Chapter 235: Wei the Big Blabbermouth

*Shua shua shua shua~~~*

Watching Lin Dao pull out a notebook and write rapidly on it.

Li Erfeng's heart was in a panic!

Although unclear what exactly was recorded in that little notebook.

Yet he could feel that it was very important.

It could even affect Lin Dao's attitude toward himself, toward the Great Tang.

"Don't speak nonsense!"

Li Erfeng immediately scolded, "That was merely an expedient measure, and only as brothers in address!"

*Hahahaha~~~*

Dou Jiande, reckless and defiant, laughed nonstop, "Do you believe that yourself?"

Historically, the Turks were manipulated by Yang Guang, split into Eastern and Western Turks.

Then beaten by Li Erfeng until even their own mothers wouldn't recognize them, disintegrating completely.

Looking at it this way, the Turks seem very weak.

But the actual Turks, among the border troubles faced by dynasties past, held a strength and status at the height of vying for first while securing third.

Especially at the end of the Sui, the world in chaos, tens of millions of people killed more than half.

The Central Plains' national power sharply declined, and it was still in a state of fragmentation.

Any force near the Turks basically had to smile and curry favor.

Otherwise, hundreds of thousands of Turkic iron cavalry would come killing, and they truly couldn't withstand it.

Paying tribute — the elder brother doesn't laugh at the second brother.

The northern warlords basically all did it; some warlords were even directly supported by the Turks.

Dou Jiande still wanted to say more, but Lin Dao had already put away his pen and paper and stood up.

He looked at Li Erfeng, "Who decided the matter of paying tribute to the Turks?"

This question left Li Erfeng extremely embarrassed.

It had to be his father Li Yuan who agreed; no one else had the qualification.

But Li Erfeng couldn't say it was his own father.

At this moment, his subordinates' abilities were highlighted.

When breaking Luoyang City, Du Ruhui, who was still escorting grain, stepped forward to explain, "At that time the Turkic threat was immense; His Majesty, to avoid being attacked from front and rear, was forced to agree, and never truly regarded himself as a subject."

"Prince Qin, at that time, strongly opposed it."

"But the Crown Prince supported it, the ministers supported it; Prince Qin was isolated and without help, helpless~"

Naming the theme, clearing his lord, incidentally stepping on the Crown Prince.

This bit of eloquence, Du Ruhui certainly had no problem.

Seeing Lin Dao take out pen and paper again to write and draw, everyone inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Erfeng didn't delay either, waved his hand and had Qin Qiong and the others take Dou Jiande away.

"Wait a moment."

Lin Dao instructed, "Prepare wine and dishes; tonight I'll bring your uncles back for a late-night snack."

Moon dark, wind high, heaven and earth without light.

On the Mingzhou city wall, night-patrol civilian laborers dragged heavy steps back and forth on patrol.

Soldiers must rest, preserve strength for killing.

Patrol duty, then, was done by civilian laborers with no status to speak of.

"There seems to be a sound in the sky."

"Bird~"

"There really is a sound, oh my~"

"It's a bird~"

"I'm so scared~~~"

"Shut up!"

After a round of fists and kicks, the city tower finally fell quiet.

The torch-holding civilian laborers gradually walked away, and this section of the city wall quickly sank into darkness.

Before long, with a soft *peng*, a grappling hook was shot up and fell on the city wall.

The hanging rope was pulled back, the hook claws firmly caught the battlement.

Before long, amid the sound of gears turning, Lin Dao, wearing night vision goggles, dressed in gray, climbed onto the city wall.

Packing up his things, he slid down the other side of the city wall into the city.

The structural diagram of Mingzhou City had already been recorded when the drone scouted during the day.

Lin Dao skillfully avoided the night patrols inside the city and smoothly approached the separate manor.

Inside the separate manor resided King of Huai'an Li Shentong, Princess Tong'an, and Li Shiji's father Li Gai.

