As the saying goes, 'ask for the sky, and you'll get the ground.'
After two days of intense negotiations, and smashing dozens of cups, the talks between Great Zhou and Yong Country finally concluded.
Great Zhou and Great Yong signed a non-aggression pact, with Great Zhou agreeing to pay an annual tribute of forty thousand catties of white sugar to Yong Country, with this year's tribute to be completed before the end of the year.
Additionally, both sides agreed to establish official markets along the border and strictly restrain their soldiers to minimize military conflict.
Neither party took this treaty seriously.
Everyone knew that the so-called conditions were nothing more than a pretty piece of waste paper.
Once one side felt there was an opportunity, it would certainly seize the chance to attack the other.
With the signing of the treaty, Shen Jing also generously sold twenty pills to Gao Yin at a price of one thousand taels of silver per pill.
After completing the transaction, Shen Jing then said to Gao Yin, "I have a small matter I'd like His Highness to help with."
"Marquis Shen, please speak."
Gao Yin was now very polite to Shen Jing.
Shen Jing smiled, "I would like to ask His Highness to write me an IOU, stating that you voluntarily gifted thirty thousand taels of gold to our Emperor!"
"This..."
Gao Yin was puzzled, "What does Marquis Shen want this for?"
He wouldn't be trying to trick him, would he?
Could it be that he intended to use this IOU to demand gold from him in the future?
"When necessary, use money to avert disaster!"
Shen Jing said seriously, "His Highness just needs to write that it has already been gifted!"
So that's it!
Gao Yin suddenly understood, "Marquis Shen is quite the schemer! All right, I'll write it for you!"
Since it was writing that it had already been gifted, and he wouldn't need to spend an extra copper coin, let alone writing thirty thousand taels of gold, even writing three hundred thousand taels would be fine!
Gao Yin readily wrote the IOU as Shen Jing dictated, and even affixed his own great seal.
Shen Jing put away the IOU and then earnestly reminded Gao Yin, "Although that pill has miraculous effects, you must not consume too much. Remember, no more than one pill per day, otherwise it could harm your body! This Marquis hopes our business can last a long time!"
"Thank you for the reminder, Marquis Shen!"
Gao Yin nodded with a smile and added, "I hope Marquis Shen will send people to the border market as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, this Marquis wouldn't turn down silver."
Shen Jing readily agreed.
The two chatted privately for a while, then Gao Yin departed.
Afterward, Shen Jing quietly called Lu Heng to his room and whispered, "Later, find an opportunity to leak the news that this Marquis accepted a huge bribe from Gao Yin!"
"What?"
Lu Heng stared blankly at Shen Jing, then forced a smile, "Marquis Shen, rest assured, this subordinate knows nothing, this subordinate..."
"Don't worry, this Marquis isn't testing you! Just do as I say!"
Shen Jing stopped Lu Heng, "As long as you do it well, this Marquis guarantees you will be promoted and get rich!"
Lu Heng hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.
The night passed without incident.
Gao Yin was eager to return and present the pills to the Emperor of Great Yong. After discussing the future pill transactions with Shen Jing, he left the capital early the next morning.
Because the two sides had parted on bad terms, Emperor Zhou did not arrange any farewell ceremony, simply ordering Shen Jing to escort them out of the city.
To avoid suspicion, Shen Jing did not speak much with him along the way.
Only at their parting did he exchange a few perfunctory pleasantries.
As the carriage drove away, Gao Yin inside suddenly became excited.
Forty thousand catties of white sugar!
How much silver could that be sold for!
Although there was no marriage alliance this time, their gains were far greater than a marriage alliance!
Upon returning to the Imperial City and presenting this divine medicine to his Imperial Father, he would surely receive a heavy reward!
Seeing the overly excited Gao Yin, Hulü Xian couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, selling refined iron to Shen Jing still requires caution."
They suspected Shen Jing wanted to secretly buy refined iron to forge weapons for a major undertaking.
