Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 586: Lord Wang, When Negotiating Between Two Nations, One Must Show Magnanimity!

Chapter 586: Chapter 586: Lord Wang, When Negotiating Between Two Nations, One Must Show Magnanimity!

Lu Zhong finally realized Huang Gun’s infuriating ability that left people speechless as he looked at the enraged Wang Mingzhe, the table-slamming Liu Yi, and the fist-clenching Zhang Fan. He finally understood why the Empress recommended Huang Gun to come here.

Left General Xie Yuanzhang scrutinized the astonishing Mr. Huang, maintaining his usual calm demeanor internally.

However, Wang Mingzhe’s disciples were far less composed. Liu Yi snorted, "Mr. Huang, stop being sarcastic and insinuating. We demand you kneel and apologize to Scholar Wang!"

Huang Gun stood up, looking extremely aggrieved, "Oh dear, did I mention Lord Wang just now? Did I use any inappropriate words? Where’s your grace?"

Zhang Fan stood up, glaring, "Negotiations should stick to the matter at hand. What do you mean by insulting people like this?"

Lu Zhong quietly observed if Huang Gun possessed any abilities besides infuriating people.

Huang Gun plopped back into his chair, "Stick to the matter at hand, right? Then let me speak plainly. Since this is a negotiation, we in Dayu are willing to withdraw thirty miles. Why is it that you in Eastern Wei are unwilling to retreat thirty miles? If you can’t even do that, what’s the point of negotiations? Your abacus beads are practically hitting me in the face!"

"If you feel disadvantaged, then let me do the math with you!"

Lu Zhong was taken aback by the sudden assertive aura from Huang Gun, like a seemingly indifferent student who surprises everyone at the critical moment.

Huang Gun stared into Wang Mingzhe’s eyes and asked word by word, "The flow of the Qiliu River reaches your Eastern Wei, doesn’t it?"

Faced with an established fact, Wang Mingzhe didn’t respond, and Liu Yi lifted his chin, replying, "So what if it does? Rivers and mountains belong to the country they’re in!"

Huang Gun’s lips curled into a smile, standing with hands behind his back, "Every year, the fish in the Qiliu River swim upstream to spawn and return afterward. It’s our Dayu lands that nurture the fish of Qiliu River. Don’t the fish with their offspring swim into your Eastern Wei? Since you benefit, contributing five million taels of silver to Dayu annually isn’t excessive, is it?"

Wang Mingzhe was astounded, while Xie Yuanzhang’s eyes focused sharply; this person is no simple character to have discovered the annual benefits of the Qiliu River to Eastern Wei.

Lu Zhong and Wang Qingchen’s eyes lit up; they had been tangled up in the negotiations and forgot that the upper and middle reaches of the Qiliu River were in Dayu!

"If you think it’s excessive, we can intercept them along with their families in the middle reaches and see what your downstream fishermen will do!"

Wang Mingzhe’s face changed drastically.

Huang Gun smiled confidently, "Our Dayu emperor and empress have always appreciated that our two countries have never been at war, so they haven’t diverted the Qiliu River. But with just one word from them, it could take a turn and no longer flow into Eastern Wei!" I happen to be the Minister of Public Works and can submit a memorial overnight!"

Huang Gun raised his voice, "Without the Qiliu River, how would your vast plains form, and where would the fertile lands be irrigated from?"

His voice suddenly became forceful and resonant, "The Eastern Wei royal capital is only a few hundred miles from here. If the fertile fields turn to desert, would the Eastern Wei emperor be willing to lose more land?"

Huang Gun’s words struck like a thunderbolt, making Wang Mingzhe’s scalp tingle. He stood frozen, swallowing repeatedly, never imagining that the least conspicuous Minister of Public Works would surpass Lu Zhong and Wang Qingchen and directly grasp Eastern Wei by the throat with the issue of diverting a river.

