Datang: Longevity for Thousands of Years, Exposed by Xiao Sizi

The tea in Shen Lian's hand had gone cold. He couldn't help but put down the cup, looked at everyone, and said, "Don't you have anything to say?"

"Commander Shen."

At this time, Anthony, the envoy of the Arab Empire, spoke up. He said with a smile, "We have just experienced some shocks. The deaths of the envoys from Baekje and Bolor have made us feel uneasy, so we can't calm down now either."

"Under this situation, there is nothing to discuss. I think it would be better to stop today, take a day off, and discuss it tomorrow. How do you think?"

Shen Lian's expression did not fluctuate at all, as if he had expected it.

He glanced at Anthony, his dark eyes were calm and still.

Anthony felt as if he was sucked into a whirlpool. In just a moment, he was sweating profusely.

At this moment, Shen Lian withdrew his gaze, and Anthony couldn't help but breathe heavily. The look he gave Shen Lian was full of fear.

He didn't understand what had just happened and why he felt so frightened.

Shen Lian ignored Anthony. He slowly stood up and said calmly, "In that case, let's take a day off today. We will continue the Ten Thousand Nations Council tomorrow. Everyone should have a good rest after returning. Don't think too much. Believe in our Tang Dynasty. We will do our best to protect your safety."

After saying that, Shen Lian walked out directly.

Abao and the others quickly chased after him. Abao asked, "Sir, is this the end of today?"

"if not?"

Shen Lian didn't even raise his eyelids and said calmly: "I blocked their mouths so that they have nothing to say. Even if we stay here for a day, it will only be a waste of time."

"They never thought about discussing peace, so I didn't give them time to discuss how to resolve this issue. Naturally, this parliament...cannot proceed."

Sishe was puzzled and asked, "Since you know that they have bad intentions towards the Tang Dynasty, why do you still give them time to discuss solutions? Isn't this very disadvantageous to us?"

"Unfavorable? Why is it unfavorable?"

Shen Lian said calmly: "I have already set the tone for the current situation. Anyone who covets the Tang Dynasty and anyone who shows ill will towards the Tang Dynasty is related to the thieves."

"So under this premise, if they want to gain benefits, they only have two ways to go."

"Which two roads?" Abao asked hurriedly.

Shen Lian glanced at Li Xiangyin who looked thoughtful, and said with a smile: "Xiangyin, can you tell me something?"

Li Xiangyin thought for a moment, then said, "Teacher, this is what I think."

"They have only two options! First, they only want benefits, whether they come from the Tang Dynasty or not. So under the premise set by our mentor, if they want to gain benefits, they can only stop targeting the Tang Dynasty and instead switch direction and target those small countries."

"After all, small countries cannot compete with big countries. But if they want to gain benefits from small countries, they will definitely find a way to unite with the Tang Dynasty and let the Tang Dynasty cooperate with them to share the benefits."

"why?"

Ah Bao heard this and asked, "Why don't they just divide the profits among themselves? Why do they have to ask Datang to share it?"

Abao was very puzzled.

Li Xiangyin said: "You are right, they really don't want to take the initiative to share the benefits with the Tang Dynasty, but they have to do so."

"After all, if they attack small countries, they will definitely attract hostility from them. If the Tang Dynasty extends an olive branch at this time, then those small countries will gather firmly in the lobby."

"By then, the Tang Dynasty will most likely become the leader elected by these small countries. This will be equivalent to helping the Tang Dynasty increase its strength invisibly. With the support of the Tang Dynasty, it will not be so easy for them to gain the interests of small countries."

"So, they have no choice but to unite with the Tang Dynasty and leave those small countries with nowhere to rely on. This is the only way to ensure the benefits they will reap! Therefore, the Tang Dynasty...even if they are unwilling, they must unite. They have no choice!"

Abao suddenly realized.

Things between countries are really so complicated.

Even with enemies, sometimes we have to find ways to cooperate with them.

Ali was also thoughtful.

"What about the second way?" Ah Bao continued to ask.

Li Xiangyin looked at Shen Lian and saw Shen Lian nodding with a smile to show his approval. He suddenly felt more confident.

He said: "The second way is to directly destroy the premise established by my mentor. In this way, you can continue to deal with my Tang Dynasty."

