Chapter 0058: Delicate and Frail Second Prince? Explosives Bloom Across the Vast Grasslands!
Two days later, Emperor Jian overruled all objections and dismissed the proposal of marriage alliance in the imperial court.
He ordered Prime Minister Li Ren to immediately depart for the border to support the First Prince Xie Shoujun and engage in peace negotiations with the Xiongnu envoys.
With the emperor taking such a firm stance, the ministers had no choice but to rack their brains considering what benefits they could offer the Xiongnu to secure a successful peace agreement.
Yet Emperor Jian waved his hand dismissively and sneered coldly, “Benefits? I’m already showing great mercy by not annihilating the Xiongnu tribe. How dare they expect benefits from me? Li Ren, go empty-handed!”
The Prime Minister raised his hands in agreement and loudly praised, “Your Majesty is wise! This subject will surely live up to expectations and make the Xiongnu tribe willingly retreat three thousand li, never to invade our great Jian’an again!”
The ministers stared in stunned disbelief.
Wait, are you two serious?
That’s the Xiongnu we’re talking about – the most fierce and battle-hardened tribe on the grasslands, formidable mounted archers when the grass is yellow and horses are fat! The Xiongnu tribe that no dynasty throughout history has been able to resolve. If empty-handed peace talks could succeed, they’d all eat shit while standing upside down on trees!
Yet Prime Minister Li indeed went to the northern frontier empty-handed. A month later, an urgent eight-hundred-li dispatch arrived from the border: the Xiongnu had voluntarily agreed to a century of peace with the Central Plains and expressed desire to establish border markets to exchange livestock like cattle, horses, and sheep for Central Plains’ porcelain, jade, grain, and silk.
The imminent great battle suddenly transformed into lasting peace, causing an uproar among all civil and military officials in the court. They exclaimed in disbelief: “How on earth was this accomplished?”
Yes, how on earth was this accomplished?
The story goes that after Prime Minister Li rushed nonstop to the border, he sent envoys to the Gerta tribe on the grasslands to express his intention for peace talks to the Chanyu King.
The Chanyu King’s eldest son, Chanyu Er, was extremely arrogant. Convinced that the Central Plains would certainly lose this war and wouldn’t dare touch him, he personally came to the negotiation site and hurled insults at the elderly Prime Minister Li.
“You Central Plains cowards, don’t you know your own limitations? How dare you attempt peace talks with us, the bravest and most combative warriors of the grasslands? In this prince’s opinion, you should surrender early and send all your beautiful women up here to give us some fun – that’s the proper course of action! Hahahahaha!”
Chanyu Er’s foul language made all the soldiers present bristle with anger. The Xiongnu soldiers also stepped forward, raising their fists and looking at their opponents with cold disdain.
The atmosphere grew tense as drawn bows, with both sides prepared for bloody combat.
Yet Prime Minister Li sat calmly on the high platform, stroking his beard with a faint smile. “I wonder if the young Chanyu has heard of our Jian’an’s Second Prince?”
“Second Prince?”
Finally recalling that the imperial family indeed had such a figure, Chanyu Er immediately clutched his stomach laughing, mocking, “Oh~ you mean that Second Prince of yours who looks more effeminate than a woman? What, mentioning him now – could it be you plan to offer him for marriage alliance?”
“I’ve heard your Second Prince looks very… eh? What’s that word called? Nation’s fragrance and heavenly beauty? If you’re truly willing to send him for marriage alliance, this prince might go back and advise my father to cease war for three days to let you recuperate, all for the sake of this beauty hahahaha—”
Chanyu Er’s laughter grew increasingly unrestrained and arrogant, while the Xiongnu soldiers beside him also burst into uproarious laughter.
Prime Minister Li appeared not to have heard. He raised his cup to take a sip of tea, his expression natural as he said, “As for the marriage alliance, let’s forget it. Our Second Prince has been delicate and frail since childhood—unable to carry heavy loads or perform manual labor. He gasps for breath after just a few steps. Only through His Majesty’s utmost pampering in the palace has he managed to survive. I fear he couldn’t endure the harshness and ruggedness of the grasslands.”
