[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-343":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364612,4623,"Chapter 343: The Envoy Case","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-343",343,"\u003Cp>Honglu Temple government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The envoys sent by Annan are you lot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan asked indifferently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Minister of Honglu Temple, he had received hundreds of foreign delegations and had long developed a set of experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more courteous you are to foreign envoys, the more they push their luck and cause trouble in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, receiving them coldly makes them more respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So every time a foreign delegation arrives, his first task is to reprimand them and teach them the capital’s rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone refuses to listen and insists on going out to cause trouble, the Great Yu laws are not to be trifled with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vassal states have no right to demand extraterritoriality from Great Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, it is indeed us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man bowed in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back home in Thang Long, far from the emperor’s reach, you could brag however you liked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that we’ve entered the Great Yu capital, it’s better to behave properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Envoys who broke the rules have been executed by Great Yu—not just one or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How bold of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The former King of Annan has died, yet without imperial approval, the crown prince dares to seize the throne—do you even recognize Great Yu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan demanded sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the succession of vassal kings, Great Yu holds decisive authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after being formally invested by the Great Yu emperor does a new king’s rule gain legitimacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering a state cannot be without a ruler, Great Yu usually turns a blind eye to early succession to prevent others from scheming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because the distance is great and communication is slow—Great Yu cannot learn of events in vassal states immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we were to deal seriously with every case, Great Yu would have to wage war annually against dozens of vassals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time is different: someone high up gave advance notice to treat the Annan delegation well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We cannot ignore the face of the court’s senior officials—that’s why I’ve imposed minor obstacles within my authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, we are innocent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our state has merely assumed the throne temporarily to manage state affairs—we harbor no disrespect whatsoever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Shuhuai hurriedly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disrespect toward the suzerain is a capital offense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Annan long ago broke free from Great Yu’s control and its king calls himself Emperor of Great Yue domestically, these things cannot be spoken aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless Annan kings have boasted of northern expeditions, but few have ever dared to act on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, they find excuses to Fuyan  during tribute missions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For major matters like succession, they still seek formal investiture from the Great Yu emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without this legal procedure, the throne remains unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, when his subordinates rebel, it becomes a ready-made pretext.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, An Shuhuai swiftly slipped a stack of silver notes over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the accumulated experience of past envoys: when trouble arises, pay money—satisfy the Great Yu officials, and the trouble ceases to be trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given your good sense, I shall take responsibility for this matter on your behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring forth your state letter—I shall present it to His Majesty tomorrow and petition for the investiture of the King of Annan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the silver notes, Wen Siyuan smiled amiably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Great Yu’s power waned, the number of tribute delegations declined, causing Honglu Temple’s revenues to plummet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, it was natural to treat the patrons with kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, upon our arrival, all our luggage was seized and held by your yamen runners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The state letter is among them—could you please look into this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wen Siyuan’s tone soften, An Shuhuai grew bolder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quietly lodged a complaint, venting the grievances he had suffered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rascals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your subordinates are utterly uncouth—how dare they treat envoys so roughly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord An, rest assured—I shall see justice done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhu Qi, immediately order your men to return the state letter and all the delegation’s luggage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan immediately ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those who knew him understood this was theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To perform well, both red-faced and white-faced roles must be played.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scolding subordinates was merely a placation to the delegation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True punishment would be direct—never just a careless “rascal” and nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhu Qi, standing behind him, immediately turned and went to the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, you overrate us—your officers merely followed protocol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing trouble, the perceptive An Shuhuai quickly made amends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter—protocol must also allow for humanity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But since Lord An has spoken, this will not happen again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you standing there for? Don’t you know to serve tea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan shifted tone and scolded the clerks outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the entire delegation flushed red with suppressed anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan had been restless in recent years and relations with Great Yu were poor—they knew they’d face difficulties upon arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they never imagined Great Yu officials would go this far—even the pretense of civility was abandoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had it not been for the silver notes, they wouldn’t have even gotten a cup of tea inside Honglu Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, Zhu Qi returned with the state letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, here is the Annan state letter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the