Of course Ruan Shihao knew that he had been fooled.
If he didn't know it at the beginning, and if he still didn't know it when he drank the third pot of tea, then Lin Hai would have doubts about the quality of the entire Khmer bureaucracy.
But even if he knew it, it wouldn't matter. Both he and Lin Hai knew that he had no choice.
It is true that the overall strength of the Khmer Kingdom seems to be far greater than that of Qinghe, but Qinghe is now wearing the vest of the Daliang Empire, and the main force of the Khmer is still being hammered in the direction of the Chen Dynasty. Therefore, even though it is known that Qinghe is just taking advantage of the situation, the Khmer central government is ready to accept it.
The strategic buffer time is extremely valuable for both sides.
But now Ruan Shihao didn't have time to think about this problem, after all, something even more shocking happened.
If he were a qualified politician, Ruan Shihao would definitely tell himself that this man who looks exactly like his cousin, has the same accent, and speaks in the same tone, but is wearing the modified official uniform of the Daliang prefect is not his cousin Ruan Shiping, but the "Ruan Buping" who was identified as a "fake prefect" by the Gaomian Kingdom.
Unfortunately, in shock, Ruan Shihao still shouted out immediately: "Cousin, is that you?"
It's over. Now I don't even have the chance to pretend I don't know him.
"Alas, Shihao, you still have no self-control. If you pretend not to know me, you won't be so passive when we talk later, but you..." Ruan Buping looked helpless.
"Cousin, didn't you die in the city?" Ruan Shihao had basically guessed the truth, but he still hoped to hear it from his cousin. After all, such a thing could not be taken lightly.
"I have indeed died for the city. The person in front of you now is Ruan Buping, the co-governor of Mengyang, appointed by the Earl of Qinghe." Ruan Shiping explained seriously.
"So you surrendered to the Liang Kingdom? Is that why Mengyang City fell in a day? Do you know that doing so will bring disaster to the Ruan family? Even if you use the alias Ruan Buping, how long do you think you can hide it? As a local official, you can't hide in public, right? Don't you think anyone here recognizes you anymore? If you reveal yourself, none of the hundreds of people in the Ruan family will survive."
At this point, Ruan Shihao became quite emotional. He had to know that he had worked hard in the officialdom for so many years and had finally achieved what he had today, but in the near future he would be dragged to the gate of the palace and stabbed, and his entire family would die together. Such a spectacular scene had not appeared in Cambodia for many years.
I guess I will become the topic of conversation among people in Bangkok and even Cambodia.
Of course, being able to kill with one knife was considered lucky. As a close relative of the rebel, a senior court official even went to Meng Yang in person to negotiate. Although this "personal visit" was questionable and could be considered forced, based on Ruan Shihao's understanding of His Majesty the King, he would definitely not consider this when sentencing.
"Even if you don't consider your family—oh no, I think you must have sent them all to Liang Country, leaving you alone here—don't you consider others? Think about your aunt, your nephew, your niece... Even though they treated you badly, their crimes don't deserve death... Can you bear to push them to their deaths?"
Seeing Ruan Shihao gradually becoming hysterical, Ruan Shiping could not help but wave his hand: "Shihao, don't be nervous, it's not as troublesome as you think. If that were the case, why would I go to such lengths to take the pseudonym Ruan Buping?
Besides, you are now the Minister of Revenue, although it is an empty title, but it is also the pinnacle that my Ruan family has reached in hundreds of years. But how did you get this position, have you forgotten so quickly?"
"Brother, wealth and honor are like clouds and smoke. I didn't believe this before, but now I do. Not to mention the Minister of Revenue, even if you are the Minister of Revenue, even if you are the Prime Minister, if something like this happens, I'm afraid you can't escape the knife."
Ruan Shihao sat down on the chair and began to pour himself tea. Although he felt that he could not drink even another sip, he still wanted to drink every sip he could. Who knew if anyone would bring him tea before his execution?
"How could Qinghe Bo's plan be so simple?" Ruan Shiping sat down next to his cousin, who was about to collapse. He turned his head and ordered outside, "Send some food in. We can talk while we eat."
"Shihao, you know me, and many people know me, but according to the official documents of the kingdom, I am already dead. His Majesty the King issued an edict to build a cenotaph for me, and a mourning hall was set up at home. The left and right prime ministers, civil and military officials have come to pay their respects. Even you were conferred a title because of this. Several children in your family have been selected to study at the National Academy. Tell me, can these be changed?
In Mengyang, it can only be a man named Nguyen Bu Ping, otherwise it would be a slap in the face of all Cambodians, as well as the face of Qinghe Bo.
I don't know if His Majesty the King has any shame, but Qinghebo is more concerned about his reputation. This time, it was Cambodia that came to ask for peace. If Qinghebo loses face, there is no need to ask for peace. "
Ruan Shiping explained in detail: "You know, this war shouldn't have happened, but now that it has, given the kingdom's current situation, how long do you think we can hold out?
Don't tell me about Chongzuo's defense line, and don't say that Qinghebo's troops are not enough to destroy the kingdom. I have been a local official for so many years, and I only know that in Mengyang City, the people have no food to eat the next day. In some poor places, selling children has become the norm. Because there are so many people selling them, a young child is not even worth the price of three pounds of pig iron.
You also bought a servant on the road, but you have no idea how much it cost?
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