Tuoba Yaoheng sat motionless in place, staring at the now empty room.
Tuoba Gangzheng and Tuoba Gangyou came out from the inner room and sat on the couch.
Tuoba Gangyou frowned and said, “Your Highness, this girl from the Liu family seems to be extraordinary!”
Tuoba Yaoheng came back to his senses, looked at him and said, “That’s natural.”
He turned to stare at the cracked teacup that Liu Fang had placed on the table, and said, “This peace negotiation is our chance. We must not let her gain the admiration and trust of the people of Dayan so easily.”
Tuoba Gangyou nodded in agreement, “That’s right. It just so happens that the Emperor of Dayan Kingdom is a person who doesn’t like others to have too high prestige.”
Tuoba Yaoheng nodded, Liu Fang, this time, let’s wait and see how things unfold.
…………
When Liu Fang returned to the tent, she saw Luo Zheng standing outside the tent waiting for her.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, then walked straight past him as if she hadn’t seen him, lifted the door curtain, and walked into the tent.
Chen Fang and Lin Ya were inside helping her pack her luggage and set up the meal.
When Chen Fang saw her come in, he put down the bowl in his hand and said, “Miss, come and eat.”
“Um.”
Liu Fang nodded and sat down, and said to Lin Ya who was still packing her luggage, “Lin Ya, have your meal first. You can finish sorting things out later.”
“Okay, Miss.”
Lin Ya put down the work in her hands, came over and sat down, took the bowl of rice handed to her by Chen Fang, and started eating.
While Liu Fang was eating slowly and asked Chen Fang, “Have you arranged everything?”
Chen Fang nodded, swallowed the food in his mouth and said, “Everything has been arranged, don’t worry.”
“Well, that’s good. You should go back early and rest. We will set off early tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The three of them finished their meal quickly. Chen Fang cleaned up the dishes, wiped the table clean, and then left with the basket.
Lin Ya continued to pack Liu Fang’s luggage.
Liu Fang took out today’s military report for review.
As soon as Chen Fang came out, he saw Luo Zheng still standing outside the tent. He sighed, walked up to him, and said, “What’s the matter with now?”
Luo Zheng looked at the basket in his hand, then looked up at him and said, “I want to see the Miss.”
Chen Fang couldn’t help rolling his eyes. He said unhappily, “Miss is leaving for the capital tomorrow, and you’re still making trouble for her?”
Luo Zheng frowned, “I’m not making trouble. I have important matters to discuss with her.”
“What are you going to discuss? Is it about Miss asking you to guard Liucheng and the military camp?”
Chen Fang became annoyed seeing Luo Zheng’s stubborn demeanor. “Couldn’t you just obey orders? Why make such a fuss?”
Luo Zheng said with a stern face, “I just have something important to discuss with Miss. Important!!”
Chen Fang rubbed his temples in frustration, sighed, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and said, “Fine, then come in with me. Let’s see what important matters you have to discuss with Miss.”
After that, Chen Fang led him into the tent and said to Liu Fang, who was sitting on the couch reviewing the military affairs, “Miss, Luo Zheng wishes to see you.”
Liu Fang didn’t look up, but nodded and said, “Alright. you can go back and rest early.”
Chen Fang looked at Liu Fang, then at Luo Zheng, and exchanged a glance with Lin Ya who was packing nearby. He then bowed and left.
Lin Ya received Chen Fang’s gaze, nodded in acknowledgment, and continued packing while listening to the conversation between Luo Zheng and Liu Fang.
“Miss, why did you appoint me as deputy general?”
Luo Zheng first bowed respectfully to Liu Fang, then asked with his head lowered.
Liu Fang was still looking at the military affairs in her hand, writing the reply, and said, “You are suitable for the position, so I chose you.”
The other commanders were older and more conservative in their thinking, and it was difficult for them to accept Liu Fang’s plan.
Luo Zheng was different. He would obey her orders and even complete the tasks she assigned him meticulously.
Moreover, his emotional intelligence and strategizing skills were not lacking. He could completely handle what Liucheng would face after she went to the capital.
Luo Zheng suddenly knelt down with a plop and said, “Miss, I am the son of the barbarian.”
Liu Fang set aside the report she had just approved and picked up another again. She was indifferent to his actions and said in a calm voice, “Yes, I know.”
Luo Zheng’s eyes were red, and he choked up and said, “You can’t hand Liucheng over to someone like me, what if…”
After hearing what he said, Liu Fang finally raised her head and looked at the man kneeling in front of her, who was still strong and imposing, and said, “Will you?”
She stared at Luo Zheng’s reddened eyes and calmly asked again, “Will you? Will you do that ‘what if’?”
Luo Zheng was stunned, and Liu Fang said calmly, “In my opinion, you won’t! So, get up, go back, and do what you need to do.”
Luo Zheng looked at Liu Fang who was lowering her head to approve military affairs again, and suddenly tears started flowing.
He covered his eyes for a while before calming down. He said to Liu Fang, “Miss, have you never considered killing me?”
What he did was completely betraying Liucheng, betraying Dayan Kingdom, betraying Lord Liu’s trust, and betraying himself, his family and friends…
How can he…face the world after what he has done? !
Liu Fang finished reviewing the report in her hand, then picked up another one, smiled faintly and said, “Kill you? Oh, would it lead to less bloodshed in Liucheng or more food for the people?”
Luo Zheng: …
Lin Ya almost laughed out loud, but she covered her mouth to hold it back.
While reading the report, Liu Fang said slowly, “Didn’t you say it? Your life belongs to me. From now on, you just do whatever I tell you to do. Why think so much? If I want you to die, I will tell you. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”
After all, Luo Zheng was just a chess piece she used, and his betrayal meant little to her.
