Chapter 197
Imperial Palace
Unlike the seemingly plausible news about sweet potatoes that the common people in the Central Plains heard, the new emperor not only learned about the high-yield and easy-to-grow habits of sweet potatoes, but even got about ten kilograms of sweet potatoes in person.
The new emperor looked at the sweet potatoes on the tray, feeling helpless and resentful. The sweet potato, a precious plant, had been discovered by Yichun. Why had Heaven been so kind to Yichun? Why hadn't Daliang been the first to discover the sweet potato? If Daliang had had sweet potatoes, their prosperity would have easily lasted another hundred years.
Why is it like this now? The country is unstable and precarious. But asking him to accept his fate is impossible. He doesn't want the two-hundred-year-old Daliang Dynasty to be destroyed in his hands. There is still a chance. A ruthless look flashed in the new emperor's eyes.
Houcheng
The street next to the Houcheng Prefectural Government's residence was home to the city's high-ranking officials and dignitaries. The houses on this street, especially those closest to the Prefectural Government's residence, were specially set aside by the Prefect's order to serve as guesthouses or guesthouses for his distinguished guests.
At this time, the imperial army of 150,000 was approaching the city, and Lord Yao Chunnuan came to supervise the battle and stayed in one of the rooms. Some generals also stayed in other guest houses.
In the dim night, Guo Huai
I was invited here. "Why are you drinking at this hour?"
"How can I not be happy?" Zhu Junlan said as he poured himself a glass of wine.
"Take it easy. Our Yichun wine is delicious, but it has a strong aftertaste."
Over there, Zhu Junlan and his friends were drinking. Over here, Yao Chunnuan had just wrung out her hair with the help of Qi Yingshan when she heard some noise from the yard opposite her house.
"Yao, long time no see."
"Wang Lang, is that you?" When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Yao Chunnuan was resting in the Houcheng Villa. She was really surprised to see Wang Lang appear in Houcheng City.
Qi Yingshan protected her to his side and said to Wang Lang unhappily, "Wang Lang, you can call her Lady Yao, or even call her by her name." In short, calling her Yao is not okay. It sounds harsh and looks like you are looking down on someone. Besides, it doesn't mean you have good intentions. You are still calling her Yao when she is your wife!
Wang Lang glanced at Qi Yingshan. He had seen Qi Yingshan before. Compared to his immature appearance two years ago, the current Qi Yingshan had a touch of maturity and firmness in his youthfulness, which was very attractive to women.
Wang Lang also knew that for the past two years, Yao Chunnuan had only had him by her side. He had always been by her side, and the two had never married.
Yao Chunnuan poked her head out and said, "Wang Lang, let's just call each other by our first names."
Noticing that the night wind was a bit strong, Qi Yingshan took out a thin cloak and put it on her.
During this time, Yao Chunnuan patted the back of his hand to comfort him.
Wang Lang felt a little uncomfortable watching this scene, but he tried his best to ignore it and instead focus on Yao Chunnuan. After not seeing her for two years, the woman before him seemed to have grown up, more beautiful than two years ago. Moreover, because she had held power for many years, she had a very special aura that made people unforgettable.
Power is the greatest desire, not only for men but also for women.
In comparison, he looked much more haggard in the past two years because of all the worries he had.
As Wang Lang studied Yao Chunnuan, Yao Chunnuan was also studying him. After two years, Wang Lang didn't look very well. But Yao Chunnuan was more focused on how he had appeared in Houcheng, and how capable he was, rather than on his appearance.
"A Nuan, long time no see. If there's a chance, can I see Yao Xi?"
"No." Yao Chunnuan no longer wanted to emphasize that they had no relationship. Some people only chose to listen to what they wanted to hear.
"Well, let's wait for a chance later. I came here tonight just to tell you a piece of news. Xing Changfeng disappeared under the heavy attack of the Nanman leader Agoli."
Hearing this, Yao Chunnuan was shocked and subconsciously said, "Impossible!"
Their Yichun Intelligence Department has always been very quick in collecting information, much faster than the intelligence of the Daliang court, not to mention the Jiaozhou battlefield that their intelligence department has been paying attention to. Even she had not received the news of the general's disappearance, but Wang Lang actually received it?
"This kind of news can't be deceived, so there is no need for me to lie to you." Wang Lang said.
Yao Chunnuan knew that there was really no need for Wang Lang to lie to her, and even to take such a big risk to lie to her in the middle of the night.
If Wang Lang wasn't trying to blackmail her, then there was only one possibility. Even though Yao Chunnuan found that possibility incredible, after all, who else but the perpetrator would have received the news so quickly?
"The imperial court is colluding with the Southern Barbarians?" Yao Chunnuan's heart tightened. If the imperial court and the Southern Barbarians were colluding, they might also be trading with the Western Rong. If Daliang really did this, they, Yichun, would be faced with being attacked from all sides.
Wang Lang marveled at her acumen and sighed softly, "You're pushing us too hard. We have no choice but to do this." The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn't it? "It's not really a collusion, just mutual benefit. Once the court resolves the current crisis, we can deal with those foreign tribes as usual."