document casually, Wen Siyuan opened it—and his face instantly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything else was fine, except the crown prince of Annan had styled himself “Emperor of Great Yue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rascals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is gross treason—do you think Great Yu has no men left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seize them! Throw these traitors into prison and await His Majesty’s judgment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he sensed the letter’s content was abnormal, Wen Siyuan made his decision immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There cannot be two suns in heaven—this was a matter of principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Annan to call itself “Emperor of Great Yue” was to disregard Great Yu entirely—a serious political offense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was careless error or deliberate provocation, as Minister of Honglu Temple, he must immediately defend Great Yu’s status as the Celestial Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, we are innocent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the guards moved to arrest them, An Shuhuai and his men cried out in protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They truly did not understand how their state letter had become treasonous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming, they had consulted their nation’s greatest scholars, analyzing every phrase meticulously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after ensuring absolute safety had they written, sealed, and stamped the document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Innocent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish to plead your case, take it to the Imperial Prison and speak to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve long heard Annan is restless, always calling itself the Great Yue Empire—apparently the rumors are true!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Annan was innocent or not—he didn’t care. The key was to distance himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he known these people were this trouble-prone, he never would have taken their money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, everyone in the yamen was his own man—if they all stuck to the same story and denied it, Annan’s claims meant nothing as evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, those were misunderstandings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Shuhuai hurriedly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep inside, he was already panicking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst scenario had finally arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to rumors, what he feared most was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan’s official documents had always styled itself “Empire of Great Yue”—an open secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Great Yu merely pretended not to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if they took it seriously, they’d have to wage war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court’s finances were strained—it had no capacity to start a major war over face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After weighing the pros and cons, everyone silently chose to pretend ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how much they pretended, they couldn’t let someone come to their door to slap their face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The presence of the Emperor of Da Yue on the state letter was a direct challenge to the sacred authority of the throne; the court must respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reason told Wen Siyuan that he had unknowingly slipped into a major trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the news leaked, the entire court and populace would erupt in outrage, demanding severe punishment for Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the court’s current situation made large-scale military action unsuitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hot potato, tossed out by the Honglu Temple, would inevitably spark a storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the person who had greeted him, Wen Siyuan faintly sensed the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t about “hosting” the Annan delegation—it was clearly about killing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the Annan state letter had been swapped inside the Honglu Temple itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief hesitation, Wen Siyuan decisively chose to feign ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exposing the behind-the-scenes truth would mean death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information he held, even if exposed, would be meaningless and could not establish guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scheming of the court’s senior officials was beyond his station to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he claimed ignorance and followed court protocol, no one could find fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After arresting the men, without a moment’s delay, Wen Siyuan took the state letter straight to the palace to meet the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the palace, Emperor Yongning, in good spirits, had eaten half a bowl more at lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the Annan state letter brought by Wen Siyuan, his good mood vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The King of Annan dared to call himself emperor—clearly he held no respect for this Son of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not severely punished, other vassal states would follow suit, and he would become a laughingstock of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Yu Dynasty had never endured such humiliation in all its years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Wen, are you certain the envoys were from Annan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning asked, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he truly did not wish to launch a major campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he intended to deal with the Annan people, it must wait until the domestic rebellions were quelled and the northern barbarians subdued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no interest whatsoever in Annan, thousands of miles away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, I have verified their identities repeatedly—they are unquestionably the Annan delegation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to reports from foreign lands, the previous King of Annan had already declared himself Emperor of Da Yue within his own realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Guangxi Provincial Governor’s earlier memorials also mentioned similar information multiple times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Embroidered Uniform Guard should have records archived as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that foreign barbarians are unenlightened, the court has always chosen to overlook it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We never imagined these bastards would grow bolder, daring to…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan swiftly shifted blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All levels of the bureaucracy had reported it; the court had chosen not to quarrel with barbarians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the scandal erupted, it was no longer solely the Honglu Temple’s responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the emperor demanded accountability, it would be the collective burden of all these offices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Annan people are mad!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are they challenging Great Yu, thinking we’ve lost the will to raise our swords?