Chapter 375 - 225: Brocade Robes at Night

Chapter 375: Chapter 225: Brocade Robes at Night

Besides, agreeing to whatever the Demon Court wants will just feed their ambition.

"I have an idea. I’m not sure if it will work."

Su Mu said thoughtfully.

"What idea?"

Zhu Jiuyuan asked.

"The silver and silk—Da Xuan won’t increase the amount, but we can add two other conditions."

Su Mu said slowly.

"First, establish a border town for trade between Da Xuan and the Demon Court. The Demon Court can exchange its unique resources from the wildlands for Da Xuan’s silks, fabrics, and other goods."

A thoughtful expression appeared on Zhu Jiuyuan’s face as he considered the pros and cons of this method for Da Xuan.

"And the second condition?"

he asked.

"Second, allow the Demon Court to send twenty to thirty demons to Da Xuan’s Bailu Academy for cultural exchange and study each year."

Su Mu continued, "The Demon Court wants to learn from Da Xuan, don’t they? Then let’s give them the chance to learn!"

Zhu Jiuyuan’s expression changed drastically. He said in a low voice, "How is that feasible? The Demon Court is already terrifying. If we let them learn our Da Xuan culture, what would become of us?"

"If you don’t let them learn, do you think they can’t?"

Su Mu said gravely, "Mr. Zhu, you haven’t seen the people the Demon Court has abducted, have you?

They are all elites from various trades and professions. The Demon Court didn’t capture them just to eat them.

In the Martial Arts Arena, when the demons duel with human Martial Artists, it’s not just because they’re savage and bloodthirsty.

When they fight human Martial Artists, they are secretly learning their martial techniques."

"But—"

Zhu Jiuyuan’s brows were tightly furrowed, his mind full of indecision.

He was a man of exceptional experience and broad-mindedness, but even he couldn’t accept Su Mu’s fantastical idea.

"Mr. Zhu, since we can’t stop them, why not look at it from a different angle?"

Su Mu said, "When the Demon Court sends demons to Bailu Academy, what they learn and how they learn it—won’t that be for you to decide, Mr. Zhu?

Can’t you subtly influence them, make them shed their hostility toward Da Xuan?"

Zhu Jiuyuan froze, his eyes shaking with shock.

"This—"

He was stunned by Su Mu’s sheer audacity. ’Tame the demons?’

One could imagine that if this really happened, the ones the Demon Court sent to Bailu Academy would undoubtedly be their elites.

If Bailu Academy could really tame them, wouldn’t that be equivalent to weakening the Demon Court’s power?

The Demon Court has its eyes on Da Xuan’s culture, while Da Xuan has its eyes on the Demon Court’s demons.

As for who would ultimately benefit, that would depend on their respective methods.

It had to be said, this plan was breathtakingly bold, something no ordinary person could have conceived.

As for the idea of a market at the Border Region, it had its pros and cons.

"These two ideas are excellent. I must plan them out carefully and engage in another war of words with the Demon Court tomorrow. Captain Su, I must take my leave."

With that, Zhu Jiuyuan left in a hurry.

Su Mu watched the dusky yellow sky, lost in thought for a moment, before slowly returning to his room.

「Several days passed in the blink of an eye.」

The condition of the Da Xuan Envoy’s members grew worse and worse.

Even the morale of the Taiping Captains began to waver.

The humans rescued from the Demon Court didn’t even dare to leave their rooms, spending all day circulating their energy to resist the invasion of Demonic Qi.

Su Mu made up his mind. Regardless of the outcome of the peace talks, they had to depart for Da Xuan in three days at most.

Otherwise, the entire envoy might be wiped out in these wildlands!

Fortunately, as dusk fell that day, Zhu Jiuyuan returned to the embassy with his men, expressions of immense relief on all their faces.

The oppressive atmosphere that had lingered for days also lightened considerably.

"Captain Su, it’s all thanks to your idea. It worked!"

Even the ever-stern Zhu Jiuyuan was now beaming with a smile.

Lu Mingyang and the others looked surprised. ’Those two ideas came from Lord Su?’

They had thought it was Zhu Jiuyuan’s idea.

When Zhu Jiuyuan had first proposed the two ideas, Lu Mingyang and the others had been stunned, thinking it was a stroke of genius.

’And now they’re telling us Su Mu came up with it?’

’We admit Su Mu’s Martial Dao is incredible, but now his strategies are this brilliant too?’

’Give the rest of us a break!’

’Is there anything you don’t know?’

Lu Mingyang and the others complained inwardly, but they didn’t say a word out loud.

"The Demon Court agreed?"

