Chapter 502

Song Tingfeng remained calm and said coldly,

"This is the capital, not Yunzhou. If you want to complain, go ahead.

"If you really dare to do this, I'll admire you for being a character. If you don't, then you're just a coward with no balls."

He held his saber with one hand and looked arrogant.

He was not frightened by Ji Yuan at all.

"Is he a hothead?" Xu Yuanshuang looked at Song Tingfeng in surprise. According to the current situation, the emperor of Daibun and the ministers couldn't wait to negotiate and stop the war.

All the senior officials of Daibun were frightened by the "death" of the Supervisor. At this juncture, the one who dared not to be afraid of the Yunzhou Diplomatic Corps and was so unyielding was either a hothead or he had a backer.

But even if he had the support of the ministers, if he angered Ninth Brother, they might not be able to protect him.

"How dare you!"

Ji Yuan didn't say anything, but the officials of Yunzhou behind him were angry. They pointed at Song Tingfeng and scolded,

"How dare you talk to Ninth Young Master like this? How many heads do you have to chop off?"

"Insulting the peace envoy in public. This crime alone can put you in jail."

"Vulgar Warrior, you don't know your place."

Ji Yuan opened his folding fan and looked at Song Tingfeng. He smiled and said,

"Oh, it seems that you have a backer. Tell me.

"I want to know who ordered you to lurk in the courier station and try to sabotage the peace talks."

If Song Tingfeng's backer was ordinary or had no backer, just this accusation from Yunzhou's diplomatic corps would be enough to put him in prison and interrogate him.

Out of all the night watchmen guarding the relay station, this was the only one who dared to look at Ji Yuan with hostility. Ji Yuan had already noticed him when he had checked in yesterday.

Although Ji Yuan wouldn't take the initiative to show his power to a silver gong, he couldn't let him be presumptuous in front of him.

Xu Yuanshuang frowned and looked at the sky.

"Ninth Brother, let's go. It's almost time."

An old man in a red robe behind Ji Yuan smiled and said,

"It's just a few words, it's not a big deal. Besides, isn't there a reason for this? If the court of Daibun asks, we will tell them the truth. "

This was not only to make things difficult for the little silver gong, but also to put pressure on the officials of the imperial court by deliberately arriving late.

Xu Yuanshuang didn't say anything else after being rebuffed with a single sentence.

Song Tingfeng laughed coldly. He maintained the posture of holding his saber hilt with one hand as he looked at everyone disdainfully.

He didn't say anything, nor did he give in.

"Pa!"

Ji Yuan folded his folding fan and glanced at Song Tingfeng. He didn't want to waste on this small guy.

He had the bargaining chip to make the Great Feng Emperor yield. It was just a small silver gong, he could deal with it however he wanted.

As he watched the crowd leave the relay station, Song Tingfeng turned his head and spat out a mouthful of saliva.

"Boss, you were so impressive just now."

The few copper gongs on duty at the side came over, their faces full of admiration.

"But boss, won't you cause trouble by doing this?"

They knew the attitude of His Majesty and the ministers. Qingzhou was lost, the national treasury was empty, and even the Supervisor died in Qingzhou.

With how well-informed the night watchers were, they knew the attitude of His Majesty and the other dukes. Qingzhou had fallen, the national treasury was empty, and even the supervisor, an immortal figure, had died in Qingzhou.

Anyone with a discerning eye would know that if this continued, the imperial court would definitely be finished.

Of course, it would be best if they could avoid fighting. Thus, the peace negotiations became a ray of hope in the eyes of the dukes and His Majesty.

It was irrational for Song Tingfeng to offend the Yun Province's envoy at this time.

Song Tingfeng sneered.

"What did I tell you in the past?

"Xu Ningyan was brought up by me. Now that he's successful, he still has to call me Brother Song when he sees me. It's just a small matter, I don't have to be afraid.

"What bullsh * t is this Yun Province's envoy? They show off as soon as they enter the capital. If it was back in the day when I was still in the Cloud State, I would have killed him with my two little brothers, Xu Ningyan and Zhu Guangxiao, without saying a word. "

The new guards were skeptical. Although Song Tingfeng always boasted that he and Xu Yinluo were close friends, they privately asked other seniors for confirmation. They also said that Xu Yinluo was close to Song Tingfeng and Zhu Yinluo.

But everyone knew that Song Tingfeng liked to brag, so there must be some exaggeration.

