Chapter 339: The Dagger is Revealed

"How do you know they came to assassinate?" Wang Yang looked at Patriarch Tian and asked.

Patriarch Tian immediately said: "These two were hiding weapons and acting suspiciously, trying to mix in with the believers. I'm afraid they were waiting for tomorrow to take advantage of the Divine Envoy's lack of preparation and launch a sudden attack!"

"No survivors?"

"These two were dead men; they fought fiercely and wouldn't surrender, so they were killed on the spot."

Bao Yue frowned.

Wang Yang nodded and asked:

"Who does Patriarch Tian think is the mastermind?"

Patriarch Tian showed a look of difficulty:

"This... there is no evidence... really..."

"There is no one else here, Patriarch, you can speak freely."

Patriarch Tian hesitated, his gaze glancing at Xiao Bao Yue.

Wang Yang laughed: "She is one of us." He then patted his leg, like Xiao Bao Yue had let him pound her back earlier, and made a gesture, signaling Bao Yue to come and pound his leg.

Bao Yue was filled with shame and anger, her mind blank. She knew this was Wang Yang's revenge, but she hadn't expected it to be so shameless! So bold! But she didn't dare show the slightest abnormality. Patriarch Tian was beside them, not allowing her to think carefully, so she could only walk up obediently, blushing, and with a posture that was almost tragic, sat on Wang Yang's lap...

It stunned Wang Yang and Patriarch Tian on the spot!

Patriarch Tian thought: They say the Han people are reserved and the barbarians are open, but I don't think so! Doing this in front of me... what is this for??? This person wouldn't have any strange hobbies, would he?!!

Wang Yang felt the warm fragrance and soft jade, but his brain was running at high speed. He initially thought Xiao Bao Yue was going to pull some strange trick and was on guard, but soon denied this judgment. He then patted Bao Yue's arm and said very naturally:

"There is still business to attend to, pound my leg first."

Bao Yue then realized she had misunderstood, and was suddenly ashamed and embarrassed!

So ashamed that her fingertips were burning!

So embarrassed that her breathing was knotted!

She hurriedly got up, knelt down, and lowered her head to pound Wang Yang's leg, her face as red as blood, cursing Wang Yang and herself a thousand times in her heart! She only hoped that a big crack would open on the ground immediately, first to knock Wang Yang to death, and then for her to jump in.

Wang Yang smiled helplessly at Patriarch Tian:

"Patriarch, you're laughing at me."

Patriarch Tian didn't know what to say either, so he could only apologize with a smile, saying repeatedly:

"Normal, normal..."

Although Wang Yang was embarrassed, based on the principle of "as long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else," he quickly adjusted his state and smiled: "It is indeed normal."

Bao Yue's inner dragon roared:

"Normal, normal your ghost!!! Can you just go die!!!"

Wang Yang said: "Then, shall we talk about business first?"

Patriarch Tian nodded repeatedly:

"Talk about business, talk about business..."

While saying this, he thought, what was the business again?

Wang Yang picked up the topic: "Regarding the mastermind of the assassins—"

"Oh, right, right, right. The Divine Envoy also knows that because there was no Divine Envoy, the Yidu tribe has been managed by the patriarchs of the Tian, Xiang, and Cheng clans for many years. The so-called management is just temporarily managing for the Divine Envoy; to put it bluntly, it's just a housekeeper, and there was nothing to fight over originally. But Patriarch Xiang and Patriarch Cheng have always been greedy for power and cannot tolerate others pressing them. Now that the Divine Envoy has appeared in my Tian stronghold, I'm afraid they are..."

If two people really broke in, and it really was sent by Patriarchs Xiang and Cheng, the purpose might not be to assassinate, but more likely to probe for information.

Firstly, sending only two people to kill someone, the chance of success is not high. Secondly, if these two were captured, it would be a pretext for assassinating the Divine Envoy, which is too high a risk. Added to the divine oracle "If this person dies, within seven days, the Yidu will be exterminated," Wang Yang didn't quite believe these two patriarchs dared to commit such a low-level assassination.

Patriarch Tian insisted on assassination, likely wanting to plant a thorn in his heart, making him suspicious of Patriarchs Xiang and Cheng, cutting off the idea of getting close to them, and instead viewing Patriarch Tian as the only trustworthy person.

Wang Yang certainly wouldn't be used as a gun by Patriarch Tian, but he didn't point it out, instead saying:

"Patriarch's words make sense; this really must be guarded against. Thank you for the reminder today; I will remember this favor."

"I dare not, I dare not! Protecting the Divine Envoy is my duty! I was afraid the Divine Envoy would misunderstand me as stirring up trouble, but since it involves the Divine Envoy's safety, I couldn't not say it, and my heart felt like it was being fried in oil..."

Patriarch Tian became more and more urgent, while Wang Yang became more and more emotional:

"I know, I know, how could I misunderstand! Speaking of which, I just arrived at the barbarian stronghold, my foundation is unstable, and I am very unfamiliar with the situation in the tribe. If it weren't for your heart-to-heart talk today..."

