Money Paves the Way to Break Through the Pass

Without incident, the convoy stopped two zhang before the pass. The general atop the walls shouted a warning in the Cham language: the gates were already closed, and anyone who took another step forward would be shot dead by the guards.

Several Cham People guides stepped forward and identified themselves as "law-abiding citizens," then brought out Wusihei, the wealthy Yue merchant from Jiaozhi.

Wusihei cupped his hands in salute and said in Cham, "General Pu, please hear me out. These are gifts the Governor has sent to His Majesty. The carts were laden too heavily and traveled slowly, causing us to miss the hour. Please show us some leniency and let us enter the pass to rest first. Your great kindness shall not go unthanked."

"You delayed yourselves, yet you expect me to make an exception and open the gates for you? Where is the good deal in that? Spend the night outside the pass, and wait until the sun rises tomorrow for inspection before entering." Pu Wang, commander of Hengshan Pass, sneered with disdain. If Wusihei had not been a regular visitor bringing gifts, he likely would not have spared him even a few more words.

A weak nation had no diplomacy. Because the Shi Clan had blindly yielded and sought peace at all costs, they had instead allowed the Linyi Kingdom—a land backward in productivity and founded only thirty years ago—to squat on their heads and shit.

The Cham generals of the Linyi Kingdom already hated Han people. Seeing the Shi Clan bowing and scraping only made them despise them further. As the saying went, the barefoot feared not those in shoes; people from such poor places were instead especially combative.

"General, please show mercy. Wolves, tigers, and leopards often haunt the outside of the pass. This humble