Chapter 13: Do They Truly Believe There’s No One Left in Great Xia?

The envoy from the southern tribes immediately grew flustered, so panicked that he could barely form a sentence:
“This—this—what is the Dragon Seal? Does the young emperor intend to go back on his word?”
“Go back on his word?”
“How laughable! Our Majesty would never renege on a promise. Barbarian from the south, the laws of Great Xia dictate that only with the Dragon Seal does any agreement become binding.
Without the Dragon Seal, all treaties are nothing but scraps of paper; at best, the matter remains unsettled.”

Suddenly, a voice rang out.
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice. There, in a shadowy corner, sat an official clutching a wine jug, half-asleep in a stupor.
His beard was unkempt, his body gaunt, as though years of heavy drinking had sapped his strength. His official robes hung loosely from his frame, utterly devoid of the dignity befitting a man of his station.

Tang Yu’s eyes brightened, a slow smile curving at the corners of his lips.
This man—he was quite something.
Dealing with the southern tribes’ insolence, he had his own unique methods.

The southern envoy glared venomously at the speaker, puffed up with self-importance as he barked,
“And who are you? I was speaking to His Majesty, not to you. Have you no sense of propriety?”
“Your Majesty!”
He turned and bowed, signaling to the emperor.

Tang Yu lowered his head without a word, simply lifting his own cup, savoring his wine with evident pleasure.
This scene left the assembly dumbstruck. There was no denying it: since his transformation, the emperor carried a streak of roguishness, even a hint of shamelessness.

The Hall of Harmony was crowded with onlookers. Clearly, the southern envoy wanted Tang Yu to intervene, but if Tang Yu did, it would be a blow to Great Xia’s dignity. If he didn’t, it would jeopardize relations with the southern tribes and could even provoke war.

As it happened, Tang Yu simply pretended not to hear.
“This wine is excellent. I feel a bit weary—let me rest a moment.”

The drunken official in the corner, far from retreating, staggered forward, wine jug in hand, his clothes disheveled, a sight almost too pitiful to behold.
Yet he seemed utterly unbothered, even belligerent. He marched right up to the envoy, pouting in discontent:
“Envoy of the southern tribes, if you wish to speak to me, speak to me. Why involve our Majesty?”

Seeing Tang Yu’s indifference and allowing the official’s antics to continue unchecked, the southern envoy’s anger flared. He narrowed his eyes and said,
“Your Majesty, do not forget the relationship between Great Xia and the southern tribes.
True, our lands are not as fertile as yours, but we possess rare beasts. Without our tribute, would your border folk even survive?”
The envoy all but ground his teeth as he spoke, then added,
“And do not forget, though the southern tribes are not the equal of Great Xia, we are no cowards! Should you try to renege, we will not hesitate to fight, even if it means mutual destruction!”

“How bold!”
“The southern envoy is audacious indeed, daring to declare war on Great Xia!”

Many newly appointed officials rose to their feet in outrage.
Such arrogance!
Did he truly think Great Xia was defenseless?
The southern tribes were but a handful of merged clans, little more than a small city, and yet they dared to threaten war. Where did such confidence come from?

Tang Yu’s eyes grew darker as he gazed at the drunken official, who remained detached from the commotion.
He wanted to see what more this man could say.

As for the threat of war—
Tang Yu smiled contemptuously at the thought.
It was nothing more than a bluff, exploiting Great Xia’s depleted forces. Any military action would require enormous manpower and provisions, leaving them vulnerable to other opportunists eager to carve up their territory.

Suddenly, the drunken official burst into raucous laughter, clutching his belly as he pointed at the southern envoy, tears streaming down his face.
The envoy’s face turned purple with rage, his anger rising uncontrollably.
“You—you—you! What’s so funny?”

The drunken official waved his hand, finally stifling his laughter enough to speak:
“Indeed, to put it plainly, Great Xia is but a spent force.
But have you heard the saying, ‘Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse’?
I never imagined a mere southern tribe could boast so shamelessly. How ridiculous. Is it that your Khan cannot see the situation clearly, or are you simply a brute?”

He took a hearty swig from his wine jug, shaking his head with a smile.
“You southerners are but skilled horsemen and archers. The discord among your tribes is no secret.
To attack Great Xia would only bleed you dry. True, our forces are not at their peak, but do you think you can outlast us in a war of attrition?
Before you exhaust our supplies, you’ll likely be torn apart by rival tribes, won’t you?”

At these words, the assembled officials were stunned, then flushed with shame.
Of course.
That was indeed the reality for the southern tribes, yet no one had thought to make that point.

Great Xia stored grain, while the tribes stored meat—consumed quickly, difficult to preserve.
A march over mountains and rivers would inevitably see half their supplies lost along the way.

Tang Yu smiled, betraying nothing, and quietly made note of the official.
A true talent.
While his knowledge was incomplete, he could still discern the advantages and disadvantages at play—a promising sign.

“That’s enough. Stand down. The envoy from the southern tribes has come a long way—let us not forget our manners.”
With a wave of his hand, he halted the farce. Yet it was clear to all that the emperor had reaped all the benefits.

The envoy’s teeth ground audibly, his eyes blazing so fiercely it seemed fire might leap from them as he fixed Tang Yu with a deadly stare:

“So, Your Majesty, you mean to say you choose war?”

A heavy, oppressive silence filled the great hall, a powder keg waiting to ignite.
The words struck every official to the core—they dared not look at the emperor, yet each awaited his reply.

After a long pause,
Tang Yu smiled, rose with his hands clasped behind his back, and walked to stand before the envoy. With a quiet sigh, he said,
“Envoy, you have heard all there is to hear. If it is war you want, I do not fear it—nor does Great Xia.”

The words fell,
and all eyes turned to the emperor, every hair standing on end in an instant.
The emperor had changed.
Simply standing there, his aura was overwhelming; a single glance chilled the soul.

War!
Yes, war!
The words thundered in their hearts, stirring them to the core. Their bodies trembled, excitement nearly inexpressible.

“Very well, very well!”
The envoy’s face was livid, his hands shaking.
“You young emperor, I shall return at once and report to our Khan!”

“Do you truly think you’ll make it back?”
The envoy laughed harshly:
“Do you know why our Khan sent me? It was for the sake of the southern tribes. If I die here today, and my letter fails to reach home in half a month, our tribes will march to your borders.
As long as we exist, there will be no peace between us. The people of Great Xia will know no rest, and your empire will be doomed!”

Now it was Tang Yu’s turn to laugh.
Then, to the astonishment of all, he said,
“Perhaps Prime Minister Su failed to inform you? I have already issued the order to conscript troops.”

“Minister of War!”

The Minister of War strode forward, bowing deeply.
“Your servant is present!”

Tang Yu watched the envoy’s expression shift, smiling as he inquired,
“How many men so far?”

“Your Majesty, I have already sent proclamations to every county. In less than half a day, we have over one hundred thousand volunteers.”

This man was the newly appointed Minister of War, a talent selected in last year’s imperial examinations—far more efficient than those old bureaucrats.