Chapter 311: Threat
“Please allow this official some time, Your Highness. This official will write home to ask the Emperor how much grain seed our Yan Kingdom will order this time! We will definitely order!”
This matter was too big; he, a mere Minister of Rites, could not make any guarantees.
But based on his understanding of the Yan Emperor, the Emperor would definitely take this opportunity to exchange for all the grain seed needed by the people of the entire country!
However, in that case, how much grain seed was needed, how much grain was in the national treasury, how much grain the people could take out for exchange ━ all of this needed to be calculated, and it couldn’t be done in a day or two.
Chu Tiankuo nodded: “Alright.”
He naturally knew that Fang Zheng couldn’t make the decision and also knew that such a large-scale grain seed exchange could not be supported by the national treasury alone. The people would need to dig into their own pockets to exchange, which would take quite a bit of time.
After the two reached a consensus, Fang Zheng happily left.
After Fang Zheng left, Chu Tiankuo said to Songbai: “You can release that carrier pigeon now. Delay the release of all subsequent carrier pigeons by half a day.”
The Yan Kingdom had always maintained a neutral stance, not making enemies with any country. That was because the four countries had always been in a state of mutual checks and balances.
But now, the Chu Kingdom and Jin Kingdom, due to his relationship with Xingnong, were bound to be united.
The original balance of power would be broken. The Yan Kingdom would probably be worried. Today, he would reassure the Yan Kingdom while also letting them see how shameless and untrustworthy the Zhao Kingdom was, and that they were not worth allying with!
“Yes!”
~
Fang Zheng hurried toward his own courtyard. He planned to send a message back home by carrier pigeon first and then return as quickly as possible!
Regarding the grain seed exchange, he wanted to immediately sort out the exchange quantity and then sign a document with the Chu Kingdom to avoid any unforeseen complications.
“Minister Fang!” A voice called out from behind, stopping his hurried steps.
Fang Zheng paused and looked back, smiling: “What’s the matter, Minister Tan?”
Tan Pan walked up to him and whispered: “You’ve heard about the Chu Kingdom’s high-yielding grain seed, right? Were you just discussing the exchange of grain seed with the Chu Crown Prince?”
Fang Zheng’s thoughts raced, and he nodded.
“What exchange rate did the Chu Kingdom offer you?”
Fang Zheng sighed: “Three times.”
Tan Pan’s eyes widened: “Three times? Is the Chu Kingdom going to rob us?”
Fang Zheng didn’t want to talk much with him, only saying: “I still need to report this matter to the Emperor. Excuse me!”
After saying that, he left in a hurry!
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Tan Pan hurried to seek an audience with Zhao Luran.
On the other side, Zhao Luran waited until noon but still did not receive any news from the Chu spies.
Instead, she received news of the Yan Minister of Rites leaving the Chu Crown Prince’s courtyard.
Zhao Luran shrieked: “Three times?”
Yang Xie: “Isn’t the Chu Crown Prince robbing us?”
Zhao Luran became even more certain of her guess: “He is indeed robbing, and he’s doing it openly!”
Zhao Luran looked at Tan Pan: “Go and tell the Yan Kingdom that our Zhao Kingdom’s high-yielding grain seed is available for exchange this year at a rate of five jin for one jin! Tell them that it’s uncertain whether the Chu Kingdom’s high-yielding grain seed really yields one thousand one hundred and fifty jin per mu; we haven’t received any news. Then say that the Chu Kingdom is clearly trying to take advantage of this opportunity to deceive the Yan Kingdom out of their grain. This is bullying the Yan Kingdom. Now that the Chu Kingdom and Jin Kingdom have a marriage alliance, the two countries are considered united. If the Yan Kingdom and our Zhao Kingdom don’t unite, we will sooner or later be swallowed by the Jin and Chu Kingdoms! If our two countries unite, our Zhao Kingdom can provide the Yan Kingdom with an unlimited supply of high-yielding grain seed! Explain these reasons to them carefully, and seize the opportunity to pull the Yan Kingdom over to our Zhao Kingdom’s side.”
✿✿✿
The Jin Kingdom wouldn’t want their Zhao Kingdom’s high-yielding grain seed this year, and neither would the Chu Kingdom. Only the Yan Kingdom was left, so naturally, they could provide an unlimited supply! Moreover, this was also an opportunity to unite with the Yan Kingdom.
