Chapter 331: The Southern Tang Envoy 3

"One thousand five hundred coins! That's enough for a fine meal at a tavern in Jinling!" Leaving the wine shop, the deputy envoy couldn't help complaining about the meager fare and thin wine they had just endured.

After cursing a few times, he broke into laughter—the kind born of schadenfreude: "From this, one can see how bitter and difficult the lives of the Northern Han commoners are!"

Along the way, he had seen people of the Great Han with tattered clothes barely covering their bodies, gaunt frames, and hunger written on their faces, and he would occasionally sneer at the sight.

Han Xizai, however, had no interest in such petty-mindedness. Holding several brand-new Qianyou tongbao coins in his hand, he turned them over a few times and remarked with a sigh: "These coins are indeed considerably finer than our Tangguo tongbao."

He weighed them in his palm, then added: "They also seem a bit heavier."

The deputy envoy observed this from the side and silently noted yet another instance of Han Xizai's "pro-Han" leanings. Han Xizai, meanwhile, pinched one of the copper coins between his fingers, lost in thought, then summoned an attendant and instructed: "Go and inquire—how many old coins of various types in the Northern Han can be exchanged for one string of new coins!"

Walking at a leisurely pace, Han Xizai returned to the guest hostel and found two of his accompanying subordinates pacing anxiously before the gate.

Upon seeing Han Xizai, their expressions relaxed, as if a great weight had been lifted, and they hurried forward to greet him: "Lord Han, you've finally returned!"

They had been so anxious they were sweating. Noticing the subordinates' motion of wiping sweat, Han Xizai swept his gaze over them and asked: "Has there been news regarding the audience with the throne?"

The subordinate stammered slightly, then nodded rapidly like a pecking chick, steadied himself, and replied: "Just now, someone came from the Han palace, summoning the envoy to enter the palace for an audience."

Before Han Xizai could speak, the deputy envoy beside him raised an eyebrow and immediately turned on Han Xizai: "I said we should have just stayed at the hostel and awaited the summons. This delay—if it angers the Han Emperor and jeopardizes the great matter, I'd like to see how Lord Han explains himself to the throne!"

"Did I not say earlier that you need not accompany me?" Han Xizai glanced at the deputy envoy, looking utterly unperturbed.

Nearby, a minor clerk of the hostel took note of the discord between the Southern Tang's chief and deputy envoys, revealing no extra expression on his face, merely taking it all in.

Having waited so long, the deputy envoy was beside himself with impatience, while Han Xizai remained neither pleased nor displeased, very much the comportment of a lofty scholar, unhurriedly changing into his ceremonial robes...

The two entered the imperial city and, upon reaching the palace gate, were stopped outright. Facing their challenge, the guard officer gave a cold response: "His Majesty has summoned only one person—the Tang envoy Han Xizai. All other miscellaneous persons, withdraw at once!"

At these words, the young deputy envoy beside him grew indignant: "I am the deputy envoy dispatched to the Han, sent here by order of my sovereign. How can the Son of Heaven of the Great Han refuse to receive me!"

Unfortunately, his argument proved utterly powerless against the imperial army officer who had already been given his instructions.

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" In the end, the deputy envoy, feeling deeply humiliated and furious, was barred at the palace gate.

Han Xizai entered alone. Thinking back on the scene at the palace gate, a shadow of worry settled in his heart. He was a highly intelligent man, and upon careful reflection, he sensed something—after this matter concluded, when they returned to court, the deputy envoy would surely embellish the tale. This Han Son of Heaven seemed to be playing games. Han Xizai smiled faintly.

"Your subject Han Xizai, from a foreign land, requests an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han!" Inside Chongzheng Hall, Han Xizai composed himself, observed all the proper rites, and solemnly made a deep bow to Liu Chengyou.

"The envoy may dispense with formalities!" Liu Chengyou sat upright on the imperial throne, his gaze sweeping downward over Han Xizai, and instructed in a clear, ringing voice.

Observing Han Xizai, he truly was handsome in appearance and extraordinary in bearing, living up to his famed reputation. The last person who had given Liu Chengyou a similar impression was Li Gu. Interestingly, the two—Han and Li—one from the south and one from the north, shared a certain connection.

While Liu Chengyou appraised Han Xizai, Han Xizai was likewise sizing up the Han Son of Heaven before him. So young—that was the most immediate impression. Yet within that calm countenance lay a maturity that belied his years.

"I hear the envoy has been in the Eastern Capital for some days now. These past days, my state affairs have kept me busy, and bound by mundane matters, I have not had the leisure to summon you. I have been remiss in receiving the honored envoy—I beg your forgiveness!" Liu Chengyou casually recited pleasantries that neither of them believed.

"Your Majesty speaks too gravely! Your Majesty's diligence in military and governmental affairs is a blessing for the scholars and commoners of the Central Plains!" Han Xizai echoed just as casually, without so much as a flicker of his gaze.

Gazing steadily at Han Xizai, Liu Chengyou praised him: "Over the past decades, countless northern scholars have crossed south to Jiangnan, yet only Lord Han has managed to make a name for himself east of the river, his reputation known throughout the four seas! Seeing you today, the legends are indeed not exaggerated!"

