Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 253 Killing Mission!
Upon learning of the alliance between Yu and Yan, Ji Hui, residing in the hostage residence, immediately went berserk, smashing things wildly throughout the residence. He repeatedly demanded an audience with the King of Yan and refused to return to Qi.

He only calmed down a little when the Grand Eunuch Yang came in person.

After all, he wasn't someone who couldn't listen to reason or who would mindlessly yawn at everyone; he just needed someone he could talk to and someone who would let him see Kangxun.

"Eunuch Yang, your country has agreed to sign an alliance treaty, and my father has even sent me here as a hostage. How can you go back on your word and break your promise?"

Ji Hui stood up abruptly and confronted Eunuch Yang face to face, extremely angry.

"Your Highness, could you please listen to what I have to say?" Eunuch Yang said with a smile.

"Please speak," Ji Hui said impatiently.

"Please sit down," said Eunuch Yang, extending his hand.

"No, how am I supposed to sit now..."

"Please sit down." Eunuch Yang continued in a courteous manner. "Your Highness, please sit down, and I will explain in detail."

He had no choice but to sit down.

Eunuch Yang stepped aside, still displaying utmost respect, treating him as a prince: "I know Your Highness is angry and finds Yan's actions particularly disrespectful. But I must ask you, is this something you can change?"

"How dare you! You still underestimate me! Are you not afraid of the State of Qi...?"

"Calm down, I haven't finished speaking yet." Eunuch Yang pressed his hand down, showing no impatience whatsoever. "How dare I, a man without roots, belittle a prince? But you must understand, you are the prince in Qi. Here, you cannot change anything."

"Get out of here! Let me go find Kang Xun..."

"It's the Prince of Yan you mentioned, along with Chancellor Gongsun, the envoy of Yu, Song Shi'an, and even the Emperor of Great Yu." After listing these immortals, Eunuch Yang said, "The alliance was finalized by them."

"..." Finally, Ji Hui calmed down a little.

"The alliance with the State of Qi required a date to be chosen and signed on an auspicious day. However, the alliance between the two countries was signed that very night, just after the Emperor of Dayu's letter returned to Xiangcheng."

"What do you want to say?" Ji Hui asked with disgust, raising his head and glaring at the eunuch.

“What I want to say is this,” said Eunuch Yang, who sat down beside him, at the same level, and then put his feet up on his lap and crossed his legs. “The Great Yu offered a price higher than the sky.”

this is the key of the problem.

It doesn't matter who the envoy is, or who the hostage is.

"If you insist on this, when I return to Qi, I will strongly recommend that my father raise an army against Yan!" Ji Hui warned, slamming his fist on the table.

Hearing this, Eunuch Yang nodded in agreement: "Your Highness is right. Back in Qi, you can persuade His Majesty to attack Yan, as you are a prince of noble birth. But here in Yan, you can do nothing."

"Oh?" Ji Hui looked at him coldly. "You mean, you're not afraid of going to war with my Qi Kingdom?"

"Fear? Of course we're afraid! What we fear most is war," Grandpa Yang teased the boy as if he were a fool. "But we're just a family without roots. What are we anyway? What can fear possibly determine?"

Clenching his fists, Ji Hui was so angry that he was gritting his teeth.

However, he had no way to offer a higher price on behalf of the State of Qi. And he was merely a hostage, a mere flesh and blood, utterly powerless.

At this moment, Eunuch Yang finally stood up, walked to Ji Hui's side, bent down, placed his hand on Ji Hui's hand, and said earnestly, "Your Highness, that's enough. The responsibility for the failure of this alliance lies with Chen Xing, not you."

Ji Hui glared intently at Eunuch Yang, his anger still burning.

Eunuch Yang lowered his head again and said in a very low voice, "If Your Highness doesn't mind, when I persuade you to return to Qi, you can make a scene and say that the Prince of Yan is unrighteous and would rather die than return. Let your companions see it, let the people of the whole city see it... Finally, please forgive my rudeness, I will forcibly put you on the carriage, how about that?"

"..."

The cunning eunuch fell for Song Shi'an's trick simply because of money. Dealing with a mere brat like him would be a piece of cake; he could easily crush him.

Directly address the pain point.

Who wants to be a hostage?
He was simply fulfilling his father's mission.

But now that Chen Xing has failed, how can the responsibility lie with the proton?
Before leaving, he could put on a show with Eunuch Yang, demonstrating his unyielding spirit and letting the people of Qi see the prince's courage. Not only would they not blame him for being persuaded to leave, but they would also reward him.

But my father said that as long as I remain a carefree prince in the Yan Kingdom, he will eventually make me the crown prince...

"Your Highness," just as he was wavering, Eunuch Yang's words brought him back to his senses, "being a hostage isn't that easy."

"..."

Even though he hadn't mentioned anyone, Ji Hui just thought of one person: Kang Yi.

That man was passed the throne to the King of Yan on his deathbed, but in the end, wasn't it Kang Xun who became the King of Yan?
"Then we'll come to pick you up tomorrow."

Yang Gonggong shook his hand gently again and then stood up.

He turned his back to the stunned Ji Hui and walked out, his face immediately falling as he mouthed a contemptuous curse: "Trash."

