Early signs of talent
Seeing that Binghu didn't say anything, Tang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Once they were alone, he pulled Liu Yiwan aside. "Liu Yiwan, Ziliang has told you the whole story, right? Be careful on the way here, don't let that informant keep following me, it's really annoying."
“Young Master, I think you’re more free in the carriage, with plenty of time to think. Riding a horse… makes you easy to be watched.” Tang Feng carefully considered Liu Yiwan’s words and realized they made sense. For the first time, he felt Liu Yiwan was like a savior, not so annoying after all. Liu Yiwan helped Tang Feng into the carriage. Sitting inside, Tang Feng gradually calmed down. With Liu Yiwan by his side, he felt at least a little more at ease. Qin Liuliu sat next to Tang Feng. “Brother, was that annoying guy just now?” Qin Liuliu didn’t like Liu Yiwan, probably influenced by Tang Feng.
"Hmm," Tang Feng said, his eyes still closed. He didn't open them even when he heard Qin Liuliu speak. He hadn't slept well at all last night, having many vivid dreams of being trapped in a quagmire. "Liuliu, be quiet for a while, I'll rest." Qin Liuliu didn't dare to move either, sitting down with her knees drawn up to her sides. Tang Feng closed his eyes and fell asleep soon after. In his dream, there was Zhou Ziliang, Zhang Mobai, and Qin Jiujiu. When he woke up again, the carriage had already started moving.
"Brother, you're finally awake... I thought something had happened to you! Someone just came in to ask if you were coming or not, but Liu Yiwan sent them away."
Tang Feng, chin in hand, looked out the window. He felt much better after a nap, and a huge weight had been lifted from his heart. He figured... nothing bad would happen on their way there; they still needed him to complete their mission.
More than a month passed since they left. Tang Feng watched the scenery outside the window change from forests to hills, and then from hills to grasslands. Seeing a group of people herding sheep on the grasslands, he pointed to Qin Liuliu and said, "See that? The sheep on the grasslands are dozens of times fatter than those back home."
"Brother, can I go down and catch one?" Qin Liuliu pressed herself against Tang Feng's face, peering eagerly through the car window, which amused Tang Feng. "Look at you, so pathetic. You're out with your brother, do you think I'd let you go hungry? Once we get to Sangyan, you'll be well-fed." Sangyan was the capital of the Qiang and Hu peoples, a city with a history spanning centuries.
"My lord," Binghu tapped on the crossbeam of the carriage. Seeing Tang Feng lift the curtain, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "My lord, we'll arrive in Sangyan in a little while."
"So fast?" Tang Feng bent down and lifted the carriage curtain. In the distance, he saw the ancient city with its city sign. Tang Feng smiled; they had finally arrived. His back was aching from sitting so long. He stopped the carriage, jumped down, stood on the grassland, looked at the sun, and smiled. "Bring the horse over."
Liu Yiwan led Tang Feng's white horse over and helped him mount. Tang Feng gazed at the scenery of the grassland, with wild horses occasionally brushing past him. It was a pity that Ziliang couldn't see such a beautiful sight. Binghu had said they would arrive soon, but in the end, they weren't. By the time they reached the foot of the city, it was already afternoon. The guards at the city gate stopped them. Tang Feng dismounted, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "I am from the Yan Yun delegation. We have come to the Qiang and Hu tribes to pay our respects to the Great Khan and bring tribute. Please inform us of our arrival."
"Yan Yun is coming to pay tribute to us?" Most of the soldiers had beards tied into braids, and they were tall and strong. Tang Feng looked like a little chick standing in front of them. "Did you hear that! It's hilarious! Paying tribute to us! Hahahaha!"
Tang Feng frowned. What was so strange about this? Reciprocity was common in ancient times, but being on someone else's territory, he couldn't very well cause trouble. Although it was said that envoys shouldn't be killed during wartime,... judging from their behavior... they didn't seem like people who would follow the rules. "You two heard me correctly. We've come to negotiate with the Great Khan and offer tribute. Please inform him."
"You think you can just see our Khan whenever you want? Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? Who do you think you are?"
"Watch your mouths!" Binghu was about to step forward to argue when Tang Feng stopped him. This negotiation was extremely dangerous, and it was best to be humble unless absolutely necessary, since their side was at a disadvantage this time.
“My friend, I’m just a nobody in Yanyun, but here in Qianghu, I’m at least a charioteer in the delegation, a key figure in the negotiations between our two countries. Think about it, if you offend me, I can lose face, of course. But outside of Yanyun, I represent the entire nation. If you make me lose face, it’s the same as making the ruler and people of Yanyun lose face. If the two armies clash, the reason given will be that the guards at the city gates of Qianghu made some outrageous remarks and offended the charioteer of the delegation. That won’t sound good, will it?”
The bearded soldier was furious, staring blankly. He seemed uneducated; after carefully considering Tang Feng's words, he realized they made sense, but he was still enraged. Muttering curses, he turned and left.
After the guard left, Tang Feng called over the members of the delegation and instructed them, "Control your temper. Don't think that just because you have a powerful family and business, you can speak recklessly. This time is different from usual. Being calm and humble will make it easier to reach an agreement."
