Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 268 Equipment

The village heads all said that this was just a last resort to delay the situation. If the time really came, going with Earl Jian'an would at least be more reassuring than going with others.

After the man who was seeing him off finished speaking, Chuncao rushed over with red eyes and hugged him regardless of anything, "Master, you can't leave me."

Rong Tang really had no choice but to say, "I'm not going to abandon you. Listen, this is a war, bringing you along is against military discipline, and you don't want me to be impeached and beaten with a military stick."

Chuncao cried loudly, but was finally pulled away by the copper coin. "Chuncao, don't cry, it's not like the young master won't come back."

Not to mention Chuncao, even Tongqian wanted to cry. There were seven people when they came, but five of the decision-makers had left, leaving only him, a servant, and Chuncao, a maid.

"Okay, Chuncao, stop crying. You're a grown-up girl now. Rong Jinji is under your control. I've left some sugar-making recipes in the compound. You can look through them when you have time and think of new ways to make them. Time will pass quickly."

Rong Tang gave earnest instructions. On the other side of the pavilion, Tang Tiantian looked at his and Chuncao's "reluctant" interaction and suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart.

So this is why he wants to break off the engagement?

Tang Fuyun asked her, "Aren't you going to see him off?"

Tang Tiantian said sullenly, "I have delivered it."

Just as he was about to return to the city, he saw a team of carriages and horses rushing over on the road. The leader, He Daban, shouted in a shrill voice, "Lord Jian'an, wait a moment, wait a moment."

Tang Fuyun hurriedly pulled his horse back to make way for He Daban.

He Daban finally arrived before Rong Tang left and breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know that Rong Tang was even more relieved.

"Lord Jian'an, the Queen Mother has been offering your Buddhist beads to the Buddha for three days, chanting scriptures hundreds of times. Now I am returning them to you, Lord Jian'an. This sacred object will surely bring you good luck in times of trouble."

Rong Tang respectfully took it and wrapped it around his wrist. Unexpectedly, He Daban continued, "Marquis Jian'an, since the Rong family's new army is a regular unit, it cannot be without a supervisor. That's why His Majesty has sent Li Dequan to be your supervisor. In the future, any achievements made by your men will be reported to the higher-ups through the supervisor."

Rong Tang was speechless. A new army of 25 people also needed a military supervisor. So, should there be a quartermaster as well?

He Daban seemed to have heard his inner thoughts. "You are few in number, so you don't deserve so many manpower. Don't worry, Li Dequan has the imperial token and can collect food and silver per head in any prefecture he passes through. But after crossing the river, you have to find a way on your own."

Li Dequan had a sad face. He was actually unwilling to do so, but he did not dare to disobey the order and rode his horse into Rong Tang's team.

"Okay then, He Daban, see you later."

After watching Rong Tang say goodbye to everyone, he mounted his horse and waved, "Let's go back."

Everyone watched them walk further and further away, and finally they dispersed.

Tang Fuyun looked at the receding figure, then looked at Tang Tiantian who was in a daze, and mounted the horse again. He walked slowly along with Rong Tang's horse hooves, not chasing closely, but just letting Tang Tiantian calm down for a while.

After only a few miles, they saw a group of people and horses emerging from a small roadside wood, led by two Western Region horse traders. There were nineteen strong, sturdy horses, all fully saddled and equipped, and even laden with pre-purchased riding gear and combat boots. How could Rong Tang treat a mere twenty or so people differently?

The veterans of Fuxinzhuang, ranging from eleven to twenty years old, were all extremely excited. Who wouldn’t want to be as high-spirited as a horse stepping on a flying swallow?

Everyone changed their clothes in the forest and emerged excited and overjoyed. Li Dequan was speechless as he watched the group upgrade their weapons, but Rong Tang immediately put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Eunuch Li, you have to remember this for me, right? I can ask His Majesty for money later!"

Li Dequan looked constipated. Looking at the individual equipment of this group of people, it was so sophisticated and complete that no other team had it. Fortunately, there were few people, otherwise how could the court afford to equip them?

I had no choice but to agree, "Okay, we'll write it down when we set up camp."

