These days, news traveled too slowly. In this barren land, information was even more blocked. What happened in the outside world, they would only hear about it after a month or so, and they still did not know the results.
By the time they knew the results, it was often already too late.
And even if they knew, even if they understood, they did not know what deeper meaning this matter had.
Sun Shitai felt Xiao Ruxun's strong desire for control. He finally understood the root cause of Xiao Ruxun's series of actions.
He wanted to uproot the Bozhou Yang Family … no … not just the Bozhou Yang Family, maybe the four chiefs would be uprooted by him, and even the entire chieftain system would be uprooted by him. Changing the soil and returning to the stream would become a reality in his hands.
Even when Sun Shitai hurriedly told this matter to Yang Yinglong and told Yang Yinglong that Xiao Ruxun no longer had any restraints and that if he started a war, it would be destructive. While Yang Yinglong seemed to feel threatened and his expression changed slightly, he still had hope in his heart.
"My Yang Family has occupied Bozhou for six hundred years, deeply rooted, and flourishing. Even the Ming Dynasty's Taizu Emperor had to show kindness to my ancestor, much less someone who has just become Emperor? What ability does he have to uproot me? "
Yang Yinglong had hope in his heart and did not believe that Xiao Ruxun would use troops against him less than a year after becoming Emperor. In his view, the Daqin was filled with dangers. How would Xiao Ruxun dare to use troops against him?
"Even if Xiao Ruxun is extremely daring, he should not think about what the one hundred thousand soldiers under my command eat! If he comes, I will make sure he will not be able to return, just like the three thousand Ming soldiers! "
Yang Yinglong understood Sun Shitai's warning, but his level of understanding was not deep enough. He could not think of Sun Shitai's depth, and could not correctly understand what this matter meant. Therefore, Yang Yinglong did not choose to prepare for battle, but continued with his routine.
Sun Shitai knew why. It was not only because of the gap in their knowledge, but also because almost everyone around Yang Yinglong was telling him that the Daqin was founded less than a year ago and that its foundation was not stable. They were only warning him not to act recklessly and would not really use troops against him.
Yang Yinglong's trusted aides, his subordinate chieftains, his generals, and even his favorite concubine, Lady Tian, were all telling Yang Yinglong this.
There was no war in Bozhou.
Yang Yinglong felt good.
Sun Shitai keenly sensed something. He sensed that there seemed to be a big hand in the dark pushing all of this.
He had guessed correctly. Although it was a little late, he realized it when Wang Xiangqian recruited Sun Shitai to be the administrative envoy of Sichuan.
The people around Yang Yinglong might all be people who had been bribed with benefits. The only one who was truly in the dark was Yang Yinglong, and the one who was most easily seen through and deliberately ignored, himself.
When he saw those people's unkind gazes, when he saw Yang Yinglong's suspicious gaze, he realized that he had fallen into an awkward situation. He could not say anything he wanted to say, and could not do anything he wanted to do. His hands and feet were tied.
He could tell Yang Yinglong that he was loyal to Yang Yinglong and was willing to help him through this crisis, but his current situation was not enough for him to say such words. Otherwise, he would immediately become the target of public criticism.
They would openly suspect him because he had been recruited to be the administrative envoy of Sichuan, a second-rank official, and had suddenly soared.
Why is it only you, and the rest of us are ignored?
You are amazing?
You, a Han, are not satisfied with being the Chief Military Advisor, and even want to betray Yang Tian Wang to be the administrative envoy of Sichuan?
Doubts, envy, and jealousy spread in the hearts of every one of Yang Yinglong's trusted subordinates.
They did not intend to start a war with Daqin. In fact, they did not even intend to start a war. Yang Yinglong's attitude was ambiguous, let alone the others.
Yang Yinglong was just too free and wanted to fly in the sky. Naturally, his subordinates were also used to being undisciplined. But rebellion was something that could cost their lives. Unless it was absolutely necessary, who would be willing to do it? Who would want to do it?
Sun Shitai felt bitter in his heart, but he could not say a word.
The suspicion in Yang Yinglong's eyes did not dissipate, but his mouth said —
"Don't worry, Benwang does not believe this kind of thing. Benwang and Benwang are connected, Benwang will definitely not leave."
But how could someone as sharp as Sun Shitai not see the strong feeling of uncertainty and suspicion?
Everyone had been tricked. They had been tricked from the very beginning.
Xiao Ruxun had never forgotten Bozhou, never forgotten the southwest, or rather, from the very beginning, the southwest had been part of his plan. Before, it was sowing, and now it was reaping.
Everyone had fallen into his inescapable net.
His melon fields and plums were only the last step of preparation before the war.
It seemed that he had also entered Xiao Ruxun's discerning eyes. In order to eliminate his threat, Xiao Ruxun did not hesitate to use the name of the administrative envoy of Sichuan as bait.
How had he entered Xiao Ruxun's discerning eyes?
How could the emperor, far away in Beijing, know of a nameless person hiding deep in the mountains and forests?
Could it be …
Sun Shitai scrutinized each and every one of them. He suddenly shuddered as he felt a deep sense of fear.
Xiao Ruxun was far away in Beijing, but his hand had already reached here.
This place had already been seen through by him, from top to bottom, from inside to outside. Unknowingly, it had already been seen through.
Yang Yinglong himself did not feel it. He still thought that his Bozhou was impregnable, but at this time, Bozhou had already become a river dam that had been hollowed out by ants!
The great river was about to flood, and the dam had already been hollowed out!
This battle had not even been fought, but they had already lost.
Sun Shitai sadly discovered that there was really no need to fight this battle. Xiao Ruxun's hand had probably already reached into Yang Yinglong's pocket. He even knew exactly how much money Yang Yinglong had in his pocket.
Just how terrifying of a person was this emperor?
Thinking about it, it was easy to understand. Which dynasty and which generation of emperors were not unique among millions of people?
Losing to the hands of a founding emperor was not shameful.
Therefore, in the meeting, Sun Shitai sighed, stood up, dusted off the dust on his body, and bowed to Yang Yinglong.
"You are right, Heavenly King. I and Heavenly King have only known each other for a short time. My wealth was bestowed upon me by Heavenly King. There is no reason for me to abandon Heavenly King for another place. However, Heavenly King, I am not feeling well today. I would like to ask for leave and rest in the residence for a while."
This was his last hope. If Yang Yinglong asked him to stay, then there was still that little bit of hope.
"If that's the case … that's fine. Sir, go and rest. I will send the best doctor to treat you and nurse your body."
Yang Yinglong only hesitated for a moment before agreeing to him.
Sun Shitai took a deep breath, suppressed the disappointment and loss in his heart, bowed, and left the meeting hall.
It was over.
Sun Shitai knew very well that there was no need to fight this battle. At this very moment, or perhaps at some point earlier, Xiao Ruxun had already grasped victory in her hands and calmly arranged her troops into battle formations.
Sun Shitai returned to his residence and closed the door to rest. He only wanted to read and write to pass the last period of his life.
An hour later, a servant who had followed him for more than ten years came to tell him that a group of soldiers had suddenly appeared at the entrance of the residence. They said that Heavenly King Yang was here to protect Sun Shitai and that they would be responsible for Sun Shitai's safety in the future. If he wanted anything, he could just tell them.
Sun Shitai closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"Got it. You are dismissed!"
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