How inconceivable such occurrences exist in the world!
Ning Yan, looking at the two men standing in the court, felt a bit overwhelmed.
These two men dressed differently from the other officials. One man's greasy hair was tied into small braids. He was burly and tall, wearing a leather robe, clearly a barbarian, as his dark, rough skin made it hard to determine his age. His expression was defiant, and his eyes were venomous. Although the other man also wore barbarian clothes, his hair and temples were neat, and his face was clean, clearly a Han person.
A recent urgent report came, saying the Jurchen people wanted peace and a ceasefire.
This message was undoubtedly great news for the emperor.
It was also good news for the court officials, since no one likes to wage wars.
Ning Yan was also relieved that the Jurchen people were willing to negotiate peace, all due to being intimidated by the Duke of Chengguo. This opportunity must be taken to teach the Jurchen people a lesson.
After several court sessions, the Cabinet processed and sent out the peace agreement, waiting for the Jurchen envoys to arrive at the capital. The Ministry of Rites submitted the Jurchen's official letter, and the emperor immediately agreed to receive them, arranging the meeting during the Grand Court.
After all, the Jurchen's request for peace signified Great Zhou's victory and glory. The emperor certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity, especially after being anxious and fearful for so long.
The court officials were also pleased, as resolving this matter would relieve them from constant worry, allow them to receive rewards, and celebrate the New Year well.
But things didn't seem to be as they imagined.
The barbarian stepped forward, neither bowing nor showing any courtesy, babbling arrogantly, which didn't seem like pleading at all.
When the accompanying interpreter translated the barbarian's words, everyone in the court was stunned.
"...Forming an alliance, ensuring no chaos, first is mutual equality and open trade," the interpreter spoke gently and softly.
Mutual equality meant open trade. Since the Duke of Chengguo started guarding the northern lands and strictly monitoring the border, let alone trade, even smuggling had ceased.
Initially, not only did the Jurchen people suffer huge losses, but local magnates in the northern lands also faced significant losses and dissatisfaction, resulting in several market strikes. They even petitioned the dynasty, but the Duke of Chengguo ruthlessly executed three major local merchants and aristocrats under the charge of collusion with the enemy.
"Secret agents are sly, and merchants are profit-driven, infiltrating everywhere. Initially, Jin thieves bought over merchants as insiders when they moved south, capturing three of our cities, slaughtering our officials and civilians. Eventually trapping and abducting His Majesty. Today, for personal profit they dare to incite market chaos. In the future, they sure will aid the enemy and betray the nation. Furthermore, the Jin thieves exchange horses, furs, and other essentials for our gold and silver mines to forge weapons and armor, undoubtedly nurturing the enemy with our blood, creating endless problems,"
the Duke of Chengguo reported to the court.
Mentioning the past events and coupled with evidence of the merchants' collusion provided by the Duke of Chengguo, no one debated its authenticity. Everyone knew the Duke was making an example, so the matter was dropped, and the emperor even praised and appreciated the Duke of Chengguo.
From then on, the northern lands dared not conduct trade with the Jurchen people, making life increasingly difficult for the resource-lacking Jurchens.
Initially, some had criticized the Duke of Chengguo, saying this action would affect the warhorses and thereby the strength of the Great Zhou Army Generals. But over the past ten years without northern horses, the west and southwest could breed horses, with satisfactory quality and quantity. Gradually, no one brought up the issue again. As the situation stabilized and Jiangnan became increasingly prosperous, trade between the north and south flourished, making resources from the Jurchen side dispensable and unappealing to Great Zhou.
Previously, the market was forcibly closed, and now there was simply no interest in reopening it.
What did this Jurchen envoy mean by this?
Was this a request or... a demand?
Why does it sound inappropriate?
"Trade is not necessarily impossible..." an official suggested cautiously.
But before he could finish, Ning Yan interrupted him.
"Trade is not allowed," he said solemnly, "The shortage of your resources can be resolved through other means."
The emperor coughed lightly; the matter of trade was trivial to him.
"Let him finish," he said from above.
Ning Yan and others bowed and complied, signaling the Ministry of Rites' officials to let the Jin Envoy continue.
The Jin Envoy, after whispering a few words to the interpreter, looked even more defiant and mocking, babbling a few more sentences.
As the barbarian's words fell, a few people in the hall gasped, their voices low but enough to cause some unrest. A few censors responsible for court order looked displeased, noticing a few individuals looking shocked.
These individuals weren't high-ranking officials but seemed to understand some of the barbarian language, clearly comprehending the envoy's message.
What words made them forget themselves and voice out?
As the court officials pondered, the interpreter's voice resonated again.
