52: Chapter 51 The Great Xia Envoy

Great Yan Calendar, first month of the Yuanchun year, the thirteenth day.

It was the day the Great Xia Empire envoy was to arrive in the capital.

Before dawn had even broken, the staff of the Ministry of Rites were already busy. Sprinkling water, cleaning the streets, hanging lanterns, and decorating—from the North Gate to the guesthouse of the Ministry of Rites, the ten-mile long street was swept spotless.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan's decree was to "treat them with national rites." Everyone understood the weight of those four words—the Great Xia Empire was the largest neighbor to the north of the Great Yan, the head of the four great empires, possessing ten thousand miles of territory, a million armored soldiers, and dozens of experts in the True God Realm.

The Great Yan had just won a great victory in the northern border, but that battle was against the Northern Di, not the Great Xia Empire. The Northern Di were wolves, but the Great Xia Empire was a tiger. Wolves could be fought, but tigers could not be provoked lightly.

At the third quarter of the Chen hour, the sound of horns echoed from outside the North Gate. The Great Xia Empire diplomatic mission had arrived. The man in the lead rode a white horse, wearing a brocade robe, with a lean face, three strands of long beard, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. Behind him followed two rows of cavalry with bright armor and fluttering banners. In the center of the procession was an eight-bearer sedan chair, its curtains drawn, making it impossible to see who was sitting inside.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites approached and bowed, saying, "I am Zhou Wen, Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Great Yan. By the order of Your Majesty, I am here to respectfully welcome the Great Xia Empire envoy."

The man on the horse smiled slightly, dismounted, and returned the salute, "I am the Great Xia Empire envoy, Zhang Yi. By the order of my King, I have come to the Great Yan as an envoy."

Zhou Wen was stunned. Zhang Yi? He had heard this name before. The Great Xia Empire's Minister of Foreign Affairs, known as the "Iron-Toothed and Bronze-Tongued," had served as an envoy to over a dozen countries without ever failing. What did the Great Xia Empire mean by sending him?

Zhang Yi seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled, "Lord Zhou, there is no need to be nervous. I have come this time to offer congratulations. The Great Yan achieved a great victory in the northern border, killing one hundred and thirty thousand enemies. Upon hearing the news, my King specifically ordered me to come and offer congratulations."

Zhou Wen breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside to lead the way, "Please, Envoy."

The procession slowly entered the city. On both sides of the ten-mile long street, the common people lined up to watch. Some pointed and gestured, some whispered, and some spat upon seeing the Great Xia Empire's banners. Zhang Yi's expression remained unchanged, smiling all the way, as if he were truly a guest coming to offer congratulations. But everyone knew that the Great Xia Empire's congratulations were harder to accept than the Northern Di's knives.

In the underground level of the Crown Prince's Mansion, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood before a map of the territory, with Zhang Liang standing behind him.

"Your Highness," Zhang Liang pointed to the location of the Great Xia Empire, "The Great Xia Empire sent Zhang Yi; on the surface, it is to offer congratulations, but in reality, it is to probe our bottom line. He wants to see what the new Crown Prince of the Great Yan is truly made of."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded, "I know."

Zhang Liang continued, "I have investigated this man, Zhang Yi. He is the Great Xia Empire's Minister of Foreign Affairs, has served as an envoy to seventeen countries, and has never failed. His formidable nature lies not in his tongue, but in his eyes. He can see through a person's trump card within three sentences."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned to look at him, "Then, can he see my trump card?"

Zhang Liang smiled slightly, "He cannot. Because Your Highness does not even know how many trump cards you possess yourself."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan also laughed. He walked to the window and looked outside. The sunlight was bright, shining blindingly on the accumulated snow.

"Pass down the order: tomorrow at noon, I will host a banquet at the Crown Prince's Mansion to entertain the Great Xia Empire envoy."

Zhang Liang bowed, "Understood."

In a restaurant in the west of the city, Grand Elder Renxuanzi stood by the window, holding a secret letter in his hand. The letter contained only one line—'Zhang Yi has arrived.'

His Disciple stood behind him and whispered, "Elder, what does it mean for the Great Xia Empire to send Zhang Yi?"

