The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 597 Liu Shan is blocked in the latrine

After the discussion, they immediately took action. Zhou Chang ordered Li Lin to go to the cemetery and find some excuse to trick Liu Shan into returning.

Liu Shan was quite honest. Upon receiving the news, he didn't suspect anything and returned decisively. When he returned, he found Zhou Chang already waiting for him at the yamen gate. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Magistrate Zhou, what's the matter that's so urgent that you had to make me come back so soon?"

Zhou Chang, who was standing before him, was from Ba County and came from a noble family in Yi Province. Liu Shan had lived in Chengdu for many years and had a natural affinity for people from Yi Province, so he had a good impression of Zhou Chang.

Zhou Changxing bowed and said, "Your Highness, please come in."

After inviting Liu Shan into the county government office and serving him tea, Zhou Chang spread out a map and went straight to the point: "Your Highness, please take a look. This is the terrain of our Haihun County. Haihun County has a terrain that is high in the west and low in the east, with a stepped distribution. There are many rivers, including the Gan River, the Xiu River, and the Liao River. These three rivers converge in Haihun and eventually flow into Poyang Lake."

"Besides the three major rivers, there are also many natural lakes in the county. The lakes are relatively shallow, so they are fine under normal circumstances. However, once there is a heavy rain or flood, the huge floodwaters from the confluence of the three rivers can instantly submerge the county town. Since Emperor Gaozu established the dynasty, the three rivers have exerted their power simultaneously for four hundred years, flooding the county town several times. Therefore, I propose to build water conservancy projects to widen the river channels and at the same time construct these shallow lakes within the territory, deepening them to hold more water. We can also divert water from nearby small ponds and marshes into the lakes, thereby reclaiming more arable land. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Floods were one of the greatest enemies of the Han people. Since the time of Yu the Great's flood control efforts, the Chinese people have been fighting against floods for thousands of years and have not yet achieved a complete victory.

Therefore, even now, water conservancy construction remains a top priority for the imperial court and local officials. This is especially true for Haihun County, which is located at the confluence of three rivers. When a torrential rain causes a flood, the water from the three rivers can instantly submerge Haihun County, causing incalculable damage.

After taking office, Zhou Chang examined the county annals of Haihun County and the terrain of various places within the county. He finally decided that the most important thing during his term was to build water conservancy projects and widen the river channel from Haihun County to Poyang Lake so that the county could quickly drain floodwaters into Poyang Lake when floods occurred.

However, the construction of water conservancy projects requires a huge amount of funds. Originally, he wanted to cooperate with the local gentry, seek financial assistance from the major gentry in Yuzhang County, and ask the imperial court for support. But now Liu Shan has arrived.

It was easy for Zhou Chang to trick Liu Shan back from the cemetery, but after he got back, he had to find a suitable reason to appease him. He couldn't just tell Liu Shan that nothing was wrong and that he was just joking with His Highness, could he?

Even if Liu Shan had a good temper, he would still have to deal with him in that case.

So Zhou Chang took out his original water conservancy plan, and Liu Shan looked at the map and said, "Water conservancy is indeed very important, but why are you telling me this?"

Zhou Chang chuckled and said, "Water conservancy projects benefit the country and its people, and their merits will last for generations, but the consequences will be severe in this era. More importantly, water conservancy projects require money. Your Highness, could you please allocate some funds to me from the imperial court?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan immediately exploded. "I'm so poor I'm digging up my ancestral graves, and you're asking me for money?"

Do you want my money or my life?

Liu Shan wanted to refuse, but it would be a bit embarrassing to say he had no money directly. After thinking for a moment, he decisively clutched his stomach and wailed, "Ouch, my stomach hurts so much. It must be from drinking Marquis Shence's beer. I'm going to the outhouse first. We can talk about the details when I get back."

After saying that, he got up and ran away, not giving Zhou Chang a chance to say anything more.

Logically, Zhou Chang shouldn't have chased after Liu Shan at this point, but he was afraid that Liu Shan would use the excuse of urinating to slip away through the back door to the cemetery. Therefore, he didn't hesitate to take the map and chase after Liu Shan to the outhouse, while praying that Liu Zhao and Li Lin would be quick enough that he wouldn't be able to delay them for long.

What happened next was interesting. Liu Shan was squatting in the latrine, wasting time, while Zhou Chang stood outside the latrine and continued to explain his water conservancy plan, which made Liu Shan even more afraid to go out.

