New Song Dynasty: My Wife is an Imperial Princess

In front of Wanyan Xun, Tang Qian opened the message sent back by Ye Yilie, first looked it over himself, and then spread it out on the table.

His uprightness made Wanyan Xun seem somewhat petty.

"There's nothing that can't be said to others. Since we're in a cooperative relationship, shouldn't we be open and honest with each other?"

After Tang Qian's statement, Wanyan Xun picked up the letter and glanced at it: "It seems that the Song court does not believe the intelligence you painstakingly sent back at all, and thinks that you and your son Tang are exaggerating." Shaking his head slightly, Wanyan Xun's face showed helplessness. "The Song emperor is facing disaster but does not know it. He is really not worthy of having a loyal and patriotic minister like Minister Tang."

Tang Qian didn't care at all about his father Tang Huan being dismissed from his post. The second year of Jingkang was the year the Northern Song Dynasty fell. Being free from official duties at this time might even save his life.

"As a subject and a son, I feel that I have done my duty to both the country and the people, and I have been more than benevolent and righteous to the Song Dynasty."

"So you should just follow me from now on. Do you need me to bring your parents and family to Youzhou so that your family can be reunited?"

Tang Qian waved his hand: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. My mother and younger sister went to Guangling to visit their relatives a year ago. As for my father, I think he would never want to come to Youzhou unless the Zhao family can take back the Sixteen Prefectures. This is the territory of the Great Song Dynasty."

Wanyan Xun nodded, not intending to dwell on the matter too much. Tang Qian had already made plans, and this was something he could have foreseen.

"Then let's talk about the situation on the Jin side." Wanyan Xun stroked his thick beard. "According to the intelligence I've received, the Jin's western army, led by Wanyan Zongwang, has its vanguard, led by Commander-in-Chief Andahe, already outside Yunzhou City. The eastern army, still led by Guolun Bojilie Wanyan Xieye, should have completed its final assembly and procurement of supplies and is now heading towards Youzhou. How should we respond?"

“Since Your Highness is ill, he should stay ill and not get out of bed. The outer city of Youzhou should be allowed to be passed by the main force of the Eastern Route Army, while the inner city should be closed. Wanyan Xie is also in a hurry to march, so he probably won’t waste his breath on this matter with us.”

As for whether Wanyan Xie will come back for revenge, Tang Qian has no say in that.

"Is closing the inner city to protect the workshops you've built over the past six months?"

"If Your Highness wants to strengthen the army, you must first enrich the people. An army that cannot pay its soldiers' salaries, no matter how high the commander's prestige is, cannot have any strong fighting power."

Tang Qian naturally knew the role that faith played, but the reality was that ordinary people couldn't even get enough to eat, so where would they get any nonsense faith?

"Oh, right, there's one more person whose whereabouts you might be interested in."

Tang Qian turned his head and looked at Wanyan Xun with a hint of doubt. When he saw the smile on the other man's lips, Tang Qian immediately realized: "Zhuo Luwang?"

"That kid's backer is indeed Wanyan Zongwang, but what I can't understand is how the Zhuolu tribe impressed Wanyan Zongwang so much that he actually brought Zhuoluwang under his wing."

After returning to Liaoyang from Youzhou, Zhuo Luwang became a military officer under Wanyan Zongwang. Even his tent for the night was right next to the central army tent. This kind of treatment was not something an ordinary person could have, let alone a prince of a small tribe like Zhuo Luwang.

"With such powerful backing, Brother Tang, do you feel any pressure?"

Tang Qian smiled calmly: "It's not too late to talk about these things after he returns safely from the battlefield."

After receiving this news, Tang Qian felt relieved. Even though his escape plan was delayed, he was no longer worried that Zhuo Luwang would come to ask for his hand in marriage.

If it were any other marshal, Tang Qian would naturally not have dared to be so arrogant, but since the other party had pledged allegiance to Wanyan Zongwang, he could only respond with a "heh heh".

Although the reason is unknown, Wanyan Zongwang died on the way back to the capital after attacking the Song Dynasty. This is an indisputable fact. With Wanyan Zongwang dead, what big waves could Zhuo Luwang stir up?

Perhaps before he could even make a move, the Great Jin Emperor would have already chopped him up and fed him to the dogs.

In the golden autumn of October, cotton and wheat were being harvested in the fields outside Youzhou City. At the same time, the imperial court issued a decree to collect grain, which meant that the Jin army was ready to march south and attack the Song Dynasty. They were just waiting for the Song Dynasty to finish collecting taxes this year so they could slaughter this fat sheep.

Meanwhile, Tang Xiaoqi, who had been plundering Taoist temples all the way south from Tokyo, led a fleet of six cargo ships and, after more than ten days of sailing, finally arrived safely at the canal wharf outside the East Gate of Guangling City.

Having already received Tang Xiaoqi's letter, Tang Qian's mother, Qiu, was overjoyed to learn that her son was still alive, and Tang Qian's marriage to Princess Shunde of the Song Dynasty brought her to tears of joy.

Originally, it was thought that Tang Qian, trapped in Youzhou City, was in grave danger due to the Jurchens' betrayal. Who would have thought that he would not only live a comfortable life but also have unexpected gains? Such a situation truly proves the saying, "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise."

However, these were all just pieces of information on paper. Although the content was presented with great conviction, she still had some doubts. Others might not know what kind of person her son had been before, but she, as his mother, knew it all too well. He used to struggle to even memorize the "Hundred Family Surnames" and the "Thousand Character Classic," but now he had become a talented scholar sought after by various nobles and powerful figures in the Jin Kingdom. Qiu Shi simply couldn't believe it was true.

Therefore, after receiving Tang Xiaoqi's letter, Qiu would take her daughter Tang Jing to the dock outside the city every day, so as to see Tang Xiaoqi as soon as possible. In addition to confirming Tang Qian's safety, she also wanted to clear up the doubts in her heart.

"Mother, really! Tang Qian's brain has become smarter, which is something to be happy about. Don't you really believe that your son can be completely transformed?"

Hearing Tang Jing's complaints, Qiu turned her head and glared at her. "Your brother and I grew up together since childhood. Don't you know what he's capable of? I'm just worried that he's spouting nonsense in Youzhou. Maybe we won't see any flaws in him in a short time, but what if he reveals his true abilities after a while?"

Qiu was genuinely worried about the consequences of Tang Qian's nonsense.

“Perhaps the Jin Kingdom is located in a barbaric place and its inhabitants are uncivilized savages. Tang Qian may bring ordinary items from Dongjing City to Youzhou and impress them.” Tang Jing pouted, then pointed to the long line of boats on the canal in the distance. “Look, Tang Xiaoqi is here.”