Chapter 968: Unfavorable Years (Four Thousand and Five)

There is a town in the north named Hongfeng.

As the name suggests, this small town located between the Gray Army Station and the Lenau River is surrounded by large forests of maple leaves. Especially in the autumn, the maple leaves are dyed, as bright as the clouds, and it is truly magnificent and dreamy. Hence the name, Red Maple Town.

The town itself is ordinary and unremarkable. There are countless small towns like this in the north, and their number is only slightly less than the lower-level farms.

However, in the near future, this small town, which has been slightly deserted due to the impact of the war, is destined to go down in history!

Because the official negotiation place between the Gray Army and the Bran Empire is right here!

Today, on the north side of the town, there is a stone wall with a height of about two feet. Facing the cold wind of late winter, Tang En leaned on the wall and carefully observed the overall layout of the town. Then he narrowed his narrow eyes and looked in all directions, overlooking the surrounding hills and streams.

After a while, he asked softly: "Do you think there is anything wrong with the negotiation location I chose?".

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Questions will naturally be answered. But when David, Luke and others heard this, they looked at each other, a little confused and a little shocked.

The time and place of this negotiation were decided by the Gray Army. In other words, it was Tang En who had the final say. This is not surprising. It involves the personal safety of Josiah and the senior officials of the Gray Army. This job can only be taken over by Tang En, and only he has the qualifications. Everyone, including David and other gray space members, believed that with Tang En's ability, no matter what tricks Bran played, he could easily see through them and ensure everyone's safety. but now,

David stared blankly at Tang En, who was frowning slightly, and hesitantly said: "Boss... is there a problem here?"

"I don't know. I just don't feel good." His level of strength has reached Tang En's level. He has an almost instinctive sense of danger and evil thoughts. But here's the problem. He set the time for the negotiation and chose the location. He has now inspected the situation and found no problems. And logically speaking, with Bran's current embarrassing situation, he really can't afford the consequences of playing tricks. You must know that once it fails, no matter whether the Gray Army is willing to join forces with the tribal army, they will definitely insist on regaining the ground and attack the south of Bran...

Everything. All of which indicate that Bran should not have any tricks in this negotiation. But Tang En's intuition was not good. Thinking about Lansha's previous reminder and the seemingly meaningless stalemate with Bran in the past week, Tang En felt even worse...

In the silence, some noise and noise floated in the wind behind them. The group turned around and saw a large group of carriages and horses entering from the south of the town. As soon as Pu entered, elite cavalry in standard armor quickly dispersed around and controlled all entrances and exits of the town. Then a long line of vehicles on the middle road arrived at the central square of the town, just a moment later. After the visitors finished negotiating with the town officials, they began to unload a large number of wooden boards, fabrics, and even statues, potted plants, and other decorations from the car... This group of sudden uninvited guests and the appearance of a large-scale construction project. It did not surprise Tang En and others. In the current north, without the permission of the Gray Army, these Bran cavalry, who are obviously from the south, would not be able to come here with such arrogance.

Currently, this is the advance force of Bran's negotiation team, which has greeted the Gray Army. The reason for coming here is firstly to ensure the personal safety of the second prince and a group of members of Congress who will arrive in the next few days. Just as the Gray Army does not believe in the Bran Empire, the Bran negotiation team who are now deep in the tiger's den obviously do not believe either. Trust the Gray Army. As for the second reason, it is to build a grand venue worthy of the important negotiations that will follow.

By the way, from the perspective of Bran's negotiating team, the small town negotiation location that Tang En chose has an obvious rustic style, just like the gray-clothed army's own temperament, they are all bastards...

Of course, the Gray Army also despises Bran's actions.

"Bah, the defeated must have the consciousness of the defeated. It's now as if they won the war..." Upon seeing this, David curled his lips disapprovingly, "A bunch of idiots who want to save face!"

"Haha, it's right to save face, but they are not idiots. David, do you believe it? After this negotiation, Brannan's newspapers will definitely write like this... Empire Construction hosted a grand meeting , canonized and rewarded Gray Clothes Army Balabala..."

"Ha, that makes sense. If you say this, the people in the south definitely don't think that we defeated the empire, but that the superior empire saw us as pitiful, so it was kind and generous..."

"Hmph! Looks like a clown..."

Some things cannot be said to be right or wrong, even if it is false propaganda, but in the eyes of the Bran Empire, as long as it is beneficial to maintaining the dignity of the royal court, it will definitely be done. The gray-coated military personnel, who are self-made and more practical, obviously disdain this approach.

"Okay." He waved his hand to stop everyone's contempt and ridicule. Tang En turned to look at Harry, "Have you confirmed the size of the incoming cavalry, the identity of the workers, etc.? Have you sent people to monitor them one by one?"

