Speaking of publicly funded travel
Tang Feng, holding the piece of beef, hesitated, unsure whether to put it down or eat it. He looked up at Shen Qinghang on horseback and the Dingbei Army soldiers standing before him. "Oh, Brother Shen," Tang Feng put down his chopsticks, stood up, and bowed. "What's the matter? They've chased me all the way outside the city." He then said to Chen Ke, "Don't be nervous, we're on the same side."
Tang Feng stepped forward, hands on his chest. "What? What requires such a high-ranking official like you to come see me personally?" Shen Qinghang had just returned from the pawnshop and arranged for the Third-Rank Official of the Imperial Household Department to be appointed. The Official of the Imperial Household Department was responsible for promoting national agriculture and handicrafts, and thus held some influence in the court.
"Why would I call you? It's the Prince who wants to discuss something with you," Shen Qinghang rolled his eyes at Tang Feng. "Let me tell you, this is a big deal. I'm warning you, don't cause any trouble! You could be beheaded."
Tang Feng touched his neck and shrugged. "I've been assassinated at least five or ten times. Your words won't scare me at all. Alright, alright, stop putting on that long face. I've never seen you so sentimental at the academy. Wait, I'll tell Ziliang and then go back."
At this moment, Zhou Ziliang frowned anxiously in the crowd. He had always hoped that Prince Duan and Xiao Feng would not make any contact, but now it seemed that Xiao Feng had still been dragged into it. Seeing Tang Feng walking towards him, Zhou Ziliang forced a smile and asked, "What? Do you need something?"
"Hmm... They said they were going to see Prince Duan." Tang Feng nodded, then looked sadly at the beef in his bowl. "What a pity... What a waste of the beef Uncle Zhang cut for me, and it was the best piece at that."
Seeing Tang Feng's displeasure, Old Zhang tapped the pot lid with a large ladle. "It's nothing! Don't be sad, young madam. If it's something important, you should go quickly. As long as the young marquis doesn't leave, we'll stay here permanently. Whenever you come, I'll cook for you."
Tang Feng was led away, looking back every few steps. On the way, riding his horse, Tang Feng was still pondering why Prince Duan wanted to see him for no reason. If it was a matter of duty, Tang Feng would naturally agree, but if it was a transaction, Tang Feng would absolutely not agree. His current position was neither high nor low, and he figured he wouldn't be of much use to Prince Duan. He was nothing more than a pawn in Prince Duan's hands. Whether it was Zhou Ziliang, Zhang Mobai, or Yang Fei, they were all using him to control them. Tang Feng sneered. How ridiculous! Who knew what would happen to him one day after he was used up?
Hearing Tang Feng's cold laugh, Shen Qinghang turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, just a little cold."
"Cold? It's the dog days of summer, and you're complaining about the cold?"
"So what? I'm prone to feeling cold, and my health isn't good, is that not allowed?" After saying that, Tang Feng quickly whipped his horse twice and walked in front of Shen Qinghang. Shen Qinghang shrugged, wondering who had offended this little devil again. He was usually unyielding and moody, but now he seemed even more unreasonable. He really didn't understand why Prince Duan favored Tang Feng so much.
Upon arriving at the Prince Duan's residence, Shen Qinghang stood at the gate and said, "The usual, you go in by yourself. I won't follow you."
Tang Feng entered the Prince's mansion. Having been there once before, he quickly found the study. However, he hesitated at the door, thinking about what to say once inside. "What are you pacing back and forth at the door for! Come in!" Hearing Li Yunrui's words, Tang Feng stiffened and cautiously pushed the door open. "Your Highness! It's not that I'm cowardly... it's... it's that Brother Shen outside scared me. He told me he was going to chop off my head!"
“When did I say I wanted to kill you?” Li Yunrui threw the book on the table. “I called you here for no other reason than to have you go to the Qiang and Hu regions to take care of what you need to do, nothing more.”
"Qiang Hu?" Tang Feng had never heard of this place since he transmigrated here. "What kind of place is that?"
Li Yunrui spread out the map, then beckoned to Tang Feng, gesturing for him to sit down. "This is it," Li Yunrui pointed to the map. "Do you see this harbor? Ayi Harbor, the sacred blessed harbor. This time, I need you to take tribute and negotiate with the Khan over there, to persuade them to lend us Ayi Harbor appropriately. We will also reward them with substantial wealth."
