Chapter 822

Hwang Ja-man and Kim Chang-myung almost drooled at the table full of stir-fried dishes.

They had stayed in the Splendid Restaurant yesterday, and this morning they received news from the Foreign Affairs Department that the Great Yu Empire’s Emperor would receive them this afternoon.

“Your Highness, please start eating. We are about to go meet the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire,” Hwang Ja-man could no longer resist.

Last night, they had tasted stir-fried dishes and immediately couldn’t get enough. Faced with a dazzling array of varied stir-fried dishes, they just wanted to try every single one.

Kim Chang-myung showed a faint smile. If he weren’t about to meet the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire, he would surely get drunk this noon.

The two ate their fill. Nearing the time to enter the palace, they tidied themselves. Because they were here to present tribute, they brought many tribute items this time. The most precious among them was the renowned Goryeo ginseng. Previously, whenever Goryeo offered tribute to the Great Yu Empire, they would bring this Goryeo ginseng.

Having prepared everything, at two o’clock in the afternoon, the translator arrived at the Splendid Restaurant, leading the Goryeo delegation towards the imperial palace.

At the same time, the accompanying Goryeo delegation sounded their instruments. This was a custom from previous tribute missions, meant to attract the common people’s attention, so that the common people would know that these were foreign envoys.

This commotion quickly attracted the attention of the common people on both sides of the road. Upon learning that this group of envoys came from Goryeo, the common people’s faces showed expressions of pride.

They had not heard of a vassal state paying tribute to the Great Yu Empire for a long time. This scene alone was enough to prove that the Great Yu Empire was powerful once again.

For the awakened people of the Great Yu Empire with their national consciousness, this was a landmark event.

As the Goryeo envoys proceeded, more and more common people gathered on both sides of the road. Reporters from the newspaper also appeared in the crowd. They recorded the grand scene before them, while the newspaper’s artists depicted this scene on paper, preparing for publication back at the office.

After walking for half an hour along the main road of Qingzhou City, Hwang Ja-man and Kim Chang-myung arrived at the palace gate. Upon being informed that only the two of them could enter, they were led by eunuchs to the Zhengda Guangming Hall.

At this time, Xiao Ming and a group of ministers involved in Goryeo affairs were waiting for them.

Ever since the political reforms, Xiao Ming had refined the Great Yu Empire’s governmental affairs, summoning specific officials for specific matters, rather than calling all officials every time something happened.

So, in the Zhengda Guangming Hall, only Li Kaiyuan, Liang Dahai, and important officials dispatched to Haigucheng and Bisa Castle were present.

All along the way, admiring the magnificent imperial palace of the Great Yu Empire, Hwang Ja-man and Kim Chang-myung cautiously followed behind the eunuchs.

Upon entering the Zhengda Guangming Hall, Hwang Ja-man and Kim Chang-myung simultaneously knelt before Xiao Ming, who was seated on the dragon throne, and shouted, “Goryeo envoys Hwang Ja-man and Prince Kim Chang-myung wish His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

Seeing this, the officials remained expressionless. If it had been before, they would surely have thought the Goryeo envoys were very respectful of the Great Yu Empire.

But after living in Goryeo for a period, they understood that in Goryeo, from the king down to the common people, everyone was accustomed to kneeling. Therefore, this act of kneeling, which appeared quite solemn in the Great Yu Empire, did not make those familiar with Goryeo feel any special honor.

“Dispense with the formalities!” Xiao Ming said calmly.

This era was somewhat similar to contemporary times. Goryeo’s culture was greatly influenced by the Great Yu Empire. Even Goryeo’s writing used the Great Yu Empire’s characters. The only difference was that Goryeo people spoke the Goryeo language.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Hwang Ja-man and Kim Chang-myung rose. At this point, Hwang Ja-man took out Goryeo’s state letter, held it flat with both hands, and said, “Your Majesty, this is my Goryeo’s state letter.”

Qian Dafu walked to Hwang Ja-man’s side, took the state letter, and gave it to Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming had already learned of Goryeo’s intention to pledge allegiance to the Great Yu Empire through Li Kaiyuan’s words, because Hwang Ja-man had sought out Li Kaiyuan before his departure.

As for the content of the state letter, he already knew it. So, after a brief glance at the state letter, he put it down.

“Goryeo broke its faith, recognized a thief as its father, repeatedly invaded the Great Yu Empire with the Golden Tent Khanate, and colluded with Japanese pirates to plunder the coast. Do you think I will let bygones be bygones because of a single state letter from the King of Goryeo?”

Xiao Ming slammed the table in front of him and angrily rebuked.

Hwang Ja-man immediately knelt again, while Kim Chang-myung’s face turned pale. Seeing Hwang Ja-man kneel, he also knelt.

At this moment, they understood that this envoy mission would likely not be smooth.

Secretly glancing at Kim Chang-myung, Hwang Ja-man’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. Kim Chang-myung was truly terrified, but he knew this was merely a show being put on by the Great Yu Empire.

He had to cooperate with the Great Yu Empire’s prince to carry out this act.

“Your Majesty, the barbarians are powerful. Your King also had many unavoidable circumstances. I hope Your Majesty can forgive him,” Hwang Ja-man said, prostrating himself.

Kim Chang-myung also explained, “Your Majesty, my imperial father was also forced into it, but in reality, though in the Golden Tent Khanate, his heart is with the Great Yu Empire.”

Xiao Ming sneered. Hwang Ja-man had already told Li Kaiyuan about the little scheme the Goryeo court was hatching. Even now, Goryeo was still trying to fool him with the empty title of suzerain.

Unfortunately, he would not fall for it. How could a hunter be used by his prey?

“I never like to hear grand words or empty talk. If Goryeo truly intends to repent, then it must prove it to me with actions,” Xiao Ming snorted.

“Please enlighten me, Your Majesty,” Hwang Ja-man said.

Xiao Ming then took out the policy he had drafted yesterday and said, “Given Goryeo’s failure to distinguish between good and evil, loyalty and treachery, and its repeated action in harassing my Great Yu Empire, causing numerous casualties among my Great Yu Empire citizens, to prevent such incidents from happening again, from today onwards, and to prevent you from going back on your word while also protecting Goryeo from Japanese invasion, the Great Yu Empire will garrison troops in Goryeo. All expenses incurred during the garrison period shall be paid by Goryeo. Once a state of war is entered, the Great Yu Empire shall have the right to command Goryeo’s army. Secondly, to deepen the benevolent relationship between the Great Yu Empire and Goryeo as suzerain, Goryeo shall completely adopt the Great Yu Empire’s language and study the Goryeo history compiled by the Great Yu Empire.”

After a pause, he continued, “To help Goryeo develop, Goryeo needs to abolish its currency and uniformly use the Great Yu Empire’s currency and all standards of weights and measures. The Qingzhou Bank will serve as the official institution for Goryeo to issue currency. At the same time, to prevent treacherous ministers from misleading the king, the Great Yu Empire shall have direct appointment power over Goryeo officials. In terms of commerce, Goryeo shall permanently exempt Great Yu Empire goods from all taxes.”

Kim Chang-myung, kneeling in the great hall, watched as his face turned paler with each condition stated by the Great Yu Empire’s prince.

These words, seemingly grand and for the harmony and improved relations between the two countries, effectively completely hollowed out Goryeo. If agreed to, Goryeo would thoroughly become a puppet of the Great Yu Empire, with no hope of ever regaining its independence.

Xiao Ming stated the policies targeting Goryeo one by one, his expression firm. This time, he completely castrated Goryeo from military, political, economic, and cultural aspects, solving this perennial problem once and for all.

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair