“Enter the Hall—”
A clear sound rang out.
Ning Que walked with a serious expression, at the very front.
At this moment, Emperor Feng was already seated on the imperial throne.
All the officials bowed deeply.
“We greet Your Majesty!”
“Long live Your Majesty, long live Great Feng!”
“You may dispense with the formalities and be seated.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Feng surveyed his ministers.
His gaze swept over them one by one.
He waved his hand.
Chief Steward Hu understood and flicked his whisk.
“Announce the West Liang Princess for an audience!”
“Announce the West Liang Princess for an audience!”
“...”
The clear announcements rang out one after another.
Soon, Samuer entered the hall with her guards.
“West Liang envoy Samuer greets Emperor Feng.”
“Princess, you may dispense with the formalities.”
Emperor Feng flicked his sleeve lightly and slowly said, “Although there were some unpleasantries a few days ago, fortunately, the Princess is fine. Princess, you have toured for several days, how do you find Chang'an City?”
“Very good.”
Samuer smiled sweetly.
Her wound had already scabbed over.
She only needed to change the dressing on time every day.
Chang Baicao’s medical skills were not to be underestimated.
He told her to use other medicine later.
If she persisted for half a year, it would not leave a scar.
“Chang'an City is prosperous and thriving, like a heavenly palace on earth.”
“The people live in peace and contentment, and the country is prosperous.”
Emperor Feng couldn't help but smile and quipped, “If the Princess likes it, she can stay in Chang'an and find a suitable husband in the future, which can also facilitate an alliance between our two countries, showing eternal goodwill.”
“Emperor Feng is joking.”
Samuer only smiled.
At the same time, she secretly glanced at Ning Que.
Emperor Feng then knew when to stop and said seriously, “The alliance treaty between our two countries has already been drafted by the Ministry of Rites. If the Princess reviews it and finds no errors, the national seal can be affixed today. Each country will have a copy, and from then on, there will be no more wars.”
“Agreed.”
Samuer nodded calmly.
She took the national letter handed over by Chief Steward Hu.
It was written on the finest silk.
Two copies, both stamped with the Great Feng national seal.
She read through it from beginning to end.
Only after confirming there were no errors did she affix the Western Liang national seal.
She kept one copy and handed it to a warrior to keep safe.
Emperor Feng looked at the seal on the national letter.
This time, the peace talks were only temporary.
Great Feng could not continue to contend with Western Liang at present.
The national strength of both countries was constantly being depleted.
Meanwhile, Liao was happily developing.
And there was also Goguryeo further away!
During the previous Emperor’s reign, he had launched three expeditions against Goguryeo.
Unfortunately, each time he returned in defeat.
It wasn't that they couldn't defeat Goguryeo.
Great Feng was on a distant expedition, and logistics always ran into problems.
The further they fought, the more difficult food supplies became.
In addition, Goguryeo’s terrain was narrow, with many hills.
Many places were easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Every winter, the climate was even colder.
The three expeditions against Goguryeo left behind hundreds of thousands of brave men!
Emperor Feng had the ambition of a great roc since childhood.
He wanted to become the most outstanding ruler of Great Feng!
To free up his hands, he had to first hold peace talks with Western Liang.
Through the tea-horse trade, Great Feng could profit.
The key was to be able to free himself!
“Cao Shangshu.”
“Your subject is here.”
“The national letter will still be kept by your Ministry of Rites.”
“Your subject obeys the decree.”
Cao Du respectfully accepted the national letter.
Emperor Feng then looked at Tian Zhongxun.
“Prince Qi.”
“Your subject is here.”
“This is the wager you and Prince Ning made. As long as Prince Ning can fulfill the wager as agreed, you must cede Linzi County. Now that Prince Ning has done so, do you have any objections?”
“Your subject believes it is absolutely impermissible!”
Gu Mingzhi hurriedly stepped forward, raised his hand, and advised, “Linzi County has been Prince Qi’s fiefdom since ancient times. Over the years, the people have lived in peace and contentment, and it is a wealthy region. If it is rashly ceded to Prince Ning, I fear the people will not be pleased. This wager was merely a fit of pique, and we all hope the peace talks proceed smoothly. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly!”
