Nan Shiying's provocation was actually to verify one thing.
Lin Xie pretended to be enraged, kicking over the table and chairs, and roared in a voice loud enough to be heard outside the camp: "What do you think you are, nothing but a sycophant relying on power! How dare you threaten this general? Ha, it's utterly ridiculous… I suspect you are spies from Liao Jiang. I shall report this to the court immediately, and everything will be decided by His Majesty!!!"
Outside the camp, the soldiers heard the commotion and glanced over.
...
The Eagle Division arrested dozens of people from the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce and sealed its shops in the marketplace.
Upon hearing this, the envoy from Lin Yuan stationed in Liao Jiang went to the Eagle Division's camp.
"Special Envoy, the Lin Yuan envoy requests an audience."
After Lin Yuan and Liao Jiang established trade relations, Liao Jiang sent an envoy to reside in Wucheng, and Lin Yuan also sent an envoy to settle in the marketplace. For years, things had been peaceful. The envoy was angered and uneasy about the Eagle Division's sudden mobilization of heavy cavalry to surround the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce and detain its people.
Standing outside the Eagle Division's camp and hearing Buriugud's voice from within the tent, the envoy adjusted the hem of his robes and strode into the main tent.
"Lord Liu!"
Buriugud made a gesture for Liu Chongyan to be seated, and soldiers brought chairs to be placed below the head of the table.
Liu Chongyan did not sit. Instead, he straightened his back and questioned Buriugud sternly: "Why did the Special Envoy dispatch heavy cavalry to detain my Lin Yuan people?"
Buriugud's smile faded. He placed his hands on the table, his fingers tapping lightly on its surface.
"My Lord is stationed in the marketplace. Are you unaware of the dealings of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce over the years?" Buriugud's lips curved upwards, his voice filled with mockery.
Liu Chongyan was slightly taken aback: "What does the Special Envoy mean by that?"
"Was Lord Liu not present when our Eagle Division's heavy cavalry searched the cargo ships of the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce?"
Liu Chongyan snorted coldly: "If I had been there, I would have died before allowing you to take away my Lin Yuan people."
"Lord Liu is truly a good official who cares for his country and people. Then, has Lord Liu heard that our Eagle Division soldiers discovered hundreds of women and children in the cargo holds of the Lin Yuan people you speak of?"
Liu Chongyan's heart skipped a beat. His first thought was that the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce had secretly abducted Liao Jiang citizens and planned to sell them to Lin Yuan. Just as he was about to offer a defense, he heard Buriugud let out a scoff. He spoke, "Lord, you don't actually believe those women and children are citizens of my Liao Jiang, do you?"
Liu Chongyan understood the implication in his words.
So, the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce wasn't planning to sell Liao Jiang citizens to Lin Yuan, but rather Lin Yuan citizens to Liao Jiang?
These beasts, how dare they, how dare they!
Seeing Liu Chongyan trembling with anger, Buriugud suppressed the mockery on his face. It seemed that this Lin Yuan envoy stationed in their Liao Jiang was not aware of the situation.
"So, Lord Liu, are you still going to question why I arrested them?"
Liu Chongyan collected himself. He suppressed his anger and said, "Thank you, Special Envoy, for informing me of this news. However, they are citizens of my Lin Yuan. Regardless of what they have done, they will be dealt with by Lin Yuan law. It is not necessary for the Special Envoy to take this upon himself! I hope the Special Envoy will permit me to take them back to Lin Yuan."
"Ha, hahahaha!"
Buriugud burst into loud laughter. When he had laughed his fill, he fixed his fierce gaze on Liu Chongyan and questioned him, "Take them back to Lin Yuan?"
"Lord Liu, have you been in Liao Jiang too long and become foolish? The Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce dares to traffic your Lin Yuan population under the watchful eyes of the Langhuan Army. Do you think they have no backing?"
"Lord Liu, believe it or not, if you take them away, either they die, or you all die!"
"Furthermore, Lord Liu, I am not like those hypocrites from Lin Yuan who talk about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. Whatever crimes they have committed in my Liao Jiang will be dealt with by my Liao Jiang. If Lin Yuan intends to go to war with my Liao Jiang over these individuals, I, Buriugud, will be waiting here!"
Buriugud stood up, his sturdy physique exuding an imposing aura. Liu Chongyan's face turned extremely grim. He looked at Buriugud, unfazed by his demeanor. Instead, he took a step forward, his voice not loud but conveying the pride and unyielding spirit of a Lin Yuan citizen and official: "Special Envoy, I will report your words to the court exactly as they are. I only hope that in the future, the Special Envoy will not regret these bold words he speaks today."
"Is Lord Liu not afraid of not being able to leave my Eagle Division's camp?"
Liu Chongyan let out a cold laugh and took another step forward: "I, Liu Chongyan, dared to come because I am not afraid. If my head can be exchanged for the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and even civilians of your Liao Jiang, then I, Liu Chongyan, will have died a worthy death."
Liu Chongyan's back was straight, his entire person like a drawn sword. Buriugud had always believed that Lin Yuan's civil officials were all honey-tongued hypocrites, cowards who would grandly urge others to die but cry for their own lives when facing death. But now, he saw that among Lin Yuan's civil officials, there were indeed men of unyielding backbone.
"Good!"
Buriugud not only was not angry but even looked at him with greater respect. If the two countries were truly to go to war, he would not be afraid. However, if the situation had not reached an irreconcilable point, Buriugud did not wish to bring the flames of war into Liao Jiang territory and subject the common people to it.
"Lord Liu has good backbone. I, Buriugud, have always respected men with such strong resolve. Today, you may leave, but I say again, if Lin Yuan truly intends to go to war with my Liao Jiang over these individuals, my Liao Jiang is prepared to see it through to the end!"
"Lord Liu, please return!"
Although Buriugud admired his spirit, he remained firm in his stance on this matter.
What if they were Lin Yuan citizens? His Liao Jiang was not a vassal state of Lin Yuan. If Lin Yuan dared to expect his Liao Jiang to submit and bow its head, or if Lin Yuan citizens wanted to flaunt their power in his Liao Jiang, he would sharpen his blade and sever Lin Yuan citizens, and fight Lin Yuan armies.
Liu Chongyan gave Buriugud a deep look, then flicked his sleeves and turned, striding out of the tent.
...
The Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce's ship was supposed to return yesterday, but by noon today, it had still not reached the Yuhe port, nor had they received any letters.
Li Dazui was filled with anxiety. The Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce's cargo ships had been plying between Lin Yuan and Liao Jiang for years without any such incident. In the past, even if there were delays, the Liao Jiang branch would immediately send a carrier pigeon to deliver news.
But this time, there was nothing.
Not only that, but Li Dazui also discovered that the carrier pigeon he had sent to Shen Xing that day had not returned either.
Li Dazui felt an unease that grew more intense with each passing moment.
...
Nan Shiying looked up at the cage.
Only when she was inside the cage could the rats hiding in the dark dare to move, to act!