Chapter 73: Entertaining the Envoys
After entering the hall, the barbarian envoy was led by the eunuch to his designated seat. He slowly sat down, his eyes secretly scanning the crowd around him.
When his eyes fell on Shengxia, he was slightly startled. He thought to himself, "Is this the guy who was rumored to have defeated our barbarians?" Although he was filled with resentment towards Shengxia, he also knew that on the battlefield, Shengxia had caused the barbarians to suffer greatly.
Recalling those tragic defeats, the barbarian generals warned him before he left, warning him not to provoke Shengxia. Because they knew Shengxia's formidable power. This seemingly weak man was like a god of war on the battlefield, terrifying and intimidating.
However, the envoy had never experienced real combat and had no idea of the cruelty and danger of war. Therefore, when he heard everyone praising Shengxia, he couldn't help but feel contempt.
He picked up the wine glass in front of him and walked towards Sheng Xia with heavy steps. A faint smile hung on the corner of his mouth, and he said in a frivolous tone: "General Sheng, come and have a drink with me."
Shengxia was already disgusted by this kind of verbal provocation, but he was a general after all, and he knew that it was not appropriate to get angry easily in such an occasion, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble. So, he chose to remain silent and ignored the envoy's invitation.
However, the envoy regarded Shengxia's silence as an insult and a neglect. His face gradually darkened, and the smile he had originally had was replaced by a hint of anger.
"Your Majesty has arrived." The voice of a eunuch came from a distance. The ministers who heard the voice stood up one after another to welcome the arrival of Emperor Wei.
When the envoy saw Emperor Wei coming over, he stopped arguing and returned to his seat. However, he felt resentful towards Shengxia for making him lose face in front of so many people.
"Long live our emperor!" Everyone knelt on the ground in unison and shouted loudly, while the envoy half-knelt and saluted reluctantly.
"My dear ministers, please stand up." Emperor Wei raised his hand and said in a gentle voice, showing the majesty of a king.
Following the eunuch's loud cry of "Open the banquet," the palace door slowly opened, and rows of eunuchs, like well-trained soldiers, filed in at meticulous pace. They carried exquisite dishes in their hands, carefully placing them on the tables in front of each minister.
At the same time, another group of eunuchs rushed in from outside. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes, holding various musical instruments, and their faces were filled with professional smiles. These eunuchs were responsible for performing songs and dances. Their appearance instantly made the atmosphere of the whole banquet cheerful.
Accompanied by the melodious music, the eunuchs began to dance. Their dancing was so graceful and moving, like fairies descending to earth, that it enchanted everyone. The ministers put down their wine glasses one after another and watched this wonderful performance intently, exclaiming in admiration from time to time.
When the dance ended, the envoy stepped forward, placed one hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, I am Aguda, an envoy from the barbarian tribe. I have been ordered by the Khan to discuss peace."
"Your Excellency, your words are wrong!" Zheng Yun looked at him sternly and said righteously, "There is no such thing as peace talks. Instead, you should submit to the Wei Kingdom and become a vassal state of the Wei Dynasty!"
"Our tribe is willing to submit to the Wei Dynasty and pay tribute. Your Majesty, please forgive us for some time." Aguda said unwillingly, his teeth clenched, as if he was full of resentment and helplessness about this decision.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, but within that smile was a chilling chill. His voice was low and commanding, as he slowly asked, "Oh? Then when are you planning to pay tribute?"
Aguda's heart tightened. He knew exactly what the Wei Emperor meant. The Wei Dynasty had triumphed in this war, while the barbarians were the defeated. Common sense dictated that they should immediately offer generous tribute as a sign of submission and apology. However, Aguda was not willing to yield so easily.
"The Khan said that when the spring grass sprouts next year, he will send you a hundred horses that can travel a thousand miles a day. We barbarians don't have the rest." Aguda replied with forced calmness, his words still carrying a hint of arrogance and disdain.
"Heh, as a defeated general, you still dare to bargain. You have one month to send a hundred good horses, five thousand stones of grain and grass, ten snow lotuses, fifty ginsengs, a hundred furs, and ten eastern pearls. This is the annual tribute list of your barbarians in the future." Zheng Yun stood up and retorted.
Zheng Yun is the tutor of all the princes, and Emperor Wei has a favorable impression of Zheng Yun. In addition to Zheng Yun's performance just now, Emperor Wei nodded with satisfaction.
"Isn't this request a bit too much?" Aguda clenched his fists and said angrily.
"Do you think it's excessive?" Emperor Wei asked with a smile as he looked at the ministers below the stage.
"That makes sense." Everyone said.
"Emissary Aguda, this is a notification, not a discussion. If you are dissatisfied, you can just fight another battle, right, General Sheng?" Emperor Wei felt more relaxed than ever at this moment.
The Aguda envoys looked at each other in bewilderment. They had obviously not expected Emperor Wei to be so tough. They had originally thought that they could gain some benefits through negotiations, but now it seemed that Emperor Wei had not given them this opportunity at all.
At this moment, Sheng Xia, whose name was called, stood up. His voice was loud and firm, "Your Majesty, I am always at your disposal! As long as Your Majesty gives the order, I will lead the army and bravely fight the enemy. I will never let Your Majesty down!"
"Okay, it's settled now. If you haven't paid tribute in one month, you don't have to go back." Emperor Wei said threateningly. Okay, the singing and dancing continued.
"Yes." The barbarian envoy agreed reluctantly. It seemed that there was no room for maneuver in this matter.
Aguda sat in his seat drinking one glass of wine after another. He had suffered such humiliation tonight, and he would definitely find a way to make up for it during the one month he had spent in the capital.
After the banquet, everyone dispersed, and the ministers walked towards the palace gate in twos and threes. Zheng Yun approached Sheng Xia and said with a smile, "General Sheng, if you don't mind, can we chat for a while?"
Sheng Xia had seen Zheng Yun's performance in the palace and had a good impression of him, so she responded in a friendly manner, "Taifu Zheng, what are your suggestions?"
"I don't deserve your advice, but I want to ask you for a favor. My son Su is afraid of heat, and the ice we store every winter is not enough, so I want to buy some ice from General Sheng." Zheng Yun said directly without any hesitation.
"No problem, how much does Master Zheng need?" Shengxia naturally would not refuse a deal that came to her doorstep.
"I wonder if one bucket a day is okay." Zheng Yun asked uncertainly.
"Okay, I'll send someone to deliver it to your house the day after tomorrow." Shengxia agreed with a smile.
"Thank you very much, General Sheng." Zheng Yun clasped his fists in gratitude.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com