The two boarded the carriage, and just as it was about to set off, the Hun envoy and his men waited by the carriage to announce: "Is Your Majesty Marshal Xie? If so, we would like to invite you to the Northern Prefecture tomorrow. Our Third Prince wishes to discuss state affairs with you face to face."
A lazy voice came from inside the carriage: "Which prince?"
"The Third Prince, Lord Anshan."
Anshan? Anshan? Xie Lanzhi, inside the carriage, pondered for a moment before agreeing with the messenger: "The General will arrive tomorrow."
"Thank you, Marshal. The prince will be waiting for you at the Northern Palace tomorrow." After the Hun envoy finished speaking, he led his men to make way, and the coachman immediately hurriedly drove the carriage away.
This is the first time I've ever seen these Huns treat people with such utmost respect.
Returning to the Dongguo Guest House.
Xie Lanzhi had someone bring water for washing feet into the house. She closed the door and began to wash Si Xitong's feet.
Si Xitong felt comfortable from the massage, and her gaze gradually became intense, fixed on her. Xie Lanzhi pressed her big toe, reminding her, "I have important business to attend to tomorrow."
"I didn't say anything." Si Xitong pouted, a hint of grievance in her eyes. But it quickly dissipated.
She asked Xie Lanzhi, "You didn't even go to see the covenant last time. I'm afraid this time it's not as simple as just seeing the covenant?"
"Yes, I have dealt with some Hun people before. The Hun people are no less intelligent than me. They are a menace who have caused chaos in Xieji and the Hu people." Xie Lanzhi said, "They have fallen into my hands because they are greedy and can't let go of Suha's property, which is why they have been lingering in Shangdu."
As a result, the Xie family's headquarters has now reconciled with the Yifan group, eliminating many of the previous misunderstandings. It is believed that the Xie family's business in Yifan will be even more successful in the future.
Si Xitong had heard of a merchant named Anshan. He had fled from Weidu and then immediately went there again. Moreover, it was said that he had been making plans for a year. His reach was so extensive that it was truly astonishing.
Even now, at the end of the Jin Dynasty, who knows how many "Xiaoyao Pills" and "Fushou Cakes" have passed through this person's hands to amass wealth, harming countless households and countries.
“This person must not be spared.” Si Xitong’s eyes were sharp and cold. She said coldly, “He must die.”
Xie Lanzhi simply washed her feet quietly, dried them with a towel, and then put her feet into the bedding. She then took the water out to the palace maids. Only after that did she go into the room, take off her clothes, blow out the candles, and get into bed.
Holding his beloved wife in his arms, he sighed deeply into her hair: "Little Phoenix, focus on your work first; your task is arduous."
"Leave Huayin to me, and the Hu Xiongnu to you. We'll attack from both sides." Si Xitong lay in her arms, her calm tone already resolute; she wanted to obtain the coal mines of Huayin.
Xie Lanzhi knew in her heart that, though she didn't say it, she had secretly given her beloved wife a thumbs up.
Little Phoenix, a resource war is a war for hegemony!
At the Northern Kingdom's guesthouse, Yelü Lili's strategist arrived a day late, just in time to hear that the head of the Xie clan had been invited to the Northern Kingdom's guesthouse by the third prince, Anshan Jun, and treated as an honored guest.
The strategist then advised Yelü Lili: "Since Huayin has local advantages, and my subordinates can see that the southern part of Huayin is under the control of Prince Fengning, the ruler of Jiujin, why don't you discuss this with your old friend..."
Li Li did not express his opinion, but he clearly told the strategist: "Anshan is in our hands, but the Third Prince only invited Marshal Xie. This is clearly a show of force against me. He thinks that I don't have the final say."
The strategist said, "It's quite normal for him to feel that way. If you could really make the decision, the merchant would be imprisoned instead of brought here."
"I promised to bring it over, but after the recent troubles, I was worried and had no choice but to entrust it to the Marshal," Yelü Lili said. "Moreover, what you said makes sense. I should have a good talk with Prince Fengning."
This time, they were not meeting as friends or old acquaintances, but as lords and nations.
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 18:15:15 on January 5, 2022 and 18:18:55 on January 6, 2022!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Gentle and easygoing (1);
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Yi. 16 bottles; lu 10 bottles; Cool Short Hair 5 bottles; Tong, waiting for you to update 2 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 122 Xie Lanzhi refuses to release him
The Northern Prefecture was heavily guarded, with guards stationed at each of the many vermilion gates, and even armed guards near the inner gate.
