It is said that there are seventy-two countries in the Western Region, where various rare and precious spices are produced, as well as the thousand-mile-a-day horses, exquisite gold and silver wares, and glass products. It is also said there is a country particularly skilled in making weapons and armor, and other countries produce unique rare gemstones, precious flowers and plants, and a variety of furs and light garnts.
In those days, these treasures could be brought over in large quantities by the rchants of the Western Region and sold to the Central Plains.
Then they would take back the exquisite porcelain, silk, and various specialties from the Central Plains.
It is said that back then, many rchants of the Central Plains had their own caravans that ventured to the Western Region, reaching as far as the distant Parthia Kingdom.
Those rchants were giants among businessn, each not only having their own caravan but also an entourage, wealth comparable to a nation, earning admiration from today’s rchants.
Unlike them, nowadays the furthest they dare go is to Wuzi and Yuelai, not daring to go further.
And for the rchants from the Western Region wanting to transport valuable goods from other countries of the Western Region to Great Chu, it’s also extrely difficult, having to pass through many countries, being taxed all along the way, with many becoming bankrupt before even reaching Great Chu Country.
Now upon hearing this news, who wouldn’t be excited?
It’s not only a good thing for the rchants of the Western Region but also an extrely rare opportunity for the rchants of Great Chu.
Many have already begun fantasizing about recreating the prosperous dream of hundreds of years ago.
For a ti, it was well-known in the rchant circles of Chicheng County.
When eting, people no longer asked if you had eaten.
The first thing out of everyone’s mouth: Have you heard?
And then, like a secret code: "I have heard, and you?"
"Oh, if it really works out, that would be a huge blessing for all of us!"
"Absolutely! I’m so overjoyed! If this thing really succeeds, our lives will be truly worth it!"
...
So were sceptical, but within a few days, soone from the County Yan leaked the news, saying that Lord Song indeed had such intentions.
He had already applied to the Imperial Court, and the court had agreed, even sending people down. If nothing goes wrong, negotiations with various countries in the Western Region will begin.
Now, not just among the rchant circles but even the common folks of Chicheng County had heard so of it.
In streets and alleys, every household was discussing this matter.
So even saw people dispatched from the County Yan accompany Western Region rchants, reportedly to deliver a state letter.
One told ten, ten told a hundred.
The rchants, already well-inford, hurried over when they got the news.
For a ti, Chicheng County beca hectic like never before.
Such significant news naturally spread quickly through special channels to the grasslands.
When Batu received the news, his face changed on the spot, and he called Wu En and Bayin in for a scolding.
They just thought Song Chongjin was all talk; after all, anything can happen at the negotiation table, right?
They had already thought of a strategy: if worst ca to worst, they’d just remove Wu En and Bayin’s responsibilities as leaders and deputies, making an appearance of punishnt to let it pass.
They originally planned to let things cool off for a few more days until Great Chu Country cald down, then they would give it a face-saving way out.
But who would have thought Song Chongjin would directly give up on the grassland and instead open the route to the Western Region? What now?
You have to know that the grassland trade route is sothing Queen Ah Lan is extrely concerned about and ordered to be achieved.
Now with such a major error occurring, even if they wanted to hide it, they couldn’t anymore.
Batu had no choice; after scolding the culprits, he had to bring them back to the Wang Capital to apologize to Queen Ah Lan and consult on what to do next.
When they arrived at the Wang Capital, as soon as they showed up, Ah Lan’s guards near Queen Ah Lan invited them to the palace.
This wasn’t the white stone palace where Queen Ah Lan usually resided but a palace not far from the main hall where the King of the Grasslands held etings, second only to that hall.
Usually, Queen Ah Lan would et with outsiders or noblewon’s mistresses in this palace.
As soon as they entered the palace, Batu, together with Wu En and Bayin, obediently knelt down below the steps.
In the palace, Queen Ah Lan was handling state affairs.
For nearly ten years, she has been responsible for almost all state affairs of the grasslands, a nearly open secret among the nobility of Wang City.
This is because the King of the Grasslands was injured ten years ago; reportedly, his brain was hurt and he gets severe headaches whenever approving docunts.
There was no choice, starting with Queen Ah Lan helping to read and execute orders as the King of the Grasslands instructed.
Later, when the King of the Grasslands saw Queen Ah Lan never erred in issuing orders, he slowly transferred the power to her.
At first ordinary docunts, and later, all critical core matters were entrusted to the Queen.
The King only focused on recovering his health, and when he got better, he found the Queen managed the grasslands so well, even better in so areas than he did.
He was never fond of managing these and simply left everything to the Queen.
So at this mont, not only was the Queen inside approving docunts, but the nobles and ministers of the grasslands stood both inside and outside the hall.
Seeing Batu and the others, they just glanced twice before focusing again on Queen Ah Lan, who was deeply engrossed in her work.
Batu and his companions knelt from morning until the afternoon, as dusk approached, without a sip of water. Even for stout n, it was unbearable.
Yet even so, they did not dare to move, not even to wipe the sweat off their foreheads.
They simply listened intently for any movent inside the hall.
Finally, they heard soone summon them to enter, allowing Batu and his companions to rise. Having knelt for so long, they tottered unsteadily and almost fell.
Fortunately, with mutual support, they managed to avoid disgrace, inching into the hall.
Inside the hall, candle stands as thick as a child’s arm were lit, illuminating the interior as bright as daylight.
Upon entering, the three didn’t dare to raise their heads, biting their lips in salute, then staying put.
Then they heard the voice of Queen Ah Lan: "I’ve heard you botched the negotiations with Great Chu?"
A casually spoken sentence prompted the three to kneel once more with a thud.
Batu was the first to admit guilt, acknowledging his fault in failing the mission entrusted by the Queen and asking her for punishnt.
This was the first ti Wu En and Bayin had seen the Queen so closely, and with just one glance upon entering, they were already captivated, their minds detached.
After hearing the Queen speak, they felt it was akin to celestial music, their senses almost entirely taken away, not comprehending what she ant.
Dazed and confused, they saw Batu kneel, so they followed suit, not even feeling the pain in their knees clearly.
In their minds, thoughts similar to these kept flashing: Holy! A goddess!
The goddess spoke to !
The goddess is this close! I can even sll her fragrance!
If the goddess looks at one more ti! I’d die for her!
...
When the Queen looked towards the two of them, they hadn’t recovered, gazing entranced at the Queen without blinking.
The female official beside the Queen couldn’t stand it any longer and softly rebuked, "How dare you be discourteous in front of Queen Ah Lan! Guards, take them away and give them fifty strokes!"
Batu could understand; he had lost composure himself the first ti he ca close to the Queen.
At the mont, he still needed these two fools to take the fall for him, so he couldn’t let them be taken away. After fifty strokes, where would their lives be?
Besides, although these two were a bit foolish, their noble status made it problematic should they be beaten to death.
So, hastily, he kowtowed and explained: "Please pardon, Queen! Wu En and Bayin are the sons of a thousand-household chief, greatly admiring the Queen. It’s their first ti seeing the Queen, and they were overawed by her majestic presence, leading to a lapse of manners. I implore the Queen to show rcy and forgive them this once!"
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