A fine heavy bow was placed on a red cloth tray and presented in front of Li Hong. Someone who understood what to do next reached out and picked up the heavy bow, and then pointed the back of the bow at the six kings. Then Xinuluo held the arrow that had been lit in his hand, walked over respectfully and knelt in front of Li Hong, waiting for Li Hong to take the arrow away.
Li Hong stretched the bow and drew the arrow. When Li Hong stretched the heavy bow like a full moon with all his strength, the sea of people around him suddenly burst into applause and cheers like a mountain roar and a tsunami. The Erhai Lake, which is about to merge into one, sets off huge waves.
Of course, Li Hong didn't need to aim. No matter how bad his arrow skills were, he could still hit the mountain-like bonfire pile, even with his eyes closed.
As soon as Li Hong's hand loosened, the flaming arrow was like a fire dragon, leaving a bright afterimage in the night sky, and then went straight into the bonfire.
As the arrow did not fall into the bonfire, the entire front of the ancestral hall fell into a short period of darkness. Then, in just three or two breaths, the huge bonfire instantly burst into flames, and the huge firelight illuminated the entire open space in front of the ancestral hall. .
Cheers and congratulations, led by Xi Nuluo and other Five Zhao Kings, once again sounded like a tsunami. As Xi Nuluo and Five Zhao Kings knelt down in front of Li Hong and made unconditional surrender, the surrounding people were surrounded by cheers and congratulations. The Liuzhao officials and wealthy businessmen also knelt down at the same time, welcoming Li Hong's arrival with their unique etiquette.
The sound of singing and dancing continued to sound, the singing was bright and crisp but incomprehensible, with a simple and primitive atmosphere, the sturdy and clumsy dance movements also seemed like slowed down fighting movements, and the sharp blade in the hand shone brightly under the firelight. , being danced back and forth.
Xi Nuluo and others accompanied Li Hong for a while to drink, and for a while they introduced Nanzhao officials to salute Li Hong. All of this was to set off Li Hong's nobility and authority in a low profile, and also to show Nanzhao's importance to the Tang Dynasty. The respect of the dynasty.
Today's Nanzhao has inherited the official system of the Tang Dynasty. In addition to Xinuluo, the king of Yunnan who was granted the title by the Tang Dynasty, there are five other imperial kings. Their status in Nanzhao is now equivalent to the position of prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. .
Under them are twelve military generals, collectively called the Twelve Generals. Now Li Hong only sees six of them, and the other half are equivalent to the private soldiers of the Six Zhao Kings, which are also a check and balance between them. Share the power of self-preservation.
As for the six departments, they also imitated the official system of the Tang Dynasty and were called Liucao.
The remaining local official positions are equivalent to the status of state capitals in the Tang Dynasty. However, in addition to Taihe City controlled by Xinuluo, there are two existences called Dudufu. Among the five imperial edicts, the two are second only to Xinuluo. The military system of the King Zhao of the Nuluo forces also copied the military system of the early Tang Dynasty, so this also allowed them to enter the early Tang Dynasty without having to worry about excessive military expenditures.
While the dinner in front of the ancestral hall was still going on with cheers, in Taihe City, which was much quieter in comparison, black shadows began to sneak towards the place where the pagoda camp was located.
Xinuluo's small eyes flashed with subtle sharpness, while Li Hong listened intently to what Shi Langzhao, the governor of Tonghai Dudu's Mansion, one of the Five Imperial Edicts, was whispering to him.
"Is this true?" Li Hong turned to look at Shi Langzhao and asked with a smile.
"Your Highness is aware that I would never dare to tell a single lie. There has been smuggling of food, ironware, salt, etc. from the Tang Dynasty between Xinuluo and Zhenla all year round. These officials have full evidence in their hands." Shi Langzhao glanced at Xi Nuluo not far away and said.
Li Hong declined Shi Langzhao and pushed a beautifully dressed woman next to him. Ignoring the woman's resentful eyes, he continued to ask: "In the land of Liuzhao, rice is harvested once every year, and barley will be planted after harvesting. On the hillside, wheat is grown and harvested at the same time, along with mulberry, hemp, salt, kapok, etc. It would be great if Liuzhao could not ask for food from the imperial court every year. How could it be smuggled to Zhenla Kingdom?"
Shi Langzhao was stunned for a moment. He did not expect that in just a few days, the Tang Prince had already thoroughly understood Liuzhao's farmland and water conservancy, as well as the salt and tea they relied on most.
His eyes immediately became a little flickering, but he still forced himself to calm down and said: "The Tonghai Dudu Mansion under the jurisdiction of Huichuan and I has always been mainly engaged in salt and tea, followed by mulberry and hemp, but Xinuluo was given by your Majesty. The King of Yunnan and Tonghai also have his trusted ministers. As the governor of Tonghai, I have to obey, so I can't stop the smuggling of salt and tea. "
"Then where does his food come from? It must be difficult to levy rents as mediocre as those in the Tang Dynasty, right?" Li Hong glanced at the corners of his eyes and saw that the expression on Xinuluo's face changed immediately after he met his eyes. He softened up, smiled to himself, and then continued drinking and singing with the people next to him.