Before the mission, the Zhao Emperor had told Zhao Luran to find an opportunity to form an alliance with the Yan Kingdom.
However, the person who came from the Yan Kingdom this time was just an official, not a member of the royal family, so he couldn’t make the decision.
Although he couldn’t make the decision, if the Yan Emperor had instructed him to form an alliance with the Zhao Kingdom, then it wasn’t certain!
Therefore, they could try to test the waters.
“This official will go and do it immediately!” Tan Pan had also received the Zhao Emperor’s order to maintain good relations with the Yan Kingdom and, if necessary, use high-yielding grain seed as an inducement. Now was the perfect opportunity!
Tan Pan also knew that the Zhao Kingdom’s current situation was somewhat precarious. He nodded and turned to walk out!
At this moment, a carrier pigeon landed on the window lattice.
Zhao Luran immediately called out to him: “Wait!”
Zhao Luran personally went to untie the bamboo tube from the pigeon’s leg, took out the letter inside, and then held it over a flame for a moment to reveal the words written on the paper. She glanced at the contents of the letter and sneered: “The Chu Kingdom is indeed lying! The highest yield per mu is only a little over seven hundred jin! It’s even less than the highest yield per mu of our Zhao Kingdom!”
This letter was a secret message sent by her people planted in the Chu Kingdom, so the information was absolutely reliable!
Because only she and her people knew this method of concealing the words in the letter, she wasn’t afraid of someone impersonating them.
Zhao Luran said to Tan Pan: “Go and tell the Yan Kingdom that the exchange rate of five jin of grain for one jin of high-yielding grain seed is only available now. Once you step out of that door, the price will become ten jin for one jin of high-yielding grain seed! If you wait any longer, the exchange rate will be even more uncertain!”
The Chu Kingdom was trying to cheat the Yan Kingdom so badly, the Yan Kingdom would definitely be dissatisfied. Now that the Jin Kingdom and Chu Kingdom were united, the Yan Kingdom could only seek an alliance with their Zhao Kingdom.
Although it was an alliance, there was still a hierarchy. Their Zhao Kingdom could rely on the high-yielding grain seed to occupy the dominant position in the alliance.
“Yes!” Tan Pan also thought the same way and knew that only by doing this could he gain the approval of the Zhao Emperor.
This was ancient times, where the Emperor’s will was considered the supreme will. Therefore, the thoughts of the Emperor determined the thoughts of the officials below, and the Emperor’s way of handling matters influenced the way officials below handled matters.
The Zhao Emperor had always dealt with the weaker Chu Kingdom in this way, going back on his word and bullying the weak while fearing the strong.
Now, among the four countries, only the Yan Kingdom didn’t have high-yielding grain seed. In this year’s Youth Formation Master Competition, their results were similar to those of their Zhao Kingdom. Now, the Yan Kingdom had become the weak one in their eyes, the one they could bully.
Therefore, the two subconsciously began to change their way of interacting with the Yan Kingdom, treating the Yan Kingdom as another Chu Kingdom from before!
Tan Pan went to find Fang Zheng, first reasoning with him and appealing to his emotions, repeating all of Zhao Luran’s arguments. Seeing that Fang Zheng was unmoved, he tried to change the subject, but he wouldn’t agree to an alliance with the Zhao Kingdom.
Seeing that he was impervious to persuasion, Tan Pan said: “Minister Fang, today, our Princess is very sincere in discussing the matter of grain seed exchange with your esteemed country. As long as the Yan Kingdom and Zhao Kingdom form an alliance, five jin of grain can be exchanged for one jin of grain seed! This is a very sincere price! Today, once I step out of this door, the price will no longer be the same! Think about it; this is only beneficial and not harmful to the Yan Kingdom!”
Fang Zheng smiled: “What Minister Tan said is true, but whether it’s the grain exchange or the alliance, these are both major matters that a minor official like me cannot decide. I need to return and report to the Emperor, and let the Emperor make the decision! I hope Minister Tan will grant me some time!”
“In that case, Minister Fang, please first obtain the consent of the Yan Emperor! However, five jin of grain for one jin of high-yielding grain seed is only the current price. Once this official steps out of this door, it will be ten jin for one jin! If you wait any longer, the exchange rate will be even more uncertain. As for the price, we can discuss it again after Minister Fang receives instructions from the Yan Emperor.”
Tan Pan issued the threat and then left.
Hmph, he’ll be begging me when he finds out the truth!