"Don't make excuses for your shamelessness. It's quite funny that Daliang would choose to collude with foreign tribes? How can it even act like a ruler of a country? We rebels are more like a ruler of a country than your court."
"Xing Changfeng has disappeared, and his fate is uncertain. According to reliable sources, the chances of his survival are extremely low. Under such circumstances, you, a woman, would be unable to handle the situation alone. You should consider a way out. We have our daughter, Xiao Yaoxi, between us, so we have a natural basis for cooperation."
Yao Chunnuan interrupted him, "Are you here to persuade me to surrender on behalf of the new emperor of Daliang?"
"Yes, Xing Changfeng is missing. You are currently the top official in Youzhou. As long as you agree to submit to the imperial court, the new emperor will enthrone you as a queen of a different surname and grant you Youzhou as your fiefdom."
Yao Chunnuan sneered.
Wang Lang was puzzled. "Don't you believe it? The new emperor desperately wants to end the civil war, and he thinks sacrificing Youzhou, a non-Central Plains territory, is worth it. I don't understand why you wouldn't consider it and refuse. Even if you accompanied Xing Changfeng in conquering this vast empire, he wouldn't necessarily be willing to make you a king of a different surname and grant you a fiefdom as large as an entire state, right?"
Yao Chunnuan said, "I believe you when you say the new emperor is eager to end the civil war." This civil war was extraordinary from the beginning, with the potential to spread like wildfire. It's normal for the court to be afraid of it now. It's also understandable that the new emperor wants to end the civil war at a minimal cost.
But she wouldn't agree.
Yao Chunnuan continued, "But Yichun, and even the entire Youzhou, does not belong to me alone. It carries the new hope of four or five million people. If I agree to the amnesty, it will be equivalent to destroying the hopes of these four or five million people with my own hands." This is certainly one of the reasons. Another reason is of course that she does not believe in the new emperor.
The new emperor must have hated her and Xing Changfeng to the core, right? Recruiting her was completely forced, and even worse, it wasn't certain this was a trap. Yao Chunnuan had never been one to be easily swayed. Without a firm heart, she wouldn't have been able to reach the top of the company in her previous life, as it was easy to fall into the gutter.
"No, the new emperor has already realized his mistakes. The court previously imposed too many harsh taxes, causing the people to suffer greatly. If Daliang can overcome these crises and quell the rebellion, he will definitely govern the country well in the future, care for the people, and lead them to a better life."
"You have no bottom line in your actions. It's hard for me to believe any of your promises." Yao Chunnuan's words were really impolite.
Originally, Yao Chunnuan wanted Wang Lang to help tell the new emperor that if the new emperor really realized his mistake, he should abdicate and let others take over. We in Yichun promised to let him live a rich and idle life and stop resisting and wasting national strength. This would be the Yang family's way of repaying the people of the world who had supported them for two hundred years.
But considering that they had actually colluded with foreigners, they were clearly mad. There was no need to say these words.
Wang Lang saw that Yao Chunnuan was determined not to surrender, and he secretly felt sorry for her. If Yao Chunnuan had agreed to surrender, he would have helped her deal with those behind her. Unfortunately, she refused, so he could only implement the backup plan. At the same time, he also felt a surge of resentment and hatred towards Yao Chunnuan for betraying his kindness and plans. Since she was determined to have her own way, then let her die.
"What a pity. Let's see who's really good with our own hands." Wang Lang said finally.
Yao Chunnuan saw that he wanted to leave, "Wait a minute, what do you think this place is? You can come and go as you please."
Yao Chunnuan was mentally assessing the possibility of capturing Wang Lang in one fell swoop. Xiao Jieming was leading the other secret guards in the shadows, with Axia right beside her...
Wang Lang: "You want to keep me here? You can try."
Hearing Wang Lang's confident words, Yao Chunnuan's heart sank. This might mean that he had already arranged a retreat.
Pan Buyi was in charge of the defense of Houcheng. But Wang Lang could come and go as he pleased. Was it Pan Buyi's fault in leading the troops, or was there someone who betrayed him?
But Yao Chunnuan couldn't believe who was so foolish as to betray at this time. At that time, everyone could see that the Yichun forces had a bright future and were unstoppable. He betrayed them at this time and joined the Daliang camp, not to join the National Army in 1949.
Compared to the latter, Yao Chunnuan was more inclined to believe that Wang Lang had taken advantage of his rebirth to enter Houcheng unimpeded. Thinking of this possibility, her eyes narrowed slightly.
Without giving it much thought, Yao Chunnuan raised his hand and said loudly, "Come here, capture Wang Lang!"
How would she know if she could catch him if she didn't try? She had never been one to be frightened. The worst that could happen was that she couldn't catch him as he predicted. But what if she did catch him?
The arrest of Wang Lang caused such a huge commotion that it almost alarmed the entire street.
Seeing this, Yao Chunnuan's heart sank, and she subconsciously felt that even if she didn't order his arrest, he would definitely make a noise.
Yao Chunnuan and Qi Yingshan looked at each other and both smelled a conspiracy. Wang Lang was indeed not here with good intentions.
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