Su Mu asked, pleasantly surprised.

’If the peace talks were a success, they could finally start for home.’

Although he had been prepared to force their return, completing the mission before leaving was much better than retreating in disgrace.

’The performance points for this diplomatic mission were safe now.’

"They agreed. Not only did they agree, but I also managed to press the annual tribute down to ten thousand taels of silver and thirty thousand bolts of silk per year!"

Zhu Jiuyuan said joyfully.

Ten thousand taels of silver and thirty thousand bolts of silk annually was a trivial amount for Da Xuan.

It posed almost no burden; they could cover it with minor savings.

Compared to before, this was a great victory.

As for the two new conditions, Da Xuan didn’t have to provide anything extra.

It could be said that they had exceeded the mission’s objectives.

"The Demon Court agreed to even that?"

Su Mu was also a bit surprised. He had proposed those two ideas mainly to conclude the negotiations quickly, not expecting this additional windfall.

’The lower the annual tribute, the better the envoy’s performance, and the more performance points he would surely receive.’

’A good thing.’

"Because I promised Liang Jinglue that the place where the Demon Court sends its demons to study would be located in Songjiang Prefecture City, in Xiangzhou."

Zhu Jiuyuan said, a smug look appearing on his face.

This masterstroke was one of the most important reasons for the negotiation’s success.

"Xiangzhou? Songjiang Prefecture City?"

A puzzled look crossed Su Mu’s face. "What’s the significance of that?"

"I promised to establish a Bailu Academy in Xiangzhou Songjiang Prefecture City. The demons the Demon Court sends to Da Xuan will study there for four years."

Zhu Jiuyuan continued, "And the position of Mountain Master of the Songjiang Bailu Academy will be jointly held by myself and Liang Jinglue."

"I still don’t understand. The Demon Court agreed to reduce the annual tribute just for that?"

Su Mu asked, confused.

Tens of thousands of silver might not sound like a lot, but it was actually very important to both Da Xuan and the Demon Court.

Why would the Demon Court concede so easily?

"Lord Su, you aren’t a scholar. You don’t understand the allure that returning home in glory holds for a scholar."

Lu Mingyang said with a smile.

"Is it greater than leaving a name in the annals of history?"

Su Mu asked, stunned.

"Of course not."

Lu Mingyang was taken aback, then gave an embarrassed laugh.

’How many people could ever achieve a place in history?’

’I was talking about a simple pleasure, and you bring up immortal fame?’

’They’re not even in the same league.’

"As the saying goes, ’Wealth and glory without returning home is like wearing fine clothes on a dark night.’"

Lu Mingyang complained inwardly before saying aloud, "This Demon Court National Preceptor, Liang Jinglue, is from Songjiang Prefecture in Xiangzhou.

Establishing a Bailu Academy in Xiangzhou Songjiang Prefecture where he can serve as the Mountain Master... that’s a temptation he can’t refuse."

Su Mu: "..."

’Scholars’ minds are too complicated.’ He still couldn’t understand it. ’To give up tangible benefits for such an empty title.’

’You’re the Demon Court National Preceptor, for crying out loud. Doesn’t that hold more prestige than being the Mountain Master of an academy?’

’Did he study until he went stupid?’

"Liang Jinglue would dare go to Da Xuan?"

Su Mu mused, rubbing his chin.

’Never mind what Liang Jinglue was thinking. Would he really dare to go to Xiangzhou?’

’If he actually went, the Da Xuan Taiping Bureau would try to keep him in Da Xuan, no matter the cost.’

’If Liang Jinglue died, the Demon Court’s power would be weakened by at least thirty percent, maybe even more!’

"He won’t go in person, but having his name there is the same."

Lu Mingyang said.

"Whatever."

Su Mu shook his head and said, "Mr. Zhu, since the peace talks are settled, can we prepare to return to Da Xuan?

Everyone is reaching their limit. If we don’t leave soon, I’m afraid something bad will happen."

"Although there are still some details to iron out, the Demon Court will send demons to the border to negotiate with us, so there’s no need to stay here any longer."

Zhu Jiuyuan also knew the gravity of the situation. He spoke slowly, "Mingyang, first thing tomorrow morning, go to the Demon Court’s Ministry of Rites and submit our letter of departure. We will set off for Da Xuan.

This mission has been a great success, and Captain Su’s contribution was paramount.

On behalf of the common people of Da Xuan, I thank you, Captain Su."

The white-haired old man gave Su Mu a deep bow.

Su Mu stepped aside to avoid the bow. "You praise me too much, Mr. Zhu. It was simply my duty, which I could not shirk."