This is basically... a disguised form of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs! Tang Feng scratched his head, staring at the Qiang and Hu people on the map, and asked, "I... I'm going here? Is there any explanation? For example... what happens if I succeed, and what happens if I fail?"
"If you succeed, you'll have hundreds of acres of fertile land, thousands of bolts of silk, and gold and silver jewels to choose from; if you fail, I'll still make sure you're safe."
Tang Feng rolled his eyes. "I don't believe you for a second! You old geezer, if you had failed, you probably wouldn't have needed the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan to kill me. Li Yunrui probably wouldn't have even let me return to Yanyun; he would have just killed me on the way. The reason might be... the delegation was unfortunately assassinated on their way back to the capital, their bodies left to rot in the wilderness." Tang Feng shuddered at the thought.
"Dare you sign a pledge?" Li Yunrui raised an eyebrow, looking at Tang Feng with a smile.
Tang Feng stood up and met Li Yunrui's eyes. "I wouldn't dare. I don't want to use my life as a sacrifice for you on your path to the throne. However, this is my job, and I will naturally do my best."
"Then go back and prepare. In a couple of days, I'll have Qinghang explain the detailed procedures to you. You'll set off next month. I'll throw a big banquet before you leave. I wish you every success!"
"Oh! I thank you!"
As Tang Feng left the Prince's mansion, he saw Zhou Ziliang waiting for him at the gate, just like before at Lishan Academy. Tang Feng felt a lump in his throat. He didn't know what his future held; it seemed he had been inexplicably drawn into this conflict and was finding it hard to extricate himself. What would he do if, because of him, Li Yunrui threatened Zhou Ziliang and Zhang Mobai?
"What's wrong? Why are your eyes red?" Zhou Ziliang stepped forward and saw Tang Feng staring intently at him with a wronged expression. He felt a pang of sympathy. Tang Feng wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "It's nothing! The tea at the Prince Duan's mansion was too bitter; it made me cry." After saying that, Tang Feng stepped down the stairs and stood beside Hongdou. He turned to Zhou Ziliang. "Ziliang... could you take me home?"
“Even if you don’t tell me, I will.” Zhou Ziliang helped Tang Feng onto the horse. Tang Feng buried his face in Zhou Ziliang’s chest. Zhou Ziliang didn’t know what Prince Duan and Tang Feng had talked about, and he didn’t want to bring it up rashly. “Little Feng… are you unhappy? Is that…?”
"Ziliang... I'm afraid I'll let you all down in the future, and I'll let you down too."
"..." Zhou Ziliang frowned. "Did Li Yunrui threaten you?"
"No... but he's right, if you walk by the river long enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet." Tang Feng sat up and looked at Zhou Ziliang. "I... I'm going to the Qiang and Hu tribes in a while."
"Qiang and Hu people?!"
"Hmm... don't worry too much, I'll definitely be fine." Tang Feng was quite skilled at negotiating with clients, but this client seemed to have a rather large order. Negotiating with the ruler of a nation required showing some sincerity; it would be difficult to get the Khan of the Qiang and Hu tribes to agree! Ayi Harbor was originally someone else's territory; trying to snatch meat from a tiger's mouth was insane. But with knives in front and guns behind, he was in a dilemma. He might as well bite the bullet and give it a try.
"Or I can go with you."
"No need! Wait for me in Xiling. I'm just going on a business trip. Prince Duan said he'll reimburse all expenses," Tang Feng smiled. "I won't miss the chance to mess with him."
"Then when you go to the Qiang and Hu tribes, make sure you eat well and don't go hungry."
The next day, Shen Qinghang went to Tang Feng's house and chattered on and on all day. Even while Tang Feng was eating, Shen Qinghang's mouth didn't stop. Tang Feng pushed the rice bowl in front of Shen Qinghang and said, "You've been nagging all day, why don't you... eat something?"
Shen Qinghang rolled his eyes at Tang Feng. "I don't need it! Didn't you hear what I just told you? Those were instructions from His Highness and me."
