"The envoy from the Great Qin Dynasty has arrived!"
The officials quietly passed the word along, their faces marked with seriousness.
Three months ago, Dawu was the leader among the five kingdoms. But overnight, the world turned upside down; now Great Qin is the strongest among them. This led to a mix of feelings among the officials, as the situation had changed so rapidly.
"The Great Qin envoy has arrived!"
Soon, a group of people entered the Divine Martial Hall. A team of guards clad in silver fish-scale armor, each exuding an impressive aura and having reached the Soul Forge realm, escorted a young man who was walking in the front.
This young man was dressed in golden scale armor and exhibited an impressive demeanor. His head held high, he radiated a sense of dragon might, reflected the golden light, and astonishingly had reached the Ninth Level of the Original Spirit.
"This is the Seventh Prince of the Great Qin, Lin Ye, who at the tender age of twenty-five, is a prodigious talent at the Ninth Level of the Original Spirit. Though not the Crown Prince, his mother is the current queen consort, making him a full brother to the Great Qin Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, he'll likely be the most trusted king with real power!"
Upon seeing the Seventh Prince of the Great Qin, Lin Ye, the officials subtly sighed at his prowess and simultaneously realized that the Great Qin Dynasty had sent heavyweight representatives. Now it all depended on how their emperor would respond.
"So you are Chu Yuan, the second-generation emperor of Dawu."
After arriving at the court, Lin Ye looked at Chu Yuan but showed no courtesy. Instead, he appeared indifferent and neglected even the most basic etiquette, openly disrespecting the Great Wu Dynasty.
"Presumptuous, to dare refer to the reigning emperor by his name is disrespectful! Eunuch Wei vented his anger: "Kneel down now!"
"Ha ha, I am here this time carrying the decree of the emperor, representing the emperor of my Great Qin, how can there be a reason to kneel!"
Lin Ye laughed loudly, undervaluing Chu Yuan: "Moreover, our two countries are both illustrious dynasties, standing on equal footing. It's just that your current national strength in Dawu is far less than that of my Great Qin."
"Are the people of Great Qin all savages? Perhaps they don't even know how to write the words for etiquette."
Chu Yuan's eyes sparkled like electricity.
"Hmm! Little Emperor of Dawu, I've been waiting outside the Divine Martial Hall since three days ago; yet you delayed me for three days. This has greatly dissatisfied and angered the envoy of my Great Qin. If you want to quell my anger, that will have."
Lin Ye spoke domineeringly.
"Oh? So what are you going to do about it?" asked Chu Yuan.
"I won't waste words with you. This time, I have brought the Edict of Great Qin. It contains various demands of my Great Qin. Sign on it, and I promise that Dawu will enjoy one year of peace. Otherwise, be prepared to face the war."
As Lin Ye was speaking, a guard in fish-scale armor at his side handed over a bound edict.
"Read."
Chu Yuan didn't take it and instead ordered Eunuch Wei to open it.
"Second Emperor of Dawu..." As soon as Eunuch Wei saw the content of the edict, his face changed drastically, he did not dare to continue.
"No worries, go on and read." Chu Yuan waved his hand.
"Your Majesty!"
Eunuch Wei took a deep breath and continued: "The second Emperor of Dawu, Chu, on news of the untimely death of the former emperor of Dawu, I am deeply grieved. To ensure the peace of our two kingdoms and prevent the common people from suffering the disruption of war, I hope to consolidate relations as did the Qin and Jin, taking Qingyang, Heyang, and Quanyang, the lands of fifteen prefectures in the three provinces as borders, separating Dawu and Great Qin. In addition to this, as compensation, three hundred million crystal stones, and I hope that Dawu can arrange a princess to marry into Great Qin to mutually give and receive a king and queen. If the second Emperor of Dawu, Chu is willing to sign this edict, I promise that there will be no war on the border within a year, and neither will other kingdoms infringe."
"What! Cede territory and pay tribute and propose marriage?"
"It is a great shame, a great shame!"
"Since the establishment of Dawu, with military prowess as our totem, when have we ceded territory, paid tribute, and proposed a marriage alliance!"