The moment the head of the Xie family stepped into the Northern Mansion, she was constantly being scrutinized by eyes in the shadows, as if they wanted to see the culprit who had ruined the reputation of the Hu and Xiongnu merchants.
A woman from the Central Plains, a woman taller than most women from the Central Plains, with arms less than half the thickness of a Xiongnu woman's, and even shorter than a man standing upright, she didn't look like a regional overlord at all. Because she lacked the commanding presence of a monarch.
Even though she looks fierce and menacing, she's only slightly better than an ordinary person.
How could such an ordinary woman, the kind you could throw on the street and not find anywhere else, become their biggest obstacle in the south?
When Xie Lanzhi entered the inner gate, she saw a man with two braids hanging down from his temples, wearing a jade crown with a blue dragon design. He had striking, deep-set features and brown eyes. He was sitting in a chair, holding two iron balls in his hands.
The third prince, Lord Anshan, immediately put away the iron ball and bowed to Xie Lanzhi in a standard Central Plains salute.
Xie Lanzhi retaliated against her.
"Are you the famous Southern Overlord Xie Lanzhi?"
"You are the Prince of Anshan?"
The two exchanged pleasantries and polite exchanges. Anshan invited her to sit down, and Xie Lanzhi lifted the hem of her dress and took her seat.
Neither of them had any idle chatter; if they had both come just to chat, they probably wouldn't have met today.
When Anshan first met Xie Lanzhi, he only thought she was a woman who was a bit tougher than the average woman, nothing special. Now, her fame is spreading like wildfire in the south, which is nothing more than the hype surrounding Xie's million-strong army.
Anshan held the Xie men in utter contempt, for they were all subservient to a woman, and this woman had even murdered her father and relatives—a truly absurd act. Despite the Xie family's self-proclaimed lineage to the Central Plains, they were nothing but a bunch of hypocritical scoundrels. And they dared to look down upon the Xiongnu kingdom.
The servants served the tea and then left.
"Marshal Xie, I have heard that you have always enjoyed exchanging martial arts skills with others in the Southern Region. I wonder if I could have the honor of sparring with you today? If I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spar with the overlord of the South, I would be extremely honored."
Xie Lanzhi dislikes fighting, but when she does, she kills instantly. Except for Xie Yan, who was not skilled enough in using her skills, she doesn't need to lift a finger. Even with An Shan, she always hits him with a single blow.
If she were to truly engage in prolonged combat with someone, she probably hadn't encountered such a person yet. Therefore, her reaction to force was indifferent, because she hadn't met her match. Those she had encountered in the past were all dead.
"I don't easily fight with others, so you should find someone else, Your Highness."
"It's a real pity. I heard that the news of you eliminating the traitor in Fengxi Town has spread like wildfire. Even merchants from the north tremble at the mere mention of your name."
The merchants from the north were represented by the Hu and Xiongnu merchants.
Hearing that they were about to get to the point, Xie Lanzhi helped to formally introduce the topic: "Is the prince implying something, or is he subtly implying that I have acted unfairly?"
“How could I dare? Every country has its own laws, and as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So naturally, we must abide by them.” Lord Anshan said, “But to harm others and damage their reputation would be going too far.”
Xie Lanzhi said, "Without rules, nothing can be accomplished; without benevolent governance, the world cannot be at peace. For a hundred years, our ancestors in the North have been imitating the Central Plains in terms of etiquette, learning the Central Plains books, and promoting the teachings of Confucius and Mencius."
"Since both the North and the South revere the same sage and teacher, the students they teach should be exactly the same."
She paused, then gave a meaningful look: "But under the guise of using poison to fight poison and save lives, you've actually opened up a path of traditional Chinese medicine that goes against humanity."
"I wonder if the Prince of Anshan considers Xiaoyao Pills and Fushou Cake to be poison or medicine?"
Anshan said, "This thing can be used as medicine to cure headaches and calm the nerves, so it is naturally a medicine. However, Marshal, you drove the people who sell medicine out of the south and violated the rules you mentioned. Why do you say one thing and do another, Marshal?"
"You say it's medicine, so why do those who use it go from having all four limbs intact and walking on two legs, to being unable to see the light of day, emerging only at night, neither human nor ghost?" Xie Lanzhi said, "As the saying goes, every medicine has some poison. Your concealment of the toxicity is no different from murder for profit."
"So, would you say this is medicine or poison?"
