Chapter 299 A Brand New World

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang lost interest in the wonders and beauty of the Western Shu, but instead became interested in the political governance and living conditions of the people in Shu, and truly became "spies" to spy on the enemy.

They shuttled between mountain villages and towns, rushed around in the cities, stayed in small inns, and stayed in ordinary people's houses. They crossed mountains and ridges, traveled long distances, from north to south, from west to east,... In three months, they traveled all over Shu.

With tanned faces, strong and healthy bodies, firm steps, deep thinking eyes, and a heavy heart.

Today's Western Shu is a brand new world for them. As two princes of the Zhao royal family of the Song Dynasty, they had mixed feelings.

"Brother, I think we two brothers must meet Lord Luo, the head of Shu!" King Xiang said with a firm look in his eyes.

The King of Chu was filled with emotion: "Yes! In such a new world where every household has land to farm, everyone has food to eat, lives and works in peace and contentment, is full of enthusiasm for the future, and officials are hardworking, diligent, down-to-earth, fair and honest, we must meet Lord Luo who is in charge of the government affairs of Shu!"

King Xiang said anxiously: "After meeting Lord Luo, we must hurry back to the capital and report everything here to the Regent King in detail so that he can make preparations early!"

The King of Chu smiled faintly, "Third brother, the token for us to enter Shu was given by the Regent King. Do you think he is like a blind man walking about the affairs of Shu - he is in the dark and knows nothing?"

King Xiang was shocked!

He asked in surprise: "Brother Wang, are you saying... that the affairs of this Western Shu are all under the control of the Regent Brother?"

The King of Chu, who was riding steadily on his horse, smiled calmly again, "At least, he knows!"...

It would be difficult for two outsiders with unknown identities and suspicious behavior to ask to see the highest official in Shu. If they were not careful, they would be detained and imprisoned as spies.

However, the two princes were unwilling to not see the young and promising Lord Luo who governed Shu so "strangely".

With an attitude of giving it a try, the brothers King Chu and King Xiang arrived at Chengdu Prefecture and went directly to the front of the Shu government office. They handed over the black wooden sign and asked to see Lord Luo.

The gatekeeper who went in to report hurried out. A middle-aged man who looked like a teacher behind him bowed respectfully and said, "Two distinguished guests, Lord Luo invites you."

The two brothers looked at each other. The small wooden sign given by Regent Prince Zhao Defang really worked! They could easily enter and exit this important place without even giving their names?

From the secret letter from the Regent Prince's brother-in-law, they knew that the two princes were traveling in Western Shu. Luo Wen'an just sent people to protect them secretly, allowing them to walk around and see as they pleased in Western Shu.

After wandering around Western Shu for three months, the two noble princes came to the government office to ask for an audience. Distinguished guests must be treated well. Afraid that there would be too many people in front of the government office, Luo Wen'an welcomed them at the second gate.

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang followed the master through the office in front and came to the second gate.

"I am Luo Wen'an, your Highness the King of Chu and the King of Xiang." Luo Wen'an bowed respectfully.

The King of Chu and the King of Xiang were nailed to the spot, their eyes fixed on the handsome, elegant and graceful young man, their mouths opened in shock...

"You...you are the eldest son of Lord Luo Jiluo, the eldest brother of the Regent Princess?" The King of Chu, who had met Luo Wen'an once, was incredulous and pointed at Luo Wen'an and asked what was in his heart, his voice trembling a little.

Luo Wen'an smiled gently and said, "Your Highness the King of Chu, I am Luo Wen'an from Luo Xueshi's mansion in the capital."

The King of Xiang slapped his thigh, understood everything, and then became furious!

Pointing at Luo Wen'an, he questioned: "Luo Wen'an, your father Luo Ji was not rescued and brought back to the capital after being imprisoned by bandits. You are just in collusion with the bandit leader "Wu Qiren", right?"

The King of Chu pulled down the angry finger of his third brother, "Third brother, the biggest bandit leader may be our Regent Zhao Defang."

The King of Xiang became even angrier, his sunburned face flushed purple, his lips trembling, "Brother, Zhao Defang...how dare he! At that time, my father...my father was still fine!"

The King of Chu was also a little depressed, patted his third brother's shoulder, and silently comforted him.

"My two princes, please go inside to talk." Luo Wen'an politely let the guests go.

The brothers King Chu and King Xiang were in mixed feelings and were invited into the house with unhappy faces.

