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Tang Feng had been in Qianghu for at least seven or eight months. During those months, he had endured wind and rain, sleeping in the open and suffering hardships. Tang Feng had even wondered if he had been demoted. He had spent so much time and effort on this trip, and he hoped that when he arrived in Sangyan, he wouldn't be disappointed. Otherwise, all his hard work would have been for nothing. Tang Feng looked at the scenery outside and thought, "If I could, I would never want to come here again in my life."
The return journey took half a month of intermittent travel. Just as they reached the gates of Sangyan City, they saw Sujiha greeting Tang Feng. Lifting the curtain, Sujiha frowned, "What? That unlucky thing again?" Before he could finish speaking, Tang Feng smelled that familiar mutton aroma again, and his stomach churned. He vomited against the carriage frame, "Ugh...cough cough cough...ugh, did Sangyan inadvertently disturb a sheepfold? The smell of stewed mutton is already coming out before we even entered the city!" Qin Liuli patted Tang Feng's back, wanting to say something but hesitant to speak. Finally, he asked, "Brother...are you...having morning sickness...? Ah! Brother! Why did you hit my head!"
"One or two of them, none of them give me a break! They ruined my sister's happiness, I'm sick of eating them!" Tang Feng leaned against the car frame, rubbing his stomach, and whispered, "It's too much suffering, too much suffering. After coming here, I've given up mutton." Tang Feng used to quite like eating hot pot with mutton, but he just couldn't stand eating mutton for seven or eight months straight. He could barely manage to eat it a few days ago, but now the smell makes him want to vomit.
After the carriage stopped, Tang Feng got out. The smell of mutton outside was even stronger. He suppressed the discomfort in his stomach and forced a smile. "General Sujiha..."
"Why does Tang Sicheng look so pale?" Sujiha smiled sarcastically. "Is it because he couldn't figure out how to make up a story to fool our Khan along the way?"
"What a joke!" Tang Feng, his stomach churning, straightened up. "The waterwheel was built very successfully, but it's just that you Qiang and Hu people have nothing but mutton for food. You eat mutton every day, and it's given me a stomachache! By the way, are you still going to say that this is a lie? Actually, that waterwheel was never even completed, and you didn't send any troops to watch over it anyway."
"Hmph, it's good that you know it yourself."
At this moment, Haqiya stepped out from behind. "Sujiha, you mustn't be rude to the delegation! I went with the delegation and witnessed the hardships Tang Sicheng endured along the way. Our Qiang and Hu people have indeed planted a large amount of rice and wheat. All these achievements are thanks to Tang Sicheng. Father Khan sent you here to provide support, not to sow discord." Seeing Haqiya's angry face, Sujiha immediately bowed. "Princess, where have you been these past few months? The Khan has searched all over Sangyan but couldn't find you. I didn't expect you to have gone with the delegation. What would we do if something happened to you!"
"Sujiha! Stop with the pretense. I'm not my father Khan, I don't buy your act. Hurry up and welcome the envoy in!" Haqiya stood with her hands on her hips, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse. Sujiha couldn't say anything, so he simply bowed and led the way.
Tang Feng hadn't expected Haqiya to help him. His stomach was churning, and the whole city reeked of that smell. Tang Feng frowned, looking at Haqiya. "Thank you. I didn't expect such a strong reaction either. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had the time or inclination to argue with Sujiha." Haqiya shook her head. "Consider this repaying the favor of getting me on the carriage. We're even now. I'll still pursue you. Your wife and I will each rely on our own abilities. I'm determined to keep you in Qianghu."
Tang Feng stopped behind, wondering why this princess was so stubborn. He sighed and walked across the street, the air thick with the smell of mutton. He covered his nose, suppressing the churning in his stomach. "Liu Yiwan, go to the post station right now and write a letter to Ziliang. Say... say I might be in trouble." Although Tang Feng knew it was too late, he still hoped Zhou Ziliang would be by his side. He pulled the amulet from his neck and handed it to Liu Yiwan. "Hurry! It's an urgent letter!"
Upon entering the palace, Tang Feng caught his breath and gradually calmed down. Without the princess, his situation was quite favorable, but... he feared the princess might cause trouble and propose marriage to the Khan. What would he do if such a marriage were to be granted? He seemed... suddenly able to understand why Zhou Ziliang had run away. It wasn't that he didn't want to face it, but that he couldn't bear to face someone he didn't like clinging to him! Tang Feng straightened his clothes, washed the dirt off his face, took a deep breath, and went inside.
The Khan, seated on his dragon throne, leaned down to look at Tang Feng. "I heard... you've already completed the mission?"
"Indeed," Tang Feng bowed and continued, "I have created something called a waterwheel, which can work without limit. It uses the fluctuations of water flow as a force to propel it. I believe you will soon see its effects."
"You've worked hard, Mr. Tang. I will discuss the lease of Ayi Harbor with the court officials later. Mr. Tang, please go back to the post station to rest!"
