Qin Xiao knew that the White Wolf King had benefited greatly from Tangren City, but he did not expect that Tangren City was actually funded and built by the Xiling clan.
"Although the Xiling clan used bribes to buy off Wutuo officials, which caused many of the Wutuo nobles to oppose the eastward advance, in fact this bribe can be regarded as the annual tax paid by the Xiling clan to Wutuo." Tang Dynasty
Rong sneered and said: "It's just that Brother Nalusheng didn't get any of these taxes. However, Brother Nalusheng wants the land in Xiling and he doesn't pay attention to this money."
Qin Xiao knew that what Tang Rong said was true.
To make King Wutuo Khan like the White Wolf King and many Wutuo nobles oppose the eastward advance, the amount of silver spent was of course a terrifying amount.
"You were born in Xiling, so you naturally know that the tax revenue of Xiling is the best in the world." Tang Rong said: "Although Xiling is richer than most places in the Wutuo Khanate, it is very poor compared to many places in the Tang Dynasty. Only Yangzhou,
It is more than ten times richer than Xiling, but the taxes in Yangzhou are only twice that of Xiling. The people of Xiling have endured many kinds of exorbitant taxes for many years. In addition to being squandered by the Xiling clan, nearly half of the money was used by the Xiling clan to bribe Wu.
Tuo people, what do you think is the difference between this and Xiling paying taxes to Wutuo?"
Qin Xiao sighed and said: "After the Wutuo Rebellion, apart from donating war horses to the court, the Xiling clan did not have a single tael of silver to hand over to the national treasury."
"Yes." Tang Rong nodded and said: "The imperial court fulfilled its promise and withdrew troops from Xiling, allowing Xiling to fall into the hands of the three great clans of Xiling. The three great clans were nominally ministers of the Tang Dynasty, but it was Wutuo who really benefited.
people."
"Using money to buy the Wutuo people means paying protection fees to the Wutuo people." Qin Xiao sighed: "The Wutuo nobles used the hands of the Xiling family members to suck the blood of the people of Xiling. If things go on like this, Xiling will be weak and will not attack itself.
Collapse."
Tang Rong sighed softly: "It's good if you can understand this truth."
"According to what you said, shopkeeper Bai was responsible for bribing the Wutuo nobles?"
Tang Rong nodded slightly: "This matter has been controlled by Shopkeeper Bai from the beginning. Of course, the Xiling clan will not spend money in vain. If they want to bribe the Wutuo people, they naturally have to find out who is worthy of the money. Shopkeeper Bai's
There is a group of ears and eyes specifically responsible for investigating the information of the Wutuo nobles, putting those Wutuo nobles who can be bribed on the list, then estimating their value, and then sending bribes of equal value. In this way, Shopkeeper Bai has a bribe in his hands.
There is a list of nobles who have passed by. These people took money from the Xiling clan and became Shopkeeper Bai’s connections in Wutuo.”
Qin Xiao sighed: "After spending so much money, shopkeeper Bai couldn't even protect himself. He was detained and imprisoned, and almost lost his life. It seems that the so-called connections are not as strong as imagined."
"Although the Xiling clan has bribed many people, most of the Wutuo nobles still have the same thoughts as Brother Nalusheng and want to swallow up Xiling." Tang Rong said: "The power of Wutuo's main battle is more powerful, Qifushan
It's one of them. This time Qi Fushan suddenly launched an attack, shopkeeper Bai didn't expect that such a serious situation would arise because he was caught off guard."
"Are you lurking next to Shopkeeper Bai to get the list?" Qin Xiao asked: "Even if you get the list, what use will it be to you?"
Tang Rong thought for a moment and then said: "Getting the list is not the goal. Our ultimate goal is to replace Shopkeeper Bai and hold the list. In this way, we can coerce many Wutuo nobles to work for us."
"With the list, can we coerce them?" Qin Xiao said with a faint smile: "Is it that easy for the Wutuo nobles to be controlled?"
"Of course it's not easy." Tang Rong said: "Not only do we need a list, but we also need to find conclusive evidence of bribery. As long as we seize the evidence, even if we cannot control all the bribed Wutuo nobles, at least half of them can become our tools.
"
"how do I say this?"
"Don't forget that Brother Nalusheng is very ambitious and wants to advance eastward. He has always regarded the White Wolf King and other peace leaders as a thorn in his side." Tang Rong said: "Brother Nalusheng also wants to take action against the White Wolf King and his group.
But many of these people are powerful, such as the White Wolf King. He has many tribes under his jurisdiction, with millions of people and tens of thousands of elite cavalry. The White Wolf King has a very high prestige in the hearts of the tribes under his jurisdiction. If Nalu
If Brother Sheng forcibly attacks the White Wolf King, it will definitely cause civil strife in Wutuo. Once there is a rupture among the eight Wutuo tribes and they consume each other, and they want to invade the Tang Dynasty eastward, it will be a fool's dream."
Qin Xiao said: "That's why he used Qifushan to seize the throne of Khan, so that he can control the White Wolf tribe."
"But if Brother Narusheng gets the evidence that the Wutuo nobles accepted bribes, then he can make the evidence public and let the Wutuo people know that the nobles who opposed the eastward advance were bribed by the Xiling clan." Tang Rong slowly said
Said: "When Brother Narusheng takes action again, these bribed Wutuo nobles will have no one to support them, and they will only become ghosts under the sword."
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "So these Wutuo nobles are afraid that Nalusheng will get evidence, so they can only succumb to you?"
