The Beginning of the World: Going to the Countryside as an Educated Youth

Chapter 516 Huge Ransom

Qiao Feng nodded with a complicated expression.

Zhao Dongchuan patted Qiao Feng on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Brother, I will talk to you about this later... For now, let's see how to deal with him..."

He pointed at Yelu Hongji who was held in the tent.

Qiao Feng nodded slightly and said no more.

The Jurchen chief and Libu were very delighted after hearing Wanyan Aguda's report.

His own son went out hunting and actually captured a Khitan leader.

Seeing that Yelu Hongji was being held in custody but still looked dignified and would rather die than yield, he knew that this red-faced man must be a Khitan noble.

With a thought in mind, he asked, "What is your name, and what position do you hold in the Liao Kingdom?"

Although Yelu Hongji didn't know why Zhao Dongchuan didn't reveal his identity, he certainly couldn't expose himself, otherwise he might not be able to go back.

Thinking of this, his face straightened and he said loudly: "You didn't capture me... You have no right to ask me..."

He Libu was not annoyed. Both the Khitans and the Jurchens had a convention that any captured enemy would become a trophy belonging to the captor and no one else had the right to dispose of it.

Yelu Hongji walked up to Zhao Dongchuan and Qiao Feng, knelt on one knee, and performed the Khitan salute, "Master, you are a hero of the time, and you are very skilled. I cannot defeat you, so I admit defeat..."

He first praised Zhao Dongchuan and flattered him.

Then he said: "I am willing to offer five hundred taels of gold, five thousand taels of silver... five hundred fine horses... in exchange for my freedom..."

As the emperor of Liao, Yelu Hongji could certainly give more money than this, but he was afraid that too much money would arouse unnecessary suspicion from the Jurchens.

And since Zhao Dongchuan didn't reveal his identity, he offered a compromising price in order to find out more about Zhao Dongchuan's background.

When Yelu Hongji said this, everyone in the tent took a deep breath.

Such a huge ransom was unprecedented in the decades of war between the Khitan and the Jurchen.

Wanyan Aguda's uncle Posula was surprised and said, "You, you know what you are talking about..."

"Hahaha, I mean what I say... My Great Liao Kingdom is the richest in the world, and these few treasures are not worth mentioning..."

Yelu Hongji stood up, looking extremely heroic.

Zhao Dongchuan admired his courage when he saw how calm he was... He smiled slightly, "Okay, if that's the case, then go back... I'll be waiting for you..."

Yelu Hongji's expression froze when he heard this, and he looked at Zhao Dongchuan in disbelief, "Are you really going to let me go back?"

Zhao Dongchuan nodded lightly, and then asked Wanyan Aguda to bring a horse.

Wanyan Aguda was grateful to Zhao Dongchuan for saving his life, so he obediently did as he was told.

An hour later, when Yelu Hongji rode his horse back to the Khitan camp, he still felt like he was in a dream and could not believe that Zhao Dongchuan had actually let him go so easily.

"This person knew my identity and let me go... What exactly is his intention?"

Yelu Hongji pondered for a while, but still could not think of the answer to the question.

"No matter what his intentions are, a man's words are spoken and they cannot be taken back. Since he has fulfilled his promise, I will not break it..."

He immediately arranged for his generals to return to the city and fetch gold, silver, jewelry, horses and other valuables, which were just as much as the amount mentioned before, and sent them all to the Jurchen territory and gave them to Zhao Dongchuan.

……

At this time, in a tent somewhere in the Jurchen territory, Zhao Dongchuan and Qiao Feng were sitting opposite each other, talking about the affairs of the Central Plains.

"Second brother, I know everything you said. All of these were evil things done by the Murong family in order to restore the country... But I really don't know how to deal with myself in the future. I killed countless Khitans before, and the Song people killed my family. Although my father is still alive, he has become a monk..."

Qiao Feng sighed.

"Brother, you don't have to worry too much. It doesn't matter whether they are Han or Khitan people. As long as you have a clear conscience at the time..."