"Don't worry, boss, all Gray Space members have been sent in." Harry nodded confidently, "It's such a big place, no matter where they go, they won't be out of our sight. As long as you are willing, boss, I will take them out tomorrow I’ll tell you the color of the leader’s underwear.”

"Stop talking nonsense." Tang En pointed at the various decoration materials that were being unloaded from the car in the distance, and said solemnly, "How many people will you bring as supervisors these days? Be careful. I don't care what method you use. Make sure there are no problems with every material. Well, you can do random inspections to prevent explosive crystals hidden in the wood... If you encounter any obstruction, just kill someone to demonstrate!"

"Okay." Harry nodded without saying anything, and after gathering a few people, he got off the city wall and ran towards the center of the town.

After a pause, Tang En said again, "David, have you seen the mountains and hills dozens of miles away? Take people to search the carpet. If nothing is found, leave people to continue monitoring...Luke, take people to the town." The creek at the east end. Same carpet search to make sure everything is safe..."

"yes!"

Amidst the continuous calls for orders, everyone around them disappeared in an instant and went their separate ways, leaving only the cold little Carol holding a sickle.

Tang En was willing to take risks this time. Since he was not sure of the source of his intuition, he could only search for possible dangers. Catch them all. Minimize the risk factor.

This is a stupid idea. It's also the best way.

"Let's go and see with our own eyes who Bran is coming." Tang En pondered for a while, then took little Carol's hand and went down the city wall.

"Brother is worried that there is a hidden master inside?"

"Ha, are you kidding me? Your brother is now the strongest man in the continent, so there is no master in his eyes... Well, this investigation is not an option after all. I am going to find a little boss. Let's have a good exchange..."

"It's just torture. Brother promised me that I will extract a confession later."

"...David, why don't you come back here! How did you teach-"

…

…

The so-called negotiation is about methods and skills.

When both parties have similar strengths and a certain background, the bargaining process cannot be brought to the table.

For example, in this negotiation, regarding detailed issues such as war reparations, there was no need for Josiah to meet with the second prince of the empire. The two sides had already started negotiating remotely. When the formal meeting took place, it was just a formality. Just sign the agreement. There is no need to waste time talking about gongs and drums in front of each other, it will be finalized quickly.

Judging from the current situation, both parties have entered the negotiation location in this small town. The negotiations between Josiah and other senior officials of the Gray Army and the Bran negotiation team led by the second prince of the empire were undoubtedly very smooth, and they have officially entered the stage of actual contact.

It is expected that in the near future, this major negotiation, which in a sense is enough to change the structure of the mainland, will be held as scheduled...

However, is everything really so smooth?

At this time, the eastern coastline area.

A certain one was so simple that it was fortunately located in front of a large church.

"Lord Knight."

"Mr. Owens has returned from slaying the bandits?"

"Hey, sir, the corners of your mouth...are injured?"

There were sparse greetings, but there were quite a few people coming and going in front of the church, but they were all coming and going in a hurry, and it was very busy. When you look up and see an acquaintance, just say hello. If your mind is not on this, it doesn't matter if you turn a blind eye. It was only when the knight guarding the gate saw the gentleman coming and greeted him that the corners of his mouth were bruised and swollen, and screamed, which slightly attracted the attention of the people around him.

"It's okay, cough...it's been a bad year. The location of the mountain village is too far away. I searched for a few days, but when I started to look for it, I accidentally got hit by a branch... hiss..." He waved with one hand in response to everyone's concern and greetings. Owens, who was wearing mottled armor and looked somewhat embarrassed, covered the corner of his mouth with one hand and replied vaguely.

"Oh, Priest Thomas seems to have not left yet. You can go there for some simple treatment."

"Well, thank you." He nodded and thanked the guard knight for his concern. Owens stepped forward to enter the church, but then his legs and feet paused in mid-air, retracted, and turned to look at the ordinary carriage in the open space next to the church. He was stunned, " Hey, Xia Wei'an's carriage is not here...she went out? Oh, went south to chat with that little nun Cindy again?"

Thinking he had guessed the answer, Owens shook his head helplessly, "This woman can't sit still for a moment. How can she run around without looking at her current physical condition?"

"Probably not going to the south..." The gatekeeper knight looked a little hesitant when he heard this, and said hesitantly, "Your Excellency left the day before yesterday and took many people with him. He seemed to have received some news and left in a hurry. Well, he took a lot of people with him. The gun went away.”

"Bring, bring a gun? A flame gun?" Owens's face suddenly changed, he was angry and anxious, "Nonsense! After all this, does that crazy woman still want to fight with others? I'll go! Hiss... the news... where? News coming?" He moved the corners of his mouth in excitement, and suddenly grinned.