But refined iron was strictly controlled, and if something went wrong, none of them would be able to escape the consequences.
"Senior Minister, rest assured!"
Gao Yin chuckled and nodded, "I'm not that foolish. I just temporarily agreed to Shen Jing."
"That's good!"
Hulü Xian felt relieved.
Gao Yin was silent for a moment, then looked at Hulü Xian with burning eyes, "Senior Minister is a great talent. Upon returning to Great Yong this time, I wonder if Senior Minister could lend me a hand?"
Gao Yin's meaning was very clear.
He saw an opportunity to contend for the throne, and he hoped Hulü Xian would stand with him.
With these pills, plus Hulü Xian's assistance, his chances of contending for the throne would be greatly increased.
Hulü Xian naturally understood Gao Yin's meaning.
However, Hulü Xian did not rush to give him an answer, changing the subject by saying, "Let's continue on our journey first!"
There was still plenty of time on the road to think it over slowly.
"Good!"
Gao Yin chuckled.
Hulü Xian not explicitly refusing meant there was hope!
However, if Hulü Xian still didn't declare his stance before returning to the Imperial City, then he couldn't be blamed!
After seeing off the Yong Country Delegation, Shen Jing led his people back to the Four Directions Inn.
As soon as they reached the entrance of the Four Directions Inn, a guard from the inn rushed forward, nervously reporting, "Reporting to Marquis Shen, someone from the Ministry of Justice just now forcibly entered the inn and searched Marquis Shen's room, taking some items. We were unable to stop them..."
"What?"
Shen Jing's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly ran into the Four Directions Inn.
Watching the frantic Shen Jing, Du Heng couldn't help but curse inwardly: Old schemer!
Soon, Shen Jing ran into his room.
Looking at the messy room, a broad smile appeared on Shen Jing's face.
Done!
He could go home and wait for news now!
...
Chancellor's Residence.
As Yao Jian lay there with his eyes closed, resting, a servant from the residence led Minister of Justice Fu Yan in.
"Chancellor Yao, great news, great news!"
Fu Yan quickly stepped forward, excitedly telling Yao Jian, "The Ministry of Justice has already obtained evidence of Shen Jing's bribery!"
"Really?"
Yao Jian suddenly stood up.
"Naturally, it's true!"
Fu Yan nodded, saying with a beaming smile, "There were over two thousand taels of gold alone, and some other valuable items! Roughly estimated, all the valuables combined exceed thirty thousand taels of silver!"
Thirty thousand taels of silver!
Listening to Fu Yan's words, a sinister smile flashed across Yao Jian's face.
This could already be considered accepting a huge bribe!
According to the laws of Great Zhou, accepting a bribe exceeding one thousand taels of silver was punishable by beheading!
Even if the Emperor, considering that old fellow Su Zai, spared Shen Jing's life, he would at least be demoted to a commoner!
No!
Just demoting Shen Jing to a commoner, how could that appease the anger in his heart?
After a moment of contemplation, Yao Jian looked meaningfully at Fu Yan again, "You say, Shen Jing held the Yong Country envoy captive, so why would the Yong Country envoy still give him so much wealth?"
Fu Yan immediately reacted and smiled, "In this subordinate's opinion, Shen Jing most likely leaked confidential matters of our dynasty to the Yong Country envoy! And precisely because of this, Yong Country was so aggressive during the negotiations!"
"Then why did Shen Jing previously insist on advocating for war?" Yao Jian asked again.
Fu Yan answered without hesitation, "Naturally, it was to cover his tracks!"
Yao Jian nodded in deep agreement, and said in a low voice, "Let's immediately enter the palace and expose Shen Jing's crimes to the Emperor!"
"This subordinate had the same idea!"
Fu Yan smiled, "This subordinate believes we can call upon more officials to expose Shen Jing's other crimes, so that he can be punished for multiple offenses!"