Chapter 66 066 I am furious.
The matter of talent cannot be rushed and must be put aside for now, as the "Tibetan marriage proposal" is still very close at hand.
The Tibetan envoy who came to Chang'an was named Ge Dongzan, a descendant of the regent of the Tibetan dynasty. His ancestor assisted the king in governing the country, comprehensively learning the systems of the Central Plains dynasties, and moved the capital to Lhasa. He also petitioned for a marriage alliance on behalf of the king, and after being rejected, his army advanced to Songzhou in Dayong. When the situation softened during the reign of Emperor Renzong, he personally came to Chang'an to welcome the bride. After the king's death, two consecutive rulers ascended the throne as children, and the Ge family controlled the government for nearly fifty years, wielding supreme military and political power.
Ge Dongzan was a dissolute son of the Ge family, preferring to linger in the bustling city of Chang'an. Even if he couldn't complete the task assigned by the Zanpu (Tibetan king), he wouldn't be punished. He was immersed in a life of pleasure and debauchery, and when news came back that Tibet had sent envoys to welcome the bride, he was completely bewildered.
They specifically requested grain seeds, and also wanted the latest medical book of the Great Yong Dynasty, *Qianjin Fang*, as part of the princess's dowry—the news travels fast enough. When he set off early last year, although there was discussion about whether to arrange a marriage, his father's desire for a marriage alliance with the Great Yong Dynasty wasn't strong; he preferred the Zanpu to marry a granddaughter from a neighboring country. Once he became the son-in-law of the Great Yong Dynasty, the Zanpu would become a prince consort and the Prince of Xihai, gaining the Great Yong's support—not a good thing for the Ge family, who wanted to continue ruling.
But things have changed. They're even disregarding tributary protocol, sending another three hundred envoys. Even a good-for-nothing like Ge Dongzan knows that the Great Yong will suspect him of treacherous intentions. If the Great Yong turns against him, whether he succeeds or fails, he'll end up detained in Chang'an. At best, he'll be a prisoner; at worst, he'll lose his head! This is definitely not Ge's intention; the Ge family is very likely to lose power!
Just as Ge Dongzan was feeling rather somber about the marriage proposal, the banquet that Li Zhaoci had prepared for the envoys from various countries began. This banquet was also held at a manor in the countryside, and in addition to the envoys from various countries, officials from the Court of State Ceremonies and the Ministry of Rites responsible for the relevant matters were also present.
Most of the cups and plates used to entertain guests were made of porcelain, but this time Li Zhaoci replaced them all with glassware. The envoys in Chang'an, who had been staying within the territory of the Court of State Ceremonial, had heard some rumors, but their understanding was vague. They instinctively assumed that glass came from the west, and even if the Great Yong Dynasty could produce glass, it would either be of inferior quality or incredibly valuable. In short, the envoys interpreted Li Zhaoci's move as a display of the Li family's extravagance. Their expressions subtly changed as they reassessed the Li family's power and status.
The lavish glass goblets briefly captivated the tribute envoys, but they were more eager to witness the song, dance, and entertainment. Li Zhaoci had previously informed the envoys of slight changes. However, most of the envoys were unimpressed. Changes? What could they possibly change? It would simply be another round of toasts and listening to the officials of Dayong casually compose poems.
So when Li Zhaoci clapped his hands, the tribute envoys thought that people from the Imperial Music Bureau would file in. However, what appeared before them were several soldiers carrying large platters covered with red cloth, which fluttered slightly in the wind.
"And what dishes are those? How are they served?" the interpreter asked the envoy. The envoys were seated separately, each with their own set of wine, food, and dishes. If meat was to be served, the order in which it was served was also a matter of etiquette.
The officials from the Court of State Ceremonies of the Great Yong Dynasty looked up in puzzlement. Had the catering department not prepared this dish? Surely they couldn't be serving a few roasted pig heads? What would people think if word got out? The officials from the Court of State Ceremonies thought to themselves, secretly lamenting Li Zhaoci's youthful inexperience. They thought that "observing the ceremony" meant watching Li Zhaoci use firearms.
Li Zhaoci took in everyone's expressions. Whether they were tribute envoys or officials of Dayong, they all seemed somewhat indifferent. She didn't care about their opinions of her; after all, she had already informed them of the "special program" in advance, which was a consideration for all parties. She clapped her hands and calmly said, "How to divide it is up to you all."
The tribute envoy frowned upon hearing this, and the atmosphere grew tense. The officials of Dayong were unsure of Li Zhaoci's intentions and simply prayed that nothing went wrong.
After observing the reactions from all sides, Li Zhaoci smiled and gave her men a meaningful look. The red cloth, ripped open, trailed a crimson arc before gently landing. Suddenly, what met the eyes of the tribute envoys and officials of Dayong was a recently bloodstained, ashen head! The faces of those present changed drastically, and several faint sounds of retching could be heard! The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies was stunned, his scalp tingling, almost unable to resist shouting a rebuke, but the Vice Minister beside him quickly tugged at his sleeve, forcing him to force himself to calm down.
