At this moment, the generals and commanders of the Song Dynasty were all present, arguing heatedly about something.
Before even stepping inside, Wanyan Zongpan heard a loud and arrogant voice: "Your Majesty, I oppose Zhang Xiaochun's opinion. Wanyan Zongpan should be dragged away and cut into a thousand pieces immediately, his head chopped off, his blood used to consecrate the flag. Our army will march north to seize Yanyun. I am willing to be the vanguard. If we fail to take Yanyun, I will bring my head to face you!"
Upon hearing this, Wanyan Zongpan nearly stumbled and fell to the ground, his face turning green instantly.
He had already reached the entrance and had no choice but to go in. He could only grit his teeth and follow Liu Yanzong inside. As soon as he entered, he saw the Song army generals lined up on both sides of the emperor.
Liu Yanzong said, "Your Majesty, the Jin envoy has arrived."
Wanyan Zongpan immediately felt several pairs of hostile and murderous eyes sweeping over him, as if they wished they could devour him alive.
Yao Pingzhong said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to drag this man out and hack him to death!"
Yao Gu also said, "Your Majesty, the Jin invaders have slaughtered the people of our Great Song Dynasty. The Great Song Dynasty and the Jin invaders are sworn enemies. Please allow me to behead this scoundrel in front of the three armies!"
As they spoke, they were about to draw their knives. Judging from their stance, they would rush over as soon as the emperor nodded.
Holy crap! Damn it! Isn't the Song state supposed to uphold the ways of the sages? Isn't the Song state supposed to be a land of propriety and etiquette in China?! This scene is completely different from what I've heard!
Zhao Huan said with a stern face, "All of you, step back!"
"Your Majesty, everyone in Taiyuan Prefecture wishes for the swift execution of this scoundrel!"
Wanyan Zongpan hurriedly said, "The Jin envoy pays respects to the Holy Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty! Long live the Holy Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty!"
Before Wanyan Zongpan arrived, he had planned that he would not bow to the Song emperor, but would embarrass the emperor in front of the Song people and give him a show of power. However, the situation was completely the opposite of what he had imagined.
Since the envoy had already paid his respects, Zhao Huan generously said, "The envoy from Jin may dispense with the formalities."
An envoy? Holy crap! Emperor, you really know how to push your luck!
He was furious, but the thought of the Song generals around him about to draw their swords and kill him sent cold sweat down his back and into his palms.
“Your Majesty, I have come with the wish for peace between our two nations, and I hope that Your Majesty will also have a peaceful mind when we talk.”
Zhao Huan drove out all the Song generals, including Yao Pingzhong, leaving only Zhong Shidao and Liu Yanzong behind.
Liu Yanzong, standing to one side, said, “Jin envoy, Your Majesty’s Emperor is benevolent and does not wish for war between our two countries to cause widespread suffering. However, our soldiers have been fighting bitterly for a long time and all harbor resentment towards your country. If Your Majesty had not appealed to their emotions and reasoned with them, I fear this peace negotiation would not have been able to proceed.”
Wanyan Zongpan cursed Liu Yanzong in his heart, "You bastard! You were a minister of the Jin Dynasty just a moment ago, but now you've become Zhao Huan's dog." Despite his inward cursing, he remained respectful on the surface.
Liu Yanzong continued, "Jin envoy, please offer your suggestion."
Wanyan Zongpan said, “Your Majesty, our ancestors were all Yan and Huang, and the Song and Jin are one family. His Majesty the Emperor of Jin has ordered Wanyan Zongwang to withdraw his troops. I have come here hoping to sign a hundred-year non-aggression pact with the Song Dynasty, so that the two countries can be diplomatic allies and work together for the benefit of all people.”
Liu Yanzong wanted to say something more, but Zhao Huan interrupted him: "Wanyan Zongpan, let's get straight to the point. You want to be the emperor of Jin? No problem, I support you. You want to open up trade? No problem, I support you. You want to send envoys to the Song Dynasty to learn? No problem, I support you. I guarantee you can sit on the throne of Jin! Alright, I only have one request: return the Yan-Yun region! If you don't agree, then there's no point in talking!"
