Chapter 1586: The Good-Hearted King of Qin

Inside Hu Zhengtang's manor.

A Qin Kingdom envoy sat upright in a chair, his face filled with an arrogance that he could not suppress, emanating from within.

The soldiers nearby had faces as dark as the bottom of a pot; if not for the military orders they were under, they would have long since pinned this envoy to the ground and beaten him.

"Is this how Eastern Tang receives envoys?" The envoy rolled his eyes and said with an air of self-importance, "This official has been sitting here for nearly half an hour, and your Eastern Tang monarch still hasn't appeared? Could it be that you do not hold my Great Qin Kingdom in your eyes?"

Veins bulged on the soldiers' foreheads. One took a deep breath and said, "His Majesty is currently discussing matters with the General. Envoy, please wait a moment."

"Sigh, my King specifically sent this official here personally, hoping to be on good terms with Eastern Tang and avoid sparking a war between our two nations. Yet, the Eastern Tang monarch is so ignorant of what is good for him. If my King were to find out, I fear there would be no avoiding a fit of rage," the envoy said with a sinister, mocking tone.

Just then, an arrogant voice came from afar, drawing closer: "Is that so? Then I'd like to see what the King of Qin looks like when he throws a tantrum."

Immediately following, a slender figure entered the room, his face handsome, a cynical smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.

Beside him was a graceful and luxurious woman, her expression cold and clear, with an air of nobility between her brows.

It was none other than Xu Que and Xuan Yuan Wanrong.

Behind the two of them were Hu Zhengtang and several other high-ranking generals; almost every soldier who had a say in this city had followed them.

The reason was simple: before coming here, everyone had had a huge argument.

The conservative faction, led by Hu Zhengtang, felt they should hold the city and plan slowly.

With the strategic advantage of the majestic Tianmen Pass, as long as they defended passively, they could hold out for several years.

Once the country developed and the border forces grew strong, they could fight the Qin Kingdom head-on in a few years.

But Xu Que did not entirely agree.

In his words: "Others are already riding on your head to take a dump, and you still won't beat them? You should pin them to the ground and rub their faces in it! Let them feel what real strength is!"

Hu Zhengtang and the generals were speechless.

Your Majesty, you aren't wrong to say that, but you have to look at the strength of both sides!

The opponent is the Qin Kingdom that has swept across the six states!

Although you led three thousand troops to kill tens of thousands of the enemy, that was only a small-scale engagement.

If a real war broke out, even if your three thousand troops were capable, they would die if surrounded by hundreds of thousands!

Xu Que was noncommittal about this.

Young soldiers, you have never witnessed true strength...

Seeing Xu Que, the arrogance on the envoy's face restrained slightly.

The court officials back home might not be clear on it, but as a personal guard to the King of Qin, he naturally knew that the person who had led three thousand troops to slaughter their way into the Qin army was the very monarch in front of him, who looked so harmless.

"Greetings to the Eastern Tang monarch." The envoy sat in his chair and cupped his hands.

Although he felt wary, the envoy still maintained his due arrogance.

Seeing this, Hu Zhengtang and the others' faces sank, and the atmosphere in the hall became agitated.

Xu Que raised a hand, pressing down the restlessness of the crowd, and stared at the envoy with great interest: "I wonder what words His Majesty the King of Qin has for you to bring to me?"

"The day before yesterday, our nation attempted a friendly exchange with your country's soldiers, but your country misunderstood our good intentions and sent people to launch a surprise attack on our soldiers, which goes against the traditions of interaction between our two nations." The envoy opened with a black-and-white-reversing statement, instantly causing the Eastern Tang soldiers' eyes to turn red.

However, his next words were even more infuriating.

"However, my King of Qin is benevolent and kind, and has decided not to pursue the matter. This time, sending this official here is mainly for one thing."

"Another attempt to persuade us to surrender?" Xu Que asked curiously.

Is the King of Qin really that mentally challenged?

The envoy thought Xu Que was already afraid, and a look of arrogance surged onto his face again: "My King said, as long as your country is willing to take the Qin Kingdom as its master, voluntarily form an alliance with the Qin Kingdom, pay tribute annually, and invite you, the Eastern Tang monarch, to reside in our Imperial City, our Qin Kingdom will not pursue this incident."

Damn it, that dog-shit King of Qin is truly shameless!

Xu Que was so angry he laughed. They clearly came to fight a war, and after being beaten to a pulp by him, they still had the nerve to make up such a story.

The envoy's words were very clear: he wanted Xu Que to act as a hostage and enter the Qin Kingdom. It was an alliance in name, but in reality, it was just another method of persuading surrender—calling oneself a vassal.

Xu Que thought about it. With the King of Qin's face-loving nature, he would actually make such a decision. Could it be that someone was speaking for him behind his back?

What he didn't know was that after Bai Qi saw his performance that day, he had returned and pleaded with his life, trying to get the King of Qin to take Eastern Tang into his pocket, lest he waste a talent who could conquer the world for the Qin Kingdom.

But even if he knew, Xu Que would only spit fiercely.

How could the Leader of the Zha Tian Bang bow down to others?

Upon hearing this, Hu Zhengtang and the others' eyes burst with a sharp light, but they soon fell into hesitation.

To be fair, the plan given by the King of Qin was actually the most suitable for the current Eastern Tang.

But if that happened, His Majesty would be wronged, entering the Qin Kingdom as a hostage—this was something they could not accept.

Compared to the entanglement of Hu Zhengtang and the others, Xu Que seemed completely unconcerned. Instead, he said meaningfully: "And if I don't agree?"

The envoy raised an eyebrow: "Our nation now has four million troops arrayed outside Tianmen Pass. The monarch should think clearly."

Slap!

A deputy general nearby finally couldn't hold back. He slammed the table and stood up: "Enough! You Qin Kingdom people are too arrogant. You are merely an envoy, yet you dare to speak to His Majesty like this. I'll drag you out and feed you to the dogs right now!"

The envoy sneered: "You all should consider clearly. If I die here, in a few days, the Qin Kingdom's four million troops will immediately attack the city!"

The generals' expressions changed instantly.

They hadn't even finished setting up their defensive fortifications. If the Qin army attacked the city now, while they wouldn't break Tianmen Pass, there would inevitably be hundreds of thousands of casualties.

Such losses were far beyond what Eastern Tang could bear.

"Are you threatening me?" Xu Que laughed.

The envoy was stunned: "This official was only..."

Bang!

Xu Que slammed the table and stood up, shouting angrily: "I hate it most when others threaten me! Generals, hear my order! The King of Qin has humiliated our Eastern Tang so much. As the Eastern Tang monarch, I swear not to accept this insult. I am now declaring war on the Qin Kingdom. We attack tomorrow!"

The envoy was instantly dumbfounded. Before he could even open his mouth, he saw a flash of a blade pass before his eyes.

With a "crack," the envoy's head hit the floor.

Hu Zhengtang and the others were completely dumbfounded.

Your Majesty, what are you doing!

Things were still open for discussion!

Last time it was only detention; why kill him directly this time?

Xu Que put away his long blade, his face full of anger, but in his heart, he was secretly pleased.

Damn, luckily this envoy came to provoke us, otherwise how would I persuade these old stubborn people like Hu Zhengtang to go to war?

The King of Qin is truly a good person!

... ===== CHAPTER 1587 =====