"And if you want to disintegrate, there is only one possibility."

"What's possible?" Abao asked.

Li Xiangyin said: "Find the thief and solve the case! Only by finding the thief can the other envoys let down their guard. Only in this way can we bring up the method of dealing with the Tang Dynasty again. Otherwise... they dare not speak at all."

"Can they find the thief?" Ali asked.

Li Xiangyin looked at Shen Lian and said, "You'll have to ask your teacher about this."

Shen Lian rubbed Li Xiangyin's head and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter whether we can find him or not. What matters is who they want to take the blame."

"Take the blame?" Ali was stunned.

Li Xiangyin and Abao seemed to have thought of something and suddenly raised their heads to look at Shen Lian.

Shen Lian smiled and said calmly, "They have no clues and no ideas, so how can they solve the case? So if they want to solve the case as quickly as possible, the easiest way is to find a scapegoat, so they will definitely find a small country to take the blame."

“I just don’t know which small country will be chosen by them.”

Ali frowned and said, "Aren't they afraid of being discovered?"

"Since they can do it, they will naturally do it thoroughly."

"That….…"

Ali couldn't help but look at Shen Lian: "Sir, will you let them get what they want?"

Shen Lian shrugged his shoulders and said calmly, "Of course not."

"If they really choose this path..."

Shen Lian narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully: "After they choose a scapegoat, I will find Tianji to commit another crime. In this case..."

He smiled and said, "That's interesting."

"After they found the thief, another crime happened. That... this matter is very interesting, and the responsibility is even greater."

"Tsk tsk, a false case is always a big deal that will ruin your reputation!"

"So, no matter which path they choose, the result will not be harmful to our Tang Dynasty. In this case, why not let them do it themselves?"

Shen Lian smiled and said, "Which path do you think they will choose?"

Abao and others fell into deep thought.

Shen Lian, on the other hand, laughed out loud and walked away.

Interesting, even more interesting.

In fact, there was one more thing Shen Lian didn't tell them.

The reason why I let them do whatever they want is because... Shen Lian is also ready to take action. Let them help me attract attention!

My own big net is ready to close...

After leaving the post station, Shen Lian found that it was still early.

He thought about it and went directly to the Dali Temple.

Arriving at the government office, Shen Lian flipped through the files that had just been submitted from various local government offices and said to A Bao, "Have those people I asked you to find returned?"

Abao was stunned for a moment before he realized what Shen Lian said.

In fact, they were discussing the affairs of the Parliament of Nations just a moment ago, but who would have known that the next moment, the adult would make a 180-degree turn and talk about something completely unrelated, which almost made him unable to react.

But after all, Abao has followed Shen Lian for too long, and his ability to think in leaps and bounds has also greatly improved.

So after a moment of hesitation, he said, "Two people have already responded, but the others seem to be wary of us rashly contacting them and have not responded yet."

Shen Lian was not surprised at all, and said calmly: "It's normal. I was staying at home well, and suddenly a big pie fell on me. No matter who it is, they will be alert, let alone someone I value."

He picked up a cinnabar pen and drew a big cross at the end of a file.

This shows that he does not agree with the clues and trial results in the files and directly rejects the retrial.

He closed the file and threw it aside with a blank expression, showing no awareness that he had thrown a huge problem to the local official.

He pulled out a file and continued, "Who responded?"

Ah Bao looked at Shen Lian and said, "One is Xue Rengui from Hedong. He was originally a fireman in the military camp. It seems that some people above him are suppressing him."

"He has great ambitions but it is difficult to achieve them, so our people contacted him secretly and told him that you, Master, think highly of him and that you would entrust him with important tasks as long as he comes. After considering it for two days, he gave us a reply."

"What answer?" Shen Lian said without raising his head.

Ah Bao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "I will never forget your kindness, but as long as you give me an order, I will not be afraid of life or death!"

The cinnabar pen in Shen Lian's hand suddenly paused at this moment.

He raised his head, leaned back, looked at Abao with a smile, and said, "What do you think of him?"

Ah Bao said: "I have not had direct contact with him, but the shadow guard who secretly contacted Xue Rengui gave Xue Rengui great affirmation, saying that the commander in the military camp was a fool, otherwise Xue Rengui might have been famous now."

