subconsciously turned her head to look. She happened to see Ye Mingsheng, who seemed to be nonchalant. He frowned as if hesitant. Shen Yutong turned her head again and looked at the stage.

After talking to Ye Cui for a few words and making his mother happy, Ye Mingsheng quietly retreated. Although this year was New Year's Eve, as the governor of Liaoyang and the supreme commander of the Fengwu Army, he still had things to do...

When he returned to the study, Qi Dechao was already waiting for him there. Seeing Ye Mingsheng coming, he whispered:

"Reporting to the Lord, the latest news has just been sent to us. General Guo's Third Division has now arrived at the designated location. General Yuan and General Lin will also arrive at the designated location as planned in three to five days. General Xun Ke and General Ye Tie are also ready. As soon as the war starts, Liaoyang will enter the second-level combat readiness state, and tens of thousands of reserve soldiers can enter the battle sequence at any time!"

Ye Mingsheng nodded and said:

"Youyan, is there any news from the Yunbing direction?"

Qi Dechao continued to introduce:

"I heard that there was another heavy snowfall on the grasslands in the north last month, freezing tens of thousands of the Robe people's livestock and thousands of people to death. So recently, the Robe people, as usual, sent some cavalry south to plunder property and people."

"Their number is not too large, only a few thousand people, but they are divided into more than ten small units, and they are all cavalry units. They will run away after robbing without any delay. Therefore, Youyan has been in a mess in the past few days. Many towns have been looted, and some towns that resisted to the end were even massacred by the Luobi people..."

"I will deal with these Luobi barbarians sooner or later!" Ye Mingsheng cursed with a flash of murderous intent in his eyes:
Although Ye Mingsheng also targeted Youyan like the Luobi people, the difference was that he targeted Youyan due to an internal conflict in the Great Zhou. His Fengwu Army had strict military discipline and never harassed the civilians.

The Luobi people were external invaders who committed all kinds of atrocities including burning, killing, looting and so on. In addition, Ye Mingsheng's Liaoyang also bordered the Luobi people, so Ye Mingsheng could empathize with the plight of the people of Youyan.

"In addition to the invasion of the Luobei people, although there has been no large-scale war between the main force of the Yan army led by Zhao Fuqu and Feng Han's troops in recent times, small-scale battles have never stopped between Jinyang and Jinzhong. Some towns have changed hands several times in the past month. They have actually formed a confrontation situation, and for a while neither side can do anything to the other."

"In order to break this balance of power, Zhao Fuqu has ordered Youyan to form a second division to rush to Yunbing. According to the information we got from our spies in Youyan, the person most likely to become the general of the second division is not Zhao Yong who is stationed in Zhuo County, but Shen Zhuo in Jizhou..."

Ye Mingsheng sneered and said indifferently:

"Zhao Fuqu thinks too much. They have no chance! I remember reporting Shen Zhuo to the Coordination Office before. Didn't he complain a lot? Tell Yuan Song and the others that I want Shen Zhuo alive. I want to see for myself whether he still has so many complaints in front of me!"

"Yes!"

Qi Dechao nodded, and then he seemed to remember something and said:
"Sir, this is the situation in Youyan. However, some problems have occurred in Gongdu. The Coordination Office has received news that the former Gongdu Crown Prince Li Xuanchang and the Red Tiger Army General Park Jingyuan may have quietly returned to Gongdu from Dongdao!"

Hearing the names "Li Xuanchang, Park Jingyuan", Ye Mingsheng couldn't remember them for a moment because of the passage of time. He just felt that the two names were very familiar, as if he had heard these two names somewhere before...
Seeing Ye Mingsheng like this, Qi Dechao, the attendant, also reminded him considerately:

"Sir, when you led your troops to attack Liujing, these two people escaped from the tunnel in Liujing!" Ye Mingsheng suddenly realized what was going on. Recalling this incident and the past in the palace, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help but sigh, and then continued to ask Qi Dechao:
"Since the two of them are back, let the Coordination Office be responsible for arresting them. Didn't they arrange some personnel in the palace?"

Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Qi Dechao seemed a little embarrassed. After considering his words, he continued to explain to Ye Mingsheng:

"Sir, Li Xuanchang and Park Jingyuan did not come back alone. According to the investigation of the Coordination Office, when Li Xuanchang and Park Jingyuan escaped from Liujing, they were accompanied by hundreds of Red Tiger Army soldiers. Some of these Red Tiger Army soldiers hid in the palace, and some followed Li Xuanchang and Park Jingyuan to Dongdao!"

“During the years he spent in Dongdao, Li Xuanchang also won over many people from the palace in Dongdao. He also recruited many Dongdao wanderers and pirates. Therefore, Li Xuanchang may have brought thousands of people with him this time…”

"In addition to the people brought back from Dongdao, Li Xuanchang also has many supporters in Gongdu. Among these supporters, some are local powerful figures. Even half a month ago, the Coordination Office uncovered a conspiracy to assassinate Gongdu King Li Xuanmin in Gongdu!"

"According to the investigation of the Coordination Office, there are many people involved in this assassination plan, including the Black Dragon Society, Li Xuanchang, and the pro-Japanese faction in the palace!"

Ye Mingsheng probably realized the seriousness of the matter after hearing this. After thinking for a while, he asked seriously:

"What did Huo San say? Is the palace in danger in the short term?"

Qi Dechao continued:
"We have demanded such a large amount of compensation from the palace, and there are complaints inside the palace. However, because our army swept through the palace before, the people inside the palace are still quite afraid of our army. Although the current situation in the palace is very complicated, it can still be basically controlled.

"The Coordination Office has already sent additional personnel to Gongdu, so Gongdu should not have any impact on our army's entry into the country for the time being. However, according to what Director Huo said, the situation in Gongdu does require some attention..."

Hearing what Qi Dechao said, Ye Mingsheng felt relieved. Now there were only a few days left before the sneak attack on Youyan. Once the battle of Youyan started, although Ye Mingsheng was very confident, he had to prepare for the worst. Therefore, if Youyan fell into a protracted war and something unexpected happened in the palace again, it would be very uncomfortable!

Picking up the teacup and taking a sip to moisten his throat, Ye Mingsheng, who had an idea, instructed Qi Dechao:

"Tell Huo San that the situation in Gongdu must be stabilized and no mistakes can be made! Kobayakawa Takahide and the others are local tyrants, so we must work together with them! Face the current difficulties together and find an opportunity to execute a decapitation operation on Li Xuanchang!"

"understand!"

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Just as Ye Mingsheng was making final arrangements for the eve of entering the Pass, in Anqing, thousands of miles away from Dongning, Xu Zhaojie was meeting with envoys from Huainan.

"I am Feng Keji from Huainan, and I am honored to meet the Inspector General!" Feng Keji bowed and saluted to Xu Zhaojie in front of him;
Seeing Feng Keji just bowed to him, Xu Zhaojie's eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure. He was the Marquis of Zhenyuan and the Inspector General of Anqing, a high-ranking official of the third rank of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Feng Keji was just a commoner, how dare he be so rude? Even if he didn't kneel, he should have bowed, right?

Although he thought so in his heart, when he thought of Feng Keji's identity, Xu Zhaojie suppressed his unhappiness, smiled, strode forward and greeted him enthusiastically:

“Brother Keji, you are here! You should know that the governor sent you here, and I should go out of the city to welcome you…”

Feeling Xu Zhaojie's enthusiasm, Feng Keji's expression also showed a hint of complacency and he said lightly:

"How dare Feng, a commoner, accept such courtesy from the inspector?"

"What's the difference between an inspector general and an inspector general? We are all brothers!" Xu Zhaojie suppressed the urge to kill him with a knife and said with a smile:

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xu Zhaojie, smiling, took the initiative to ask Feng Keji:

"How are you these days, Lord Governor? Do you like the antique paintings I gave you last time?"

Feng Keji took a sip of tea after hearing this, and then replied slowly:

"My brother is doing well recently. Thank you for your concern, the Inspector General. As for the antiques and famous paintings you sent him before, my brother also likes them very much and often praises you as a rare talent!"

"As long as the governor likes it, this is what I, Xu, should do!" Xu Zhaojie clapped his hands and smiled, looking very happy.
Seeing this, Feng Keji continued to say calmly:

"Although my brother likes the antiques and famous paintings sent by you, he doesn't understand something, so he asked me to come and ask Lord Xu. I wonder if you are willing to help my brother solve his confusion..."

(End of this chapter)