Chapter Eighty-Seven

  "You... really dare to leave the two of us as your guardians?" Shangguan Yuanwu took a deep breath, wanting to open his eyes to see Tang Yan's expression, but his painful and unbearable eyes couldn't be opened.

  "What's there to be afraid of?" The smile on Tang Yin's face retracted, but the sharp glint in his eyes grew even brighter.

  "Aren't you afraid that we will suddenly strike at your side?" asked Shangguan Yuanwu sternly.

  "Are you two familiar with each other?" Tang Yin asked back.

  "You two brothers have a deep and profound cultivation, without discussing the great righteousness of loyalty to the country, you should at least help the weak and fight against the strong. Now that foreign enemies are present everywhere, oppressing and bullying, but you two are instead helping the rebels, aren't you becoming accomplices of the barbarians? How can this be justified in front of the Wind Country, and how can you still call yourselves people of the Wind? Following me, I don't dare guarantee that you two will rise to prominence or achieve extraordinary accomplishments, but at least we can ensure peace and stability in Pingyuan County, and protect the people of Pingyuan County from being slaughtered and bullied by the barbarians. You two keep saying that I am a tyrant, but judging by our hearts, who is the real tyrant, and who is the real thief?"

  His words made Shangguan Muyu and Shangguan Yanbiao feel ashamed.

  "We didn't join the army because we don't want to be killed by incompetent generals!"

  Tang Yin asked in a serious tone: "Do you two think I am incompetent?"

  "Of course not." Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao said in unison without thinking. If Tang Yin is incompetent, then having been captured by him twice, wouldn't they be even more incompetent?

  "In that case, what's there for the two of you to hesitate about?"

  "If we two really follow you, what can you give us brothers?"

  "What can I give you?" Tang Yin paused, looking around at the crowd, and said in a low voice: "I cannot guarantee that you will live to be 100 years old. If one day we die on the battlefield, wrapped in horse leather, I can only guarantee that you will die with a bang, not in a humble manner; I cannot guarantee that you will be rich and noble for life, but I can guarantee that as long as I have a mouthful of food to eat, everyone will have it too. I cannot guarantee how high your position will be in the future, but I can guarantee that I will always bring you with me, working together to strive for what we want. My requirements for you are only eight words: loyalty and dedication, do your best. I will treat you like my brothers, and I hope you can also treat me as a brother, sharing joys and sorrows, and going through thick and thin together."

  His words came from the heart and were not only directed at Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao, but also to everyone present.

  The Tang Yin who spoke these words was an unfamiliar Tang Yin to everyone. The people on the scene all lowered their heads, and their hearts couldn't help but throb with emotion.

  The Shangguan brothers simultaneously took a deep breath, Tang Yin's words were not elegant but practical. On the battlefield, no one can guarantee their own safety; in the officialdom, no one can guarantee their own prosperity and wealth for life. However, it is already rare for a general to regard his subordinates as brothers and be willing to share joys and sorrows with them.

  The two of them didn't have a very good impression of Tang Yin, but they couldn't help but admire his ability and demeanor.

  It was as if a century had passed when, finally, Shangguan Yuanwu seemed to have made up his mind. He bit his lip and said: "If... Your Excellency doesn't despise my brother and me, we brothers are willing to stay by your side and serve you!"

  Perhaps it's because of their admiration and respect, even the original direct address was changed to "sir".

  Ting Bo's brother said so, and Shangguan Yuanbiao also followed with a response: "Yes!"

  Having obtained the consent of the two brothers, Tang Yin was both surprised and delighted. Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao were both true masters of spiritual martial arts, and having them join him would undoubtedly make him invincible, which was even more valuable than capturing Shangguan Yuange!

  Until this incident, Tang Yin was still in favor of heavy military and light politics.

  He looked up and smiled, waving his hand to the crowd below: "Release the ropes of Shangguan brothers, from now on, they are my left and right guardians, your colleagues and brothers!" With one sentence, he immediately turned Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao from bandits into dignified generals of Feng Guo.

  "Thank you, sir!" The two brothers, Shang and Guan, replied in unison.

  They are both straightforward and will directly show their disgust or fondness. When they were enemies with Tang Yin, they hated him so much that they wanted to tear him apart into pieces. Now that they are willing to do things for him, their attitude has changed by 180 degrees, becoming polite and respectful.

  If the two of them could open their eyes at this moment, they would definitely see the uncontrollable smile that appeared on Tang Yan's face. Being able to bring the Shangguan brothers under his command, Tang Yan felt joy and excitement from the inside out, and his confidence also doubled at the same time.

  The two brothers, Shangguan, were surrounded by flames. Although they had spiritual armor to protect their bodies, both of their eyes were burned. Tang Yin ordered his men to take them away to rest and apply medicine, while he himself called for Zhang Zhou and told him to immediately go to the Shangguan residence to inform Shangguan Yuange that Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao had been captured again after attempting a midnight assassination.

  Zhang Zhou led the order and left.

  At this time, Shangguan Yuanyu was still fast asleep. When he heard the servant report that Zhang Zhou had come to see him, he was very surprised and didn't understand what Zhang Zhou wanted to do with him so late at night. He couldn't have imagined in his dreams that just that day he had rescued two brothers, and now they were going to assassinate Tang Yin.