Zhao Dongchuan saw that he could not convince Qiao Feng with just a few words, so he paused and said, "I know a place where people, whether Khitan or Song, can live in harmony and there is no war. Everyone lives and works together, and has no worries about food and clothing. I wonder if Big Brother is willing to settle there?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng was surprised and said, "Second brother, don't lie to me. How can there be such a precious place in this world?"

"Hahaha, big brother, you should know the kind of person my second brother is... He won't talk nonsense about such things..."

Zhao Dongchuan said with a chuckle.

"Also, Brother Qiao's father, Xiao Yuanshan, is also here..."

Qiao Feng's face changed when he heard this, "My father is here too?"

"Not bad!"

.........

Just as the two were talking, there was a loud noise outside the tent!

"Brother Xiao, Brother Han, come and see, the Khitans are here to deliver the ransom!"

Wanyan Aguda rushed in excitedly, with a look of joy on his face.

Zhao Dongchuan smiled and walked outside with Qiao Feng.

However, I saw dozens of Khitans pulling carriages and stopping in front of the camp. At the same time, in the distance, several Khitans who looked like shepherds were driving thousands of cattle, sheep and horses towards this side...

Qiao Feng was also shocked at the moment. He did not expect that the red-faced Khitan man was so trustworthy and really sent such countless gold and silver.

"Brother, with so many treasures, cattle, sheep and food, could the other party be the King of Liao?"

Zhao Dongchuan was also stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect that Qiao Feng actually guessed it.

"Aguda, you can share some of these cattle, sheep and horses. Consider it as a thank you gift for entertaining my elder brother these days!"

He said to Wanyan Aguda who was standing there in a daze.

"Brother Han, no need. You are my savior. I haven't even had the chance to thank you yet..."

Wanyan Aguda's face changed and he spoke righteously.

"If you don't accept it, we can't take it away... How about this, we can exchange... You can exchange ginseng, deer antlers, various medicinal herbs, and fur with me..."

"Yeah, that's a good idea... I'll arrange it right away!"

The Jurchen chief and Libu's eyes lit up when they heard this. Without waiting for Wanyan Aguda to speak, they immediately agreed and arranged for their people to do it.

The Jurchens have been hunting in Changbai Mountain for many years and have collected many rare medicinal herbs such as ginseng, polygonatum, ganoderma lucidum, polygonum multiflorum, etc. Many ginsengs even have human form and are at least several hundred years old, which is more valuable than gold!

The Khitan leader who presented the gift bowed to Zhao Dongchuan and said, "My master specially ordered me to deliver this small gift. Please do not blame me. My master also invites you to visit Shangjing..."

Zhao Dongchuan had secretly been to Shangjing before, and even the imperial palace had been robbed by him, so he naturally would not go there again. He asked them to take their things and sent these Khitans back.

Afterwards, the Jurchens brought a lot of ginseng, deer antlers and other medicinal herbs to exchange with Zhao Dongchuan. The Jurchens were honest and the exchange ratio did not put Zhao Dongchuan at a disadvantage.

It is now the end of winter, and the food from these cattle and sheep can allow them to have a good year. Although ginseng, deer antlers and other medicinal materials are precious, they cannot be eaten as food...

There are also silks, satins, gold and silver objects, which are rare items for the Jurchens.

Zhao Dongchuan was also very happy about this. Although there was a large medicinal field in the Chaos Realm, it had only been planted for a short time, so it was still too early to expect a harvest!

Looking at the boxes of ginseng, deer antlers and polygonatum, he couldn't stop smiling.

These things are really precious. Many of them are the main materials for him to refine Pei Yuan Dan...

When he reaches the third level of Changchun Gong, he won't have to worry about medicinal materials, and can open a furnace to make pills at will...

With the help of the Jurchens, the boxes of medicinal herbs and the remaining gold, silver and jewelry were all piled up in Qiao Feng's accounting office, filling the entire room.

Although Qiao Feng was puzzled, he did not ask any further questions.