klisemfg Chapter 207 Envoy Kun brought a map
Chapter 207 Envoy Kun brought a map
Xu Ke laughed and said,
"It's human nature, it's human nature. Prince Shen is really a straightforward and free-spirited person."
Yu Huatian continued,
"But if you dare to scold Emperor Yan, he won't do anything to you, but Prince Shen will definitely not forgive you.
The last time Emperor Yan proposed a new policy, his ministers opposed it. Some ministers even called Emperor Yan a tyrant, which made Prince Shen so angry that he beat people in the court.
This is still one of his own court officials, a minister who is highly respected and has made great contributions.
If it were you, an outsider, an envoy from an enemy country, the consequences can be imagined.
Simply put, if you curse Prince Shen, he will curse you; if you curse Emperor Yan, Prince Shen will kill you."
Xu Ke blinked and said,
"I didn't expect that Prince Shen would be so loyal..."
"Being loyal is one thing, but if someone insulted your wife, would you be angry?"
"Oh, I see. Prince Shen is really protective of his wife. And, of course, he's young after all, so it's normal for him to love and care for his wife. I almost forgot they're still husband and wife."
Xu Ke laughed in silence.
Afterwards, the two chatted casually for a while, and Xu Ke said goodbye.
Before leaving, Xu Ke asked Yu Huatian to speak well of him at the morning court tomorrow, as they were both Kun people.
Yu Huatian looked at his departing back, wondering about his intentions.
……
The next day, morning.
Today's morning court was more lively and crowded than ever before.
Not only did all the officials who attended court on weekdays come, but even the two commanders and some generals were all present.
Although it had nothing to do with them, the envoy from Kun Kingdom was coming to see the emperor, which was such a big event that they still had to come and see the excitement.
Moreover, the large population also shows that they are rich in talents and have a strong national strength.
Civil officials wore court robes, and military generals wore armor, standing on both sides, with the Three Dukes at the front.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Following the eunuch's shout, Gongsun Wan'er supported the empress and walked in from the side door.
The empress, dressed in a bright red dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne, with a tasseled imperial crown on her head. She was extremely beautiful and majestic.
Behind him, Shen Changgong, the commander-in-chief of the Great Yan army, stood under the dragon throne wearing a black python robe. He was handsome and tall, with an awe-inspiring air.
"Long live my emperor! Long live!"
"Flat body."
The ministers first discussed state affairs, and then one of the Nine Ministers, the Minister of Guests, stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, the envoy from Kun Nation arrived in the capital yesterday and is now waiting outside the palace. Would you like to summon him?"
"Xuan."
Hearing this, the young eunuch chanted loudly,
"The envoy from Xuankun Kingdom is here to see you!"
There were footsteps at the bottom of the stairs, and Xu Ke, wearing an official robe, came in from outside with an attendant.
The servant was holding a scroll in his arms, which probably wasn't a painting or calligraphy.
"Your Highness, Da Kun, and the envoy Xu Ke pay their respects to the Great Emperor of Great Yan."
Xu Ke performed a kneeling ceremony.
When an envoy is sent to another country and meets the monarch on a formal occasion, he must observe the great etiquette between monarch and subject.
"Flat body."
The empress spoke majestically.
"Thank you, Emperor."
Xu Ke stood up, raised his head and looked at the empress.
The first impression that the Empress of Dayan in front of him gave him was that she was beautiful, so beautiful that words like "sinking fishes, falling geese, hiding the moon and ashamed flowers" to describe her beauty were a blasphemy when used to describe her.
But such a young and beautiful woman would be just a newly married lady in Da Kun, but in Dayan, she was able to sweep away the powerful, destroy the princes, reform the new policy, annihilate the Kun army, and make Yan a medium-sized power within a year.
What courage and skill this requires.
"What brings the Kun Kingdom's envoy here today?"
"I, under the order of the Great Emperor Dakun, have come to the State of Yan to meet Your Majesty, solely for the sake of peace between our two countries.
Since ancient times, weapons have been considered ominous tools. When war breaks out, countless lives are lost and the people suffer. Regardless of victory or defeat, it will only waste national strength.
Emperor Dakun, for the sake of the world and the people, is willing to make peace with Dayan, put an end to hostilities, exchange letters, maintain friendly exchanges and develop together.
I hope the Emperor will value peace, and the two countries will cease fighting and shake hands in peace."
Hearing this, the empress sneered and said,
"Talk about peace? For the sake of the world? For the sake of the people? You're talking as if I was the one who started this war. Wasn't it your Kun country that took the initiative to invade my Great Yan?
If he really wanted peace, he shouldn't have sent troops to invade Dayan."
Xu Ke smiled slightly and said,
"Your Majesty, our Majesty was deceived by treacherous ministers and rashly sent troops. Now he has come to his senses and is willing to negotiate peace with you.
I have brought a hundred kilograms of fine tea from Dakun, a thousand rolls of Jiangnan silk, gemstones, jade, and other gifts to the Great Emperor as a token of my sincerity."
The empress leaned slightly, with her right elbow supporting the dragon's armrest, and the back of her hand supporting her cheek. Her posture was lazy, yet arrogant and domineering.
"Are these mere odds and ends the sincerity of Kun Country's peace talks? After my army invades Kun Country, we can take as many of these as we want.
Why would you have to send it all the way here?"
Xu Ke held his hands and said,
"Your Majesty, our country comes for peace, not out of fear of war.
I, Da Kun, have sent envoys to the two countries of Qi and Liang, and have signed an alliance with the emperors of the two countries, to advance and retreat together and to help each other.
As long as Your Majesty is willing to negotiate, we can discuss the terms of peace in detail.
We have only one request, and that is to return the Kun army prisoners, the generals, and the others."
Hearing this, the Empress glanced at Yu Huatian, then looked at the messenger and said,
"Return? The word 'envoy' is probably not the right word. Now these armies and generals are all from Great Yan. They have already surrendered to Great Yan.
How could I possibly hand over the army of Dayan to your Kun Kingdom?
Why don't you, Kun State, send some troops to Yan State?"
Xu Ke continued as if he hadn't heard anything.
"Your Majesty, please take a look at our sincerity first. My Majesty said that as long as Yan can return all the troops this time, our Kun Kingdom is willing to become a brother country with Yan and lease the three northern counties to Yan for fifty years as a trade buffer between the two countries.
Furthermore, no large army will be stationed within a radius of 100 li, and an annual reward of 500,000 taels of silver, 1,000 jin of tea, and 10,000 pieces of silk will be given to Dayan as a token of friendship."
After saying this, Xu Ke took the scroll from the attendant's arms, walked to the open space in front of the dragon throne, asked the attendant to hold the other end, and slowly unfolded it, saying as he unfolded it,
"Your Majesty, please come and see for yourself. These three counties are all extremely prosperous. Moreover, they are not arranged east-west, but north-south, almost reaching the capital of Shengjing."
Hearing this, the empress was about to get up to take a look, but Shen Changgong quickly said,
"Your Majesty, please take a seat. I can handle this small matter for you."
After saying this, he winked at the empress playfully.
The empress understood, sat down again, and said,
"Then take a good look at it."
Then, Shen Changgong walked over and looked at the map that was slowly unfolding...