Yuan Gang had no intention of being happy. On the contrary, he poured a bucket of cold water over it. "According to news from Mount Wuliang, in the battle outside the city, tens of thousands of defeated soldiers were trapped in the valley. Tens of thousands wanted to surrender, but Meng Shanming surrendered and slaughtered them all!"
Hearing this, Guan Fangyi felt her hair stand on end.
Niu Youdao was silent for a while. Slowly, he said, "Monkey, chaotic times have chaotic rules! The Prince gave Meng Shanming the power to act first and report later. Meng Shanming must have his reasons for doing so. On the battlefield, Meng Shanming has been on the battlefield all his life. He is a true seasoned expert. Leave specialized tasks to specialized people. If we don't understand something, then don't point fingers. Otherwise, he will be tied down. "
Yuan Gang turned and left without saying anything more.
"I didn't think this stupid monkey would have a soft-hearted side." Guan Fangyi stared at Yuan Gang's departing figure and sighed. However, she still placed her hand on Niu Youdao's shoulder and patted him. "But Taoist Grandpa, too many people have died this time. I'm a real woman!"
Niu Youdao calmly said, "If I don't advance, I'll retreat. If I give in, more people will die. If it were you, what would you choose? I have no choice! "
"Ah! In any case, you don't care about a few more. I'll go inform the people in the city to make a move. When I was in Qi Capital, I never thought I would one day be involved in something like this. "Guan Fangyi pulled her hand away from his shoulder and left with a sigh.
Niu Youdao flipped through the battle report.
No matter what, to have someone who could carry out his intentions so perfectly saved him a lot of trouble.
Night fell. The consequences of the battle outside Rūyang continued to appear. The deterrent effect was obvious. Dingzhou's military strength was limited and no longer dared to initiate an attack. They pulled back their forces and entered a state of total defense.
In the main tent, Xue Xiao was anxiously waiting for the court's reply, for the court to send reinforcements, and for the court to find a way to resolve this matter.
Yuan Gang was also waiting in the center of Mount Wuliang for news of the battle to arrive at any time.
A Mount Wuliang disciple entered the cave to report, "Master Yuan, a Liu Xian Sect disciple is looking for you."
Gongsun Bu, who was also in the cave, looked up.
Yuan Gang stood up and left. When he arrived outside the cave, he saw the disciple guarding the mountain. The disciple reported, "Master Yuan, there's someone outside the mountain gate. He says he's your old friend."
Yuan Gang asked, "Who is it?"
The Keep Immortal Sect disciple said, "He didn't say anything. He covered his head and face and didn't show his true appearance. He only said that you would know when you saw him."
Yuan Gang frowned and left.
After meeting this so-called old friend, not long after Yuan Gang brought him into Thatched Cottage Villa, Niu Youdao came to the courtyard where Shang Shuqing lived.
"Daodao!" Silver, who was sitting beside Shang Shuqing, had sharp eyes. She shouted and stood up first before running over.
Niu Youdao looked at the food box in her hands and smiled bitterly. "You're still eating!"
Yin 'er immediately grabbed a piece of wild boar meat and handed it to him. "For you."
"I've eaten." Niu Youdao immediately waved his hand and declined politely.
"Daoye." Shang Shuqing approached and bowed. He was a little surprised. Niu Youdao rarely took the initiative to look for her.
After sending Yin 'er away, Niu Youdao asked, "Princess, you should be familiar with all the famous people in Yan Jing, right?"
Shang Shuqing didn't know why he asked this. He hesitated for a moment. "It depends on who they are. After all, I've been away from Yan Jing for some years."
Niu Youdao asked, "For example, the people from the Grand Minister's Mansion?"
Shang Shuqing nodded. "I know some people from the Grand Minister's Mansion, but not many. I rarely go out when I'm at home."
Niu Youdao asked, "What about Gao Jiancheng's butler?"
"Fan Zhuan?" Shang Shuqing asked. Seeing him nod, he also nodded and said, "He came to visit the Prince's Mansion. I've seen him before, so I know him. Why did Daoye mention him? Does it have anything to do with Gao Shaoming who was arrested? "
Niu Youdao smiled. "Since you know him, I'll have to trouble you to come with me."