He gave a faint smile. “However, precisely because of this, the Second Prince greatly admires the customs and culture of the Xiongnu people, and has long held deep admiration for the mighty and towering Chanyu King. Upon hearing that the Chanyu King had also come during this border conflict, he specifically ordered this old minister to deliver a gift he meticulously prepared.”
Hearing this, the laughing Chanyu Er was taken aback. “A gift? What gift?”
“This item was personally crafted by our Second Prince, expressing his hope to become one family with the Chanyu King.” Prime Minister Li rose calmly and walked toward the tent entrance. “However, as His Majesty holds this object in high regard, we can only allow you a glimpse. If the young Chanyu is interested, why not accompany this old minister outside for a look?”
Chanyu Er immediately stood to follow, but Xiongnu soldiers beside him, fearing a trap, hurriedly reached out to stop him. Chanyu Er shoved them away forcefully and snorted, “What is there to fear from a bunch of weaklings? Didn’t you hear their Second Prince specially showing goodwill, saying he wants to become this prince’s second mother? Let’s go! Let’s take a look!”
Chanyu Er felt no fear whatsoever—if anything happened to him here, his father would surely raze the Central Plains to the ground. This old Central Plains man wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him!
Chanyu Er followed Prime Minister Li up to the gate tower of the border pass. Outside the gate, in the combat zone, a massive pile of stones had appeared at some unknown time.
Feeling deceived, he demanded discontentedly, “Don’t tell me the Second Prince’s gift is just these worthless rocks?”
Prime Minister Li smiled faintly and raised his hand slightly. A soldier nearby immediately lifted a wooden drumstick and struck the war drum on the city wall five times with great force.
The drumbeats reverberated deafeningly. Below the city gate, a line of fully armed soldiers swiftly ran toward the large stone pile. The soldier at the front crouched down, pulled out a fire starter, did something unclear, then waved his hand. The soldiers quickly turned and retreated from the area.
Just as they had run several dozen meters away, an earth-shattering explosion erupted behind them. The blast was so powerful it nearly burst everyone’s eardrums, shaking their chests and causing hearts to pound wildly!
Chanyu Er stood frozen in shock. He lunged forward, gripping the edge of the city wall, staring fixedly at the stone pile.
Where the massive stones had been piled, they were now blasted into tiny fragments. Dust and sand billowed from the ground. Soldiers who hadn’t run far enough were knocked down by the shockwave—one was struck in the back by a flying rock, let out a agonized scream, and collapsed motionless, whether unconscious or dead.
It wasn’t hard to imagine the gruesome dismemberment if such explosive force were used directly on human bodies!
Since when did the Central Plains possess such a terrifying weapon?!
Only then did Chanyu Er suddenly realize the true meaning behind the delicate Second Prince’s words about “becoming one family with the Chanyu King.” It was never about a marriage alliance—it meant conquering the northern grasslands and completely incorporating the Xiongnu tribe into the territory of the Jian’an Dynasty!
This so-called gift of admiration for Xiongnu culture was nothing but intimidation! A threat! A warning!
Chanyu Er’s legs trembled uncontrollably at that moment. No matter how strong and brave the prairie people might be, witnessing such a devastating weapon inevitably stirred fear within him. He yearned to possess it for himself, yet his heart quivered with trepidation, not daring to act recklessly again.
Prime Minister Li drifted to his side like a ghost at this moment, leaning close to his ear and whispering in an eerie tone, “This is called gunpowder. Our Second Prince has stated that he deeply desires to unite with the Tager tribe as one family. However, knowing your prairie people cherish freedom and resist constraints, he has been persistently advising His Majesty against going to war.”
“Our Second Prince also said,” Prime Minister Li continued, “as long as you behave obediently—no, I mean, as long as you are willing to continue galloping across the grasslands without harassing our border civilians, then he naturally won’t allow explosives to bloom all over the prairie, making you get blown up with every step you take.”
Chanyu Er: !!!
This Second Prince! How utterly vicious!
He actually wants to cover the entire prairie with this gunpowder!!!