Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

Inside the palace.

Having just finished processing the memorials, Zhou Zhengde went to stretch his muscles in the courtyard outside the Imperial Study.

He was just about to ask how Qin Feng had received the envoy after his arrival in the capital.

did not expect.

Before he could even ask.

The old eunuch ran in from outside, his face ashen.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he called out in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Lord Qin... Lord Qin beat up the grassland envoys, tied them all up, and made them kneel at the city gate. Many people saw it."

"What?"

Zhou Zhengde was astonished and could not believe the news at all.

Did they beat the envoy?

The neighboring countries have been paying tribute to the Great Zhou for at least several decades, and there has never been a single instance of them beating up envoys.

"What exactly happened? Has the cause been found out?"

"The investigation...the investigation is complete."

Grandpa Miao nodded hurriedly and began to explain in detail.

It must be admitted that Qin Feng was even more arrogant than the Imperial Guards. No matter how domineering the Imperial Guards were, they would never beat up an envoy in public.

Those barbarians on the grasslands, if not handled properly, could worsen relations with the grasslands. At that point, no amount of heads would be enough to go around cutting them off.

"How about beef?"

After listening to the old eunuch's story.

Zhou Zhengde's face darkened.

The barbarians of the grasslands are arrogant and domineering. In previous years, when they came to the capital to pay tribute, they caused chaos. Unexpectedly, this year they went even further, demanding that Qin Feng prepare beef as soon as they arrived.

The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty clearly state that if a village's oxen die mysteriously, the entire village will be punished.

Anyone who slaughters an ox without authorization is guilty of the same crime as murder.

"These wild boar hides are really getting more and more outrageous. How much silver will they demand as a yearly reward?"

Zhou Zhengde narrowed his eyes and asked in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty, the documents sent in advance state that the grasslands need 100,000 taels of silver this year. This does not include the silver for trade. If we include the silver given to the grassland leaders for trade, it will probably be 150,000 taels."

Grandpa Miao also looked furious.

150,000 taels of silver!

This is only the amount of silver for one year, and everyone in the court knows very well that the annual silver allowance is increasing year by year.

If we pay them this year, they'll dare ask for 200,000 taels of silver for these wild boar hides next year.

"They are truly wolves that cannot be tamed. At the beginning, the annual allowance was only 20,000 taels of silver, but in just a few years, they dared to ask for 100,000 taels of silver. They really do not take me seriously."

Zhou Zhengde stroked his chin.

After pondering for a moment, he whispered the instructions:

"This matter is to be handled by Qin Feng. Since he was the one who gave the order, let him handle the aftermath of the beating himself. Tell him that the bottom line is that no one should die, and he shouldn't get angry over these wild boar hides."

"Yes, this servant will send someone to inform Lord Qin immediately."

Grandpa Miao was taken aback, and his expression changed drastically.

This is difficult!

The Emperor's intention was to teach these wild boars a lesson, but without angering them and causing discontent on the grasslands.

Moreover, the focus is on the civil officials. Now that such a big thing has happened, it's safe to say that every civil official will likely impeach Qin Feng tomorrow at court.

Thinking about this.

Eunuch Miao dared not linger and hurriedly led his men out of the palace.

He wanted to personally instruct Qin Feng not to get too involved in this matter, and not to follow the Emperor's orders even if they were his own.

If the grasslands were to launch a small-scale military operation in the future because of this matter, the emperor, no matter how unwilling, would probably still punish Qin Feng in the face of pressure from all the civil officials.

"What a disaster! How could this ancestor be so troublesome? Even if you're going to hit someone, you can't do it to their face! Can't you do it behind their back?"

"Hurry, ride faster!"

Once seated in the carriage, Eunuch Miao urged the young eunuch to hurry to the city gate.

……

At the city gate.

It was packed with people at the time.

Whether it was the soldiers guarding the city or the surrounding civilians, they were all excitedly watching the dozen or so wild boar skins that had been tied up, covered in blood, and kneeling under the city wall.

"Damn, who is this lord? This is so satisfying! This is how you deal with these wild boars. Last year, our boss got his leg broken by these bastards riding horses because he was blocking the way, and he still hasn't fully recovered."

"I heard it was Lord Qin from the Ministry of Works, the same Lord Qin who governs the West Ward. I never expected him to be like those scholars, desperately trying to curry favor with these wild boars, giving them whatever they wanted, even wishing he could send all the women in his household over. But I never expected him to act so suddenly. Did you see it just now? Lord Qin was already at it with a knife."

"How could we not see it? It's so satisfying, so satisfying! We should really kill these wild boars. Our neighbor's daughter was violated by these beasts last year and ended up hanging herself. It was no use reporting it to the authorities. These officials don't dare to offend these wild boars."

"..."

Near the base of the city wall.

Qin Feng picked up the handkerchief Cao Liang handed him and wiped the blood from his hands.

His gaze was dark as he stared at the group of wild boar skins kneeling on the ground.

The voices of the people in the rear were not loud.

At such a close distance, he could naturally hear everything clearly.

I really didn't expect that.

This group of people came to the capital to pay tribute, and they actually did so many inhuman things. Even bandits wouldn't do such things.

"Heh heh, you're dead. How dare you attack a warrior of the grasslands? We've come to pay tribute. Does your Great Zhou want to start a war with our grasslands?"

Blood trickled from the corner of Batel's mouth as he stared venomously at the Zhou official before him, a cruel smile on his face.

"Yeah?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you the son of a grassland tribe? Or the son of your grassland king? Is that right?"

Looking at the other person's stunned expression.

Qin Feng curled his lip in disdain.

"Look at you, you're nothing but a fart. What makes you think the grasslands would go to war with the Great Zhou for your sake? Just because of your title of Baturu? As far as I know, there are more Baturus on your grasslands than there are herding dogs. You're practically less than dogs."

"Take everyone away and send them back to get a good wash. They've dirtied the ground. Those who owe money should pay up. If they don't, they'll be sent to the West Ward to clean."

Cao Liang led a large number of imperial guards and rushed up, escorting the people into the city.

How could war break out so easily on the grasslands?

Outsiders can't see the true situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty at all.

Wild boars only bare their tusks and take a bite when you're truly exhausted.

Normally, it will just wag its tail and come up to please you.

"Lord Qin!"

Just then.

Grandpa Miao hurriedly got off the carriage.

"Something terrible has happened! Why were you so reckless? What are you doing taking these wild boar hides for?"

"What's wrong?"

Qin Feng asked with a smile.

"His Majesty knows and specifically sent me to give you some instructions. The meaning is clear: you need to save face, but you can't let these wild boars cause trouble. In other words, you can't ruin the relationship. What do you suggest?"

Seeing that Qin Feng wasn't in a hurry at all.

Grandpa Miao couldn't help but stomp his foot.

"This matter could be a big deal or a small deal. If things go wrong, all the civil officials will seize on this and impeach you in court tomorrow. There are disturbances on the grasslands, and I'm afraid... even the Emperor won't be able to protect you."

You'd better think of a solution.

"Furthermore... before leaving the palace, the Emperor asked, 'What are your thoughts on this year's annual imperial gift?'"

Upon hearing this...

Qin Feng frowned involuntarily.