That evening, at the Beimangshan Villa, Liu Wei hosted a unique barbecue feast, enjoying himself with the Imperial Guards, the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The group drank and enjoyed themselves immensely, and dispersed an hour later.
The Eighteen Riders of Yanyun and the Imperial Guard each performed their duties and took turns on duty.
Liu Wei summoned Shen Lian and a group of Imperial Guards to gather the latest intelligence from Luoyang.
Liu Wei also invited Yang Lian to listen in.
Yang Lian never expected that he would be trusted so much by Liu Wei so soon after leaving Yangjiazhuang.
Shen Lian said that in addition to the Imperial Guards entrenched in Luoyang, the two groups of Imperial Guards sent to Zhuojun and Xiangyang were also on their way. He then asked Liu Wei whether they should discuss waiting for their arrival first.
Upon hearing this, Liu Wei asked Shen Lian to wait a moment. He then saw Yang Lian sitting upright to the side and began to speak with him:
"Zijing, do you also know Miss Zou?"
"Your Highness, I...I have met her once. She is the daughter of Mr. Zou, a private tutor outside Hongnong City. Her family moved here from Qingzhou!"
Yang Lian's heart skipped a beat, wondering why Liu Wei had asked this question.
This woman had clearly become the prince's concubine, so Yang Lian dared not say anything wrong and answered truthfully.
"You saw her beside me, do you have any doubts?"
Liu Wei looked at him with a half-smile.
Yang Lian was greatly shocked. As expected!
"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's high regard. To be able to serve by Your Highness's side is already a great blessing. I dare not presume to comment on Your Highness's affairs."
Yang Lian had already vaguely guessed that the fire at Yang Family Village that day, and Yang Gun's death in the fire, were related to this Miss Zou, and even the King of Clouds.
"It's alright. I just want to dispel your concerns so that you can focus wholeheartedly on being by my side from now on."
So Liu Wei briefly explained that Yang Gun had abducted Zou Ling that night with the intention of assaulting her, but Liu Wei caught him and knocked him unconscious.
Zou Ling killed Yang Gun to avenge her parents.
“Yang Gun, relying on his father’s indulgence, has committed numerous evils and harmed his hometown. He deserves to die. Your Highness is doing this to rid the people of a scourge.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Lian immediately bowed deeply to Liu Wei. "However, I also thank him. Without him, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be sent by my father to serve the prince."
Liu Wei burst into laughter:
"That's absolutely true!"
"If it weren't for your father's warm invitation and hospitality, how could I have won such a beauty!"
"Don't worry, I won't mistreat your father! In a few days, you will write a letter of divorce along with my token and return to Hongnong. Have your father send someone to Gaonu; there's a huge business opportunity waiting for him there!"
Originally, Zhang Liao, the General of the Vanguard under Liu Wei, was in charge of the three counties of Shangjun, Xihe, and Shuofang, which were intertwined and centered on Guluo City. At the same time, he was using the Qin Straight Road as a link to escort Hetao caravans into Guanzhong.
Meanwhile, Yao Guangxiao had reached a brief agreement with Dong Zhuo to trade horses, fine salt, coal, and other supplies.
Dong Zhuo was already tempted by the large number of warhorses in the Hetao region.
His Flying Bear Army was newly formed and was in dire need of warhorses.
However, the horse-producing areas of the Han Dynasty are now Youzhou, Hetao, Liangzhou, and the Western Regions.
For Dong Zhuo, the Western Regions were too far away, Liangzhou was controlled by his rival Ding Yuan, and he was short of horses in Youzhou.
Niu Fu, along with Li Jue and Guo Si, acquired quite a few horses while campaigning against the Qiang and Hu tribes in Shangjun.
However, compared to the warhorses of the Hetao region, they lacked explosive power.
Now that the people of Hetao have taken the initiative to trade horses with him, the agreement has been reached happily.
There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests!
The two sides agreed to use the Kuye River between Guluo City and Zhenlin, as well as the Qin Great Wall, as the boundary. Their armies would not attack each other in Shangjun and would maintain their existing control areas.
The caravans from the Hetao region entered Guanzhong via the straight road outside the Great Wall, and Dong Zhuo was not allowed to interfere.
While Liu Wei was paying homage to his ancestors in Guanzhong, the caravan had already entered Guanzhong and started trading with the local powerful families.
Meanwhile, Gao Nu, who was located between Hengshan and Jiuzongshan, along with Guo Luo and Yang Yi, who had arrived with a large caravan, established a transit point for supplies.
The Han officials of Gaonu, upon hearing that the caravan came from the King of Yunzhong, dared not neglect them and granted them preferential treatment.
Therefore, Liu Wei's decision to have Yang Lian write home and send someone to Gao Nu to contact the merchant caravan was actually a way to get a share of the profits for Yang Xun's branch of the family.
"I guarantee that the third branch of the Yang family in Hongnong will one day become the wealthiest in the region, surpassing even the eldest branch and dominating Guanzhong!"
Liu Wei said loudly to Yang Lian.
Although Yang Lian didn't know what kind of business it was, he was now convinced that Liu Wei's words were absolutely true.
Moreover, the rise of their third branch of the family was undoubtedly due in part to him, the illegitimate son who followed Liu Wei.
From now on, Yang Lian's status among the three branches of the Yang family will rise even higher, and he will no longer care about being born out of wedlock.
"I thank Your Highness!"
Yang Lian didn't know how to express his gratitude.
He has made up his mind to follow Liu Wei loyally and steadfastly!
As the two were talking, more and more people arrived.
Their clothes were varied and unremarkable. Upon entering, they showed their waist tags to Chen Lian to identify themselves.
When they saw Liu Wei there, their faces showed utter shock and excitement.
However, it was only for a fleeting moment.
They then sat down with solemn expressions and lowered eyes.
In addition to the eight Imperial Guards who were with Shen Lian, there were four more people in the room.
"Your Highness, everyone has arrived!"
Shen Lian stepped forward and whispered the message.
"Um!"
Liu Wei nodded slightly.
"Gentlemen, tonight His Highness is personally inquiring about our Embroidered Uniform Guard's espionage activities. Let's all be alert and show His Highness our abilities!"
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