Chapter 498 - 499: Envoy

Chapter 498: Chapter 499: Envoy

No kidding. They were all getting a bit picky now. Would capturing someone like this just be a waste of food?

Being sized up like a piece of merchandise made the man’s scalp tingle. He cursed silently in his heart. ’Prince Zuo, there were so many people on the ship. Why did you have to pick me to come down?’

He didn’t understand why these people were looking at him with such appraising eyes, as if they were pricing goods for sale.

"Just as expected of a barbarian. You have no manners at all.

In that case, allow me to deal with you." Xiao Xianfeng circled him once. "State your name and origin. Otherwise, I’ll charge you with insolence."

"I... I am the envoy sent by the Prince," the man said, clearly bewildered. ’What’s going on? Shouldn’t they have invited me to sit down and offered me a fine cup of wine first?’

’That’s what the people who came before said would happen.’

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. An aboriginal from some island? Why so secretive? And you have the audacity to serve a self-proclaimed ’Prince’?" Xiao Xianfeng laughed scornfully. "Don’t tell me you don’t even have a name?"

He actually understood that sentence. He stiffened his neck and said loudly, "Do not insult our Prince Zuo! I am Tu Zhong, a trusted aide under Prince Zuo. I’ve come this time to demand you hand over the people to us."

Xiao Xianfeng said, "Oh, you mean those traveling merchants you mentioned at the start?

It seems you’ve really come to the wrong place. In recent years, our coast hasn’t received any petitions from traveling merchants. If they weren’t registered here, they probably perished at sea long ago. Why don’t you go ask the Sea Dragon King?"

Many of the men behind him burst out laughing. That Xiao Xianfeng really was a character. Look how pale with anger he’d made the man’s face.

Tu Zhong said, "You’re just making excuses! One of our men returned and told us you detained them all. What is it? Are you trying to provoke a war between our two nations?"

"My dear ’Trusted Aide’ Tu Zhong, your words are quite unreasonable. Do you have any proof?"

’...My name is Tu Zhong, not Aide Tu Zhong, damn it.’

"We are certain you’ve captured them. If you don’t believe us, let us come ashore and search!"

Xiao Xianfeng turned to the soldiers on his side. "Colleagues, does anyone know whose dog has gotten off its leash? Should we shut the gates and beat it?"

Someone immediately looked at Tu Zhong with disgust. "A guy with barely two taels of meat on his bones? I can’t even be bothered to lift a finger.

We probably wouldn’t even make back the cost of his food after three years of work. What bad luck."

"Exactly. I see a few decent-looking ones on their ship, though. I wonder when they’ll come over. I’ll be sure to give them a warm welcome. It’ll make next year a little easier."

’What are these people saying?’ Tu Zhong’s mind felt like paste. ’I studied the official language for so long, how can I not understand them?’

"Good things, good things," Xiao Xianfeng said, placing a hand on his shoulder, only to immediately shake it off with disgust as if trying to get rid of some filth. "We are a nation of etiquette. You’ve traveled so far to reach our land, so they’re just discussing how to give you a proper welcome."

"That’s right, we’re a nation of etiquette. We’ve already prepared food and drinks for you. It’s no good just floating on the ship all the time. Hurry up and have your companions come down so we can give you all a warm welcome."

’You bet. Food and lodging provided, with excellent benefits.’

Many of the men began to chime in, their eyes glinting as they stared at the burly men on the ship.

The autumn harvest was approaching. They often ran over to the reclaimed wastelands to take a look; the amount of grain each captive could grow was nothing to scoff at.

Those who had captured four or five of them had truly struck it rich this autumn.

Tu Zhong said, "You are all truly courteous and proper. It has indeed been a very hard journey for us.

Our Prince Zuo is leading the expedition on the ship. If you wish to extend an invitation, you should at least have your Great General come forward."

The generals were speechless. "..." ’Their leader must have a few screws loose. Why would he send a guy like this?’

Xiao Xianfeng said, "I’m afraid that won’t do. Our Great General commands an army of several hundred thousand. I wonder how many soldiers Prince Zuo has under his command?"

Then, he put on a surprised expression. "This Prince sounds very impressive. I wonder which ship he’s on? Please be so kind as to inform us, so we can admire his distinguished presence."

Tu Zhong looked Xiao Xianfeng’s military robe up and down. "Your rank doesn’t seem very high. What gives you the right to meet with our Prince?

Hurry up and get your General Zhou. Have him personally lead a delegation to this harbor to welcome our Prince Zuo."

Vice General Wang was incessantly making hand gestures. Tu Zhong stared at him, baffled. "What’s wrong with that general? Is he having a seizure?"

Vice General Wang finished his hand gestures. "Just been standing here a while. Stretching my limbs. I see you two are having a pleasant chat. Please, continue."

"..." ’This man doesn’t look like General Zhou, and those few sitting over there probably aren’t him either.’

The overlooked Zhou Shixiong continued to play with the sand pile, his head lowered. If he were to look up right now, the long scar on his face would have certainly helped Tu Zhong confirm his identity.

"Then who’s the top dog here? Our Prince wants him to come aboard the ship."

"The one in charge is, of course, our General Zhou." Xiao Xianfeng straightened up to his full height. At six-foot-two, he made the other man’s five-foot-something frame look exceptionally short.

"I have to say, you people are quite interesting. You come asking for an audience, but you don’t even submit a formal letter of introduction?

Hurry back and tell your Prince to prepare a proper letter. When it’s ready, we can even pass it along for you. As for when our Great General will have time to grant him an audience... well, that will depend on his luck."

Hearing this speech, Tu Zhong’s face flushed red with anger. "Our Prince is a person of such esteemed status! How dare you insult him again?"

"Was I insulting him?" Xiao Xianfeng curled his lip in disdain. "I really don’t know where you learned this clumsy official tongue of yours. You can’t even understand the literal meaning of my words.

Did your teacher not tell you about etiquette and honor?

Or is it that you don’t have much of a brain? Can’t fit all that knowledge inside?

This won’t do. If you’re going to learn something, you have to master it. A half-wit like you shouldn’t be showing off here."

Vice General Wang narrowed his eyes, gazing ahead. Li Ji, who was beside him, thought he was staring at the ships. "General Wang, don’t stare your eyes out. They’re too far away. There’s nothing we can do to them."

"General Li, this isn’t over yet. Why jump to such conclusions? Even if we can’t go out to sea, they don’t dare come ashore." A soldier behind them heard this and was immediately displeased. ’At a time like this, as an Assistant General, how could he say something so demoralizing?’

Li Ji glanced back at them. "Good advice is often hard to hear. I just don’t see what purpose General Zhou has in gathering us all here. To stand around and enjoy the sea breeze with them?

These people are certain we can’t go to sea. Why should we waste our time dawdling here? Shouldn’t we just go back and guard the city gates?"