Li Gai was originally surnamed Xu; because his son was bestowed the surname Li, he also changed to Li following his son.

That's right, the father changed his surname following his son.

No choice, this was the bestowed national surname.

Besides these few, also a captive but pressed into service as a Scholar Official by Dou Jiande, Wei Zheng was also here.

In the past, Wei Zheng certainly wouldn't dare come over this late.

But now the city was in chaos, and no one managed him anymore.

"Erlang would never abandon us!"

Princess Tong'an spoke with certainty, "He is a good child."

The several men all did not speak.

Compared to the Princess, they considered more.

At the very least, if it were oneself in the Prince of Qin's position, one absolutely could not use Dou Jiande to exchange for hostages.

Dou Jiande, that is the entirety of Hebei.

Use the entire territory of Hebei to exchange for hostages?

Crazy, right~~~

But these words, really cannot be spoken out loud.

In the awkward atmosphere, Li Shentong spoke with difficulty, "It is indeed difficult for Erlang."

Undoubtedly difficult.

On one hand is actual benefit, on the other hand is reputation.

Difficult, difficult, difficult~~~

"What difficulty is there in this."

Wei Zheng bluntly stated, "To avoid the Prince of Qin being put in a difficult position, damaging the grand plan of the nation."

"We ourselves should set an example with our bodies!"

As these words came out, the room became even quieter.

The complexions of Li Shentong and the others became increasingly ugly.

Wei Zheng's meaning was very simple, suicide.

If they commit suicide, then no one needs to be put in a difficult position.

But who the hell wants to die~~~

This guy, his words are truly unpleasant!

Wei Zheng let out a cold hum, about to speak.

Right at this moment, the room door was suddenly pushed open.

Everyone was startled, all thinking it was Liu Heita sending men to arrest them.

Wei Zheng even gripped the hilt of his sword, preparing to send the Commandery Prince and Princess on their way first, so as not to damage the Great Tang's grand plan of unifying the world.

By the weak candlelight in the room, everyone saw the strange person standing at the door.

"Multi-eyed monster~~~"

Princess Tong'an let out a sharp scream, scaring everyone into a shiver.

Wearing the four-eyed night vision goggles, Lin Dao spat, and took out the Prince of Qin's Order.

"At the Prince of Qin's request, to save you all out of the city, follow me."

Without further verbal explanation, Lin Dao turned and walked away.

The several people in the room looked at each other in dismay.

Li Shentong gritted his teeth, and was the first to stand up.

Li Gai followed closely behind, then Princess Tong'an.

Walking at the end was Wei Zheng.

He had already made up his mind; if they could not escape, he would definitely help the Commandery Princess die with dignity.

All the way following Lin Dao, walking and stopping.

Everyone was extremely surprised.

This person actually knew the night patrol routes in advance, avoiding all the night patrol squads.

Could it be he has prescience?

Reasonably speaking, for important hostages like Li Shentong, the guard would be very strict.

But the actual situation depends on the environment at the time.

The Xia King was captured, the city was already in chaos.

Liu Heita insisted on fighting, but Cao Shi and Pei Ju, Qi Shanxing and others insisted on surrendering.

Among their own people, it was already swords drawn and bows bent, internal strife extremely fierce.

The guarding of Li Shentong and the others inevitably slackened.

Only when their internal thoughts unified would they strictly tighten security.

Arriving at the wall root, Lin Dao had set up the Hook Lock Slide, and amid the sound of the electric motor turning, sent the several people up to the city tower one by one.

The ancient world had no nightlife, no vehicles filling the streets, and no KTV barbecue.

Come night, apart from dog barks, bird calls, and frog croaks, there was only the night watchman's clapper.

The sound of the electric motor turning attracted the night patrol's attention.

But by the time they rushed over, they only saw two ropes connecting inside and outside the city wall, and unrecognizable things.

Human shadows?

Not even a ghost shadow.