"Your Highness, to be honest, I know the main purpose of your visit this time. The officialdom of Jiannan Road is now in troubled times, and you have stayed in Jiannan Road for a full month. It is impossible for Xinuluo not to Knowing that this is your fault, His Highness, let alone..."
Shi Langzhao looked at Li Hong's side face under the firelight, pondered for a moment and then continued: "I have only one request, and I hope that His Highness can agree to it."
Although Li Hong's face did not change color, he was shocked in his heart, and his eyes became focused. He looked at Shi Langzhao and said, "Tell me everything you know, including what you guessed."
"Your Highness..."
"If you want to negotiate terms with me, first I need to know whether you are qualified. Instead of relying on your two specious words, you want me to give you a guarantee." Li Hong stared at the hat on Shi Langzhao's head. The emerald in the middle of his forehead sparkled, making people wonder if his wife had done something to feel sorry for him.
"Your coming this time must not be just passing by. The crimes committed by Prince Zhenla in Chang'an were enough for the Tang Dynasty to question them, but you passed by Liuzhao and stopped and stood still. Xinuluo could not have been unprepared. Heart… ."
"Oh, what is he guarding against?" Li Hong asked calmly.
"Your Highness, I have always been loyal and loyal to the Tang Dynasty. I will not hide it from you, Your Highness. Your coming this time will definitely turn Liuzhao into the next Tubo and cut off Xinuluo Yunnan. The name of the king made the Liuzhao truly and firmly ruled by the Tang Dynasty." Shi Langzhao's eyes became solemn, even pious, and he looked at Li Hong as if he were their god.
"Tell me your conditions, including how you know this, and who is behind you?" Li Hong stared at Shi Langzhao's almost pious eyes and spoke after a while.
"My conditions are not very difficult for Your Highness. I only want the post of Governor of Tonghai. As for the title of King of Yunnan, whoever among them is willing to fight for it. I just want to loyally serve Your Highness and serve Your Highness." Do your best to rectify the six imperial edicts." Shi Langzhao's tone did not sound tough, but seemed to be begging.
Shi Langzhao was undoubtedly smart. If Li Hongzhen turned the Liuzhao into a second Tubo, a territory that truly belonged to the rule of the Tang Dynasty, then the King of Yunnan would obviously only be a nominal grant, and there would be no more Real power lies in the hands.
As a large number of Tang officials entered the Liuzhao area to govern the place, whether it was Shi Langzhao themselves or the other Five Zhaos, they would all be deprived of all their rights by the Tang Dynasty.
But now, Shi Langzhao was able to realize Li Hong's big move, and he took the lead in surrendering. He only wanted the post of governor of Tonghai Governor's Mansion and gave up all other interests. It was extremely wise.
At the same time, Lawless was currently on the outskirts of the camp where Pagoda Camp was stationed, hiding in the shadows, watching a dozen black figures sneaking towards this side quietly.
The two of them smiled knowingly. As expected by His Highness, Xinuluo chose to kidnap the three princes of Zhenla tonight.
"What should I do?" Wutian asked softly, as if looking at several turtles in an urn.
"After they kidnap the people, they only need to catch two people as witnesses to prove that it was Xinuluo who ordered it. But... this will test our eyesight. Although it is said to be on Xinuluo's territory, this This guy has always been known for being cunning and cunning. If we send dead soldiers to rob people, it is very likely that even if we capture a few people alive, it will be in vain." Wen Bu smiled and looked back at the stone house not far away.
Around the stone house where the three princes of Zhenla were imprisoned, the shadowy soldiers of the Pagoda Camp were wearing helmets and armor tonight. Especially the vital parts of their bodies were covered with two layers of armor, just in case someone hijacked the real thing. When the three princes of La were killed, he pretended to be hit by an arrow and fell down, so that they could rob them.
The entire Pagoda Camp, at least from the outside, now looks like an extremely heavily guarded barracks. The sound of patrolling footsteps in the distance, as well as the occasional swaying wind lanterns, make the entire barracks even quieter, without even a trace of sound. There was no noise.
In order to lure Xi Nuluo to take the bait, Li Hong even sternly shunned Xi Nuluo's reward for the Futu Camp. Instead, he strictly ordered everyone in the camp not to drink or make noise, and at the same time strengthened the defense.
The sound of breaking through the air rang in the ears of the two lawless people, and then they saw the soldiers patrolling the stone house, making a low hum, and then fell straight to the ground.
The black shadow in the distance watched the soldiers fall, but the soldiers on the other side were still unaware. They couldn't help but feel guilty for a while, but at this moment, they had already had a good start, so they had no time to think about it anymore. .
A dozen black figures with bent backs and moving like rabbits were divided into three parts: forward, backup, and aftermath. They began to approach the stone house very quickly. Just as they were about to approach the stone house, they saw that they were originally wandering behind the stone house. Soldiers suddenly came over from both sides.
"Be careful..." the soldier from Futu Camp shouted, and then he felt a pain in his throat, and then he fell to the ground hurriedly.
Immediately afterwards, the soldier who had just fallen heard the sound of other soldiers falling to the ground beside him, and then quietly opened his eyes, only to see that the soldiers who had followed him were already lying on the ground, and that There were more than a dozen men in black, but they did not rush over immediately.
(End of chapter)