Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Nanzhao Visits
Fang Sheng does the most tiring work in the mine every day and is almost heartbroken.
He was thinking of his lord all the time in his heart, and wondered if his lord would feel confused because of his delay in returning.
Fang Sheng felt very ashamed that he was unable to bring back all the information here.
If he had a chance to escape, he would definitely tell his lord that Princess Anping was a very terrifying person, and even the stupid Hu people let her do whatever she wanted.
The Hu people even learned to inform on others. Is this true?
But no matter what he thought, Fang Sheng still had to work.
The other two spies who were captured together ignored him to show their loyalty.
Fang Sheng was so angry that his teeth itched. What a disloyal subordinate, switching sides just for a few meals.
Until one day, the steward called the two men out alone.
Fang Sheng risked having to work overtime if he was discovered, activated his spy skills, and quietly hid in the distance to eavesdrop.
That's right, his hearing and eyesight are both excellent, which is why the lord trusts and respects him.
Then Fang Sheng's world collapsed.
Song Zhiyi and Fan Yuanwu were both killed and their territory was lost. If these spies work hard, they can get the household registration of Xihe Road.
Fang Sheng's face was full of question marks.
He has been locked up here and has no idea what the situation is like outside.
Who defeated Song Zhiyi and Fan Yuanwu? Who gained control of the territory? What happened to the lord?
Judging from the steward's tone, could it be the Princess of Anping County?
Fang Sheng didn't know why, but this idea popped into his mind. Even he was frightened by it.
Impossible! My lord, there is no way you will just sit there and wait for death.
When it was time for dinner, the spies could see the joy on their faces without having to hide it.
Facing Fang Sheng, he even mocked him. "I wonder if his master has given him such good food."
"That's right, you're still working so hard for your master even though you're only paid a few bucks."
Fang Sheng held the bowl and said with a restrained expression, "You have no conscience at all. What do you know? This is called loyalty."
Fang Sheng: My lord, he is the only one left! A few Hu people were listening silently nearby, and they also looked at Fang Sheng with confusion.
This guy is really strange. He has been trying to find a way to escape for two or three days. When they first arrived, he even tried to instigate them to escape.
Please, who wants to run? These days are a hundred times better than before. Only a fool would run.
He didn't know what kind of person his lord was that he deserved such dedication.
Fang Sheng was racking his brains over his next escape route when he looked up and saw two familiar faces.
He will never forget these two faces in his life, nor will he forget the food that day that was so disgusting that it made him want to die.
Then the next second he was picked up.
Fang Sheng thought he had confessed everything that day, so how could he still be involved?
Qi Liang asked, "Are you going to tell me about the monthly salary of Bai Zhi, Zhuo Zhengchu's subordinate, and how the person in charge of drafting the documents was selected?"
Fang Sheng looked at the dark cuisine on the side and trembled as he said, "This question is too detailed, I really don't know. Oh, oh, oh, don't feed me, don't feed me, let me think about it carefully. I have a good memory, I will think about it now."
After returning from Xihe Road, Zhuo Zhengchu seemed to have been reborn.
He stopped meeting his female confidantes and spent every day in the room with his military advisor and his generals, discussing and planning something.
Zhuo Zhengchu said with a cold face, "None of the Lin family is good. I want to enter Anjing as soon as possible and avenge my family."
The military advisor hesitated, "Then how should we deal with the Princess of Anping?"
Zhuo Zhengchu snorted coldly, "I have plenty of time to fight her!"
Zhuo Zhengchu drew up a detailed plan for himself, striving to attack in three years and take revenge in five years.
The military advisor sighed, "We shouldn't have sent Fang Sheng to Xihe Road in the first place. Now he's missing, and no news has come back. What a pity for such a talented person."
Zhuo Zhengchu knocked on the table. "It's a shame to lose Fang Sheng. There's been no news for so long, he's probably dead. You should hurry up and find some more suitable spies."
