eurekapd Chapter 208: The picture shows the dagger
Chapter 208: The picture shows the dagger
But Shen Changgong did not walk towards Xu Ke. Instead, he stood in the middle of the long map and looked down.
This map is quite long, with south at the top and north at the bottom. The terrain of the Nine Kingdoms is long from north to south and narrow from east to west, so it can only be drawn in this way.
The first country to appear was the Daqian Kingdom in the southernmost part, followed by Chu, Sichuan, Wei, Qin, Qi, Liang and other countries. Finally, the Dakun Kingdom slowly appeared.
However, when he was about to reach the northernmost State of Yan, Xu Ke suddenly stopped.
Shen Changgong stood three steps away from him and said in surprise,
"Why didn't the messenger unfold it?"
Xu Ke smiled awkwardly and said,
"Prince Shen, that's almost enough. We want to lease the counties of Dakun, not Dayan. There's no need to unfold the map of Dayan. Besides, I'm closer and can point it out better for Your Highness."
"Okay, then tell me, which three counties?"
Shen Changgong was still standing far away.
"Your Highness, won't you come forward? I'm afraid you won't be able to see clearly. How about I move closer?"
As he was talking, Xu Ke was about to leave, but Shen Changgong quickly said,
"Stop, stop, stop! Don't go any further! The map will droop if you move, and I won't be able to see clearly. Just stand there. I have good eyesight and can see everything clearly."
"well."
Xu Ke nodded awkwardly, and when he was about to speak, Shen Changgong said,
"How about I call someone over to help you hold the other end, and you can come over and point it out to me yourself. It's okay. There are many people in the court, and everyone can help."
"No, no, how dare I trouble the great lords of Dayan? I can do it myself."
Looking at his expression, Shen Changgong's smile deepened, his eyes full of playful thought.
Xu Ke held the scroll tightly in one hand, pointed at the map, and said,
"Your Highness, please look, starting from Yaoguan Pass in Dayan, from north to south, the three counties are Yangbei County, Qiuxin County, and Fenglu County.
The counties on both sides of the east and west are still under the jurisdiction of my Great Kun. These three counties that run from north to south are the capital. It can be said that these three counties directly open up all the trade exchanges between Yan State and Kun State.
Furthermore, these three counties, under the rule of Yan State, can be exempted from many customs duties, thus saving even more money."
Hearing this, Shen Changgong touched his chin and nodded.
"That makes sense, well said."
Xu Ke smiled.
However, Shen Changgong asked again,
"Then does our country allow us to station troops in these three counties?"
"Of course not. These three counties can only be used for trade and government. Neither side can station troops there. If Dayan were to station hundreds of thousands of troops in Fenglu County, right outside our Jingji County, wouldn't that be like putting the army right at our doorstep?"
Hearing this, Shen Changgong sneered,
"We can't station troops here, we can only conduct trade and govern, and the land surrounding us is your Kun Kingdom, sandwiched between them.
But we will return your army to you.
After returning it to you, you can directly station troops outside Yaoguan Pass, and the three counties will be completely cut off, and they will still be yours.
Do you people in Kun Country really think that I, Dayan, am easy to fool?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding civil and military officials glared at Xu Ke angrily.
Prime Minister Wang Anqing said leisurely,
"In my opinion, Kun Country is just trying to get something for nothing and trick our Tianyu Army back to Kun Country.
Then you killed General Yu and all the generals, and you still wanted to take 150,000 troops for free. These three counties are still under your control.
You, Kun Country, have a really good plan."
Xu Ke said quickly,
"No, my Great Kun is a country of gentlemen, and I also believe that Great Yan is a country of gentlemen. As long as we sign an alliance, we will never go back on our word. Otherwise, wouldn't our prestige among the nations be completely destroyed?
We will never go back on our word, nor will we station troops there. The officials sent by Dayan can go to Kun State with the surrendered soldiers and take up their posts immediately. Our country will never make any difficulties or obstructions."
Taiwei Gao Qiu snorted coldly,
"Humph, you may sound nice now, but once the soldiers and officials enter your Kun Kingdom, I'm afraid they will be detained right away, right?
Those civil servants are no match for you and can only wait to be slaughtered."
Xu Ke said quickly,
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister, the signing of an alliance is naturally open to negotiation. If you have any conditions, just state them."
"Then I will propose that Kun State cede all eighteen counties north of the capital to Yan State. Kun State will become a vassal of Yan State and pay a military compensation of ten million taels. The Emperor of Kun State will abdicate and go to Yan State as a hostage to apologize. The Crown Prince of Kun State will ascend the throne and abdicate the throne. He will only be able to call himself king from now on.
In the future, all new kings of Kun State will be enthroned by Yan State."
When Shen Changgong said this, not only Xu Ke was dumbfounded, but all the civil and military officials in the court were stunned.
This is not a negotiation or signing of a contract, this is clearly shitting on Kun Country's neck.
Some people even stuff their poop into the other person's mouth after pooping.
Any normal person would not sign such a humiliating treaty.
Anyone could tell that Shen Changgong was asking for such a huge amount of money and had no intention of negotiating peace at all.
Xu Ke took a deep breath and said,
"Prince Shen, the conditions you mentioned are simply too unreasonable. Our country absolutely dares not agree to them."
"Don't agree? Then beat me!"
Shen Changgong shouted coldly,
"Whatever you have done to us, we will repay a hundredfold. That old scoundrel, Emperor Kun, took advantage of the civil unrest in our country and sent troops to attack us, intending to destroy our nation and exterminate our race. Now we are surrounded by enemies on all sides and the situation is critical. If he says he won't fight, then he won't fight?"
Wang Qian in the crowd had a complicated expression and was a little sad. He still remembered that when he was on a diplomatic mission and met Shen Changgong, he was also criticized in the same way.
Now it feels so good to see others being criticized like this.
Xu Ke's face turned slightly pale and he said,
"Prince Shen, the conditions are negotiable. As long as your request is reasonable, we can discuss it."
"Discuss? In my opinion, your Kun Kingdom has never considered negotiating this time, right? What is your purpose in coming to our Dayan?"
When these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials in the court were shocked.
Could it be that Kun Kingdom has other purposes?
"Lord Shen, I am here to negotiate sincerely..."
"Then, does the envoy dare to make a bet with this king?"
Shen Changgong smiled leisurely.
When Xu Ke heard the word "bet", he was not nervous yet, but Gongsun Wan'er was the first to get nervous.
Her first thought was, it's over, this guy is going to cheat me.
"What bet?"
Xu Ke asked.
Shen Changgong smiled leisurely, pointed at the scroll in Xu Ke's hand, and said,
"Let's bet on whether there's anything else in that scroll of yours. If there is, even if I win, you must keep your life.
If not, then I lose. I agree to all your conditions. How about that?"
Xu Ke gave an ugly smile.
"Prince Shen, there's only the shaft in here. Where are the other items?"
"Really? What about the dagger, for example?"