Facing Liu Chengyou's flattery, Han Xizai's expression did not change, and he replied modestly: "Your Majesty overpraises me; your subject truly does not deserve it!"

With that, Han Xizai drew a gift register from his robe sleeve and held it up in both hands: "Your subject has traveled north this time bearing gifts from my sovereign to present to you!"

Zhang Dejun immediately stepped forward, took the gift list, and presented it to Liu Chengyou.

Ordering someone to serve tea, Liu Chengyou took it, did not even glance at the gift list, casually set it on the table, and without any pretense, said directly: "The Southern Tang sovereign shows such goodwill—this tribute offering, I shall gladly accept!"

At these words, Han Xizai's brow immediately furrowed. He raised his eyes to fix on Liu Chengyou, and like a treasured sword drawn from its sheath, he said sternly: "Your Majesty, what your subject carries are gifts from my sovereign, the Emperor of the Great Tang, presented to Your Majesty—not tribute. The Great Tang and the Great Han are powerful states standing side by side, north and south, with no relationship of subordination between them. I beg Your Majesty to choose your words carefully!"

Facing Han Xizai's correction, Liu Chengyou was thoroughly intrigued and countered: "You, sir, are a man of the north—why do you claim allegiance as a southern minister and defend them so vigorously?"

Han Xizai lifted his head: "Having entered the southern state, I am naturally a minister of the Great Tang!"

"If I recall correctly, when you, sir, crossed south, the one who had carved out Jianghuai and defied the imperial mandate was Yang Wu, was it not!" Liu Chengyou's voice was soft, but his words carried barbs.

Han Xizai could not help but glance at Liu Chengyou. Pausing only a moment, he said: "When my Liezu established the Great Tang, the one who held the weight of the Central Plains was the Shi clan..."

The remaining half of that direct retort, Han Xizai left unspoken, mindful of truly provoking this young Son of Heaven into anger.

Liu Chengyou reacted calmly, thinking to himself that this man was unwilling to suffer a loss, or perhaps unwilling to let his state and sovereign lose face—after all, he had come north representing the "Great Tang."

Straightening up slightly, looking at Han Xizai, who remained perfectly composed under his gaze, Liu Chengyou asked: "Speak, then—what has the Tang sovereign sent you north to the Eastern Capital to do?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's feigned ignorance, Han Xizai still answered with composure: "Your subject, by order of my sovereign, wishes to end hostilities and quell discord with the Great Han, restore friendly relations between our two states, reopen trade negotiations, and exchange goods for mutual benefit!"

"Oh!" Liu Chengyou nodded in acknowledgment, putting on a look of understanding, drawing out his words: "So you've come to sue for peace!"

The moment Liu Chengyou finished speaking, Han Xizai clasped his hands and corrected him with great solemnity: "Your Majesty, it is peace negotiations!"

"Our two states have not yet opened hostilities—only minor clashes along the border. The Great Tang has no fear of defeat. Your subject has come north bearing my sovereign's utmost sincerity, to preserve the stability of both states, protect the welfare of the common people, and facilitate the flow of merchants and trade! I beg Your Majesty to consider this!" Han Xizai added gravely.

"Peace negotiations, then! The purpose is hardly any different!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand dismissively.

Then his expression turned cold, his gaze suddenly growing icy and piercing, shooting straight at Han Xizai as if to bore into his very heart: "Since the Great Han was founded, we have never marched south. It is you who have repeatedly colluded with bandits north of the Huai, stirring up trouble and harming my people!"

Han Xizai lied through his teeth: "At that time, the northern barbarians invaded from the south, and the Central Plains was in collapse. My sovereign, mindful of the Chinese realm, merely exerted effort to suppress bandits for the sake of peace and to protect the tranquility of the region!"

"If you wished to open trade markets, why did you close the borders and seal the frontier last year, not allowing a single grain of rice from Huainan to cross into northern Huai? What was the meaning of that?"

"It was merely because Jiangnan suffered calamities, and at that time unscrupulous merchants in Huainan were hoarding goods to profiteer. Our court was simply cracking down on such practices—there was no intention of targeting your state!" Han Xizai still answered coolly.

"When I led my army west to pacify Hezhong, the Tang sovereign raised troops to invade my territory. How do you explain such despicable behavior of profiting from another's misfortune?" Liu Chengyou's voice rose, and grew colder.

Han Xizai remained expressionless, responding calmly: "Upon hearing that the Great Han had mobilized its army to suppress rebellion, our forces merely made routine adjustments to prevent disorder—purely for self-defense!"

Such a refined and elegant scholar, yet he could spin falsehoods without so much as blinking. Liu Chengyou revealed a faint, thin smile, picked up a memorial from the imperial table, and opened it: "This is a report I received not long ago, from Cheng Deqin, Patrol Inspector of Xuzhou. It states that on the gengyin day of the second month in the second year of Qianyou, Tang troops invaded from the north. He led his forces to meet them, killed five hundred men, and captured one hundred twenty alive!"

"And this—this is your state's sincerity?"