Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4781 Yuan Family

Merchant ships entered the Tongji Canal from the Yellow River through the sluice gate, and then went upstream along the narrow waterway. Along the way, there were countless boats and ships competing for the current. From the confluence of Yi and Luo rivers, they continued westward along the Luo River in the north, and soon arrived at Luoyang South City.

Even though it was already midnight, the dock was still crowded with merchant ships, merchants and porters were constantly moving around, noisy and brightly lit, and the huge "gantry" quickly loaded and unloaded the cargo on the ship, which was then transported away one by one on carts and unloaded into a nearby warehouse.

Yuan Xiancheng and his party climbed ashore along the gangplank built on the pier along the bow of the ship. After a simple inspection of the customs clearance documents, they were allowed to pass. They walked on the land of the Tang Dynasty with shock and curiosity.

Everywhere there were merchants settling accounts, piles of goods, porters walking and running, carts carrying goods, and even a huge cart that required several horses to pull the wheels on a straight track...

Yuan Jinhao was overwhelmed and exclaimed: "This corner of Luoyang is so prosperous that it is far more prosperous than the entire country of Goguryeo, and its population is far greater than Pingrang City. This shows how powerful the Tang Dynasty is!"

"Shut up! Do you want everyone in Luoyang City to know that we are Goguryeo people?"

"Ah! Young master, please don't blame me. I know I was wrong." Yuan Jinhao quickly shut up, but his eyes were still looking around curiously.

Yuan Xiancheng looked relatively calm, but he was actually deeply shocked. The strength of the Tang Dynasty far exceeded his expectations. Goguryeo's attempt to fight against the Central Plains dynasty with its own corner of the country was simply like hitting a rock with an egg and trying to stop a chariot with a mantis arm. Its demise was inevitable.

Today, the Tang Dynasty is growing stronger and stronger, and Goguryeo has already perished. The difference in strength between the two sides is like heaven and earth. How can Goguryeo still have any hope of restoring its country?
After witnessing the strength and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, the only remaining desire in Yuan Xiancheng's heart to restore his country completely disappeared.

Feeling discouraged, he was too lazy to continue walking around, and said listlessly: "Why haven't the Yu family come yet? Hurry up and wash up and go to bed to get enough rest, and then go visit the noble tomorrow."

This time, he contacted Luoyang Yu Clan through numerous connections and spent a huge amount of money to get Luoyang Yu Clan to introduce the nobleman and persuade him to agree to let the Yuan Clan submit to the Tang Dynasty...

Yuan Jinhao was puzzled: "Why must we choose this noble lady? After all, she is just a woman. Why not use a large sum of money to bribe the important officials in the Tang Dynasty? I heard that the struggle between the military and the government in the Tang Dynasty is very fierce. The civil officials may not be willing to let the military control the entire Liaodong. Only by taking advantage of their contradictions can we be invincible."

"What a foolish idea! Since you know that the Tang Dynasty's military and political parties are fighting, even if the civil officials agree to our request, do you think the military will obey the orders of the civil officials and open up both land and sea routes to allow our people to enter the Tang Dynasty smoothly with their slaves, livestock, and money? Although that noble lady is just a woman, she can influence Fang Jun's judgment and position. Fang Jun is the one with the greatest influence in the Tang Dynasty's military. He created the Royal Navy and the Royal Navy obeys his orders... Only if the Navy is willing to give us a way out, we can really survive."

"I see. However, it seems that Fang Jun is just a name with nothing to show for it. He is actually a womanizing fool. How can he entrust the affairs of state to a woman?"

"If not, how can we have any chance?"

"That's true. The enemy's stupidity can give us a glimmer of hope. If everyone is wise and powerful and sees through the enemy, we will die without a burial place... Young Master, the Yu family is here."

……

Yu Baoning sat in the main hall, looking disdainfully at Yuan Xiancheng who was bowing in front of him, and said calmly: "Everything has been arranged. My dear, you will stay at the mansion for one night. I will take you to see Madam Wu tomorrow, and I will also help persuade Madam Wu. However, I cannot guarantee whether it will succeed or not. Do you understand?"

Yuan Xiancheng quickly expressed his opinion: "This time the Yu family was able to help the Yuan family out of danger, which is already a great favor. As for the success or failure of this matter, it all depends on God's will. No matter what, the Yuan family will remember this favor."

Yu Baoning was a little surprised: "You speak Chinese so well?"

"I'd like to let you know that Goguryeo has always admired China. The country's official system, architecture, clothing, etc. are all completely Chinese. Speaking Chinese and writing Chinese characters are privileges that only the nobility can have."

"If that's the case, you should have long ago attached yourself to the Tang Dynasty and become a vassal state in the northeast. The Tang Dynasty would naturally not mistreat its allies. Why do you have to go against the Tang Dynasty in every way and eventually lead to the destruction of your country? You are really barbaric and stupid."

"These are all the faults of our elders. We were young and ignorant back then, how could we have influenced the government of Goguryeo? It is too late to regret now. I only wish to submit to the Tang Dynasty, fight for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty from generation to generation, and become a true Tang citizen."

Yu Baoning was very pleased: "If all the barbarians in the world had your insight, why would there be smoke and flames everywhere? The invincible army of the Tang Dynasty swept across the universe, and all the foolish and stubborn people who stood in the way of the army were reduced to ashes and turned into dust!"

