Pine Nuts were piled high, and Mountain Berry Juice was poured to the brim.
Le Luoluo dismissed his attendants and said:
"All right. You've met Liu Cheng. Now you can tell me who we're doing this business with."
Le Luoluo asked despite already knowing the answer.
"Who else? Great Qi, of course."
Wang Yang picked out pine nuts, his expression relaxed and his tone casual. He seemed to be chatting with an old friend, not negotiating at all.
Le Luoluo's gaze turned wary. "You're willing to lift the border restrictions?"
Wang Yang smiled, rubbed the thin skin off a pine nut with his fingertips, and casually tossed it into his mouth.
"How could that be possible? Have you ever seen the Han Court lift its border restrictions for any of the Barbarian Tribes?"
"Then you-"
Wang Yang lifted his wooden bowl. "But it would be different if you submitted to us."
"Impossible!!!"
Le Luoluo slammed his palm onto the wooden table with a bang, fury written across his face!
Pine Nuts scattered across the table, and even the earthenware jar of Mountain Berry Juice was knocked over. The juice streamed over the edge and dripped onto the felt rug, soaking it with dark stains.
He had guessed long ago that the Han Court would not open the border to trade so easily, that it would demand something in return. But he had never imagined its ambitions would be so vast!
Wang Yang remained composed. He unhurriedly gathered his robe out of the way of the juice, still holding his wooden bowl. First he took a leisurely sip, then, under Le Luoluo's almost blazing glare, set the bowl back on the table and said mildly:
"I haven't finished yet. What are you getting worked up for? Besides submitting, you'll have to