Shang Shuqing was puzzled, but he still followed him obediently. Yin 'er didn't fall behind either. She carried the lunchbox and followed them on her own …
In a quiet room with a dim light, Fan Zhuan, the butler of the Grand Minister's Mansion, sat quietly at a table and waited.
He was the one who pretended to be Yuan Gang's old friend. He came here carefully, afraid that it would attract attention if he went to Niu Youdao directly. Therefore, he went to find Yuan Gang first and asked him to arrange a meeting with Niu Youdao.
However, not many people on Niu Youdao's side knew this person. Perhaps there were people from the Celestial Sect and the other three sects who knew this person. However, this person said that he came here in secret and asked others to leave. Niu Youdao seemed to understand this and went to find Shang Shuqing to verify it.
The door of the quiet room opened a little. Fan Zhuan looked up and saw that the person sitting in the light could not be seen clearly in the dark. He didn't know who was peeping.
Outside the door, Shang Shuqing saw it and turned to Niu Youdao. He nodded and said in a low voice, "Daoye, it's him." He was a little puzzled. "Is he here to save Gao Shaoming?"
Niu Youdao thanked her and gestured for her to rest at the side. He hinted that they would talk about this later and that he wanted to find out more about the situation.
After he left, Niu Youdao pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing Niu Youdao, Fan Zhuan stared at him and then stood up. He cupped his hands and said, "Old servant Fan Zhuan greets Daoye."
Niu Youdao smiled and gestured for him to sit. He sat down too and said, "You and I have never met before, so how do you know who I am?"
Fan Zhuan said, "I won't come here rashly. I have seen Daoye's portrait and I don't think anyone here dares to impersonate Daoye." He then sighed and shook his head. "Everyone says that Daoye is young. Now that I have seen him, I know what it means to be a young talent. He is so powerful that he makes all the talents in the world blush with shame."
Niu Youdao smiled and waved his hand. "Don't be so polite. Let's get straight to the point."
Fan Zhuan didn't beat around the bush. He took out several bills from the Bank of the World and pushed them in front of Niu Youdao, "Daoye, please accept them."
Niu Youdao reached out to pick it up and calculated the amount. It added up to exactly 10 million gold coins. He slightly raised his eyebrows and casually threw it back on the table. "I said 100 million. Only 10 million, isn't that too little? Are you trying to send off a beggar?"
Fan Zhuan smiled bitterly, "If ten million gold coins were considered as sending off beggars, then all the nobles in the capital would become beggars. For this ten million gold coins, your family would practically go bankrupt."
Niu Youdao: "You want to bargain with me?"
Fan Zhuan: "I wouldn't dare. Daoye said 100 million, I will only give more, not less."
Niu Youdao responded with an 'oh' and asked with interest, "How much more?"
Fan Zhuan said in a deep voice, "How much is Yan Country worth?"
Niu Youdao quietened down. He stared into the other's eyes and only said one word, "Speak!"
"This old servant didn't come to take money to redeem people. Young Master Ming is in Daoye's hands, so Master is at ease. This money is a little gift from Master to Daoye. Thank Daoye for taking care of Young Master Ming recently … "Fan Zhuan said in a low voice and revealed the purpose of Gao Jiancheng asking him to come. Finally, he observed Niu Youdao's reaction and reminded him," If Daoye is interested in the meager power of this old servant's master, this old servant's master must be useful in the court. If it collapses, this old servant's master is really powerless and can't help Daoye even if he wants to. "
Niu Youdao's expression was very interesting. 100 million gold coins was not a small number. He originally thought that Gao Jiancheng was unlikely to come up with 100 million gold coins. The sky-high price was just to test the water to see how much Gao Jiancheng cared about this son. He wanted to increase the weight first and then seize the weight to make a move.
For him, Gao Shaoming was a bargain. At the beginning, he didn't expect that he could catch the son of the Premier of the Country, Gao Shaoming, alive.
What was even more unexpected was that Gao Jiancheng would actually play such a trick on him, catching him unprepared.
After changing his expression for a while and straightening out his thoughts, Niu Youdao shook his head sincerely and praised, "Those who can hold a high position in the court are really not simple. I underestimated the heroes in the world. It's not that the court is incompetent, but that the court is incompetent!"