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cursing, Emperor Yongning awkwardly realized that, indeed, the court currently could not raise its swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annan, with its army of three hundred thousand, was a regional hegemon in Southeast Asia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To subdue them, the court would need to commit massive manpower, wealth, and resources—and even then, victory could not be guaranteed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Yu was already poor; how could it open another front?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this matter is unknown to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the Annan people, seeing the rebels ravaging the southeast, believed their opportunity had come and came to provoke and test us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps the official drafting the state letter was careless and made an error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps Annan’s internal factions are in turmoil, and someone seeks to use our hands to eliminate one of the envoys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Siyuan analyzed with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones provoking border tensions might not be Annan at all—but the aristocratic clique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As local power brokers in the capital, they had countless opportunities to frame the Annan delegation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was perfectly normal for several aristocratic sons to hold posts in the Honglu Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these thoughts he could only harbor privately; he dared not utter a word aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aristocratic clique rose through war; advocating war was no fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan king’s self-proclamation as Emperor of Da Yue was well-documented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many investigations were launched, the final conclusion would always be that Annan had committed high treason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, only a fool would speak for the Annan people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue an edict: summon the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries’ ministers to discuss this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tell the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to verify swiftly whether the Annan king has declared himself emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning spoke coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within, his resentment toward the Annan people surged to its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had restrained himself from immediately ordering war against Annan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Annan state letter, though seemingly a minor mistake, was in fact a direct challenge to imperial authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his ascension, chaos had erupted constantly, and discontent had accumulated throughout court and realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now this incident was like grinding his face into the dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Imperial Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bound Annan envoys on the torture racks were all terrified out of their wits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were envoys, not death-sacrificing fanatics; they could not face the horror before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will you confess willingly, or shall we give you a taste first before you speak the truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Battalion Commander sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Embroidered Uniform Guard feared no case too big—only cases too small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bigger the case, the more their value shone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one setback, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had become much more restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They no longer dared to arrest Grand Secretaries or detain Ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When high-ranking officials were involved, they rarely acted unless ordered by above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if such officials were imprisoned, they dared not inflict torture out of concern for political repercussions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Annan delegation clearly fell outside such cautionary bounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, we are innocent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Shuhuai cried out immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From start to finish, he had no idea how he ended up in prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never even seen the altered state letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he wished to confess, he had no idea what to confess to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent. I most admire men of backbone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bring out your best techniques—let these foreign guests experience our hospitality, lest they say Great Yu lacks proper manners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Battalion Commander said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, we are envoys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your noble state is a land of propriety—even in war, envoys are not executed!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Shuhuai seized the opportunity, invoking his Confucian education to try to escape punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a strongman entered and whispered something into the young Battalion Commander’s ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Go tell them I will handle this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, the young Battalion Commander casually took the case file, glanced at it, then asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish to avoid physical suffering, just sign and affix your seal to the case file!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to explain—these details were gathered by our secret agents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether true or false, you know best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re the leader—start with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young Battalion Commander said irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected these Annan envoys to confess everything under his interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined the charges had already been predetermined—leaving him no room to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the higher-ups had already settled the charges, leaving him no room to maneuver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on his political instinct, he also knew this was due to concern for the envoys’ status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Yu has so many vassal states; when handling envoy missions, one must proceed with caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Testimonies extracted through torture still lack sufficient credibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, they were made to confess all details themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, this has nothing to do with us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have never meant any disrespect to His Majesty, nor would we ever dare to covet the territory of the Celestial Kingdom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely glancing at the case file, An Shuhuai understood the darkness of the Imperial Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this one point is false, then are all the other details true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2600,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","9f5442992dd8d36a5c66b80202baf24e727de0c5da4343c4f5e41f591e32c281","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-344","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-342",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]