Yang Peng saw the whole process in his eyes, and finally let go of the big stone that was weighing on his heart. At the same time, Yang Peng felt a little funny. He didn't expect An Qian, who was usually submissive in front of him, to be so manipulative. Her cunning and eccentricity was comparable to Huang Rong in Jin Yong's works! But that kind of man really deserves to be punished so severely!
An Qian and Luo Yanran were busy until late at night, then they put down their work and went back to rest. Since the investment department has just entered the city, many things are complicated, so the two managers An Qian and Luo Yanran have been staying in the government office these days, working during the day and resting in the back office at night, although the palace is not very far away from here. It's far away, but I can't bear to go back.
Anxi returned to her dormitory, turned around and closed the door. I only feel that every part of my neck and waist is sore and numb. I didn't feel it when I was working wholeheartedly just now, but now I just feel very tired, and I want to lie down on the bed and have a good sleep.
Anxi walked straight to the bed, took off her coat, and lay down. I closed my eyes, and soon I was half asleep and about to fall asleep.
At this moment, Anxi suddenly felt a pair of big hands reaching out from behind, hugging her waist, and pressing her palms tightly against her lower abdomen. An Qian had just experienced what happened to Zhang Shusheng and subconsciously thought it was him. She was shocked and woke up immediately. He twisted around and pushed his hands on the other person's chest at the same time, trying to push him away!
At this moment, a familiar laughter came: "It's me!"
An Qian was stunned for a moment, and then the faint moonlight came in from the window, and she saw the other party's appearance clearly. Who else could it be if it wasn't Yang Peng? Anxi felt relieved immediately, but then infinite grievances came to her heart and she couldn't help but cry.
Seeing An Qian crying, Yang Peng quickly hugged her and comforted her: "Be good! Stop crying! It's my fault!" Then he picked up one of An Qian's slender hands and hit his chest, and said angrily: "I'll beat you, you bad guy! You actually scared our Qian'er!"
An Qian burst into laughter and buried her whole body in Yang Peng's arms. She was very frightened and said: "Just now, I thought it was someone else!"
Yang Peng smiled and said, "Do you think he is a scholar named Zhang?"
An Qian raised her head, looked at Yang Peng in surprise, and then quickly explained: "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand me, I have nothing to do with that scholar!"
Yang Peng stretched out a finger to lift An Qian's chin, nodded with a smile and said, "I know." Then he blamed himself and said, "I shouldn't have doubted you." Seeing An Qian's puzzled expression, he smiled and said, " I accidentally discovered that there is a scholar who often writes to you. I thought you were going behind my back..., haha." An Qian looked at Yang Peng angrily and said, "I have already given my heart to your majesty. How could I do something that is sorry to His Majesty!" If he had heard these words before, Yang Peng would not have taken them too seriously, but hearing them now made him very moved.
Yang Peng hugged An Qian tightly and said softly: "I already know your heart completely!"
Anxi smiled happily. Then he remembered something and asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, you came suddenly so late at night?" Then his heart moved and he said angrily: "Is your Majesty here to catch an adulterer?"
Yang Peng touched his nose and smiled awkwardly, and said: "If I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have seen the good show!" He lifted An Qian's chin, kissed the moving red lips, and smiled Said: "I never thought that our Qian'er could be so cunning and brought that scholar to death!"
An Qian showed contempt and said: "If that kind of man doesn't teach him a lesson, he will definitely lie to other women in the future! As a man, he can be so dirty and despicable, it is really disgusting!"
Yang Peng laughed and said: "There are not a few men like this. Generally speaking, the more people read, the meaner they are!"
Anxi chuckled.
Yang Peng looked at An Qian and saw a cunning look on her face. He smiled and asked, "What are you thinking about again?" An Qian looked at Yang Peng, turned her beautiful eyes and said, "I just thought of it, if In terms of literary talent, there are actually few people in the world today who can compare with His Majesty!"
Yang Peng was stunned for a moment, then understood. He immediately turned over and pressed An Qian under him. He stretched out his hands to tickle the sensitive parts of her body. While tickling, he laughed and cursed: "Okay! You actually cursed in a roundabout way." Husband, let’s see how my husband punishes you!”
Anxi's sensitive parts were attacked, and she felt sore and itchy all over, and she couldn't help but moan. After a long while, Yang Peng stopped and said with a wicked smile: "Do you still dare to do something bad?" An Qian gave Yang Peng a pitiful look. At this time, the two people's bodies were entangled and their faces were very close. Yang Peng couldn't help but feel moved when he saw An Qian's pretty face and delicate expression.
