Chapter 428: The Utterly Arrogant Envoy Gao Jiong

Zhou Army envoy?

The atmosphere in the hall, which had just eased, instantly stiffened.

Xiahou Fuyun tightened his grip on the tea cup, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes—he hadn't expected the Zhou Army to send someone first.

Xiahou Da was also slightly startled, but quickly steadied his expression, his gaze meeting that of his Father Khan; both saw a hint of unexpected surprise in the other's eyes.

Xiahou Fuyun pursed his lips, his fingertip rubbing the cool rim of the tea cup for a moment, suppressing the ripple in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Send it in!"

"Yes," the inner attendant bowed and replied, his hands hanging at his sides.

After performing a proper bow, he turned and stepped lightly away.

He kept even his footfalls extremely light, fearing to disturb the solemn atmosphere in the hall.

Xiahou Da stepped forward, his voice even lower, solemnly reminding, "Father Khan, remember what I just said, keep the proper measure…"

Xiahou Fuyun lifted his eyes to look at him, tapped the imperial desk lightly with his fingertip, then nodded heavily, "Hmm!"

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the inner attendant's announcement came from outside the hall.

Immediately after, three figures walked slowly into the hall.

The leading young man, dressed in envoy attire, handsome and sharp‑eyed, was Gao Jiong.

Two attendants followed him, both upright, hand on the sword at their waist, with solemn expressions.

As soon as Gao Jiong entered the hall, his gaze calmly swept over the Tuyuhun Khan on the throne, taking in all the scrutiny and vigilance in the Khan's eyes.

Then, with a slight bow, he performed a proper salute without kneeling, his tone neither servile nor arrogant, and said clearly, "Envoy Gao Jiong has seen the Great Khan!"

When his words finished, he straightened up, his gaze calmly meeting Xiahou Fuyun's.

He showed neither flattery nor arrogance, his demeanor perfectly measured.

Xiahou Fuyun sat upright on the throne, his back perfectly straight, hands clasped before his knees, projecting an air of authority. His gaze lightly swept over Gao Jiong; seeing the envoy bow but not kneel, his eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, but he did not react on the spot, instead raising his hand slowly and saying, "No need for formalities!"

After a brief pause, his tone plain yet subtly scrutinizing, he continued, "The two armies are at war; I wonder what important business Envoy Gao brings into the city?"

Gao Jiong lifted his wrist slightly, the wide sleeves of his envoy robes swishing lightly, the movement crisp and somewhat relaxed.

He first let out a low chuckle, light enough to break the subtle tension in the hall, then slowly raised his head and said, "By order of my family's Grand General, I have come to discuss a transaction with the Great Khan!"

"Discuss a transaction?"

Standing aside, Xiahou Da's brows twitched slightly, a clear puzzlement flashing in his eyes; his hand at his side clenched quietly, fingertips unconsciously rubbing the fabric, and he muttered to himself, "What trick is the Zhou Army playing?"

Speaking, he glanced up at Gao Jiong, seeing the envoy's calm demeanor, revealing no flaw, and his inner confusion deepened.

He couldn't see what calculation was behind this…

"Oh?"

Xiahou Fuyun's fingers gripping the tea cup paused imperceptibly, a flash of doubt racing through his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed the odd feeling, a faint, ambiguous smile curling his lips, deliberately showing some curiosity, and asked slowly, "What transaction does your Grand General Chen intend to discuss with this Khan?"

His words contained a hint of probing.

A smile spread instantly across Gao Jiong's mouth, his eyes adding a touch of amusement; the grin seemed teasing yet concealed a subtle pressure.

Immediately, he spoke slowly, his tone grandiose: "I have heard the city's granaries turned to scorched earth; my family's Grand General wishes to sell some provisions to the Great Khan…"

"…to spare the Tuyuhun people from suffering!"

These provisions, of course, were taken by force…

Is this fellow trying to deceive this Khan?.............. Xiahou Fuyun heard the words, muttered inwardly, forced down his panic, his fingertip paused lightly on the cup rim, then set the tea cup down, straightening his back even more, and said emphatically, "Envoy Gao's information must be mistaken!"

He deliberately emphasized his tone, a hint of feigned contempt in his eyes, and continued, "The Zhou Army's methods are indeed formidable, but thanks to the Buddha protecting my Tuyuhun, the fire only burned the gate outside the granary!"

"The grain inside the storehouse remains completely intact!"

After speaking, he deliberately glanced at Xiahou Da, as if confirming his words, showing no sign of insecurity.

"Hahaha!"

Gao Jiong heard this and, as if hearing a colossal joke, threw his head back and laughed loudly, the sound bright and harsh, shaking the bronze bells in the hall as if they trembled.

He laughed trembling all over, one hand on his waist, the other still gesturing.

The sarcasm in his eyes was unabashed, as if he found the words utterly absurd.

After laughing for a while, Gao Jiong gradually subdued his voice, yet still breathed lightly, wiping tears from the corner of his eye, his tone full of mockery: "Buddha protects Tuyuhun? The Great Khan's words—perhaps even you yourself don't believe them?"

Xiahou Da, unsettled by the unabashed laughter, felt his heart race; the tension he had barely suppressed resurfaced.

