193: Grant marriage to Xu Zhihu! Xu Fengnian's blood letter! (23

Chapter 192: Marriage Granted to Xu Zhihu! Xu Fengnian's Blood Letter! (23)

The more Zhao Chun listened to Yuan Benxi's words, the more alarmed he became.

Northern Liang already had 350,000 soldiers, and it even secretly harbored elite troops.

Yuan Benxi slowly pointed at the map and said, "The three Sha Province commanderies inhabited by Han people are nominally under the Li Yang Dynasty, but in reality, Northern Liang has long since infiltrated them."

Zhao Chun said, "Does Teacher mean to give this Northwest exclave to Li Chang'an!"

Yuan Benxi said, "Exactly!"

"In Qingcang Commandery, one of the three commanderies, there are three abandoned military towns and about 200,000 displaced people!"

"Northern Liang deliberately keeps them there, attacking them from time to time to train Northern Liang soldiers."

"When needed in the future, with enough money and provisions, these displaced people will immediately become elite soldiers!"

Zhao Chun sneered, "If the Li Yang Dynasty doesn't intervene, these three commanderies will sooner or later be incorporated into Northern Liang's territory."

"It's better to give them to Li Chang'an and let him fend for himself there."

Yuan Benxi replied, "It's highly possible that Li Chang'an will be secretly eliminated by Xu Xiao."

"If he truly establishes a foothold and clears out Northern Liang's influence, we will then transfer him away."

"Then we'll send a reliable general there to work with Western Shu to contain Northern Liang!"

Zhao Chun cautiously said, "What if... I mean, what if!"

"What if Li Chang'an absorbs those displaced people and becomes too powerful to control?"

Yuan Benxi said, "Then issue an imperial decree to Northern Liang, ordering Xu Xiao to lead troops to suppress him!"

"No matter how capable Li Chang'an is, can he compare to Xu the Butcher of the Spring and Autumn Period?"

"This way, those displaced people will also not become Northern Liang's soldiers."

Zhao Chun's worried expression gradually eased. "Teacher is truly brilliant!"

Yuan Benxi's eyes flickered, and he came up with another "brilliant plan"!

"Your Majesty, Li Chang'an snatched Xu Xiao's second daughter, Xu Weibear, to be his concubine."

"Xu Xiao's eldest daughter, Xu Zhihu, is exquisitely beautiful in Northern Liang and is still unmarried!"

"I heard that Xu Xiao intends to marry her into Jiangnan to win over the powerful families there."

A treacherous smile appeared on Zhao Chun's face!

"Li Chang'an killed Chu Lushan and three thousand Northern Liang soldiers, and also snatched Xu Weibear."

"Now he's going to Sha Province, which is behind Northern Liang; this is a mortal enmity with Xu Xiao!"

"You want your son, Xu Xiao, to be the imperial son-in-law, but you let him disappear!"

"Then I will bestow Xu Zhihu in marriage to Li Chang'an!"

"Not only will they be unable to form an alliance, but their hatred will deepen!"

What the monarch and his minister didn't know was that Li Chang'an had also captured Xu Xiao's son.

With his son captured by Li Chang'an, and the Li Yang Dynasty even marrying Xu Xiao's eldest daughter to Li Chang'an, Xu Xiao would probably go mad with rage.

However, the matter of Xu Fengnian's capture was absolutely not to be revealed.

Now, everyone in the world believed that Xu Fengnian had gone on a journey after the defeat of the Daliang Mountain bandits.

At the Tang Royal Mansion, Li Chang'an was also consolidating information from various sources.

Hong Shu reported the spoils from suppressing Daliang Mountain: 500,000 taels of silver and 100,000 piculs of grain.

There was also a weapons workshop within Daliang Mountain, all of which Li Chang'an claimed as his own.

Now, within the Brocade-Clad Guards, the Military Intelligence Department, responsible for wartime intelligence, was managed by Hong Shu.

The Secret Service Department, responsible for intelligence within the Li Yang Dynasty, was managed by Xu Weibear.

The Zhenwu Department, which managed assassins and Jianghu intelligence, was managed by Qing Niao.