"If this edict is signed, our late emperor will not rest in peace!"
.....
When all the officials heard the contents of the edict, it caused a great uproar. Dawu was blatantly disregarded - it was nothing less than a direct humiliation.
If he signs it, it would be a total loss of rights and humiliation, turning them into a laughing stock.
[Option one, agree to cede territory and pay compensation in exchange for a royal marriage, reward of one hundred Destiny Points, and completion of the "Capitulation Achievements". Note: Equipped with the "Capitulation" achievement, you will acquire the Turtle Breath Technique, granting you a ten percent increase in cultivation speed and a hundred percent increase in personal defense.]
[Option two, refuse to cede territory or pay compensation in exchange for a royal marriage, reward of one hundred Destiny Points, and completion of the "Unyielding Iron Bones" achievement. Note: Be a tough person, act like a tough person, better dead than surrender the slightest.]
Both options appeared vividly before Chu Yuan, dazzlingly luminous.
"Marriage? Who do you propose to marry?"
Two streaks of electric light shot out from Chu Yuan's eyes, gliding like electric dragons in the hall, his voice extremely cold.
"The late Emperor had three daughters. The eldest princess had left Great Wu before its founding and has not returned for many years. As for the second princess, she left the capital ten years ago by the late Emperor's decree. Only the youngest princess, Princess Chenxi, remains unmarried. Naturally, it is Princess Chenxi who would marry."
Li Yun said lightly, as if reminding Chu Yuan.
"Your Great Wu has only Princess Chenxi left, and the prince to be married is me, to ensure a year of peace for your Great Wu. Naturally, I undertake this role of groom reluctantly. When I return, my brothers will inevitably ridicule me."
Lin Ye looked wronged.
Are there only leftovers?
What did he regard Princess Chenxi as, some leftovers from a vegetable market?
"You overthink it. About ceding land, paying compensation, and providing a royal bride, I will not cede a single piece of land, pay a single penny, or send my sister, Princess Chenxi to your Great Sheng Dynasty. I will not agree to any of your Great Sheng Dynasty's demands."
Chu Yuan grabbed the scroll containing the demands of the Great Sheng Nation and tore it in two.
"Ding! The host has chosen option two, reward of one hundred Destiny Points, completion of the Iron Bones achievement."
"You've torn the national letter, this means war!"
Upon seeing this, Lin Ye blazed with fury.
"My million-strong Great Sheng army has already gathered on the southern border, waiting only for my order to attack. Not only that, the nations of Dalu, Dacheng, and Daqi also have millions of troops marching south. Moreover, countless more troops are coming. Breaking through the capital of your Great Wu will only be a matter of months!"
Lin Ye sneered, "How will your unyielding spirit help you in the face of absolute power? There is no point."
"We cannot withstand a united attack from these four nations. The present state of Great Wu cannot bear this kind of war," the Grand Marshall said, "I urge you to reconsider. Do not endanger the foundation of Great Wu due to a single moment of impulse."
"Offering royal brides and compensation is not a problem, but I think ceding three provinces and fifteen prefectures is too much. How about ceding one province and five prefectures instead? What do you think, Seventh Prince?"
Li Yun asked.
"Not a single bit less. In order to appease the other three nations, my Great Sheng has already made large concessions," Lin Ye replied.
"It's good to have fun. Why don't I send the daughters and granddaughters of you and the Grand Marshall to Great Sheng for a royal marriage? War, then!" Chu Yuan responded with a cold laugh, "When has Great Wu, a nation founded on martial strength, ever feared it?"
"Very well, you said it yourself. The next time we meet, it will be when a million-strong army levels the Imperial City of Great Wu. Your Chu clan will be exterminated, and the heads will roll. Not a single one of you will survive." Lin Ye retorted with furious laughter.
[Option one: Allow the Great Sheng delegation to leave, giving one hundred Destiny Points. Prepare for the war]
[Option two: Detain the Great Sheng delegation as hostages, getting one hundred Destiny Points.]
[Option three: Execute the Great Sheng delegation, demonstrating the determination of the Emperor of Great Wu, leading to war, and acquire one hundred Destiny Points.]
God-level choices appeared again!