I only wished to take up my fiefdom, but my elder brother forced me to rebel.

The post was written in a very polite manner, containing phrases such as "I humbly request Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince to forgive me" and "Ningguo sincerely apologizes."

However, the list of accompanying ceremonial guards was at the back, consisting of thirty ceremonial carriages and five hundred guards. The cloud-patterned gold-topped carriage of the Crown Prince was even a grade higher than that of the Prince of Dayong.

"Did they come to apologize?"

Lu Yuan put the post on the table. "This guy's here to show off, isn't he?"

Su Bo'an bowed and said, "The people from the Court of State Ceremonial also felt it was inappropriate, but the envoy from Ning Kingdom said that this was Ning Kingdom's etiquette and could not be changed."

Lu Yuan sneered, "I will create a new set of rites for it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than footsteps sounded outside. Liang San Niang lifted the curtain and walked in, a newly replaced curved knife hanging at her waist.

"Your Highness, there is something I am unsure whether I should say."

Lu Yuan raised his hands to let her continue.

Liang Sanniang walked to the table, pointed to the list of ceremonial guards on the invitation, and said, "I've heard of Ning Chengli back in Northern Liang."

"What he cares about most is the dignity of the crown prince."

Lu Yuan squinted and asked, "What do you mean?"

"How about we go all out and teach him a lesson?"

A hint of coldness flashed in Liang San Niang's eyes. "What the people of Ningguo fear most is not losing face, but losing their lives. They are all bark and no bite. We must be assertive when we meet them."

After a moment of silence, Lu Yuan patted her shoulder again: "That makes sense."

He then turned to Su Bo'an and said, "Order the Court of State Ceremonies to change the route into the palace, allowing the Ningguo delegation to pass through the new military training ground. Also, inform He Shen that the entire musket battalion will conduct drills tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

Su Bo'an's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.

When Liang San Niang looked at Lu Yuan, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

……

The next morning, the Ningguo delegation's convoy slowly entered the capital.

Ning Chengli sat in the car, looking out the window at the scenery on both sides of the street.

The people stood at a distance, neither kneeling to welcome them nor cheering; they simply watched the convoy pass by coldly.

He frowned.

That's not right.

Logically speaking, since the Crown Prince of Ningguo came here in person, Dayong should at least send officials to guide him along the way, even if they did not set up a ceremonial procession.

But now we haven't even seen a minor official from the Court of State Ceremonial.

"Your Highness, this is not the road to the palace."

Outside the carriage, the Ningguo envoy following behind lowered his voice to remind them.

Ning Chengli drew back the curtains and saw that the convoy had already driven onto an empty playground.

On the drill ground, several thousand imperial guards stood in neat rows, a dark mass, their banners fluttering in the wind.

He was startled and was about to call for the car to stop when someone in front shouted.

"The Ningguo delegation obeys."

He Shen stood at the front of the convoy on horseback, followed by a squad of soldiers carrying muskets.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has decreed that the Ning Kingdom delegation, having come to the capital to apologize, must first wait at the drill ground and may only enter the palace after His Highness the Crown Prince has inspected them."

The Ning Kingdom envoy's expression immediately changed: "Insolence! My prince is the crown prince of Ning Kingdom, how can he...?"

Before he could finish speaking, He Shen raised his hand and waved.

boom!

Dozens of muskets were raised simultaneously, their dark muzzles aimed at the convoy.

Ning Chengli's expression immediately turned ugly.

He had heard that Dayong had powerful new weapons, but he never expected to see them on such a occasion.

"Your Highness, what should we do?"

The envoy's voice was trembling.

Ning Chengli took a deep breath and then lifted the curtain to get out of the car.

He was dressed in a black prince's robe and wore a golden crown. He forced himself to remain calm and bowed to He Shen.

"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince of Dayong? I wish to pay my respects in person."

He Shen did not answer, but pointed to the highest platform on the training ground.

Lu Yuan sat on the high platform, with Su Yuling and Liang Sanniang standing beside him, coldly watching Ning Chengli.

Ning Chengli gritted his teeth and strode towards the high platform.

After walking to the front of the stage, he stopped and bowed, saying, "Ning Chengli, the Crown Prince of Ningguo, greets His Highness the Crown Prince of Dayong."

Lu Yuan didn't get up, but merely raised his hand slightly: "Crown Prince Ning, you've come here to apologize, haven't you?"

"Yes."

Ning Chengli forced a smile and said, "My third brother was rude. The Ning Kingdom is willing to compensate us with three million taels of silver, and..."

"Three million taels?"

Lu Yuan interrupted him, saying, "Have you seen the list?"

Ning Chengli was startled.

Lu Yuan took a document from his sleeve and threw it at his feet: "Three million taels of silver, three hundred thousand taels of gold, plus compensation for military equipment losses, saltpeter, and sulfur—have all these things been prepared?"

Ning Chengli took the document and glanced at it, then broke out in a cold sweat.

It was several times more than they had expected.

"Your Highness, is there anything wrong with this list? Weapon losses..."

"What, do you think I'm trying to extort you?"

Lu Yuan stood up and walked to the edge of the steps, saying, "Then let me show you again whether this weapon is worth the price."

He raised his arm.

He Shen immediately ordered, "Archery Battalion, prepare!"

Hundreds of muskets were loaded and aimed at the distant firing range.

"put!"

The roar was so loud that Ning Chengli's legs went weak and he almost knelt down.

At the firing range, dozens of heavy wooden shields shattered with a crash, sending fragments flying and raising a cloud of dust.

Ning Chengli's face was extremely pale, and he was unable to speak.

Lu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back: "Crown Prince Ning, I do not like haggling. If you feel this deal is not worth it, you may go back. The Third Prince will remain imprisoned, and border trade will be suspended as well."

Ning Chengli trembled all over, and finally bowed deeply: "Ning Kingdom is willing to compensate according to the list, and will first pay one million taels of silver, five thousand military horses, saltpeter, and 100,000 catties of copper as a deposit, and the remaining amount will be paid in full within three months."

Lu Yuancai nodded: "That's right, but while we should apologize, the matter of the Third Prince is another matter. We can't release him for now."

Ning Chengli raised his head, his eyes filled with humiliation, but he could only grit his teeth and agree: "I will obey Your Highness's orders."

……

After entering the palace, Lu Cangqiong listened to Lu Yuan's report and then burst into laughter.

"Very well. The people of Ning have always considered themselves a powerful nation, but this time they finally know what it means to be inferior."

Lu Yuan laughed and said, "Father, I was just trying to scare them. What really made them submit was the musket."

Lu Cangqiong patted him on the shoulder and said, "You did a great job, I'm very pleased. But don't overwork yourself, go back and rest."

After Lu Yuan took his leave of the palace, it was already evening when he returned to the Crown Prince's villa.

Su Yuling was already waiting in the main courtyard. When she saw him come in, she immediately went to greet him and helped him take off his outer coat.

"My husband, you've worked hard."

She spoke softly, but with a hint of reproach in her tone, "You didn't sleep a wink all night to receive the delegation, I don't know if you even got any rest."

Lu Yuan smiled and hugged her waist, saying, "It's all worth it with the Crown Princess's care for me."

Su Yuling blushed and nudged him, saying, "Stop being so cheeky."

She pressed him into a chair and then reached out to massage his shoulders and neck.

Lu Yuan comfortably closed his eyes, and just as he was about to speak, Su Yuling leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Even the Crown Prince of Ningguo knows to apologize, but you, the Crown Prince, are still not honest. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Lu Yuan opened his eyes, smiled, and said, "Just tell me what Yu Ling wants."