RWNEFE -Chapter 598 The Xiongnu Envoy Provokes!

“I, Turkic, have not annexed any territory of Great Zhou. When I do not kneel before Your Majesty, in your Great Zhou’s own words, it is loyalty to my ruler and love for my country,” Muli Kui said, sounding completely justified.

When the officials heard this, they were immediately displeased.

“Turkic may not be a vassal state, but it is a defeated one. And you are a subject, while our emperor is a sovereign. A subject, upon seeing a sovereign, should naturally perform the kneeling salute.”

“If Turkic objects to this, we can settle it on the battlefield. When the time comes and Turkic becomes a vassal of Great Zhou, your entire nation—including your Khan—will have to kneel before our emperor.”

“Last year when your envoys brought tribute to Great Zhou, they knelt properly before His Majesty. Why is it different now that you have come?”

“Naturally because Turkic has changed its Khan. This newly enthroned Khan thinks Turkic can now go to war with Great Zhou.”

“Dream on. Turkic still buys grain and cloth from Great Zhou. You’d better worry about feeding yourselves first!”

Hearing the officials’ discussions, Muli Kui felt both humiliated and angry, and immediately retorted: “Our Khan is not someone you may speak of so lightly!”

“I have come this time for two purposes. First, to seek the hand of a Great Zhou princess in marriage on behalf of our Turkic prince. Second, to inform Great Zhou that the one now seated on the Turkic throne is no longer the Empress Dowager, but our esteemed imperial uncle, Ganda.”

“From now on, Turkic will no longer offer tribute to Great Zhou, and Great Zhou must also cease sending inspectors to Turkic.”

The Grand Preceptor’s face immediately darkened.

“Then does that mean Great Zhou will no longer sell grain and cloth to Turkic?”

“Will Turkic cease all trade with Great Zhou?”

“Will the border markets be suspended and closed? And in the future, will Turkic no longer send people to Great Zhou to study?”

Three questions in a row left Muli Kui momentarily speechless.

“Of course not.”

The border markets could not possibly be closed. Turkic was not skilled at farming and each year had to exchange cattle and sheep with Great Zhou for grain to survive the winter.

If trade stopped, how would they endure the cold season?

Liu Mingxin sneered. “Do you really take Great Zhou for fools? Just because you’ve changed rulers, you think you can act tough and take advantages without paying anything? What a joke.”

Wu Yanzhi snorted coldly. “A small Turkic tribe—if you want to fight, then fight. Why waste words?”

Seeing that none of the officials were holding back, Muli Kui began to feel uneasy.

Wasn’t Great Zhou supposed to be in internal turmoil? Why were they still speaking so forcefully?

They must be putting on a show for him.

“This is our Khan’s intention. If Great Zhou does not agree, then we will meet on the battlefield,” Muli Kui said, turning from negotiation to outright threat.

“Then fight!” an official shouted. “A mere Xiongnu—Great Zhou could crush you like an ant.”

“Your Majesty, I request permission to go to war.”

“Your Majesty, the Xiongnu have gone too far. Let us fight!”

“Fight!”

A sharp voice of a eunuch rang out:

“Silence!”

The court instantly fell quiet.

Shen Lanxi spoke calmly:

“Your current Khan of the Xiongnu has perhaps forgotten who enabled him to sit upon that throne.”

“If Abu Khan had not fought our Northwestern Army, would he have been able to seize the opportunity?”

“He was placed on that throne with the help of Great Zhou. If I am displeased, replacing the Khan with another would be just as easy.”

Muli Kui’s expression changed drastically. The mission assigned by the Khan had only been to negotiate a marriage alliance, with repeated instructions to avoid conflict at all costs.

“Your Majesty, our Great Xiongnu absolutely did not mean that.”

The Grand Preceptor shouted angrily, “Did not mean what?”

“Not willing to offer tribute to Great Zhou, or not willing to kneel before the Emperor of Great Zhou?”

