bookrandom Chapter 1307 The visitor is evil!
Chapter 1307 The visitor is evil!
"See His Highness the Crown Prince!"
East Palace Hall.
Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen bowed and saluted.
Chu Ning nodded slightly: "No need to be polite, I wonder why Lord Deng came here so early in the morning?"
Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "The Ministry of Rites has received news that envoys from Wei, Han, and Tang will arrive tomorrow and are ready to meet with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty."
"Ok?"
Chu Ning narrowed his eyes, and a cold look flashed across his face: "Didn't Jin send anyone?"
Deng Hongwen nodded and said, "Perhaps they feel that the relationship with our dynasty has broken down, and even if they send someone to present a congratulatory message, it will not improve the relationship."
This answer was within Chu Ning's expectations.
"Humph, Jin State is really looking for death!"
A hint of murderous intent flashed across Chu Ning's eyes: "I and Ying Zheng have already decided the winner, but he still has hope."
"It seems that I must destroy the Jin Kingdom."
He was very upset about Jin's backstabbing.
Moreover, he had a good relationship with the eldest prince of Jin State, Ji Yinghao, but the latter was killed last year.
This also led to the interruption of business exchanges between Chu and Jin, causing Chu to lose a lot of money.
Of course, all these accounts must be attributed to Ji Yingjie.
If the navy was not needed to conquer the State of Jin, he would have sent troops to attack the State of Jin when he captured the capital of the Qin State.
But even so, he has already ordered Feng Anguo and Su Tingmei to build warships and train navy!
"Your Highness, the matter of Jin State can only be considered after the navy is formed."
Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "The envoys sent by the three countries this time are all powerful characters. Your Highness needs to be careful in dealing with them."
"Tell me, who's coming." Chu Ning sat upright in the main seat, without any worry on his face.
Deng Hongwen told the story in a leisurely manner.
The person who came from Wei State this time was Prime Minister Xun Yu.
This man was born into a prominent family, became famous at a young age, was resourceful, and many members of the Xun family held important positions in the Wei court.
This time, in addition to offering congratulations, he will also persuade the State of Chu to stop its expansion.
The person who came from the Han Dynasty this time was Zhang Qian.
This person is both civil and martial, has a strong character, and is someone who can endure things.
The envoy sent by the Tang Dynasty this time was Du Ruhui.
This person was the Shizhong of the Tang Dynasty, equivalent to the Prime Minister.
It is said that when the Tang Dynasty emperor could not make up his mind about many things, he would consult with Du Ruhui, which shows how important this person was in the heart of the Tang emperor.
After hearing the identities of these three people, Chu Ning showed an amused look on his face.
"These three people came together, are they really trying to persuade me to give up the expansion?"
"It is possible!"
Deng Hongwen said in a deep voice: "Now that the three emperors and one king have set out to attend the meeting, they must be discussing how to deal with our dynasty."
"These envoys' visit to our country is definitely not as simple as just presenting congratulatory messages on the surface."
"They seem to have agreed that we will resist tomorrow and meet with His Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince tomorrow night."
Agreed?
Chu Ning smiled contemptuously: "Since they have contacted in advance, let's disrupt their plans."
"They want to see my father and me, so I will meet them alone."
"As for the Emperor..."
After a pause, he suddenly smiled and said, "I will refuse to meet them on the grounds that my father appreciates the treasures of the Qin Dynasty."
Deng Hongwen was stunned for a moment.
In fact, they could have used many reasons to prevent the emperor from meeting the three men. There was no need to use this reason.
But soon, he reacted.
This is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince trying to intimidate the three envoys.
"I understand!" Deng Hongwen bowed and went downstairs to make arrangements immediately.
The next day, at night.
Thirty-six bronze Panchi lanterns in the main hall of the East Palace lit up one after another, illuminating the caisson ceiling painted with "The Goddess of the Luo River" with golden splendor.
Chu Ning sat behind the green jade table, his fingertips stroking the Taotie pattern on the rhino horn wine cup, his eyes sweeping over the envoys standing on both sides of the stairs.
