Diqin Designer

Chapter 462 Even selling out the country is a race to the finish line

Not long after, a palace attendant entered the hall and reported to the First Emperor: "Your Majesty, the envoy from the Peacock Kingdom, Pijanu, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

The First Emperor narrowed his eyes: "Is it the Peacock Kingdom's delegation requesting an audience, or is it just him alone?"

The difference between a delegation requesting an audience and an individual requesting an audience is significant. The former represents the Mauryan Kingdom and is handling official business, while the latter represents an individual or a group of people and is a private matter.

Instead of representing the Peacock Kingdom to request an audience with the First Emperor, he requested an audience in his personal capacity. The First Emperor and others naturally understood the implications of this behavior.

The eunuch replied, "It is an envoy from the Peacock Kingdom requesting an audience!"

The First Emperor said, "Take him to the side hall."

In a pavilion somewhere in the Qin Imperial Palace, Pijanu, separated from the rest of the delegation, paced back and forth, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry.

He has requested to see the Qin emperor again, stating that this is not on behalf of the Peacock Kingdom, but rather on his own behalf or that of those behind him who wish to speak with the Qin.

Although the request had been made, he did not know whether the Qin emperor was willing to meet him. Based on the Qin emperor's attitude during the audience, it was possible that he would not be received. This would mean that the Qin people were unwilling to talk to them privately, and his main objective of this mission would not be achieved.

As Pijanu was filled with anxiety and worry, he saw the Qin man who had made his request walking towards him. His anxiety immediately rose to his throat, just like a high school student about to check their college entrance exam scores, where success or failure would soon be revealed.

Pijanu took the initiative to greet him and bowed very respectfully to the Qin man: "Your Excellency, would His Majesty the Emperor wish to see us?"

Upon hearing the Peacock Kingdom people address him as "Your Excellency," the Qin eunuch felt a strange sensation. No one had ever addressed him in this way before, and it was almost unheard of in Qin as well. However, in the Peacock Kingdom, it was indeed a term of address used by those of lower status to address those of higher status.

The Qin eunuch glanced at Pijanu and said, "His Majesty the Emperor has ordered an envoy to proceed to the side hall. Envoy, please follow me!"

Upon hearing this, Pijanu's face immediately lit up with joy, and he breathed a sigh of relief. This meant that the Qin emperor was willing to meet with him and talk to him privately, and the worst-case scenario had not occurred.

They are not afraid that the Qin people will demand benefits from them during private talks, but they are afraid that the Qin people will not even give them the opportunity to meet and talk. In that case, they will have no choice but to fight against the Qin people. But the Qin people are so strong, how can they fight against them?

Pijanu bowed again to the Qin eunuch, saying, "Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Excellency!" While bowing, Pijanu secretly slipped something into the Qin eunuch's hand.

The Qin eunuch looked down and saw it was a piece of gold of decent quality. He thought to himself, 'These people from the Peacock Kingdom are quite shrewd; it's a pity I can't accept this.'

The eunuch calmly stuffed the gold back into Pijanu's hand, saying, "Envoy, please don't do this. Great Qin has its own rules and laws. Please don't make things difficult for me!"

Upon feeling the gold being returned to him, Vijaya quickly apologized: "I was unaware and almost made a mistake. Please forgive me, Venerable One!"

The Qin eunuch nodded and led Pijianu towards the side hall of Zhangtai Palace.

Upon arriving at the side hall, Pijanu did not see the Qin emperor, but instead saw two young men he had just met in the main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

One of the young men was not mentioned in the descriptions of Master Moye and others, but his clothing was somewhat similar to that of the Qin emperor, leading Vijanu to conclude that this person was likely the crown prince of Qin.

But didn't the Qin people not have a crown prince? When did they have one? Was it after Master Moye and the others left Qin that the Qin emperor appointed one?

Another young man, Pijanu, knew his identity. Before they set off for Qin, Master Moye and others had specifically told them about the Qin people who needed to be valued, and this young man was one of them. He had also seen the portrait of this person drawn by Master Moye.

This man, known as "Li Nian" among the Qin people, was a prince of the Qin state. A prince of Qin was equivalent to a prince of the Peacock Kingdom. However, he was not the son of the Qin emperor, but rather the son-in-law of the Qin emperor.

Master Moye and the others specifically instructed them: The Qin emperor highly values ​​this man, not only marrying his daughter to him but also bestowing upon him the status of a prince. After arriving in Qin, they must never provoke him. A prince from the Xiongnu Kingdom once offended this man and was killed in the Qin royal palace. Everyone knows that the death of that Xiongnu prince was suspicious and might be related to this man, yet he was not punished at all, which shows how much the Qin emperor values ​​him.