Unable to help but bend down and kiss Anxi's red lips. An Qian responded involuntarily, a pair of slender hands wrapped around Yang Peng's neck, her beautiful body twisted under Yang Peng's body, and she let out a delicate gasp that filled the heart. …
In the morning, Zhang Xiang reported to Yang Peng: "Your Majesty, the Tianzhu envoy hopes that we can release all the captive Tianzhu soldiers." Not long ago, the Tianzhu envoy followed Fan Yong to Bianliang, and Yang Peng asked Zhang Xiang to receive the Tianzhu envoy. The Tianzhu envoy first stated that Tianzhu would earnestly implement the agreement, and then made a request for the Ming Dynasty to release the prisoners. Zhang Xiang played Tai Chi with the Tianzhu envoy without making any statement. At the court meeting, Zhang Xiang asked Yang Peng for instructions on this matter.
Yang Peng said: "It's not impossible to release the prisoners, but we can't release them just because of a word from the Tianzhu people. Tianzhu must pay a sufficient price before we can release them."
Ye Qi Guanyin said: "Brother is right! We also spent a lot of effort catching prisoners. If Tianzhu wants people, he has to come up with real money!" Everyone followed and agreed.
Zhang Xiang asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, please clarify, what is the appropriate price?"
Yang Peng smiled and said: "We won't ask for more. I heard that there are many slave markets in Tianzhu. Slaves like adult strong men usually cost fifty taels of silver each. We won't divide them among the generals, officers and soldiers, so as to give them an advantage. All calculations are based on fifty taels of silver." Everyone couldn't help laughing. …
After the court meeting ended, everyone returned to their respective official offices to handle official business. Zhang Xiang did not return home until evening. As soon as he returned home, his family told him that the Tianzhu envoy came to the mansion early in the morning and waited until now.
Zhang Xiang walked into the hall and saw the strangely dressed Tianzhu envoy pacing back and forth anxiously in the hall, so he smiled and stepped forward, clasping his fists and saying, "Your Majesty, you have been waiting for a long time!" The Tianzhu envoy heard the voice and turned around quickly. , saw Zuo Mou, immediately came up to him, and said in blunt Chinese: "I have been waiting here for your Excellency all day!" This Tianzhu envoy, in his thirties, tall and handsome, is the Tianzhu envoy who was sent to Tubo before. Boleder, but now Tubo no longer exists.
Zhang Xiang apologized and said, "I'm really sorry for your envoy. I only came back at this time because of the heavy official duties of the government office." Then he asked, "Your envoy, please have a seat." The two sat down on both sides of a small coffee table. . A maid offered tea and withdrew.
Zhang Xiang smiled and said, "This is this year's Longjing before the rain. Please give it a try."
Ballard had no intention of drinking tea and asked urgently: "Sir, I wonder what your Majesty's stance is on our country's request?"
Zhang Xiang picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of tea. Ballard was extremely anxious when he saw his slow appearance, but he did not dare to say anything to urge him, so he could only look at him helplessly.
Zhang Xiang put down his tea bowl and said, "I already told His Majesty the Emperor about this matter during the court meeting this morning. His Majesty the Emperor agreed to release the prisoners..." Ballard was overjoyed and stood up quickly and said, "Thank you so much, sir!" "
Zhang Xiang waved his hand and said, "I haven't finished speaking yet." Ballad looked puzzled and sat back in his seat. Zhang Xiang glanced at Ballard and said, "Your country won't just want to take back so many prisoners like this, right?" Seeing that Ballard still didn't understand, he couldn't help but secretly said: "These foreign barbarians are really So uninteresting! ’ Then he made it clear: “Even a lowly slave costs fifty taels of silver in your country. How much do you think a strong and well-trained sergeant is worth?”
Ballard finally understood what Zhang Xiang meant, frowned and asked: "What do you mean by your country, we must spend money to redeem the captives?"
"Yeah, that's what it is. Nothing is free in the world. His Majesty the Emperor of our country agrees to release the captives, which is already a great kindness, but you Tianzhu must give money in exchange."
"Then how much money does your Majesty want us to give?" Ballard asked with a worried look on his face. It was obvious that he was worried about being blackmailed by the other party.
Zhang Xiang saw Boleder's expression and said with a smile: "Of course His Majesty, the Emperor of our country, will not blackmail you. Your Majesty said that the average slave in your country is about fifty taels of silver. We don't want more from you, nor do we want any more." Regardless of whether they are soldiers, generals or officers, all prisoners will receive fifty taels of silver each. You can also use other gold and silver treasures to convert them."
Bolede changed his expression and said: "There are hundreds of thousands of our soldiers captured by your country. Each one is fifty taels. One hundred thousand is five million taels. Doesn't all the captives require a ransom of more than 20 million taels?"
Zhang Xiang nodded and said teasingly: "Who told you that we have captured so many of you! Speaking of which, the price is already very cheap!"
