Chapter 1508 - 1506: Envoy from the Enemy Nation
Chapter 1508: Chapter 1506: Envoy from the Enemy Nation
Chapter 1506
Zhao Junyao arrived at the military camp not long before Li Deming came with the coroners.
The soldier who had been retrieved from the sea had been properly placed in a military tent, with several guards stationed around it.
Zhao Junyao dismissed the others, entered the tent alone to take a look around, and then allowed the coroners to enter one by one.
These coroners were specifically chosen for their extensive experience in autopsies.
One after another, they examined the body for more than a full Shi Chen before concluding.
Afterwards, they were all gathered in the tent.
Zhao Junyao’s deep eyes swept over each of the coroners, and he said calmly.
"Begin, from you, explain your findings!"
The coroners dared not play tricks and stepped forward one by one to truthfully report their results.
"Reporting to the Taishang Huang, this soldier was injured by arrows and blades. Based on the shape of the wounds and the color of the bruises, I determine that the blade is a commonly seen dagger in our Great Chu Dynasty, and the arrows are also common, except the arrowheads are poisoned!"
He paused, then continued.
"This poison still requires the Imperial Physician to identify. I am inexperienced, please forgive me, Taishang Huang!"
Zhao Junyao gestured for the next person.
The coroner sensibly stepped back, and another stepped forward to continue the report.
The results were largely similar, with only minor discrepancies in details, which were not significant.
The main cause of the soldier’s death was the poisoned arrowhead; the dagger caused wounds but was not fatal.
Zhao Junyao summoned the Imperial Physicians to identify the poison.
But the results were not optimistic.
Chenchen brought more than a dozen Imperial Physicians, and regardless of examining individually or discussing collectively, they all stated they had never seen such a poison.
"Taishang Huang, this poison is extremely vicious. The poisoned person does not die immediately, but their blood gradually solidifies!"
"The deceased’s skin turned black, and there was little blood on their clothing, which indicates... before death, most of the blood had already solidified!"
"This...such a poison, we have never heard of..."
The expressions and voices of several Imperial Physicians changed during the report.
Not for any other reason but because the poison was so cruel and vicious.
No one understands the pain and desperation of the poisoned more than the healers themselves.
The one who used the poison is simply heartless!
Even Zhao Junyao drew in a cold breath; it indeed seemed to not be poison from the Great Chu Dynasty.
"Investigate!"
"Send someone to investigate, don’t let any of the countries in the southeast go unchecked!"
"Yes!"
Li Deming acknowledged.
...
After receiving the results, Zhao Junyao dismissed all the Imperial Physicians and coroners and returned to Chenchen’s courtyard.
All the way, he furrowed his brows deeply, the entire person filled with anxiety.
The Hidden Guard beside Chenchen died from a strange poison leading to his demise, so what about Chenchen?
In seeking reinforcements, where should he seek help?
What had Chenchen encountered, where was he now? Would he be in danger...
The more Zhao Junyao thought about it, the deeper his brows furrowed.
Li Deming also felt uneasy, his face long and mournful.
"Taishang Huang... and the Emperor..."
Zhao Junyao said nothing, flipping through a stack of documents on Chenchen’s desk.
He moved slowly, examining each page carefully, flipping them one by one.
They were father and son, and Chenchen was someone he had personally taught; he wouldn’t act without a plan.
Chenchen must have discovered something to put himself in such danger.
But...
Zhao Junyao’s movements became faster, yet even after going through everything, he found nothing.
...
When Zhao Junyao was feeling low and aimlessly at a loss.
Suddenly a soldier came rushing with a report from outside the door.
"Reporting to the Taishang Huang!"
"Hundreds of warships have been discovered in the South Sea State waters, approaching the Great Chu Dynasty at very high speed, expected to reach the Guangnan Coast in two Shi Chen!"
"What?!" Zhao Junyao’s face stiffened instantly.
He quickly processed the information in his mind and then asked.
"Any other information?"
The messenger immediately reported.
"The enemy has sent an envoy who was just escorted back to the city by General Chen a stick of incense ago. Would Taishang Huang like to meet him?"
"Bring him!"
Zhao Junyao waved his hand, and the messenger left quickly with the order.
...
The thing we feared most has indeed happened.
The southern small countries have coveted the wealth and prosperity of the Great Chu Dynasty for too long.
In earlier years, they colluded with Zhao Junqi, hoping to gain a share of the immense riches.
Perhaps they harbored even greater ambitions than merely sharing.
Only.
They suffered great losses during that battle in the Southern Ocean.
These small nations have always been poor; they were severely depleted after the war, which is why they behaved for so many years.
Now that they have rested and recovered for many years, gaining some strength once more.
This is why they dared to return in full force and invade aggressively.
Realizing these things, Zhao Junyao’s path became clear.
Staring at the piles of documents Chenchen had organized, his lips curled bitterly.
It turns out, indeed, I am old.
This was something Chenchen foresaw long ago, yet I took so long to understand it.
Indeed, I am old!
Chenchen, you never let me down.
But...
Zhao Junyao’s heart ached again.
’You are an emperor; why do you take such risks?’
...
Military orders are always rapid.
In a stick of incense’s time, Zhao Junyao met the envoy from the enemy nation.
The envoy was from the Southern Ocean Kingdom.
Ha, indeed it was the Southern Ocean Kingdom, carrying a grudge from that fight years ago. Are they here for revenge?
Zhao Junyao’s gaze turned cold, looking down at the envoy.
Even though he was of advanced age, the overwhelming air of authority from him weighed down, almost suffocating the envoy.
However, the envoy still braced his neck arrogantly and said.
"No need to scare us with a washed-up Taishang Huang!"
"Our Monarch commands — your Emperor has been captured alive by our Monarch!"
"You best surrender to negotiate, or... we can’t guarantee the Emperor of your esteemed nation will return alive!"
Zhao Junyao’s pupils narrowed sharply but quickly regained composure.
He coldly chuckled.
"Oh?"
"You must have gone mad with greed, resorting to fabrications!"
"Our Emperor is well and within this city, what capture? Or... were you lied to?"
Despite the storm raging within, Zhao Junyao decided to test him.
Confrontations are like this.
Three parts real, seven parts fiction, probing each other.
The envoy unexpectedly started laughing maniacally.
"You know your Emperor’s whereabouts, I’m just a messenger!"
"Our Monarch said!"
"By tomorrow at noon, if Great Chu Dynasty doesn’t display the proper attitude, expect to fish corpses from the sea!"
"Oh, and our Monarch also said, we’re prepared to fight to the last soldier!"
"Even if sacrificing our whole army, we’ll drag the Great Chu Dynasty’s Emperor down with us, it’s worth it!"
The envoy’s attitude was extremely arrogant, ending with another bout of grand laughter.