For example, Song Tingfeng often said,

"Xu Ningyan has a hobby. He feels uncomfortable if he doesn't go to the brothel. He likes to go there especially when he is on duty. Zhu Guangxiao and I are decent people, but we don't go there because we want to patrol the street. But we are forced to go to the brothel. If you ask me why I have to go there when I am on duty, of course, it is because he has to go to the Musical House to sleep with Miss Fu Xiang and has no time to go to the brothel. "

This was not a joke. Everyone in the capital knew that Xu Yinluo slept with the most popular girl in the Musical House without paying.

How could he take a fancy to a brothel?

Therefore, the gongs only believed a little of Song Tingfeng's words.

…

On the other side, in the Throne Room.

The meeting in front of the hall was over. Yongxing Emperor suppressed his anxiety and quietly glanced at Cho Hyun-jin, the eunuch who made the seal.

The latter understood and said loudly,

"Summon the envoy of Yun Province!"

After waiting for half a cup of tea, it was quiet outside the hall, without any movement.

"Summon the envoy of Yun Province."

There was still no movement.

Cho Hyun-jin glanced at the serious face of the emperor and suddenly sweated slightly on his forehead. He turned to bow to the throne and walked out of the hall from the left side to inquire about the situation.

Not long after, he trotted back to the front of the throne and said in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, the envoy of Yun Province has not entered the palace."

Yongxing Emperor's face darkened and he glanced at him coldly.

Cho Hyun-jin did not explain but said softly,

"I've sent someone to invite them."

Yongxing Emperor withdrew his gaze and said lightly,

"Wait for another quarter of an hour."

"Yes!" Cho Hyun-jin whispered.

Although the officials in the hall did not hear the conversation between the emperor and the servant, they could guess what was going on. It was nothing more than the "late" arrival of the envoy of Yun Province.

All the officials had been through a lot. They remained calm, but secretly evaluated in their hearts.

The leader of the envoy of Yun Province was a young man named Ji Yuan, who called himself the Ninth Young Master. He was the ninth son of the City Lord of Hidden Dragon City.

In terms of bloodline, he belonged to the royal family of Daibun.

Everyone already had an idea of the Ninth Young Master's style of doing things. He was sharp and domineering.

Fortunately, in less than a quarter of an hour, Ji Yuan and his team stepped into the Throne Room under the leadership of the eunuch.

All the officials turned around and stared at the young man who stepped into the hall.

He was wearing a moon-white robe embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns. His sleeves hung down naturally, and the rings around his waist jingled. He had handsome features and a good appearance.

Behind him was a young man and a young girl who looked somewhat similar. One was indifferent, the other cold.

Behind them were six old men in official robes. Two of them wore scarlet robes embroidered with cloud geese, and the other four wore green robes embroidered with silver pheasants and herons.

The official robes they wore no doubt pricked the sensitive hearts of Yongxing Emperor and the dukes. What was the meaning of the envoys wearing official robes in a mere Cloud Province?

"Ji Yuan, envoy of Yun Province, greets Your Majesty."

Ji Yuan smiled and bowed slightly, exuding an air of nobility and calmness.

Yongxing Emperor nodded and said in a loud and calm voice,

"Lord Ji, you came to the capital on behalf of Yun Province to negotiate for peace. I have given you the greatest courtesy, but you are late.

"Is this the sincerity of Yun Province?"

His expression was solemn as he looked disdainfully at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan didn't panic at all. He smiled and bowed.

"It was not my intention. Before I left today, I was insulted by a Yin Gong at the station, which delayed me for some time.

"I came with sincerity, but I didn't expect that a Yin Gong dared to be rude to me and insult me. Ji Yuan, may I ask Your Majesty, is this the sincerity of Daibun's peace negotiation?"

Xu Yuanshuang and Xu Yuanhuai were listening on the side. They knew Ji Yuan's eloquence very well. Even if he was late for two hours, he could still explain it clearly, not to mention a quarter of an hour.

He made himself reasonable.

As a matter of fact, he had turned the tables around and at the same time, he had accused the reckless Yin Gong in front of the Emperor and the other dukes.

If Yongxing Emperor didn't deal with it, it would mean that he was neglecting the envoy and making things difficult for him, which would give him something to use against him.

Sure enough, Yongxing Emperor frowned, thought for a moment, and said,

"Who is unruly and insulted Envoy Ji?"

Ji Yuan replied calmly,

"Yin Gong Song Tingfeng."

Yongxing Emperor went through the name in his mind, but he had no impression of it. His first reaction was that there might be someone behind the insolent silver gong who had been instructed to destroy the peace talks.

