Chapter 339: Core Divergence

Inside the golden-top grand tent of Yelü Wuzhi (mirrored) in the mirrored Khitan royal court.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed almost to drip water.

The False Song envoy, a military officer from the Privy Council,

At this moment, veins twitched faintly on his forehead, his hands clenched into fists inside his sleeves, knuckles whitening from the strain.

Before him lay a draft of the treaty terms.

The line concerning tribute was fiercely crossed out by Yelü Wuzhi with a vermilion brush.

Beside it, a new, shockingly high number was annotated.

"Lord Yue!"

The envoy almost squeezed the sound out from between his teeth.

"This number… this number far exceeds the limit our dynasty can bear!"

"His Majesty repeatedly urged before his departure that sincerity was sufficient; if we accept this number, it is not an alliance but sheer extortion!"

Yelü Wuzhi leaned back lazily on a couch draped with a complete bear pelt.

He idly played with a gem‑inlaid dagger in his hand, not lifting his eyelids even once.

"Limit?"

He snorted, his tone laced with careless cruelty.

"That is something you southerners need to consider."

"The steppe's rule has always been thus: the strong are honored; to obtain peace, one must pay the due price."

"This is the 'old precedent,' in accordance with heavenly principle and human relations, and cannot be changed."

"Old precedent? Where does this old precedent come from?!"

The envoy could not help but raise his voice in protest, racking his brains.

He could not recall any dynasty in history that had ever imposed such a shocking tribute on the Khitan.

Yelü Wuzhi's dagger paused in his hand; he lifted his eyelids, and in his deep eyes a flash of icy blue seemed to glint.

"If it has existed, it is precedent."

His voice suddenly turned icy and resolute, carrying an undeniable, eerie force.

"This is the path ordained by Heaven; you need only follow it, no further questions."

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the False Song envoy, making him feel palpitations and breathlessness, as if an icy hand gripped his throat.

He suddenly recalled the likewise icy, unquestionable will of the master of the Iron Crow Army.

Indeed, this is not Yelü Wuzhi's personal greed, but the invisible hand behind him driving it.

They seek to forcibly imprint this so‑called 'historical node' in some predetermined, distorted form!

"But… Lord Yue!"

The envoy endured the discomfort, striving for a final effort.

"If the terms are so harsh, our realm will surely face internal turmoil; by then not only will tribute be impossible to guarantee, but even the borders may never know peace again—this is no win‑win!"

"Turmoil?"

Yelü Wuzhi curled the corner of his mouth into a cold arc.

"That is a problem you must handle. If you cannot even suppress internal unrest, what right do you have to negotiate terms with my Khitan?"

"I ask one last time, official: should we accept these terms, or not?"

The False Song envoy's face turned ashen, his body trembling slightly.

"Accept? How would I report to His Majesty upon returning home?"

"The False Song's finances are already strained; accepting these terms would surely be drinking poison to quench thirst, draining the nation's strength completely!"

"Refuse?"

"The treaty would collapse, and the mission entrusted by the master of the Iron Crow Army would fail."

"His fury… and the consequences of losing this potential Khitan (mirrored) ally, he dare not imagine."

……

Meanwhile, in the genuine Khitan court,

the atmosphere was comparatively much more relaxed.

Fan Zhi and Han Wei did not rush for quick results; after initially demonstrating strength and sincerity, they adopted a steadier approach.

Fan Zhi, over the past days, relying on his profound erudition and composed demeanor,

engaged in several in‑depth discussions with Yelü Taliè and several of his important tribal chiefs.

He not only detailed the concrete benefits that trade with Great Chen would bring to the Khitan,

—for example, stable supplies of tea, silk, and porcelain, as well as more advanced iron‑working techniques.

He also subtly hinted that Great Chen could offer certain 'special' support, helping Yelü Taliè gain a greater edge in internal competition.

Han Wei, meanwhile, put his military background to use, mingling with the Khitan's mid‑rank officers.