Yuan Xiancheng looked submissive and obedient: "The great Tang Dynasty's majesty cannot be defied. Sooner or later, all the foreign races in the world will submit and surrender as sincerely as the Yuan family."

Yu Baoning smiled slightly, "That's right! It's getting late. My dear, you must be tired after traveling thousands of miles. Go to bed early. I will host a banquet for you tomorrow after we finish our work."

"Thank you for your help, Elder. The Yuan family is grateful. We will give you more thanks after the matter is completed. I hope you will accept it."

"Haha, easy to talk about."

Yu Baoning looked down upon the Goguryeo people. He thought they were just a group of slaves whose ancestral temples were destroyed and their families were broken. The reason why he was willing to help the descendants of Yeon Gaesomun to get in touch with Wu Meiniang was because they contributed a huge amount of money, an amount he could not refuse.

As for whether Wu Meiniang would agree to Yuan Xiancheng's plea to persuade Fang Jun and then make the court issue a decree to allow the Yuan family to surrender, what does it have to do with him and Yu Baoning?

He was willing to accept Yuan Xiancheng's money, which was already a sign of respect for him. Anyway, he would never return the money regardless of whether the matter was accomplished or not...

The next morning, Yuan Xiancheng got up early, washed and changed into a Tang Dynasty shirt, put on a fu hat, and tied a jade pendant around his waist. He looked no different from a Tang person. After a simple breakfast, he took Yu Mansion's car and left the mansion with Yu Baoning, and drove along the Luo River back to the vicinity of Nanshi, arrived at Cihuifang, and parked in front of a store on the street.

Yuan Xiancheng got off the car with Yu Baoning. He looked up and saw that this shop had five rooms and two floors. It was very grand and majestic. On the middle lintel hung a plaque with four large gilded characters "Purple Air Coming from the East" written in a flamboyant style. He knew that this was the head office of the famous and powerful "Dong Da Tang Trading Company".

I was a little surprised that such a "notorious" company with dozens of warships and hundreds of merchant ships had only a dozen soldiers guarding the door. There were countless pedestrians and cars on the street, but there was no tense atmosphere at all. It could be said that the guards were lax...

A doorman in front of the door took the business card handed over by Yu Baoning, looked it over and invited the two men in. After searching them carefully, he went out through the back door and entered the back house, stopping in front of a small building surrounded by green bamboos and a pond.

"Madam Wu is meeting a very important guest, so please wait here for a moment. When Madam Wu summons you, someone will come to lead the way."

"Okay, okay, Madam Wu, you are busy, I will wait for you."

Seeing Yu Baoning's fawning and humble face, Yuan Xiancheng felt something was wrong. This Luoyang Yu family's head had a great reputation, but he was not very respectable in the main counter of the "Eastern Tang Trading Company". He didn't even have a room to drink tea and wait. He just stood there blankly under the gradually rising sun...

It seems that Yu Baoning has not had much influence on the ability of Miss Wu.

Thinking about the huge amount of money he had given to the Yu family, Yuan Xiancheng couldn't help but feel worried, fearing that the money would be wasted...

As the sun rose to the top of the sky, the courtyard became increasingly hot and humid. More and more people gathered here waiting to be summoned. Just as Yuan Xiancheng's forehead was slightly sweaty, someone came out of the small building, came to Yu Baoning, bowed and said, "Madam Wu, you have a quarter of an hour. Please follow me in."

"please."

Yu Baoning and Yuan Xiancheng walked into the small building together.

The light in the building was a little dim, and there was a faint scent of sandalwood that was refreshing. I changed my shoes at the entrance and walked in on the smooth floor.

The hall was covered with Persian carpets with intricate patterns, sandalwood was curling in the crane incense burner, and there was a circle of red sandalwood chairs placed on each side. In front of the main seat hung a delicate and dense pearl curtain, behind which sat a figure whose face was unclear.

In an instant, Yuan Xiancheng, who was well-versed in Chinese history, suddenly thought of names such as "Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin", "Queen Dowager Wei of Zhao", "Queen Gao Lu Zhi" and so on, because these famous queens and queen dowagers in Chinese history all did the same thing, "ruling behind the curtain"...

But he soon sneered in his heart. Although this Lady Wu held great power and was majestic on the sea, she was still far inferior to those outstanding women who had gone down in history.

"I have met Madam Wu."

"Yeon, the culprit of Goguryeo, offers his sincere respect. I am here to show my respect."

They both bowed and saluted.

"Hmm? Goguryeo people? What's their relationship with Yeon Gaesomun?"

A slightly surprised cry was heard from behind the bead curtain, followed by a question. The voice was crisp and delicate, like red drops on a jade plate, and was extremely pleasant to hear.

Yuan Xiancheng said respectfully: "I am the eldest grandson of my ancestor, and my father's taboo name is Nansheng."

"Oh, so you are the eldest son of Quan Nan. However, your father is now in Handan and has surrendered. He has changed his surname to 'Quan' to avoid the name of Emperor Gaozu. Why don't you change it? Do you still miss your homeland and regard the Tang Dynasty as an enemy, hoping to revive Goguryeo and overthrow the Tang Dynasty one day?"

The clear voice sounded like the sound of nature, but to Yuan Xiancheng's ears it sounded like a knife or an axe chopping at his heart, making him sweat profusely in an instant, and his knees softened as he fell to the ground.