Chapter 1474: The Man in the Darkness

Fang Dalong returned to Longyan City, engaging in all sorts of superficial social pleasantries.

Under the instructions of Qingyang, these were all just going through the motions to prevent the French from realizing it was a sham.

Although the matter itself was indeed a sham.

Yet it had to be done more realistically than the real thing.

Fang Dalong lingered in Longyan City for over half a month, finally finalizing a big deal of one hundred Gold Coins, and ten Longyan Cannons were shipped back to France just like that.

To increase the credibility of this affair, Fang Dalong even had the literati of Longyan City with plenty of ink and paper specifically write a script ten thousand words long.

It detailed how despicable and shameless Fang Dalong was, how he betrayed his country for glory, and how he swindled Longyan City.

Fang Dalong took a rough look and decided this script was not quite right, so he made drastic revisions to a version.

It was fifteen thousand words long.

After reading this script, the scholar who wrote it left in a huff.

As he left, he cursed: "Your mother is a slave!"

Fang Dalong was stunned for a moment, knowing someone had translated it and quietly told Fang Dalong that these words were cursing him.

Fang Dalong was stunned, then shook his head with a bitter smile; for someone like him working behind enemy lines, being cursed was truly unavoidable.

Fang Dalong ignored the scholar who cursed him; this was likely Qingyang's plan, and he might have to bear the infamy of ages.

Returning to France, Fang Dalong received a hero's welcome from Richard.

Richard specifically held a grand welcoming ceremony for Fang Dalong in his castle.

The entire upper echelon of the French Colonial Area was praising the cannonballs Fang Dalong brought back from Longyan City.

Although there were only ten, they were enough to decide the victory of a battle.

On the surface, Fang Dalong wore an expression of extreme joy and being flattered, but inside, a trace of bitterness welled up.

Richard had all the high-ranking officials of the French Colonial Area receive him, the purpose being to ensure that he, Fang Dalong, would never be able to return to Longyan City again.

Never be able to return to Longyan again.

To brand him as a traitor to Longyan and make this matter completely set in stone.

Fang Dalong felt boundless bitterness inside and sighed to himself, thinking that even if Mr. Qingyang came out to clear his name, it would likely be difficult to go back.

However, for the sake of Longyan's grand plan in America, what did the loss of this bit of personal reputation amount to?

After the welcoming ceremony ended, Richard privately met with this Fang Dalong who had brought the cannons from Longyan City.

Fang Dalong put on a look of being flattered, and when meeting Richard in private, he was seen hurriedly bowing and saluting.

But he was held back by Richard.

"Brother Fang, I troubled you this time; you are our hero." Richard looked at Fang Dalong with kind eyes and said gently.

Fang Dalong wore an expression of being flattered and ashamed, indicating: "I have somewhat failed you, sir..."

He told Richard the fifteen-thousand-word story he had written.

Richard was expressionless, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow.

Fang Dalong finally spoke of the main point, reaching his hand into his sleeve: "On this trip, I only saved you, sir, five Gold Coins."

"I am ashamed."

Fang Dalong took out five Gold Coins and opened his hand so Richard could see clearly.

Looking at these five Gold Coins, Richard felt his heart dripping blood.

Every time he recalled the ten Longyan Cannonballs costing him one hundred Gold Coins, that was what one hundred French households would have to save up for a year without eating or drinking.

He had not expected these Gold Coins to have a return.

Richard really wanted to take these five Gold Coins back without changing his expression.

But Richard could not do this.

He had to maintain the appearance of being a leader who respects the virtuous; this time, Fang Dalong had risked his life for France without getting any benefits.

Now that he had returned, he had even saved France five Gold Coins.

"This is yours, Brother Fang, you deserve it."

Richard blocked him.

He tried his best not to look at these five Gold Coins.

He was afraid he would not be able to help himself.

But just at this moment, a hurried voice came.

"Dad, where are you?"

Ausilige rushed in hurriedly and happened to see Fang Dalong and Richard, with Fang Dalong still holding the five glittering Gold Coins.

Ausilige was stunned, pointed at the Gold Coins, and asked: "What is this?"

Fang Dalong replied: "These are the five Gold Coins saved for France; I was just planning to..."

Before Fang Dalong could finish his sentence, Ausilige grabbed the five Gold Coins and put them into his own pocket with great peace of mind.

Seeing this scene, Fang Dalong was slightly stunned.

Richard stared at his stupid son, raised an eyebrow, and asked coldly.

"What are you doing?"

"He said it was money saved for France, so I just took it back," Ausilige said as a matter of course.

Richard's face sank, his gaze staring unkindly at his stupid son, his hand slowly clenching into a fist.

Ausilige suddenly sensed a trace of danger and felt his hair stand on end.

But looking at his old man's expressionless face, it was no different from usual.

"Dad, what's wrong with you? Are you sick?" Ausilige asked with concern.

Richard squeezed out a smile and beckoned to his son: "Come here, I'll show you something good."

Upon hearing it was something good, Ausilige relaxed his guard a little and walked over with a chuckle.

"Hmm, what good thing is it, Dad?"

"Is it the money you're going to reward me with?" Ausilige asked, his face full of anticipation.

Bang!

A flick to the forehead landed on Ausilige's round head.

"Money, money, money!" Richard delivered another flick to the forehead and said, frustrated by his son's lack of improvement, "Besides raking in money, what else do you know!"

"You know nothing of political maneuvering, you have no ability, how could I have given birth to such a stupid son!"

This time, Ausilige was stunned by the blow, and a trace of anger rose in his heart, so he retorted angrily.

"My love for money, isn't it all what you taught me!"

"I've even seen you swindle money from those French Nobles..."

Watching the two people exposing each other's shortcomings, Fang Dalong chose to leave silently.

Which superior leader would want their subordinates to know their dark history?

Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is the best one!

After Fang Dalong left, the father and son, who were still bickering, stopped; Richard patted Ausilige on the shoulder and laughed, "My son finally has some promise, knowing that money is useful."

"These five Gold Coins are not a small amount; it's a real pity to let that Longyan have them, give them to me, Ausilige."

Ausilige snorted coldly: "Not giving them!"

Although he had stumbled in by accident, he had seen the expression on his father's face at first glance.

That was why he had cooperated with Richard to put on a show.

But now that Fang Dalong was gone, wanting him to hand over these five Gold Coins was out of the question!

Richard glanced at Ausilige and instead asked: "What did you come to find me for?"

Ausilige was suddenly startled, slapped his forehead, and only then remembered the purpose of his visit here: "Dad, according to the military reports from the front line, the Britain army has had movements in the last two days."

Hearing this news, Richard's spirits were instantly lifted.