"The Taicang Monarch," the remaining emissary from the Dog-Hound Kingdom began, his voice steady despite the death of his comrades. "I, the emissary from the Dog-Hound Kingdom, have come to deliver the decree of our monarch and general."
Having witnessed the brutal beheading of two of his fellow countrymen, the Dog-Hound emissary's expression remained unshaken, a cold, calculating calm taking over his features. His eyes, however, still carried a slight trace of surprise.
The Taicang monarch, Ji Xia, stared at him, his gaze a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"You come with a decree?" Ji Xia asked. "What gives your king and general the right to send such a message to me?"
The emissary fell silent, so Ji Xia pressed further. "I heard that the previous monarch fought your general and nearly killed him. He was so badly wounded that he secluded himself in retreat for months. So, how is it that he's sending a message now? Has his injury healed?"
The emissary's expression remained unchanged, but a faint glint of bitterness flashed in his eyes. He replied, "I report to Your Majesty that General Dusan of the Dog-Hound Kingdom has not only recovered from his injuries, but his cultivation has advanced as well. He is currently commanding troops on the general's platform, leading and preparing his forces."
At this, the court officials of Taicang exchanged glances, their faces sour. They all remembered the slaughter of 6,000 Dog-Hound soldiers by Taicang's forces just a month ago. The sense of intimidation from the emissary's words was obvious, but so was the defiance in the air.
"So what?" General Rong Lu spoke up angrily. "Do you forget that, just a month ago, 6,000 of your men were slaughtered like chickens and dogs? What's a powerful practitioner to us? Do you think we'll bow to that threat?"
The Dog-Hound emissary turned his gaze toward General Rong Lu, his eyes narrowing. "The reason Taicang won that battle was because you caught us off guard. If it weren't for your unexpected forces and our carelessness, the situation would have been quite different. Right now, you should be kneeling before us, not arrogantly speaking as you are."
The Taicang officials, enraged by the Dog-Hound emissary's blatant disrespect, were ready to retort, but they kept silent, remembering that the Taicang Monarch was present and they couldn't afford to act recklessly in his court.
Ji Xia, intrigued, leaned forward. "What's your name?" he asked.
"Jiang Qiu," the emissary answered without hesitation. "I hold the position of envoy in the Dog-Hound Kingdom."
Ji Xia gave him an appreciative nod. "Not bad. Even after watching two of your companions be killed right before you, you can maintain such composure and dare to argue with my officials. You truly are a capable servant of the Dog-Hound Kingdom."
Taking a sip of tea, Ji Xia continued, "I've always valued capable people. Given your performance, I'll allow you to speak plainly about the purpose of your visit."
Jiang Qiu bowed slightly and spoke without hesitation, "My monarch and General Dusan have issued a decree. If Taicang is willing to provide 10 million jin of grain, the Dog-Hound Kingdom will spare Taicang and ensure its people are safe from destruction. In addition, for the next three years, we will not invade Taicang, and both sides will maintain peaceful relations."
The room fell completely silent.
Ten million jin of grain?
The annual harvest of both Taicang's cities combined was less than 35 million jin, and the next harvest season was still six months away. Even if there were some stockpiled grain from previous seasons, the total was still insufficient. The Dog-Hound Kingdom had the audacity to demand 10 million jin of grain—what about Taicang's people? Were they expected to starve to death?
Dr. Gu Shu, the agricultural expert, was the first to explode with fury. "Ten million jin of grain? Is the Dog-Hound Kingdom out of its mind?"
Jiang Qiu remained calm. "This is the condition from my kingdom. If Taicang refuses, I will leave immediately."
His gaze flickered with coldness as he added, "But know this: if you reject our offer, Taicang will face the full wrath of the Dog-Hound Kingdom. Please consider carefully."
A tense silence hung over the court.
Ji Xia finally spoke, his voice tinged with doubt. "Taicang and the Dog-Hound Kingdom are neighbors, so it would be best if we could maintain peace. But I've just killed your most beloved princess. What if your king becomes enraged and breaks the treaty?"
Jiang Qiu laughed coldly. "Do not worry, my monarch is magnanimous and has many heirs. He will not hold a grudge over such a small matter."
Ji Xia's face lit up with a smile as he asked, "So, could we establish a mutual non-aggression pact?"
At this, the faces of his advisors turned grim, but Jiang Qiu was quick to pull out a scroll from his robes, unfolding it and holding it above his head for all to see.
"To put your mind at ease," he said, "I bring this agreement, signed by my monarch. The blood of our king has already been added to it. If Taicang agrees, you only need to add your blood, and the pact will be sealed. For the next three years, neither side will invade the other."
Ji Xia's expression shifted from amusement to one of genuine surprise. "Your monarch has thought of everything!"
But then his expression darkened. "However, 10 million jin of grain is far too much. If I give you that much, many of Taicang's citizens will starve. I would become the greatest sinner in this kingdom."
Jiang Qiu took a moment before responding, "Originally, our monarch made it clear that if the grain offered was less than 10 million jin, the agreement would be torn up, and Taicang would have to face the Dog-Hound army. However, after seeing how much the people of Taicang struggle just as we do, I decided to risk my position and bring this proposal to you."
Ji Xia turned to his officials. "Dr. Gu Shu, how much grain do you think Taicang can afford?"
Dr. Gu Shu thought for a long moment, then spoke. "Ten million jin is impossible. It's too heavy a burden. But five million jin might be feasible, especially if we cut back on the army's rations."
Ji Xia turned his gaze to his officials. "Do you all agree? Five million jin in exchange for peace with the Dog-Hound Kingdom?"
The officials nodded in agreement, murmuring among themselves.
"Five million jin is still a heavy burden, but if it means peace, it's worth it."
"But can we trust the Dog-Hound Kingdom to keep their word?"
Jiang Qiu's eyes flickered with a glimmer of joy as he heard the approval. "Five million jin may be a bit too little. How about we raise the amount to six million jin? This would show Taicang's sincerity."
Ji Xia nodded thoughtfully. "Six million jin, then? What do you all think?"
The officials all nodded in agreement. "Very well. Six million jin is a fair amount."
But just as the discussion seemed to be nearing a conclusion, Ji Xia suddenly slammed his hand on the table, knocking over the documents in front of him. He drew the heavy sword from behind his seat and flung it toward the Dog-Hound emissary with incredible speed.
Jiang Qiu's eyes widened in shock. How could the Taicang Monarch, who had seemed so calm, suddenly turn violent?
Before he could react, two powerful energy fields pinned him down, and the sword struck with devastating force. He died instantly, unable to even utter a final word.
Ji Xia, still seething with anger, looked at his remaining officials. "A bunch of useless people!" he sneered.