Samuer’s emotions seemed very agitated.
This was naturally all her doing.
She turned to face Emperor Feng.
“Great Feng wants our Western Liang to acknowledge allegiance and pay tribute, and we agreed!”
“Great Feng wants our Western Liang to send a hostage, and we agreed!”
“Now, you also want our Western Liang to cede Jiuquan!”
“Do you really think our Western Liang is easy to bully?!”
This move was a retreat to advance.
The first two conditions were inconsequential.
Samuer readily agreed to them.
Then, when the cession of Jiuquan was proposed, she would refuse.
In this way, Western Liang could turn a passive situation into an active one.
After all, they had been very cooperative before.
This gave them leverage for negotiations.
This was all Samuer’s plan.
“Princess, there is no need to rush.”
“Since it’s a peace talk, let’s discuss it first.”
Hmph!
Tian Zhongxun also sneered.
What is there to talk about?
Western Liang would agree to other conditions.
But Jiuquan was impossible!
The two countries had fought for hundreds of years over Jiuquan.
Jiuquan has no springs; it is the blood of valiant warriors!
Jiuquan has no mountains; it is the bones of brave soldiers!
Jiuquan is full of lonely graves…
Western Liang would not give it up easily.
This had already touched Western Liang’s bottom line.
Tian Zhongxun was confident in his gamble.
Samuer sat down again, looking at Ning Que, and said, “No matter what King Ning says, Jiuquan is Western Liang’s bottom line. It concerns national sovereignty and is not open to discussion. If King Ning suggests another place, we can still talk.”
“Princess, don’t be anxious.” Ning Que was also very confident, chuckling, “In my opinion, there is no deal in this world that cannot be made. If there is, it must be because the price isn’t right. So, why not listen to the price this King offers first, and then decide? It’s not too late.”
“Good!”
Samuer was not in a hurry.
She also wanted to hear what brilliant ideas he had.
Ning Que looked at Emperor Feng.
The latter merely nodded slightly.
Everything was understood without words.
After receiving approval, Ning Que turned to face them.
“Today’s luncheon, it is not advisable to drink too much.”
“And what was eaten was all rich and quite greasy.”
“Your subject dares to request Your Majesty to bestow immortal tea.”
“Granted!”
“immortal tea?”
“What is this?”
“Grand Tutor, you are well-informed, have you ever heard of it?”
Yu Ji stroked his goatee, smiling without speaking.
He had visited Ning Que a few days ago.
On that day, he was treated with immortal tea.
This item subtly conforms to the great Dao of nature.
immortal tea has a fragrant taste.
It makes one feel at ease and peaceful, with a high and tranquil rhyme.
Thus, tea can lead to the Dao, and also cultivate elegant aspirations!
Yu Ji had specifically checked medical books.
He found that there were records of it in ancient times.
Shennong tasted a hundred herbs, encountering seventy-two poisons daily.
In the end, he relied on tea leaves to detoxify himself.
For example, the people of Ba and Shu love to eat tea oil and often use tea in their dishes. Locals often live long lives, and there are many centenarians. Chang Divine Doctor analyzed that it is related to tea leaves.
However, Ning Que’s method was different. The people of Ba and Shu incorporated tea into their dishes, while Ning Que stir-fried it dry and then brewed it. It was like a jade-like immortal dew, sweet and delicious.
“Everyone, please also try it.”
Ning Que raised his porcelain bowl, clinking it in a toast.
The tea leaves were specially prepared by him; this stuff was a great weapon for nomadic peoples. For the Feng people, tea was just a drink, not a necessity. Even without it, their survival would not be affected.
But for the nomadic people of the grasslands, it was equivalent to salt!
They truly could not do without it!
The nomadic people primarily ate beef and mutton, which was relatively monotonous, hot, greasy, and difficult to digest. And not eating vegetables for a long time could easily lead to constipation and various diseases.
After being made into tea bricks, it was also convenient for transportation and storage.
It was also quite convenient to use.
Combined with the grasslands, there were many ways to eat it.
Like butter tea, mare’s milk tea, oil tea soup…
Tea could satisfy the survival needs of the nomadic people!
In the future, it would definitely become a necessity for them!
