Chapter 229: with translation of chapter title

In Bian Liang's winter, it was rare to see a hint of warm sunshine.

But the atmosphere inside the Huangcheng Government Affairs Hall was more solemn and cautious than before.

Zhang Cheng, Vice Premier of the Department of State Affairs, and Wang Pu, a trusted strategist of the emperor, sat facing each other at the desk, reviewing a document just submitted by the Honglu Temple.

It was the state letter sent by the envoy of the Southern Tang ruler Li Jing.

The wording of the letter was quite meticulous, expressing congratulations in accordance with ritual for the founding of the new dynasty, showing superficial respect for Chen Wen's ascension to the throne, while also subtly carrying the scrutiny and pride of a wealthy Jiangnan state facing the new master of Zhongyuan, which could not be wholly concealed.

The Li family of Huainan will not be able to sit still.

Zhang Cheng set down the state letter and gently rubbed his brow.

Days of handling new policies and northern border military supplies left him with a hint of fatigue in his brows, but his eyes remained clear.

Your Majesty's great victory in the northern border, they must have heard of it.

Sending envoys now, nominally to congratulate, is actually to probe.

To probe our new dynasty's strengths and weaknesses, to probe Your Majesty's ambition, and also to probe… whether they can profit from it.

Wang Pu nodded slightly, his wise eyes showing a detached understanding of worldly affairs.

Li Jing and his ministers, content to linger in a corner, are accustomed to hedging their bets.

In the days when the Later Zhou was strong, they sent envoys to pay tribute, their words humble;

once there is a change in Zhongyuan, they stir again, their covetous hearts never dying.

Now Your Majesty has just ascended, with the Khitan and Northern Han threats to the north, and internally a hundred undertakings awaiting revival.

In their view, this may be an opportunity to exploit.

Their coming this time is nothing but to see whether our dynasty is strong outside but weak inside, and whether it can hold onto this Zhongyuan situation.

If they perceive our dynasty as strong, they will continue to be vassals and pay tribute, maintaining the status quo;

if they sense an opportunity to exploit…

He had not finished speaking, but the meaning was already clear.

Zhang Cheng let out a cold snort.

The prosperity of Jiangnan has worn away much heroic spirit.

If Li Jing remains obedient and keeps his ancestral temple sacrifices, Your Majesty could tolerate him for a while.

If he harbors designs to take advantage of chaos, he is inviting his own doom!

He paused, then looked toward Wang Pu.

Mr. Wang, before Your Majesty's northern campaign, you said diplomatic affairs could be handled by us as we see fit.

The matter of receiving the Southern Tang envoys—how do you think we should respond?

Wang Pu pondered for a moment, then said:

Although Your Majesty is not in the capital, the state's prestige must not be diminished.

The reception should conform to ritual, displaying the magnanimity of a superior state—neither deliberately making things difficult nor overly enthusiastic; maintaining dignity is enough.

As for verbal sparring…

A glint flashed in his eyes.

Since they come to probe our strengths and weaknesses, we shall show them strength!

Not only must we let them see the sharpness of our newly victorious army, but also let them see the image of our dynasty's harmonious governance and gradually solidifying foundation.

So that they know it is difficult and retreat, daring not to act rashly.

At the very least, before Your Majesty resolves the northern border and internal hidden troubles, we cannot allow renewed conflict to flare up in the south.

Zhang Cheng deeply agreed.

That is exactly right.

I have already ordered that the envoys' provisions in the capital be according to regulation, neither lacking nor extravagant.

Tomorrow's formal audience will be conducted by the two of us in the side hall of the Government Affairs Hall.

Let us see what this Southern Tang Minister of Rites has to say.

The next day, in the side hall of the Government Affairs Hall.

Although not a formal grand court audience, the hall is solemn and stern, with armored guards standing stiffly, possessing an inviolable dignity.

Zhong Mo, dressed in Southern Tang official robes, entered the hall under the guidance of Honglu Temple officials.

Behind him followed the deputy envoy and several attendants.

His steps were steady, his expression calm, yet his eyes swiftly swept over the hall's furnishings and over Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu seated above.

Envoy and Minister of Rites of Southern Tang, Zhong Mo, bearing the command of my lord, respectfully congratulates Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Chen on your accession.

Zhong Mo bowed according to ritual and spoke loudly.

Although his words were respectful, he did not perform the full kowtow, clearly retaining some of the arrogance of a Jiangnan scholar-official and his watchful attitude toward the new Zhongyuan dynasty.

Zhang Cheng's expression remained calm as he raised his right hand slightly.

Your envoy has come far and endured hardship.

Your Majesty concerns himself with the northern border's soldiers and civilians, personally leading the campaign to secure the state, thus unable to receive you in person; he has specially ordered me and Mr. Wang to receive your envoy.

The ruler's congratulatory intent, I will surely relay to Your Majesty.

Zhong Mo straightened up, gave a slight smile, and began, following the usual formula, to utter a string of conventional pleasantries congratulating the founding of the new dynasty and wishing good relations between the two states.

In his speech, there inevitably appeared some of the ornamentation and indirectness of a Jiangnan literatus.

Wang Pu sat quietly to the side, occasionally interjecting a sentence or two, each hitting the crux, his words courteous yet concealing sharpness, causing Zhong Mo not to dare underestimate this seemingly frail scholar.

After a round of pleasantries, Zhong Mo's talk subtly shifted.

I have heard that Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Chen is extraordinarily brave and martial; upon ascending the throne, you personally went to the northern border to suppress the disobedient, truly earning the admiration of foreign ministers.