“A mere Xiongnu dares show disrespect to the Son of Heaven. If not for the rule that envoys are not executed during war, you would already be dead.”

“Our Northwestern Army could wipe out Xiongnu with a flick of a finger.”

“Fight—until Xiongnu is subdued!”

When a nation was strong, its officials naturally spoke with confidence.

Muli Kui looked at the impassioned court officials with apprehension, humiliation and fierceness flashing in his eyes.

Then—

With a thud, he dropped to his knees.

“I pay homage to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

He began earnestly performing the full ceremonial three kneelings and nine kowtows.

The officials looked on with disdain. He had spoken so boldly just now, yet he knelt faster than anyone.

Shen Lanxi said, “Please repeat what you said earlier.”

“Which sentence?”

Liu Mingxin reminded him, “That Xiongnu will no longer offer tribute to Great Zhou.”

“Yes, that one,” Shen Lanxi said. “Repeat it for me.”

Did Muli Kui dare?

He did not.

He had miscalculated. He had not expected the woman on the dragon throne to command such authority in court. Shouldn’t there have been many people opposing her?

Just like in Xiongnu—when the Empress Dowager had ruled, everyone had wished for her death. A woman in power had thrown their state into chaos and decline.

If Great Zhou continued to let this woman remain emperor, sooner or later it too would fall.

“I misspoke earlier,” Muli Kui said hastily. “Our Xiongnu is willing to offer tribute to Great Zhou. Each year we will present the finest and most precious treasures to the Son of Heaven.”

Shen Lanxi smiled faintly.

“I previously signed a ten-year peace treaty with your General Abu Khan. More than half the time has now passed. With such provocations, I had thought the treaty might be terminated early.”

Muli Kui’s face looked unpleasant, and he dared not argue further.

“Go back and tell your Khan: whether he can keep his throne depends on how he conducts himself.”

“Your Xiongnu court does not lack princes, chiefs—or Khans.”

“Since you mentioned tribute today, you might as well stay.”

“I intend to incorporate Xiongnu into Great Zhou’s territory, just as we have done with the southwestern tribes, implementing a dual-administration system.”

“Let us negotiate this matter properly. After that, you may return.”

Muli Kui’s face turned pale. He had expected to gain some advantage in this visit, yet instead the Emperor of Great Zhou intended to absorb Xiongnu altogether.

How could the warriors of Xiongnu bow to others and become subjects?

“Your Majesty…” Muli Kui began to protest, but Shen Lanxi raised a hand and cut him off.

“The envoy of Xiongnu has come a long way and must be tired. The Ministry of Rites will handle the negotiations regarding incorporation. State affairs of Great Zhou are busy, so I will not detain the envoy in the hall.”

It was an unmistakable dismissal.

Muli Kui’s face turned ashen. Seeing the Imperial Guards on both sides watching intently, he dared not harbor any further thoughts and only wished to return quickly to the embassy to send news back to Xiongnu.

After Muli Kui left, Shen Lanxi immediately issued an order for the Ministry of Rites to begin negotiations.

The officials had thought the Emperor was merely frightening Xiongnu—but it turned out she was serious.

“Is this really the right time to incorporate Xiongnu?” one official asked.

“Why not? Great Zhou is still strong in arms. Do we fear a mere Xiongnu?”

“Will Jinmen seize this chance to rise in revolt?”

“To incorporate Xiongnu—His Majesty has great boldness. Even the founding emperors did not easily dare to move against them.”

“The Xiongnu are fierce and savage fighters. They are not easy to deal with.”

“What is there to fear? Is our Northwestern Army for decoration? Don’t forget—General Wei is also guarding the northwest.”

The name Wei Dongzhu had not been mentioned for a long time. Hearing it again, the officials suddenly came to a realization.

“Do you think His Majesty’s real purpose in sending General Wei there was to incorporate Xiongnu?”