  After seeing Zhang Zhou, Shangguan Yuanguo exchanged a few simple pleasantries before getting down to business and asking him the purpose of his visit.

  Zhang Zhou looked at him and shook his head repeatedly, as if Shangguan Yuanyu was about to be in a desperate situation. Then, he recounted the story of how Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao had attempted to assassinate Tang Yin but were captured alive, without mentioning that the two brothers had already defected to Tang Yin's side.

  After hearing his words, Shangguan Yuanguo was like being struck by five thunderbolts, stunned on the spot for a long time and unable to react.

  After a long time, he finally came back to his senses and found Zhang Zhou's words unbelievable. He immediately ordered the servants to go to the rooms of Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao to see if the two brothers were still there. As a result, the servant ran back quickly, and the rooms of the two brothers were empty, and even their weapons were gone.

  Shangguan Yuangei heard this and almost fainted on the spot. His two brothers were completely lawless, not content with just being bandits, they had to go and attempt to assassinate the county magistrate. They didn't just want to die, they were also pushing themselves towards a dead end!

  He didn't linger and followed Zhang Zhou to the county government office overnight to find Tang Yin, taking the initiative to confess his crime.

  When Tang Yin saw Shangguan Yuange, he almost burst out laughing on the spot.

  Shangguan Yuange was originally a young man with a dignified appearance and elegant demeanor, but now his hair is disheveled, his clothes are untidy, and his face is ashen, looking like a completely different person from the one he was during the day.

  "Brother Shangguan, I didn't expect to see you again so soon!" Tang Yin was dressed in casual attire, sitting comfortably on a chair, holding a teacup and sipping it slowly. Behind him stood several neatly armored generals, looking around, with rows of officials and soldiers standing at attention on either side, holding knives and axes.

  The living room was filled with a thick and heavy atmosphere of killing intent.

  No need for threats, Upper Yuanji's heart had already cooled down by half. In the daytime, he had just patted his chest to guarantee that his two brothers would behave themselves, but at night, they did such a rebellious thing in front of Tang Yan, he was ashamed and couldn't show his face, even when he was offered a seat, sitting on the chair was like sitting on pins and needles.

  "Tang sir, I have come to apologize to you!" Shangguan Yuangei said with a bitter face and shook his head.

  Tang Yin pretended to be muddled and asked: "What crime did Officer Shang commit?"

  Shangguan Yuanji said: "I...my two incompetent brothers have once again...offended Lord Tang, I...I truly regret betraying Lord Tang's trust..."

  "Haha!" Tang Yin laughed and said in a gentle voice, "Elder Brother Shangguan is worrying too much! The mistakes made by Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao are their own problems. I believe this matter has nothing to do with Elder Brother Shangguan."

  Listening to him say this, Shangguan Yuange first let out a sigh of relief, but then his heart sank again. His two brothers had done such a thing, how could he rescue them this time? Did he still have the face to ask Tang Yin for mercy again?

  No matter how he thought, he couldn't find any reason to let Tang Yin off again. He watched helplessly as the two brothers were doomed. Ouyang Yuanyi was anxious and scratched his ears, but he couldn't think of any solution. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Alas, I'm going to die!

  He didn't speak, and Tang Yin also didn't speak, but instead sipped tea while smiling and staring at Shangguan Yuange as if he were being fried in a pot of oil.

  It's also unknown how long he remained silent, but eventually Xiang Yuanyi took a deep breath and suddenly spoke out, raising his head to say: "Lord Tang..."

  He only started talking, and before he could continue, Tang Yin interrupted: "Right, Brother Shang's midnight visit, is it because of the matter I entrusted to you, have you thought it through?"

  At this moment, making such an inquiry is tantamount to forcing Officer Yuan Ji to nod in agreement.

  Shangguan Yuanji was very clever and could naturally hear Tang Yin's meaning.

  He secretly gritted his teeth and accepted Tang Yin's invitation, doing things for him would mean bidding farewell to a leisurely life in the future, while if he didn't respond to Tang Yin's invitation, then without asking, he would have to bid farewell to his two brothers.

  He was in a dilemma, but no matter what, the lives of his two brothers were always the most important.

  Shangguan Yuangei rubbed his sore temples and said with a thick face: "Tang's requirements, I can accept, it's just...I hope Tang can give those two brothers another chance, spare...spare them..." As he spoke, he himself was short of breath, his voice getting smaller and smaller.

  Tang Yin's eyes were like a torch, staring straight at Shangguan Yuanji.

  Never had he seen a person's gaze so bright, yet so evil, as if it could see directly into his innermost heart. Shangguan Yuangei unconsciously lowered his head, avoiding Tang Yin's gaze.

  Tang Yin said in a gentle voice: "I invited Shangguan brother, hoping that he would sincerely assist me, rather than being forced to respond perfunctorily."

  Shangguan Yuanyi's body shook, and he hastily said: "I... I am naturally willing..."

  Tang Yin waved his hand and said, "I can tell you one true thing. Tonight, Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao did come to assassinate me, and they were indeed captured by me. However, the two of them have now decided to surrender to me and become my left and right guardians. Therefore, whether or not Shangguan brother is willing to assist me, I will not kill the two of them."