If Li Nian knew what Pijanu was thinking at this moment, he would be speechless: Where have these rumors spread? The death of Modu was orchestrated by the First Emperor, how much does it have to do with me? How come everyone is spreading rumors that I am the mastermind behind it all?
It is said that this man once visited their Peacock Kingdom, and his advice could influence the Qin emperor's judgment. The fact that the Peacock Kingdom was not favored by Qin is very likely related to this man. Despite his youth, he was an important figure who could influence Qin's decisions.

Pijanu was somewhat disappointed that he wasn't received by the Qin Emperor, but he understood that given the Qin Emperor's noble status, he wouldn't easily meet with him in private. The fact that these two people received him showed that they valued him highly.

Although Pijanu guessed Fusu and Li Nian's identities, he dared not bow. If he guessed wrong, he would not only embarrass himself but also be in a lot of trouble.

The Qin man who led him into the hall assumed that Pijianu was unaware of the two men's identities and whispered a reminder: "The one at the head of the table is His Highness the Crown Prince, and the one at the foot of the table is Young Master Li Nian!"

Pijanu then bowed to Fusu and Li Nian: "Pijanu, envoy of the Peacock Kingdom, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and to Young Master Li Nian!"

Fusu glanced at Pijianu and said, "Get up!" After Pijianu stood up, Fusu pointed to a chair and said, "Please sit down, envoy!"

"Thank you for the seat, Your Highness!"

After Pijianu sat down, Fusu asked unhurriedly, "The envoy has requested an audience with Father Emperor again. What is the purpose of this visit?"

'What is the reason? Do you Qin people not know?'

Pijianu inwardly grumbled at Fusu's feigned ignorance, but he had no choice but to bow his head under the eaves. Now it was they who needed the Qin people's help, not the other way around.

After considering for a moment, Pijanu replied, "Your Highness, I am here again to see His Majesty the Emperor for... some private matters that are of benefit to the Great Qin!"

Fusu calmly asked, "'Private matters beneficial to Great Qin?' What kind of private matters would benefit Great Qin? I truly do not understand. Could the envoy explain this to me in detail?" Bijianu did not answer Fusu's question but instead asked another: "Before answering Your Highness's question, I have a question I would like to ask you..."

Seemingly realizing that his next words were not entirely honorable, Pijanu deliberately lowered his voice considerably, "May I ask Your Highness, does Great Qin intend to send troops against our country?"

Upon hearing Bijanu's question, Fusu narrowed his eyes slightly. He didn't answer Bijanu's question, but instead asked back, "What if it's intentional, and what if it's not?"

Pijanu didn't dare to keep them in suspense any longer; it was best to stop there. To continue playing coy in front of the Qin crown prince would be tantamount to not knowing one's own limitations. He lowered his voice and said, "If Qin is willing, we can lend Qin a hand. With our assistance, it will be easier for Qin to attack our country. Does Your Highness think this would be beneficial to Qin?"

Fusu asked, "How will you help my Great Qin?"

Pijanu continued in a low voice, "We can provide Qin with information about our army, supplies, and even open city gates and relocate troops..."

There are so many of them. It's like Qin only needs to send troops, and they will be responsible for supplying provisions, helping Qin to move its troops, and opening the city gates to welcome Qin. They've sold out their country quite thoroughly.

Fusu neither agreed to nor refused Bijianu's words, but said, "In our Great Qin, there is a saying: 'There is no such thing as a free lunch.' You are helping Great Qin in this way, you must want something from Great Qin. Tell me, what do you want?"

Pijanu said, "We hope that the Qin army will arrive and protect our lives and wealth. If Qin conquers our territory, we are willing to help Qin govern it. Your Highness!"

Pijanu deliberately addressed Fusu with great emphasis, assuring him, "With our assistance, Great Qin will surely succeed in curing our country!"

Another layer of meaning in these words is: if the Qin Dynasty does not use them, even if it can conquer the territory of the Peacock Kingdom, it will not be easy to govern it well.

This was the reliance of Pijanu and his men. They had seen through the weaknesses of the Qin Dynasty against their Mauryan Kingdom: the Qin Dynasty was indeed very strong, and their Mauryan Kingdom could hardly resist it. However, while it was easy for the Qin Dynasty to defeat them, it would not be easy to govern them.

Their Peacock Kingdom has a large population and vast territory. Even if the Qin Dynasty had the ability to conquer it, the Qin Dynasty could not send so many Qin people to govern it. Moreover, the Qin people's language, culture, and customs are very different from theirs, and it would be very troublesome for the Qin people to govern it themselves.