Rong Tang talked with the two Hu merchants for a while, and the Hu merchants nodded repeatedly. Soon, everyone was ready and mounted their horses. With a roar, the twenty-six riders flew out like arrows. In the distance, Li Dequan roared, "Slow down, damn it, our riding skills are not very good..."

His protests were drowned out by the wind, and the herd of well-equipped wild horses went crazy, completely disregarding his life or death.

After sending their horses off, the Hu merchants turned back. Not long after they left, they saw Tang Fuyun holding Tang Tiantian on horseback, riding slowly. Tang Fuyun's face shocked the Hu merchants. Suddenly, he rushed over without a care in the world, yelling "Ah, Ah, Ah!" This frightened the seven or eight officers and soldiers behind Tang Fuyun and they quickly reacted, drawing their swords and surrounding him. "Who are you? You're disturbing Master Tang! Are you trying to kill yourself?"

You should know that although Tang Fuyun's official position is low, he has been listed as a national treasure-level key protected object. Not to mention foreigners, even Lord Tang's biological father has been listed as a dangerous element by the Ministry of Industry and is not allowed to get close to him.

The two merchants were surrounded and held captive, their words becoming increasingly unclear as they grew anxious. Perhaps they had a profound secret they couldn't reveal, but after a brief commotion, they were restrained and unable to move. A servant, clearly a porter, heard his two masters' words and dared not approach. He circled twice on his horse before fleeing.

The officers and soldiers protecting Tang Fuyun did not dare to chase after them, fearing that something might happen to Little Tang, and urged them to return to the city quickly. After this commotion, Tang Tiantian lost interest in continuing to accompany them and signaled her brother to return to the city.

In this way, the two screaming merchants were brought back to the city and thrown into Jingzhao Prefecture for interrogation. But once they were in Jingzhao Prefecture, they were like gourds with sawed mouths, not saying a word. Nangong Jing could not get anything out of them, so he could only throw them into jail.

Tang Tiantian was sent back to the Sima family. Madam Tang saw her gloomy look and said softly, "My son, what's wrong with you? Didn't you go to see off the Earl of Jian'an early this morning? He is of such a status that he was born to ride on a horse and fight. As long as your family and country are at peace, you can still spend more time together. If there is unrest on the border, it is not uncommon for you to not see each other for several years."

My eyes got red when I thought about it. Who doesn't want to live a peaceful life? But there's nothing I can do about it.

Tang Tiantian didn't mention the matter of Chuncao. Maybe she was still a little depressed, but compared with Rong Tang's expedition, those were unimportant things.

She took out the letter Rong Tang had given her and showed it to her mother. "Mom, what do you think he meant by this?"

After reading it, Mrs. Tang's heart trembled. This seemed unbelievable, but after thinking about it carefully, she did not find any problems that were detrimental to her daughter.

Just like Rong Tang said, things are unpredictable. If something happens to him and he can't come back, according to common sense, Tang Tiantian will have to remain a widow for the rest of her life, which is undoubtedly the cruelest thing.

Of course, she could also break her promise, but her reputation would be ruined. Given her and her current reputation, even if she remarried, she would have to marry someone of a lower status, and she would forget about marrying into a good family.

But with this marriage dissolution certificate and the 20,000 taels of compensation given by Rong Tang, Tiantian can find a new marriage in a decent manner without being criticized.

Tang Fuyun was about to tear up the dissolution agreement, but Madam Tang dodged him, tears streaming down her face. "At first, I thought this kid was unreliable, but over the past period of time, his protection of you and his help to your brother have left nothing to be desired. If he returns safely, you can happily get married and everyone will be happy. If he doesn't come back... Tiantian, you can stay with him for a year, or even three years, but you absolutely can't stay with him for a lifetime. It's too painful."

Tang Tiantian burst into tears, "Mom, this marriage termination letter makes my daughter feel uncomfortable."

Mrs. Tang also shed tears. "I feel bad too. I feel like I owe Lord Rong a lot. Just think of it as... as if I'm selfish. For the sake of my own children, I have to keep it even if it makes me feel bad. From now on, I will pray to the Buddha every day for Lord Jian'an's safe return."

Tang Tiantian threw herself into her arms and sobbed, "Mom!"