Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 263: Be a spy for me

My logical thinking!

Rong Tang choked and quickly covered his mouth, "The news hasn't spread to the court yet, you can't spread nonsense and create panic."

Tang Fuyun was silent for a while, then he lifted a partition on the cart and took something out. "This is for you."

This was a small automatic crossbow, which made Rong Tang's eyes widen. He didn't remember giving Tang Fuyun the crossbow blueprint.

"How did you make it?"

"The wheelchair you drew for Master Zheng last time had a slot for hidden weapons inside. I separated the slot and made this repeating crossbow."

Tang Fuyun took out all the repeating crossbows, a total of ten, plus six Tang swords, enough to form a guard team.

Rong Tang took him aside, his face serious, "Brother Tang, who knows that you make weapons?"

Tang Fuyun pursed his lips and said, "My uncle and the craftsmen under my command."

This kind of thing can be concealed from the superiors but not from the subordinates, but since Sima Xin knows about it, he should cover it up for him.

After Tang Fuyun finished talking about these days, his eyes became confused for a moment. "I just saw my father on the street. I originally thought that he would soon cease to be my father and that he would not beat me anymore. But my mother and uncles discussed it and decided not to divorce, saying that we should divide the property and live separately. I am still his son, so how could he beat me..."

He had an indescribable feeling towards his father. He was required to obey his father absolutely since he was a child, otherwise he would suffer inhuman beatings and scoldings. His injured head did not know how to resist at all. Every time his father wanted to hit him, he would just sit there motionless and endure it, always thinking in his heart that if he just endured it, his mother and sister would be safe.

He didn't love his father very much, but when Tang Xunze was in danger, the pull of blood would make him subconsciously protect him from the disaster, even if he would be beaten the next moment.

Just yesterday, when the family gathered to discuss the issue of divorce, my mother suddenly changed her mind.

She cried and said to her uncles and aunts, "I thought that as long as I was determined to break up the relationship, no one could stop me. But the children will still be under external pressure. Today it's Madam Zhenlie, and tomorrow I don't know who it will be. I used to think that my brothers and sisters-in-law all gave birth to boys, and no girls would be implicated by me. But now I think, if this generation doesn't have it, what about the next generation? The next generation of the Sima family has a daughter who has broken up the relationship with a virtuous aunt. Who among the prominent families in Shangjing would dare to propose to her? And Tiantian, if she doesn't have the status of an official lady, how can she gain a foothold in Jian'an Earl's Mansion in the future? Even if Jian'an Earl himself doesn't care about status, she won't have enough confidence to interact with other families. So I won't leave, but I don't want to live with someone surnamed Tang either. It would be best if we never have any contact with each other again."

My uncles and aunts also thought it made sense, and after much discussion, they came up with the idea of ​​dividing the property and living separately.

After listening to him, Rong Tang agreed with Mrs. Tang's idea. To be honest, no family could replicate his act of forcing Jin Shizhao to break up. They all had close relatives to take care of, unlike him who was alone and could do whatever he wanted.

He had never directly interfered with Mrs. Tang's decision. If she wanted to divorce, he would not hold her back. If she didn't want to divorce, he would respect her choice. From the beginning to the end, what he had defended was nothing more than Mrs. Tang's right to divorce or not.

He patted Tang Fuyun's shoulder and said, "Do your job well, don't be afraid. If your father dares to hit you again, you will beat your second brother."

Tang Fuyun was stunned. "Beat...beat him?"

"Yes! A father should educate his son, and an elder brother should also educate his younger brothers."

Tang Fuyun looked at his hands, "As I should..."

(The second son of the Tang family wailed from somewhere, "I thank you, eight generations of ancestors!")

In the palace, Emperor Xuanning summoned the left and right prime ministers, Grand Tutor Xie, Duke Du, and the six ministers for a secret meeting overnight.

No one knew what they discussed, but at dawn, the door of Jian'an Earl's Mansion was knocked, and the doorman shouted, "Who is it? It's still dark..."

"From the palace, His Majesty urgently summoned the Earl of Jian'an."

