Chapter 702 - 256: The Envoy’s Provocation

Chapter 702: Chapter 256: The Envoy’s Provocation

Taiji Palace was in complete chaos, noisier than a flock of hundreds of quacking ducks.

Not to mention the Emperor, who couldn’t stand the clamor and furrowed his brows, even the many courtiers were tight-lipped, teetering on the edge of sheer rage.

Finally, a teacup fell to the floor. The clamorous Taiji Palace instantly fell into dead silence.

Emperor Ruicheng looked at the teacup rolling on the carpet as if by mere accident. Beside him, Da Ban hurriedly stepped forward.

"Oh my, did it burn Your Majesty? Why is this tea so hot? You blind fools, how could you serve this kind of tea to Your Majesty? Are you tired of living? Are you Cunxin looking for death?"

As he spoke, he hastily waved his hand, ordering a little eunuch to bring up fresh tea.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Da Ban was making a veiled criticism. Most of the various barbarian envoys present had been exposed to the cultural influence of the Wei Dynasty. They might not understand overly profound concepts, but they certainly understood Da Ban’s insults.

Understanding meant they wanted to fly into a rage. Unfortunately, this was not their territory, so they could only swallow their anger.

In the end, this aggressive pressuring of the throne ended hastily. The envoys failed to achieve their goal, and Emperor Ruicheng never truly gave in from start to finish.

Two days later.

It was the farewell banquet arranged by the court for the envoys. The banquet was held in the palace. Not only would the Emperor attend, but the courtiers would also all be present for the occasion.

The barbarian envoys looked sullen and lacked energy. The only exception was the envoy from the Western Regions, whose fighting spirit was high. A sinister smile lurked in his eyes, as if he had a trump card up his sleeve and was ready to strike at any moment.

The banquet was filled with exotic delicacies, accompanied by singing, dancing, and acrobatics. The melodic sound of strings and woodwinds lingered in the air, displaying prosperity and wealth everywhere.

The envoys bitterly thought how the Wei Dynasty could be so wealthy yet so stingy toward them, blaming it all on Mr. Xu.

Halfway through the banquet, the envoy from the Western Regions stood up and declared loudly, "Our small nation admires the culture of the Wei Dynasty. We wish to invite a great scholar to the Western Regions to educate our people."

As soon as his voice rang out, the noisy banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

Zhao Jing looked up, imperceptibly tightening his grip on his wine cup, his eyes darkening with deep thought.

Xu Yanhe felt his heart race, suddenly hit by a bad premonition. He leaned over and whispered, "Jing, don’t you think it’s obvious they’ve come with a hidden agenda?"

Zhao Jing didn’t tell Xu Yanhe that he shared the exact same feeling. Moreover, before standing up, the envoy from the Western Regions had shot several sinister sneers in his direction.

Xu Yanhe was still muttering about something, but Zhao Jing neither heard nor paid attention to him. He stared straight at the envoy from the Western Regions, picked up his tea, and downed it in one gulp.

The envoy’s words were like a massive boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly sending shockwaves through the hall. The bustling banquet venue fell into a dead silence once again. The dancers and musicians paused their movements, waiting to the side for further instructions. At the tables, the courtiers exchanged bewildered glances before suddenly speaking up one after another.

"Inviting a great scholar to the Western Regions to educate their people... This is a good thing."

It was well known that military force could never truly resolve disputes between two nations. When both sides were evenly matched in power, cultural assimilation was the only way to ensure a peaceful life for the people of both countries.

The previous dynasty had done exactly this. Back then, the court exiled convicted officials to the Northwest, forcing them to open schools and teach. Although later generations considered this punishment a great humiliation to scholars, it achieved remarkable results.

For twenty years following the establishment of those schools, no large-scale wars broke out between the Western Regions and the previous dynasty. Even if there were disputes, they only occurred among the commoners. Furthermore, if the tribes of the Western Regions ever intended to invade the previous dynasty, the Western Regions’ commoners at the border would be the first to stand against them, sometimes even tipping off the previous dynasty’s forces.

This highly effective method was considered the foremost strategy for securing the borders.

However, great scholars were all aloof and proud figures. They were well-read and filled with poetry and literature, but they weren’t necessarily compassionate enough to love all mankind. Expecting them to voluntarily go to the Western Regions to educate the masses was hardly easier than ascending to the heavens.

The court hadn’t previously considered this strategy. Yet now, the envoy from the Western Regions suddenly proposed inviting a great scholar to educate their people. Regardless of whatever schemes they might be plotting, the underlying implication of that request was enough to tempt anyone.

Did this mean the Western Regions wanted to maintain everlasting peace with the Wei Dynasty? The courtiers found it incredibly hard to believe.

After all, this was not ten years ago.

Ten years ago, the Western Regions had suffered a relentless series of natural disasters. First came earthquakes and droughts, followed by locust plagues and malaria. As if that wasn’t enough, the horses on the steppes had also caught the flu.