The three women were all talents cultivated by the Northern Liang Royal Mansion, so it was a waste not to use them.

Currently, Xu Weibear and Hong Shu were very useful, diligent in their daily duties and compliant at night.

"Your Highness, the Li Yang Dynasty intends to enfeoff the Sha Province exclave to you and confer you the title of Protector-General of Anxi."

Upon hearing this news, Gu Dazu instantly erupted in rage, "The dog emperor goes back on his word!"

"The Sha Province exclave, which the Li Yang Dynasty couldn't even control, the three commanderies have been infiltrated and managed by Xu Xiao for many years."

"And this Protector-General of Anxi, though said to be on par with a Great General, is actually an empty title."

Li Chang'an remained calm and walked to the large map.

"The seven commanderies of Sha Province!"

"Oh, Dunhuang Commandery, occupied by Northern Mang, is also one of them!"

"I heard that Dunhuang City holds a special status in Northern Mang, and its city lord even calls herself Empress."

Li Chang'an also knew that the Empress was Hong Shu's maternal aunt.

Hong Shu was also the only one qualified to inherit the position of Dunhuang City Lord.

Gu Dazu said worriedly, "That's one of the two commanderies taken by Northern Mang; it has been developed for a long time."

Unlike Gu Dazu's anger, Li Chang'an was very fond of this territory.

The Sha Province exclave was later Northern Liang's fourth province, Liuzhou!

The 200,000 displaced people there now harbored intense hatred for Northern Liang.

Northern Liang used them to raise Gu and train soldiers, often launching unprovoked attacks.

Among the 200,000 displaced people, half were able-bodied young adults, which meant 100,000 soldiers.

Li Chang'an didn't want to leave this juicy piece of meat for the future Xu Fengnian.

If he absorbed these 100,000 displaced people into his army, Li Chang'an would not even fear Northern Liang's 350,000 soldiers!

In this world, without the strength to contend with Northern Liang, how could one even talk about vying for the Central Plains!

Most importantly, Sha Province was far from the emperor's reach, allowing for complete control.

Such a place had always been a good location for establishing an independent regime!

What Li Chang'an needed was precisely such a fief!

At this moment, Xu Weibear, with a strange expression, delivered the next piece of news.

"Your Highness, the Li Yang Dynasty also intends to bestow the Northern Liang Princess, Xu Zhihu, in marriage to you..."

Li Chang'an couldn't help but chuckle. This Yuan Benxi was truly rotten to the core, to come up with such a malicious scheme.

"Good, good, good. This King snatched one of Xu Xiao's daughters!"

"The Li Yang Dynasty is even sending another one, so that both of Xu the Butcher's daughters will serve this King alone!"

"Why doesn't this Yuan Benxi just directly urinate on Xu Xiao's face!"

Xu Zhihu's identity was not just that of a Northern Liang Princess.

She was also the dream woman that Daoist Old Ancestor Lu Dongxuan had pursued through three lifetimes!

This woman was not only exceptionally beautiful but also blessed with great Luck!

For Li Chang'an to reach the pinnacle of power in this world, he had to collect this Luck.

Moreover, the nameless golden lotus of the main world had also indicated that the Snowy World was meant for collecting Luck.

Li Chang'an guessed that Xu Xiao would definitely make his daughter disappear or pretend to become a nun.

In short, Xu Zhihu would not marry Li Chang'an so smoothly.

Xu Weibear continued, "Your Highness, regarding the enfeoffment of Your Highness to Sha Province, there are still some dissenting voices in the court."

Li Chang'an said, "There's no need to discuss the fiefdom matter further."

"Weixiong, activate the connections left by Wu Lingsu; we must ensure the Li Yang Dynasty grants Sha Province to this King!"

Currently, the Brocade-Clad Guards' Secret Service Department had been fully deployed under Xu Weibear's strategizing.

Li Chang'an could also influence some of the disagreements and disputes in the imperial court.

By mobilizing some court officials, the enfeoffment matter would surely develop according to Li Chang'an's wishes!