"But they were the ones who were rude first," Binghu stared intently at the soldiers on the city gate, somewhat unwilling.
"They're rude, we'll be magnanimous. Taking a step back opens up a world of possibilities, taking a step forward brings peace of mind. If negotiations break down and the two countries go to war over it, we'll have more leverage. You idiot!" Tang Feng tapped Binghu's head, looking at him with exasperation.
"I...."
Tang Feng stood to one side, and Liu Yiwan walked over and whispered in Tang Feng's ear, "Young Master, we haven't even entered the city yet! With this attitude, what will happen once we get there? Should I send a letter to the young marquis?"
"Are you crazy?! By the time you finish sending the message and he gets here, the old lady playing mahjong will have died several rounds by then. Besides, you really don't trust me?" Tang Feng wasn't bragging. Back in the factory, he was diligent and hardworking, accompanying his superiors to countless banquets, and later, he secured considerable profits for the company when negotiating with clients.
"Oh! Sir, we are so sorry for not greeting you properly! Our guards were ignorant of etiquette and neglected you, sir. We are truly sorry!" The man who came out to greet him was dressed in court attire, but still had a large, braided black beard on his face.
Tang Feng smiled. "You're too kind. May I ask your name?" He then extended his hand. The courtier clasped his hands together in front of his chest, not shaking Tang Feng's hand. He said, "My name is Sujiha. I am a general of the Qiang and Hu people. We are different from you Yan Yun people; we value military generals more. You... these people who have come are weak and frail. The winds on the grasslands are strong; don't let them break your backs. My welcoming you is the highest honor I can offer."
The highest level? He felt like just an adjutant; even Ake seemed to have a higher rank than him. Tang Feng curled his lip. What a load of nonsense. His hand, which had been hovering in mid-air, didn't awkwardly fall. Instead, he pointed to the carriage behind him. "General Sujiha, the tribute is in the carriage. Will you use your own manpower to carry it in, or will we do it for you?"
"Then I'll trouble you, Your Excellency, to carry them into the palace one by one," the general said, hands on his hips, standing before the city gate and looking at Tang Feng with a smug smile. Tang Feng smiled back and said to the people behind him, "Come on, hurry up!"
A moment later, Tang Feng emerged from the carriage, holding a wine cup, and was about to go back inside when Sujiha grabbed him and said, "This is the tribute you wanted? Do you think we're fools?"
"General, I didn't say that. It was you who told us to bring the things in. Look at these dozens of boxes, they must weigh at least several thousand pounds! If you don't help, we can't carry them in!"
Sujiha was furious, seeing everyone carrying only one item in their hands. "Is this how you move things for me?! You have no sincerity at all!"
"Sincerity? We've come from afar, enduring hardship, with utmost sincerity. It's your country that's been so aggressive at every turn. Besides, the people of Yanyun are too weak to lift anything, as the general himself said! Am I just making this up? Alright, drivers, there's nothing we can do if the Qiang and Hu don't appreciate our tribute. Take it back to Yanyun! You who are carrying the tribute, come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor. If the Khan blames me, I'll just say that General Sujiha is honest and upright, refusing most of the tribute from Yanyun, thus earning a good reputation for the Qiang and Hu in Yanyun. Once we return to Yanyun, I must report this to the Emperor."
"Halt! Guards! Bring up the tribute! Take the Yan-Yun delegation into the palace!"
Tang Feng chuckled, his hands behind his back. The local customs were quite simple and honest; the general really seemed a bit dim-witted. "Brother, why are you laughing at him treating us like that?" Qin Liuliu looked at Tang Feng, puzzled. She had been furious after hearing those words; when had her brother ever suffered such injustice? In her memory, her brother had always been pampered by her sister, and later, his sister-in-law took care of him, with Mo Bai and the others by his side. Just thinking about it made her angry.
Tang Feng tapped Qin Liuliu's head. "You don't understand! Do you understand open attacks and hidden attacks? If someone stabs you in the open, you know how to adapt. But if someone shoots you in the shadows, you can't even dodge. Tell me, which one is easier to deal with? Learn from this. When you enter the palace, don't talk nonsense. This isn't Yan Yun. If something happens, I can't protect you."
"If only my sister-in-law were here."
"Him? He can turn the situation around?" Tang Feng saw a stall selling mutton at the street corner and pointed it out to Qin Liuliu. "See this? Mutton. Be a good boy, I'll make you mutton soup when we get back."
"Brother... let's not!" Qin Liuliu pouted. "The cucumber salad you made for me last time almost killed me. I just don't understand, what kind of cold dish would you put soapberry in cucumber salad..." Qin Liuliu wasn't exaggerating. Last time, Tang Feng pushed Qin Jiujiu out to try cooking. Before, when Tang Feng was home alone, he could at least make instant noodles, but now he was truly a pampered cook. He made a cucumber salad, saw this green thing in the kitchen bowl, thought it was some ancient condiment, patted it a couple of times, and then pulled it onto the plate. In the end, Qin Liuliu was spitting out bubbles as she ate it.
Tang Feng blushed and grabbed Qin Liuliu's ear, saying, "If I say it's edible, then it's edible."
"Brother... you should make your mutton soup for your wife another day! She definitely won't mind..."
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