The prison had already exceeded its limits, and the original facility could no longer hold the growing number of inmates.
At the same time, Li Dao Xuan's field of vision had expanded once again, allowing him to see a small portion of Huanglong Mountain. With that in mind, he decided to relocate the new prison directly into the mountains.
More than seven thousand captives were escorted by Cheng Xu into a valley within Huanglong Mountain. When they looked down at the terrain, their expressions immediately turned grim.
The layout of the valley was almost identical to the one where they had been defeated by the militia. The only difference was that this valley had a few additional exits. From a military standpoint, choosing such a place as a camp would normally be considered an extremely foolish decision.
Cheng Xu raised his voice so that everyone could hear him clearly. "All of you, watch carefully. Dao Xuan Tianzun will turn this valley into your prison. Open your eyes and see what divine authority truly looks like."
The captives were still confused, but that confusion did not last long.
Two enormous golden hands descended slowly from the sky, radiating layers of multicolored light that made them look both sacred and terrifying. The moment they appeared, several captives were so frightened that they collapsed on the spot.
In the past, Li Dao Xuan had treated the civilians of Cheng County with great care, never revealing his power too abruptly. He had always prepared them step by step so that they could accept it gradually. However, he had no intention of extending the same courtesy to these captives.
This time, fear was exactly what he wanted.
If they were frightened enough, they would think twice before causing trouble in the future. That would reduce the burden on his own people and prevent unnecessary injuries during management.
The golden hands lifted a massive boulder and brought it crashing down onto one of the valley's exits, sealing it completely. Immediately afterward, they began excavating the ground at remarkable speed, carving out a large pit. A stream of water descended from above like a celestial river and quickly filled the pit, forming a pond.
The captives watched in silence, their faces drained of color. To them, this display was nothing short of the power to move mountains and redirect rivers.
The golden hands continued their work without pause. More boulders were moved into place, accompanied by layers of earth and sand, until each exit of the valley was sealed one after another. In the end, only a single narrow passage remained open.
A massive gate was then lowered from the sky and firmly installed at the final exit. With that, the entire valley was transformed into a fully enclosed prison.
As a final touch, two small fortress structures were placed on both sides of the gate, reinforcing the entrance and turning it into a defensible checkpoint.
By the time everything was finished, the captives were pale and silent, their earlier thoughts of resistance completely gone.
Cheng Xu looked at them and spoke in a calm, steady tone. "Move inside. This will be where you spend the next several years."
Not a single person dared to resist. They filed into the valley in an orderly manner and settled down without protest.
Old Nanfeng entered together with more than six hundred frontier troop convicts. Mixing these experienced soldiers with the newly captured prisoners was inherently risky, but Old Nanfeng showed no sign of concern.
Instead, a faint and rather peculiar smile appeared on his face.
He understood the situation very clearly. If the prisoners behaved, then everything would remain quiet. However, if they caused trouble, he would have the opportunity to step in, suppress the instigators, and report the matter. Each such action would count as merit and could reduce his sentence.
From his perspective, the more unstable the prisoners were, the greater his chances of earning an early release.
After ensuring that all the captives had been secured within the valley, Li Dao Xuan shifted his attention and carefully examined the portion of Huanglong Mountain now within his view.
The more he looked, the more suitable the place seemed.
Huanglong Mountain had high terrain, dense forests, and multiple routes connecting to surrounding regions. To the west lay Luochuan County, to the north Yichuan, to the east Hancheng, and to the south Baishui, Cheng County, and Heyang. It was a naturally advantageous location with excellent connectivity.
Such a place would be ideal as a revolutionary base.
The only limitation at the moment was that his vision still could not cover the entire mountain range. He could only see a small section of its southern area. Even so, that section alone was already sufficient to begin initial development.
With more than seven thousand labor reform convicts now available, he could have them work within the mountains, digging, building, and gradually shaping the foundation of a base.
