Chapter 302 Friends and Enemies (7)

In the evening, the plane returned to Mengyin Airport from the edge of the desert two thousand kilometers away at a time.

As soon as he got off the plane, the officer coming towards him had a strange expression, which made Li Ming very surprised. After entering the car, he finally couldn't help but ask.

The officer had a very strange expression on his face and replied: "Master, after you flew away this morning, news suddenly came from the border that there was a team that claimed to be the envoys of the Great Zhou Kingdom waiting for release outside the pass. The leader seemed to be Ximen Hu, the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Kingdom......"

"Ximen Hu?" Li Ming screamed in shock: "Where is he now?"

"General General Huang is holding a banquet to entertain him." The officer's answer was very concise.

At this time, Ximen Hu actually appeared in the Tang Dynasty in an open manner, which made Li Ming feel strange. Logically, now that he and Li Ming have completely broken up, there seems to be no reason to go to the Tang Dynasty so boldly. Is there anything wrong with the Great Zhou side? The Desert Legion just advanced to Tuhu, so it wouldn't have made Ximen Hu panic.

Along the way, Li Ming was considering Ximen Hu's purpose, but although there were various possibilities, he could not determine what Ximen Hu actually meant.

The original Marshal's Mansion in Mengyin Border was drinking and drinking, and Huang San led several officials to entertain Ximen Hu there.

Seeing Li Ming coming in, the officials hurriedly stepped forward to meet him, and a hint of surprise and embarrassment appeared on Ximen Hu's face. It seemed that Huang San did not tell him that Li Ming was here.

"Ximen Hu, you still dare to come here? Don't you know what you have done? Do you think you can hide everything you have done on the borders of the two countries?" Li Ming turned his head and questioned Ximen Hu without hesitation.

Ximen Hu smiled embarrassedly, bowed to Li Ming, stood up and explained: "Emperor, all things in the past were Ximen Hu for a moment. I hope you can forgive me. This time, I am on the order of the Emperor of Great Zhou to go to the Tang Dynasty. I hope that the emperor will let Ximen Hu complete his mission this time for the sake of our emperor and Princess Liu Man."

Li Ming sneered and said, "According to the emperor's orders, Ximen Hu, you are the one who takes charge of almost everything in the Great Zhou Kingdom. Is it your attention to this time when the Tang Dynasty is sent? I am very surprised. You know that I am very disgusted with you now, but why do you still have to go on the mission in person?"

Ximen Hu bowed slightly and said, "Emperor, the lower officials feel that the relationship between the two countries is only relative, and when there are common interests, they can restore the intimate relationship. Now that Princess Liu Man has married into the Tang Dynasty, our two countries have the basis for restoring the relationship. As a minister of the Great Zhou Kingdom, the lower officials have this obligation to work hard to restore the relationship between the two countries. The lower officials are the highest official under the Great Zhou Kingdom. If I go to the Tang Dynasty, I can fully demonstrate my sincerity in the Great Zhou Kingdom. In comparison, the personal safety of the lower officials becomes insignificant."

Li Ming suddenly burst into laughter. He stared at Ximen Hu with cold eyes and said, "It sounds so nice. I am even a little moved. Ximen Hu, I am clearly aware of your nature. Unless the Great Zhou Kingdom encounters any difficulties that I cannot solve, you will definitely not be resentful to me. Tell me, what's the matter?"

Ximen Hu looked awkwardly at the Tang Dynasty officials around him, bowed to Li Ming and said, "Return to the Emperor, this time he went to the Tang Dynasty to congratulate Princess Liu Man on the wedding, and on the other hand, it was also to welcome the return of the eldest prince Liu Yang. He originally wanted to see the prosperity of Nanguo City, but he didn't expect that you are here, Your Majesty."

"Just these two things?" Li Ming showed a sarcastic smile on his face and said, "Ximen Hu, if you came just for these two things, you have completed your mission now. I already know your emperor's wishes, and you can go back tomorrow. As for Liu Yang, he is currently traveling through the Tang Dynasty with Man'er. You can rest assured that you can go back in a month."

