Chapter 236 Li Rong, why don't you just rob me!
Li Rong: "Who is this person?"
Chi Heng: "Wan Yu".
“Wan Yu!” Li Rong’s brows furrowed even more.
Chi Heng continued, "It's this General Wan. After the Lin family was executed, trouble also broke out in the General's mansion. In recent years, the court has favored civil officials over military ones, and General Wan, being upright, hasn't been given much responsibility. Some time ago, he was demoted to Canglin City to guard the border. I heard that there was an epidemic breaking out in the Canglin army at that time, which was a tough job."
Speaking of this person, Chi Heng couldn't help but roll her eyes: "But this guy is a real tough nut to crack. No matter how many times I come to his door, he pretends to be stupid and won't budge an inch. And he's completely impervious to reason. I've tried countless methods, but I still can't get him to talk. I think you should go to Canglin and take a look."
"Canglin City?"
Li Rong frowned. Xin Bo was the one that A Nuan had redeemed in Cang Lin. Thinking of this, he shook his head. Could it be such a coincidence?
"Yes, he is currently stationed on the border of Canglin. The area around Canglin City is full of vassal states that pay tribute every year and are very obedient. There has been no war for many years. Judging from his appearance, it seems that he intends to live out his days in Canglin."
Li Rong frowned: "I have never had any dealings with Wan Yu. This man has never worked under me. Getting him to talk will probably require some maneuvering."
Chi Heng said, “Although you two have never met, I have noticed that this man seems to highly regard Mr. You’an’s calligraphy and paintings. Moreover, people say that he also greatly admires you, General Li. There are many slaves in his camp’s Li family army, but they are not being mistreated. I think you should go there; you might be able to get him to talk.”
Li Rong pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I will go. However, there is another important matter that I need your help with. Please be extremely careful with this matter."
Seeing Li Rong's solemn expression, Chi Heng couldn't help but frown and ask, "What is it?"
Li Rong said, "Do you still remember that there was a gold mine in Pingning that the imperial court abandoned back then?"
Chi Heng said, "Of course, hasn't it been abandoned for many years?"
Li Rong nodded: "When I was exiled to the wilderness, I passed by an abandoned gold mine and noticed that there were merchants carrying shoulder poles coming and going, so I felt something was wrong."
After saying that, he took out a map from his pocket and unfolded it: "It's here, the easternmost location. Send someone to check it out secretly. I think there must be something fishy going on here. In the early years, Xiao Yuanshan often sent people to the Great Wilderness, saying that he was looking for a good location to build a summer palace. But now that the palace has been built, his people are still coming and going frequently."
"You're just doubting it." Chi Heng's face paled. "Could it be that our suspicions back then were all true? How dare Xiao Yuanshan?"
Previously, although the southern barbarians were eyeing us covetously, they were severely defeated by our Li family army five years ago, and we should not wage war again in recent years. Even if they frequently provoked us, we quickly suppressed them. The imperial court does not need such a large military force now.
Moreover, taxes haven't been increased in other places, yet this remote and impoverished region of the Great Wilderness has. Those who can't pay are being forced into military service. This Xiao Yuanshan is probably bolder than you and I imagine.”
"How dare he!" Chi Heng lowered his voice: "The Emperor is not dead yet!"
Lu Zhong, standing to the side, scratched his head anxiously: "What does this mean?"
Chi Heng gritted his teeth: "What else could it mean? Of course, they're after the gold mine! He was in charge of this mine back then, wasn't he? First, they lied about the mine's situation, deceiving everyone."
Now, in this desolate wilderness far from the emperor's reach, first increase taxes, then conscript those who can't pay, using the available able-bodied men to mine gold, and then use that gold to support the army. Xiao Yuanshan has played a very grand game; who knows how many years he's been planning this? Ah Rong, now it seems the emperor has truly awakened. He probably can't suppress him anymore.”
As he spoke, he slumped into his chair, seemingly dejected: "In that case, you don't need to look for General Wan anymore. Even if that simpleton is willing to talk back and really overturns the case of the grain supplies from back then, what can we do? Xiao Yuanshan is no longer someone you or I can contend with."
Li Rong's eyes darkened: "Not necessarily."
Chi Heng looked at him and asked, "Hmm?"
"So, this silver isn't given to you for nothing, Chi Heng. I need two thousand elite soldiers."
Upon hearing this, Chi Heng immediately jumped up from the stool.
"Li Rong! Why don't you just rob him!" Chi Heng's face turned red with anger as she pointed at Li Rong and shouted, "You want two thousand elite soldiers with just this box of stuff? Do you know how much money it costs to raise an army? With this little bit of stuff, it's not even enough to buy weapons! Keep dreaming. I'm not doing something so stupid!"
Li Rong wiped the drool from his face: "Aheng, you know, you're my only close friend."
"fart!"
Li Rong: "No one but you can accomplish this."
Chi Heng: "That's natural."
After saying this with his neck tilted back, he sat down as if a deflated balloon had been punctured, and said weakly, "Even if we have two thousand elite soldiers, what good will it do? It's still a drop in the ocean against Xiao Yuanshan."
Chi Heng's fist clenched slowly beneath her sleeve, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes: "Arong, are we destined to never get our revenge?"
Li Rong: "What if the Sixth Prince were still alive?"
Upon hearing this, Chi Heng sighed and said in a seemingly relaxed manner, "If the Sixth Prince were still alive, we might still have a fighting chance. However, the Sixth Prince has always disliked both of our families, so even if we were to assist him, neither of us would have a good ending."
As he said this, he found it amusing: "But even our Sixth Prince, who disliked us so much, is no longer here. When Xiao Yuanshan suggested that the Sixth Prince go to see the Empress Dowager, he knew that the Sixth Prince's trip was fraught with danger. Now, the Sixth Prince is probably no more than a skeleton, isn't he?"
"His Highness the Sixth Prince is by my side."
Upon hearing this, Chi Heng immediately stood up again: "What did you say?!"
Li Rong: "The Sixth Prince is at my house, he's perfectly fine. He can eat and sleep well."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Also, the Imperial Advisor is in my house."
Chi Heng stared blankly at Li Rong, the cup in his hand falling to the ground with a clatter, spinning several times. After a while, he finally came to his senses, staring at Li Rong with a strange expression.
"Li Rong, I've realized I misjudged you. The one plotting a rebellion isn't Xiao Yuanshan, it's you!"
Li Rong: "."
...
A torrential downpour lasted for a long time, almost flooding the house. Jiang Nuanzhi and the children filled sandbags and piled them up to block the water from entering the house.
Jiang Nuanzhi was still worried at night, so she went out to check again. Only after confirming that the water should not flow back in again did she breathe a sigh of relief. By then, the rain had gradually subsided.
Unable to sleep, she put on her straw sandals and went out to feed the animals in the house. The weather was cool after the downpour, and they were all inevitably hungry.
It's so late now, why hasn't Li Rong returned yet?
Jiang Nuanzhi sat and waited for a while, but no one came. Feeling a little sleepy, she went back to lie down and sleep. Before she was fully asleep, she vaguely heard a noise outside. Jiang Nuanzhi groggily got up and went to see what was going on.
At this moment, Li Rong tiptoed into the room, afraid of waking his family. He simply took a handkerchief and gently wiped the moisture off his body. After quickly tidying himself up, he turned around and saw A Nuan coming out groggily, still looking a little unsteady on her feet. Li Rong instinctively went over to support her and asked in a low voice, "A Nuan, you haven't gone to sleep yet?"
(End of this chapter)
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