"That's right." Tang Rong said: "So by collecting evidence of their taking bribes and getting the list, we can control some of them."
Qin Xiao suddenly realized: "You worry about Shopkeeper Bai's life and death and try your best to rescue him. Of course, you don't really care about his life or death. It's because you haven't gotten the list from him yet, let alone collected evidence of bribery. If Shopkeeper Bai
If you are dead, it will be even less possible for you to get the list and evidence, and everything you have done before will be in vain." Staring at Tang Rong, he smiled bitterly and said: "In order to achieve your goal, you have been following Shopkeeper Bai for more than ten years.
It is really not easy to leak water or even become his adopted daughter."
"To save the people of Xiling, no matter how high the price is, it is worth it." Tang Rong looked solemn: "So do you still want to tell Shopkeeper Bai about me?"
Qin Xiaowei pondered for a moment, and finally asked: "Has Shopkeeper Bai ever doubted you?"
"He won't trust anyone, including me." Tang Rong said softly: "So over the years, my first priority has been to win his trust. In fact, he already has trust in me, otherwise this time
In an emergency, the White Wolf King will not be handed over to me."
"You have gained the trust of Shopkeeper Bai. Now that Shopkeeper Bai's legs are disabled, he is likely to leave Wutuo." Qin Xiao said slowly: "This is not a bad thing for you. You are his adopted daughter, and you will follow him.
He has been there for many years, and after he leaves, even if he won’t leave everything in his hands to you, you will still have the opportunity to get some of the things you want when others come to take over.”
Tang Rong smiled lightly and said: "It is indeed a good opportunity."
"Then can you tell me, who are you?" Qin Xiao looked directly into Tang Rong's eyes: "Who ordered you to lurk next to Shopkeeper Bai? Why are you suffering from cold disease?"
Tang Rong frowned, her lips moved slightly, but she made no sound.
Qin Xiao sighed: "Today you suddenly had a cold attack, which can be said to be extremely dangerous. Fortunately, I was by your side at that time. If you had the attack next to Shopkeeper Bai, he would have been able to see the problem at a glance. Your years of hard work will also be saved."
It was all wasted in an instant.”
"Yes." Tang Rong said with lingering fear, "Fortunately it's you, otherwise the consequences would be really disastrous."
Qin Xiaodao: "But this kind of thing is beyond your control. The cold disease comes suddenly and you can't control it. If you escape it this time, it will probably happen in front of him next time. Over the years, you have been so lucky that you have not been in front of him.
Do it once in front of me?"
"It's all because of that accident." Tang Rong sighed softly: "I have a cold in my body, so I have to take medicine on time every month, once a month. After taking the medicine, I can guarantee that everything will be as normal within a month.
It won’t happen.”
"What medicine?" Qin Xiao asked immediately: "Is it the same as my pills?"
Tang Rong shook her head and said, "No." She seemed to want to say something, but stopped.
Qin Xiaodao: "Sister Rong, you are a smart person. You should understand that I have the upper hand in the current situation than you. I am a person who gets to the bottom of things. If you tell me the truth and then convince me to keep it secret, I might be able to help you."
, if you want to hide it from me at this time, I don’t know when the wind comes out of my mouth, what should be said and what should not be said will leak out. "
Tang Rong gritted her teeth and said bitterly: "Are you threatening me?"
"The key is that I can really threaten you." Qin Xiao shrugged: "If you treat me sincerely, I might be able to protect you as much as I did before."
Tang Rong was angry when Qin Xiao took control of her, but she was helpless.
She naturally knew that if Qin Xiao told Shopkeeper Bai the truth, her own life or death would not matter, but her painstaking plan would be in vain.
"The pills I took were also pills, but they were different from yours." Tang Rong said: "Before this incident, I had been in contact with another person. That person owned a rouge and gouache shop in Tangren City, and I would go there every month.
.....!”
"A rouge and gouache shop?" Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Sure enough, Sister Rong is as beautiful as a flower. She is one of the best beauties in the world. It is only natural for such a great beauty to go to the store every month to buy rouge and gouache.
Shopkeeper Bai won’t doubt it either.”
Tang Rong glared at Qin Xiao, but continued: "The shopkeeper of the gouache shop will give me a pill every month. After taking it, I can ensure that I will not suffer from cold sickness in the next month."
Qin Xiao nodded and said: "I understand, Tangren City was burned by a fire, and the rouge gouache shop was naturally burned down. Wutuo soldiers searched Tangren City and arrested many people. In the chaos, of course you can't stay here any longer.
In Tangren City, it was in ruins, and the person who was in contact with you had to evacuate, so you lost contact and could not be contacted in a short period of time. The antidote was not available, and the cold illness might break out at any time."
"Yes." Tang Rong admitted: "If you can't get the antidote, you can only suffer from the cold disease, and I can't predict when it will come." She smiled bitterly: "I was with Shopkeeper Bai.
Every moment is extremely dangerous. If the cold disease breaks out, your identity will be exposed immediately and all your previous efforts will be wasted." I still have lingering fears when I think of almost being exposed in front of Shopkeeper Bai during the day.
Qin Xiao frowned and said: "Then who asked you to lurk next to Shopkeeper Bai? He used such vicious drugs to control you, naturally he was worried that you would rebel. This person's methods are very spicy, so why did you obey his orders?
"Is the person behind the scenes who wants to control Tang Rong the same person who poisoned me back then?