Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 190 Song Shi'an's Mission

When Song Jing mentioned that the Qi envoy had been sent to Northern Yan to form an alliance, Song Shi'an had a vague feeling that he was about to suffer a severe fate.

As expected, they were ambushed halfway.

They were eating hotpot and singing songs when they suddenly died.

Of course, the governor must have gone there with some beliefs and potentially useful methodologies, but it is entirely reasonable for people to die on the way.

Moreover, he certainly won't die in Yan territory.

It was definitely done directly or indirectly by the State of Qi.

This is not an attempt to shift blame or, to put it another way, a direct goal, nor is it intended to frame someone.

The reason is simple: Yan is now the party with a choice, and both Qi and Yu need to curry favor with it.

If the State of Qi were to try to shift the blame eastward and pin this incident on the State of Yan, it would only provoke Kang Xun's resentment.

At this time, as long as Dayu can be flexible and adaptable—it's not your fault, the envoy was killed by Qi, just to sabotage the relationship between our two countries.

This Qi-Yan alliance will collapse on its own.

Therefore, Song Shi'an could only think of one reason why Qi did this: to buy time.

Hurry up and send Ji Yuan's son over to get the certificate (alliance document), and make it a fait accompli.

“Now, the Great Yu is in grave danger,” Song Shi’an said with a smile.

“What, is this funny?” Song Jing said. “You should know that if a war really breaks out, at least 200,000 troops will need to be mobilized to the north, and the entire country will be mobilized to fight against two enemies. If you want to cultivate land, it will be like a clever woman cooking without rice.”

“Father, my laughter is not out of schadenfreude, but out of admiration for Emperor Ji.”

Song Shi'an had already said that he was treating this time travel as a game.

If a game is difficult to play, he might at most curse the designers a few times, but he wouldn't say he's quitting.

And yet, they were still able to win under these circumstances.

That would be so much fun.

Farming is not child's play. Just like playing a game of famine, there are also times when it gets dark and a series of external interferences.

Fun, love to play.

"Emperor Ji has ascended the throne."

Song Jing rolled his eyes at him, then had to admit, "But indeed, sending a prince to Northern Yan is a truly devastating move. If we can't offer a hostage from Yan as a bargaining chip, we can't possibly defeat them."

“But we have to use this,” Song Shi’an said.

“Of course we can give him the hostage, but we can’t give him the hostage now,” Song Jing said directly. “This is the fundamental reason why Kang Xun has been a vassal of our Great Yu for so many years. If we give him the hostage so easily, we will not be able to create a real deterrent in the future.”

“But we can use protons to scare him,” Song Shi’an said sharply.

"I also think so."

Song Jing had grown accustomed to Song Shi'an's quick wit, and even felt that the other party's reaction ability was superior to his own. For example, Song Shi'an's ability to immediately guess that the envoy had been killed showed that his imagination was stronger than his own.

"But this is easy to handle, very simple."

Song Shi'an thought this was much simpler than the Battle of Shuofeng and didn't take it seriously at all.

"Don't talk nonsense." Song Jing raised his finger and warned, "I'm just telling you about this. Don't even think about volunteering to be some kind of envoy."

"Father, this is a great opportunity for promotion!"

Song Shi'an didn't think so, because he knew that the emperor's current difficulty lay in not knowing how to raise his own rank to oversee the military farms.

Let alone being a deputy, let alone holding a full-fledged position.

That would be really troublesome and a waste of time.

If this mission is successful, Song Shi'an will have accomplished in one year what his father took twenty years to achieve, easily becoming a 'regional official'.

He's definitely not quite there yet, not quite at the level of a high-ranking official like a prefect or governor.

After all, how can a kid in his early twenties become a high-ranking official?

"No," Song Jing said domineeringly. "You can't go."

“I’ll be safe once I’m inside the territory of Yan,” Song Shi’an said.

"You're being too clever for your own good again," Song Jing scolded. "Didn't the governor of Ji Commandery know this principle? Didn't he consider that he would be safe once he reached Yan? How come he died halfway there?"

“I’m safe because he’s dead,” Song Shi’an said earnestly.

"The bandits can kill him, but they can't kill you?"

"I have an army with me, what bandits could possibly kill me?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Song Jing revealed a subtle emotion, stared at his son for a long while, and then said, "With you leading the army, war between the two countries is imminent."

“Father, look.” Song Shi’an pulled down a map and pointed to the border between Dongliang and Beiyan, saying, “The prefect probably died here. It’s not far from Nanshuo County. Send 10,000 men here to Beiyan’s border. Just say they’re here to suppress bandits and won’t violate their border.”

"Then, the envoy from Northern Yan had no choice but to leave the pass and come to discuss the matter," Song Jing said.

"I went to see Conson in full view of everyone."

Song Shi'an is no longer an unknown figure; he's capable of some very dangerous maneuvers.

In the past, there were no bargaining chips, so wealth and power depended on taking risks.

But now that you guys have all risen to prominence and become people of status, who's going to trade their lives for you?

Song Jing was convinced; this way, they could safely enter Yan.

However, he knew that Song Shi'an's temper meant he would definitely insult Kang Xun after going to Northern Yan.

