Chapter 88: Negotiation
88 Negotiation
"You're not dreaming, General Hen," Jun Min said helplessly. Because he's wounded and he needs to act as a scholar, there's no way he could ride a horse, so they are going by carriages. General Hen is worried that they won't arrive at the capital soon enough, but luckily the carriages are also rushing.
Ever since General Hen knows that Jun Min appearance is a flower boy, he had been saying that he's dreaming. How could he possibly accept that the boy who could match a great general such as General Tou is possibly a boy like this? More importantly, why is his body so small?
"You're really Jun Min?" General Hen asks for who-knows-how-many-times already.
"I'm Jun Min. Or do you need me to kick you out of the carriages to let you admitted to it?" Jun Min stared back.
The moment Jun Min released his aura, even General Hen feels suppressed. The driver feels it even more and his hands trembled from fear. Despite him also a soldier, this is the first time he feels such an intense bloodthirsty aura coming from a close place with him. The horses are running even wilder because of their fear.
General Hen looks astonished towards the change the person before him shown. A harmless flower boy had suddenly turned into a monster ready to attack. He quickly comes to his sense and nodded.
"I get it, please retract your aura."
Jun Min does as the man said. General Hen feels more respect towards the man before him. Truly, you cannot judge a person just from their appearance. The appearance of this boy is usually harmless, but he can suddenly transform into a deadly person capable to strike at any time.
"How long the journey is?"
General Hen looks towards the still running wildly horses with their carriages shaking all over. He knows that with this kind of speed, they might arrive earlier, but the horses might die.
"One week at most."
"Good then."
…
Yan and Nanglong Souka soon arrived at Yuan Kingdom. The two of them go their separate ways as Nanglong Souka would use his way to reach the palace while Yan is just busy with his own business as a merchant.
Relying on his tricky methods, Nanglong Souka arrived at the palace and meet with Yuan Kingdom emperor. This emperor is different with Ming Kingdom emperor. The emperor is only in his thirties and looks bigger. His clothes are more solemn and the officials around him all fear him.
Looking at the atmosphere, Nanglong Souka can guess that the emperor is the one holding the reins for these officials. He's the kind of powerful emperor who will not tolerate anyone stepping on him. Nanglong Souka really wonders, can he negotiate with this kind of person?
"It's rare to see someone like you here, Minister Nanglong Souka," the emperor said lightly. The tone of his voice is calm, but it feels like interrogating.
Nanglong Souka looks back. "I'm just lucky to sneak in."
There is no way he could simply sneak in inside this place. The Yuan Kingdom may be small, but it's still powerful which make it holds the position as one of the five big kingdoms in this area.
"Coming so far away, I guess your intention is for Yuan Kingdom to move back from the alliance army, am I right?" the emperor said calmly.
Nanglong Souka laughs a bit and said, "Straight to the point, yes."
"Very well, the Yuan Kingdom will move back."
Nanglong Souka eyes almost popped out. Just what the hell happened with this negotiation? Why this emperor suddenly announces that they will retreat their soldier back even without him saying more than that.
Seeing the confusion from Nanglong Souka eyes, the emperor laughed. "You may think I'm stupid, but I have my own reasons too. Have you heard the war report from southeast of Ming Kingdom?"
"I haven't read it."
"In short, Young General Jun Min manages to contend against General Tou in a frontal attack which forces the general to withdraw his forces because he's not a match overall. All of this in a mere 3-4 days."
Nanglong Souka comes to understand what the emperor implies by the war report. Given that Jun Min had finished his battle, he might be turned to handle the situation in the southwest given that Soujin is in the northeast and he's a talented general too.
The emperor must be worried that Jun Min is sent here for the boy fighting prowess is far from the word ordinary. Because of that, he chooses to comply as soon as Nanglong Souka comes here. He could just say that Nanglong Souka gives him enough offer that he's interested in. There is no one who would disobey the words of this powerful emperor.
Besides, in the first place he only participates in the coalition to rub some benefit. If their army were to get destroyed first, there will be no point to battle. The Yuan Kingdom is the smallest among the five big kingdoms. He cannot act rashly.
"You're really wise," Nanglong Souka said in praise.
The emperor didn't say anything as he turned towards Nanglong Souka with scrutinizing eyes. "What is the Ming Kingdom ambition? They actually build such a powerful lineup."
Nanglong Souka raised his hand. "The plan of the emperor is not one this subject will know. What we know is that there is indeed something the emperor planned for a long time."
"I see. When the times come, will you follow the emperor?"
"What do you mean?"
This kind of question is truly tricky and Nanglong Souka cannot answer right away. If he answered wrongly and the emperor of Ming Kingdom heard it, he may be accused for treason. Given that the emperor had set his eyes on Jun family, he might do the same towards Nanglong family and Nanglong Souka doesn't want to hurt his family.
The emperor noticed the wariness in Nanglong Souka eyes and he laughed. He knows that the emperor of Ming Kingdom is someone who often scheme against other because of how he obtained the throne in the first place. He only asks out of curiosity, but he would never expect that Nanglong Souka would react so strongly.
"I don't have any plans to report you back to the Ming Kingdom. But if you truly wish for unification, maybe there will be something I want to propose," the emperor answered.
"This…"
Nanglong Souka is truly surprised by the emperor words. From his words it seems he's ready to give away his throne, but why?
The emperor didn't explain anything and to convince others, Nanglong Souka gives the items he had prepared from Ming Kingdom emperor. The emperor accepted the gifts and he announces right away that the Yuan Kingdom would retract their soldier back.
As for that discussion, Nanglong Souka didn't give his answer. If they meet again in the future, then probably this will be open for another discussion.
Yan only does some things he needed to do before meeting with Nanglong Souka again.
"You have finished?"
"Yes, the Yuan Kingdom won't participate in the war."
"Good then, oh yeah, have you heard that Jun Min won the war?"
"I have."
Inside his hearts, Nanglong Souka sighed. If not for the boy, this negotiation might go on longer terms.