"Uh, I don't know...it seems to have come from the temple..."

"kindness?!"

The so-called original temple was naturally the former club of the current group of clergymen who established a new religion, the Guangming Temple Association located in the south of Bran.

Although it is true that they have betrayed each other, the two sides are now even more on the same page. But after all, they share the same sect and origin, so the relationship between Owens and other Protestant members and the temple is naturally inextricably linked. This does not mean that Owens and others are two-faced and trying to please the temple. It means that their past personal friendships with certain characters and friends in the temple will not be easily broken. This is equivalent to the fact that the Protestant sect has placed countless spies inside the temple. They have repeatedly escaped the encirclement and suppression of the temple before, and led the team to move thousands of miles safely. This is also the reason for their credit...

Hearing that the news came from inside the temple, Owens's bad premonition became even stronger. Not caring about arguing with the gatekeeper knight anymore, he quickly ran into the church, broke into Xia Wei'an's house, and soon found the letter and news in the drawer under his desk.

After a rough sweep, he gasped and slapped his forehead, "Oh, what a silly woman!" He rushed out of the door and shouted loudly, "Come here! Come on, hurry up, prepare your horses, prepare your horses..."

"Owens? Uh, why are you so panicked? Didn't you just come back and you're going out again?" A white-haired old man in a magic robe walked out of the room next to him. Looking at the impatient Owens, he was stunned and asked in surprise. road.

"Thomas... Hey, Xia Wei'an is in danger! People are coming, people are coming, where are all the people dead? Hurry and prepare your horses..."...

"Danger...what danger? Is the temple going to attack us again?"

"No, she attacked her man, and that stupid woman went to save her. Thinking about her current physical condition, she still saves others? Maybe she will get herself involved, and we will get involved. This is not dangerous. ...Oh, I won’t be able to explain clearly for a while, I’m going to leave first...” After giving an incoherent explanation, Owens disappeared into the courtyard.

"Man...save people?" The white-haired old magician was obviously confused and murmured subconsciously, "What does that have to do with us? Isn't it the end of the day to recover Xia Wei'an? She can't walk fast... But then again, her man Who is it?"

That's the problem.

The white-haired old magician thought Owens was worried that Xia Wei'an's physical condition was not suitable for going out, otherwise accidental dangers would easily occur. Little did he know that Owens was not only worried about this, he was also worried that if something happened to Xia Wei'an, if someone knew the inside story and went crazy, then they would be completely disowned and corpses would be everywhere...

…

at the same time.

When the furious Owens led dozens of white knights to rush out, in the royal castle of Brandu City, a middle-aged man wearing a robe embroidered with royal patterns, walking like a dragon and a tiger, was also chasing a kind-hearted man. The old priest sent him out the door.

"...When things are done in the north, I will immediately cooperate with you in the castle... In short, please do everything."

The old priest nodded reservedly, smiled slightly and saluted: "Don't worry, His Royal Highness. Oh, no, in a few days I should call His Majesty the King, haha... The temple will always be on your side, and neither will the north. If anything unexpected happens, that group of thugs will eventually be wiped out under the sanctions of God the Father... Well, I'm afraid the Second Prince will also..."

"It doesn't matter." The middle-aged man, the eldest prince, waved his hands expressionlessly, "My younger brother has never dealt with me. Since he wants to get close to those thugs, let's help him and send them down together!"

Hearing this, the old priest smiled and nodded, expressing his understanding, and then asked again: "The Pope is still concerned about Wooding's problem. I wonder how His Highness the First Prince plans to deal with him?"

"The Sword God cannot move." The eldest prince blurted out, and then realized the rigid relationship between the power represented by the man in front of him and Wooding. He was silent for a moment, and then added, "At least for the time being, he cannot move. The safety of Wooding is greatly affected, and the relationship Go to Bran to boost his morale. Once he has a problem at this time, it will be extremely detrimental to me and your temple."

"Understood, I will convey the eldest prince's attitude to the Pope, and I believe that the Pope will make a wise decision."

"So, thank you!"

Nodding and saluting again, the old priest chuckled and turned to leave.

"Huh..." When the back of the old priest disappeared, the eldest prince suddenly let out a long breath and looked up to the north. That was where his younger brother, the second prince, was now. After a pause, he turned to look at the center of the royal castle, which was the palace of his father, the old king.

His face gradually turned cold, and he hummed, "One is old and fatuous, and the other is childish and innocent... You have completely forgotten the thousand-year glory that belongs to the royal family and the Bran Empire. You just want to live in an ignoble existence and have no intention of making progress! In this way, why don't you let me take your place? You, once again lead the empire to its glorious peak!"

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