With that thought in mind, he shifted his perspective back to Gao Village Family and instructed Gao Yiye to relay orders to San Shier so that more detailed planning could begin.
At that very moment, a group approached from the east and entered the village.
Li Dao Xuan noticed them immediately and focused his attention. The leading figure looked somewhat familiar, dressed in the official robes of a county magistrate.
After a brief moment of recollection, he recognized him.
Feng Jun, the magistrate of Heyang County.
Feng Jun had arrived with a large group of attendants, carrying the head of Fan Shanyue. He had entered Cheng County through Zhengjia Village and was planning to continue onward to Xi'an to report his achievements to the provincial governor.
However, after entering Cheng County, he found himself increasingly bewildered.
Along the way, the land was lush and vibrant, filled with crops, wildflowers, and greenery. There was no visible sign of the drought that plagued other regions. By the time he reached Gao Village Family, the sight of a prosperous and lively settlement left him momentarily speechless.
His confusion was so great that he stood there blankly, even as a faint trickle of blood ran from his nose.
Just as he was trying to process what he was seeing, he spotted a familiar face in the village.
"Mr. Bai. Wait, Mr. Bai."
He quickly hurried over.
"It truly is you. What luck to meet you here."
Feng Jun arrived in front of Bai Yuan and raised the box in his hands with a smile. "A few days ago, with your assistance, we eliminated the bandits of Fanshan. As you can see, we have secured Fan Shanyue's head. Our Heyang County has finally put an end to this threat. I am now on my way to Xi'an to personally present this to the governor."
Bai Yuan returned a polite smile. "It was my honor to be of assistance, Magistrate Feng."
Feng Jun looked around the village again, unable to hide his astonishment. "This village…"
Bai Yuan spoke calmly. "This is Gao Village Family. It has long been under the protection of Dao Xuan Tianzun. The people here live in peace and prosperity. You may rest assured, Magistrate Feng. Heyang County will soon enjoy the same conditions."
Feng Jun could only stare in confusion, clearly not understanding what he meant.
At that moment, Gao Yiye approached them, still dressed in white after the earlier ceremony.
Seeing her, Bai Yuan immediately stepped aside after giving a respectful greeting. He understood that Dao Xuan Tianzun had something to say, and that Gao Yiye would be the one to convey it.
Feng Jun found the situation somewhat puzzling. He did not understand why Bai Yuan had stepped back to let a woman take the lead in the conversation.
Gao Yiye smiled gently. "Greetings, Magistrate Feng. My name is Gao Yiye, the principal wife of the Li family here."
Feng Jun glanced toward the distant fortified residence and quickly grasped her status. "Madam, how may I be of service?"
Gao Yiye spoke with composure. "My husband wishes to ask you something. Heyang County lies along the Yellow River. Is there a well-known dock called Qiachuan Wharf?"
Feng Jun nodded. "Indeed, there is. It is one of the most important trading ports in Heyang County. In good years, merchant ships from various regions gather there, and the variety of goods is remarkable."
Upon hearing this, Li Dao Xuan felt a surge of satisfaction.
So Qiachuan Wharf truly existed.
That was excellent news.
Unfortunately, his current field of vision only covered part of Heyang County, and the port lay toward the eastern edge, still beyond his reach. However, once his influence expanded further, he would be able to extend his reach to the Yellow River itself.
At that point, many possibilities would open up.
In his mind, the image of ships drifting along the Yellow River had already begun to take shape.
Chapter Trivia:
Valley Prisons: Natural valleys were historically used as detention zones because terrain reduced manpower needs more effectively than walls.
Fear as Administration: Early regimes often relied on a single overwhelming display of force to lower long-term control costs.
Yellow River Trade: Docks like Qiachuan connected inland agrarian zones to salt, cloth, and grain markets. Control meant leverage.
Boats Before Ideals: Infrastructure always precedes ideology. Whoever controls transport controls survival.