The Xiongnu sent an envoy to visit? Are they here to seek a fight?
Liu Tan was puzzled and asked, "Who sent them? Wu Shilu?"
Wu Shilu is the current Khan of the Xiongnu. He has been in office for two years. It is said that he has a somewhat fickle personality and is unwilling to admit defeat. Otherwise, ordinary people would not do such a thing as hearing that the Han Dynasty has sent a princess to marry and then the next step they choose a beautiful Xiongnu woman to send over.
Miao Rui said outside: "Your Highness, I heard that it was the Xiongnu Left Grand Commandant who sent someone to visit."
Left Grand Commandant… Liu Tan thought for a long time but couldn’t remember who it was. He turned to Princess Danyang and said, “Wait a minute, I’ll go take a look.”
Princess Danyang stopped him and said, "If it was the envoy sent by Wu Shilu, it would be fine for you to go in person, but he is only the Left Grand Commandant. How can he be worthy of your personal visit? Let Jiang Yezhe go instead."
Liu Tan's heart broke into a sweat. He really didn't pay much attention to status and rank. He would only think about it if there was a huge class gap. As for the other party sending an envoy, he assumed it was an exchange between countries. As the leader of the wedding team, he should naturally go to meet him.
But Princess Danyang was right, not every envoy was worth meeting.
Liu Tan sent Jiang Chong, who returned a short time later and said, "Your Highness, they refused to explain why they came, saying only that it was an important matter and that they must discuss it with Your Highness."
Liu Tan raised his eyebrows: "I sent you there to represent me, and they won't tell me that?"
Jiang Chong nodded and said, "They said I couldn't make the decision on this matter, and even said that even His Highness might not be able to make the decision."
Liu Tan sneered, "They're just playing tricks. If that's the case, let Captain Huo go. If they still refuse to say anything to Captain Huo, then get them out!"
Although Jiang Chong was not convinced that Huo Guang was so highly valued, he had to admit that it was indeed more appropriate to let Huo Guang take action at this time.
Putting aside other things, Huo Guang was a close minister to the emperor, so close that the emperor wanted him to accompany him wherever he went. Putting aside the issue of his identity, Huo Guang was indeed more suitable to make decisions than Liu Tan.
Jiang Chong turned his head inside, and Princess Danyang asked curiously, "Aren't they here to quarrel?"
Liu Tan laughed: "Of course not. If the Xiongnu really sent people here specifically to quarrel, they would be truly shameless."
So both sides chose to put pressure on Da Wusun instead of fighting each other and letting Da Wusun stand there and watch. In essence, this was a dispute caused by Da Wusun's fence-sitter. What would happen if they fought each other?
Not long after, Huo Guang and Jiang Chong came over together. Liu Tan looked up and found that Jiang Chong's expression was very strange, a mixture of happiness and restraint, while Huo Guang was the opposite, with a slightly solemn expression on his face.
"Your Highness," Huo Guang said, "The Xiongnu envoy said he must see Your Highness."
Liu Tan was shocked: "You can't even go? Is he stupid?"
Huo Guang: ...
If he didn't know that Liu Tan was not a scheming person, he would have thought that this person was implying something in a sarcastic way.
In fact, it was only because of Liu Tan that Huo Guang was willing to say more. If it were someone else, he would not be so prominent. It's like going to an expedition and trying to steal the military merits of the commander-in-chief is something only a fool would do.
Huo Guang said, "The Xiongnu envoy said that this matter is of great importance and I cannot bear the responsibility."
Liu Tan's expression changed slightly after hearing this: "If you can't bear the responsibility, and I am the only one who can bear it, then he is not trying to persuade me to rebel, right?"
Huo Guang coughed heavily: "Your Highness!"
How dare this damn kid say anything? Is that something he can just say casually?
Liu Tan realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly said, "Apart from this, I can't think of anything else that's important. Why don't you... have him write down what the Left Grand Commandant wants to say? I'll take a look at it and then decide whether to meet him."