These are human heads, still stained with blood!
Li Zhaoci smiled broadly and said in a gentle and refined manner, "Please, everyone, have your meal."
The retching grew louder. Li Zhaoci didn't even glance at the swaying man, but instead swept his cold gaze across the Tibetan and Turkic envoys.
These are all spies from foreign vassal states. Some have bribed the locals of Dayong, while others are completely foreign in appearance.
"What does this mean?" The Turkic envoy suddenly stood up, turned to look at Li Zhaoci, and his rough tone was filled with a series of curses that even the interpreter could not decipher. These people from the grasslands were quite fierce and warlike, and recovering from the shock of the headshot, their eyes gleamed with ferocity.
Upon seeing the envoy's fierce expression, the officials of Dayong calmed their pounding hearts, looked at Li Zhaoci, their lips moving but no words uttered.
Has Li Zhaoci gone mad? Compared to her, even Princess Jinxian is nothing!
“These are spies from Chang’an. They recognize you all in their confessions. So you don’t recognize them?” Li Zhaoci feigned surprise.
Upon hearing this, the tribute envoys' expressions darkened further. The envoys didn't know what the spies actually looked like, but they were well aware of their activities in Chang'an. Regardless, they began to deny it, one after another. Li Zhaoci smiled slightly and, following the envoys' lead, said, "It seems to be a divisive tactic. Although some say you know everything that happens in Chang'an, with messengers traveling north and south, your loyalty to our Great Yong is genuine. My Emperor, a wise and enlightened ruler, can distinguish between treacherous and wicked. He has no doubt. Today, I will use the heads of these people to dispel your fears."
The tribute envoy: "..." This bloody and brutal "ceremonial" was actually a naked demonstration and warning. The small country in the northeast trembled in fear, but the Tibetans and Turks had a different expression.
The pressure on the tribute envoys ultimately stemmed from the military might of the Dayong Dynasty. Having suffered defeats in two major battles in the west during Emperor Renzong's reign, the Turks and Tibetans had long harbored contempt for them. Any attempt to boast, without military support, would only result in self-humiliation. Regardless of what Li Zhaoci said, Ge Dongzan suddenly stood up, seemingly ready to storm off.
"Please wait a moment, gentlemen. There is something else I would like to show you." Li Zhaoci spoke slowly and deliberately. As soon as he finished speaking, guards from the firearms battalion came out and stopped the tribute envoy who was about to leave.
The envoy's face grew increasingly grim. Amidst the clamor, a deafening roar erupted, like a thunderclap. Li Zhaoci continued his research into the formula, achieving new results. A fiery dragon shot up from the ground, its tail whipping through the air, shaking bowls and plates violently, even causing them to shatter on the ground. However, this faint noise was no match for the terrifying explosion; smoke billowed across the heavens, a truly spectacular sight.
The envoys, who had been shouting, immediately fell silent, staring in disbelief at the billowing flames and smoke. This was, after all, an earth-shattering feat, undoubtedly a miracle to the limited understanding of the vassal envoys! As for the officials of the Great Yong Dynasty, they knew what was going on, but their hearts still trembled when they heard the explosion again. The contrast was stark; seeing the vassal envoys' stunned and fearful expressions, the Great Yong officials immediately straightened their backs, a sense of shared pride rising within them!
Anyone who dares to keep nagging and whining, may we send you to the heavens!
The devastating storm crushed the envoy's back, leaving him hunched over and devoid of any arrogance. Even from a distance, those with keen eyes could see the carnage in the area. Lush vegetation had been uprooted, and the flames were blinding—a force capable of leveling mountains and rocks; how could mortal bodies possibly withstand it? Both envoys trembled, their expressions filled with panic and fear. The arrogance that had grown with their growing power had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of awe.
Li Zhaoci said unhurriedly, "In late spring, we hold a banquet to entertain our guests, and then use fireworks to bid farewell to spring. Please excuse my rudeness."
The tribute envoy: "..." This "sending off spring" is to make those flowers, plants and trees ascend to heaven and turn to ashes in the flames? What kind of "sending off spring" is this? It's clearly sending them away! The tribute envoy's face turned red and white like a dye shop, quite a sight.
"I didn't expect to shatter the cups," Li Zhaoci said with an apologetic smile, clapping his hands as he ordered fresh cups and dishes to be brought out. The clear glass, like ice, refracted the sunlight into a rainbow of colors. The still-shaken envoys took their seats, trying their best not to look at the severed head lying on the ground, or to think about the horrific explosion. After much thought, they realized that only boasting could avoid making a mistake. So, the Tibetan and Turkic envoys, speaking in broken Da Yong Mandarin, began to awkwardly compliment the crystal-clear glass.
Having reached this point, Li Zhaoci stopped threatening the tribute envoys. The matter of praising the glass was left to the erudite officials of the Ministry of Rites, while business negotiations were handled by the officials of the Court of State Ceremonies and the Ministry of Revenue. She smiled slightly and, together with the guards of the Firearms Battalion, considered it a successful retreat.