Rong Tang woke up alert from his sleep and opened his eyes almost as soon as Rong Zhan jumped into his yard.

"Master, His Majesty urgently summons you."

He rode his horse quickly to the palace gate and happened to see the ministers from the six ministries hurriedly leaving the palace after discussing with the emperor all night. This was because Xuan Ning had not slept all night and summoned him immediately.

When he reached the Qinzheng Hall, He Daban was already waiting for him, "Hey, young uncle, hurry up, His Majesty has been waiting for a long time."

Seeing the dark circles under Emperor Xuanning's eyes, Rong Tang thought he had suffered from neurasthenia from not sleeping all night, and wanted him to help him sleep. Who knew that the first words Emperor Xuanning said were, "Marquis Jian'an, I want you to return to Jiangnan and serve as a spy for me."

Rong Zhan thought he was hallucinating.

Emperor Xuan Ning showed him the military report that had been sent over an urgent distance of eight hundred miles. After Rong Tang read it from beginning to end, he realized that the situation in Jiangnan was getting out of control.

Disasters have occurred frequently over the years, the aristocratic families have not taken action, the court has been unable to solve the problem, and some people have deliberately made things difficult. The rule of the Southern Emperor has long caused countless dissatisfactions.

The prince, who was known for his virtue, changed his image as a wise king in previous years and used tough means to plunder gold, silver, food and fodder, rob merchants, and pocket more than 80% of the wealth in the imperial capital. He led an army of 100,000 south and has not been seen since.

Nangong He had no troops and no money, and had already lost control of the imperial capital. Rebellions were raging across the country, leaving the people destitute. A large number of refugees were flocking to the imperial capital seeking refuge, and the Southern Dynasty's capital was already in dire straits.

Rong Tang lowered his head, feeling it was extremely ironic. In his previous life, Nangong Yan's country was destroyed and he was captured, and he died in humiliation. In his new life, he did not think of any way to change the past outcome. Instead, he gave up and let the Southern Dynasty suffer the disaster early with his own hands.

However, he changed one thing. He was unable to prevent the demise of the Southern Dynasty, but he found a way to escape unscathed. He took with him 100,000 soldiers and horses, tens of millions of silver taels, and concubines from the Eastern Palace, leaving behind his father and his subjects, and ran away.

What a ridiculous reborn being. Rong Tang could even imagine him taking these troops to occupy a small, easily defended and difficult to attack place, living in peace in a corner and becoming an even smaller emperor.

Just based on this, he is not worthy of a high position, and it would be in vain for God to give him a new life.

After cursing, Emperor Xuanning's words also reached his ears, "What do you think?"

Rong Tang thought quickly, "The south is in chaos. Isn't this a great opportunity for Your Majesty to seize the opportunity and reclaim it? Even if I serve as a spy, I may not be able to uncover any valuable information."

Emperor Xuanning said, "I'm not asking you to gather information, I'm asking you to steal the imperial seal back. You're the Earl of Annan in the Southern Dynasty. If you go back now, you might be able to gain his trust."

Rong Tang took a long breath. This was not just a matter of maybe. He had to gain the trust of the Southern Emperor and get the imperial seal back.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to take the risk, but I would like a small guarantee."

"What kind of guarantee? Is it the safety of your people, or a promotion? Don't worry, it's done..."

Rong Tang knelt and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, the people of Jiangnan are also citizens of Daiyue. The struggle for the royal throne has nothing to do with them. I hope that when the northern army marches south, they will refrain from slaughtering people. Let the people recuperate and prosper Daiyue."

Emperor Xuanning was deeply moved. Since ancient times, a general's success has been built on the sacrifice of countless soldiers. A general's glory has always been earned through fighting. From the emperor's perspective, reclaiming Jiangnan, where his people were also his own, certainly didn't want to see a river of bloodshed. However, a general on the battlefield wasn't immune to military orders, and often it wouldn't happen unless he didn't want it to happen.

"Marquis Jian'an, you must know that the loss of civilian life is not what I wish to see."

"I also know this, so I hope Your Majesty will grant me a privilege. If I am able to persuade them to surrender, I will have enough power to protect them from being killed."