The crown prince, who was blocked in the latrine by his subjects and dared not come out, was probably the number one in the Han Dynasty.

At the same time, upon learning that Liu Shan had entered the city, Liu Zhao and Li Lin avoided Liu Shan and rushed out of the city to head straight for the cemetery. However, before they even got close to the cemetery, they were stopped by soldiers who blocked their way and said, "The Marquis of Shence is conducting military exercises. This is the exercise area. All unauthorized personnel are requested to leave immediately."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhao immediately flew into a rage, pushing the soldiers aside and saying, "What kind of exercise is this? Do you really think I'm a fool? I am Liu Zhao, the current head of the Haihun Liu clan and a descendant of the Marquis of Haihun. The place where you are conducting your exercise is the tomb of my ancestor, the Marquis of Haihun. I demand that you leave immediately."

The soldiers felt a little guilty upon hearing this. After all, they had done something wrong, and how could they remain calm when they were caught red-handed?

The soldier, trying to appear calm, rebuked, "No, we cannot leave until the military exercise is over. Please, Patriarch Liu, return immediately and do not interfere with the army's operations."

Liu Zhao knew the soldiers couldn't make the decision, so he didn't argue with them. He took a few steps back and shouted at the cemetery, "Guan Xing, as the eldest son of the Grand General and the Marquis of Shence personally appointed by His Majesty, you have openly plundered my Liu family's ancestral graves. Do you have any respect for the Grand General and His Majesty? Guan Xing, get out here!"

The soldiers instinctively tried to stop him when they saw his rude remarks, but Liu Zhao quickly drew the sword from Li Lin's waist and held it to his own neck, shouting, "Don't move, or I'll die right here and let the world know that Marquis Shence, Guan Xing, forced the descendants of Marquis Haihun to their deaths for robbing the tomb of Marquis Haihun. Marquis Shence can be shameless, but does the Great General not care either?"

General Guan Yu valued his reputation above all else. If people knew that his eldest son had dug up someone's ancestral grave for money, how would the world view him? Saying he had failed in raising his son would be too lenient; people would say that the Guan family was inherently corrupt. How would Guan Yu handle that?

So Liu Zhao wanted to see if Guan Xing dared to trample on the face his father had protected for most of his life.

Upon hearing this, the soldier indeed dared not make any rash moves and quickly advised, "Sir, please calm down. I will go and report to Marquis Shence right away."

After saying that, he turned and ran away. Half an hour later, he returned with Guan Xing. Guan Xing clasped his hands in greeting from afar and said with a smile, "So you are a descendant of the Marquis of Haihun. I am sorry for my disrespect."

Liu Zhao, however, was unmoved and pointed his sword at Guan Xing, angrily rebuking him: "Guan Xing, my Haihun Liu family has no grudge against you. Why did you desecrate my ancestral graves? Don't try to fool me with this bullshit excuse of military exercises. I'm not stupid. If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll fight you to the death."

Guan Xing touched his nose awkwardly upon hearing this, but he was not alarmed. He had anticipated this scene before he came. The Liu family of Haihun had been operating in Haihun County for hundreds of years, and their influence had spread throughout the county. The tomb of the Marquis of Haihun was a sacred place for the Liu family of Haihun, and there were still guards guarding the tomb. It was normal for it to be discovered.

Seeing that his scheme had been exposed, Guan Xing didn't bother with further explanation and simply shrugged, saying, "Since you've discovered me, I'll lay my cards on the table and stop pretending. I was indeed robbing the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun to take the money inside to supplement my household income. So let's stop arguing and just go through the motions. I'll beat you up and then continue digging, while you go home, pack your things, and go to Jiangling to file a complaint with the emperor. How about that?"

Liu Zhao trembled with rage and said, "Guan Anguo, you are shameless! Don't you think about yourself or the General? How can the General face himself after you do something that has tarnished his reputation?"

Guan Xing said, "You don't need to worry about my family's affairs. Just tell me whether you're leaving or not."

Liu Zhao angrily turned and left. After walking a few steps away and keeping a safe distance, he turned back and said, "Guan Xing, you just wait. I'm going to report you to His Majesty. I'll let the whole world know your ugly face, Guan Xing."

After saying that, he took off running, his legs swinging like wheels, looking even more agile than Guan Xing.