Wanyan Zongpan was taken aback. He hadn't expected the Song emperor to be such a straightforward person, and he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.
After reorganizing his thoughts, Wanyan Zongpan said, "Your Majesty, the decision to cede the Yan-Yun region is not one I can make!"
Zhao Huan slammed his hand on the table and roared, "So you're saying everything you said in your letter was a lie? Then what's there to talk about!"
Wanyan Zongpan said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Jin Kingdom could not have ceded the Yan-Yun region without a reason. Please forgive us!"
"Bullshit! Wanyan Zongpan, stop trying to fool me! Yanyun is originally part of China! Moreover, the Great Song Dynasty redeemed it from your country for one million strings of cash. If your country is unwilling to return it, I will have no choice but to lead my troops north. I do not believe that with the full strength of the Great Song Dynasty, we cannot take back Yanyun!"
Seeing the emperor's domineering attitude, Wanyan Zongpan no longer hoped to extort anything from him.
He was certainly not the kind of person who would protect Yanyun in the Jin Kingdom. His interests lay not in Yanyun, but in the throne. He also mentioned in his letter that Yanyun could be returned if necessary, of course, only if necessary.
He wanted to push the issue further and ask for some conditions, but it seemed that the Song emperor wouldn't agree to too many.
Actually, it's not impossible to return it. After all, it was indeed bought by Tong Guan, a powerful minister of the Song Dynasty, for one million strings of cash. If the Jin Dynasty doesn't make plans, the Song Dynasty will have a pretext to start a war. At that time, the entire Song Dynasty will surely rally in response, and a war is inevitable.
Once war breaks out, it will not benefit Wanyan Zongpan at all.
Therefore, he had to persuade his father to give up the Yan-Yun region.
He also probed his father's intentions, suggesting that in order to maintain the political balance in the court, it was not impossible to give up the Yan-Yun region. The most crucial thing now was to suppress Wanyan Gao, Wanyan Zongwang, and others, and find an opportunity to eliminate them.
The emperor was furious, but Liu Yanzong quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Wanyan Zongpan, the Holy Emperor has already made it clear that the Yan and Yun regions are the former territory of the Zhou Dynasty's Ji Yan, belonging to the Huaxia people. The Holy Emperor has also agreed to your request and helped you ascend the throne. The Emperor's word is law!"
"Very well, since the Holy Emperor has granted my request, please state the specific conditions and clearly write them down in the peace agreement between our two countries. Then I will muster my courage and sign the return agreement!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan roughly understood that this fellow had probably already spoken with Wanyan Sheng, otherwise, given his status, he would never have dared to make such a decision on his own.
"Wanyan Zongpan, state your specific demands!"
"First, the Song Dynasty should engage in full trade with the Jin Dynasty, and the tax rate should be reduced to 5% of the total tax rate. The Jin Dynasty should do the same for the Song Dynasty."
"allow!"
Zhao Huan thought to himself, "You barbarian, you dare to do business with me? We, the businessmen of the Song Dynasty, are the most damn good at making money in China since ancient times. I'll kill you all in a trade war first."
"Second, the Song Dynasty completely ceased its espionage infiltration into the Jin Dynasty, and the Jin Dynasty did the same."
"allow!"
When Zhao Huan uttered this word, he himself felt like he was farting. A complete halt to espionage? Are you kidding me? Do you think all those Imperial Guards I've been supporting are just sitting around doing nothing?
"Third, since the Jin Dynasty has sent envoys to the Song Dynasty to learn from them, the Song Dynasty should treat them with courtesy."
"allow!"
Of course, they should be treated well. I guarantee that I will find a large group of playboys to accompany them in eating, drinking, and having fun. I will not send them back to their country until they are completely ruined.
"Fourth, the annual tribute to the Great Song Dynasty will remain unchanged!"
"Guards, drag this man away and hack him to death! Take my precious sword! I will lead my army north to personally conquer Yan and Yun, and fight the Jin Kingdom to the death!"
Zhao Huan suddenly stood up, startling Wanyan Zongpan so much that he almost fell to his knees.
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