Chapter 53: A War of Words with the Golden Envoy

  Han Shizhong walked up to Xiao Yi and said coldly, "Xiao Yi, although our two countries are at odds, we do not kill envoys. But your impertinence at Lord Liu's birthday banquet is something that I, Han Shizhong, cannot tolerate. You'd best take your attendants and leave! Otherwise, don't blame us for being unaccommodating!"

  Xiao Yi was taken aback, but then burst out laughing: "So it's General Han! What a pleasure to meet you! However, I still don't think I'm wrong. The Central Plains are now part of our Great Jin Empire, and Bianjing is one of our major strongholds. How could we let it become a vassal state for our own empire?"

  "What is a vassal state?" Han Shizhong's face turned red with anger as soon as he heard it.

  "Has General Han forgotten? Last year, our Great Jin and the Song Dynasty signed a peace treaty. The Song Dynasty became a vassal state of ours, paying an annual tribute of 250,000 taels of silver and 250,000 bolts of silk to us. This was confirmed by your emperor's jade seal on the treaty. Doesn't this mean that your country is a subordinate state of our Great Jin?"

  Xiao Yi's words immediately left everyone present speechless. This was indeed an undisputed fact, as in the ninth year of Shaoxing, the Song and Jin dynasties had reached a peace agreement, with the Jin returning Henan, Shaanxi, and other territories to the Song, but still occupying Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and other areas. The Song dynasty paid tribute to the Jin and presented annual gifts.

  They were all very indignant in their hearts, but they couldn't bring themselves to deny it outright.

  Xiao Yi saw that Han Shizhong was also speechless and unable to refute, and he couldn't help but feel triumphant, saying with arrogance: "You think that by relying on sneak attacks and assassination, killing the ninth prince of our great Jin dynasty, you can turn things around? The empress dowager and empress of your country are still slaves in our great Jin, what face do you have to shout?"

  Xiao Yi's words made everyone extremely angry, but they didn't know how to refute them. Because during the Jingkang Incident, the current Emperor Gaozong of Song's mother Empress Wei and Empress Xing were indeed captured by the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty and taken to their capital. It was said that in the laundry room of the capital, they lived a life of semi-slavery and semi-prostitution. Xiao Yi had indeed not spoken falsely.

  At this moment, Liu Mingcheng saw that his own birthday banquet had become such a scene, and he was even more furious in his heart. He had already guessed that Xiao Yi must have come with Wei Liangchen or Qin Xi. Otherwise, it would not be possible for them to sit at the same table. He originally had some good feelings towards Qin Xi, but now they had disappeared without a trace.

  Qin Xi's heart was even more anxious at this time, he came to Chu State under the order of Qin Hui, with a secret mission. Winning over Liu Ming was one of his tasks, and now that Liu Ming seemed to have a good impression of him, perhaps he could persuade him to join his father's party. But then Xiang Yi interfered, and all his previous efforts were wasted in an instant.

  Moreover, Xiao Yi was still sitting at the same table as himself, and there were many officials and celebrities in this grand hall. If it got out, they would surely say that he was secretly colluding with the Golden Envoy, giving Zhao Ding and Zhang Ju's two parties in the court a handle to grasp.

  Just then, a lazy voice came from the hall: "Xiao Yi, you really are talking nonsense. Would the great Song Dynasty be a vassal state of you Tatars and barbarians?"

  Xiao Yi's face turned red with rage as he shouted: "Who is speaking nonsense here? Does anyone dare to come out and confront me in person?"

  Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, and it turned out to be Yue Yun, who had just presented a treasure sword to Liu Mingcheng.

  Li Yurong saw Yue Yunqiang take the lead, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her heart was anxious. She thought to herself: "This young master Yue is a military general, I'm afraid he doesn't have much literary talent in his chest. How can he debate with Xiao Yi? That Xiao Yi has become the Minister of Revenue in the Jin Dynasty and has been appointed as an envoy, presumably also a knowledgeable person. In this grand hall, how can he outdo others in a war of words with Xiao Yi?"

  Yue Yun said slowly, "Xiao Yi, I also know a thing or two about the treaty last year. It seems to say that our Great Song will surrender to the Jin State, pay tribute to the Jin State every year, and then the Jin State will return Shaanxi and Henan to our Great Song. However, local officials are not allowed to be replaced, is that right?"

  Xiao Yi saw Yue Yun standing up to scold him, originally both shocked and angry. Now seeing him actually acknowledging the fact that Song had surrendered to Jin, he couldn't help but feel great joy in his heart, hastily nodding his head: "You know then it's good! This treaty is confirmed with signatures and seals by my Great Jin Emperor and your country's officials!"

  Yue Yun smiled slightly and said: "If that's the case, then what the treaty says about our Great Song being a vassal state of the Jin State must be true!"

  "That's for sure!" Xiao Yi is now delighted, thinking that Yue Yun has somehow gotten into the rhythm of his words.

  Li Yurou was even more anxious, thinking to herself that even if you knew the contents of the agreement, you couldn't say it out loud, pretending not to understand would still allow her to argue with Xiao Yi for a while, now that you've admitted to having this matter, isn't that just what he wanted?