The two began to "open their hearts." Before long, Wang Yang had already regarded Patriarch Tian as his "first true friend" in the Yidu tribe, while Patriarch Tian expressed that in the future, he would only listen to Wang Yang's words, whether it was a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, he would "brave it" for Wang Yang. Anyone who didn't know would think they were drinking together, giving Bao Yue the illusion that men were drinking and chatting with friends, while she was quietly accompanying them like a little woman... Eh?! What kind of ghost is this?????!

Bao Yue was startled by her own random associations, only hearing Wang Yang say:

"What mountain of knives or sea of fire! However, I have one more thing to trouble the Patriarch with."

Patriarch Tian immediately patted his chest until it rang:

"Divine Envoy, what are you saying! The Divine Envoy's business is my Tian Dadao's business, and even more so the Yidu tribe's business! The Divine Envoy just needs to give the order!"

"I intend to throw open the village gates and preach the True Dao of Pan Wang for three days. Regardless of which village people are from, or if they are scattered families or individuals, and regardless of gender or surname, anyone whose heart leans toward the Pan Wang Dao may come to listen. There is just one thing I must trouble the Chief with: during the preaching, there will certainly be many people coming, and I do not want everyone to listen to the Dao on an empty stomach. The little shaman of the Tian village has prepared some food and drink, but it won't be enough for so many people. I hope the Chief can spare more grain and meat, set up some large pots, and provide a full meal for everyone who comes to listen to the Pan Wang Dao over these three days..."

As soon as Patriarch Tian heard that he was being asked to bleed heavily, he was so scared he broke into a sweat, hurriedly saying:

"Divine Envoy, think twice! Patriarchs Xiang and Cheng are eyeing us like tigers, and two assassins were just killed today. Who knows how many people they have prepared on their side? Now opening the stronghold gates wide, and having to feed them... isn't this the same as inviting wolves into the sheep pen? If assassins mix into the crowd and take advantage of the chaos to strike, we won't be able to guard against it! If the Divine Envoy is hurt, I, Tian Dadao, will not be able to redeem my sin even if I die ten thousand times..."

Wang Yang laughed boldly:

"Patriarch, you worry too much! Since I came under the order of Pan Wang, I have great luck in my body. Mere assassins are just ants shaking a tree; what is there to fear? Confucius said, 'If Heaven had not wished to let this culture perish, what can the people of Kuang do to me?' Now that the Great Dao of Pan Wang is not cut off, and the divine will is with me, even if the wicked surround me, what can they do to me? Let alone a few petty thieves, even if a thousand armies and ten thousand horses come to the door, I will teach them not to return a single piece of armor!"

Wang Yang has experienced many hardships, circled between life and death, entered noble families, and played with princes. He entered the wilderness, went into danger alone, and broke the chieftain at the wine table;

He commanded armored soldiers, planned in the tent, and destroyed stubborn enemies on the battlefield. As a Divine Envoy, in a few words, the mountains called and the rivers responded, his words were like orders, and the barbarians bowed their heads. At this moment, his momentum was displayed like the Tai'e sword coming out of its sheath, its cold light illuminating the courage. After saying these words, he was full of confidence, quite like the sharpness of "who else but me." It shocked Xiao Bao Yue and Patriarch Tian.

Especially when Bao Yue heard "not return a single piece of armor," her heart couldn't help but speed up: Don't say, don't really say...

Patriarch Tian didn't quite believe it, but seeing Wang Yang's confidence, especially that look of disdain, it actually made him feel a sense of inevitability and unquestionability in his heart. Recalling those "miracles" he had heard or seen, he couldn't help but feel a bit of a drum in his heart, thinking that maybe there really was Pan Wang secretly helping, otherwise how could he subdue the tribe and command them like an arm...

But drumming is drumming; letting him really move his family assets and take grain and meat for outsiders to eat and drink for free, he still didn't approve. However, since he talked about Pan Wang's luck, divine will, etc., he couldn't say anything more, so he had to change the reason:

"The Divine Envoy has Pan Wang's protection, naturally fearless, but... but my family foundation is really thin—"

Bao Yue knew that Wang Yang had some things that were inconvenient to say, so she very consciously played the bad guy, sneering:

"The Tian clan is the largest clan in the stronghold. If Patriarch Tian says the family foundation is thin, then there is no thick one in the stronghold."

Patriarch Tian immediately started complaining, saying his family wealth was very little, his son was young, although there was clan property, it wasn't something he could decide alone, and also said there were many people in the clan, and he had to raise clan soldiers, etc., all the way to how much he lost when he moved before, and his vitality had not been restored.

Wang Yang saw that Patriarch Tian was reluctant to part with the grain and meat, and instead of being angry, he was happy. Bao Yue was about to apply pressure, but Wang Yang said:

"Patriarch Tian's difficulties, how could I not know? Besides, given our relationship, I would never let you suffer for nothing. So I am preparing to send you a great wealth, which will definitely compensate for your losses today a hundred times over. Do you know who I am?"