His tone carried admiration, but his eyes carefully observed the reactions of Zhang and Wang.

Just... the northern lands are bitterly cold, the Khitan are fierce, and to make matters worse, the Northern Han act as accomplices to tigers.

Your Majesty's invaluable self, personally braving arrows and stones, truly worries us.

I don't know how the northern frontier battles are going... are they still proceeding smoothly?

He finally got down to business, probing the true situation of the northern frontier.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu exchanged a glance, and they understood each other implicitly.

Zhang Cheng gave a faint smile, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable confidence.

Thank you for your concern, Envoy.

Wherever Your Majesty's heavenly might reaches, petty villains naturally scatter at the wind.

Just recently we received the victory report from the northern frontier: Your Majesty set an ambush by the Yellow River, utterly defeated the vanguard of the Khitan general Yelü Taliè, beheading hundreds and capturing countless spoils.

And in one fell swoop annihilated the remnants of the Iron Crow Army that had mingled among them with ill intent!

His gaze swept over Zhong Mo.

These mere clowns are not worth troubling Your Majesty to linger.

Surely triumph will come soon.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Zhong Mo's eyes.

Although he had heard of battles in the northern frontier, he never expected this new emperor to act so swiftly, his methods so ruthless, actually achieving such a clean victory!

Especially the name 'Iron Crow Army'—he had vaguely heard of its uncanny, hard-to-handle nature, yet it was easily 'annihilated'.

The combat strength of this Great Chen new army likely far exceeds their estimates.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his expression unchanged.

Ah, I see! Your Majesty is godly martial, truly a heavenly being's bearing!

With such a wise lord and mighty army, Great Chen is truly a blessing to the world!

He went along with the remark, then casually asked:

Your Majesty's triumphant return, surely the myriad affairs of the court are busy and all require Your Majesty's holy judgment.

I have heard that the Central Plains have endured turmoil, the people suffer hardship, and even Hebei and Hedong are not entirely peaceful...

His words were subtle, yet they pointed out the internal difficulties and potential regional separatist problems facing the new dynasty.

I wonder if His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chen has any long-term strategy for domestic and foreign affairs?

This is already probing the new dynasty's governance strategy and foreign orientation.

At this moment, Wang Pu interjected, his tone relaxed yet each word weighty.

Minister Zhong's concerns, Your Majesty already has them well in hand.

Internally, lighten taxes and levies, encourage agriculture and sericulture, rectify officialdom, and let the people rest;

Externally, ally with neighboring states to jointly resist foreign aggression.

All who willingly uphold Great Chen's calendar, faithfully observe their duties as subjects, and cause no trouble, Your Majesty will naturally treat them sincerely and guarantee peace in their lands.

Those who do not know heaven's mandate, rashly raise weapons, or collude with foreign barbarians to cause chaos in the Central Plains...

Wang Pu paused, then looked calmly at Zhong Mo.

No matter their position or where they are entrenched, Your Majesty's dragon-like stride and tiger's step mean you should personally lead troops to confront them and punish their lair!

For example, the Khitan and Iron Crow remnants in the northern frontier serve as a warning.

Wang Pu's words were not harsh, yet the confidence and resolve they contained made Zhong Mo's heart tremble.

This is clearly a warning to all harboring ill intentions, including the Southern Tang that may have designs on the Central Plains!

Zhong Mo's smile stiffened slightly for a moment, then returned to normal as he let out a hearty laugh.

Mr. Wang's words are absolutely correct! Absolutely correct!

My lord has long admired Central Plains culture and wishes to form an eternal alliance with Great Chen, jointly preserving peace.

He already understood in his heart that this Great Chen emperor and his officials are certainly not to be trifled with.

Although the new dynasty has been established, its sharpness is fully exposed, and it is full of confidence.

At least for now, it is certainly not weak and bullyable.

Thereafter, the conversation became more merely formal.

Zhong Mo ceased his probing, and Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu, seeing that enough had been said, maintained superficial harmony.

After the audience ended, Zhong Mo left the imperial city with his retinue and returned to the lodging.

The deputy envoy asked in a low voice;

Minister, observing Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu, their demeanor is steady, their words sharp, and their army has just won a great victory—this Great Chen... seems far from being merely for show.

Zhong Mo gazed upon the orderly, though not luxurious, scene of Bian Liang's streets, and the somewhat stabilized expression on the people's faces compared to wartime, fell silent for a moment, and let out a soft sigh.

A fierce tiger's first roar already shows its might.

This Chen Emperor is likely far more troublesome than we anticipated.

Quickly compile today's observations in detail and secretly report them to the ruler.

The situation in Zhongyuan is likely no longer comparable to what it once was.

We in Bian Liang must act even more cautiously.

And within Huangcheng, Zhang Cheng and Wang Pu have not let up.

The Southern Tang threat can be temporarily alleviated.

Zhang Cheng said in a deep voice.

But as Mr. Wang said, they are hesitant and wavering; we cannot afford to be careless.

The Northern Border, Hebei, and even the undercurrents within the court are the true hidden threats.

Wang Pu nodded.

Show strength to them, and external worries can be eased.

But if internal troubles are not eliminated, it will ultimately be difficult to rest easy.

Over on Qian Gui's side, the pressure is not small.

The two looked toward the outside of the hall; under the clear sky, Bianliangcheng remained prosperous, but an invisible storm seemed to be gathering from all directions.

The new dynasty's first diplomatic engagement, though conducted silently, is equally vital to the nation's fate.