"Uncle~~~"

"Aunt~~~"

Inside the Tang Army main camp, Li Erfeng slid to his knees, hugging his aunt's legs weeping, "Erlang came too late~~~"

Nothing more to say, what followed was naturally a scene of family reunion, embracing and weeping bitterly.

The generals all felt great astonishment and admiration for Lin Dao.

Entering the enemy city alone, he rescued everyone without changing expression.

Such skill truly inspired great admiration.

Mingzhou was no nameless small county city.

This was Dou Jiande's old nest, and it was still in a state of war.

Truly admirable.

"Benefactor~~~"

On Li Shiji's side, he also slid to his knees and threw himself forward, kowtowing to Lin Dao.

"Great favor and great virtue, unforgettable even in death; please accept my kowtow, Benefactor!"

His father Li Gai was also rescued along the way, finally resolving his heart's knot.

After all, when Liu Heita truly hanged his father on the city wall, what would he, Li Shiji, do?

Disloyal, or unfilial?

Disloyalty is unacceptable, but if he were unfilial, he would be scorned by all under heaven.

Lin Dao helped him solve the problem.

Even if his scalp were scraped raw from kowtowing, he could bear it.

After a display half performance and half genuine emotion, everyone entered the great tent one after another.

Various wines and dishes had long been prepared to welcome and comfort Li Shentong and the others.

"Brother Zi Hou."

Li Erfeng held Lin Dao's arm and pulled him forward, "Please take the seat of honor!"

If one could rescue people silently, one could also kill people silently!

A strongman with such heaven-piercing, earth-shaking ability must either be eliminated or recruited by all means.

Lin Dao was also not yielding, directly sitting in the seat of honor.

Li Shentong and Princess Tong'an, the highest in seniority—one was Li Yuan's cousin, the other Li Yuan's sister—sat on both sides accompanying him.

The two also first raised wine cups to Lin Dao to express their gratitude.

Next, Li Gai brought his son Li Shiji forward to offer wine to Lin Dao, expressing thanks for the life-saving grace.

Finally, Wei Zheng stepped forward alone.

"Wei Zheng thanks Benefactor for the life-saving grace~~~"

Lin Dao, who had only been smiling and nodding until now, finally spoke.

"You are Wei Zheng?"

The great tent, originally filled with laughter and joy, instantly fell quiet.

Everyone was astonished.

When the Prince and Princess offered wine, they only received a nod.

How could this minor official receive a response from Lin Dao?

A gleam flashed in Li Erfeng's eyes as he stared fixedly at Wei Zheng.

Lin Dao held his wine cup forward and helped him up, "No need for courtesy."

"You are capable; I am glad I could rescue you."

The smiles of Li Shentong and Princess Tong'an were somewhat embarrassed.

Wasn't this saying we were incapable?

Lin Dao had not finished speaking: "If I had known you were also trapped in the city, I would have rescued you long ago~"

A sudden clamor rose within the great tent.

This godly person, always aloof and indifferent even to the Prince of Qin, actually valued this minor official so highly—truly unbelievable.

On Li Erfeng's side, his eyes were bright as lamps.

He wished he could see through Wei Zheng's heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys at a glance!

Drinking with Wei Zheng, Lin Dao turned to glance at Li Erfeng.

Li Erfeng understood instantly.

He immediately rose, holding his wine cup over.

"Shimin arrived late, causing Mr. to suffer; I shall drink as penalty~~~"

Wei Zheng repeatedly said he dared not.

After drinking a cup, Li Shentong immediately spoke: "I wish to recruit Mr. as Chief Clerk of the Qin Wangfu; please assist me!"

Wei Zheng respectfully returned the salute: "Thank you, Your Highness the Prince of Qin, for valuing me!"

Lin Dao's regard caused Wei Zheng's fate to turn.

Skipping the transition of relying on Li Jiancheng, he directly entered Li Erfeng's command.

Presumably, Li Erfeng would soon welcome the saliva attacks of the Wei sprayers a few years early.

End of Chapter