Chapter 999 Killing Yuwen Ye
Soon, his men brought the envoy from Luoyang into the main tent.
After the man entered the tent, he looked up and revealed a handsome face that appeared somewhat sickly, especially his pair of sinister and deep-set eyes. The moment their eyes met, Ashina Zhuxie felt a bad feeling. But he remained seated, watching the man slowly walk to the center of the tent and bow to him.
"Greetings, Khan."
"Who are you--"
"My name is Wang Shaoqiu."
Upon hearing this name, a glint of light flashed in Ashina Zhuxie's eyes.
He was familiar with the name Wang Shaoqiu, but he was more familiar with his elder brother Wang Shaoji. After all, the two of them had conspired to take Taiyuan, the birthplace of the Great Sheng Dynasty. However, Ashina Zhuxie had never met this man. He had only met Wang Shaoji, who was in charge at the time, once. Even then, he did not like the venomous and mean man. However, he could vaguely sense from the other man's words that there was a cunning and ruthless person behind Wang Shaoji, whose character and methods were even more sinister than Wang Shaoji himself.
Unexpectedly, the envoy sent by Luoyang was none other than Wang Shaoqiu.
He scrutinized the man closely. He was thin and looked like a frail scholar. Even though it was summer, he was not dressed lightly. His pale face was not covered in sweat, and his expression was listless and sickly. He seemed to be really weak and sickly, but the cunning glint in his eyes was completely different.
This person is like a lurking snake, who knows when he will pounce and deliver a fatal blow.
Ashina Zhuxie said, "So you are Wang Shaoqiu."
"I never expected that the Khan would remember me. I am deeply honored."
“Of course I remember you,” Ashina Zhuxie narrowed his eyes and looked Wang Shaoqiu up and down. Everyone thought he was going to talk about the cooperation in Taiyuan, but he said instead, “You and your brother did something earth-shattering in Jiangdu. In Han terms, it was an unforgivable crime.”
Wang Shaoqiu frowned.
He had always stood behind Wang Shaoji, with his showy older brother handling many matters. He got the limelight, but so did the blame. That's why he was still alive and able to rely on Liang Shide to avoid being attacked by various rebel armies. It was largely due to his forbearance back then.
Unexpectedly, upon meeting, the Western Turkic Khan Zhu Xie immediately hit his weak spot.
However, he did not change his expression, but only smiled faintly and said, "Emperor Yang is tyrannical. What my brother and I are doing can be considered as following the will of Heaven and the times."
Ashina Zhuxie said, "Following the will of Heaven and the times is a pity; it only benefits others."
His words naturally implied that they had murdered Chu Yang, yet the Daye Dynasty was ultimately inherited by the Yuwen family, who had even defeated them in Taiyuan and killed Wang Shaoji. Sensing the veiled meaning in Ashina Zhuxie's words, Wang Shaoqiu lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then raised his head and smiled at Ashina Zhuxie, saying, "Could it be that the Khan is indignant on behalf of Emperor Yang?"
Upon hearing this, Ashina Zhuxie frowned.
When Wang Shaoqiu said that Emperor Yang was tyrannical, he did not refute him. Firstly, there was no need to waste words on a deposed emperor who was already at odds with the Turks. Secondly, Chu Yang's debauchery and tyranny were known to all, so there was no need for him to say anything about his murder. Therefore, the confrontation at this moment, which was based on the other party's regicide, became baseless and unfounded with Wang Shaoqiu's question of whether he felt indignant on his behalf. If he continued, it would seem as if he was deliberately making things difficult for Chu Yang.
Although that was exactly what he meant.
In interactions between the two sides, while the envoys should be treated with courtesy, a degree of pressure must also be exerted to prevent them from acting recklessly. After all, if Luoyang sends an envoy here for no apparent reason, it must be because they have something to ask for or something to gain.
Ashina Zhuxie coldly replied, "I have no interest in speaking out for a dead man."
"That would be wonderful,"
Wang Shaoqiu laughed and said, "The Khan is wise and mighty, and I don't think he would waste his energy on a tyrannical and immoral ruler. The Khan should focus his attention on important matters."
Ashina Zhuxie raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? What important matter is it that warrants my attention?"
Wang Shaoqiu looked up at him: "Kill Yuwen Ye."
"...!"
These five words came out of nowhere, like a gust of cold wind, making Ashina Zhuxie's spirits tremble. He frowned and asked, "What did you say?"
Wang Shaoqiu said, "It seems that the Khan is unaware that Prince Qin of Dasheng, Yuwen Ye, has already led his troops eastward and is currently stationed near Cijian outside Luoyang. However, he does not have many troops, less than 30,000."
Ashina Zhuxie's eyes flickered violently twice.
But after a moment, his gaze calmed down, and when he looked up at Wang Shaoqiu again, his eyes were filled with a hint of coldness: "What does this have to do with me?"
Wang Shaoqiu had already clearly seen the murderous intent in Yuwen Ye's eyes when he uttered the words "kill Yuwen Ye," so when he heard this question, he only smiled faintly and said, "I heard before that Yuwen Ye once broke into the Western Turkic camp alone and escaped unscathed, and afterwards, the Khan ascended the throne. Based on my understanding of him, he should not have lent the Khan any help."
"..."
"On the contrary, he must have taken advantage of the dangers of the Khan's ascension to the throne in order to escape unscathed."
"..."
"Khan, in this situation—don't you want revenge?"
He clearly didn't finish his sentence, and everyone knew that the two unspoken words were "shame."
After all, when Ashina Zhuxie kidnapped Shang Ruyi from Qixian, he had a large force, but in the end, Yuwen Ye single-handedly stormed into the Turkic camp and took him away. Even though he didn't suffer any losses, it was still a scar in his heart.
No one would refuse a chance to get revenge.
Ashina Zhuxie thought quietly for a while, then looked at Wang Shaoqiu with a cold expression and suddenly said, "What is he doing in Luoyang with 30,000 troops?"
"...!"
Seeing the murderous intent that flickered in his eyes, Wang Shaoqiu thought he had provoked the anger of the Western Turk Khan. However, he did not expect him to be so calm. Not only did he not respond to the question, but he also immediately found the loophole in his words.
Wang Shaoqiu paused for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "This doesn't seem to be important."
Ashina Zhuxie slowly leaned forward. Although he remained seated on the throne without moving, his expression and sharp wolf eyes made him look like a wolf lurking high above, ready to pounce and bite someone's throat at any moment, sending chills down one's spine.
He said, "If it weren't important, why would Liang Shide send you here to ask for help?"
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