Liu Yi and Zhang Fan exchanged glances, suddenly feeling that they had studied all these sage teachings in vain, as mere knowledge was insufficient.

Xie Yuanzhang assessed Huang Gun, silently musing: This Vice Minister Huang was once under Zhan Lan’s command—indeed, a strong general raises no weak soldiers!

Lu Zhong’s gaze at Huang Gun shifted from disdain to scrutiny, scrutiny to appreciation, and appreciation to astonishment!

Although Huang Gun seemingly spent his days sleeping, he clearly understood the geography of the Qiliu River and its rerouting possibilities, long having means to leverage against Eastern Wei!

He initially thought Huang Gun only possessed the ability to irritate others to no end, but realized his mind contained substantial insights!

Being the Minister of Public Works, he is naturally familiar with Dayu’s water resources, which must be why the Empress recommended him for these negotiations!

He is the trump card in this negotiation!

Zhan Hui and Wang Qingchen also cast different glances at Huang Gun; his performance this time was outstanding!

Huang Gun’s heart blossomed with joy; he acted well, didn’t he? Seeing these people staring in astonishment, before setting off, his Main General subtly hinted about the Qiliu River, enlightening him.

He mused to himself: Ah, today my performance was truly remarkable, as solid as sitting on a chair without pants, terrifying this group! Even Lord Lu Zhong, who grumbled all the way, now looks at him with admiration, making him extremely pleased.

Wang Mingzhe, ultimately a sly old fox, suddenly laughed heartily, "Mr. Huang is indeed eloquent; I admire you. How about this: Eastern Wei doesn’t need to retreat, nor does Dayu; we take the Qiliu River and Meng Mountain as the boundary and guard our people without interfering with each other, how about it?"

Lu Zhong clenched his fist; Meng Mountain is Dayu’s territory and the shield protecting the border. Eastern Wei is shamelessly attempting to seize Meng Mountain!

Before he could speak, Huang Gun stood up and spat, "Pah!"

Wang Mingzhe wiped the spray off his face, angrily, "Vulgar!"

Huang Gun, noble and upright, said, "At Dayu’s bedside, how can we allow others to sleep soundly! Involving my country’s territory is not a negotiable matter! This issue isn’t up for discussion!"

His voice was strong and forceful, "You still want Meng Mountain, and with a single word, claim it—just because you have a big face? Although you always smile gently, I see you are like a stewed turtle, filled with malicious intent!"

Wang Mingzhe was trembling with anger, pointing at Huang Gun’s nose and cursing, "Foul language, a disgrace to gentlemanliness, you, you, you, you... shameless!"

Liu Yi and Zhang Fan immediately supported their enraged teacher, whose face was flushed. Yet Xie Yuanzhang remained as calm as ever, not only because Wang Mingzhe was a political rival but also because their emperor privately instructed him: Cause a bit of trouble for Dayu’s envoy, but don’t break down relations. This negotiation must succeed.

Their emperor was probing whether Dayu’s emperor had intentions to annex Eastern Wei; if they were earnest about negotiations, that was what they wanted as well.

Huang Gun didn’t care a bit about whether Wang Mingzhe would be angered to death by him; he mimicked Wang Mingzhe’s manner, saying, "Lord Wang, in negotiations between two countries, one should have grace, one should indeed have grace!"

"You!" Wang Mingzhe felt his chest churn with blood, and a mouthful of blood spurted out.

"Teacher!" Liu Yi and Zhang Fan supported Wang Mingzhe, some offering handkerchiefs, others patting his back, busily scrambling.

Xie Yuanzhang thought it was time to put up a show too and signaled outside, where the guards immediately drew their sabers.

The men brought by Zhan Hui also drew their swords.

Wang Mingzhe watched as both sides were drawing weapons and silently chanted, "In negotiations between two countries, the envoy should not be harmed! In negotiations between two countries, the envoy should not be harmed!"

Yet in his heart, he dearly wished to kill the man before him!