However, if the Qin people appointed them to govern, it would be different. They were originally from the Peacock Kingdom, with no language difference and the same culture and customs. Those lowly people were already under their rule, so continuing to govern them would naturally be easy.

According to the judgment of Pijanu and others, if the Qin people wanted to govern their Peacock Kingdom for a long time, they had to rely on them. This was also the reason why they dared to go to Qin as envoys: You Qin people need us to sell out your country!
Hearing Bijanu speak of his treason with such confidence, as if it were not a shameful act of betrayal but a glorious one, Fusu couldn't help but feel disgusted with Bijanu: He was not ashamed of betraying his country, but rather proud of it; what a shameless person!
But Fusu suppressed his disgust. The more foreign traitors there were, the better it would be for Qin. He was now the crown prince of Qin and could not let his personal likes and dislikes affect his identity as the crown prince. On the contrary, he should like people like Bijianu who sold out their country's interests to Qin.

Just as Fusu was about to say something to Pijianu, a eunuch entered the side hall, glanced at Pijianu, and then looked at Fusu and Li Nian, as if he had something to report, but because Pijianu was present, he could not speak directly.

Li Nian beckoned, and the eunuch walked up to her and whispered a few words to her. Li Nian raised an eyebrow and was about to speak to Fusu when another eunuch entered, reacting in the same way as the first one.

Upon seeing two eunuchs enter the palace in succession, Fusu seemed to understand something, and his eyes turned strange. Only Pijianu's expression was somewhat unpleasant.

Fusu and Li Nian did not speak, and Pijianu sat there without saying a word, as if waiting for something. After a while, another eunuch entered the hall. Fusu's eyes became even stranger, and Pijianu's expression became even more unpleasant!

Before long, another Qin eunuch entered the side hall, followed by a fourth, a fifth...

Li Nian summoned the eunuchs to his side. After listening to their conversation, he lowered his voice and spoke a few words to Fusu. In fact, there was no need to lower his voice; Pijianu knew exactly what had happened.

After hearing Li Nian's words, Fusu nodded, glanced at Bijianu, and then said, "There's no need to report to them one by one anymore. Let them all come over together!"

Upon hearing Fusu's words, Pijianu's expression was complicated, and he secretly resented: those guys were actually so eager to meet with the Qin people in private.

But he also knew that it was because his disappearance had made those in the delegation who shared the same goal as him anxious, which led them to request to the Qin people to meet with the Qin emperor again.

If you're even a step too late in doing something like this (selling out your country), the outcome could be drastically different. Everyone wants to be first and doesn't want to fall behind.

Soon after, several people from the Peacock Kingdom were led to a side hall. They were all high-ranking members of the Peacock Kingdom delegation. When they saw that Pijanu, the chief envoy of the delegation, was also there, they showed expressions of "As expected, he's here!"

As Fusu observed the people of the Peacock Kingdom, he noticed that they were not at all embarrassed to see each other. Instead, they seemed to be saying, "Luckily, I arrived in time!" He realized that the Peacock Kingdom was definitely not a country of etiquette and its moral standards were probably extremely limited.

These people don't see selling out their country as a shameful thing; on the contrary, they are afraid that they will sell out their country slower than others.

Although Li Nian had previously told him that the Peacock Kingdom was a shameless country, and that it remained so in later generations, witnessing it firsthand still shattered Fu Su's worldview. Only such a shameless country could produce such shameless people and commit such shameless acts.

Fusu also came to understand more and more what Li Nian meant when he said, "We cannot judge other countries by the mindset of the Great Qin!" What the Great Qin considers shameful may not be considered shameful in other countries, but rather an honor.

The newly arrived Peacock Kingdom people bowed to Fusu and Li Nian: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, greetings, Young Master Li Nian!"

Fusu nodded calmly and said, "Rise! What brings you all to this audience?"

One of them was the first to reply: "We dare not deceive Your Highness. We admire the strength of the Great Qin and wish to do our best to help the Great Qin conquer our country!"

Such words of betraying one's own country are spoken so openly and without any concealment.
The Peacock man said this because he saw that Pijanu had arrived before them, and felt that there was no point in hiding it anymore. He might as well be upfront and say it, which might even earn him some points with the Qin Dynasty.

Having been beaten to it by this person, the others quickly followed suit, saying, "Your Highness, we are also willing to do our utmost for the Qin Dynasty's conquest of our country. Please grant us your permission!"

Seeing that these people were vying to betray their country, afraid of being slower than the others, Fusu said, "I understand your intentions. Just now, the envoy Pijianu said the same thing to me. I asked him the same question, and now I ask you all: What do you want from Qin if you are willing to help it?"

(End of this chapter)