Ximen Hu's face became even more awkward. He glanced at the Tang officials around him again and stammered: "Actually... Actually... In fact, there was a little unhappy request this time, which was requested by our emperor privately. You also know that the reason why the Xiaguan had so many necessary conflicts and misunderstandings with you was all because of the hidden weapon in your hands. This... Your current army is already equipped. That time, Xiaguan in Tuhu had already seen the power of that kind of weapon. Our emperor would like to ask you to agree to sell it to us so that we can have enough ability to defend the territory of the Great Zhou. Emperor, now the two countries have been married, you will not worry that the Great Zhou Kingdom will be unfavorable to you."

Li Ming's face showed a relieved smile. He did not answer Ximen Hu immediately, but turned around and walked to the dining table and sat down, saying, "Everyone is tired for a day. Let's have a meal first. Brother Huang San, let's cook more good dishes in the kitchen and serve some good wine. Let's celebrate. Tomorrow, I will lead my subordinates back to the Imperial City. Ximen Hu, no matter what kind of unhappiness we had before, you are a guest from afar, and I can't help you. Come, sit down and have a drink with me. By the way, I will introduce you to a few of my subordinates."

Although he did not get Li Ming's answer, Ximen Hu was embarrassed to ask again at this time, and sat in his seat awkwardly, dealing with Li Ming's frequent cups.

This time he went to the Tang Dynasty for his main purpose was to allow Li Ming to sell rifles, but he did not expect that Li Ming actually appeared at the Mengyin border. He did not think that Li Ming appeared here to travel around the mountains and rivers. As an emperor, he walked out of the palace for some big things. Moreover, through the introduction just now, even the highest officials in charge of the army, intelligence and discipline of the Tang Dynasty came over, which made him consider Li Ming's true intention to come here. Mengyin border was an important center for the Tang Dynasty to resist the army of the Great Zhou. Li Ming led the main officials here to appear here, which would definitely have something to do with the Great Zhou. Could it be that they were planning? Thinking of this, Ximen Hu began to become restless.

Ximen Hu ate like chewing wax at this banquet. After finally waiting for the quilt, he finally couldn't help but feel confused and said, "Emperor, the minister came this time to maintain a better relationship between the two countries. Now, the Great Zhou Kingdom has absolutely no intention of being unfavorable to the Tang Dynasty. I hope you can believe this. Ask a question that shouldn't be asked, what is the purpose of you traveling thousands of miles to Mengyin border?"

Li Ming smiled faintly and said, "Since you know it is a question you shouldn't ask, you shouldn't have spoken this at all. It's an internal matter of the Tang Dynasty, so you don't need to ask more questions."

Li Ming immediately held back the following words. He looked at Li Ming with a flushed face. He couldn't get an answer to his questions in his stomach. This feeling was so uncomfortable.

Suddenly, he left his seat and knelt down in front of Li Ming, knocked three times in a row, and said, "Your Majesty, I apologize to you here for all the wrongs that Ximen Hu did in the past. I hope you have a lot and don't care about everything in the past. You also know that everything I did was for the Great Zhou Dynasty. In the past relationship between the two countries, I had no choice but to do this. However, now the relationship between the two countries has begun to improve, and I will never do anything that is unfavorable to you again."

Li Ming held the teacup and smiled slightly, saying, "Ximen Hu, I have not pursued the past now, so you don't have to apologize so carefully. However, even in my Tang Dynasty, the equipment of rifles is limited to a few troops, and there is no extra sale to you. So, I'm afraid you will have to go for a free trip this time."

"But, how could you appear in the border of Mengyin? Isn't it to deal with the Great Zhou Kingdom?" Hearing that Li Ming deliberately changed the topic, Ximen Hu simply pointed out the topic.

"This... Ximen Hu, Man'er is currently my queen, and I have also sent an envoy to improve the relationship between the two countries. You should not doubt this. The relationship between the two countries has finally improved. I will not go back on my promise. Don't worry, I did not come this time to deal with the Great Zhou, so you don't have to worry so much."

Ximen Hu looked at Li Ming with doubts and stood up slowly. Since Li Ming said that, he couldn't continue asking questions, but he still had grudges in his heart. Li Ming's trip to Mengyin border became even more mysterious in his heart.

