The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 375

"What do I have to be afraid of? My daughter's reputation has been ruined by you."

Duan Lun stepped aside and then said, "Lord Hou, please don't get so angry. Actually, there's something else. The Emperor has sent a million taels of silver this time. I want Duan Hong to escort it. If you don't agree, then I'll be frank with you: your young lady will absolutely not marry into the Duan family."

Hou Junji naturally knew that his daughter had given the jade pendant to someone else, a son who was deeply in love with the Duan family. But now the Duan family was despicable and shameless.

Hou Junji's face turned ashen!

Duan Lun immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Since you agree, I will send someone to propose marriage tomorrow. As for Duan Hong, I will arrange for him to join the team before we set off tomorrow."

Soon after, Duan Hong, carrying a knife and looking arrogant, appeared in front of the Hou family's gate. Sure enough, he saw a group of guards filing out of the Hou mansion. He had no choice but to follow at the end of the group to the West Camp, where he saw rows of silver carriages parked in the Chang'an West Army Camp.

Seeing Duan Hong's disdainful expression, Hou Wen said, "How about we have a go?"

Duan Hong then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I didn't come here to compete with you in martial arts. My uncle sent me to escort the silver this time. Brother Hou, don't be angry. It's just a matter between men and women."

When your younger sister marries into the Duan family, she'll have to call me cousin, and I'll have to call your sister cousin-in-law. Why make things so awkward?

"I am not going to hold a grudge against you today, not because of our future marriage ties, but because I really disdain your actions. My Hou family is a respectable family, unlike your Duan family, which resorts to underhanded tactics."

Hou Wen immediately sneered and turned to leave.

As Duan Hong watched Hou Wenyuan's departing figure, he spat out a curse: "What's with the arrogance? He might fall from power one day."

Hou Wen returned to his tent and saw that the tent flap had been opened. A soldier came in and said, "General, the deputy general has pulled all the wagons into the woods."

Hou Wen flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the table. "What exactly does he want? I haven't even said 'begin' yet!" he roared. "The route hasn't been decided yet; let's first pull the silver cart into the woods!"

"Are you trying to pocket this money?"

The soldier hadn't expected Hou Wen to be so angry, and asked, "General, what should we do now?"

The soldier had barely finished speaking when his face suddenly darkened. He saw a knife tip protruding from his chest, and then he felt weak all over and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Hou Wen flew into a rage: "How dare you kill my men? Who gave you the audacity?"

Duan Hong chuckled and said, "No, we took it into the woods. We were just worried about it being robbed. I'll clear this difficult road first, and then I'll send General Hou's men to continue escorting the silver. I'll enjoy my retirement in the back."

Without even glancing at Hou Wen's expression, she walked straight out.

The army marched for a month, and Hou Wen rode his horse through the yellow sand for a month before finally arriving at the border at dusk.

The general guarding Yumen Pass patted Hou Wen on the shoulder and said, "General, you must be careful of the villains around you. This Deputy General Duan doesn't seem like someone easy to get along with." Hou Wen just smiled faintly and then said, "Everyone has their own destiny. After this mission, even if I die, I will not associate with such a despicable person."

The general at Yumen Pass shook his head slightly and said nothing. The next morning, he opened the city gates and let the group pass through the pass. Then he turned to the clerk beside him and said, "Send a message to Prince Rui in Congling Town. Tell him that the silver from Chang'an has been transported there and ask him to send someone to meet it."

General Tuoba stood atop the city wall, watching the howling winds of the north sweep across the land, blanketing the snow in white as if the entire world were a sheet of white. In the distance, the mountains stretched endlessly, while the north wind howled and howled like ghosts.