Chapter 85: The Envoy from the Eastern Hu Arrives

The soldiers of the Great Xia surged forward and, in a matter of moments, slaughtered the dozens of defenders. Chen Mu then ordered the battlefield to be cleared and led his men into the royal palace. He had assumed there must be something of great importance within, to warrant such fierce protection, but all he found were totems and offerings.

Still, it was not a fruitless venture. Chen Mu discovered a portrait of the fat general, confirming that this man was indeed the leader of the Stick Nation. From there, things proceeded smoothly. The army swept through the land, pushing all the way to the farthest tip of the peninsula. Although the soldiers and people of the Stick Nation continued to resist, their efforts were in vain.

In the end, Chen Mu’s forces seized ten thousand young men as slaves, planning to put them to work in the development of the northeastern territories. The rest were left to their own devices. In the future, once the language barrier was overcome, they might become a vassal state.

Chen Mu also took with him many local specialties—not only distinctive foods, but a certain type of pine tree known for its hardness, making it suitable for crafting weapon components. Most importantly, there was a breed of duck with extraordinarily soft and fluffy feathers, perfect for making down garments. Though cotton clothing now sufficed for most of Great Xia’s people, in the northeast, down garments would be more suitable.

Rather than returning directly to the capital, Chen Mu lingered in the northeast for some time—overseeing the production of these down garments and implementing a minor reform for the region: the militia system. Due to the sparse population, there were only five thousand cavalrymen; if the Donghu or even more northerly tribes came raiding, it would be difficult to respond effectively. With the addition of ten thousand Stick Nation slaves, the people of Great Xia found themselves with more free time, which Chen Mu intended to devote to training, aiming for universal military readiness.

However, just as he began these efforts, an unexpected development occurred: an envoy from the Donghu arrived.

Chen Mu was puzzled. “Why would the Donghu send an envoy? They don’t even speak our language, do they?”

A soldier replied, “Your Highness, this man does speak our tongue, and he appears to be a Donghu by his features.”

Chen Mu frowned. “Bring him in.”

Shortly thereafter, the man was brought before him. His features were indeed those of a Donghu.

Upon seeing Chen Mu, the envoy threw himself to the ground and, in halting Great Xia, said, “Envoy of the Donghu, pays respects to the Crown Prince of Great Xia.”

Chen Mu nodded. “Are you Donghu? What brings you here?”

But the man shook his head. “I am not Donghu. I am Xiongnu. Because I speak Great Xia’s language, I was sent as their representative.”

“My purpose is to seek peace between our peoples.”

Chen Mu did not dwell on how the man had learned their language, but instead sneered, “It was the Donghu who first invaded Great Xia, plundering three of our counties and slaughtering tens of thousands of our people. And now you come pleading for peace?”

The envoy bowed again. “Honored Crown Prince, the Donghu leader did not understand the might of Great Xia. Now that we have been defeated and have paid the price, we see reason. Furthermore, I have told them that the steppe tribes—the Xiongnu, as Your Highness calls them—have already made peace with Great Xia, and trade thrives between us. Thus, the Donghu leader has sent me to follow the Xiongnu’s example and seek peace.”

Chen Mu nodded slowly. “If the Donghu are willing to become a vassal state, offering annual tribute and recognizing our supremacy, Great Xia will not pursue their destruction. However, the northeast now belongs to Great Xia; it will not be returned.”

The envoy smiled obsequiously. “Of course, Your Highness claimed it through strength—it rightfully belongs to Great Xia. The Donghu will be content if they may continue their pastoral life on the steppe.”

“Moreover, the Donghu leader wishes to bestow upon the Crown Prince a special gift.”

Chen Mu asked curiously, “And what is this special gift?”

The Donghu region had little in the way of notable products; even if there were mineral veins, they would hardly know how to exploit them.

The envoy replied with a smile, “Perhaps Your Highness is unaware, but to the north of the Donghu lies the nation of Rus—a land of immense wealth, overflowing with gold and silver. Its people are strong and robust; captured as slaves, they could greatly aid Your Highness in developing the northeast.”

Chen Mu could not help but laugh. So, the so-called special gift was intelligence on the Rus.

“If the Rus are such a fat prize, why does the Donghu leader not seize it himself?”

The envoy replied, “Only Your Highness possesses the power to do so. The Donghu leader now struggles merely to survive.”

Chen Mu understood. “Then why, when the Donghu once had over ten thousand cavalry, did they choose to invade Great Xia instead of attacking the Rus?”

The envoy looked uncomfortable. “Well…”

Chen Mu sneered, “Because it was autumn then. Had you attacked the Rus, you would have faced the biting winds of the ice fields, correct?”

At this, the envoy’s face changed dramatically; he had not mentioned the terrain, yet Chen Mu spoke of the ‘ice fields.’

Chen Mu continued, “It is early spring now, but the Rus lands must still be bitterly cold. The Donghu want to lure the Great Xia army into the frozen north to clash with the Rus, hoping to profit from the chaos. Is that not so?”

The envoy trembled and kowtowed repeatedly. “We would never dare! We would never dare!”

Chen Mu rose to his feet and said softly, “My understanding of the Rus is likely no less than yours.”

“Since you are so sincere, I shall send you a gift as well: you shall act as a war correspondent. Report truthfully on the might of Great Xia to the Donghu, and warn them against any further mischief.”

Chen Mu knew well that the Rus lands were vast and empty, and far colder still. But he was not afraid. He had already acquired duck down from the Stick Nation and begun production of down garments.

Furthermore, the Ruslands were rich in petroleum resources. Although these could not yet be utilized, it would be prudent to secure them in advance.

As for the Donghu envoy, Chen Mu detained him, sending the other attendants back to deliver his message. He also dispatched a report to Chen Xingtian, informing him that he had subdued the Stick Nation and was preparing to march north against the Rus.

Orders were given to accelerate the production of down garments, down trousers, quilts, and other cold-weather gear. In a matter of days, the soldiers of Great Xia exchanged their cotton clothing for duck down and put on thick boots and warm tents. Large stores of meat—pork, duck, venison—and salted fish were prepared.

Once all was ready, Chen Mu led his army north from the northeast, following the coastline into lands where no man of Great Xia had ever ventured—into the frozen, uncharted north.