So he immediately denied it, saying, "No matter what, you can't go."

"Fine, fine, Dad's doing this for my own good, I won't go."

"You only need to say it once."

"Row."

Unexpectedly, Song Shi'an was so easy to talk to, and Song Jing had a slight doubt: This kid is in a pretty good mood today?
Song Shi'an certainly wouldn't go.

To be precise, he wouldn't do something like volunteering himself.

Before recommending himself, Mao Sui was a retainer.

Before his mission, Lin Xiangru was a retainer.

These examples illustrate that people should seize opportunities and be good at striving and fighting.

But if you ask for an opportunity, you're begging for it. At that moment, you're treated with contempt.

Only when someone asks you for help or needs you to do something, are you truly noble.

.........

"Cough cough!"

Lying in bed, the emperor sat up, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and coughed a few times forcefully.

Slowly remove it, and a patch of black and red is in the very center.

Seeing this, Chen Bao quickly appeared in front of him, took the cloth from the emperor, and instructed the eunuch behind him, "Go and fetch water quickly."

"...Yes!" The eunuch retreated, trembling.

Looking at him sideways, the emperor, whose forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, casually said, "Give that eunuch's family some money."

Chen Bao immediately lowered his head and said in a panic, "Yes."

Slowly, the emperor sat up.

Chen Bao was supporting him from the side.

"Conson did not kill the man."

A high-ranking official of the Great Yu Dynasty, holding the rank of third grade, died at the hands of bandits halfway through his journey. Although the emperor was furious, he was still able to remain rational.

"Your Majesty is holy."

"I only said that it wasn't Kang Xun who wanted to kill him; he didn't have the guts," the emperor said astutely. "It must have been Chen Xing who bribed the Northern Yan general to set up the ambush."

"Your Majesty, should we attribute this to Kang Xun?" Chen Bao asked cautiously.

“Of course, the blame should fall on him.” The emperor said with anger in his eyes and great authority, “He wanted to form an alliance with Ji Yuan, so he should be punished.”

An explanation is needed.

But most likely, the Yan state wouldn't admit it at this point. At most, they would just gather a group of bandits, frame someone, and send some insignificant heads to appease the situation.

However, being perfunctory is the result, not the process.

The Great Yu could certainly accept this outcome and find someone to take the blame, but only if the Qi-Yan alliance was terminated.

"We cannot rule out resolving this matter by sending troops."

The emperor said these words in a very forceful manner.

The meaning is very clear.

They still wanted to resolve the issue through an diplomatic mission.

"Who do you think is capable?" the emperor asked Chen Bao.

After some hesitation, Chen Bao said, "Your Majesty, the envoy who just went out was killed. If another envoy is to be sent, that person cannot be timid and cowardly. Moreover, he must carry the majesty of our great nation."

A third-rank official, he died so easily. Who else would dare to go?

Even if they reluctantly went, they would surely be afraid of their lives being threatened, so they would tiptoe around and dare not speak freely in Yan, only seeking to complete the mission in a formality.

This person possesses wisdom.

This person needs to be brave.

Also, this person has to go voluntarily.

"So you mean to send Song Shi'an?" the emperor asked rhetorically.

Chen Bao lowered his head and said truthfully, "Your Majesty, putting everything else aside, Song Shi'an is indeed both intelligent and brave. Sending him would not dishonor the nation. More importantly..."

"Ji Yuan was his defeated opponent."

The emperor was well aware of this principle.

Apart from Song Shi'an, it's unlikely that anyone else would disrupt the alliance.

Even if he went, success wouldn't be guaranteed; it would just be more respectable.

However, the emperor hesitated: "Does my Great Yu Dynasty not function without Song Shi'an?"

"Your Majesty," Chen Bao immediately prostrated himself and said very seriously, "Apart from Your Majesty, the Great Yu can do without anyone. This Song Shi'an was able to succeed only because Your Majesty granted him power."

"No need for flattery. If he had been born in the State of Qi, Ji Yuan would have granted him power as well."

The emperor smiled and said quite calmly, "Now is the best time to give him an important position."

If we don't use it now, it will be too late.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Chen Bao replied.

After taking a slow breath, the emperor said, "Chen Bao, summon the Prince of Wu."

"Yes."

Chen Bao accepted the order and then left the palace.

Just then, the little eunuch who had asked him to fetch water came over. Upon seeing Chen Bao, he looked terrified: "Master, do I still need to go in?"

"No need," Chen Bao said. "You may leave."

"……Yes."

Although he said that, he was still somewhat afraid.

"You didn't see anything just now, did you?" Chen Bao asked.

"No, I didn't see anything." He shook his head hurriedly, vehemently denying it.

“Wrong, you know nothing at all.” Chen Bao stared at him solemnly.

"Yes, I don't know anything."

After the eunuch finished speaking, he swallowed hard.

"Then it's all right, go back now," Chen Bao said. "In our line of work, you have to keep your mouth shut."

"Yes, Master, I'm definitely nervous. I'd rather die than tell anyone."

"Go down."

Chen Bao watched the young eunuch leave.