After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

While things were bustling at the Crown Prince's Palace, the negotiations at the Court of State Ceremonial were also reaching their final stage.

Zhang Sheng sat in the main seat, pushing a detailed document to the person opposite him with a relieved smile on his face.

"Your Highness, all terms have been approved. 3,500 catties of tea, 6,000 catties of salt, 900 bolts of silk, 3,500 bolts of cotton cloth, and 600 iron farm tools, with the amount to be increased annually according to the peace and stability of the border towns. This is the great grace of His Majesty the Emperor of our Great Ming Dynasty in caring for the livelihood of the people of the grassland tribes, and also our dynasty's sincerity in reopening trade. If there are no objections, the seal may be affixed here, and the alliance is established."

Turu picked up the document, glanced at it casually, and then put it down.

Zhang Sheng's smile froze slightly: "What does Your Highness mean?"

Tulu raised his head, speaking slowly in broken Chinese, "The number is settled, but one clause needs to be added. The Hetao region, north of Huamachi and Heishan Camp, extending to the Willow Palisade and Zhenlubao, is rich in water and grass, yet most of it is now abandoned. Our grassland tribes request permission to graze their livestock there to supplement their livelihood. This clause must be added to the treaty."

The color drained from Zhang Sheng's face instantly. He sat bolt upright and shouted, "Absolutely impossible! The Hetao region is the territory of our Great Ming Dynasty, cultivated and managed by successive dynasties. How can we allow foreign vassals to graze there? The Crown Prince's request violates ancestral rules and goes against the very purpose of peace between our two nations! This matter is absolutely not open to discussion!"

Turu seemed to have anticipated his reaction, and instead of being annoyed, he smiled.

"The garrison at Huamachi numbers over 3,200, but the actual strength is probably less than 2,000. As for the so-called 2,500 elite troops of the Black Mountain Camp, how many are truly capable of fighting after removing the old and weak? And those twenty-seven beacon towers from the Willow Palisade to Zhenlu Fort, with autumn deep and the grass overgrown, you'd hardly see a soul in sight. Is guarding a few empty camps and abandoned towers really considered territorial territory? Minister Zhang, aren't you Han people supposed to be the most pragmatic?"

Zhang Sheng felt a chill shoot straight up from his tailbone to the top of his head!

What Tulu said was not empty threats. The troop deployment, the number of watchtowers, and even the implicit underestimation of the numbers and the current state of lax defense were almost identical to the Ministry of War's latest deployment!

This is a core secret of the Ming Dynasty's border defense!

He forced down his shock and tried his best to remain calm, saying in a deep voice, "Where did you hear these unfounded rumors, Your Highness? The border garrisons of our Great Ming are well-disciplined and heavily guarded; how can we allow such speculation! The matter of stationing troops in the Hetao region is absolutely impossible and need not be mentioned again! If Your Highness has no further objections, please affix your seal!"

"Making something out of nothing? Hahaha..."

Tulu suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Minister Zhang, let's speak frankly. The Huoshai tribe's several thousand elite cavalry are currently watering their horses south of Yinshan. If you agree to this small condition, we can all live in peace, trade can continue as usual, and you will have a tranquil border town."

"If your dynasty insists on not allowing it, the Huoshai tribe, or some other tribe, may be too hasty and cause unnecessary conflicts with your border troops. War has no eyes, and it would be bad if it damaged the harmony."

A threat! A blatant threat!

Zhang Sheng could no longer maintain his composure. He abruptly stood up, his voice trembling slightly: "I will present every word of what the Crown Prince said today to His Majesty immediately! What exactly is your country's intention? I beg Your Majesty's judgment! This matter ends here!"

Having said that, he no longer cared about diplomatic etiquette, turned around, and left in a hurry.

Turu watched the direction he left in, snorted coldly, picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp. He then said to Akunda, who had been resting with his eyes closed, "Grand Preceptor, this old fellow is quite frightened."

Akunda raised his eyelids slightly and whispered, "Your Highness has played a brilliant move, turning the tables and now it's their turn to be worried."

Turu looked out the window and muttered to himself, "Father Khan is right. If we don't show our claws, they'll always think we're toothless tigers. The humiliation of the excrement, yesterday's 'taming the sky' act, and these stifling trade terms... we'll settle these scores slowly!"

Zhang Sheng stumbled into the Fengtian Hall and repeated Tulu's words verbatim. Finally, he touched his head to the ground and said, "Your Majesty, I am incompetent and have failed your trust. Please punish me."

The Hongzhi Emperor listened quietly, his face turning extremely grim.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze suddenly, making it hard to breathe.

Xiao Jing, who was standing to the side, lowered his head even further and even breathed very softly.

"Huama Pond...Heishan Camp...from Willow Palisade to Zhenlu Fort, twenty-seven watchtowers..."

The Hongzhi Emperor's voice was slow and deep, each word carrying a chill.

"The strength of the troops, the laxity of the defenses, and even the number of watchtowers are all accurately recorded. These are details of border affairs that even the high-ranking officials in the court may not know so clearly."

Zhang Sheng bowed his head and said, "I am also extremely shocked! Such military secrets cannot be obtained through ordinary intelligence gathering! There may be something in the capital..."

"I fear that there are spies from the Northern Yuan planted deep within my bedside!"

The Hongzhi Emperor coldly ordered, "Summon Mu Bin, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to an audience immediately!"

"This servant obeys the decree!"

Xiao Jing dared not delay for the slightest and bowed as he quickly withdrew.

Within half an hour, Mu Bin, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, rushed to the palace, hurriedly entered, and knelt down, saying, "Your subject Mu Bin pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

His forehead was also covered in sweat, clearly indicating that he had heard rumors.

The Hongzhi Emperor did not tell him to rise, but simply asked, "You know everything?"

Mu Bin's face turned deathly pale, and he said in a low voice, "I just learned about it too..."

The Hongzhi Emperor slowly said, "The Northern Yuan heir knows the border troop deployments like the back of his hand. Tell me, how did he obtain this information?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"

Mu Bin kowtowed, his voice trembling, "Your subject... deserves to die!"

The Hongzhi Emperor sneered and continued, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard spyes on the entire realm. Right now, enemy spies are right beside me, stealing my secrets and threatening my rule, and you are completely unaware! What use is the Embroidered Uniform Guard to me?"

Mu Bin was drenched in sweat, the back of his official robes completely soaked. He could only kowtow repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, I am terrified! I will immediately mobilize all available manpower for a city-wide search, and I will surely find..."

"A city-wide search?"

The Hongzhi Emperor interrupted, saying, "We've made too much noise, alerted the enemy, they've escaped, the trail has gone cold. What are you going to do then? Grab a few scapegoats to appease me?"

Mu Bin was speechless, his whole body ice-cold.

"I'm giving you three days. Within three days, find the lurking Northern Yuan spies. If you fail, then submit your resignation. You're probably familiar with the Northern Garrison's prison. Choose a clean room and go in to rest."

"Your subject...accepts the decree!"

Mu Bin kowtowed heavily, his voice hoarse, and said, "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to give you an explanation within three days!"

"Go."

The Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand, as if he had exhausted all his strength.

Mu Bin staggered to his feet, almost unable to stand, bowed, and backed out of the main hall.

Zhang Sheng remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to move an inch.

After a long silence, the Hongzhi Emperor's weary voice rang out: "Minister Zhang, you may also step down! The use of the seal on the trade treaty is to be suspended for now. Nothing that happened at the Court of State Ceremonial today shall be revealed to the outside world."

"I obey your decree."

Zhang Sheng kowtowed heavily, struggled to his feet, and bowed as he withdrew.