Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 20 Killer

At this moment, Madam Wang enters the scene!

“I told you the Yuan family was mistreating us, but you wouldn’t listen! We demanded they remove the betrothal gifts!”

"But right now, the Yuan family is still in this courtyard, and the collection of taxes hasn't even been finished yet. And you want to start fighting and killing on Hua'er's joyous day!"

Supported by her maid, Wang Ruofu pointed at Sheng Hong and began to curse him!

"What kind of father are you in the world?"

"You're afraid of being laughed at, but I'm not!"

Wang Ruofu embodies the strength that comes with motherhood!
Yes, although she has always been very strong!

"Report to the official!"

"Go and report to the official!"

Madam Wang shouted angrily and made another decision right in front of Sheng Hong!
"Report to the authorities? Report to whom?"

Sheng Hong is getting anxious!

He was really anxious!

The truth is a small matter; saving face is a big deal!
Family scandals should never be aired in public!

Just then, a voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"My lord, let's report this to the authorities!"

"roll!"

With a belly full of anger and nowhere to vent it, Sheng Hong immediately threw out his hand warmer, completely abandoning his usual gentlemanly demeanor, and shouted angrily, "Get out!"

But who knows?

"Lord!"

The servant nimbly dodged the master's grand gift—a hand warmer—and loudly reported, "Our second master has been beaten!"

"what?"

Everyone was shocked!

……

It turned out that after Bai Ye deliberately made things difficult for the Sheng family's wedding, he had distanced himself from the many guests in the front hall. No, or rather, the many guests deliberately kept their distance from him.

After all, it wouldn't be right to piss off someone else's food when you're eating at the Sheng family's house, would it?

The Yuan family was also busy with the wedding, and Bai Ye disliked their behavior, so he took a break and deliberately hid in a less crowded place.

Coincidentally, Bai Ye ran into Sheng Changbai, the eldest son of the Sheng family and the second brother of Sheng Changfeng and Sheng Minglan, in the quiet and deserted corridor.

Unlike Sheng Changfeng's half-baked approach, Sheng Changbai was a man of great gentlemanly character, who loved reading and aspired to serve his country. Every action he took reflected the upright character of a scholar.

Because of the weakness of the imperial court, Sheng Changbai, who was worried about the court, would also pay attention to some military and political affairs in his spare time. This time, the reason why he was entangled by the second brother of the Bai family was because of a map of Yanzhou.

Since the founding of this dynasty by Emperor Taizu, and the subsequent reign of Emperor Taizong, every ruler within the last three generations has been a wise and benevolent monarch.

Having served under three wise rulers—Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and Emperor Zhenzong—our dynasty is exceptionally stable and its national strength is unparalleled in the world!

However, during the reign of the fourth emperor, Emperor Huizong, he favored sycophants and distanced himself from virtuous ministers. In just thirteen years, he squandered the wealth accumulated by three generations of the court, causing the country's strength to gradually weaken and the military and political situation to become increasingly exhausted.

In particular, during the last year of Emperor Huizong's reign, he was misled by the powerful minister Li Ang and fantasized about expanding the territory and using his unparalleled military achievements to legitimize himself.

Perhaps Emperor Huizong understood that his actions throughout his life would not be well-regarded a century later. Therefore, under the influence of the treacherous minister Li Ang, he ostensibly swayed himself, but in reality, he was desperately trying to salvage his reputation. In the end, Emperor Huizong exhausted all the nation's resources, personally leading an army of 300,000 to defend the Mimen Pass in Yanzhou.

It's important to understand that this 300,000 is not the same as that 300,000!
The troops led by Emperor Huizong, not counting the laborers, consisted of 300,000 genuine soldiers, not just for show!

only……

In a timely battle, Emperor Huizong's 300,000 troops turned out to be barbarians from beyond the borders, and the 80,000 troops of the Great Liang Kingdom were defeated in one fell swoop!
Even Emperor Huizong himself almost got captured and became a prisoner!

Fortunately, the current dynasty has an excellent atmosphere, or rather, a stubborn spirit. After being captured, Emperor Huizong refused to surrender and even died in battle rather than sell out the country. In the end, he committed suicide in front of many soldiers of the Great Liang.

However, although Emperor Huizong ended his life at the cost of his own death, the country was in turmoil at the time. Even after the crown prince succeeded to the throne, it was to no avail. In the end, the sixteen prefectures of Yanzhou were still seized by the Great Liang.

This has created a major hidden danger for the future security of the country.

Yanzhou was the northern border of the dynasty. It consisted of eighteen prefectures and was a place where the court stationed troops to defend against the barbarians in the north. Unfortunately, due to the devilish manipulation of Emperor Huizong, the Battle of Mimen Pass caused the court to lose almost the entire Yanzhou.

Leaving this matter aside for now, the land of Yanzhou remains a major concern for the people of the country. Everyone who is willing to serve the country wants to remove this thorn in their side and longs to recover their homeland.

This is not only about national dignity, but more importantly, only by restoring Yanzhou can the harassment of the northern barbarians be completely contained. Otherwise, the court would face raids from the Northern Liang almost every year.

Getting back to the main point, Bai Ye was also someone who cared about the court and wanted to serve it. That's why he couldn't forget the map of Yanzhou that Sheng Changbai had painstakingly drawn after making many inquiries, and kept pestering him.

However, despite all the misunderstandings between them, both of them were upright and patriotic, and their aspirations were the same. So, after Bai Ye told the truth and swore in the name of his deceased mother that he would never play the pitch-pot game again, Sheng Changbai felt relieved and finally handed over his precious map to Bai Ye to look at.

Over time, the two of them became good friends, and their friendship gradually deepened.

So while the adults were troubled and calculating over various things, the two of them had the leisure to go boating on the lake, enjoy the scenery, and share their aspirations.

But little did they know that these two little people would become the target of others' covetousness, attracting a large number of assassins.

……

Inside the government office.

After Sheng Changbai explained the situation, everyone finally understood what had happened.

It turns out that these assassins, who concealed their identities, were there to assassinate Bai Ye. After they slashed Bai Ye into the lake, they didn't chase after Sheng Changbai, which is why Sheng Changbai escaped with his life.

"Uncle Shi!"

Yuan Wenchun, who had already been awakened, immediately went to greet Sheng Hong respectfully when he arrived.

"Uncle! You have to save me!"

Now, in this city of Yangzhou, the only person he can rely on is Sheng Hong, the local tyrant.

"what?"

"what's up?"

Sheng Hong was confused, only knowing that his son had almost been hacked to death!
"Uncle!"

"This time, something really serious has happened!"

Yuan Wenchun smiled wryly, no longer daring to hide it!
"That missing second brother of the Bai family... his name isn't Bai Ye at all!"

"He is the second son of the Ningyuan Marquis's family in the capital!"

"My real name is Gu Tingye!"

"what?"

His words caused a great stir among all sides!
(End of this chapter)