  Yue Yun laughed and said: "That's it, but that contract is now invalid. My Great Song is still an independent country, not a vassal state of any barbarian."

  "Invalid? When did the contract become invalid?" Xiao Yi suddenly became anxious, he had not yet realized that Yue Yun had already led him into a trap with his words.

  "Last year, you said that the lands of Shaanxi and Henan would be given to my Great Song, but until now, it has not been fulfilled. Moreover, after signing the treaty, you said that there would be peace between our two countries, but this year, you invaded my Great Song again. Since you Tartars do not abide by the treaty, how can my Great Song acknowledge the tribute mentioned in the treaty?" Yue Yun raised his head and said proudly.

  Xiao Yi was stunned, as a delegate who had participated in the negotiations for the treaty with Jin last year, he naturally knew that the treaty was signed under the auspices of the main peace faction of the Jin country, Wanyan Zongbi. However, just half a year after the signing of the treaty, the war faction's Wuzhu and Wanyan Zonggan jointly launched a coup, killing Wanyan Zongbi and others, and monopolizing power. After Wuzhu came to power, he believed that the treaty gave too many concessions to the Song Dynasty, especially that it was impossible to return Shaanxi and Henan to the Song country. So this year, they again tore up the treaty and launched a war. Therefore, if this matter is really investigated, it would still be Jin's fault.

  Everyone thought so, last year's treaty with Jin was harsh in many places, such as having to call oneself a vassal and pay tribute, and not being able to replace the local officials appointed by the Jin state. However, the Song Dynasty still got back Shaanxi and Henan, and it wasn't all for nothing. Who would have thought that just half a year later, the Jin people would tear up the treaty and invade? This way, the Song people naturally didn't need to recognize that humiliating treaty of surrendering and paying tribute anymore.

  Then, many people immediately roared: "Right! The treaty was not even observed by your own country of Jin, what's the point of you, a Tartar envoy, bringing it up?"

  "Hum! They still say our Great Song is their vassal state, what a ridiculous fantasy!"

  “……”

  Xiao Yi's arrogant attitude just now has aroused the resentment of all the Song people present.

  Wei Liangchen saw Xiao Yi make a fool of himself and became the target of public criticism, so he quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Everyone, I am Wei Liangchen, the envoy of the Great Song Dynasty responsible for this negotiation. The special envoy of the Jin State, Xiao, is about to go to Lin'an with me to meet the officials. After all, he has come from afar as a guest, and we cannot be impolite to him. I think this matter should end here!"

  Yue Yun heard this and secretly thought it was not good. Just as he was about to render the Jin envoy speechless, someone came out to shield and protect him. Wei Liangchen is a Song person after all, and as the Song envoy, he should be arguing with the Jin envoy in the negotiations, so why did he come to defend him instead? It's really not being afraid of a powerful opponent, but rather being afraid of an incompetent teammate.

  However, Yue Yun knew that he and Yue Fei had no foundation in the court, so it was better to offend these court officials as little as possible.

  So, Yue Yun, although he knew that Wei Liangchen was pulling a trick, had to make a bow and say: "Since Mr. Wei is speaking for this arrogant golden man, I, Yue Yun, will not hold it against him, let's just let him off the hook!"

  Everyone burst out laughing as soon as they heard it. The phrase "a great man does not remember the wrongs of a small person" was actually used in this situation, and it had a particularly mocking effect.

  Xiao Yi's face turned iron-green with rage, and he exclaimed: "What a coarse and rude martial artist! You relied on luck to kill my master's Ninth Highness, and now you dare to be arrogant and insulting in front of me, speaking without any courtesy. I wonder which bastard taught you this!"

  Yue Yun had originally planned to let things go and spare Xiao Yi. But when he heard his words insulting his parents and teachers, he was furious in his heart and secretly thought that this guy was really outrageous and shameless, as a national envoy, he was so despicable and vicious.

  In this era, the Song people attach great importance to the word "filial piety", and even think that "filial piety" is more important than "loyalty". When they heard Xiang Yi's insulting words towards Yue Yunlang, their faces showed anger and hatred. After all, Yue Yun was not only a fellow Song person but also a hero who made great contributions to the defense of Chu State. This Jin envoy was not only arrogant and domineering but also spoke with such viciousness and venom. Many people couldn't help but think that this Jin country was ultimately a barbarian state, no matter how much they proclaimed themselves to be equal to the Han people now, promoted speaking Han language, and used Han people's system to govern the country, but in essence, they were not much different from the barbarians, with basic personality being disrespectful, and even not following the moral standard of not scolding others without mentioning their parents.

  Xiao Yi's words were wrong as soon as they came out, greatly lowering his own identity and demeanor, not much different from a scolding street thug. Now that he has become a tiger, it is impossible for him to apologize to Yue Yun again.

  Li Yurou's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Yue Yun, wanting to see how he would respond. Although she had only known Yue Yun for less than an hour, she had already figured out his temperament. He was definitely not the kind of person who would swallow his teeth and blood. She was actually looking forward to seeing what surprising words Yue Yun could come up with to deal with this detestable Jin Dynasty envoy.