"Great Khan, I may return, but... I still wish to risk my life to remind you, this trip by Yan Yun has cost our people and resources dearly, and our sincerity is more than sufficient. If your country cannot provide a satisfactory answer, don't blame me for breaking ties with His Majesty. My current respect for you is due to my inherent upbringing; if your country goes too far, don't blame me for turning my back on you." Tang Feng bowed and swaggered back.
"Great Khan! We cannot lease out Ayi Harbor! Tang Feng is a devil! He stole our things and threatened you, Great Khan!" Sujiha knelt on the ground, his face full of resentment.
"Sujiha! Forget it! This time, the Yan-Yun delegation did indeed, as Tang Sicheng said, not only was it costly and laborious, but it also showed sufficient sincerity. The tribute is another matter, but that waterwheel can double the rice harvest, which is a good thing. Besides... leasing Ayi Harbor to them will bring them substantial profits to my Qiang and Hu people. Isn't that also benefiting the people?"
Seeing that the Khan was about to agree to let them pass, Sujiha's eyes darted around and he said again, "What the Khan says is true, but what Tang Feng said can only be considered half true and half false at the moment. After all, when he returned, he only said that the rice had been planted, not that the rice had been harvested. If the Khan approves the matter of Ayi Harbor, what if we Qiang and Hu people have no harvest when Tang Feng returns to Yanyun? Isn't that... isn't that deception!"
"This..." The Khan pondered for a moment and said, "Alright! Then go and inform the delegation, and have a good talk with Tang Sicheng, so as not to affect relations between the two countries."
"No! Surround the delegation and prevent them from contacting the outside world!" Sujiha stood up, his voice several times louder.
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! Yan Yun is a powerful nation, and it has never wronged the Qiang and Hu peoples throughout history. We have already gone back on our word this time. If we were to besiege the Yan Yun delegation as well, wouldn't the relations between our two countries deteriorate as a result?" A civil official knelt on the ground, his words filled with sincerity.
"Dahesi makes a good point. I also do not wish for relations between the two countries to deteriorate."
"Great Khan!" Sujiha wanted to speak again, but was interrupted by the Great Khan, "Enough, Sujiha, you don't want this matter to escalate, do you! Court is adjourned!"
On the way back, Sujiha saw Dahexi coming out and sneered, "So Lord Dahexi is a coward who fears death. A mere envoy has scared you like this."
"General, Yan Yun is not just any country. Yan Yun has a strong military, and besides, it hasn't clashed with us yet. Tang Sicheng is no ordinary person; he's not one to speak or act without thinking. If you were to be disrespectful to us in the future, I'm afraid Tang Sicheng would seize on this as a pretext."
"So what? I've led troops in battle for so many years, what makes you think I'm inferior to them, that the Qiang and Hu people are incompetent? You think they're hopeless? It's because of you civil officials that the Qiang and Hu people are so timid and cowardly."
"This isn't about being afraid of everything. As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild. General! General! Don't... don't act rashly!" Despite Dahexi's shouts from behind, Sujiha didn't turn back. He summoned his personal guards, gave them instructions, and then returned. Tang Feng... I'll make sure you don't return from this Qiang and Hu expedition.
Tang Feng returned to the inn and didn't go out again. He had a feeling that Su Jiha wouldn't let him go so easily, but... "Brother! Someone has surrounded the inn! You need to go check it out!"
Tang Feng frowned, just as he feared. He went outside and saw the post station entrance crowded with soldiers. A burly man on horseback saluted Tang Feng, saying, "Master Tang, our Khan says that you have rendered great service to the Qiang and Hu people along the way. Therefore, our Khan has decided to allow you to rest well at this post station. We heard you were ill a few days ago, so you should rest even more. Once you are well, you can return to Yanyun. In the days to come, we will arrange guards to protect you and your delegation."
"General Sujiha is truly thoughtful," Tang Feng said, standing at the doorway facing the burly man. "This isn't what your Khan intended, is it?"
"The Khan's intentions are beyond Tang Sicheng's comprehension. What Tang Sicheng needs to do now is to stay at the post station and not go out. If unnecessary harm is caused, it will be difficult for me to return and report to the Khan."
"Huh? Causing unnecessary harm? I think it's you who are causing unnecessary harm to relations between the two countries!" Tang Feng crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "I have another question: Can I send a letter? To my family?"
"I already told you to let Tang Sicheng get some rest. Don't think about anything else... If you want to do anything, these soldiers can do it for you."
"Since you're going to tear things apart like this," Tang Feng shrugged, "I don't care! Let me tell you, Khan—ah! No, let me tell Sujiha—I, Tang Feng, don't cause trouble, but I'm definitely not afraid of trouble either! I advise him to think twice before he acts. I'll give him three days." With that, Tang Feng turned and went back to the post station.
"Young Master..." Seeing Tang Feng remain silent, Liu Yiwan grew somewhat frightened. "Are we... in trouble again?"
"Have you ever heard of 'when soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it'? They're coming at me head-on, but I'm not going to fight them. Tomorrow... they'll be lying dead at the post station! I'll figure something out. Tell the delegation not to worry! I've got everything covered." Tang Feng patted Liu Yiwan on the shoulder.
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