There was no room for refusal in this deal. Even setting aside the fact that glass is inherently a valuable material, they had to grit their teeth and swallow it, even if it didn't work out. The commotion Da Yong had created was intimidating; his fists had everyone subdued. Wasn't China supposed to be a land of etiquette? How had it become so radical?
For Ge Dongzan, the Tibetan envoy, the glass trade was secondary. He had been living in constant fear since learning of the news from his homeland. Two days later, a letter arrived from home: the Tsangpo (Tibetan king) had executed his father on charges of "treason"! As for Ge Dongzan's descendants, not all had been killed; some were scattered in various regions to demonstrate the Tsangpo's leniency! It was obvious that those people were now the Tsangpo's men. Ge Dongzan trembled. If he returned to Lhasa, would he survive? But in Dayong? Dayong had already firmly rejected the Tsangpo's marriage proposal; if the Tsangpo were to retaliate with his army, it would be the envoy who would die!
After much deliberation, Ge Dongzan finally made a decision: to surrender to Dayong! He went to the Honglu Temple officials to inform them, saying, "The Tubo are secretly colluding with the Turks, intending to seize the three prefectures of Su, Gan, and Liang, and cut off Dayong's connection with the Four Garrisons of Anxi!"
Honglu Temple: "?!"
The Turkic envoy turned green upon hearing Ge Dongzan's revelation. The Turks and Tibet did indeed have dealings, though their plans were still undecided! After seeing what Dayong had released, he had already sent word back to his headquarters! What was Ge Dongzan's intention?!
The matter was of great importance, and the Court of State Ceremonial dared not conceal it, reporting it immediately. Zhao Jialing was aware of the wolfish ambitions of the Turks and Tibetans, but he still needed to be furious. All the tribute envoys from the Turks and Tibetans were detained separately. The order was sent by express courier to the northwest border, urging the officials in the border cities to be on high alert.
Ge Dongzan was a spoiled brat, and naturally, no one would discuss matters of state with him. However, as the son of a high-ranking official, he could vaguely hear some rumors. If his family were safe and sound, he certainly wouldn't say these things. But since he was going to die anyway, he might as well inform on them, and perhaps even get an official position in Dayong. His calculations were meticulous; he fabricated those unclear matters out of thin air, and after several rounds of preparation, he made them sound incredibly plausible. As for the Turkic tribute envoy, he simply refused to acknowledge it, gritting his teeth and wishing he could tear Ge Dongzan apart alive.
Following precedent, Zhao Jialing dispatched envoys to Tibet and the Turks respectively to question them, but the discussions in the court did not end with the envoys' departure. The "marriage alliance" proposal was once again brought up for discussion among the court officials. Li Zhaoci's intimidation tactic had been effective; the envoys from various countries were expressing their loyalty. The court officials believed that the possibility of war was unlikely, but the relationship between the Turks and Tibet did indeed require attention. Sending a princess in marriage to establish good relations with Tibet and keep the Turks out of the country was a viable option.
As for the fact that the Great Yong Dynasty has no princess… it's actually quite simple; just bestow the title of princess upon any county princess. The courtiers, who considered themselves close relatives, proposed two candidates: “The Princess of Wannian is the granddaughter of Emperor Renzong and the daughter of the Prince of Cao, aged twenty-one, and still unmarried. If the Tibetans feel that the Princess of Wannian is a bit too old, there is also the Princess of Changle, the daughter of the Prince of Hengshan. She is His Majesty's own niece, of noble birth, and thirteen this year, already of age to share the burdens of the Emperor. I believe—”
"You think you're something, you useless piece of trash!" Zhao Jialing flew into a rage upon hearing this, snatched a whisk from the eunuch's hand, and threw it at the Left Remonstrance Official who had made the suggestion! This was the first time she had ever lost her temper in a court assembly, even resorting to violence. The court officials all fell silent, and not a single one pleaded for her life.
Zhao Jialing's swordsmanship was not for nothing; his strength and accuracy were both excellent. Zuo Buque dared not dodge and, after taking the blow, knelt straight on the ground, saying, "Your subject deserves death!"
Even after smashing the Left Censor's desk, Zhao Jialing was still not satisfied and wished she could drag him out and behead him. However, she could not be a tyrannical ruler, and there was no reason to execute a censor.
Xie Lanzhao said, "The Turks and Tibetans look down on China, which is why our Dayong army is weak and unable to fight. If we cannot demonstrate our power abroad, we can retreat this year and come back next year. It is not too late to make a decision after the envoys send back news."
"These people have no manners, so how can they be sincere? Even if they propose marriage, they still harbor the heart of wolves. If they cross the border, they will not stop because of the marriage alliance," the Minister of War said.
"You're using force to repel the enemy and resorting to the scheme of marriage alliances, showing weakness and wasting resources. Do you intend to make me a sinner for all time?" Zhao Jialing suppressed her anger and asked coldly. She was usually tolerant and kind, but when she was angry, her imperial might was awe-inspiring, making the court officials dare not even think of resisting.
She's here to become a wise and benevolent ruler, not to suffer humiliation.
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