He picked up the bill on the table again and shook it, saying, "Since the Premier of the Country is so kind, if I refuse, I will be insensible! Please tell the Premier of the Country that since Young Master Ming is here, I will treat him well and never neglect him. In addition, please rest assured. I will fully cooperate with the Premier of the Country. Tomorrow morning, there will be news to reassure the Premier of the Country! "
Fan Zhuan smiled. It was really pleasant to talk to smart people. He nodded, saying, "This old servant will help Daoye to deliver the message."
Then he turned serious, saying, "Daoye, I want to see Young Master Ming in person!"
"No problem." Niu Youdao stood up, saying, "Wait a minute, I will arrange it." Then he went out.
Before long, Gao Shaoming, who looked a little embarrassed, was brought in. He had no time to freshen up.
He was pushed in and the door was closed. Seeing the old housekeeper in the room, Gao Shaoming was stunned and rubbed his eyes, thinking that he had seen it wrong. Then Fan Zhuan said in a trembling voice, "Uncle Fan, I'm sorry to let you suffer." Gao Shaoming believed that it was not a dream. He quickly stepped forward and held Fan Zhuan's arms, saying in surprise, "Uncle Fan, why are you here? Did my father ask you to save me? "
"Shh!" Fan Zhuan put up a finger, motioning him to keep his voice down, and then said seriously, "Uncle, it was Master who asked me to save you. But there are some words that you should remember. I can't go back to the capital now, and don't think about going back. From today on, Gao Shaoming is dead and has died for His Majesty … "
In a cold and cheerless courtyard in Yanjing, in a cold and cheerless room.
There was a bowl of white rice and a plate of pickled vegetables on the table.
Sitting at the table was Zhou Qing. Imperial Concubine Zhou was dressed in a dignified and beautiful manner. Looking at the simple food on the table, she smiled bitterly and tears came out of her eyes.
This was the dinner sent by the palace servants. It was so simple that it was hard to believe. At the same time, the palace servants also said that the heads of the Flying Flower Pavilion and the Zhenling Academy had been captured and hung on the city wall of Qingshan County. Now that the Minister of Public Works, Tong Mo, had ordered all departments to cut down on food and clothing, the palace had to respond to the call and let Imperial Concubine Zhou make do with it.
Ever since Zhou Shouxian died in battle, the Zhou family's situation had been declining day by day. But Zhou Shouxian had killed himself to gain the reputation of dying in battle for the imperial court and saved his family, but the pillar of the Zhou family had fallen. However, Zhou Shouxian's suicide had moved Cao Yu 'er and Jin Wuguang. They had known each other for many years, and their friendship was still there. They had taken care of the Zhou family. After all, the two heads were people who could see Tong Mo. If they greeted him, the palace wouldn't make things too difficult for Zhou Qing.
Zhou Qing knew that his fate and the fate of the Zhou family depended on Shang Jianxiong. He hoped to be favored by Shang Jianxiong, so he repeatedly asked to see him. But someone obstructed him. Even if he asked to see him, the higher-ups would tell him that His Majesty was busy with state affairs.
Zhou Qing finally understood that Shang Jianxiong favored her in the past because he wanted to appease her father. Now that her father was gone, there were countless beauties in the palace, and His Majesty had too many powerful officials to appease. How could she have a chance?
However, she still dressed herself beautifully every day, hoping that one day His Majesty would come.
She didn't expect that His Majesty wouldn't come, but this news came. The forces in the palace reacted very quickly. They knew that the Flying Flower Pavilion and the Zhenling Academy had collapsed, that her last support had collapsed, and that there was no hope for her to rise again. They immediately turned to someone's favor and greeted a dignified imperial concubine with white rice and pickled vegetables.
"Little Red, bring me my box," Zhou Qing said as she wiped her tears.
One of the two personal maids took the order and went to bring over one of her jewelry boxes.
Zhou Qing pushed it to her. "Take it and bribe them!"
The two maids hurriedly knelt down. One of them cried, "Your Highness, you've been bribing them, but this is all you have left."
"I can't let you suffer with me. I hope you can give us some good food to eat. Maybe we can live a little longer. Go!" Zhou Qing waved her sleeves and shook her head. Tears flowed down her face. She had already eaten this, so it was easy to imagine the situation of the two maids.
PS: A few days ago, I forgot to thank a new alliance master. This chapter is added to thank 'Big Tiger Boss' for his support. Thank you!
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