He did not merely talk; through sparring in archery and horsemanship, discussing battle formations, etc., he subtly displayed the caliber of Great Chen's soldiers.

At the same time, in these exchanges he quietly conveyed the strict discipline, excellent equipment, and the unique spirited essence forged by Fortune Momentum that characterizes the Great Chen army.

That day, during a small hunt arranged by Yelü Taliè, Han Wei rode side by side with him.

"Deputy Envoy Han…"

Yelü Taliè gazed at the distant herd of galloping yellow sheep, asking seemingly offhand,

"How does Your Majesty, the emperor of your state, view our Khitan internal affairs?"

Han Wei understood at once that this was a probe of Great Chen's stance toward his rivalry with Yelü Wuzhi.

He gave a faint smile, his tone sincere:

His Majesty of our dynasty once said, the grassland eagle has its own way to soar. Our Great Chen wishes to join hands with true friends, to jointly withstand wind and frost.

As for the interior of the eagle's nest, who is strong and who is weak is determined by the laws of the grassland. Our dynasty will only cooperate with heroes who best represent Khitan interests and possess far-sighted wisdom, to jointly plan the future.

His words were flawless, expressing both an attitude of non-interference in internal affairs and clearly implying support for his Yelü Talie.

Upon hearing this, Yelü Talie's eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction, and he laughed heartily:

Good! Your Majesty the Emperor of your state, indeed a person of understanding!

He paused, then lowered his voice.

Without hiding it from Deputy Envoy Han, that Yelü Wuzhi is obstinate and unyielding, clinging to those antiquated 'old practices' of unknown origin, seeking to aid the western False Dynasty, which in fact pushes our Khitan into a fire pit!

His Majesty (Yelü Jing) may not have stated it explicitly, but he has his own considerations in mind. As long as your state's conditions are suitable, I will surely spare no effort to promote friendship between our two states!

On the eastern side of the light curtain, Great Chen's Bian Liang.

Inside the imperial study, Chen Wen simultaneously received secret reports from both the northern and southern lines.

The memorial from the northern Fan Zhi detailed the progress in the genuine Khitan.

It also noted the good relationship established with Yelü Talie's forces, considering the hope of achieving a favorable commercial alliance to be great.

Meanwhile, the secret report from the hidden agents of the Jing'an Si lurking in the mirror Khitan described the predicament faced by the False Song envoys, and their major disagreement with Yelü Wuzhi (mirror) over the 'tribute' clause.

Chen Wen put down the reports, walked to the map, and his gaze grew deep.

At an impasse...

He muttered softly.

Yelü Wuzhi clings to the so-called 'old practices'; behind this, it must be the master of the Iron Crow Army pushing forward the node.

The False Song envoys are caught between a rock and a hard place... that, however, is an opportunity.

He pondered for a moment, then said to Wang Ru and Qian Gui standing beside him:

Send word to Fan Zhi, letting him know there's no need to rush for success; steady progress, solidifying the relationship with Yelü Talie will suffice.

At the same time, let our people in the mirror Khitan find a way to add fuel to the fire for those False Song envoys, so they know that our Great Chen's side in the genuine Khitan is progressing smoothly.

I want him, in desperation and pressure, either to break off talks completely, or... to sign a contract of servitude that would severely wound the False Song's vitality!

We understand! Wang Ru and Qian Gui replied in unison.

The eastern and western fronts, two royal courts, two utterly different diplomatic situations.

Fan Zhi, in the genuine Khitan, advances steadily, step by step establishing bases, gradually gaining the initiative.

Meanwhile, the False Song envoys, in the mirror Khitan, have fallen into a brutal extortion orchestrated by a hidden hand, concerning the fate of the nation, struggling to survive.

The core divergence of this diplomatic contest has become clear.

It is no longer merely a dispute over interests, but has risen to the question of whether to submit to the 'rules' devised by that invisible hand.