NCCnovel Chapter 28 Yang Guang actually listened to the opinions of others?
Chapter 28 Yang Guang actually listened to the opinions of others?
"Hehehe, the benefits?"
A low, cold laugh rolled down Yang Guang's throat, slowly sweeping across the faces of every foreign envoy in the hall. "I really want to hear... what exactly do you want in return?"
It's nothing more than gold, silver, millet, and silk—these mundane things that sustain the lifeline of a small country.
As for ceding territory?
I don't think about it!
That would be more painful than having his heart ripped out alive.
The territory of the Great Sui Dynasty, the foundation of our ancestors, will not yield an inch!
"Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty," a deep-set-eyed, high-nosed envoy stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with calculating intent.
"If we win, could you grant us a thousand artisans, as well as the craft manuals of the Han people?"
Who among the envoys who could stay in the Sui Dynasty and move around the court wasn't a shrewd and cunning person?
Money and grain can only quench thirst temporarily; what truly ensures the longevity of a nation and the enduring stability of its foundation are the exquisite skills and craftsmen.
These are the lifeblood of the nation that cannot be bought with mountains of gold and seas of silver.
"Zi Lie."
Yang Guang turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the young man standing with his hand on his sword.
The decision was made by the emperor, but the ones who truly had to step onto the stage, fight to the death, were Lü Xiao and Yuwen Chengdu.
He could easily bestow money, grain, and cloth upon them.
But for artisans and craftsmen, this precedent must never be set!
This is undermining the foundation of the Sui Dynasty to aid the enemy.
It may not cause harm for ten or twenty years, but after several decades or a hundred years, it will inevitably become a serious problem, leaving endless troubles.
"Your Majesty, rest assured," Lü Xiao raised his face, a hint of arrogant certainty on his lips, "I will not lose."
"Good!" Yang Guang slammed his palm on the gilded armrest, suddenly stood up, and the hem of his dragon robe rippled with an aura of power.
"If you all emerge victorious, the Great Sui Dynasty is willing to provide ten thousand skilled craftsmen and open its treasury to impart the corresponding technological secrets!"
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Immediately, an uncontrollable, almost ecstatic uproar erupted from the foreign envoys!
If we could obtain the skills and craftsmanship of the Sui Dynasty artisans, it would be an unparalleled opportunity to benefit future generations and bring strength and prosperity to the nation!
Moreover, the arrogance of the Sui people was simply astonishing.
Yang Guang personally led a million-strong army to conquer Goguryeo, but he also suffered a crushing defeat.
Now they dare to provoke a hundred countries with the power of one nation, they simply regard the hundred countries of the world as worthless!
Arrogance will ultimately be paid for in blood!
Lu Xiao raised his arm and the Zhenyue Sword, bestowed upon him by the late emperor, with a clang, its cold light suppressing the clamor in the hall.
His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the faces flushed with excitement:
"What if all your nations are defeated?"
"If we lose..." The messengers were momentarily speechless, exchanging hesitant glances.
They never considered the possibility of losing.
How could the valiant warriors selected from a hundred kingdoms possibly lose against the Sui Dynasty?
As for the stakes, what can they offer that matches Wanjiang's worth?
"Your Majesty," Lü Xiao turned around, sword in hand, and bowed, "may I, your subject, sign this wager on your behalf?"
"Granted." Yang Guang knew that although he acted flamboyantly, he was actually shrewd and calculating, so he immediately agreed.
"Since you all don't know, then I will decide."
Lu Xiao faced the crowd again, his voice not loud, but each word struck like a hammer blow to the heart of everyone.
"If all the nations are defeated, you must immediately write a letter of state and proclaim it to the world."
"We shall forever submit to the Great Sui, pay tribute annually, and honor the Emperor of the Great Sui with the rites due to the sovereign of the Northern Frontier."
He paused briefly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, only his clear yet resolute voice echoing:
"Heavenly Khan!"
The words "Heavenly Khan" struck Yang Guang like a thunderclap from the heavens, making his heart tremble and his blood boil.
Yes!
Although the title of Sage Khan is prestigious, he is ultimately inheriting the legacy of the previous emperor.
If one could become the Heavenly Khan, revered by all nations and submitted to by all under Heaven.
He truly surpassed the previous emperor and achieved a great feat unparalleled throughout history!
No, it's more than just surpassing the late emperor.
Even those who admire Yao and Shun would pale in comparison to his unparalleled achievements!
"A hundred kingdoms against my Great Sui," Lü Xiao's gaze, sharp as lightning, slowly swept across each face displaying its unique expression, "Do you dare accept this wager?"
After a brief silence, a jumble of responses erupted from the crowd of foreign envoys:
"Why wouldn't we dare! We'll return home immediately and gather the bravest warriors!"
"We urge Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty to keep your promise and not break this agreement!"
Once the wager was made, the foreign envoys no longer even mentioned demanding the return of tribute, as if it were a trivial matter.
The crowd hurriedly bowed and then filed out of the hall, their steps quick, as if afraid of being a moment too late.
In the blink of an eye, those figures in colorful clothes and strange costumes were no longer visible in the hall.
Only a faint scent of spices remained, along with the subtle aftershocks of the earlier commotion.
The court discussion continued, but the series of events that had occurred today had stirred up a storm of emotions among the civil and military officials in the hall, making it difficult for them to remain calm.
His Majesty went further and further down this willful path, and then there was Lü Xiao, who appeared out of nowhere.