He suddenly stepped forward, his complexion darkening instantly, his previously calm eyes turning sharp, and he scolded loudly, "How dare you!"

Before you stands my Tuyuhun Great Khan; you, a petty envoy, dare be impolite!

His eyes were full of warning.

Gao Jiong, facing the rebuke, showed no sign of panic; instead, with keen interest he fixed his gaze on Xiahou Da, scanning him up and down for a moment, a playful smile curling his mouth, and he said slowly, "You must be Prince Xiahou Da, correct?"

After a brief pause, he shifted his tone, a barely perceptible teasing in his eyes, and said, "You truly resemble Prince Xiahou Shun; no wonder you are brothers!"

Xiahou Fuyun caught the implication, his complexion darkening a few shades, his fingers on the throne's armrest clenching hard, his sharp gaze fixed on Gao Jiong, and he asked, "Has this Khan's Crown Prince fallen into the hands of your Zhou Army?"

Gao Jiong remained composed, standing still, his fingertip lightly rubbing the edge of his sleeve, a slight upward curl of his mouth showing confidence, he bowed slightly and laughed, "Great Khan, rest assured, the Crown Prince is safe in Chang'an, not only attended by a dedicated caretaker but also well fed and entertained, suffering no grievance at all!"

The Crown Prince had indeed been captured… Xiahou Fuyun muttered to himself, without hesitation, thrust himself upright from the throne, hands on the armrests, the composure he had maintained replaced by a forced surge of vigor.

His gaze sharp as a blade, he stared straight at Gao Jiong, his voice suddenly rising, deliberately harsh, "What does it matter if we win the Crown Prince?"

After a brief pause, deliberately lingering to emphasize his resolve, he continued, "I, Fuyun, have a hundred thousand troops in the city!"

Saying this, he deliberately puffed his chest, trying to intimidate with the claim of a hundred thousand troops.

Even though that was a wildly exaggerated figure…

Gao Jiong saw this, his face showing no ripple, instead slowly placing a hand behind his back, his posture even more relaxed, calmly saying, "Great Khan, no need for this envoy to bluff!"

He paused, leaned slightly forward, and said meaningfully, "You should know how many troops are in the city and how long the provisions can last!"

"This Khan certainly knows!"

Xiahou Fuyun inhaled deeply, suppressing the turmoil within, his hands slamming the imperial desk, his gaze sharp as a blade, feigning great confidence, and declared resolutely, "Clashing with your Zhou Army for a year and a half poses no problem!"

Immediately, the voice rose a few more pitches and said forcefully, "I just don't know whether your Zhou Army can even get up to fight!"

"A year and a half?"

"On what grounds?"

Gao Jiong heard that, as if his funny bone had been struck; he instantly shook his head, his smile turning sharply mocking, and even his eyes were filled with unabashed ridicule.

He stepped forward half a pace, his tone deliberately disdainful, and unflinchingly exposed, "On the basis of those three granaries that were burned to ash?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Buddha statues placed in the hall, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Or perhaps on the basis of the Buddha you worship?"

When Xiahou Fuyin heard "three granaries," he was suddenly startled; his previously straight back involuntarily slumped a bit, fine cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead and slipped quietly down his temples.

His hand gripping the imperial desk trembled slightly, his heart filled with panic and astonishment, "He… how does he know?!"

"Even the number of granaries is crystal clear?!"

That thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap, and the previously feigned toughness and confidence collapsed instantly.

Only unmasked insecurity remained in his eyes.

Gao Jiong took in Xiahou Fuyin's panic completely, a playful smile at his lips, he watched with interest the shift from arrogance to insecurity, stepped forward another half step, and asked with a grin, "Look at Great Khan's expression—aren't you curious how this envoy knows such details?"

".... …"

Xiahou Fuyin stared intently at Gao Jiong, his Adam's apple involuntarily bobbing, yet not a single word could come out.

His previously tense jawline relaxed slightly, the panic in his eyes replaced by deeper solemnity, his lips moved, then settled into a straight line, sinking into silence.

Gao Jiong didn't linger any longer; he let out a light laugh, breaking the hall's stagnation, then, with a slightly nonchalant tone, he explained slowly, "Because before the war began, my Great Zhou's embroidered‑cloak envoys and a group of experts had, long ago, under the order of the Grand General, infiltrated Fusi City!"

He paused again, then continued, "While pinpointing the granaries' locations, we also kept constant watch over your every move…"

There's no way around it; their General Chen has always been cautious, never engaging in an unprepared battle…

We had already infiltrated Fusi to the point of being like a sieve!

Xiahou Da seemed to realize something; his pupils contracted as if struck by a sudden thunderclap, he lunged forward a step, pointed at Gao Jiong, his voice trembling, "That blue light appearing above the granary—was that your doing!?"

That strange celestial phenomenon was indeed no coincidence…

It was a method the Zhou Army used for positioning!

No wonder it hit so accurately…

Gao Jiong showed no concealment; instead, he nodded calmly and admitted as if it were obvious, "Of course!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he instantly reined in the previously mocking smile, his gaze becoming sharp and solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Enough. From now on we should sit down and discuss the treaty properly!"

——

PS: Happy birthday to the great Motherland! Wishing all the big bosses a happy National Day and Mid‑Autumn Festival holiday!