Chapter 440: Marriage Alliance Selection

The Rouran princess's beautiful eyes glanced around as she turned a full circle inside the tent.

Not seeing the person she had in mind, she felt a bit disappointed, yet her bearing became ever more noble.

"As for what we of Bei Li seek, it is not much."

What she described in detail was quite different from what General Ho knew.

She merely, under the pretense of the princess's dowry, added some horses and gold to the Great Undertaking Dynasty.

The Rouran princess solemnly said, "Our king only wishes from now on to cease war and disband troops, that the two nations may enjoy eternal friendship."

Actually, both General Ho and the Bei Li people know full well,

the phrase "eternal friendship" is merely a choice made based on the present circumstances.

The winds and clouds shift unpredictably; no one knows what will happen the next moment.

Therefore, whether the Bei Li people's words come from sincerity is not important.

It only takes the rulers of the Great Undertaking Dynasty to weigh the pros and cons; if it is beneficial, or the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, then there is reason to accept.

General Ho saw the scribe official beside him stop writing and said, "I will certainly report everything in full to the imperial court."

"Please, princess, return to Bei Li as soon as possible tomorrow."

"After all, this concerns the relations between our two states; if there is a reply, our Great Undertaking court will naturally write to Bei Li or send an envoy."

"After that, it will no longer be the Northwest Army's place to intervene."

General Ho clasped his fists, making it clear he was seeing them off.

A Gu Na was somewhat displeased.

They, upon arriving at the Northwest Army, were first placed under loose confinement, unable to go anywhere.

There was no welcoming banquet, no fine wine or meat; they ate only coarse tea and plain rice.

Having finally managed to see General Ho again with difficulty, they spoke only a few words before being ordered to leave, not even having drunk their tea.

Is this not blatant disrespect?!

A Gu Na gritted his teeth; as a Bei Li noble, his mission to the Northwest Army camp represented Bei Li's dignity.

If they were to be looked down upon by just a mere general of the Great Undertaking Dynasty, they could only endure it.

Wouldn't the people of the Great Undertaking Dynasty then think them Bei Li even easier to bully?!

Because he had promised the Rouran princess not to act impulsively, A Gu Na struggled to suppress his anger and said, "I know General Ho is a busy important person, but we came in and haven't even been offered a cup of water."

"Is General Ho perhaps too anxious?"

General Ho raised an eyebrow intriguingly, let out an "oh," as if only just realizing he hadn't poured water for the guests.

"Oh dear, why didn't you two remind me if you were thirsty?"

"I said to just tell me whatever you want to eat or drink; don't stand on ceremony!"

Saying this, he called out repeatedly for someone to bring water.

A Gu Na endured and endured before he managed not to let a cold smile show on his face.

"Just ask?" heh.

He had indeed asked these past two days, but there was no alcohol, no tea—what was sent remained only plain water.

If he asked again, the reply would be, "Sorry, we don't have any."

It's not that we won't give it to you; you simply don't have what you want—what can we do?

So, as expected, this time they brought up two bowls… of cool plain water.

General Ho warmly greeted the guests to drink water, feeling nothing amiss.

A Gu Na ground his teeth in anger, wishing he could slam the water bowl onto General Ho's smiling face.

But he could not, nor dared he.

Yet A Gu Na had not yet fully realized who the person before him was.

General Ho is a chief commander of an army; on the battlefield he watches six directions and listens to eight, having carved how many bloody paths?

Any slight change in an enemy's expression is caught fully by his eyes.

Having fought Bei Li for so many years,

Bei Li has repeatedly harassed the borders of the Great Undertaking Dynasty, looting and slaughtering its people.

Even now, during the peace talks, General Ho could never regard these people as friends in his heart.

He lifted his own water bowl and said, "Why aren't you drinking?"

"Or perhaps… the water here does not suit Prince A Gu Na's taste?"

General Ho looked at A Gu Na; although the corners of his mouth still bore a smile, that smile did not reach his eyes at all.

A Gu Na felt a chill rise instinctively in his heart.

How could he have forgotten?"

General Ho, the very one who slaughtered tens of thousands of Bei Li troops, reduced Bei Li's borders to their smallest extent in seventy years, indirectly causing turmoil in the Bei Li dynasty and a change of throne… the Northwest Army's General Ho.

Only now did he truly realize that the Rouran princess's reminder was sound.

General Ho is a madman who kills Bei Li people without blinking!

It seemed as if a strong pressure weighed down upon his head, causing A Gu Na to involuntarily lower his head.

He lifted the water bowl, took a sip, and said, "I'm used to drinking it… thank you… for the hospitality."

General Ho smiled satisfiedly, looked at A Gu Na, and drained the water in his bowl in one gulp.

When it comes to matching sarcasm and passive‑aggressiveness, the Bei Li folks still can't beat the Central Plains people of the Great Undertaking Dynasty.

Not serving tea—is it really because there are no tea leaves?

No.

Times are different now.

The army's storehouse has tea, granted by the Imperial Court.

Huo Jiang's tent also has some, produced by Gu Xixi herself—loose tea and tea cake.

But the Northwest Army's soldiers, including Huo Jiang, simply don't want to serve tea to the Bei Li people.

For many years, the whole army has drunk only plain water.

Even the Grand General can't get tea, and is unwilling to spend extra money to buy it.

In winter, when water sources run dry, even being able to drink a bowl of clean, hot plain water is precious.

What right do these Bei Li people have to be picky?

Why should the hard-won tea be given to them to drink?

In the tent, A Gu looks like a defeated rooster, head down and spiritless.

The Rouran princess didn't drink water, and she had no interest in the men's confrontation.

She turned to Huo Jiang: 'Grand General, you haven't yet asked the princess about her choice of husband.'

It's not good to be in such a hurry to drive people away.

Her tone was gentle with a hint of joking, but the meaning was quite firm.

Huo Jiang actually doesn't dislike this princess; at least she's sensible.

Thus Huo Jiang's attitude toward her is also more mild: 'Although the details of the marriage alliance aren't under my jurisdiction.'

But since the princess wants to speak, I don't mind adding a few words to the memorial.

'Thank you.' The Rouran princess lifted her eyes to look directly at Huo Jiang, clearly saying a few words:

'His Highness the Regent Prince of the Great Undertaking Dynasty.'

After a cup of tea.

Huo Jiang pounds the table and bursts out laughing: 'Hahaha... Oh my, it's surprising, yet it seems as expected.'

'Just now, in front of them, I had to hold back my laughter—really tough!'

Mu Nan Zhao stood before him, his eyes full of gloom.

'How about letting the Bei Li envoy encounter a wolf pack attack on the Gobi beach and all perish?'

Huo Jiang stopped laughing: 'Just talk, don't actually go kill them all.'

'First, they have so many expert guards; the excuse of being wiped out by wild wolves is a lame reason nobody would believe. His Majesty has already agreed to the first step of peace talks; now, if trouble arises in my territory, I don't want to take the blame for you.'

'Second...'

He couldn't help laughing a few more times: 'Even if I let you act, at most a princess and an ornamental prince would die.'

'Even if the third princess is of high birth and favored, wouldn't she still have to be handed over to the Great Undertaking Dynasty as a hostage by her father?'

'If she dies, as long as the Bei Li king still wants peace talks, no matter how bitterly they cry at the funeral, afterward they'll still have to send another princess.'

Mu Nan Zhao said coldly: 'I don't care what they like to send.'

'As long as they don't blindly choose me, she won't have to die.'