Li Yifeng sighed and said, "It's okay to act, it's true. When things have reached today's point, it's hard for Bian Beiliu to look back."

Qin Lang knew that Li Yifeng had come to Empress Dowager Xiao Zirong must have already made the conditions, but he was not sure what concessions Xiao Zirong made. Qin Lang said: "Mr. Li, what is the bottom line of the court?"

Li Yifeng smiled bitterly and said, "Let us act according to the opportunity." He spoke very seriously and did not reveal any of the words until now.

Qin Lang saw that it was getting late, so he asked Li Yifeng to rest and left the camp with Chen Hutu.

The two of them patrolled around the neighborhood and stopped in the high ground to look down at the camp. Chen Hutu whispered: "Li Yifeng is obviously guarding us."

Qin Lang nodded and said, "No wonder, if the Empress Dowager wants to convince Bian Beiliu, she will definitely give concessions. The conditions she gave should not want to leak out too early. Even in our mission, there may not be no eyeliner that Bian Beiliu can put in."

Chen Hutu nodded and said, "So Li Yifeng dared not reveal it, because he was worried that Bian Beiliu would have learned it in advance and seize the opportunity. The next thing is even more difficult to discuss."

Qin Lang said: "From you see, what is the biggest concession the Queen Mother can give?"

Chen Hutu said: "Stunningly acquiescent to Bian Beiliu's independence gives him greater autonomy, but he will not allow Bian Beiliu to openly claim his independence from Dayong."

Qin Lang also thought so, but he didn't know Bian Beiliu and whispered: "Do you think Bian Beiliu will agree?"

Chen Hutu shook his head and said, "If Bian Qian was truly killed by Xu Zhongqing, then since then, Bian clan has been ready to become independent. I see that Bian Qianxun is probably in Kitano, perhaps in Mantian City. Bian Beiliu has no scruples, so the conditions given by the Empress Dowager will naturally not be satisfied."

Qin Lang said: "We can calculate the biggest concession of the court, and Bian Beiliu can naturally calculate it."

Chen Hutu said: "This time it may be really dangerous."

Qin Lang narrowed his eyes and said, "Since we are bringing our brothers here, we must all go back safely. Even if the agreement fails, we must escape unsuccessfully."

Chen Hutu nodded, and he also had the same idea.

Qin Lang said: "Although our mission is to protect Li Yifeng, no one stipulates that we cannot do anything else. If Bian Qianxun is in Mantian City, we may be able to dig out this guy and find out the truth about Xu Zhongqing's murder."

Chen Hutu said: "Don't forget that Mantian City is the territory of the Bian clan. When we enter Kitano, we may be under their surveillance whenever we move. It is not that easy to act under their noses."

Qin Lang said: "Bian Beiliu takes the initiative. We don't have a card to challenge him. If we want to turn the situation around, we must make Bian Beiliu feel afraid."

Although Chen Hutu agreed with Qin Lang's statement, if he wanted to find Bian Qian on the territory of the Heavenly King, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

After entering Kitano, a team sent by Mantian King immediately greeted him, saying that the greeting was mainly to monitor their mission. The mission of less than 200 people marched towards Mantian City under the escort of more than a thousand men.

There is still two days to go from the border to Mantian City. Mantian City is close to Jinghai. Their overall route is first to the north and then to the east. The closer it is to Mantian City, the higher the temperature. The fiefdom given to Bian's family, the more abundant it is. Although the territory is not small, it is mostly saline-alkali land, with poor soil and pitifully few arable places. After the Bian family took over, they could only develop commercial freight. In the past, Mantian City was just a small city. It was known as Linjun. After the hard work of the Bian family, it has been continuously developed over the past hundred years and has become one of the top ten largest cities in Dayong. Because it is close to Jinghai, relying on its unique geographical advantages, a Qiyungang was built.

The Bian family has given great benefits to merchants from all walks of life in terms of taxation in ports and exits, so the development of the port is also a long way to go, and now it has become one of the three major ports in Dayong.

When Emperor Shunde was alive, he wanted to take back Qiyungang, but considering that this move might cause the Bian family to have a strange intention, it was left unresolved. In recent years, Da Yong's national strength has declined due to natural disasters and man-made disasters, but Kitano has not been affected much because of trade. Instead, because Da Yong's domestic shortage of grain and needs to be imported in large quantities, the purchased grain must be shipped through Qiyungang. As long as it passes here, taxes will be paid to the Bian family. It can be said that Bian Beiliu is equivalent to making money in the national crisis in disguise and making a fortune.

Bian Beiliu's independence made Dayong panic. If Bian Beiliu cut off the sea route of Qiyungang, it would be equivalent to cutting off a Dayong's economic lifeline. The most important mission of Li Yifeng's trip was to ensure the smooth flow of this lifeline.

On the way to Mantian City, I saw traffic on the official road, most of which were caravans heading to Dayong. Merchants carrying goods from all sides landed in Qiyungang and entered Dayong by land.