Grand Elder Renxuanzi held the letter over the candlelight and burned it, "To probe the bottom line. To see how much weight the Crown Prince has. If the Crown Prince shows weakness, the Great Xia Empire will push for more. If the Crown Prince is too unyielding, the Great Xia Empire will unite with other empires to apply pressure together. No matter how you handle it, it's a difficult situation."

The Disciple's expression changed, "Then wouldn't the Crown Prince be in a dilemma?"

Grand Elder Renxuanzi shook his head and suddenly smiled, "You do not understand the Crown Prince. He will never be in a dilemma. He will simply tear down both sides."

At the Crown Prince's Mansion, the next day at noon, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan hosted a banquet for Zhang Yi. The banquet was held in the main hall, not the underground level. The underground level was his military command center, and he would not allow outsiders to step foot in it. Zhang Yi arrived on time. He had changed into casual attire, a cyan robe, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist, his gait composed, and his smile gentle. Following behind him were two attendants, one male and one female; both were young, both silent, and it was impossible to gauge their depth.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood at the entrance of the main hall to welcome him personally, "Lord Zhang, you have traveled from afar. I failed to welcome you properly."

Zhang Yi bowed, "Great Xia Empire envoy Zhang Yi pays his respects to Your Highness. Your Highness achieved a great victory in the northern border, killing one hundred and thirty thousand enemies, and your might shakes the world. Upon hearing the news, my King specifically ordered me to come and offer congratulations."

While he said this, his gaze remained on Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's face. Young, too young. A twenty-year-old Crown Prince with the cultivation of the Perfection of the heaven-man realm, looking no different from an ordinary person. Yet he had killed one hundred and thirty thousand Northern Di people.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan smiled slightly, "Lord Zhang is too kind. Please."

The two took their seats. After three rounds of drinks, Zhang Yi put down his wine cup and smiled, "Your Highness, besides offering congratulations, I have another matter to discuss this time."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at him, "Speak."

Zhang Yi said, "The remnants of the Northern Di have been frequently harassing the Great Xia Empire's borders recently. My King suspects that these remnants escaped from the Great Yan's northern border. My King's intention is to hope that the Great Yan can dispatch troops to assist the Great Xia Empire in annihilating these remnants."

The hall fell silent. General Zhao Kuo sat in the lower seat, his expression darkening. Northern Di remnants? The Northern Di remnants were all in the Northern Di Royal Court; when did they run to the Great Xia Empire's borders? This was clearly an excuse to make the Great Yan dispatch troops.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's expression remained unchanged, merely looking at Zhang Yi, "Lord Zhang, how many people are in these Northern Di remnants?"

Zhang Yi smiled, "Not many, two or three tens of thousands."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan asked again, "How many garrison troops does the Great Xia Empire have in the northern border?"

Zhang Yi said, "Two hundred thousand."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan laughed, "Two hundred thousand soldiers cannot defeat two or three tens of thousands of remnants?"

Zhang Yi's smile faltered slightly. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued, "Lord Zhang, you traveled thousands of miles to the Great Yan, not for the sake of two or three tens of thousands of remnants, right?"

Zhang Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Your Highness is straightforward, so I will not beat around the bush either. My King's intention—the Northern Di have been defeated, and the Great Yan's northern border is secure. The Great Yan and the Great Xia Empire should sit down and talk about re-drawing the northern border."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at him, his gaze as calm as water, "Re-draw? How to draw it?"

Zhang Yi took a map from his sleeve and spread it on the table. On the map, the boundary line of the Great Yan's northern border had been re-drawn. The new boundary was pushed three hundred miles south of the old boundary. In other words, the Great Yan would have to cede three hundred miles of territory to the Great Xia Empire.

General Zhao Kuo stood up abruptly, "Bullshit!"

Zhang Yi's expression remained unchanged, merely looking at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at that map and was silent for a long time. Then he raised his head and looked at Zhang Yi, "Lord Zhang, I have a question for you."

Zhang Yi said, "Your Highness, please speak."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said, "What place is to the north of the Great Xia Empire?"

Zhang Yi was stunned. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued, "To the north of the Great Xia Empire is the Northern Wasteland. Further north of the Northern Wasteland is the Ice Plains. What is further north of the Ice Plains? No one knows. But I know one thing—to the south of the Great Xia Empire is the Great Yan. The Great Yan is not the Northern Di. The Great Yan will not cede land, will not pay indemnities, and will not sign on someone else's map. If the Great Xia Empire wants to talk, they can. Come to the capital to talk, talk on my turf. If the Great Xia Empire wants to fight—"

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold, "I will accompany you."