"Come on, is that too much to ask? Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. You think I can succeed just by saying a few words? If it were that easy, would we need to behead someone?" Tang Feng raised his rice bowl and shouted towards the kitchen, "Sister Jiu, another bowl!" Then he said to Shen Qinghang, "You and your prince are alike, all talk and no action, and you've used all your open and covert attacks on me."
"We're doing this for your own good! Don't be ungrateful!" Shen Qinghang stood up abruptly, as if he had been ignited, his brows furrowed and his eyes blazing with anger.
Seeing that he was angry, Tang Feng reached out and pressed down on him with his chopsticks. "Oh dear, did you eat some spicy food? You're so hot-tempered. Sit down, sit down. If you really think you're doing this for my own good, then don't put me in such a precarious position! I'm just an ordinary person who only wants to live a normal life. Look at the mess you've made! After you finish your meal, hurry up and leave! As for Qiang Hu, I'll still go. At least I made a promise, and I can't let it offend your prince, can I? Success or failure is in my hands; it's none of your business."
"You are truly... utterly unreasonable!"
Seeing Shen Qinghang leave, Tang Feng put down his chopsticks and got up to go back inside. Qin Jiujiu came out of the kitchen and saw the half-bowl of rice left on the table. She asked, "Xiao Feng, why did you leave? Aren't you going to eat?"
Tang Feng didn't turn around, he just waved his hand and said, "I'm not eating anymore, this meal gave me a stomachache! I feel so frustrated." After returning to his room, Tang Feng pressed his throbbing temples and called Liu Yiwan over, "Go to the Zhang residence and call the little madman over, hurry up!"
"Young Master... it's already this late." Liu Yiwan glanced at the sky outside; it was already getting dark, and he felt a little worried.
"I told you to go, so go! Why are you making so many noises?" Tang Feng kicked Liu Yiwan in the butt, then propped his chin up and stared blankly. He was truly in deep trouble! It was supposed to be a sinecure! A job that had been vacant for over a decade, and suddenly he had something to do the moment he started? What a coincidence!
Zhang Mobai arrived quickly. Hearing that Tang Feng was looking for him, he climbed over the wall and came even faster than Liu Yiwan. Entering the room, he saw Tang Feng leaning against the bed, looking unwell. He sat down beside the bed and asked, "Little brother, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I'll go find you a doctor."
"Wait a minute," Tang Feng tugged at Zhang Mobai's sleeve, "Doesn't my vast Tang mansion have a single servant to fetch a doctor? Do I really have to make you go?" Tang Feng sat up. "I called you here to ask you something."
"What? You're making it sound so mysterious."
"Qiang Hu..."
"What did you say? Prince Duan sent you to the Qiang and Hu tribes to demand Ayi Harbor from their Khan? Has he gone mad? Does Ziliang know about this?" After hearing the whole story, Zhang Mobai clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the bed.
Tang Feng nudged Zhang Mobai, "Please have mercy, okay? This is my bed, made of golden nanmu wood, very expensive. Ziliang knows about it." Tang Feng sighed, "But what can we do? I guess I'm the one who's besieged on all sides."
"Qiang Hu..." Zhang Mobai pondered for a moment, chin in hand, before saying, "Qiang Hu is a neighboring country with relatively good relations with Yan Yun. However, their production is backward. I understand why Li Yunrui is so eager for you to go to Qiang Hu to negotiate Ayi Harbor. Qiang Hu has a superior geographical location, but... the people there are too simple-minded. To put it bluntly, they matured too late. Countless wars have been fought in the Central Plains, but they haven't driven any new development for them. Although these people are barbaric, they are still reasonable. As long as you don't say the wrong thing, you should be fine. However, they have a strong sense of territory, so you need to be extra careful when you go."
Tang Feng carefully considered Zhang Mobai's words, then got out of bed and poured himself a glass of water. "It sounds... not too difficult. 'Wild' doesn't mean 'overbearing.' I might be leaving next month. See if there's anything else I need to bring."
"Li Yunrui will tell you all of this, right?"
"I don't trust them," Tang Feng squinted at the candle flame. "None of these people deep in the vortex are sincere. Apart from themselves, everyone else's life is like an ant, insignificant."
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