The military advisor nodded, "Yes."
Zhuo Zhengchu asked again. "I asked you to contact Nanzhao. What did Nanzhao say?"
The military advisor said with an unnatural expression: "We haven't received a reply from Nanzhao yet."
Zhuo Zhengchu frowned slightly, "Princess Nanzhao hasn't replied yet?"
The military advisor shook his head. "No."
Zhuo Zhengchu fell into deep thought.
That shouldn't be the case. According to his memories from his previous life, he was a hero who saved the Nanzhao princess who was riding a horse but lost control of it. From then on, the princess fell in love with him at first sight.
Finally, she persuaded Nanzhao to surrender and became his concubine.
He had been with the Princess of Nanzhao for several years, so he naturally knew what kind of letter to write to interest her and win her favor.
Why didn't you reply?
Lin Si’s hands couldn’t possibly be so long that he could snatch away the people from Nanzhao!
Zhuo Zhengchu picked up the pen. "Then write again and send it again."
*
The cold wave had the most serious impact on Nanzhao. Nanzhao used to be a place where it was spring all year round. How could the people withstand such a sudden drop in temperature?
Not only the people couldn't bear it, but the crops in the fields couldn't bear it either.
Inside the palace of Nanzhao Kingdom, Princess Mengnuo of Nanzhao was curiously looking at the novel goods brought back by the merchants.
She couldn't wait to put on one of the neatly cut Dachen-style skirts, and paired it with a short-sleeved shirt. The fresh color combination made her look charming and charming. Meng Nuo lifted the hem of her skirt and spun around, her hair full of silver jewelry jingling.
Then she tried the scented soap and perfume with great interest.
Meng Nuo's voice was clear. "This Anping County Lady is truly a remarkable person."
Nanzhao also had a lot of information about Dachen. As for Lin Si's Li County Monthly Report, Xiping and Nanzhao became the main consumers who bought it at high prices after learning about Dachen's current situation.
In order to chase after her bad husband, Meng Nuo decided to disguise herself and infiltrate the merchant group and go to Xihe Road to find out what was going on.
Of course, this move was not approved by the Emperor and Empress of Nanzhao.
Queen Nanzhao: "There are no horses or elephants in the Central Plains. Can you bear walking every day?"
Nanzhao's main means of transportation was elephants, and there were more horses than in Dachen, but only the powerful and wealthy could afford them.
Meng Nuo didn't care at all. "Father, Emperor, Mother, the throne of Dachen may be about to change hands. I think the Anping County Lord has a good chance of winning. How about we establish trade with the Anping County Lord now to promote friendly exchanges between Nanzhao and the Anping County Lord's jurisdiction?"
"Then there is no need for you, a princess, to go there in person." The Nanzhao Emperor retorted.
Then Meng Nuo made a fuss for several days, either riding an elephant around in the Nanzhao Palace or refusing to eat in protest.
Unable to bear his daughter's stubbornness, Monno successfully got permission.
As for the letters of establishing diplomatic relations sent by Zhuo Zhengchu, Meng Nuo didn't even look at them.
Since Nanzhao has decided to bet on Lin Si, it will not have anything to do with Zhuo Chengchu. What's more, there is nothing in Zhuo Zhengchu's territory that can attract Meng Nuo.
Monno has been an expert at riding elephants and training horses since he was a child, but this was the first time he encountered a horse that suddenly ran wildly.
Suddenly, Monno felt that time slowed down in an instant. The frightened expressions of the guards around him were frozen on their faces, and their movements were as slow as a snail.
This wasn't right. Alarm bells rang in Monroe's heart. She bit her tongue hard, and the stinging pain instantly dispelled the strange feeling of stagnation. She regained control of her body. She tightened the reins with all her might, narrowly managing to subdue the horse.
The guards were almost scared out of their wits. If anything happened to the princess, they would have enough heads to chop off.
