Only after the wool had been fleeced clean did Lin Yi ask, "Wang Yue, how did the investigation into Xiliang go?"
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you would win a hundred battles out of a hundred!
Although he had intelligence from the Northern Liang Guard, Lin Yi never fought an unprepared battle, so he had Wang Yue send a large number of people to Xiliang City. He needed to know enough about the place.
That way, minor problems would not hold him up when the time came, and he could switch straight into rapid development mode.
Wang Yue nodded and pulled a stack of intelligence reports from his robes. "My lord, Xiliang City isn't large. It's not even a quarter the size of Northern Liang City. But this is where the territory of the Northern Region barbarians, the Great Ning Dynasty, and our Northern Liang meet, so dragons and snakes mingle here."
"Mountain bandits, robbers, and even some dark forces have chosen to put down roots here, and they're no small groups!"
"Also, because this is where all three sides meet, each of them eyes it like a tiger watching its prey. At present, Northern Liang and Great Ning are jointly defending against barbarian invasions, but they're also suspicious of each other, so the three sides stand like the legs of a tripod."
"If you want to take over Xiliang, my lord, you'll have to break this balance. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will be hard to accomplish much!"
A trace of confusion flashed in Wang Yue's eyes as he spoke with a bitter smile.
To tell the truth, he could not understand why the prince had sent his lord here. Under pressure from all three sides, it would be far too difficult to accomplish anything.
Once the balance was broken, his lord might not have to face the Northern Region barbarians alone. A stab in the back from the Great Ning Dynasty was also a possibility.
Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Lin Yi said softly, "This is a test my father gave me. The Prince of Northern Liang's banner isn't so easy to carry. This is a nightmare-level test!"
This so-called Xiliang was actually one of the entrances the Northern Region barbarians had used to invade the Great Ning Dynasty back then. It had originally been called Dayu Pass. It connected Northern Liang, the barbarians, and the Great Ning Empire, so its importance went without saying.
It was also easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once someone took it, they could choke off the other side's invasion, so no one wanted to give it up, and the fighting had never stopped.
In the end, the Northern Region barbarians had taken the initiative to give it up. After all, this was not their only entrance south, so there was no need to fight Northern Liang and the Great Ning Dynasty to the bitter end. They only had to keep the other sides from occupying it completely.
The Great Ning Dynasty had wanted to fight its way in, but the Northern Region barbarians were no pushovers either. In Xiliang, cavalry ruled the land, and any Great Ning army that went there would become prey.
Thus, a subtle tacit understanding had formed: none of them expected to occupy the whole place, so they would settle for a share each.
Now his father was sending him to fight his way in and develop the place. That was definitely stirring up a hornet's nest.
If he had not understood before, then after his baptism in power over the past few days, he had more or less guessed what the Prince of Northern Liang had in mind: to test whether he, the heir, was capable of inheriting the title of Prince of Northern Liang.
So he was starting straight off in nightmare mode!
Where three territories met, it was land everyone would fight over!
This would also be his final test before taking over as Prince of Northern Liang. Once he succeeded, he would become the lord of Northern Liang.
"So that's how it is. Your father really did put a lot of thought into this, my lord, but it's still far too difficult."
Wang Yue could not help sighing.
Snatching chestnuts from the fire amid these three great powers was no less difficult than Northern Liang declaring independence, was it?
The Prince of Northern Liang was too harsh on his lord.
Lin Yi smiled bitterly. "You think it's that simple? Haven't you noticed there's something wrong with this Xiliang?"
"Something wrong with Xiliang?"
Wang Yue glanced at the map but could not find the problem. Nothing seemed wrong with it.
The map was detailed, and it even had annotations.
Lin Yi gave him an exasperated look, then pointed at the map and smiled. "And you call yourself an expert? Haven't you noticed that this so-called Xiliang is actually east of our Northern Liang?"
Ah!
It dawned on Wang Yue. If it was in the east, it should have been called Eastern Liang, so why was it called Xiliang?
Wait!
He suddenly understood something and blurted out, "I understand! The prince wants you to conquer the east, my lord. Then Eastern Liang will naturally become Xiliang!"
Good heavens!
Wang Yue could not help drawing a sharp breath. Most of the land to the east belonged to the Northern Region barbarians, and some belonged to the Great Ning Dynasty. The prince was sending his lord to court death!
It was difficult enough to contend with two great powers using the strength of a single territory, but he also had to take their land from them. That was simply far too difficult.
Lin Yi sighed and said softly, "Whoever wears the crown must bear its weight."
An ordinary person could never withstand that pressure!
Fortunately!
He was no ordinary person!
"Whoever wears the crown must bear its weight!"
Wang Yue repeated the words. He felt an immense pressure, as heavy as a mountain, leaving even an expert like him struggling to breathe.
For this was the pressure of carrying a nation on one's shoulders, something no ordinary person could do.
But his lord was such a genius that this surely would not defeat him.
He could not help sneering. "My lord, you are a genius blessed by the heavens, accomplished in both the scholarly and martial arts. Those so-called barbarians and the Great Ning Dynasty can do nothing to you. Instead, it's their end that's coming!"
Hmph!
Who was his lord? A ruthless man who could purge thousands of people from Northern Liang City with a wave of his hand, a genius who could become an expert through an instant of enlightenment.
The mere Northern Region barbarians and Great Ning Dynasty were nothing to worry about.
Hahaha!
Hearing his words, Lin Yi was instantly filled with heroic spirit. He laughed aloud. "Well said! I am the heir, the one chosen by fate, and I have advantages no one else possesses. How could a mere city trap me?"
Aside from possessing the system, he was also the heir to the Prince of Northern Liang, giving him a natural advantage on one side. He only needed to deal with the Northern Region barbarians and the Great Ning Dynasty.
With so many trump cards in hand, taking a territory would be simple enough.
Xiliang also had another advantage: once occupied, it would be easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it perfectly suited to serve as a stronghold.
When the time came, he could use his advantages to strengthen his Xiliang.
Then striking north at the barbarians and pressing south against Great Ning would not be impossible. Perhaps he could accomplish a great undertaking.
"That's right. My lord is chosen by fate and will surely soar to the heavens!" Seeing his lord's heroic spirit rise to the clouds, Wang Yue could not help feeling his heart sway. The young man before him was like a heavenly god, with lofty ambitions.
Being fortunate enough to assist his lord was an immense honor.
Lin Yi laughed heartily and nodded. "Go make the arrangements. I'm afraid we can't delay much longer before we have to go take charge in Xiliang. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu bought the Ran Clan's salt mine earlier. Send someone to keep an eye on it!"
"Understood, my lord!" Wang Yue nodded and went straight off to make the arrangements.
Watching him leave, Lin Yi's eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. Wang Yue was full of drive now.
The preparations were nearly complete. All that was missing was the most important thing: money!
As long as the salt was successfully refined, it would surely become an instant sensation.
The coarse salt available now was rather bitter. Compared with his refined salt, it was not in the same league.