Chapter 986: Smart People Are the Most Annoying...
A few days later...well, to be precise, just three days later, Tang En and his party arrived at the area around the Lenau River.
I have to say, this speed is amazing. If the noble negotiating team were to make this journey on their own, it would probably take at least twice or even three times the time. Of course, if they really had a choice, they might not want to come here so quickly...
But no matter what, the result is that they finally survived this purgatory journey and are close to the goal. At this moment, after just three days of fermentation, what was supposed to come finally arrived...
"Damn it! They actually called us fake!"
"How can we go back?"
"The thief goes too far to bully others——"
After a stack of intelligence papers were passed around, they were finally thrown on the wooden pier beside the road. The already pale and gloomy faces of the second prince and members of the noble negotiation team around him became even more ugly.
What happened is very simple. Before the second prince returned to the southern land to take charge of the overall situation, the forces of the eldest prince in the royal capital had already taken the lead in launching an attack and announcing it to the world. The general meaning is that the second prince and others have died due to the machinations of the Gray Clothes Army. They are very sad, and the Gray Clothes Army is very cunning. Because the other party not only harmed the second prince and his party, but also sent people to disguise themselves as the second prince and others. They may be heading south now, intending to confuse the public and destabilize the empire. This tactic of taking money from the bottom of the cauldron is extremely vicious. The purpose is also obvious, that is, even if the second prince and his party return to the south, their true identity will be suspected. Naturally, not many people are willing to believe the words or orders given...
"Everyone." He yelled fiercely. Tang En glanced at everyone. The tone was light. "Abuse and curses can't solve any problems. The first question now is, can you still pass through the Lenau River normally?"
To be honest, this is not surprising. At least in Tang En's opinion, if he were the eldest prince, he would choose to strike preemptively even though he knew that his younger brother, the second prince, was probably not dead and would come back to shake his throne. The method may even be more sinister than this...
Of course. Now, after all, this is just a problem that the second prince and others have to face, and has nothing to do with Tang En. He only cares about whether the second prince and others can return to the south normally, safely, and even with great fanfare, so as to cause an uproar and provide cover for their subsequent rescue operations.
"No problem." The second prince nodded affirmatively upon hearing this, and spread out a military map on the south bank of the Lenau River obtained by a secret agency. It briefly marked the garrison status of Brango's army, and pointed to a river crossing, "Wait. We will take a boat to pass here, and then disembark from this area." "Cangyan Legion... Guarded by General Clay? No, Your Highness!" An old noble man was shocked when he saw this, "I remember that Clay's family was originally On the side of the First Prince's forces. And I heard that Clay himself is also closely related to the First Prince. If we pass through this waterway, aren't we falling into a trap..."
"Don't worry." The second prince waved his hand to interrupt. He said confidently, "This is just a superficial situation. In fact, General Clay has been secretly friends with me for many years. There is absolutely no problem in passing through here."
A group of old nobles were also experts in conspiracy. They immediately understood after hearing this: "Your Highness is wise, it turns out that General Clay is the secret hand you have arranged beside the thief..."
"Okay, this is nothing." Under the current situation, the second prince naturally had no time to listen to such flattery. He shook his head and sighed, "It's just a normal practice. I think there is no shortage of such secret hands around me."
Everyone couldn't help but froze when they heard the words, and looked at each other with a bit of surprise and uncertainty.
After the second prince said this, he realized that he had made a mistake. This should be the truth, but it also sounded like he was implying something. And the coverage is too wide, including everyone present... He waved his hand to change the topic and looked at Tang En: "I need to send someone with my token to contact General Clay before we land, so that he can do things in advance. Be prepared.”…
"Okay." Tang En nodded simply, "Your people? My people?"
"Use my people, it will be more credible." The second prince turned to look at a minister in green clothes behind him, and said with a simple salute, "Darlao, General Clay has seen you, so I have to ask you to come. Last trip.”
"Your Highness is welcome..."
…
Because of the shocking battle on the river, the water level has dropped significantly. Today, there is no so-called port city on the north bank of the Lenau River. Instead, there are large tracts of tidal flats and swamps. It is also because this place is now a real three-no-no area - Bran cannot manage it, the Gray Army has no time to manage it, and the Northern Wilderness tribe troops are still on their way here, so this place looks particularly depressed and desolate.
However, although there is no dock or port, ships can still be found. It didn't take long, and a group of several hundred people arrived at the bank of the Lenau River, boarded three large merchant ships that had been prepared, and sailed into the river.
Although it is true that the Bran Empire is retreating to the south in name, in fact, this so-called retreat is just withdrawing from the northern border. As a natural military barrier separating the north and the south, the endless Lenau River is actually still under the control of Bran's army.
