Chapter 264: Welcoming the Envoys

After lunch, the emperor arranged for several officials from the court including Chu Tiankuo, King Zhenbei, Uncle Qin, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the two ministers of the Ministry of Rites. Under the escort of Chu Xuanyi and two thousand imperial guards, they arrived at noon. After the meal, he left the palace and headed outside the imperial city.

This battle is not small.

There are royal sons, vassal kings, imperial guard commanders, several civil servants, and uncle Qin, a relative of the emperor... They will definitely welcome the distinguished guests from Dongling with the greatest etiquette.

Rong Chen was left by the emperor to talk in the royal study. After the conversation, he had a sumptuous and delicious meal. After eating and drinking, he was served by the chamberlain appointed by the emperor and went to rest. He rode hard all night alone, but he was exhausted. After washing, he fell asleep and slept until the sun went down.

From the beginning to the end, he didn't worry at all that someone would take the opportunity to assassinate him.

After waking up, I was naturally entertained with good wine and good food.

As a distinguished guest from Dongling, let alone General Zuo, he is just an ordinary young man from aristocratic family, and no one would dare to neglect him.

After dinner, he was invited over again by the emperor.

At this time, Chu Tiankuo and King Zhenbei led the officials to arrive outside the imperial city. They waited under the hot sun from afternoon to evening, and from evening until darkness fell.

"The Emperor asked us to come out and wait at noon, but the War King of Dongling will not arrive until early tomorrow morning. Is it possible that we will just wait here until tomorrow morning?" Uncle Qin frowned. He was obviously extremely dissatisfied, but he was afraid of the presence of the imperial guards. Dare to show it on his face, "His Royal Highness King Xuan, should we go forward to greet him?"

"How can adults withstand the fatigue of traveling and traveling at such an age?" Chu Tiankuo turned to look at the several officials from the DPRK and Central Government who came out in carriages, and said calmly, "Forget it, we will wait here."

Officials who are said to be young have also suffered this time, not because it is hard to wait here, but because the weather is hot. They are all officials who are used to enjoying life. They go to court at three o'clock and one line every day. , go to the various ministries and offices, and go home.

On weekdays, all the officials went home early after the court, ate ice-cold fruits and enjoyed the service of the servants. They even washed their feet and were cared for by maids. How could it be like today, when they would go out of the city after noon and stand in the hot sun? , The sun made everyone dizzy, mouth dry, and finally stayed up until the sun went down in the evening, but the buzzing mosquitoes came out again, making everyone miserable.

"Do you think the Dongling envoy will really come?" Uncle Qin turned to look at several officials and said casually, "I always feel that this is unreliable."

The officials waiting on the side looked at each other in confusion.

"General Rong said he would come soon." Chu Xuanyi sat upright on the horse, wearing a black robe that blended in with the night. "Uncle Qin, don't be too anxious."

A basin of light cold water was poured down, directly extinguishing the glimmer of hope that Uncle Qin Guo refused to give up.

Uncle Qin looked at Chu Xuanyi with a calm expression: "Prince Yi seems to be looking forward to the arrival of the Dongling envoy?"

"We are indeed looking forward to it." Chu Xuanyi did not deny it. "Only when the envoy from Dongling comes, it is possible to avoid paying tribute this year. If he does not come, there will be no hope at all. At present, the national treasury is not sufficient. Is it possible for Uncle Qin to do it?" Are you going to spend this large sum of money out of your own pocket?”

Uncle Qin snorted coldly: "Even if the Dongling envoy does come, he may not be exempted from today's annual tribute."

Chu Xuanyi was too lazy to argue with him.

"Xuan Yi, do you want the guards to set up some tents?" Chu Tiankuo was a little anxious because of the mosquitoes. He kept slapping the areas that were targeted by the mosquitoes. "There are too many mosquitoes. We can't go on like this."

It was noon when they came out, and they didn't expect to be bitten by mosquitoes at night. Going back to the palace to get mosquito repellent incense now would only make them look more squeamish.

Chu Xuanyi didn't even frown and sat firmly: "This can show Xiqi's sincerity."

Chu Tiankuo's face darkened, and anger arose spontaneously.

Uncle Qin frowned: "Why is Prince Yi talking to His Highness King Xuan in such an attitude?"

Chu Xuanyi glanced at him: "If Uncle Qin wants to put up a tent, he can do it himself. He is responsible for protecting King Xuan and all the gentlemen. His duty is only to protect the safety of all the gentlemen. He is not responsible for other matters."

"you--"

"Okay." Chu Tiankuo said coldly, "No need to say anything more. Can't we just wait until tomorrow morning? If we can't bear this little hardship, what else can Father expect from us?"

So no one spoke anymore, and the group just stood outside the closed city gate, feeling the still hot air at night, enjoying the sour feeling of being bitten by mosquitoes, and listening to the sound of slapping mosquitoes echoing in their ears. It was painful to wait until dawn.

Every day seems like a year.

Chu Tiankuo and Qin Guojiu, who had been feeding mosquitoes all night, were in an extremely bad mood. Finally, when they were exhausted and drowsy, they heard a sound: "There is the sound of horse hooves!"

The two of them woke up instantly.

The sound of galloping iron hooves came faintly from the east direction and reached my ears.

clatter! clatter! clatter!

A dull sound like thunder broke the early morning silence.

King Zhenbei frowned and turned to look at Chu Tiankuo and Uncle Qin, "Will he be the envoy of Dongling?"

"The sound is like a cavalry..." Chu Tiankuo's expression changed slightly, "The envoy's journey should not be so urgent."

Although they already knew that the War King of Dongling would come, in addition to the War King, there should be other civil servants following him - the civil servants were weak, so it was impossible for them to gallop along with the War King, right?

Chu Xuanyi said nothing, his expression was calm and not alarmed.

Yes or no, for now they can only wait.

Everyone fell silent.

Chu Tiankuo, Qin Guojiu, the King of Zhenbei, and all the officials and guards present, all fell silent, staring at the direction where the horse hoof sounds came from without saying a word.

Heartbeats like thunder.

Da! Da! Da!

The horse hoof sounds were getting closer and closer, and the sound was getting clearer and clearer, like thunder, making people's hearts unconsciously lift up.

"If it is really the Dongling envoy, he should have brought a lot of people this time." The King of Zhenbei looked solemn, "And judging from the sound of the iron cavalry, there are at least 10,000 people, and they are not ordinary guards at all."

Chu Tiankuo's face suddenly changed: "The King of Zhenbei means... 10,000 iron cavalry?"

The King of Zhenbei nodded.

"What does Dongling want to do?" The Minister of Personnel, who had been waiting all night and was already mentally exhausted, showed a look of surprise, "Is he trying to take advantage of the opportunity to do something?"

The iron hoof sounds were getting closer and closer.

Chu Tiankuo didn't say anything, but kept praying in his heart that it was not the Dongling envoy, not the Dongling envoy...

It was a little closer.

It was so close that he could see the dust raised by the iron cavalry when they galloped.

"Here they come." Chu Tiankuo calmed down and stared at the cavalry corps that was getting closer and closer, "Huh?"

A man and a horse came into view first.

A white horse, a brocade white robe.

The young man sitting on the horse had a handsome and eye-catching appearance and a tall and straight figure. Even the stunning white robe could not hide the extraordinary demeanor that emanated from his body as he galloped over.

It seemed that even the brightest sunlight could not cover up the radiance on him.