"Princess, are you okay?" The maid rushed over with tears in her eyes.
Meng Nuo waved her hands with lingering fear. She knew that the guards did not want to save her, but were frozen by the strange feeling of stagnation.
This damn place, is there some evil spirit going on?
Meng Nuo clearly remembered asking a wizard to divine before leaving. Never mind, since this was a strange situation, he should try a different route.
"Change the route immediately. Don't take this road even if it takes a detour." Monno and his group turned around and headed back.
At the end of the road, Zhuo Zhengchu had waited until it was dark.
Not to mention the Nanzhao princess who was frightened by the frightened horse, there was not even a shadow of a horse.
There was one person, an old woman collecting firewood.
When they saw Zhuo Zhengchu and the others, they thought he was a strange person and were so scared that they ran away.
Zhuo Zhengchu washed and dressed carefully today, and even his hair was at a designed angle.
Zhuo Zhengchu's face darkened. He'd even thought of the lines and gestures he'd use when saving the girl. If Nanzhao didn't respond, he'd rely on his past life memories to capture Meng Nuo. This was crucial to his future ambitions.
The subordinates wanted to persuade them but did not dare to. Ever since their lord disguised himself and went to Xihe Road, his personality has become a little strange.
They didn't dare to say anything more.
The result was that everyone stood with Zhuo Zhengchu for a day and a night.
The guards were extremely sleepy, but they didn't dare to speak out to stop it. They could only pinch themselves secretly to stay awake.
No one knows why the lord suddenly came here. It seems like he is waiting for someone, but who is he waiting for?
Zhuo Zhengchu was so angry that he lost his temper. Although he knew that this probably had nothing to do with Lin Si, Zhuo Chengchu still blamed Lin Si for it.
It was all Lin Si's fault! Zhuo Zhengchu could only return home angrily.
As for Meng Nuo, she was very cautious before arriving at Xihe Road. This thing was too weird. She only found out that the peace buckle given to her by her mother before she left home was broken when she was resting at night.
This means to ward off disaster for her.
Meng Nuo immediately broke out in a cold sweat. What kind of evildoer would want to harm her like this? It seems he is a complete evil beast.
When they arrived at Xihe Road, the merchants from Nanzhao and the officials leading the team presented the exchange documents written by the Nanzhao Ministry of Rites, and said that they came here to discuss business matters.
This news was quickly conveyed to Lin Si by Liang Nian.
There is very little description of the Nanzhao Kingdom in the original novel, but there is more space for the Nanzhao Princess. The book describes her as arrogant, lively, and sharp-tongued, with a small plum blossom birthmark on her forehead, and she is born beautiful and charming.
Zhong Diyan is on duty as Lin Si's bodyguard today. He is now sixteen years old. The boy has a tall and straight figure and a delicate and beautiful face.
It is precisely because of his outstanding appearance that he is never assigned to go undercover.
It's so distinctive that people will remember it in no time.
However, Zhong Diyan is very good at light work and hiding his body, and he often carries out tasks such as assassination and eavesdropping.
Since the envoy from Nanzhao came with sincerity, Lin Si had to give him face and meet him in person.
Lin Si brought Zhong Diyan and Chun Yi with her. She walked in front and the two walked behind.
The Nanzhao envoys all stood up and saluted humbly.
As for Meng Nuo, she disguised herself as a maid and mingled with them, so she naturally bowed as well.
When she caught a glimpse of Zhong Diyan out of the corner of her eye, Meng Nuo's mind suddenly exploded like fireworks.
She had never seen such a handsome man in Nanzhao.
Zhong Diyan frowned subconsciously. He was extremely sensitive to visual gazes, and the maid's gaze made him feel offended.
Lin Si said calmly, "No need to formalize, everyone."
When she sat down in the upper seat in the reception room, she caught a glimpse of the pretty maid in the corner, with a plum blossom mark on her forehead.