“If Prince Ning had lost, would you still have stepped forward?”
Emperor Feng raised an eyebrow.
Gu Mingzhi dared to jump out?
There was no room for discussion on this matter.
“Winning is winning, losing is losing.”
“Prince Ning and Prince Qi signed a wager, how can they go back on their word?”
Ning Que, at this moment, stepped out with a smile, looking at the ashen-faced Tian Zhongxun, “Actually, it is possible to go back on it.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.” Ning Que smiled, “As long as Prince Qi walks out of the palace now, strips off his clothes, and shouts along the street that he doesn't honor the wager and is a despicable and shameless villain. Just walk around Chang'an Avenue once, and this prince can give up Linzi.”
“You... you... you...”
“You scoundrel, how dare you insult me?!”
Tian Zhongxun was so angry his lungs were about to explode.
This was clearly a deliberate humiliation of him!
With a cold face, he could only grit his teeth and say, “This prince is willing to admit defeat, how can there be any reason to renege? This prince can give it, but Prince Ning must be able to receive it.”
“That won't trouble Prince Qi.” Ning Que smiled faintly, “This prince knows his own limited ability and cannot govern Linzi, which is a thousand miles away, well. I have already offered Linzi to His Majesty. From now on, it will officially be incorporated into Great Feng’s territory, governed by a frontier official, and this prince will only need to collect taxes.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
Tian Zhongxun was completely dumbfounded.
He looked at Ning Que.
He then secretly glanced at the high and mighty Emperor Feng.
So, the two brothers had already discussed it?
Only he was the scapegoat?
Tian Zhongxun’s eyes grew colder and colder.
It seemed Emperor Feng’s wings had truly hardened!
He had just ascended the throne and already wanted to curtail their power!
Emperor Feng nodded in agreement.
“This matter will be handled by the Ministry of Personnel.”
“Once Prince Qi is ready, officials will handle the handover.”
“Your subject obeys the decree!”
Tian Zhongxun was practically grinding his teeth.
Emperor Feng turned to look at Ning Que.
“Prince Ning.”
“Your subject is here.”
“You have successfully facilitated these peace talks, allowing our two countries to coexist harmoniously. Furthermore, you have enabled Great Feng to station troops in Jiuquan, allowing our two countries to engage in the tea-horse trade in Jiuquan. This is a great achievement!”
Emperor Feng paused, then continued, “You offered Linzi, helping Great Feng expand its territory and gain a population of one hundred thousand households. This is also a great achievement. The West Liang Princess was attacked, and fortunately, you intervened to save her, turning danger into safety. This is yet another great achievement!”
“Today, I shall fulfill my promise.”
“I bestow upon you the axe and ceremonial weapons, to signify the authority of a Prince!”
“I grant you the tiger tally, to command the Chang'an Yulin Army!”
“Establish the Three Guards, and you may select personnel from the army yourself!”
“Your subject will surely exert himself to the utmost to repay Your Majesty’s grace!”
Ning Que raised his hand and bowed deeply.
These were originally the powers of the Prince Ning.
They were just temporarily managed by the Minister of War.
The so-called Three Guards referred to the Personal Guards, Merit Guards, and Wing Guards, each with different responsibilities. But these were independent armies, only obeying Ning Que. Of course, he also had to support them himself. When Old Prince Ning was alive, he used the Three Guards as the foundation to create Great Feng’s strongest Wolf Army. Trapped in Hulu Valley, they were able to hold out for dozens of days, repeatedly breaking through Western Liang’s charges, all thanks to the bravery of the Three Guards.
Possessing the Three Guards meant that Ning Que had the qualification to establish his own manor. He could openly recruit talents and build his own administrative team. Not only him, but all four Other surname Princes were like this. They had extremely high authority within their fiefdoms, equivalent to a state within a state, with their own laws.
Emperor Feng personally stepped down from the imperial throne.
He solemnly placed the tiger tally into Ning Que’s hand.
“Prince Ning.”
“My safety will be entrusted to you from now on!”
Ning Que gripped the tiger tally tightly.
Then he raised it high above his head.
All the ministers simultaneously bowed deeply.
“We greet Prince Ning!”
Lin Jiang watched from a distance.
At this moment, an indescribable bitterness filled his heart!