Chapter 829

Xiao Jieyun furrowed his brows: "Taiwan? What is its origin?"

Minister of Revenue replied: "Taiwan is an island; it lies southeast of the Min Sea, only a two-day journey from Quanzhou, and serves as the gateway to the southeastern maritime frontier."

"The island's natives call it 'Taiwan Bay', while Zhongyuan calls it 'Taiwan', a name still in use today."

"The land is fertile, its produce abundant, yielding sugarcane and deer hides, with gold sand to be panned."

Having said that, he slightly raised his head and looked toward the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun listened quietly: "Go on."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Minister of Revenue continued: "Taiwan has always been part of our Huaxia homeland."

"The previous dynasty once set up the Penghu Patrol Office, but due to neglect of maritime affairs, the Red-haired Barbarians from the West invaded and seized it."

"Oh?" Xiao Jieyun's eyes shifted: "The Red-haired Barbarians came from the West? How did they seize Taiwan?"

The Minister of War hurriedly stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, that is correct."

I have examined the old records of the previous dynasty; in the Records of Barbarian Merchants it is written: the Red-haired Barbarians come from the far western lands, their country lies in Europe, named Holland.

That land lies tens of thousands of li from our Central Plains, separated by a vast ocean.

The Red-haired Barbarians, with their great ships and firearms, roam the seas; wherever they go, they seize ports, build cities and fortifications, intending to settle long-term.

Taiwan is what they saw— the previous dynasty's coastal defenses lax— they slipped in, sailing great ships, carrying heavy cannons, wielding firearms, and seized it.

Xiao Jieyun's face darkened; he raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the table: "If it's a seizure, how dare they still send envoys demanding trade? How absurd!"

Seeing the Emperor angry, all the officials knelt together: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The Emperor scanned the ministers: "The Red-haired Barbarians are utterly outrageous! They have seized our Fierce State's territory, yet now they dare to act as masters and discuss trade with me!"

The Minister of Revenue stammered in reply: "Your… Your Majesty, yes, yes, it was the previous dynasty's territory, and, and not our country…"

Xiao Jieyun: "……"

He nearly was angered to death by him.

"Shut up!" the Emperor shouted sternly: "If the Red-haired Barbarians had not seized it, wouldn't it now be our country's territory?"

The Minister of Revenue stared, stunned: "Your Majesty, can the accounts really be calculated like that?"

The hall fell into silence.

Several officials who had originally intended to step forward and propose that trade could also increase taxes silently drew their feet back.

The Emperor rarely shows his joy or anger, yet today he flew into such a great rage in the court.

All the ministers understood in their hearts that the Red-haired Barbarians' trade proposal had clearly touched the Emperor's reverse scale.

Cold sweat trickled down the Minister of War's temples.

He never imagined that merely reporting the facts would provoke the Emperor's fury to such an intense degree.

Zhou Jinhua glanced at Prince Ning from the corner of his eye, having made up his mind.

I'll listen to what Prince Ning says; if he stays silent, I'll stay silent; if he speaks, I'll echo him— surely I won't be wrong.

Xiao Yuanhang could barely keep from laughing.

Truly, when one feels sleepy, someone brings a pillow— the Emperor was just looking for an excuse to send the Seventh Prince away from Jingcheng, and this excuse showed up at his door.

With that slap, about half of the officials who wanted peace dared not speak up.

But surely someone will still say something; when that time comes, it will be my turn to speak.

He lowered his eyes slightly, waiting silently.

Sure enough, after a moment of silence, an old voice still rang out.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." A white‑haired old official trembled to his feet, stepped forward solemnly, and said: "I, the old minister, believe that although the Red-haired Barbarians are hateful, their country is very far away, and we have long had no grudge against our Fierce State."

"Now that they have sent envoys, it would be better to first allow their trade, let them pay tribute year after year, and then slowly plan— that would be the best strategy."

As his words fell, two censors rose, stepped forward to voice their agreement, their remarks amounting to nothing more than "Japan is now peaceful; there is no need to raise arms again," and so on.

Xiao Yuanhang rose, adjusted his robes, and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe the Red-haired Barbarians first seized our Huaxia homeland."

"Now they send envoys seeking trade— this is clearly like taking over someone else's house and then demanding you open your door to do business with them; it is utterly outrageous."

If we permit their trade, it amounts to admitting that Taiwan is no longer part of Huaxia.

"In a hundred years, how will the histories record it? How will later generations view it?"

How can our Fierce State not dare to reclaim the lands left by our Huaxia ancestors?

Xiao Jieyun nodded: "Prince Ning's words are quite correct."

Zhou Jinhua hurriedly stepped forward: "Prince Ning's words are sound; I second that!"

Xiao Yuanhang again said: "His Majesty! I think that the Red-haired Barbarians dare to send envoys here; it is indeed testing our dynasty's bottom line."

"If our dynasty shows weakness, they will surely advance step by step. If our dynasty confronts them with military might, then we can in one fell swoop recover the lost territories and exalt our nation's prestige overseas!"

Xiao Jieyun wholeheartedly agreed: "These words greatly please my heart."

Xiao Yuanhang suppressed a laugh, composed his expression: "However, this war is different from that against the Eastern Ocean."

"The Red-haired Barbarians' firearms are superb, their warships huge; they must not be taken lightly."

"I think we should send a prince to act in place of the Son of Heaven and lead the campaign personally; this would both boost the troops' morale and demonstrate His Majesty's great regard for this war."

Zhou Jinhua spoke again: "I second that!"

Xiao Yuanhang: ……

Xiao Jieyun looked satisfied at Prince Ning; such seamless cooperation truly makes ruler and minister of one heart.

Zhou Jinhua, this old fox, now can also be considered to know the times.

He felt delighted in his heart, gave a slight nod: "Prince Ning's words are indeed the proper counsel for the state and the ruler."

"Taiyuan is already part of the Chinese homeland; if I do not recover it, I would be unworthy before our ancestors above and unworthy before our descendants below."

"My resolve is fixed; I will dispatch troops to Taiyuan and recover the lost land!"

He paused slightly: "Where is Prince Jing?"

Xiao Ze rose and stepped forward, kneeling upright beneath the imperial steps: "Your servant is here!"

Xiao Jieyun smiled slightly: "Prince Jing Xiao Ze, you shall, on my behalf, oversee Taiwan's military affairs and command the generals leading the expedition to Taiwan."

"I personally bestow upon you the Imperial Sword, granting you the authority to execute first and report later."

Xiao Ze kowtowed: "Your servant will obey the edict!"

That night, inside a mansion deep in Jingcheng.

A person wearing a bronze mask sat at the head seat: "The Emperor is doing this to protect the Seventh Prince, using it as a pretext to send him out of Jingcheng."

A middle-aged man asked: "What the Supreme Venerable said is correct, but what should be done next?"

The Masked Man smiled: "The Red-haired Barbarians are renowned for their sharp firearms."

"When the two armies clash, blades are blind; if the Seventh Prince meets any mishap, His Majesty cannot blame others."

"Set out at once, go to Taiwan, and inform the Red-haired Barbarians' Taiwan Governor, Kui Yi, of this."

Several people raised their heads simultaneously.

"Tell him that the one leading the troops this time is Prince Jing Xiao Ze, the Emperor of Fierce Kingdom's most favored imperial prince."

"They will naturally understand what to do."

Several people replied in unison: "Yes! The Supreme Venerable is brilliant!"

The Masked Man murmured: "As long as the Princess Defending the State does not accompany the Seventh Prince this time, the Red-haired Barbarians' firearms will be enough to bury him overseas."

He paused slightly: "That could be considered a fitting death."