"Ximen Hu, if there is nothing else, please return to Dazhou as soon as possible. It's not that I don't want to sell you. In my Tang Dynasty, there are not many troops equipped with rifles. The soldiers you saw in Tuhu that time were the only troops equipped with rifles in the Tang Dynasty. Which unit has only two or three thousand people? It is currently my Imperial Guard, and I cannot sell it to you."

Ximen Hu hesitated for a moment, stood there hesitated for a long time, suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, now the matter is not like hiding anything. It is really my Great Zhou on the verge of danger. At present, the border on the west side of the Great Zhou has been broken through, and our army has lost tens of thousands. Those devils... they are really amazing."

"What?" Li Ming stood up from his seat: "Did those white people fight to Dazhou? It's impossible. I just came back from them today..." Speaking of this, Li Ming suddenly realized his mistake and stopped quickly.

Who is Ximen Hu? I immediately heard something strange from Li Ming's words.

"What did you say? Just came back from there? Could it be that the rifles in their hands were provided by Datang?" Ximen Hu screamed in shock.

Li Ming smiled wryly and explained, "How is it possible? We are not enough for ourselves. The place I mentioned is on the edge of Tuhu and the desert, not the border between the Great Zhou, it is completely two places. A few days ago, I got news that those white people invaded Tuhu. In order to prevent them from going south further, I personally led my subordinates to the place to take a look. This is why I appeared at the Mengyin border. Is the place you mentioned in another direction?"

Ximen Hu looked at Li Ming skeptically and replied: "It's on the westernmost part of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The climate is cold, the mountains are dense, and the terrain is really not very good. There are not many Tuhu there. But half a month ago, a team of soldiers suddenly rushed in from that place. Maybe they are the white people you mentioned. After hearing the news of the return, they are indeed very white, holding the rifle you mentioned in their hands, and the number is estimated to be about 2,000. The first battle was eliminated.

We had six or seven thousand people. There were not many defensive soldiers in that place, but they broke into the territory of the Great Zhou for two or three hundred miles. Later, reinforcements from nearby went up to intercept them, but they wiped out nearly 10,000 people. At present, in our Great Zhou, there was no army that could stop them from moving forward. Fortunately, after occupying several cities, they began to garrison there. In order to drive them away, I volunteered to come to the Tang Dynasty to ask for your help."

Li Ming was relieved. It seemed that the white people on the west side also began to invade the south. He had no intelligence agencies there, so he didn't know the news.

Because he is not familiar with the geographical location of the Great Zhou, Li Ming did not expect that the Desert Corps would enter the Great Zhou so soon. Now Li Chaoyang is busy consolidating his power in Dayi City. The army outside Dayi City has simply lost its ability to restrain itself, so Li Chaoyang's side is no longer reliable. Fortunately, the military and industrial facilities of Dayi City have been controlled by Li Chaoyang, and the logistics supply of the weapons of those peripheral legions has been subject to certain restrictions. The white people who invaded Dazhou will definitely have insufficient ammunition in the hands of them. To deal with these people, a few incendiary bombs can be solved. However, why didn't Li Ming take advantage of this opportunity?

"To be honest, the relationship between the two countries has improved now, and the emperor of the Great Zhou is my father-in-law. In the case of difficulties in the Great Zhou, I cannot stand by. However, it is impossible to sell rifles to you. What I can do now is to send my two thousand imperial guards to the Great Zhou border to help you drive away those white people. What do you think?" When he said this, Li Ming's face showed a fifteen-thousand sincere expression.

Ximen Hu suddenly raised his head, shook his head firmly, and said, "Emperor, although the relationship between our two countries has been improved, the officials still understand the allusion of Yu attacking Guo. If the two thousand imperial guards holding rifles go deep into our Great Zhou, it will be like entering a state of no one. The officials will never agree to this matter."

Li Ming smiled helplessly and said, "Since that's the case, I can't help you. It is absolutely impossible for you to buy a rifle. You should return to the Great Zhou as soon as possible and consider how to drive those two thousand and hundreds of soldiers out."
Chapter completed!