Then Wang Yang told Patriarch Tian about the "splashing wealth" of official appointments, trade, and the Wanshan Cargo Station, incidentally emphasizing his identity as a financier, and promised that after the Wanshan Cargo Station was built, the Tian family would be the "first trading partner" in the Yidu tribe, enjoying priority supply rights. As for shares, of course, he didn't mention them at all.

The Yidu tribe had been poor for generations, and their financial strength was not as good as the Wenyang tribe. Although Patriarch Tian was the patriarch, he hadn't seen much of the world. Wang Yang calculated this economic account for him, and he was so hot and red-eyed!

Then Wang Yang said that the Wenyang and Yongning tribes both agreed to submit, but the Yongning tribe was greedy and not satisfied, not only not wanting to pay transaction taxes, but also offending the dignity of the envoy. Wang Yang ordered the Wenyang tribe to send troops to punish the Yongning tribe. If Yongning did not repent, the imperial army would unite with the Wenyang barbarian army to directly exterminate Yongning.

Patriarch Tian was even more in awe. Although he had doubts in his heart, he felt that such words could not be made up casually. Especially the submission of Wenyang could be verified by sending people to investigate. It's just that although what Wang Yang said was extremely moving, it hadn't come true after all. And Wang Yang, this Divine Envoy, hadn't been recognized by the other two strongholds yet, so whether this matter was reliable or not was hard to say.

Furthermore, supplying grain and meat for so many people, for three days, if few people came, it would be fine, but if there were many, he wouldn't be able to support it. Just as he was weighing it, Wang Yang said:

"You don't need to provide grain and meat for three days; you only need to provide for the first day."

Patriarch Tian was both happy and surprised!

"Then what about the next two days?"

Wang Yang said: "The grain and meat for the next two days will be provided by Patriarch Xiang and Patriarch Cheng."

Patriarch Tian felt it was absurd!

"They provide?! Divine Envoy, this, this is absolutely impossible!!"

He had indeed harbored the intention of provoking Wang Yang and the other two patriarchs before, but it wasn't just provocation; there was also the truth. Those two patriarchs would never be willing to be ridden on their heads by a Divine Envoy who appeared out of thin air. Let alone them, didn't he himself feel unwilling at the beginning and want to recall the barbarian army to resist?

They probably wouldn't even come to pay a visit to the Divine Envoy to listen to the preaching. If it weren't for their lack of power, coupled with the Divine Envoy's faith in saving the Yidu barbarians being so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, I'm afraid they would have strictly forbidden the stronghold people from coming. Although they couldn't and didn't dare to do so, passive resistance was inevitable, let alone providing grain and meat.

Bao Yue also looked at Wang Yang suspiciously, not knowing what kind of idea he had in his stomach.

Wang Yang laughed:

"There is nothing impossible. You don't need to worry about the specific reasons. You just need to prepare the food and drink for the first day. After the preaching ends, come find me, and I will have the two patriarchs send the grain."

Patriarch Tian was half-believing and half-doubting.

On the first day of the preaching assembly, there was a sea of people.

Everyone listened happily and ate happily. The mountains called and the seas roared, all were "My God is above," "The Divine Envoy is immortal," and the momentum was very frightening.

When Patriarch Tian saw this scene, when he came to see Wang Yang in the evening, he refused to sit on the bed with Wang Yang no matter what. He just stood, carefully asking how to handle the food for the next two days.

Wang Yang sat on the bed, Bao Yue was pounding Wang Yang's back behind him. Originally, Wang Yang was very tired after preaching for a day, but at this moment, when he opened his eyes, it was a piece of coldness:

"Immediately send people to the two strongholds to pass the Divine Envoy's order, telling the two patriarchs to personally escort the grain to kowtow to me early tomorrow morning. If they don't arrive before I start speaking, I will pass the Pan Wang's decree, saying that these two have evil thoughts and blaspheme the divine power, and immediately seize their patriarch positions, to be succeeded by the deputy patriarchs. Confiscate all family property, 30% of which will be given to the headmen and elders of the two strongholds; another 30% will be rewarded to the barbarian armies of the two strongholds, and the last 40% will be distributed to the people in the stronghold. Whoever beheads them will be named 'Sacred General,' command the Sacred Guards, be rewarded with twenty gold beads, and be granted the Pan Wang's personally transmitted cultivation method—'Long Life Extending Sacred Technique'."

Little Bao Yue's fingertips trembled, her heart beating like a deer.

Patriarch Tian knelt on the ground in shock, his heart cold and his bones trembling.

——————

The new short drama is out, with both wonderful restoration and new expressions. Many of the restoration parts in the front are quite good, and the new lines created by the screenwriter in the back also have a different kind of excitement! It is said that the production of the new short drama belongs to the top level in the short drama industry. The studios used are all first-line TV drama studios. There are only 18 scenes a day, and they often shoot until 4 a. m., which is very detailed. If you are interested, you can go and see it. If you are satisfied, watch it for fun. If you are not satisfied, it is also interesting to watch it as an if-line. Don't quarrel.

Establishing the world with literature and martial arts ===== CHAPTER 340 =====