Ballard said in his heart: "More than 20 million silver is cheap!" Oh my god, if you say it’s expensive, what’s the price? "He said to Zhang Xiang: "Master Zhang, this ransom is too expensive!" Zhang Xiang said angrily: "Fifty taels is not expensive?" Ballard said quickly: "Although fifty taels is not expensive, but... But adding it all together is too scary! More than 20 million taels, but my God! Sir, this is far beyond the bottom line of our Majesty! It is impossible for our Majesty to agree! Sir, can you please ask your Majesty? Lower some prices!”
Zhang Xiang raised his eyebrows and said proudly: "Our Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he is the greatest hero under the sky, and he has always been true to his word! How can you bargain!" Ballard's heart trembled, and he kept saying yes. Zhang Xiang's expression softened a little and he said: "I don't think you can make the decision on this matter. Let's do this. You can tell your Majesty the wishes of our Emperor. Maybe your Majesty can agree."
Ballard felt that the other party was resolute and it would be useless to say anything else, so he nodded.
Zuo Mou glanced at Boleder and said: "As for the agreement that we have signed, you have to step up its implementation. Otherwise, His Majesty will be displeased and send troops to attack, which will not look good!" The current agreement signed between Ming Dynasty and Tianzhu There are two main parts of the agreement. One is that Tianzhu recognizes in the form of a national document that Tubo, Dali and Dhaka have been Chinese territories since ancient times. This article has now been completed. Fan Yong has brought the official document signed by the Emperor of Tianzhu back to Bianliang Second, Tianzhu compensated Ming Dynasty with five million taels of silver. This clause has not yet been fulfilled, but Tianzhu has already made a promise.
Boleder's heart trembled, and he quickly said: "Don't worry, sir, we Tianzhu people are the ones who keep our promises the most. Since we have made a promise, we will definitely fulfill it as soon as possible!"
Zhang Xiang nodded, "That's the best. You'd better send the compensation before our country's Spring Festival." "Yes, yes, this should be possible."
Bolede did not stay in Bianliang for long, and left Bianliang in a hurry and returned to Delhi. The amount of ransom demanded by Ming Dynasty was reported to the Tianzhu court and the emperor.
When everyone heard the figure of more than 20 million taels, they immediately became commotion, and they all accused the Ming Lion of going too far! The emperor said to Ballard angrily: "Why did you just let the other party bid?" Many ministers and nobles also criticized. Ballard said quickly: "They don't allow me to bargain at all!" Everyone fell silent. Only then did they realize that they were the defeated party, and the defeated party had no right to bargain.
The emperor frowned and said: "The treasury simply cannot afford so much money!"
Minister Ajiaer said: "Your Majesty, except for the central army, the other armies of our country are formed and managed by local nobles. These soldiers managed by local nobles are now captured, and the central government of the empire should not pay this ransom. ." The emperor's eyes lit up when he heard this, and the nobles glared at Ajia'er angrily. However, what Ajia'er said was reasonable, but they could not refute his words. It turns out that the military system of Tianzhu is completely different from that of the Ming Dynasty. The so-called five legions of the Tianzhu army are actually divided into two major systems. One is the central legion. This part has nearly one million people and is completely controlled by the central empire. Its formation and training and maintenance costs are all paid by the central government of the empire; the second is the so-called four major armies of the East, West, North, and South. This part of the army is actually trained and organized with money from nobles from various places. It is very large in scale. In name, it obeys the orders of the central government. In fact, it is Completely homemade. The generals among them are all nobles from various places, and the supreme commander is often the leader of the nobles on that side.
The emperor said: "What Ajiaer said is very correct! It is right for me to redeem the soldiers of the Central Army. As for the army of the nobles, their own families must pay for the redemption! But this is completely voluntary. If you If you are not willing to come up with this money, I can't force you!" Both the southern nobles and the western nobles looked at the northern nobles and the eastern nobles with gloating, while the northern nobles and the eastern nobles looked depressed.
The emperor said: "I decided to use money from the treasury to redeem the soldiers of the Central Army." The generals of the Central Army shouted long live.
Kshatriya said: "We Eastern nobles are also willing to spend money to redeem the soldiers of the Eastern Legion." Kshatriya's statement made the Eastern nobles sigh, but no one raised any objection. Firstly, because of the Eastern nobles' The interests are tied to the Eastern Army. As long as the strength of the Eastern Army is there, even if they lose the Dhaka area, it doesn't matter much. Secondly, not too many Eastern Army were captured by the Ming Army, which means that they have nothing to do with the Central Army. Quite, so all the nobles paid for it together and shared it, so the price was not too high.
Everyone's eyes focused on the northern nobles. It is easy for the eastern nobles to make up their minds, but it is not easy for the northern nobles to make up their minds. The northern nobles not only lost the fertile areas in the Brahmaputra River Basin, but also suffered extremely heavy losses. The entire northern army was almost wiped out. Of the more than 400,000 troops, only about 100,000 people escaped, and they were defeated. There were more than 200,000 prisoners, and even their leader Moise, the leader of the northern nobles, became a prisoner of the Ming Dynasty. The northern nobles wanted to redeem more than 200,000 captives and get more than 10 million taels of silver. In this way, the northern nobles' vitality was greatly damaged! To be honest, the northern nobles thought it would be better to let Moise and all the prisoners die, and they were not willing to pay the money. But they also understand very well that there is not much strength left in the Northern Army. If they do not redeem the more than 200,000 captives, they may not be able to resist the encroachment of other nobles. In the end, they may lose even more.
The northern nobles thought for a long time, and Ha Yingde, the deputy commander of the northern army, said: "Everyone, we cannot allow our children and slaves loyal to us to suffer in the hands of the enemy! We must redeem them!" "Everyone was very reluctant, but no one expressed opposition. Upon seeing this, Ha Yingde said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, we northern nobles are also willing to pay to redeem our children and slaves!"
The emperor looked at Bolede and said, "Go to Bianliang again and tell the Ming Emperor that we are willing to pay to redeem our people." Bolede bowed and agreed. After the meeting, the emperor stayed behind and asked: "How did you feel after visiting the capital of the Ming Dynasty? Is the East as rich as the legend says?"
Ballad couldn't help but sigh and said: "The richness of the East is unimaginable! Their capital city is very majestic and the scenery is beautiful, like a heavenly palace. I went to the capital city all the way and passed countless places and saw where their people lived. The houses are all very exquisite; their clothes are almost as gorgeous as our nobles, and even some of the richer people can wear silks and satins that our little nobles cannot afford; their people eat food and use many utensils These are things that our nobles don’t have, not to mention food for their nobles, and even the common people have endless amounts of fine wine.”
The emperor showed disbelief and said: "The Ming Dynasty is so rich?!"
Bolede nodded, "The Ming Dynasty was rich, and its people were tough and good at fighting. I didn't stay in Bianliang for a few days before I saw several large-scale fights among the people." Bolede's face was filled with tears. With a look of fear, "Those people are just common people, but they are extremely fierce. The fighting scene is no less than that of the army! They use swords, guns and sticks, and they are all like wolves and tigers! In addition, in Bianliang City, I also found many There are arenas and many arenas, and duels take place every day in these places! In Yanyun, scholars and wise men do not have much status. What the people admire are warriors who are powerful and fearless of death! The young people there Women are willing to marry soldiers, because being a soldier’s wife is not only an honor, but also has many practical benefits! Even women who cannot marry soldiers often prefer mercenaries!”
The emperor frowned and said: "According to what you say, isn't this Ming Dynasty very scary!?"
Ballard nodded and said: "The Ming Dynasty is indeed very scary! Your Majesty, there is something I have to say! It was a big mistake for us to rashly become enemies of the Ming Dynasty before! This is like us taking the initiative to provoke the Shura Hell. Like a big devil! Now that the big devil has been released, we have suffered heavy losses!"
The emperor was very depressed and felt that if he had known that Ming Dynasty was so powerful, he would never be an enemy of Ming Dynasty. This is what he thought at this time, but even if someone told him the true situation of the Ming Dynasty, he would never believe it. At that time, in the hearts of him and almost all Tianzhu people, Tianzhu was the country of the people of the gods. They are the strongest under the sky, and the Ming Dynasty cannot be their opponent. The wealth and land of the Ming Dynasty should belong to them. The emperor said worriedly: "The Ming people are so warlike, will they continue to invade us?"
Boleder shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about this. From what I saw and heard in Bianliang, I found that in the Ming Dynasty, neither the official nor the people actually had the intention of using troops against our Tianzhu. When the people in the market talked about our Tianzhu, , and often just say that we don’t know how high the sky is and no one is clamoring to attack and destroy our country.”
The emperor couldn't help but feel relieved after hearing this, and thought to himself, "That's good! That's good! As long as the Ming Dynasty doesn't come to attack us, it doesn't matter if we pay some price!" Ballard said: "Your Majesty, I am still in the Ming Dynasty. Learned some incredible things.”
The emperor couldn't help but become curious and worried at the same time. Just listen to Ballard saying: "Your Majesty must not have imagined that the Ming army that has been fighting with us during this period is actually only the second-rate army of the Ming Dynasty!" The emperor's eyes widened and he couldn't help shouting: "How is this possible! So terrifying The enemy troops are just second-rate troops!?"
Ballard said: "This is absolutely true! I learned that the strongest of the main forces of the Ming Dynasty is the so-called direct legion that only belongs to the emperor, with a total of 400,000. And the army that is fighting us except for the direction of Dali, a small part is Outside of the directly affiliated legions, most of them are just ordinary legions.”
What happened after all, let’s see what happens next.
