At Zhao Huan's command, the generals who had been waiting outside rushed in. Yao Gu drew his sword, while Yao Pingzhong pinned Wanyan Zongpan to the ground.
"Thief! Prepare to die!"
Wanyan Zongpan's face turned green, and he was drenched in cold sweat: "Wait, Your Majesty, let's drop the matter of the tribute! Let's drop it!"
Zhao Huan frowned and shouted, "Where is my sword!"
Seeing that the emperor was about to kill someone, Liu Yanzong quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I think we should listen to what he has to say."
"What are you listening to! If anyone dares to mention tribute to me again, I'll tear them to pieces and feed them to the dogs!"
Wanyan Zongpan was pinned to the ground by Yao Pingzhong and could not move. He had no choice but to beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, it was a slip of the tongue. Your Majesty's heart is as vast as the ocean. Please forgive me this time!"
At this moment, Zhong Shidao also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Since Your Majesty has agreed to help him ascend to the throne of the Jin Dynasty, the two sides will have a cooperative relationship in the future. Since he made a slip of the tongue, please forgive him this time."
Yao Gu roared, "No! Commander Zhong, this scoundrel has no intention of destroying our Great Song Dynasty. He must be killed!"
"Your Majesty, our Great Song Dynasty can conquer Yan and Yun with a million brave warriors as easily as taking something out of a bag. Why should we cooperate with this barbarian!"
Seeing that Yao Gu's knife was only a hair's breadth away from Wanyan Zongpan's neck, Liu Yanzong immediately said, "Your Majesty, in war between two armies, envoys are not to be killed!"
The emperor took his sword from the eunuch, drew it, and planted it in the ground with a clang. His voice was chilling as he said, "Bullshit! I'll skin him alive! Let's launch another northern expedition against Yan and Yun, and let that dog Wanyan Sheng try and find me!"
Zhong Shidao said, "The Holy Emperor is benevolent. This old minister believes that we should spare his life and hear what he has to say."
Zhao Huan stared at Wanyan Zongpan with murderous intent in his eyes, and suddenly said, "Yao Pingzhong, Yao Gu, you two should step back for now."
"yes!"
Zhao Huan suddenly smiled warmly and personally stepped forward to help Wanyan Zongpan up, saying, "The Jin envoy was frightened. I was just joking with you earlier, please don't take it seriously."
Holy crap! Wanyan Zongpan almost jumped up. Is this a joke?!
He didn't believe the emperor was joking with him. Seeing the emperor instantly change his expression faster than flipping through a book, Wanyan Zongpan inwardly groaned. Liu Yanzong was right; this emperor was missing a screw in his head!
That's too dangerous! That's too dangerous!
Despite his displeasure, Wanyan Zongpan had to maintain a proper expression. Seeing Zhao Huan's friendly and kind smile, like a handsome young man next door, Wanyan Zongpan smiled along. Anyone who didn't know them would think the two were long-lost neighbors.
"The Holy Emperor's heart is as vast as the ocean, and my admiration for him is as endless as the Yellow River."
"Your Excellency, if you have any other requests, please feel free to make them, and I will grant them all!"
"I agree to everything! Holy crap! You'll die if you don't lie through your teeth! I just mentioned the tribute issue and you almost hacked me to death. And you say 'make any demands you want'? Do you think I'd dare to make any more demands?!"
Like a wronged daughter-in-law being bullied by her mother-in-law, Wanyan Zongpan could only keep all his grievances to himself. He knew that this emperor was domineering and tyrannical, but he still had to play along with the emperor's acting skills and praise him, saying, "Thank you, Holy Emperor!"
"Your Majesty, I have one more small request."
"Go ahead and say it!"
"I have long heard that the Song Dynasty is abundant with beautiful women, and that the princesses of the Song Dynasty are virtuous and kind, so I thought..."
Before Wanyan Zongpan could finish speaking, he saw Zhao Huan's originally sunny face suddenly darken. He quickly swallowed back what he was about to say, and then spoke again after rehearsing: "I have only long admired you and have no other intentions. If I am fortunate enough to go to Bianjing City, it would be my greatest honor!"
"That's easy to say. One day, I will invite you, Wanyan Zongpan, to Bianjing. But you must not try to write lyrics like the last emperor of the Southern Tang!"
Upon hearing Zhao Huan's words, Wanyan Zongpan's face immediately turned pale.
Zhao Huan's meaning was very clear. He was using the Song Dynasty's conquest of the Southern Tang to remind him that after he destroyed the Jin Dynasty, he would bring him to Bianjing, grant him the title of Marquis of Disobedience, and let him see beautiful women every day. But he was not to imitate Li Yu's poetry, or he would give him fine wine like Emperor Taizong had done!
Wanyan Zongpan chuckled, pretending not to understand the emperor's meaning, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Any other requirements?"
"No...that's all!"
"Your Excellency, please don't stand on ceremony with me. From now on, we're all on the same side!"
Wanyan Zongpan felt like a million mythical beasts were roaring inside, but he wore a weary smile on his face: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."
After speaking with Wanyan Zongpan, Zhao Huan asked Liu Yanzong to arrange for him to be entertained personally. This was a great honor for Wanyan Zongpan, which somewhat comforted his disappointed and angry heart, preventing him from becoming emotional and turning against the Song Dynasty after returning home.
In fact, for Wanyan Zongpan, Zhao Huan's promise to open trade with the Jin Dynasty was enough for him to make a big fuss about in the Jin court.
The Song Dynasty was a land of abundant resources and prosperity that the Jin people could not even imagine. For the people in these harsh and cold northern regions, they dreamed of going to Bianjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Jiangling, major cities inhabited by Han Chinese, to enjoy life.
Resources were scarce in the north, so every winter they had no choice but to go south to plunder.
Once the Song Dynasty opened trade with the Jin Dynasty, it meant that northern specialties such as sable fur and wild game could be sold to the south, and northern people could freely buy southern silk, ceramics, handicrafts, delicacies, and a whole range of other things.
The high-ranking officials and nobles of the Jin Kingdom would probably be laughing in their sleep if they heard this news.
Wanyan Zongpan was a genuine Jurchen, and he had a deep-rooted idea of raiding southwards in the autumn. Plundering was simpler and more effective than doing business.
However, his biggest rivals in the court had become the pro-war and plundering factions. If he wanted to establish himself and ascend the throne, he had no choice but to oppose the pro-war faction, thus becoming a pro-peace faction. This was a political outcome, not a result of Wanyan Zongpan's own personality.
Zhao Huan understood this very well. In order to become emperor, Wanyan Zongpan would do everything he could, and in order to let his son inherit his throne, Wanyan Sheng would naturally favor his son.
Therefore, Zhao Huan was not worried at all that scaring Wanyan Zongpan would cause him to become hostile towards Song and return to advocate for war.
The political landscape often doesn't change according to an individual's will; Wanyan Zongpan will only take what is most advantageous to him.
After entertaining Wanyan Zongpan, a grand ceremony was held the next day, during which Wanyan Zongpan signed the treaty, which is known in history as the Taiyuan Alliance.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