After drinking two sips of tea, King Chu looked up at Luo Wen'an and asked, "What is going on in Shu? Lord Luo, can you give me a detailed explanation?"

King Xiang stared at Luo Wen'an, watching how he could speak so eloquently?

Luo Wen'an thought about the words in the secret letter from the Regent Prince's brother-in-law, and smiled frankly without any guilt, "When the Northern Expedition broke out last year, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin predicted that the Song Dynasty would be defeated."

The King of Chu nodded, "I was also worried about the Northern Expedition that my father hastily launched. Most of the court officials were also strongly opposed to it. It was very normal for the Prince of Qin, who had rich combat experience, to predict that the Song Dynasty would fail."

"Your Royal Highness the Prince of Chu is wise and intelligent. I hope you can understand and sympathize with the Prince of Qin's mood at that time." Luo Wen'an praised with a smile.

The King of Chu smiled bitterly. Of course, he could understand and sympathize. The Northern Expedition that day was not only a problem of high failure rate, but also a trap designed by his father to use the Liao army to get rid of the King of Qin. Fortunately, the King of Qin was strong enough to push everything away and fought a beautiful guerrilla war in the Liao country and retreated unscathed.

The King of Xiang also thought of this, and the anger in his heart gradually disappeared.

: "At that time, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin said that this Northern Expedition would end in a huge defeat. If... it would be a disaster for the Song Dynasty. If the Liao Kingdom and Xiang Li Yuanhao jointly invaded the Song Dynasty, even if the soldiers fought desperately to drive out the enemy, the Song Dynasty would be shaken and the people would be in panic. In addition, the trend of suppressing military power and promoting culture became more and more popular. The soldiers were disheartened and the army lost its combat effectiveness. After many years, how could they resist the iron cavalry of foreign races?"

Luo Wen'an stopped here and observed the reactions of the King of Chu and the King of Xiang.

The two princes were in a heavy mood. Prince Xiang spoke first, "Fortunately, Prince Qin had a brilliant plan and turned the situation around. He won a great victory in Chenjia Valley and scared off Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao and Yelu Xiu'ge. That's why our Song army didn't suffer such a bad defeat."

Luo Wen'an quickly praised, "Your Highness Prince Xiang is wise and fair. What you said is fair."

Prince Xiang suddenly remembered that Prince Qin had made such a great achievement but did not receive a decent reward from his father. He couldn't help feeling a little guilty.

Luo Wen'an straightened his back and became even more resolute in his heart, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin said at that time that some of the national policies and guidelines of the Song Dynasty have deviated from the direction. The economy seems to be prosperous, but in the long run, the wealth will only be concentrated in the hands of the aristocratic families and the privileged class. If the trend of suppressing military power and promoting culture becomes more and more popular, the Song army will lose its combat effectiveness, and the economically prosperous and powerful Song Dynasty will be nothing more than a piece of fat in the mouths of the Khitans and the Dangxiang people, and will eventually be swallowed up by the iron cavalry and bows and arrows of foreign races!"

Cold sweat broke out on the backs of the King of Chu and the King of Xiang. If they thought about it carefully, if the enemy had harmed the country in the Northern Expedition, the Song Dynasty would have been seriously injured and the foundation of the country would have been shaken. In a few decades, the seemingly powerful and wealthy Song Dynasty will probably fall into such a tragic end.

King Xiang looked directly at Luo Wen'an, "This land of Western Shu... is it the preparation made by King Qin to save the fate of the Song Dynasty?"

Yu'er was willing to take the bait. Luo Wen'an, who had never deceived anyone with sweet words, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

: "When His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin learned that the Eastern Route Army had been defeated at the Qi Pass, he risked being trapped behind enemy lines, and led several thousand troops with Yang Yanzhao to fight guerrilla warfare in the Liao territory, delaying Yelu Xiezhen's main force and covering the retreat of our Song army and more than 200,000 Han civilians.

At the same time, he ordered Shu to launch... a reform pilot point operation, leaving a safe retreat for the Song court in this easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack Shu. Fortunately, in the end, His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin defeated the main force of the Liao army with a beautiful Chenjiagu ambush and turned the situation around." Luo Wen'an didn't want to use rebellion or coup, so he found a fresh word.

"My two princes, you have traveled around Xishu for three months. What do you think of this reform pilot site?"

Luo Wen'an threw out the bait of the question and looked at the King of Chu and the King of Xiang quietly.