If they really met, and the other party had bad intentions, Liu Tan would probably not be able to explain himself even if he had a lot of words.
It would be much easier if it was written down. Liu Tan could get angry and kick the person out after seeing it.
Huo Guang was silent for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, the Xiongnu... have no written language..."
Liu Tan: ...
Yes, he had forgotten about this matter.
Because there was no written language, the only records about the Xiongnu were from the Central Plains dynasties, and the rest can only be identified through unearthed tombs.
Liu Tan looked up at Huo Guang and asked, "Captain Huo, do you think I should meet you?"
Huo Guang stood there in deep thought for a while before saying, "See you. I will stay with Your Highness."
Liu Tan knew that Huo Guang's words did not mean simply standing by his side, but that he had decided to guarantee Liu Tan with his life and property.
Furthermore, even Huo Guang would no longer doubt that Liu Tan would compete with Liu Ju for the position of crown prince.
Liu Tan immediately stood up and said, "Okay, then let me see what this Left Grand Commandant is going to do."
Princess Danyang stood beside Liu Tan, bit her lip and said, "Brother..."
Liu Tan turned around and comforted her: "Don't worry."
After saying that, he went to the tent specially used for meetings.
Not long after, the Hun envoys were brought in.
Liu Tan took a look at him and found that this Hun was pretty much as he had imagined: tall, with a dark complexion. Although his facial features were deep-set, he looked a bit ugly.
From this perspective, Lu Xuan seemed to have mutated and did not look like a Hun at all.
Liu Tan withdrew his thoughts and looked at the Hun envoy. He was prepared to face the envoy's rudeness, and had already thought of many response plans in his mind based on the degree of rudeness.
Unexpectedly, after the Hun envoy came in, he bowed directly and said a series of heavenly scriptures very respectfully.
Liu Tan was bewildered after hearing this and slapped his thigh in his heart. Oh no, all the people from the Western Regions he knew could speak Chinese. Even if Junxumi's Chinese was not that good, there would be no problem in communication. But he forgot that there were even more people who could not speak Chinese on this grassland.
He was just about to order an interpreter to come over when Huo Guang, who was standing beside him, said, "This person said he was sending greetings to His Highness on behalf of the Left Grand Commandant."
Liu Tan was a little surprised: "Do you understand Xiongnu language?"
Huo Guang smiled slightly and said, "I understand a little bit."
Liu Tan was immediately relieved. If he had just found a random translator, he would have suspected that the other party might have ulterior motives. But if it was Huo Guang, it would be easy to deal with.
He smiled at the envoy and said, "Please also ask the Left Grand Commandant to give my regards when you return."
The Hun envoy bowed again and said something incoherently.
After he said this, Liu Tan clearly saw that Huo Guang's expression changed for a moment. Of course, if you were not particularly familiar with him, you would not be able to notice it.
Liu Tan had many guesses in his mind, such as the other party threatening them not to let Danyang become Mrs. Zuo, and the other party insisting on going to Chigu City first to hold the wedding.
However, these things had been thought of long ago, and Huo Guang should not have any emotional changes because of this.
Just as Liu Tan was speculating, Huo Guang turned around, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Your Highness, the Left Grand Commandant wants to join forces with the Han to assassinate Wushilu Chanyu."
Liu Tan: ?????
He was so shocked that he didn't answer immediately. Huo Guang coughed lightly and said, "Your Highness?"
Liu Tan came back to his senses and asked with a strange look on his face, "Why?"
Huo Guang explained, "It is said that Wu Shilu is a murderer, and the Xiongnu people, from top to bottom, are very uneasy."
Liu Tan understood, he was the legendary tyrant.
It is not easy to work under any superior. You have to worry if you meet someone with a bad temper, let alone someone who likes to kill people at any time.
Liu Tan pondered for a moment and said, "Ask him what good this will do for the Han Dynasty. Who will they elect as the new Chanyu?"
Huo Guang looked at Liu Tan in surprise, but still turned around and translated his words.