Xu Weibear then said, "Your Highness, Northern Liang has sent Qi Dangguo to discuss the matter of Xu Fengnian with Your Highness."

Li Chang'an said indifferently, "This matter can be handled by Weixiong and Old Gu; Xu Fengnian will not be returned to Xu Xiao so easily."

"After we possess the strength to contend with Northern Liang, we will either kill Xu Fengnian or use him for further leverage."

"Xu Xiao wants his son, and our asking price is much higher than Wang Ying's."

"Ten million taels of silver and a million piculs of grain, that's not too much, is it?"

After that, the smiling Qi Dangguo stayed in Jin City for a long time.

However, Xu Weibear and Gu Dazu both adhered to Li Chang'an's idea that Xu Fengnian would not be returned in the short term.

Fushui Bureau and the Brocade-Clad Guards, two intelligence forces, engaged in a protracted contest inside and outside Jin City.

However, Fushui Bureau was always unable to place its spies by Li Chang'an's side.

Because Li Chang'an would regularly inspect newly recruited Brocade-Clad Guards, directly dismissing those with low affection values.

If the affection value was negative, they would be directly imprisoned and interrogated, and most of them turned out to be Northern Liang's secret agents.

Therefore, it was simply impossible for Fushui Bureau to find Xu Fengnian's hiding place.

The current Xu Fengnian was no longer in Yong Province; the Eight Exquisites had taken him on a genuine journey throughout the world.

Staying in Yong Province for a month, then moving to Qing Province, even Li Chang'an himself didn't know the exact location.

Three months later.

Qi Dangguo returned to Northern Liang, carrying Xu Fengnian's blood letter.

"Your Highness, Mr. Li. After they knocked me out, they took me to see the Young Master once."

"The Young Master is still alive, but he suffered severe torture, covered in blood!"

"Li Chang'an's people would send someone to treat his wounds, and once healed, they would continue to torture him."

Upon hearing Qi Dangguo's words, Xu Xiao trembled all over, his face flushed with anger!

Even when the Li Yang Dynasty tried to deal with him back then, they never used such methods.

His own son, whom he wouldn't even touch, was actually locked up and abused by Li Chang'an!

Qi Dangguo tremblingly handed over Xu Fengnian's blood letter, on which was clearly written:

"Dad, I don't want to die!"

Xu Xiao, who had fought his entire life, couldn't help but shed tears!

How many years had it been since that brat called him Dad!

For Xu Fengnian to call him Dad, how much suffering must he have endured!

"Son! Where exactly is my son!"

"Yishan! What exactly is going on with Fushui Bureau?"

"They can even take the ornaments from Empress Murong's head, so why can't they find Feng Nian's whereabouts!"

Li Yishan also frowned deeply. "Your Highness, we all underestimated Li Chang'an."

"More than ten elite spies who rendered great service in Northern Mang have already fallen in Yong Province!"

"I don't know why, but even if they infiltrate the Brocade-Clad Guards, they are discovered for no apparent reason."

"And... the more experienced and powerful the spy, the easier they are to be discovered!"

Xu Xiao angrily said, "What exactly does Li Chang'an want to do? Does he intend to imprison Feng Nian for life?"

"Is he really not afraid that I will send troops to destroy him!"

At this moment, Qi Dangguo said, "Three years. Li Chang'an said he can release the Young Master after three years."

"And Northern Liang needs to pay ten million taels of silver and one million piculs of grain!"

Upon hearing these words, Xu Xiao instantly erupted, smashing the chessboard with a single slap!

"Bastard!"

"One million piculs of grain is enough to feed 200,000 troops for a year! It's enough to feed Li Chang'an's 4,000 soldiers for fifty years!"

"Three years, are we really going to wait for Feng Nian to be abused for three years!"

For the sake of Northern Liang's grand plan, now was the time to abandon Xu Fengnian.

But how could Xu Xiao bear to abandon his eldest son, the only one who could potentially inherit the Xu family's foundation.

Xu Xiao was a man with almost no weaknesses.

But ever since he had Xu Fengnian, Xu Xiao had a soft spot.

And Li Chang'an seized on this point, firmly controlling Xu Xiao.