Anyone familiar with history would surely know.
Ancient dynasties often had tea-horse markets.
Using tea to govern the nomadic people!
Ning Que had precisely this intention!
…
Samuer gazed at the pale yellow tea soup.
Some tea leaves were still floating in it.
She picked up the teacup with a hint of skepticism.
She had indeed eaten some meat just now, and it was very greasy.
She took a small sip.
It was slightly bitter at first taste, with a clear fragrance.
After swallowing, there was a lingering sweet aftertaste.
The greasy feeling from before immediately lessened.
Samuer’s face instantly showed surprise.
She only felt that this immortal tea was extremely delicious!
The officials and ministers also looked at each other in dismay.
They all felt that this tea was very unique.
It had a peculiar fragrance on the palate and a sweet aftertaste.
“Hiss—this immortal tea is indeed extraordinary!”
“It smells fragrant and tastes sweet and refreshing.”
“One cup down, it leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth.”
“This item is truly remarkable!”
“It can also refresh the mind and invigorate the spirit!”
The ministers also discussed animatedly.
Tian Zhongxun’s expression was strange.
Even he had to admit it tasted very good.
“As the saying goes, three cups lead to the great Dao, one measure aligns with nature.
But if you get the joy of tea, do not pass it on to the foolish.” Ning Que raised his cup in a gesture, smiling, “Frequent drinking of immortal tea can relieve greasiness and quench thirst. All of you are meat-eaters, and drinking tea helps prolong life. A pot in the morning can also invigorate the spirit.”
“What does this have to do with peace talks?” Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow, “Today’s court discussion concerns the diplomatic relations between two countries, not for Your Royal Highness to conduct business.”
“General Gu, ignorance is not your fault.”
“But to show off, that is a mistake.”
“You…”
Gu Yuan was instantly choked with anger, glaring at him.
Ning Que ignored him and looked at Samuer.
“Princess, the grasslands beyond the Great Wall do not lack meat.”
“However, grains and vegetables are extremely scarce.”
“This King has heard that every cold winter, nomadic people often have no vegetables to eat, some can only relieve themselves once every ten or half a month, and some even suffocate to death. To survive, they can only eat grass roots as vegetables. If they can obtain immortal tea, there will be no such problem.”
Ning Que clapped his hands.
A guard slowly walked out, carrying a wooden tray.
On it were square tea bricks.
Half a foot long, two inches wide and thick.
Each tea brick weighed about one catty.
“Princess, please see, these are tea bricks.”
“Convenient for transport and storage, ready to use whenever needed.”
“Princess, do you know how long these tea bricks can be stored without spoiling?”
“One year?”
“Wrong, ten years!”
“Ten years?!”
Samuer’s face instantly changed.
She stood up, utterly astonished.
It could actually be stored for so long?
“This King has also specifically thought of a way to drink tea.”
“I invite the Princess and all of you to try it again.”
Ning Que crooked his finger.
The maidservants came forward again.
They poured full bowls of mare’s milk tea for each of them.
The method for making mare’s milk tea was very simple.
First, crush the tea brick, add mare’s milk, and boil it.
Finally, sprinkle a small amount of fine salt.
Samuer looked at the teacup in surprise.
The aroma of milk filled the air, mixed with the fragrance of tea.
She often drank cow’s milk or mare’s milk on the grasslands.
A bowl in winter could warm her whole body.
However, drinking too much would certainly make her feel greasy.
The mare’s milk in front of her was different…
Flavored with tea, it had a refreshing aroma.
She couldn’t resist, hastily raising the cup and taking a sip. The mare’s milk tea was still warm, with a sweet and mellow taste, even more delicious than drinking tea directly!
“So fragrant!”
“Delicious, so delicious!”
The Western Liang warriors were also very surprised.
They spoke in the Western Liang language, exclaiming in wonder.
They drank quite quickly.
A full large bowl, finished in an instant!
“Another… bowl!”
“I want some too!”
“So delicious!”
“This is even more fragrant than mare’s milk wine!”
After hearing the translator’s translation, Emperor Feng immediately smiled.
He looked at Ning Que, nodding with satisfaction.
This boy really has some skill!
Perhaps, he can truly facilitate the peace talks successfully!