The dusk, carrying the sweet fragrance of golden osmanthus, diffused into the long carved windows. The copper bells on the eaves rang in the evening breeze, entangled with the lingering sound of the chimes in the hall to form an undercurrent of sound.
"Congratulations to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Chu." Du Ruhui, the Tang Dynasty envoy, stood up first. The silver cloud pattern on his dark blue brocade robe shimmered in the candlelight.
He presented the gilded gift box with both hands. The mutton-fat jade in the box shone brightly. He said in a deep voice:
"The King of Qin is tyrannical and unjust. Your country is destined to punish the people and punish the criminals. This jade is carved from the sacred jade of Mount Zhongnan. May the alliance between Chu and Tang last forever."
The smile lines at the corners of his eyes stretched out, but his eyes were like the reflection of the moon in a deep pool, and it was hard to tell what was real and what was fake.
Chu Ning nodded to signal the eunuch to accept the gift. Before he could say anything, a clear sound suddenly came from the table on the left.
The Han envoy Zhang Qian suddenly left the table, his black iron wrist guard and the ring-handled sword on his waist clashed with each other, "Here is the gift from the Han Dynasty!"
Two followers carried a three-foot-long rosewood box. When they opened it, a cold light flashed, and it turned out to be twelve Qin swords of different shapes.
"The Qin people's sword-making skills are the best in the world, but unfortunately--" His beard trembled, and his voice was like a bell: "Now all of them belong to your country."
There was a faint sound of porcelain clinking coming from the steps below.
Xun Yu, the envoy from Wei State, was stirring the ice yogurt in a lotus-patterned celadon bowl with a silver spoon. Half of his wide white sleeves slipped down, revealing the cinnabar beads on his wrist.
He coughed twice and took out a silk book from his sleeve: "Here is the congratulatory letter written by King Gaoling himself. It says that on the day when the Chu army breaks through Yangcheng, the moonlight on the top of the city will be as bright as a silk thread, and three white stars will float above the city."
Before the last note had faded, thunder suddenly rolled across the sky outside the window, and the copper bells on the eaves rang like heavy rain.
Chu Ning tapped the table three times with his fingertips, and the sound of the chimes suddenly fell silent.
He raised his glass to salute from afar, and the amber Lansheng wine created ripples in the night breeze: "I appreciate your kindness on behalf of my father, but..."
Before he finished speaking, Du Ruhui had already picked up the pot and poured wine. The crisp sound of the wine pouring into the Yue Kiln secret color porcelain cup was particularly clear:
"Prince, do you know the woodcutters in Mount Zhongnan? Even if they cut down all the giant trees on the mountain, if they don't leave even the seedlings, they will only be left with nothing but sighing at the barren hills next year."
Zhang Qian suddenly laughed out loud, shaking the candlelight on the table: "What a flowery history! We northern border men speak straightforwardly - if a hungry wolf grabs a fat sheep and still stares at the sheepfold and drools..."
He brushed his thumb across the blade, blood seeping into the engraved tiger patterns, "The hunter's arrows have no eyes."
Cold and damp air rushed into the hall with the night wind. The cinnabar on Xun Yu's wrist flickered. "I heard that there has been a lot of rain in Chu recently. I'm afraid the river bank is under great pressure."
He scooped up half a spoonful of the half-melted ice cream and said calmly: "The way to control the water is to drain it rather than block it."
The sound of ice cream falling into the porcelain bowl was heard, and the sound of the third watch drum could be heard from the distant palace wall.
Chu Ning stared at the moonlight swaying in the cup, stood up suddenly, and swept the bamboo slips on the table with his gold-woven black robe, startling a few fireflies.
He knew that these people had come with ill intentions.
It seemed that he came to offer congratulations, but in fact he was warning him and the State of Chu not to act rashly again.
However, the Chu State today is no longer the Chu State of the past and will not be threatened by anyone.
He already knew the purpose of these three people's visit and had a plan for it.
Today, he wants to let these three people know his ambition!