The storm was brewing at the Grasslands Royal Capital, but the Great Chu side was naturally unaware.
Song Chongjin and his team continued their daily visits to the negotiation site. After a few days of feigned madness from the Grasslands delegates, normalcy was finally restored.
The conditions and demands they brought up nearly made Song Chongjin laugh out of anger.
They proposed that opening trade routes would be acceptable, but Great Chu’s rchants entering the Grasslands would be taxed based on both goods and accompanying personnel. Additionally, each caravan entering the Grasslands Royal Capital must present the King of the Grasslands and Queen Ah Lan with the most precious treasure.
On top of that, they insisted that the trading market must be established within the Grasslands, under Grassland jurisdiction and control.
The Great Chu side was to give Grasslands’ rchants a smooth passage without additional taxes and ensure the safety of Grasslands’ rchants and goods.
Presented with these requests, it wasn’t just Song Chongjin; any individual from Great Chu would have found them unbearable.
Particularly as Wu En and Bayin shed their earlier adoration for the Great Chu, now standing arrogantly.
Their expressions seed to suggest that their demands were generously considerate of Great Chu’s dignity.
The young dilettantes from the Capital City couldn’t stomach this and imdiately slamd the table in anger.
The n from the Grasslands weren’t about to show weakness, rolling up their sleeves, apparently ready to brawl.
A few older, steadier officials urged everyone to remain calm and maintain decorum, all while signaling to the younger ones, "Go ahead! Teach them a lesson!"
However, everyone managed to retain so reason, knowing this was a negotiation table. Curses were acceptable, one could pound the table, but no real fighting could start.
Essentially, the people from Great Chu slamd the table while cursing and provoking: "You bastards, you have the guts, co and hit your grandpa!"
The Grasslands side cracked their knuckles threateningly, countering: "Grandson, if you have the guts, co over here, see if your grandpa doesn’t knock you out!"
No one really knew who was whose grandfather, who was whose grandson—it was a ss.
Only Song Chongjin, Wu En, and Bayin sat calmly, maintaining composure.
However, Song Chongjin eventually stood up with a cold smile, casting a glance at Wu En and Bayin.
The look sent chills down Wu En and Bayin’s spines, but outwardly they maintained their composure, "Lord Song... Does Lord Song have any objections?"
Song Chongjin suddenly thought fondly of his mother-in-law, Old Granny Zhang. If she were here, she might curse out the Grasslands n till they cried.
Representing Great Chu, he had to maintain so decorum, so he replied mildly, "I only wish to know, which esteed person in your country proposed these conditions and demands?"
Exchanging a glance, Wu En and Bayin, though unsure of what Song Chongjin’s question ant, puffed up with confidence, "It was proposed by our Lord Batu, unanimously approved by our Princes and Nobles! Lord Song, I kindly advise you to consider our demands seriously. After all, opening this trade route is a boon with no downsides for your Great Chu!"
"Moreover, if we do reach an agreent, when Lord Song returns to your Capital City to report to your Majesty, it will be a great achievent, right? Once the credit is yours, can’t the rchants make a few more trips to cover their small losses? After all, what do rchants have besides money—"
Attempting to earnestly persuade Song Chongjin.
After listening to Wu En and Bayin, Song Chongjin finally replied, "I initially thought only the person in your country proposing these demands had a screw loose. After hearing your explanation, I realize it seems your whole country, from top to bottom, is deluded!"
"I don’t know which of your officials gave you the audacity to open the lion’s mouth and make such demands! Do your officials have any sense? Do they think Great Chu is sothing they can ddle with?"
"Opening a trade route between our countries is of mutual benefit, yet it seems in your country’s narrative, it’s a stepping stone for personal gain! I cannot agree with your statents! Since your country lacks genuine intent to negotiate, we have nothing further to discuss. Farewell!"
With that, he gestured for everyone to rise and leave.
The officials from the Great Chu were naturally united at this mont and imdiately gathered their things, standing behind Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin walked to the door and then turned with a aningful remark, "Great Chu has extended this opportunity to your country. Since you dismiss it, there are countless others eager to cooperate with Great Chu. Hopefully, your country won’t end up kneeling, begging us later!"
Then, leading his group, he exited the negotiating venue, mounted their horses, and swiftly rode away.
The people of the Grasslands were montarily stunned, but soon soone snapped back to reality, swearing, "Pah! That young brat Song, so arrogant without a hair to his na! Is it not Great Chu that’s begging us for this lousy trade route? What kind of attitude is this? Expecting us to beg them? Rubbish! Grandfather will see who ends up begging whom!"
"Exactly! We’ll wait for them to crawl and beg us, making them pass under our legs and polish our boots—"
...
The Grasslands n shouted loudly.
Wu En and Bayin, however, felt sothing from Song Chongjin’s final words, looking at each other nervously, a foreboding feeling surfacing.
This feeling persisted until they returned to their camp, only to find Batu waiting for them in the tent.
Seeing their off-color expressions, he narrowed his eyes imdiately, "How did the negotiations go today?"
Wu En and Bayin exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and confessed everything that happened.
Batu’s expression grew even darker as he listened, and finally, unable to contain his anger, he cursed, "How could you ss up such a simple task? How will you answer to Queen Ah Lan? A bunch of idiots! You’ve squandered a sure thing!"
Wu En barely managed a defense, "But, these conditions, these conditions were given to us by you, my lord, to propose to Great Chu!"
Bayin also felt a bit wronged, "Besides, isn’t negotiation about starting with a high ask and settling for less? Even if our demands were excessive, we could have continued to negotiate! Who knew those people from Great Chu would just blow up and leave right away—"
Their voices of complaint grew smaller under Batu’s angry glare.
Furious, Batu kicked out at them, "Did I tell you to throw all those conditions out at once? Do you have brains? What’s with this kind of asking? Scared them all away? Is that head of yours just for show? I gave you those conditions to probe them, to test Great Chu’s bottom line one by one, not to put them all out there! Idiots—"
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