Chapter 68
The entire hall of Jing Country was stunned into silence.
If anyone dared say they were stone pillars, they would glare back in disbelief.
But the two envoys from Wu Yun Country were delighted, looking like fools.
It was jaw-dropping!
[These two envoys' favorable impression of the Emperor Father increased, currently at the 'negotiable' level.]
[Emperor Father, just praise them a bit more, and you can drive a hard bargain later!]
Xiao Chuchu glanced at the system and felt pleased.
"Ahem," Xiao Yunzhou also choked a little, hurriedly taking a deep breath and looking towards the two big men, "We... merely spoke the truth."
Hearing this, the two envoys became even more delighted, "Your truthful words make us so happy. May you and your descendants be strong and mighty, like towering stone pillars!"
"..."
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth twitched, this blessing... was beyond words!
He couldn't bear to look at their foolish sweetness anymore, so he hurriedly brought the topic back, "By the way, have the two envoys brought war horses from Wu Yun Country this time?"
The entire court of Jing Country froze, looking up at Xiao Yunzhou.
The Minister of Rites immediately stepped out, hinting with a frown, "Your Majesty, the envoys from Wu Yun Country did not bring a large number of horses."
Wu Yun Country, a grassland nation, did indeed raise a large number of horses compared to Jing Country.
But Wu Yun Country's horses had short legs and thick tails, with decent endurance but average speed.
Not to mention Jing Country, even the neighboring Chu State looked down upon them!
Wu Yun Country's horses had not sold well for several years.
Why should Jing Country become the scapegoat?
They truly had no interest in Wu Yun Country's trade requests.
Wu Yun horses on the battlefield could not outrun others!
The Minister of Revenue chuckled, "Your Majesty, Wu Yun Country has not traded horses for the past ten years."
They couldn't sell them!
Only a fool would buy them!
"Your expectations are likely in vain."
But before he could sit back down and the court officials could nod in agreement,
The two envoys from Wu Yun Country stood there, looking shocked, delighted, and fearful, staring at Xiao Yunzhou!
"Esteemed Emperor of Jing Country!"
"How did you know that we wanted to trade horses with you?"
The entire court of Jing Country was dumbfounded.
What?
The Ministers of Rites and Revenue couldn't believe it, and even the Minister of War was about to roll his eyes.
How shameless!
Where's Wu Yun Country's face?
"Hmph." An official from the Ministry of War stood up in anger, "Who within a thousand miles doesn't know that your Wu Yun cavalry was completely wiped out by the Tata Tribe five years ago!"
"Cavalry should be able to withstand five times their number, but your Wu Yun horses were too slow, and in the end, they were surrounded and defeated!"
The official from the Ministry of War was very wary, "Those horses are at best used for hauling goods."
"Anyway, our soldiers in Jing Country don't want them!"
The Minister of Revenue hurriedly spoke up, turning towards Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, "Our Jing Country has many waterways, so we can use water transportation instead of pack horses. Your Majesty, we don't need pack horses either."
The Ministry of Revenue managed the finances, and the Minister firmly objected to buying these useless things!
Xiao Yunzhou was given a headache by their constant chatter.
Xiao Chuchu in his arms also frowned in pain, [Awoo, they don't know that after the Wu Yun cavalry's defeat, Wu Yun Country reflected deeply, purchasing horses from surrounding tribes and breeding them multiple times.]
[After five years... the new bloodline of Wu Yun war horses has been upgraded, and the short-legged horses have grown taller!]
[Now a single new bloodline Wu Yun war horse has a top speed three times faster than before, and its endurance is no less than the previous short-legged horses.]
Xiao Chuchu blinked at Xiao Yunzhou's arms.
Xiao Yunzhou nodded silently, raising his hand to signal the officials from the Ministries of War and Revenue who wanted to continue objecting to be quiet.
"Silence."
"Times change, people change. Don't be narrow-minded; you should know that in this vast world, others also have the possibility of improvement."
Xiao Yunzhou gestured for the Ministries of War and Revenue to sit down.
"Our talented Jing Country has capable people, so why can't Wu Yun?"
The two envoys from Wu Yun Country were initially angry when the officials of Jing Country criticized the quality of their horses.
But upon hearing Xiao Yunzhou's words, their eyes lit up.
They were touched!
Jing Country, the nation of courtesy, did not look down on their small Wu Yun Country, as shown by the Emperor's words.
That's right, why should only Jing Country be capable? Couldn't Wu Yun Country make progress?
The two envoys immediately stood up, placing their hands on their left chests and respectfully performed the highest ceremonial greeting of Wu Yun Country to Xiao Yunzhou.
"Thank you, Emperor of Jing Country, for acknowledging the wisdom of our people."
"We have indeed bred a breed of war horses with increased speed."
"We didn't expect that even the Emperor of Jing Country, a thousand miles away, would see through this. You are truly wise!"
The envoys saw Xiao Yunzhou in a new light!
The Ministers of War and Revenue of Jing Country opened their mouths.
The officials, especially those from the Ministry of Rites who greeted the envoys, could not believe it.
Wu Yun Country really came to sell horses!?
How did the Emperor know?
"Then where are your horses? Why didn't you bring them into our Jing Country?"
"You only rode a few dozen horses here!"
Because the number was so small, the officials from the Ministry of Rites thought they had come to sell mutton!
The envoy from Wu Yun Country smiled and bowed, "Because the new horses are extremely fast."
"If Jing Country is interested in purchasing them, we can send a message back, and within five days, they will arrive in Jing Country in large numbers."
"This way, Jing Country can also see the speed of our new horses."
"...!"
The officials of Jing Country were speechless.
Wow, you're really good at putting on a show!
Five days... arriving in the capital in five days?
What kind of speed is that?
The Minister of War felt a chill down his spine.
If it wasn't for selling horses, but rather Wu Yun Country's cavalry, with such speed, could Jing Country's cavalry and infantry withstand them?
"Excellent!"
"Just as We expected!" Xiao Yunzhou slammed down his wine cup, shamelessly boasting to the end.
He laughed heartily and invited the envoys to be seated.
[With these war horses, our military strength will be enhanced, right?]
Xiao Chuchu couldn't help but look forward to it in her heart.
[Wu Yun Country values strength and dislikes empty talk.]
[So in business negotiations, they also prefer to be more direct, without beating around the bush.]
[They didn't bring a large number of horses into Jing Country, but they did bring a few breeding horses.]
[Divided into high, medium, and low grades, waiting for us to evaluate.]
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes lit up, "Then let Us be direct and not talk vaguely."
He leaned forward, pressing towards the envoys.
"The two of you have come from afar, and it's unlikely that you're just here for a visit."
"You must have brought different types of breeding horses, so why not bring them to today's banquet for Us to admire first."
The court officials were stunned.
The two envoys from Wu Yun Country stood there, looking shocked, delighted, and fearful, staring at Xiao Yunzhou!
"Esteemed Emperor of Jing Country!"
"How did you know that we had brought different types of breeding horses on our journey?"
The Emperor of Jing Country is too powerful, isn't he?
"Correct, the twelve of us who have come here have brought with us, six of the best new war horses, six of the medium new war horses, six of the lower new war horses, as well as twelve of the old short-legged horses."
The envoy truly admired Xiao Yunzhou.
"If all officials of Jing Country are as wise and formidable as you, the Emperor of Jing Country, then Jing Country must be the greatest in the world, unmatched by any other!"
The officials of Jing Country: "???"