Coupled with Li Chang'an's Clairvoyant Eyes ability, Xu Xiao simply couldn't send anyone to infiltrate Li Chang'an's side.

Xu Xiao's most rational course of action would be to directly send troops to flatten Yong Province and abandon Xu Fengnian.

But he couldn't do it.

"Yishan, what if Li Chang'an doesn't keep his word!

Three years, then another three years! What then?"

Li Yishan's brows were tightly furrowed; for a moment, he was at a loss.

The previous Xu Xiao was invincible because he had no soft spot.

"If Li Chang'an still doesn't return Feng Nian... then we can only give up on the Young Master."

Xu Xiao gritted his teeth and said, "If this King is pushed to that extent, I will not hesitate to tear a hole in this sky and definitely dismember Li Chang'an into ten thousand pieces!"

"Qi Dangguo, agree to Li Chang'an's terms! But for now, only half of the silver and grain can be paid!"

At this moment, Xu Xiao felt that this was his most humiliating moment!

But immediately, he was thoroughly insulted again.

Although Xu Xiao was currently in a rage, Li Yishan still delivered a piece of bad news to him.

Zhao Chun intended to divide Sha Province to Li Chang'an and also marry Xu Zhihu to Li Chang'an.

Upon hearing this news, Xu Xiao instantly let out a beastly roar!

"Damn Yuan Benxi!"

"That son of a bitch old bastard!"

"I'll castrate you!"

"To marry Zhihu to Li Chang'an, that's killing someone's heart!"

Xu Xiao was both shocked and enraged. Although he could make his son avoid marriage, he could also make his daughter escape marriage, but this was truly too stifling!

Not long after, Xu Zhihu, hearing the commotion, gracefully arrived.

Xu Zhihu, who was already over eighteen, should have been married by now.

However, she had always been reluctant to leave Northern Liang, which was why it had dragged on until now.

Xu Zhihu was tall and graceful, with a beautiful face and skin as white as snow.

She and Xu Fengnian both resembled Wu Su, not Xu Xiao, so their looks were very high.

Although extremely beautiful, her temper was as her name suggested: not gentle at all.

"Father, what happened?"

The imperial decree had not yet been issued; Xu Xiao had received intelligence from Fushui Bureau.

"Daughter, see for yourself!"

Xu Zhihu took the letter, and after reading it, her body trembled involuntarily.

"To confer Li Chang'an the title of Protector-General of Anxi is to stab Northern Liang in the back!"

"And to make me marry Li Chang'an, that's truly lacking in virtue!"

Xu Xiao said, "Protector-General of Anxi, who is he protecting?"

"Is he protecting the Western Regions? Tubo? Or is he protecting me, Xu Xiao!"

"It must be Yuan Benxi's idea; a good person would never be so malicious!"

"I send people to assassinate him every year, even having his favorite concubine make a move!"

"That guy has such a strong life force; he just won't die!"

Xu Zhihu gave a bitter smile and said, "It seems your daughter is also fated to suffer."

"Now, I can't just marry anyone I please."

Xu Xiao said angrily, "Not necessarily!"

"In three years at most, Li Chang'an will die!"

"When he dies, I'll marry you off gloriously, that wouldn't count as defying the imperial decree, would it?"

Xu Zhihu asked, "Father, why don't I go to Jiangnan and hide for a while?"

Xu Xiao said coldly, "No need!"

"You just stay in the Royal Mansion, and I'll say you've disappeared!"

"Let's see what the Li Yang Dynasty can do to me!"

"They bestowed a marriage for my son, and now they want to bestow one for my daughter!"

"Even when Zhao Li was in power, he wouldn't dare be so presumptuous!"

Xu Zhihu suddenly asked, "Father, has Feng Nian not returned yet?"

Xu Zhihu was his biological daughter, but Xu Xiao still didn't tell her the truth.

After all, the matter of Xu Fengnian was too far-reaching.

"Feng Nian, according to the plan I made with Yishan, has already escaped to travel the Jianghu."

"With Feng Nian kidnapped by bandits and unable to complete the marriage, the Li Yang Dynasty has nothing to say!"