When Qin Lang saw the groups of mules and horses, he couldn't help but sigh in secret. No wonder Bian Beiliu dared to claim independence. He did have the capital to challenge Da Yong.

Chen Hutu said to Qin Lang: "The commerce sector has not yet stopped. It is estimated that Bian Beiliu has made preparations for both measures. If the results of this negotiation are not ideal, he may start to cut off the sea route."

Qin Lang said: "Are there no other ports to replace except Qiyungang Dayong?"

Chen Hutu said: "There is a big port in the south, but grain merchants all come from the north of the east. How can they go beyond the near and far?"

Qin Lang said: "The Dayong court has only focused on internal power struggles over the years and only focused on the throne, but ignored the overall situation. He did not even notice his lifeline being caught in time. No one can blame others for the dilemma caused today."

Chen Hutu said: "During the reign of Emperor Shunde, he never left Yongdu." How could an emperor who had never taken half a step to Yongdu know the sufferings of the people? Chen Hutu had been guarding the border in the northern border a few years ago and experienced countless bloody battles in life and death, but the court's actions were disappointing, and even the military pay of the border soldiers could not be guaranteed.

Most of the Xiyu Guards around them were comrades-in-arms from Chen Hutu’s past. They worked hard for the court. After they were lifted out of their arms and returned to their fields, most of them lived in poverty. The court did not care about their past contributions at all.

Qin Lang said: "Break and then build. It is impossible to revive the system without undergoing complete changes."

Chen Hutu looked around and Qin Lang was really bold.

The walls of Mantian City can already be seen in front of him. Although Mantian City is not as large as Yongdu in scale, the walls are high and wide, easy to defend and difficult to attack. They entered from the west gate because there were many merchants coming and going, even the delegation had no priority. They could only queue up to enter the city according to the rules, and it took an entire half of an hour before entering the city.

After entering the city, they were arranged to go to the inn to rest. Except for the inn's postmaster, the Bian family has not sent any important officials to receive them.

Li Yifeng called the postmaster and asked when he could see Bian Beiliu. The postmaster asked him to wait patiently, and there would be a special arrangement for everything. When the prince could see him, he would naturally announce that he would meet.

Li Yifeng was quite unhappy when he heard the word Xuan. Although Bian Beiliu is a king of a different surname, his rank may not be higher than himself in Dayong. Although he has resigned from his position now, he is still a first-rank official after all. Bian Beiliu is obviously disrespectful to do this, but no matter how annoyed he is, there is nowhere to go. There is an old saying that people have to bow their heads under the roof. On the Bian territory, he can only wait patiently.

The delegation stayed in the inn for two days. During these two days, Bian Beiliu did not send any officials to contact them. The inn was receiving good wine and food.

Li Yifeng saw Bian Beiliu's intention. He deliberately used this method to neglect the delegation, but the owner refused to see him, and Li Yifeng could not find a good solution. He could only write a letter and entrust the postmaster to help him pass it to Bian Beiliu.

Qin Lang secretly wanted to laugh when he saw Li Yifeng's actions. This Yicheng was just an inconspicuous character, and he probably wouldn't have the chance to see Bian Beiliu.

Qin Lang took the time to go around Mantian City, hoping to find out some news about Bian Qianxun. Mantian City is much bigger than he imagined, and because it is a port city, there are many merchants from all sides and a large number of foreign populations. It is indeed as difficult to find a person from it as if he is looking for a needle in a haystack.

What made Qin Lang feel relieved was that no one followed him. He asked Bian Beiliu in the city and felt that the people of Kitano highly praised Bian Beiliu. It was obvious that Bian Beiliu was very popular with the people. Therefore, after he announced his independence, the people basically expressed their support, and no one stood up to express their opposition.

At noon, Qin Lang ordered a bowl of seafood noodles at the restaurant on the side of the road to fill his stomach. He ate it deliciously. A carriage stopped beside him. Someone in the car said, "Is this noodles delicious?"

Qin Lang heard the sound very familiar. When he looked up, he saw a familiar smiling face in the car window, but He Shankuo.

Qin Lang never thought that He Shankuo would appear in Mantian City and said in surprise: "Brother He!"

The coachman was a boy in black. He took a wheelchair and carried He Shankuo out of the car. Qin Lang went over to help.

He Shankuo said to the coachman: "Yingnu, you go back first and let Qin Lang take me back."

The boy in black nodded and drove away.

Qin Lang asked He Shankuo what to eat? He Shankuo said that it would be fine just like him. Qin Lang asked the boss to prepare another bowl of seafood noodles.

The two of them didn't say much, and first dealt with the bowl of noodles in front of them. He Shankuo buried his head in the bowl of noodles, and did not even let go of the soup. He drank it clean and then praised: "What a delicious seafood noodles."

Qin Lang said: "It's not delicious either, it may be that you are hungry."

He Shankuo smiled and said, "I haven't left the house for twelve years."

Qin Lang was a little surprised. When did He Shankuo come to Mantian City? How could he find himself?
Chapter completed!