It seemed as if they were determined to be the ones adding fuel to the fire, helping His Majesty to make this raging inferno burn even brighter.
"Your Majesty," after the foreign envoys had all left, Lü Xiao spoke again, "I still have something on my mind that I cannot help but say."
"speak!"
At this time, Yang Guang was very fond of Lü Xiao.
I felt that this young man was sharp and incisive, and always got to the heart of the matter. He was much more pleasing to the eye than those obsequious old ministers.
If all the civil and military officials could act in this way, why worry about the failure of government orders?
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that from this day forward, all receptions of envoys from foreign lands shall be conducted in accordance with the law."
All their expenses, etiquette, and accommodations shall be handled in accordance with those of officials of the same rank in my Great Sui Dynasty.
Do not overstep this line, and certainly do not give any special treatment.
Lü Xiao was well aware of Yang Guang's original intention in treating foreign envoys so well in the past.
It was nothing more than using the grand spectacle of all nations paying tribute and the practice of giving generously and receiving meagerly in return to embellish the magnificent power and boundless wealth of the Celestial Empire.
However, there are many ways to demonstrate national power, not just generous gifts.
They lure people with profits and bind them with favors.
Instead of earning genuine respect, this will only breed a group of greedy, ungrateful wretches who take gifts for granted.
True respect is never earned through rewards, but through iron and blood, and through unparalleled strength!
Upon hearing this, all the ministers' eyes once again focused on Lü Xiao.
The feelings included astonishment, doubt, and worry.
This...this is more than just advice; it's practically pointing out Your Majesty's past gains and losses and instructing Your Majesty on how to be a ruler!
In the past, there were indeed upright officials who dared to speak out against the emperor, but their fates were nothing more than being flogged in court, stripped of their official robes, and dying in obscurity.
Even if Lü Xiao had just made great contributions and was enjoying the Emperor's favor, how could things end well if he went so far as to directly attack the Emperor's scales?
"Hahaha!" Yang Guang burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing throughout the palace, showing not a trace of anger.
"Zilie's words resonate deeply with me! Indeed, it is time to make a change!"
From this day forward, all receptions for foreign envoys shall be conducted in accordance with the established practices of our dynasty's officials, simplifying procedures and abandoning extravagance for simplicity! Those who disobey this order will be severely punished!
Today, he has finally seen through the true colors of those foreign envoys.
It's because we've given you too many smiles and bestowed too much favor in the past.
That's why they forgot their proper place and dared to take advantage of us, even attempting to control the Celestial Empire!
"Your Majesty is wise!" Yuwen Huaji reacted quickly, immediately bowing to accept the order, his tone full of admiration.
Regardless of whether their intentions were genuine or not, the other officials also joined in loudly praising the emperor, and the hall was filled with cheers once again.
"I'm tired, let's disperse." Yang Guang waved his sleeves, but a trace of weariness appeared on his face.
The officials then bowed in order and slowly withdrew from the main hall.
Stepping out of the palace gates, the midday sun was rather dazzling.
The officials did not disperse immediately, but gathered in twos and threes in the shadows of the palace walls or beside the carriages, talking in hushed tones.
"Who exactly is this Lü Xiao? I have never seen such a person in the court before."
Lu Xiao's words and actions today can be described as earth-shattering.
Not only did he negotiate treaties with the hundred states on behalf of the emperor, but he also reversed His Majesty's long-standing policy decisions with a single word.
Such influence is unmatched, not to mention ordinary newcomers, even senior ministers and high-ranking officials would find it difficult to match.
"He's still so young, yet His Majesty trusts him so much. What do you think, could it be..." An official looked around and lowered his voice.
"Is it a palace secret, related to the imperial bloodline?"
Despite his young age, Lü Xiao was able to gain direct access to the emperor's ears and repeatedly overstepped his bounds without being punished.
Aside from the unspeakable blood relation, it's hard to think of any other reasonable explanation.
Could it be that His Majesty's descendants, who were lost among the common people in his early years, have been specially found and placed in the court as his assistants, paving the way for his future success?
"Hiss, that makes a lot of sense!" The bystander gasped and nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had discovered the secret of heaven.
Yes, that must be it!
His Majesty is laying the groundwork for the future return of the princes to the imperial family and their consolidation of power. His intentions are truly profound!
"Don't make wild guesses," an official surnamed Zheng, who knew a little about the inside story, shook his head and interrupted.
"This boy, Lü Xiao, is not of royal blood; he was personally recommended to His Majesty by Prince Yang Lin."
The reason why Yang Xuangan was able to quell the rebellion in Liyang a month ago was partly due to this young man's efforts.
That's it!
Everyone suddenly realized.
With his meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion and the recommendation of pillars of the state like Prince Yang Lin, how could His Majesty not look at him differently?
This further implies that the Prince of Yaoshan, who had long been stationed in Dengzhou and almost never interfered in the affairs of the Eastern Capital, was now in power.
From now on, its influence will once again penetrate into the central government.
It seems that even the old prince has realized that if he continues to sit idly by and watch His Majesty continue his unrestrained recklessness...
The fate of the Sui Dynasty may indeed be like the setting sun, fading into oblivion.
However, as everyone watched Lü Xiao's departing figure, a sense of unease still arose in their hearts.
A young man from another clan with no family background, relying solely on his military achievements and the recommendation of a prince.
Despite his extraordinary talent and the emperor's favor, he could not rely solely on his own strength.
Is it really possible to rein in His Majesty, this wild horse that is galloping towards the precipice, in this turbulent and precarious situation?