"He also said..."

Ah Bao smiled and said, "He said we really found a treasure."

Shen Lian laughed: "Xue Rengui is a man who values ​​friendship and loyalty. Since he replied in this way, it has already shown his intentions."

"Go tell him to set off quickly and not waste his time in the military camp."

"Then….…"

Shen Lian narrowed his eyes and said, "This time, all nations are coming to pay tribute. Your Majesty has allowed me to mobilize 3,000 elite soldiers to prepare for any emergency."

"Abao, have him go to Lantian County secretly and take control of my temporary 3,000 elite soldiers. Then wait for my orders."

"Maybe soon..."

Shen Lian said meaningfully: "The name of Hedong Xue Rengui will soon be known throughout Chang'an, and even throughout the Tang Dynasty."

Abao was slightly startled, he had no doubts about what his lord said.

Although the adults used the word "maybe", in Abao's opinion, as long as his adults said it, it would definitely become a fact.

So... Xue Rengui is really lucky. He is about to achieve something right after following the Lord.

And whether he or Ali, who didn't follow Shen Lian for a long time before Wei Wei became famous?
This made him unable to stop sighing about Xue Rengui, and even felt a little envious.

It is really an honor for Xue Rengui to be so valued and promoted by his master. Could it be that Xue Rengui saved the world in his previous life?

Otherwise, why would his master look at him differently?

In other words, Shen Lian didn't know what Abao was thinking, otherwise he might really nod and tell Abao... Xue Rengui really saved the Tang Dynasty. After Li Jing and others grew old, Xue Rengui became the pillar of the Tang Dynasty.

If it weren't for Xue Rengui, the Tang Dynasty might have really been in danger.

And it is precisely because Shen Lian knows how great a bright future Xue Rengui will have that he values ​​Xue Rengui so much.

Otherwise, with Shen Lian's personality, how could Xue Rengui possibly catch his eye before he had demonstrated his value?

Shen Lian put a check mark after this file, indicating that he agreed with the clues and handling results in the file.

Then he threw the file aside.

He took another file and asked, "Where's the other person?"

Ah Bao settled down, and then said: "The other person is Chu Suiliang."

"Chu Suiliang?"

One of the Four Great Masters of the Early Tang Dynasty!

In history, after Li Shimin's death, he assisted the new emperor together with Zhangsun Wuji.

It can be said that his ultimate power was even higher than Fang Xuanling’s.

This is a very awesome person!
It was only because he was born before the Sui Dynasty that there were some twists and turns in the middle, and he kept a low profile for a while before he was reused by Li Shimin.

However, this period was the lowest point in Chu Suiliang's life, so Shen Lian seized this opportunity and extended an olive branch to Chu Suiliang.

"How did he respond?" Shen Lian asked.

Speaking of Chu Suiliang, Ah Bao's expression was somewhat complicated. He said, "Chu Suiliang has clearly retired to the mountains and forests and become a commoner, but he has no respect for our Jinyiwei's presence."

"Then the Jinyiwei explained their purpose, and Chu Suiliang put forward a condition. He would only come if the adults agreed to it."

"condition?"

Shen Lian was really curious. What conditions would a person like Chu Suiliang put forward when faced with the recruitment by the Chu Palace?
Ah Bao's expression became more and more complicated. He took a deep breath, looked at Shen Lian cautiously, and said, "My lord, don't be angry if I tell you..."

"Don't talk nonsense. Tell me what the conditions are."

"He said..."

Shen Lian said, "He said, sir, he wants His Royal Highness the King of Chu to promise him the position of Junior Official of the Dali Temple, and only if His Majesty agrees to let him become Junior Official of the Dali Temple, will he come out of seclusion and seek refuge at Wangyun Inn. Otherwise... he won't come out of seclusion!"

Ah Bao was afraid that Shen Lian would be angry, so he hurriedly said, "Sir, these talented people have strange personalities. Even Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms was also strange. So, Sir, please don't--"

"Hahaha!"

Before Abao could finish his words, he was interrupted by Shen Lian's laughter.

This made Abao stunned for a moment.

(End of this chapter)