The hall was deathly silent. Zhang Yi's smile finally disappeared. He looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan for a long time, then suddenly stood up and bowed, "I have noted Your Highness's words. I will convey Your Highness's words back to the Great Xia Empire without missing a single word."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan also stood up, "Safe travels, Lord Zhang. I will not see you out."

Zhang Yi turned and left. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and glanced at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan, "Your Highness, I have served as an envoy to seventeen countries and have never failed. Your Highness is the first person to make me return empty-handed."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said indifferently, "That is because no one dared to say "No" to the Great Xia Empire before."

Zhang Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Your Highness, I admire you." He turned and left, never looking back again.

After the banquet ended, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan returned to the underground level. Zhang Liang, Strategist Guo Jia, and Strategist Jia Xu were already waiting for him.

"Your Highness," Zhang Liang spoke, "The Great Xia Empire will not let this matter rest."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded, "I know."

Strategist Guo Jia said, "After Zhang Yi returns, the Great Xia Empire will have two reactions. First, to unite with other empires and apply pressure together. Second, to directly take action and fight a battle to test our depth."

Strategist Jia Xu stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness, which possibility do you think is greater?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "The second one."

The three of them looked at him simultaneously.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan walked to the map and pointed to the location of the Great Xia Empire, "The Great Xia Empire is the head of the four great empires; they will not tolerate anyone saying "No" to them. After Zhang Yi returns, the Great Xia Empire will definitely fight a battle. It will not be a war of annihilation, but a probe. To see how much weight the Great Yan's new Crown Prince truly has."

Zhang Liang said, "What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned around and looked at the three of them, "Prepare for war."

He looked at General Chen Qingzhi, "Chen, expand the White Robe Army to fifty thousand. Master Lu Ban, keep up with the military equipment. Xiao He, prioritize military pay and provisions for the northern border."

The three bowed in unison, "Understood!"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan finally looked at Zhang Liang, "Zi Fang, write a letter for me and send it to the Great Xia Emperor."

Zhang Liang said, "What does Your Highness want to write?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan smiled slightly, "Tell him—the Great Yan's land, not a single inch will be ceded. If they want to fight, I will accompany them."

In the Daoist temple in the south of the city, Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on a prayer mat and opened his eyes slightly. He looked towards the north, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his lips.

"The Great Xia Empire... is finally going to take action."

He raised his hand, and his withered fingers gently flicked in the void. An invisible ripple spread out, instantly covering the entire capital, and then continued to extend northward. A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his gaze becoming profound.

"On the Great Xia Empire's side, there are three experts in the Late Stage of the True God Realm, seven in the Middle Stage of the True God Realm, and over a dozen in the Early Stage of the True God realm. On Your Highness's side, there is only me in the Middle Stage of the True God Realm, and three in the Early Stage of the True God realm: General Lu Bu, General Guan Yu, and General Dian Wei. The gap is not small."

He paused and suddenly smiled, "However, Your Highness never relies on cultivation to fight wars."

He closed his eyes again. The fishing rod with the hook without bait lay across his knees, its radiance trembling slightly.

In the capital, late at night. Outside the Crown Prince's Mansion, that dark shadow appeared again. He was wearing a night-walking suit, his face covered, his footsteps as light as a cat's. He walked to the side of the stone lion, took a bamboo tube from his bosom, and placed it underneath. Then he turned and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, when the gatekeeper was sweeping the snow, he discovered the bamboo tube again. He delivered it to the underground level. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan pulled out the stopper; inside was a slip of paper. On the paper, there was only one line—'Great Xia Empire envoy Zhang Yi secretly met with the Eighth Prince Xiao Heng last night.'

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan handed the slip of paper to Zhang Liang. After reading it, Zhang Liang's brows furrowed tightly.

"Your Highness, the Great Xia Empire is plotting something involving the Eighth Prince."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded, "I know."

Strategist Guo Jia said, "Your Highness, should we put the Eighth Prince under surveillance?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan shook his head, "No need. Let them move. Only when they move can we catch them."

He held the slip of paper over the candlelight and burned it, watching the flames devour the writing on the paper. Outside the window, dawn was approaching. The eastern horizon revealed a streak of fish-belly white.