The two men argued back and forth, reaching a stalemate. Anshan didn't want to go too far, since he needed to consider the other party's bargaining chips before he could redeem the person.
Xie Zhu has the leverage he wants. Although the initiative is in her hands, he may still be able to make a move later.
He took the initiative to negotiate: "Anshan is my friend. If he has done anything that the Marshal cannot forgive, I, Xiao Wang, apologize to you in advance and will offer a generous gift as compensation afterward."
Xie Lanzhi said, "Since the prince has brought up this person, before ransoming him, I would like to ask if this person is really the Anshan you mentioned?"
"How do you know he is Anshan if you've never seen him before?"
In truth, even the Prince of Anshan himself wasn't sure if Xie Lanzhi truly possessed Anshan, since no merchant among the Hu and Xiongnu dared to use a name that sounded like "Anshan." It seemed rather like he was using someone else's power to intimidate others, a case of a fox borrowing the tiger's might.
Anshan said, "Why don't we send someone to confirm it today? If they are not my friends, they are still my Hun people. As the royal family, how can I sit idly by?"
Xie Lanzhi agreed. She also wanted to verify the other party's identity.
Anshan quickly sent an envoy to investigate, and news arrived in no time.
The messenger whispered in Anshan's ear, "This person is not Anshan, but he is indeed excited to see his own people and wants to ask for help."
“If it’s not Anshan, there’s no need to bother with him.” Prince Anshan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn’t the real Anshan, he didn’t need to lower himself to speak politely to Lord Xie anymore.
Upon hearing this, Xie Lanzhi still feigned ignorance and asked, "Is it Anshan himself?"
Prince Anshan shook his head: "I'm sorry, he's not the person I'm looking for, but the gift I promised will be delivered to the State Guest House."
“No need. I cannot accept a reward without merit.” Xie Lanzhi immediately stood up and said, “Since it is not, then the prince does not need to plead for an ordinary smuggler and murderer, lest it damage the face of the royal family.”
“Of course.” Anshan stood up to see her off.
Just as Xie Lanzhi left, another messenger hurried in from the outer gate and whispered a few words to Anshan. Anshan looked greatly alarmed, then confirmed the messenger's words several times. Finally, after being informed by the messenger, he immediately called out, "Marshal, please wait!"
"Regarding that Anshan, I still wish to redeem him and bring him back to his country. I hope the Marshal can give me face, and I will definitely repay you in the future."
Xie Lanzhi stopped and turned her head, saying, "Prince, he is not the real Anshan, but just an imposter. Why would you owe this great man a favor for such a nobody?"
"Besides, favors aren't so easy to repay."
“To be honest, although this man is not Anshan, he is still a citizen of our country.” Prince Anshan said, “Since he is a nobody, why should the Marshal bother with a nobody? It would be more practical to exchange him for some real benefits.”
The tangible benefits immediately piqued Xie Lanzhi's interest, but she had no intention of sitting down to talk again. She said bluntly, "I want all your men to leave Huayin North. Can you do that?"
Upon hearing this, Anshan and the envoy all showed displeasure.
This woman is really asking for an exorbitant amount.
Another messenger couldn't help but ask, "What should the prince do?"
This isn't the north where they can just plunder at will, especially since they've encountered someone who doesn't treat the Hu and Xiongnu well. The Lady Xie already hates the Hu and Xiongnu; if they leave them an opening for her to exploit, they'll be at a disadvantage.
Anshan repeatedly reminded him: "Please think it over, Marshal. Xiao Wang will not let you suffer any losses."
"Then I'll go back and think about it." Xie Lanzhi turned her head, waved to Anshan with her back to him, and her figure quickly disappeared from sight.
Upon seeing this, the two envoys said indignantly, "This woman is extremely arrogant and conceited. If the prince refuses to release the people, we might as well use some tricks."
"That person might not be Anshan, but he's connected to the missing Anshan. Perhaps we can find out where the real Anshan is from him!"
Anshan gestured for them to calm down, then stared at the direction Xie Lanzhi had left, his eyes suddenly flashing with a sharp glint.
"Go and do it."
"yes!"
After Xie Lanzhi returned to her residence, she heard that the King of Anyi had sent someone to invite her to the palace. Since she was not there, he left a message hoping to meet her again that evening.
Seeing that she seemed preoccupied, Si Xitong took the initiative to ask her, "Did the Hun prince upset you?"
"Not necessarily." Xie Lanzhi remembered the person she was holding, the one the Hun people wanted to return to, and she began to assess his worth.