Lin Si:........Isn’t this the Princess of Nanzhao?
The Nanzhao envoy said respectfully, "I've come to discuss the possibility of opening up trade routes with the county lady. The goods under your rule are very popular with the Nanzhao nobles. And the Li County Monthly Report—the Nanzhao princesses look forward to the updates every month."
Lin Si's expression remained calm. "Exchange of trade routes is mutually beneficial. This county lord has no reason to refuse. As for goods, I have a wide variety of them under my jurisdiction. You can choose carefully before placing an order. Salt wells and sugarcane are already being planted, so the people will soon be able to enjoy affordable salt and sugar."
The Nanzhao envoy was immediately delighted, "This salt and sugar..."
Liang Nian continued, "Of course, we must first meet the needs of the people, and then supply the surplus to Nanzhao."
Meng Nuo stared at Zhong Diyan and was almost stunned. She wanted to take Zhong Diyan back to the palace of Nanzhao. It was such a pity to have such a beautiful face become a guard.
How much composure does the Princess of Anping have to be able to keep such a peerlessly handsome man by her side without changing her expression or heartbeat?
Could it be that this guard is actually the Anping County Lady's male lover? If that's the case, then it's going to be difficult to deal with.
She is not so bad as to steal other people's things. There are plenty of men.
After a meeting, Meng Nuo's eyes wandered, looking at Lin Si and Zhong Diyan, trying to find evidence of an affair between the two.
But that wasn't the case. Not only did the two of them not look at each other, but Lin Si looked at Zhong Diyan as if he was a subordinate.
Lin Si was a little confused about Meng Nuo's look.
What is she looking at?
The envoys were taken by Bai Zhi to the inn to rest. Tomorrow they would discuss the order with Mo Jinglian. After the long journey, they were a little tired.
After everyone left, Lin Si said lightly, "Princess Nanzhao is also among the envoys this time. Send someone to protect her. I don't want her to get into trouble on my territory."
Liang Nian was surprised: "Princess? Which envoy is disguised as a man?"
Lin Si looked at her helplessly, "The maid with the plum blossom birthmark on her forehead."
Liang Nian felt embarrassed. "I didn't do it subconsciously..."
Zhong Diyan accepted the order and, together with Xiang Feifei and others, guarded the safety of the delegation.
Xiang Feifei and his companions were scattered on different rooftops.
Zhong Diyan moved his ears and heard what Meng Nuo was saying.
"Did you see that? The Princess of Anping actually has such a stunning beauty by her side, and she actually uses him as a bodyguard. Shouldn't such a good-looking man be locked up and enjoyed?"
"I have seen that this young man is truly handsome."
"Do you think he is the concubine of the Princess Anping? If so, I would be embarrassed to ask her for him."
Zhong Diyan:?
Meng Nuo sighed, "I just realized today that I'm such a lustful person! How could I be like this? I'm so superficial. I'm a princess!"
"That's not true. Everyone has lustful hearts."
Zhong Diyan: People who are lustful are easy to deal with.
The second time, Monno went along to discuss the order.
When she saw Mo Jinglian, she was surprised to find that it was just as the newspaper said, with many young women holding official positions.
Mo Jinglian brought many samples for the Nanzhao delegation to choose from, and said that after they recovered coastal areas such as Nandong Road and Liangzhe Road in the future, they would be able to produce transparent and beautiful containers.
After finishing the business, Monno took his maid and guards for a stroll outside.
Suddenly, a handsome young man came into her sight. He was as gentle as jade, with a pair of peach blossom eyes full of affection, but there was a red cloth hanging on his sleeve. He was scolding the young man. After a few seconds, another person came up to talk to him, also wearing a red armband, and was very handsome.
Meng Nuo almost instantly forgot about Zhong Diyan. These things couldn't possibly have anything to do with the county lord!
What's going on in Anping County? Why are there so many good-looking men? If that's the case, she doesn't want to go back for the time being.
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