The Hun envoy started chattering again and looked very excited.
Huo Guang turned and said, "He said he would support Wu Shilu's son as Chanyu. If the Han Dynasty is willing to cooperate with the Left Grand Commandant, the Xiongnu will continue to migrate northwest after this is accomplished."
Liu Tan raised an eyebrow. "Continue to migrate? Where to? From what I understand, the Xiongnu's current military strength can only reach Tokto, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang. Are they going to give up all three counties?"
After listening to the Xiongnu envoy's words, Huo Guang turned around and said, "He said that it depends on the Han Dynasty's sincerity. It's not impossible to give up these three counties. They are even willing to promise not to offend each other for 50 years."
Liu Tan couldn't help but sneer. He just wanted to hear these Huns fart.
How could a country without even a written language understand the spirit of a contract? Promises couldn't bind them, so Liu Tan was more concerned about the cession of the city.
He thought for a moment and said, "These three counties...are not enough. The Xiongnu must at least move 500 miles north of Yunzhong County and Yumen Pass."
The Xiongnu envoy suddenly became extremely excited, and kept talking and gesturing, which made the guards next to him unable to help but draw their swords.
Liu Tan raised his hand to ask them to put the knives away, then turned to look at Huo Guang and asked, "What did they say?"
Huo Guang said, "He said the Han people have too big an appetite and they won't agree."
Liu Tan asked, "Can you make the decision?"
Huo Guang heard this and said, "He said he couldn't make the decision, but the Left Grand Commandant would never agree to such a condition."
Liu Tan shook his head and said, "That may not be the case. You must know that the Han Dynasty is taking a risk in this matter. Currently, the Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty are barely at peace. If something were to happen, given Wu Shilu's temper, he would certainly attack the Han Dynasty. Then, rivers of blood would flow. This is not a scene that the Han Dynasty wants to see. So if the Left Grand Commandant refuses to agree, then it's best not to mention this matter."
The Xiongnu envoy stared at Liu Tan for a while, and suddenly began to speak a series of words.
Huo Guang said, "He asked if Your Highness could make the decision."
Liu Tan said calmly: "Of course I can."
Huo Guang was a little uneasy, but he did not question Liu Tan at this time. The other party seemed to be intimidated by Liu Tan's calmness. He was silent for a long time before saying a series of words, indicating that he would go back and report to the Left Grand Commandant.
Liu Tan said, "Okay, but...what's the matter with your Xiongnu princess?"
After hearing the Xiongnu envoy's explanation, Huo Guang said, "He said it was Wu Shilu's idea and they dared not disobey. Anyone who disobeyed would be put to death."
Liu Tan asked, "So if the Xiongnu princess can't enter the city first and become the Left Lady, will she die?"
Huo Guang nodded and said, "Yes."
Liu Tan laughed after hearing this. "Is that so? Then I'd really like to send someone to stop them. If our people prevent them from entering the city, and Lie Jiaomi doesn't dare to intervene, will Wu Shilu really kill the Xiongnu princess?"
Huo Guang hesitated and said, "Wouldn't this mean a premature conflict with the Xiongnu?"
Liu Tan touched his chin and said, "Yeah, this... needs to be considered carefully. Oh, don't tell him about this part, so they don't have to take precautions first."
Huo Guang was quite amused and helpless, and turned around and ordered someone to send the Hun envoy away.
After the Xiongnu envoys left, Huo Guang asked seriously, "Your Highness, I think this matter should be reported to His Majesty."
Liu Tan stroked his chin and said, "It would take at least half a month for a messenger to travel to Chang'an. We can't just stop here, can we?"
Huo Guang asked cautiously, "Your Highness means..."
Liu Tan looked at the people in the tent. Miao Rui and Bi Gao wisely retreated. Jiang Chong hesitated for a moment and also retreated.
After they all left, Liu Tan said cheerfully, "Why don't we execute him first and report later?"
The author has something to say: Huo Guang: I think you are looking for a beating!
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