"The second demand of my Great Jin is to redraw the borders. Return Baozhou, Xiongzhou, Bazhou, Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Hejian Prefecture to Great Jin," he declared.
Redrawing the borders, ceding six prefectures.
This was not a submission for peace negotiation; this was clearly making demands and provoking.
The court fell silent for a moment, then erupted.
But that was not all; the Jin Envoy then waved his hands and shouted loudly.
"If not, my Great Jin will again rally fifty thousand warriors to march south, and will not cease until we reclaim our lands," he shouted.
As his words ended, the noisy court suddenly fell silent, everyone, including the emperor on the dragon throne, stared in shock at the Jin Envoy.
Many of these northern territories had been occupied by the Jurchen people, taken back by the Duke of Chengguo. Just because they had once occupied them didn't mean they belonged to them; claiming these six prefectures as their original lands was utterly shameless.
How inconceivable such occurrences exist in the world!
But beyond the inconceivable, there was something even more shocking.
Fifty thousand Jurchen soldiers, ready to march south again, resolved to fight to the death.
Again.
So, it turns out that Great Zhou is about to face an army of one hundred thousand from the Jin Army.
One hundred thousand!
This is not a surrender, it's clearly a threat!
After a moment of silence, the court burst into an uproar again.
"How audacious!"
"Absurd!"
"Such insolence from a treacherous servant!"
Ning Yan and others' rebukes resounded one after another.
Compared to the anger and surprise of others in the court, Ning Yunzhao remained composed.
"I told you, there wouldn't be any good news," he said softly.
............….
Through the stone windows, the sudden laughter of the women came in, entwined with a sweet fragrance.
Miss Jun withdrew her gaze from the window and looked at the Shopkeeper with a light sigh.
"The treacherous heart never dies," she said, "If that's the case, why not just muster the troops and fight? Why bother going to the capital to show off their power?"
"It's intimidation," said the Shopkeeper.
Miss Jun sneered.
"Using the land and the people as a threat, is this to scare others or a suicide act?" she said, "If the Imperial Ancestor... the first emperor were still alive, the court would have beheaded this envoy and thrown his head back to the Jin thief."
Unlike the Imperial Uncle, who always pretends to be benevolent.
The Shopkeeper nodded.
"Yes, even if another fifty thousand came, how could they be so sure of their victory," he said, "It's just that the battle would be fiercer and last longer, that's all."
Miss Jun stood up.
"So what if it is long? Originally, Duke Chengguo and others nearly took a decade to drive out the Jurchen people and reclaim the northern lands, we might as well do another decade," she said, "Who are we afraid of?"
Though it clearly wasn't good news, the Shopkeeper couldn't help but laugh.
"If Miss Jun, a lady, is not afraid, then we men certainly have even less reason to fear," he laughed.
"Duke Chengguo would certainly not be afraid," Miss Jun said, "Rest easy."
The Shopkeeper laughed heartily.
"I should be the one comforting you with these words," he laughed, and with this exchange of jests, the tension upon receiving the news dissipated.
"The roads are still not safe, don't you run back and forth, Shopkeeper, I'll come to you if needed," Miss Jun cautioned again, "After all, you are civilians."
Are we civilians? Then what about you? The Shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, perhaps they were government soldiers?
"Yes," he bowed in response.
He opened the door and walked into the courtyard, greeted by even louder laughter and the sight of two women bringing a box towards him.
"Newly made cakes, Shopkeeper, try them," they said laughingly.
The Shopkeeper, without any ceremony, smiled and took it, his gaze involuntarily drawn to a woman sitting in front of the main house basking in the sun.
He had noticed her when he arrived; she was a stranger.
Seeing him look over, the woman also looked back and slightly nodded.
The Shopkeeper unconsciously bowed his head in greeting, finishing his salute somewhat dazedly, wondering if his reaction was instinctive due to the woman's imposing aura?
Although she dressed in the more rustic flower-patterned cotton skirts typically worn by village women, her demeanor stood out distinctly.
Who was she?
He hesitated whether to ask, just then he saw someone run in hurriedly.
"Miss Jun," said this thin villager, his voice clear, holding a bamboo tube, "A letter from the city."
This was a message delivered by pigeon.
The Shopkeeper was somewhat surprised, a letter at home right after he had left? It must have just been received.
Was there more news?
Miss Jun took the letter tube, opened it, and after a glance, her expression changed drastically.
"Absurd!" she exclaimed, furiously slamming the letter tube and paper onto the ground.
The laughter in the courtyard ceased suddenly, and everyone looked over, their expressions turning from surprise to unease.
This was the first time the young lady had been so angry.
What had happened?