There was no need to hesitate to deal with a Yin Gong. He was about to speak, when Liu Hong, the Left Imperial Censor, stood out and said,

"Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding."

An official in a red robe behind Ji Yuan retorted,

"Sir, are you saying that our Sir Ji is spouting nonsense?"

Liu Hong ignored him and continued,

"Song Yin Gong is loyal and courageous. When exterminating the rebels in Yun Province, he fought side by side with Xu Qi'an and made great contributions. He was Xu Qi'an's right-hand man when he served as Yin Gong. How could he deliberately insult and make things difficult for the Yun Province Envoy?

"There must be a reason for this. Your Majesty, please investigate it thoroughly."

Yongxing Emperor said lightly, "What Liu said is right. I will investigate the situation and give Envoy Ji an explanation."

Investigate what? There is no need to investigate!

Liu Hong's words were very clear. Yin Gong surnamed Song Yin Gong was Xu Qi'an's man.

With such a powerful backer, as long as he did not commit murder or arson, he could basically sit back and relax.

Yongxing Emperor naturally would not become enemies with Xu Qi'an because of such a small matter. He would send someone to warn Yin Gong and then transfer him back to the Yamen.

Ji Yuan was stunned and suddenly understood why that guy dared to be so unscrupulous.

It turned out that he was backed by the First Warrior of Daibun.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He stopped while he was ahead and did not bite on it.

Obviously, the young Emperor would not offend Xu Qi'an because of such a small matter. If he did not let it go, he would only be asking for trouble.

The six accompanying officials looked at each other in shock. No wonder a mere silver gong was so arrogant and domineering.

They were still dissatisfied, but today's peace talks were important, so they did not care about that small figure.

After some small talk and wrangling, Ji Yuan said in a clear voice,

"Since the beginning of winter, Yun Province has been fighting with Daibun for two months, which has caused disaster to the people and plunged them into misery and suffering. The soldiers on both sides have also suffered heavy casualties. I was ordered to come to the capital to discuss peace. Thanks to the righteousness of His Majesty and the officials, we have agreed to the peace talks … "

The specific process of the peace talks was to first set the main tone, and then the Chamberlain of Ceremonies would be responsible for the negotiations to confirm some minor details. If the matter was particularly important, the Ministry of Rites would also have to participate.

During this process, the daily negotiation process had to be handed over to the Emperor for review.

The final result had to be discussed by the Emperor and the officials before the final decision could be made.

Today, the "main tone" was to first set the framework for the negotiations.

After Ji Yuan finished his long speech, he said,

"The army of Yun Province is irresistible and has occupied Qing Province. Supervisor Daibun died for the country half a month ago. However, Father is benevolent and cannot bear to see the people face the disaster of war again. He is willing to negotiate with Daibun, but Daibun must agree to our four conditions. "

The Governor of Hidden Dragon City had already become the Emperor of Yun Province.

"Father … Supervisor died …" The Yongxing Emperor glanced at the officials of Yun Province behind Ji Yuan, took a deep breath and said,

"Please speak, Envoy Ji."

Ji Yuan said,

"First, Daibun pays 500,000 taels of silver and 600,000 bolts of silk as tribute to Yun Province every year. This will take effect immediately after the peace talks. I want to bring back this year's tribute first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Minister of Revenue jumped out and reprimanded,

"Ignorant child, you are lying through your teeth.

"500,000 taels of silver? 600,000 bolts of silk? Aren't you afraid that the wind will cut your tongue? "

The Minister of Revenue had a reason to be angry. This amount of money was nothing in times of peace.

However, the national treasury was empty at the moment. In order to maintain the operation of the court and military expenses, they were struggling to support it. They did not even have the money to provide relief to the disaster victims.

If they asked for 500,000 taels of silver, Yun Province would not even need to fight a war. They could just wait for the court to collapse.

This was not a peace talk. They were harboring evil intentions to force Daibun to die.

The Minister of Revenue was afraid that the Yongxing Emperor did not understand the "economy" and would agree rashly, so he jumped out to criticize him first.

Ji Yuan unfurled his folding fan with a snap and shook his head.

"The land of the Central Plains is rich. 500,000 taels of silver is nothing."

His eyes suddenly lit up and he said,

"Could it be that the court can't even pay 500,000 taels of silver?"

The Minister of Revenue was shocked and snorted,

"Daibun is powerful. It is not something that a child like you can estimate."

Ji Yuan asked,

"Oh, if that's the case, then it means that the Great Consort has no intention of making peace."

"This child has a sharp tongue …" The officials frowned secretly.