“Hmph!”
Li Shanqing snorted coldly, looking at Han Mo with venom in his eyes. But at this moment, he was unable to control his own body.
Amidst the rapid drumbeats, Li Shanqing was drenched in sweat. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t calm himself down.
Han Mo’s series of schemes had placed immense psychological pressure on Li Shanqing.
At this moment, he couldn’t make a move before Han Mo did.
“Dong—dong—dong—”
In the very last instant before the drumbeats stopped, Han Mo struck like lightning. An arrow shot from his hand, piercing the bullseye with precision.
Li Shanqing, with trembling hands, stood frozen in place.
He couldn’t bring himself to release the arrow he held in his hand, no matter what.
“You lost!”
Han Mo smiled, a wide, happy smile.
The entire Qionglin Garden erupted in cheers.
No one had expected that the top scholar of the Great Song would perfectly crush a Jin general in archery, a skill the Jin people were most renowned for!
“I thought these Jin people were invincible. After all that talk, they’re worse than a weak scholar!”
Seeing Li Shanqing’s utter defeat, Tong Guan couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.
This old fool was too useless. Thinking of all the grievances he had suffered these past few days, he now wished he could drag this fellow out and tear him apart.
“Guards, help Lord Li change his clothes!”
Regardless, this old fellow was still a Jin envoy. A drawn-and-quartered punishment was out of the question, but humiliating him at this moment was no more than a minor transgression.
After all, they had a bet beforehand.
With everyone watching, and even the Emperor present, it was impossible for him to go back on his word.
“What are you doing? I warn you, don’t push your luck!”
Li Shanqing’s face turned ashen as he saw the eunuchs approaching with women’s clothing.
For a proud man to wear women’s clothes and dance for these Song people in front of everyone.
If he truly did this, how would he explain himself upon returning to his country?
“What? Do your Jin people not keep their word? We had a bet, Lord Li. You’re not planning to renege, are you?”
Han Mo sneered, stepping forward with a smile.
“You!”
Li Shanqing had been defeated shamefully today, yet to this moment, he hadn’t figured out where he had lost.
“Lord Li, the alliance between our two nations is paramount. If you, as an envoy, go back on your word here, how can we trust your people?”
Liang Shibeng had always been against the joint campaign against Liao. Seeing this old man trying to weasel out of it, he naturally brought up the matter of the alliance between the two nations.
“You have guts!”
Such major matters between nations were not something a mere envoy like him could decide.
Now that the state missive was about to be delivered, and the alliance between the two countries was only one step away, how could he dare to ruin it because of his own actions?
“The men of my Great Song certainly have guts. You don’t need to praise us for that!”
This degree of threat had no effect whatsoever on the thick-skinned Han Mo.
He retorted without even batting an eye.
“Hmph!”
Despite Li Shanqing’s burning shame, he had no choice but to don the specially prepared oversized women’s clothing.
“Hahahaha!”
Moments later, before Li Shanqing had even begun to dance, his very gait had already caused bursts of laughter from the crowd.
Even Cai Jing couldn’t help but roar with laughter. However, after his laughter subsided, his gaze towards Han Mo was now filled with apprehension.
With his experience, he could clearly see that Li Shanqing’s archery skills were probably on par with Han Mo’s. But in terms of cunning, he had lost to Han Mo by a far greater margin.
This was a young man who had just entered the officialdom, yet the depth of his character and his schemes displayed today far exceeded Cai Jing’s imagination.
“Yuanzhang, does he remind you of yourself when you were young?”
After such an incident, the Emperor’s admiration for Han Mo had reached its peak.
Although it was just a casual remark, it made Cai Jing inwardly sigh with a bitter smile.
The Emperor saying this young man was like him in his youth clearly indicated his intention to groom this young man to become prime minister.
“When I was his age, I didn’t have such shrewd calculations!”
Cai Jing replied with a smile.
“Is that so?”
Zhao Ji understood the hidden meaning in his words, but he didn’t dwell on it, as he was still wholeheartedly expecting Han Mo to make him money.
“This sword, it is said, once belonged to the Flying General of the Great Han. Its name is Qingping Sword. I obtained it not long ago, and today, it shall be yours. Henceforth, I permit you to ascend to the court with your sword!”
Regardless, Han Mo’s actions today had greatly boosted the nation’s prestige.
Zhao Ji, as the Emperor, felt honored. Although Cai Jing had warned him that this young man was cunning, he still generously expressed his admiration for Han Mo.
He stood up, took a sword of antique beauty from a nearby eunuch, and handed it to Han Mo.
Han Mo’s lips twitched slightly. The Emperor’s bestowal today was truly perplexing.
He was the top scholar, after all. Why would the Emperor grant him permission to ascend to the court with a sword? Was he planning to switch to a military position?
Don’t be ridiculous. Han Mo quickly dismissed the thought. The Great Song Dynasty valued civil officials over military men; this was universally known.
Although the treatment of military officers was generally a level higher than that of civil officials, the problem was that unless it was absolutely necessary, like in the case of Zhong Shidao, civil officials rarely transferred to military positions.
Even if they had to hold a military post due to special circumstances, the first thing they would do after completing their duties was to transfer back to a civil position.
Han Qi had done this, Fan Zhongyan had done this, and practically more than half of the prominent figures had done so.
With so many precedents, Han Mo, no matter how foolish, would not go against these wise predecessors.
“Top Scholar, you have indeed brought honor to our nation today. This old minister offers you a toast!”
To Han Mo’s surprise, Cai Jing, trembling slightly, stood up at this moment and raised his wine cup in a toast to Han Mo.
“You are too kind, Your Excellency. It is merely a few small tricks!”