In fact, from a certain perspective, today's Lenau River is equivalent to Bran's previous frontline border. It can be regarded as the last piece of shameless pants of the empire, and it is a major military location that must not be lost!
Once this place is lost, the southern environment of Bran, where even mountains are rarely seen, will naturally be unable to resist the tribe's cavalry driving straight in. At that time, the Bran Empire will truly be destroyed...
Of course, it's too early to think about this now. Also because,
"Fortunately, there is a Lenau River!" On the side of the boat, the second prince looked at the vast surrounding waters and sighed helplessly but also thankfully.
From here it is not far from the first river crossing. It only takes a few hours and can be reached in the evening. Therefore, except for a few old nobles who really couldn't bear it, most people did not enter the cabin to rest. Instead, they stood on the deck chatting and watching in boredom.
Of course, even at this time, there were still not many people who dared to approach the area around Tang En. The second prince is the only one in Bran's negotiation team.
There was no response, but Tang En knew the emotion behind the second prince's words.
Helplessness refers to Bran's current precarious situation. The current stretch of water is supposed to promote economic prosperity between the north and the south. Now it has become the last barrier to protect the Millennium Empire. I think I was a little helpless. Somewhat ironic.
As for being lucky, it means that fortunately, the existence of this wide body of water prevented the Bran Empire from facing the toughness and brutality of the Northern Wilderness tribe.
"Your Excellency Tang En is a sensible person." Seeing no response, the second prince pondered for a moment and continued, "Do you think the empire can survive this disaster?"
Tang En frowned slightly: "The empire is your empire, this kind of thing. It seems more appropriate to ask yourselves."
The second prince was startled, then nodded and sighed: "We should ask ourselves... Barbarians are not good at water warfare, and there is basically no experience of fighting here in the history of the Northern Wilderness War. Logically speaking, the safety of the empire will be in the short term. It should be worry-free. But..."
He did not continue talking, but while he was talking about his own advantages, his expression could not hide his confused look about the future, which already showed that His Highness the Second Prince was not very optimistic about the future of this empire.
Taking a deep breath, he suddenly turned his head and bowed, saluting. "Sir Tang En, can I ask you a favor?"
"No." Tang En was not Joshua. He completely turned a blind eye to the second prince's bow and refused without even raising his eyelids.
As the second prince, the experience of being directly rejected is obviously not too much. So when he heard this, he was stunned before he reacted, and said with a wry smile: "I think our enemies, at least now, are the same. The Temple of Light and my ruthless brother are also the targets that the Gray Army is eager to eradicate now, aren't they?" …
"Maybe, but I think you misunderstood." Tang En was not surprised by the second prince's request. In fact, it was a bit beyond his expectation that the other prince waited until now to ask for it. However, he still refused, "The gray-coated army is the gray-coated army, and I am me. I am here only to save Xia Wei'an, and the rest has nothing to do with me."
"I see..." The second prince nodded noncommittally, then smiled, "I heard that Mr. Tang En is an assassin. So, if I issue an assassination mission to you in my own name, the bounty will be yours... …”
"Your Highness!" He rubbed his brows and had to say that given Tang En's current state of mind, he was very burdened and speechless for the second prince, who had a clinging style like a hawker selling goods. He raised his hand and pointed at several palace ministers who were on guard not far away, "With your status, there are many master assassins who are willing to kill for you, why do you have to look for me?"
"The main reason is because you are professional. The secondary reason is because you are an outsider." The second prince replied honestly and without hesitation.
"Then let me give you two reasons why I can't help." Tang En spread his hands, "The main reason is that I am very busy right now. The secondary reason is that I am really busy right now!"
The second prince paused after hearing this. He was not angry. He took out a book and scroll from his arms and handed it over: "I was the one who was rude. In this case, Sir Tang En, please just pretend that I didn't mention it. Well, this is the Temple General Assembly. The general topographic map and some related information were written and drawn based on my memory. You know, even with my status, I don’t go to the temple association too many times, so these information are not comprehensive... I guess I can apologize. ." When he finished speaking, he smiled gently, bowed briefly and turned to leave.
After subconsciously taking it, Tang En looked up at the second prince's back and couldn't help but be startled, then shook his head and laughed.
"ha--"
Smart people are always smart people.
This is not an apology, it is clearly a heavy favor!
The key is, but Tang En still has to accept this favor.
The temple is always too mysterious, so mysterious that there are so many different versions of rumors circulating in the world that it is impossible to distinguish the true from the false. Under such circumstances, the significance of this intelligence map, which was personally experienced and written by the second prince, to Tang En's subsequent rescue operation is naturally self-evident.
And for an item that contained such great significance, the second prince actually delivered it so lightly, without mentioning a single request... How did Tang En deal with this?
So, smart people are the most annoying...
…………