.........

Kangxun's five thousand gold coins were not used for official accounting; they all went into the imperial treasury.

As his own property.

So lately I've had a smile on my face every day.

Of the five thousand gold pieces, one thousand were to be distributed to Gongsun Xing's family.

He then spent another thousand taels of gold on a grand banquet for soldiers and officials across the country to win their hearts and minds.

With the remaining three thousand gold coins, we can raise several thousand more cavalrymen to strengthen our forces.

Comfortable~

"Your Majesty, Ji Hui has agreed to leave Yan."

Just then, Eunuch Yang reported to him with great joy.

"Oh? This kid isn't being stubborn anymore?" Conson was surprised.

“He understands, but he just wants to save face,” said Eunuch Yang. “So tomorrow, could Your Majesty give him some face?”

"How does he intend to give it?" "He wants to insult you, and in front of everyone... all to play the role of an upright, loyal, and patriotic prince." Eunuch Yang said, "Once the performance is over, I'll have someone tie him up and throw him into the carriage."

"Alright, it's not a big deal anyway," Kang Xun readily agreed, then added, "Could we take advantage of the chaos to kick this kid a few times?"

"Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate?" Eunuch Yang asked somewhat awkwardly.

"Let it go then." Kang Xun wasn't one to hold grudges. "It's true that Yan broke his promise first, so let him say whatever he wants. But you need to be on good terms with him and find out exactly what he's going to say before you start. You can't just say whatever comes to mind."

Review and rehearsal.

"Then, Your Majesty, what can be cursed, and what cannot be cursed?"

"You decide for yourself."

"Yes."

You treacherous, two-faced, shameless bastard, this is the kind of person I should curse.

For example, the phrase "he seized the throne illegitimately and usurped his brother's throne" cannot be used to criticize someone.

Real harm is the most real harm in the world.

"What are Song Shi'an and the others doing?" the Prince of Yan asked.

“Your Majesty, since the alliance has already been signed, it would be inappropriate to restrict their travel any further. These past few days, the officials of the delegation have been touring Xiangcheng,” said Eunuch Yang. “As for Song Shi’an, some ministers and nobles also want to curry favor with him. He has also taken the opportunity to present Yu Kingdom textiles, sachets, jade carvings, and other items to high-ranking officials and nobles, and Yu goods are very popular in the city.”

“He’s someone who can’t sit still for a moment.” Kang Xun didn’t pay much attention, but he made a request: “But remember, everyone in the delegation, including the guards and officials, must be counted every day. No one can be missed, and no one can be allowed to leave the city.”

"Yes."

Eunuch Yang nodded earnestly.

"You decide on Ji Hui's itinerary," Kang Xun said. "Select thirty cavalrymen from the Imperial Guard to escort him. Make sure he doesn't see anyone along the way. Get him out of Yan. Hurry up."

"Yes."

.........

News of the Yan-Yu alliance reached Cangliao Pass via cavalry on horseback.

Huang Tongren is numb.

He then realized that he was truly doomed.

Moreover, the number of people watching him increased from three to five.

That damned Duke Qin is really going to use himself as a diplomatic gift.

But how can he save himself?

The gate to exit the pass was sealed tightly and had not been opened even for a single day.

It is permissible to enter the country for military purposes such as transporting supplies.

But what good would entering the pass do? The entire Cangliao Commandery was under the control of the Duke of Qin.

Having escaped Cangliao, they were now in Kangxun's territory.

They'll die even faster!

He was like a drowning person, desperately trying to save himself.

Finally, they grasped at a straw.

Unlike Huang Tong, the military commander, who was not strictly restricted, entered Cangliao Pass at night with one other person, dressed in Yan soldier's armor, in a carriage.

The military commander and the man carried a large hemp sack into his barracks together.

"Is this Brother Zhou?" Huang Tong asked warmly.

“Yes, he is my fellow townsman, and I can absolutely trust him,” the military commander said. “The news that Duke Qin wanted to arrest the general… the commander-in-chief, and that he had already taken you into custody, was given to me by him.”

"Good brother." Huang Tong patted him on the shoulder, full of gratitude. But then, he asked curiously, "What is this?"

"Please open it yourself, Captain," he said, extending his hand.

So Huang Tong untied the sack right in front of him.

Instantly, his eyes widened.

Gold, it's all fucking gold.

Previously, the Duke of Qin gave him and his brothers three hundred gold pieces to kill the envoy from the State of Yu.

But here...

"Gold?" The military commander was dumbfounded.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Huang Tong was dumbfounded.

Then, the man took out another piece of paper and handed it to him: "This is Ji Hui's itinerary and dates for returning to Qi."

"..." Huang Tong was even more puzzled after taking it.

"This is a map of the border between Yan, Yu, and Qi. There's a road that leads into Qi." The man continued to hand him things.

Huang Tong stood there dumbfounded, accepting the gifts one by one: "Brother, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Here is 1,500 gold coins."

"No, what do you want me to do? Tell me!" Huang Tong trembled with anxiety.

And he finally issued the mission: "Bring Ji Hui's head into Yu. Someone there will meet you. In exchange for the remaining 1,500 gold, you will receive the head."

(End of this chapter)