roccoschili Chapter 440 Choosing a Marriage Partner
Chapter 440 Choosing a Marriage Partner
The Rouran princess glanced around the tent with her beautiful eyes.
She was somewhat disappointed not to see the person she longed for, but her demeanor became even more haughty.
"As for what I, Bei Li, seek, it is not much."
The details she described were largely the same as what Huo Jiang knew.
However, under the guise of a princess's dowry, they added some horses and gold to the Daye Dynasty.
Princess Rouran solemnly said, "My king only wishes to end the war and make peace between our two countries forever."
In truth, both Huo Jiang and the people of Beili knew this.
The idea of "eternal friendship" is merely a choice made based on the current situation.
The situation is constantly changing, and no one knows what will happen next.
Therefore, it is not important whether the words spoken by the Northern People are sincere.
As long as the rulers of the Daye Dynasty weigh the pros and cons and find that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then there is a reason to accept it.
Seeing that the civil official next to him who was in charge of writing had stopped writing, Huo Jiang said, "This general will certainly write a detailed report to the court."
"Please return to Beili as soon as possible tomorrow, Princess."
"After all, this concerns the diplomatic relations between the two countries. If there is a response, our Daye Dynasty will send a letter to the north or send an envoy."
"What happened after that was no longer my Northwest Army's business."
Huo Jiang clasped his hands in a fist salute, clearly indicating his intention to see the guest out.
Aguna was somewhat unhappy.
When they arrived at the Northwest Army, they were initially placed under semi-house arrest and were not allowed to go anywhere.
There was no welcoming banquet, no fine wine or meat; we ate simple meals.
I finally got to see Huo Jiang again today, but after only a few words, he wanted to send me away before I even had a cup of tea.
Isn't this blatant disrespect?!
Aguna gritted his teeth. As a nobleman of Beili, his mission to the Northwest military camp represented the face of Beili.
If they were to be so disrespected by a mere military general of the Daye Dynasty, they could only endure it.
Won't the people of Daye think Beili is even easier to bully in the future?!
Having promised the Rouran princess not to act impulsively, Aguna tried to suppress his anger and said, "I know General Huo is a busy man, but the princess and I haven't even had a glass of water since we came in."
"Isn't General Huo being a little too hasty?"
Huo Jiang raised an eyebrow with interest and said "Oh," as if he had just realized that he hadn't poured water for the guest.
"Oh dear, why didn't you two remind me that you were thirsty?"
"I already told you, just let me know what you want to eat or drink, don't be shy!"
He then repeatedly called for someone to bring water.
Aguna barely managed to suppress his sneer.
Feel free to ask? Hehe.
He did mention it these past two days, but when he asked for alcohol, there was none; when he asked for tea, all that was served was plain water.
If asked again, the answer is always the same: sorry, no.
It's not that I won't give it to you, it's just that I don't have what you want. What can I do?
So, unsurprisingly, this time they served two bowls of...cold water.
Huo Jiang warmly offered the guests water, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss.
Aguna gritted his teeth in anger, wishing he could smash the water bowl over Huojiang's smiling face.
But he couldn't, and he dared not.
However, Aguna was not yet fully aware of who the person in front of him was.
Huo Jiang was a commander-in-chief of an army. He was able to see in all directions and hear in all directions on the battlefield. He fought countless bloody battles.
He could see even the slightest change in the enemy's expression.
They've been fighting Bei Li for so many years...
The Northern Li repeatedly harassed the borders of Daye, robbing and massacring the people of Daye.
Even now, during the peace talks, Huo Jiang could not possibly consider these people as friends.
He picked up his water bowl and said, "Why aren't you drinking?"
"Or perhaps... the water here doesn't suit Prince Aguna's taste?"
Huo Jiang looked at Aguna, and although there was still a smile on his lips, the smile did not reach his eyes at all.
A chill instinctively rose within Aguna.
How could he forget?
Huo Jiang was none other than General Huo of the Northwest Army, who slaughtered tens of thousands of Beili soldiers, reduced the Beili border to its smallest extent in seventy years, and indirectly caused turmoil in the Beili Dynasty and a change of throne.
Only then did he truly realize that the Rouran princess's reminder was reasonable.
Huo Jiang is a madman who kills Beili people without blinking an eye!
It was as if a strong pressure was hanging over his head, causing Aguna to involuntarily lower his head.
He picked up the bowl of water and took a sip. "It's to my liking. Thank you for your hospitality."
Huo Jiang smiled with satisfaction. He looked at Aguna and drank the water in his bowl in one gulp.
When it comes to being sarcastic and unpredictable, the Northerners still can't beat the Central Plains people with their great ambitions.
Is it true that there's no tea to serve?
No.
It’s different in the past.
The army's warehouses contained tea, a gift from the imperial court.
There were also some in Huo Jiang's military tent, produced by Gu Xixi herself, including loose tea and Fu brick tea cakes.
However, the soldiers of the Northwest Army, including Huo Jiang, simply did not want to serve tea to the Northerners.
For many years, the entire army only drank plain water.
Even the great general couldn't afford tea, and he couldn't bear to spend extra money to buy it.
In winter, when water sources dry up, even a bowl of clean, hot boiled water is a precious commodity.
Why are these people from the north so picky?
Why should we give them the tea that we finally managed to get?
Inside the military tent, Aguna looked like a defeated rooster, dejected and crestfallen.
Princess Rouran did not drink water, nor did she have any interest in the confrontation between the two men.
She turned to Huo Jiang, "The General hasn't asked me about my choice of husband yet."
"Isn't it inappropriate to rush people away like this?"
His tone was gentle with a hint of jest, but the meaning behind it was very firm.
Huo Jiang didn't dislike the princess; at least she was sensible.
Therefore, Huo Jiang's attitude towards her was relatively mild, "Although the details of the marriage alliance are not under my jurisdiction."
"However, since the princess wishes to speak, I would not mind adding a few more words to the memorial."
"Thank you." Princess Rouran looked directly at Huo Jiang and clearly uttered a few words:
"Your Highness the Regent of the Daye Dynasty."
After a cup of tea.
Huo Jiang slammed his fist on the table and burst into laughter, "Hahahaha... Oh dear, this is surprising, yet somehow expected."
"Just now, I had to hold back my laughter in front of them. It was really hard work!"
Mu Nanzhao stood before him, his eyes filled with gloom.
"How about we let the Northern Li delegation be attacked by wolves in the Gobi Desert and all of them perish?"
Huo Jiang stopped laughing. "Just kidding, don't actually go and kill them."
"First of all, who would believe such a flimsy excuse as having so many skilled guards wiped out by wild wolves? His Majesty has already agreed to the first step of the peace talks. If trouble breaks out on my territory at this time, I don't want to take the blame for you."
"Secondly..."
He couldn't help but laugh a few more times. "Even if I let you do it, all that will die is a princess and a pretty-boy prince."
"No matter how high the princess's birth or how much she is favored, wasn't she still handed over to Daye as a hostage by her father?"
“She’s dead. As long as the King of Beili still wants to negotiate, no matter how badly he cries at her funeral, he’ll still have to send another princess afterward.”
Mu Nanzhao said coldly, "I don't care what he wants to give."
"As long as she doesn't blindly choose me, she won't die."