When Li Mingyang, the prince of Xiliang, saw that the thirteen cities within Xiliang were all under that person's finger, his eyes almost popped out! His face turned green, and he shouted anxiously, "This won't do!" Just as the words left his mouth, Li Mingyang felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, as if his bone was about to be crushed.
Luo Xunlong sneered coldly, "Your Highness, the prince of Xiliang, might as well go back and think it over carefully before replying. But let me remind you, our Flying General has never been very patient!" As he said this, Luo Xunlong gently patted Li Mingyang's shoulder and slowly let go of him.
Li Mingyang's shoulder ached unbearably, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. If those thirteen cities were ceded, half of Xiliang's territory would be lost in an instant! How could he possibly agree to this?
But if he didn't agree, the Flying General in front of him would surely not let it go easily. If he gave the order, with both armies at his command, Xiliang's mere 80,000 soldiers would surely be wiped out sooner or later.
Li Mingyang trembled with fear. He said to the Flying General in a deferential manner, "I am willing to offer a huge amount of wealth as compensation. Please show some mercy, Flying General."
Wei Dongling stood on the tree branch and let out a soft snort. The cold wind made her black cloak flutter, and her hands and feet gradually became cold and numb. She knew that her body was not in good condition. If she stayed any longer, she might be found out. So she simply flicked her sleeve and fled far away.
When Li Mingyang saw the Flying General turn around and leave in anger, he vaguely sensed something strange. He inexplicably felt that the Flying General today was different from usual, but he couldn't tell exactly what was different.
Luo Xunlong stepped forward and put his arm around Li Mingyang's shoulder. He whispered, "If Your Highness, Prince Mingyang, is really sincere in offering a huge amount of silver as compensation, I might be able to put in a good word for you in front of the Flying General!"
Li Mingyang felt a chill in his heart. He was faintly worried that the black - clothed man in front of him would make an exorbitant demand. But at this moment, he could only hope that the conditions he set would make the Flying General show mercy to Xiliang. Li Mingyang pretended to be generous and said deferentially, "Sir, please feel free to tell me what compensation would satisfy the Flying General. I will surely do my best to meet your request to appease everyone's anger!"
Luo Xunlong took out a scroll of document from his sleeve. He waved his hand and said with a kind smile, "That's great! Your Highness might as well take a look at this. If you have no objections, I will take this detailed list and go to the Flying General's side to put in a good word for you. I will even pester him until he agrees to your request!"
Li Mingyang watched the black - clothed man's scheming actions like a wolf in sheep's clothing. His heart trembled with fear, but he could only respectfully take the document and read it one by one. The further he read, the more his hands trembled, and big drops of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
This was not just an exorbitant demand. It was simply asking for the entire treasury of Xiliang and all of Li Mingyang's income from his years of business!
Li Mingyang's vision went black, and he almost fainted.
Luo Xunlong quickly grabbed him and pretended to be concerned. He shouted, "Your Highness, Prince Mingyang! Are you okay?"
He was okay! He just felt like his heart was bleeding, and the pain was almost killing him!
Only then did Li Mingyang realize that the Flying General was extremely cunning. The map of Xiliang shown before was just a guise! What they really wanted was the huge amount of hard - earned money he had made from his iron ore business over the years!
The masked black - clothed man even had the nerve to say softly, "The Flying General heard that you gave a large betrothal gift to the Celestial Dynasty back then. He was amazed at the wealth of Xiliang, so he carefully considered asking for this amount of compensation. Of course, compared to this, he actually still wants to take these thirteen cities for the northwest more!"
Li Mingyang felt a surge of energy and blood in his body. His vision went black, and he completely fainted.
Seeing this, Luo Xunlong's eyebrows curved with amusement.
He used to be straightforward. When he disagreed with someone, he would just punch them. For the first time in his life, Luo Xunlong felt that it was so satisfying to use a legitimate strategy to make a despicable person so angry that they almost spat out blood!
It seemed that he still had to learn more from Miss Wei on weekdays. What was the point of just knowing how to wield swords and guns!
Cheng Hao: Brother Long, you're just showing off!
The unconscious prince of Xiliang was carried back.
Wei Dongling hid in a quiet inn under Luo Xunlong's name to rest. After soaking her feet in hot water, she got into the quilt.
Just as Cui Huan was about to blow out the candle and go to bed, she heard Ruan Niang's soft call from outside the door, "Miss Wei, are you asleep?"
Wei Dongling asked Cui Huan to open the door and softly asked, "It's so late. What's the matter, Ruan Niang?"
Ruan Niang came in with a frown and said, "Brother Lang sent a letter. Something has happened in the capital."
Wei Dongling's heart tightened. She asked anxiously, "Is something wrong with Grandpa Su?" Could it be that after Zhao Chuanyi was beheaded, the people in the capital wanted to tear up the agreement after receiving the news?
Ruan Niang shook her head and said, "We still haven't heard from Old Su. Brother Lang said in the letter that according to reliable sources, your father, the emperor, has suffered a heart - related poison attack and is now paralyzed in bed. The tenth prince, Murong Yunqian, with the strong support of the King of Rui, is eager to take action and has already taken charge of the court. " As she said this, Ruan Niang took out a secret letter from her lapel and handed it to Wei Dongling.
Wei Dongling frowned and read it again and again. After a long time, she sighed in a deep voice, "Murong Yunqian is clearly not yet an adult. How can he take on such a great responsibility?" The ninth prince, Murong Yuchen, was still leading troops in the army. The throne should not fall to the tenth prince!
Ruan Niang sighed silently and said, "Miss, we are now in Xiliang. Even if we want to go back to rescue your father, the emperor, it might be too late. Moreover, he treated you like that! You had only been back in the palace for a little over a month, and he couldn't wait to send you here for the marriage alliance and into a trap! Maybe we should just ignore his life or death. Now we have many industries in Xiliang, which are enough for our brothers to live a carefree life here!"
Wei Dongling said in a deep voice, "I naturally don't care about his life or death, but... How can I just watch the son of my enemy sit on that throne?" Is Yu Zixi dead? Didn't you want to restore the previous dynasty with the old troops? How can you tolerate Murong Yunqian being so arrogant?
Moreover, if the Crown Prince Shangguan Yun was still alive, he should be more willing to see the ninth prince sit on that throne, right?
Without saying a word, Wei Dongling got up, put on her clothes, and ordered Cui Huan beside her, "Go and inform General Cui and the ninth prince immediately. Ask them to prepare. We will launch a surprise attack on Xiliang with both armies tonight and capture it in one fell swoop!"
Cui Huan was extremely shocked and thought she had misheard. It was not until Wei Dongling urged her again that she quickly got up, straightened her clothes, and went to General Cui's tent to convey the Flying General's order.
The weather was extremely cold. When General Cui heard that the Flying General wanted everyone to capture Xiliang tonight, he was quite hesitant. He hadn't had the time to report these decisions to the king at all!