“Right now, isn’t Da Zhou’s blade already at our Yan Kingdom’s throat? I’m afraid that as early as when they stationed troops at Yan Kingdom’s borders… the blade was already at our Yan Kingdom’s throat.” Xiao Rongyan lifted his foot to continue walking along the corridor toward the courtyard where their Yan Kingdom envoys were staying, his voice deep. “Tomorrow, go tell Da Zhou that our Yan Kingdom is willing to hand over the cities we conquered in Xi Liang to Da Zhou this time, but… we absolutely will not send hostages to Da Zhou!”

The several Yan Kingdom envoys exchanged glances, and the Yan Minister of Revenue hurried forward: “Your Highness, hand over Xi Liang? But Xi Liang was conquered by Your Highness! Moreover, this battle in Xi Liang, we…”

“Now that Da Zhou has stated their conditions, we must offer something Da Zhou values to avoid sending hostages to Da Zhou!” Wang Hanbing didn’t wait for the Yan Minister of Revenue to finish before slowly speaking. “Da Zhou has been using our Yan Kingdom’s backstabbing of allies during the Xi Liang campaign as their talking point. If we now hand over the conquered Xi Liang cities to Da Zhou, using all the conquered cities to make amends to Da Zhou, then sit down to properly discuss the surrender between our two nations, with past grievances set aside, this subordinate believes… this would be our greatest show of sincerity.”

Xiao Rongyan glanced at Wang Hanbing, whose expression remained calm, not expecting Wang Hanbing to understand his meaning.

Although Bai Qingyan had also mentioned taking hostages to Da Zhou, Xiao Rongyan, setting aside personal feelings and acting purely as Yan Kingdom’s Regent, would not allow Murong Ping and Xie Xun to be held hostage in Da Zhou unless it was the absolute last resort.

After all, whether Murong Ping or Xie Xun, both were among the few great generals the Yan Kingdom could currently rely upon.

Common soldiers’ courage could be easily obtained, but a general’s talent – not one in a hundred thousand possessed it.

Therefore, the Yan Kingdom would rather cede territory than send talented generals as hostages to Zhou.

But Xiao Rongyan also understood that if Bai Qingyan was determined to keep Murong Ping and Xie Xun in Yan Kingdom, and Yan Kingdom continued to refuse, Bai Qingyan and Da Zhou’s court ministers would certainly… not mind taking advantage of Yan Kingdom’s main forces being trapped in Xi Liang by Bai Qingqi and Bai Qingyu to directly attack Yan Capital.

Both sought to unify the realm. Although Bai Qingyan, as Da Zhou’s Emperor, inwardly sought the gentlest method of merger, she also had to consider Da Zhou’s interests. After all, the current situation gave Da Zhou a tremendous advantage.

Xiao Rongyan’s palms tightened. He now had to set aside personal feelings and compete with A’Bao once. Even if he ultimately had to send Xie Xun and Murong Ping as hostages to Da Zhou, he must secure the greatest benefits for the Yan Kingdom. This matter required careful calculation.

“Has today’s negotiation news been sent back to His Majesty?” Xiao Rongyan asked another question.

“Reporting to Your Highness, according to your instructions, daily negotiation records are sent by express horse day and night without rest back to His Majesty for imperial review.” Wang Hanbing said, then added: “However, His Majesty has already sent word to this subject, saying that matters discussed in Da Zhou are entirely at the Regent’s discretion.”

Xiao Rongyan nodded.

On the seventh day since negotiations began, Bai Qingyan reviewed the bilateral negotiation records sent from Honglu Si, but discovered that the Yan Kingdom scholar named Wang Hanbing seemed to have spoken only once when both sides were arguing irreconcilably, while the rest of the time it was Yan Kingdom’s Minister of Revenue arguing with reason, barely speaking at all.

Bai Qingyan’s fingers rubbed the records as she narrowed her eyes.

When Bai Qingyan had agreed to Liu Rushi’s suggestion to arrange for Fan Yugan to join these surrender negotiations, it was actually to target that Wang Hanbing.

From the letters Bai Jintong had sent, one could see that this Wang Hanbing was a gentleman and a person of character. Gentlemen often required someone like Fan Yugan, who carried a bit of rogue and scoundrel air, to deal with them – this was the so-called “scholar meets soldier.”

After thinking it over, she had someone summon Fan Yugan…

Fan Yugan hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to summon him. When he entered, he was quite obedient. Perhaps having experienced great ups and downs, the current Fan Yugan… though he still maintained that dandy appearance in public, had restrained himself considerably when meeting Bai Qingyan, with maturity and steadiness now showing in his eyes and brows.

“This subject thanks Your Majesty for not abandoning me and still being willing to use this subject! Also, thanks, Your Majesty, for being willing to release my father from prison!” Fan Yugan respectfully performed a grand bow to Bai Qingyan.

“Alright, get up!” Bai Qingyan smiled as she looked at Fan Yugan. “I’m used to seeing you act like a mischievous monkey. You being so proper and well-behaved makes me somewhat unaccustomed.”

Fan Yugan knelt in the center of the great hall, looking up at Bai Qingyan and scratching his head: “Sister Bai is now the Emperor, so proper etiquette must be observed. Before leaving home, Father specifically instructed this.”

Bai Qingyan nodded, gesturing for Wei Zhong to bring a cushion for Fan Yugan: “Sit!”

Fan Yugan responded and sat down properly, looking at Bai Qingyan with proper posture: “Your Majesty summoned this subject, could it be about the bilateral surrender negotiations?”

Bai Qingyan nodded, lifting her tea cup to ask Fan Yugan: “What do you think of that Wang Hanbing in the Yan Kingdom delegation?”

Fan Yugan was clever. Hearing Bai Qingyan say this, he knew what she wanted to ask: “Your Majesty, have you noticed that this person, though in the Yan Kingdom delegation, rarely speaks? It could be said… since negotiations began, this person has barely said a few words.”

“What’s your view?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Previously, Grand Commandant Lu instructed us to test this Wang Hanbing. Lu Fenglang felt that all of us testing Wang Hanbing would be too obvious, so since I’m naturally a troublemaker, she had me needle him with a few remarks when there was nothing else to do. But this person doesn’t take the bait at all!” Fan Yugan carefully recalled the scene from the first day he met this Wang Hanbing.

“This person…” Fan Yugan looked up at Bai Qingyan. “Several times this subject offered him conversational openings, but he completely ignored them. It was always that annoying Yan Kingdom Minister of Revenue arguing endlessly. I don’t know what this person’s background is – whether he’s deeply cunning or some newly promoted noble family member inserted to gain merit.”

“Wang Hanbing has been in the delegation but remains silent. He’s probably observing you all. This person comes from humble origins, is Yan Kingdom’s top scholar, and his eloquence… is no less than Liu Rushi’s!” Bai Qingyan set down her teacup and tapped the previously delivered records with her finger. “From this person’s few words stopping your argument with the Yan Minister of Revenue, one can see he perhaps has some ulterior strategy…”

Fan Yugan’s lips parted slightly. After a long moment, he cupped his hands: “Please, Your Majesty, give clear instructions on what you want this subject to do?”

“You think of a way to test this Wang Hanbing’s depth!” Seeing Fan Yugan’s bewildered expression, Bai Qingyan smiled: “Use the method you’re best at, boldly proceed. If you fail, I’ll still cover for you. In any case, you must prevent the Yan Kingdom Minister of Revenue from participating in the negotiations. Once this Yan Minister of Revenue is absent, you can test Wang Hanbing’s depth.”

Fan Yugan immediately kowtowed: “Fan Yugan will not fail Your Majesty’s trust!”