If her plan failed, it would be her own problem and had nothing to do with Luo Zheng himself.
Besides, hasn’t the plan been carried out exactly as she intended?
In that case, whatever this pawn (Luo Zheng) has done, what did it matter?
Even without him, there were still others.
He was not the only one caught that night. He was not as important or crucial as he thought.
Luo Zheng put down his hands that were covering his eyes, looked at Liu Fang and said, “Miss, the brothers who were on guard that night…”
Liu Fang replied calmly, “They’re fine, lively as ever. I just lied to you that night. No one died because of you. Are you satisfied?”
Luo Zheng: …
All the shame in his heart was rendered helpless by her attitude.
Continuing would make him appear overly dramatic, while letting it go would make him seem foolish for his earlier emotions.
She sorted out the approved military reports, stacked them, and handed them over, saying, “Here, this is my future arrangement. Take a look, and then act accordingly. I will leave tomorrow and will probably stay in the capital for about ten days. When I come back, I hope that Liucheng is still in your hands, safe and sound.”
Luo Zheng looked at the reports in front of him, then looked at her again, after hesitated for a moment, he kowtowed solemnly to Liu Fang before taking the reports.
“Don’t worry, Miss. I will live up to your expectations! I will protect Liucheng even at the risk of my life.”
Liu Fang looked at the top of his head and said calmly, “Your life belongs to me. Apart from me, no one in this world can decide your life or death, including yourself. So, when I come back, I hope you will also live well.”
Luo Zheng’s eyes welled up instantly, he stood up, raised his head, nodded solemnly, and said loudly: “Yes, Miss! ”
Lin Ya was startled by his sudden loud voice, but Liu Fang nodded slightly and waved her hand for him to leave.
Luo Zheng stood up, bowed once more, then turned and left.
Lin Ya patted her chest and said to Liu Fang, “Miss, Lord Luo really scared me to death.”
That sudden shout caught her off guard.
Liu Fang smiled.
…………
The next morning, Liu Fang got up early, washed, changed into a neat women’s dress, combed her hair into a high ponytail and tied it with a cloth belt.
When Chen Fang saw her coming out, she was wearing plain white mourning clothes. He bowed and then followed her silently as she led the horse to the front of the training ground.
The soldiers who accompanied her to the capital were all dressed in plain white. There was a horse-drawn carriage in the middle, and on the carriage board was a huge object covered with plain white cloth.
Tuoba Yaoheng and others all stood behind the carriage. Wondering what Liu Fang had brought into the capital.
Liu Fang went up to the high platform, looked at the neatly assembled soldiers below, and said loudly: “This time, under His Majesty’s grace, we have been summoned to the capital to be rewarded. As a native of Liucheng, I feel proud and honored! At the same time, I express my gratitude for His Majesty’s benevolence! Long live the Emperor!”
After saying this, Liu Fang bowed respectfully on the stage.
The soldiers below saluted at the same time and shouted in unison: “Long live the Emperor!”
“I am going to the capital this time. I hope all my elder brothers and uncles can continue to defend Liucheng and the territory of our Dayan Kingdom!”
“Defend Liucheng! Defend our homeland!”
“Very well! Let’s depart!”
The farewell drum sounded as Liu Fang, accompanied by Chen Fang, descended from the platform. She mounted her horse, and waited for all the soldiers behind her, including the barbarian envoys and Tuoba Yaoheng’s group were also mounted. Then they all moved forward slowly, left the military camp, left Liucheng, and headed towards the capital.
On the way out of the city, Tuoba Yaoheng looked at the people who were still doing their usual business, frowned, and turned to look at Liu Fang who was riding slowly in front of him.
What did she intend to do this time?
…………
As soon as they were out of the city gate, Liu Fang waved her hand and asked everyone to speed up, not caring at all that Tuoba Yaoheng and his party were exhausted and it was already difficult for them to ride their horses.
Along the way, except for necessary rest, Liu Fang traveled almost non-stop day and night, compressing a journey that would have taken half a month into ten days.
Not only Tuoba Yaoheng and several other captives couldn’t bear it, even the members of the barbarian envoys couldn’t stand it and complained bitterly.
However, Liu Fang ignored them and hurried all the way until they arrived at a post station not far from the capital, where they stopped to rest for two days.
These people finally breathed a sigh of relief. They looked at the Liucheng soldiers who remained calm and Liu Fang, who was still as stunningly beautiful as ever, and didn’t know what to complain about.
The Ministry of War in the capital had already received news that Liu Fang and her entourage were coming to the capital. When she arrived at the post station, the next day, the Ministry of Rites sent officials over to inform them of their entry into the capital, the audience with the Emperor, and related protocols.
This time, Liu Fang brought three thousand troops to the capital, including Tuoba Yaoheng and several other captives, the barbarian envoys, a total of nearly five thousand people.
That’s right, the barbarian envoy consists of over fifteen hundred members in total.
There were fifteen hundred guards and soldiers, led by the envoy Tuoba Gangyou, a translator, two protocol officers, four clerks, and several attendants and servants..
Of course, these people actually possess considerable martial prowess.
In the barbarian tribes, those who can become officials must first be warriors. Skilled in martial arts and notably proficient in combat.
Therefore, these people can be said to be well-rounded in both literary and martial arts..
However, Liu Fang looked at these so-called literate people and found that while they might understand some aspects of culture, they were still essentially a group of barbarians.
Of course, she would not underestimate them because of this. She had already gathered the necessary information and had made all the necessary preparations.
Now, she was waiting to see how the other party would make their move.
