Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 47

“Why are we back in a stalemate again?” Cheng Jinyang looked at the recent military reports, feeling quite frustrated.

After calling in Xie Zhushu for an analysis, he realized that the military was being rather cunning. Knowing that Su Zigao was determined to hold onto Jiankang, they deliberately blocked the supply lines around Jiankang, hoping to starve the Liyang army and avoid the losses of a direct assault.

Of course, if it weren’t for the demon contamination in the southern part of Jiankang, making it clear that a move to another capital was imminent, no one would dare to play such a blatant game. A long-term occupation of the capital would be a severe blow to the empire on many fronts.

However, this didn’t really concern the Northern Army. What everyone was more concerned about was the relocation of the capital after the war, specifically whether the empire’s political focus should shift east or west.

The Yu family faction supported the westward move. Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were in Wuchang, which should have been an invincible position by default. But as the Five Surnames and major clans transferred to Jingkou and many aristocratic families followed to Lin’an, the call for an eastward move was growing louder.

On the military side, the commanders of the Longxiang and Feixiong armies were in favor of the westward move. Tao Shixing, stationed in Jingzhou, was a staunch supporter of westward relocation. Wen Taizhen, who had a very close relationship with Yu Yuanrui, also supported the westward move.

In contrast, the Shenwu and Xiaoqi armies showed different leanings. Yu Si’ao, who was quite old and had originally planned to retire this year, continued his duties due to Su Zigao’s rebellion, so he hadn’t expressed his opinion. However, as the Shenwu army had the highest infiltration by the Sima clan, high-ranking officers from the imperial family strongly favored the eastward move, clearly opposing the Yu family faction.

Xiaoqi army commander Xie Daohui had not made any statements either. Xie Zhushu privately joked with Cheng Jinyang that “Xie Gong is a scheming old fox,” meaning that Xie Daohui would not make a decision until he fully understood the situation.

Among the aristocratic families, mainstream opinion was almost unanimously in favor of the eastward move. With the Five Great Families now stationed in Jingkou and Wang Chuming of the Taiyuan Wang family (Miss Wang’s uncle) as the commander in Lin’an, the influence of the aristocracy there was unprecedentedly strong.

As the head of the Cheng clan in the capital and the commander of Jingkou, Cheng Jinyang naturally had to firmly support the eastward move. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of history repeating itself.

Of course, in politics, one’s own interests must always come first. Just like every founding emperor favored granting fiefs to the royal family, only for successors to have to dismantle those same fiefs, one must act according to one’s position. Cheng Jinyang had long been aware of this.

In any case, the focus was on waiting for the war to end first.

Another piece of intelligence concerned the White Lotus Sect. Despite numerous attempts by the court to eradicate it, the sect always managed to revive quickly, largely because its origin was in the northern demon-occupied zones, too far for the court to manage effectively…

With the influx of northern refugees, the White Lotus Sect had also begun spreading secretly in Jingkou. This month alone, they had been cracked down on three times, with about 500 people arrested, almost filling the prisons. This had become an increasing headache for Cheng Jinyang.

In the demon-occupied areas, one might have to submit to the demons, but to continue worshiping demons once back in human society? What’s going on? Were they really brainwashed, suffering from Stockholm syndrome?

Enough of that. A severe crackdown on these cultists was necessary!

The official stance was to rehabilitate these White Lotus Sect members, with those who could not be rehabilitated executed on the spot—Jingkou was not a law-abiding society, and the prisons could not hold so many people. In other refugee gathering places, if White Lotus Sect members were found, entire families were often killed.

Cheng Jinyang approved this approach.

While dealing with the state affairs, he suddenly received a phone call.

“Jinyang, Jinyang!” The cheerful voice of Cui Xiaoniang came through the phone. “Come and pick us up in Zhou City!”

“What’s the matter?” Cheng Jinyang asked with a serious tone.

“Oh, never mind, just come quickly…”

“Got it.” Cheng Jinyang shook his head with a smile and a sigh.

Using his advanced technique to fly out of the window, Cheng Jinyang raced towards Zhou City, encountering a few patrol members along the way, exchanging greetings.

Currently, Tianluo had largely withdrawn from the city defense of Jingkou Town, leaving only a small contingent behind for aerial patrols and support. Timely detection of crimes and maintaining public order were crucial for Jingkou now, given the overwhelming number of refugees.

The government had ordered a few riot-control helicopters from the Lin’an military factory, but they still couldn’t cope with the rapidly growing security pressures. Thinking about this, Cheng Jinyang felt another headache coming on.

After circling above Zhou City, Cheng Jinyang finally spotted the girls. Each of them was laden with bags of various sizes, clearly showing the bountiful results of their shopping trip.

Women were truly formidable.

Descending in front of them, Cheng Jinyang scanned the group. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight—everyone was here… huh?

It wasn’t Yang Wangshu, but Xie Lingjiang?

“Brother Jinyang,” Xie Lingjiang greeted him sweetly.

“We ran into them on the road,” Cui Jinqi explained. “They were looking for Xie Zhushu and didn’t know the way, so we happened to meet them.”

Cheng Jinyang was a bit speechless as he looked at the two guards behind her and sighed. “I’ll take you there.”

“Please don’t trouble yourself, General,” the two Xie family guards said quickly, bowing.

“We’re all acquaintances; no need for formality,” Cheng Jinyang waved his hand. He then saw Chu Qingqing lift her shopping bag and smiled, “And help us send these back.”

“No way!” Cheng Jinyang exclaimed in shock. “You’re still buying? Planning to move the entire mall home?”

“Is this really all you think we need?” Cui Xiaoniang replied defiantly. “Are you underestimating our shopping power?”

“We’ll keep shopping for a bit longer. Sorry for the trouble,” Zheng Qiupei said with a wry smile.

Cheng Jinyang had no choice but to use his technique to make the shopping bags float around him and signaled for Xie Lingjiang and her entourage to follow.

“I didn’t expect Jingkou to be so bustling,” Little Xie Lingjiang marveled at the busy scene around her.

“My brother praised this place, saying it was once full of withered trees and wild grass, but under your wise rule, it has transformed into a lively urban area.”

“Xie Zhushu always knows how to speak prettily,” Cheng Jinyang laughed, “Actually, when we first took over, the scale of refugees was already quite substantial, almost comparable to that of a town.”

“It was indeed quite chaotic back then, with makeshift shelters everywhere. Those who couldn’t survive either joined gangs or became monks or beggars, relying on alms or begging to get by. Later, we put effort into organizing the town and solved the employment issues, so you don’t see that now…”

Before he could finish, a monk appeared at the street corner, causing Cheng Jinyang to choke on his words.

Damn, does the slap in the face have to come so quickly!