Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 188 The Peace Negotiator

The endless arguments and buck-passing in the Jiankang court could not withstand the growing military pressure from the north bank of the Yangtze River. Under the pressure of spreading panic, soaring prices, and even small groups of defeated soldiers looting and pillaging in the surrounding counties, even the most stubborn advocates of war had to face a harsh reality: without a practical and effective strategy to repel the enemy, the word "war" would be nothing but an empty slogan, ultimately leading to a catastrophic situation of mutual destruction.

Finally, after another exhausting and fruitless court debate that lasted all night, the pro-peace faction, led by Minister Li Gang, and with the covert support of some equally worried members of the imperial family, eunuchs, and powerful clans in Jiangdong, managed to gain the upper hand. Rather than saying they persuaded their opponents, it was more accurate to say that the dire situation forced everyone to temporarily accept "peace negotiations," a seemingly humiliating option that might be the only way to buy themselves some breathing room.

Emperor Xiao Gang, practically supported, affixed his imperial seal with trembling hands to the prepared "Edict for Peace Negotiation." The edict was extremely humble and tactful, stating that "the Northern Dynasty's Star King is valiant and his military might is formidable," while the Southern Dynasty "wishes to restore friendly relations and permanently end hostilities," and dispatched an envoy "with generous gifts to cross the river and request an audience, to personally express sincere intentions." The selection of the envoy was the subject of much debate, ultimately choosing a nearly sixty-year-old, highly experienced, and mild-mannered official known for his eloquence—the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Shen Yue. Shen Yue hailed from the Shen clan of Wuxing, not among the most powerful families, but highly respected among the Jiangnan literati, and with no major direct conflicts of interest with any faction, making him a "peacemaker" acceptable to all sides. The deputy envoys were a member of the imperial clan and a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

When Shen Yue received this hot potato-like mission, he felt only bitterness and sorrow. He knew that this trip was fraught with danger and that the young and ambitious Star King on the north bank, who had won battle after battle, could not be swayed by a few words of humility and generous gifts. But he could not disobey the emperor's orders, and the affairs of the country were difficult. Perhaps, this old man could only try to secure a sliver of hope for Jiangnan in the final moments, or at least... reduce some of the devastation brought by the war.

The envoy delegation was small in size, but it carried an enormous amount of "gifts": five thousand taels of gold, thirty thousand taels of silver, ten bushels of pearls, two thousand bolts of fine Jiangnan silk and brocade, and a large number of paintings, calligraphy, antiques, and other treasures, enough to fill ten large ships. This was barely enough to scrape together by emptying the Southern Dynasty's imperial treasury and part of the national treasury, both to demonstrate "sincerity" and to implicitly express the hope of buying peace with wealth.

In late March, on a misty morning, Shen Yue's envoy fleet, escorted by several warships of the Jiangdong navy, carefully departed from Jiankang Wharf, heading west along the Yangtze River towards the north bank of Puqikou, where the main force of the Xingjun army was located. The journey was slow. Shen Yue stood alone at the bow, watching the familiar scenery on both banks gradually recede into the mist, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The vast Yangtze River, still a formidable barrier, was no longer an insurmountable obstacle. The unfamiliar land on the other side and that unfamiliar ruler would determine the future fate of Jiangnan.

Two days later, the delegation arrived on the south bank of the river opposite the Puqikou. They first sent a small boat carrying a white flag and the envoy's insignia to inform the north bank. The Xingjun Navy's "Jinghai Camp" had already spotted them, but instead of attacking, they guided them to the designated berth and immediately sent a messenger to report to the main camp.

Upon hearing the report, Chen Xing smiled faintly: "They've finally arrived." He did not receive them immediately, but instead ordered that the Jiangnan envoy be placed in a temporarily cleared courtyard by the river, under strict "protection." Food and drink were provided, but the envoy's entourage was restricted from going out. He also instructed Jia Wen to make contact with the envoy first.

That very night, Jia Wen "visited" Shen Yue. Both were wise men of their time. After a conversation that seemed to be polite greetings but was actually full of hidden wit, Jia Wen roughly figured out the current state of panic and the bottom line of the Southern Dynasty court. Shen Yue, on the other hand, also sensed the confident and unquestionable strength of the Xing Kingdom from Jia Wen's seemingly gentle but watertight words.

"Lord Shen, you have come a long way and have had a hard time." Jia Wen stroked his beard and said, "Our Lord Xing Wang has the ambition to rule the world, to relieve the people from their suffering, and to unify the world. Jiangnan is prosperous and its culture is flourishing. It should be a place of peace and happiness, but the court is weak and the powerful clans are fighting amongst themselves, which has led to continuous wars and unrest among the people. Now our royal army has come here not to plunder, but to mourn the people and punish the guilty, and to establish a foundation for lasting peace."

Shen Yue sighed inwardly. The other side had begun with pronouncements of "unifying the world" and "punishing the guilty and humiliating the people," placing them on the moral high ground of justice and legitimacy. Peace negotiations... seemed unlikely. He remained outwardly calm, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect: "What Lord Jia says is the mind of a true king, which I admire. However, the division and unification of the world are predetermined. Although the Southern Dynasty is weak, it still upholds the orthodox Chinese calendar, and its people are content with their customs. King Xing is wise and powerful, having already conquered the North and his influence extends throughout the land. Why not emulate the ancient hegemons, dividing the country along the Yangtze River, each maintaining its own borders, allowing the people of both North and South to recuperate and thrive? Our dynasty is willing to acknowledge King Xing as our elder brother, paying annual tribute of gold and silk, to forge an eternal alliance. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Dividing the country along the Yangtze River and paying tribute was the most "dignified" but also the most costly concession that the Southern Dynasty court and the powerful clans of Jiangdong could think of.

Upon hearing this, Jia Wen chuckled and shook his head: "Shen Gong is mistaken. Although the Yangtze River is wide, it is not the boundary of the king's rule; the people of the north and south are all subjects of our Chinese nation, so why distinguish between them? If we divide the country along the river, the root of war will not be eradicated, and suspicion will arise. How can we know that today's peace will not be tomorrow's war? My lord has always said: 'My ambition is to unify the world and make the distinction between north and south, and between the noble and the lowly, disappear.' This ambition is witnessed by heaven and earth, and cannot be changed by mere gold, silk, or empty fame."

He paused, his tone softening yet sharpening further: "However, our lord is benevolent and, mindful of the innocent people of Jiangnan, is unwilling to wage further war. If the Southern Dynasty's rulers and ministers truly understand the times and obey Heaven's will, they will naturally submit to the king's rule. At that time, not only will the fighting cease, but talented individuals from Jiangnan, like Lord Shen, will also be able to realize their ambitions and contribute to this great undertaking. Wouldn't that be far better than being trapped in a stalemate, living in fear, and wasting the people's hard-earned money?"

These words were blatant attempts to persuade him to surrender, portraying "submission" as a favor and an opportunity. Shen Yue's heart sank; he knew the other side's appetite was enormous, far exceeding mere submission and tribute. He suppressed his emotions and said, "This matter is of great importance, concerning the national dignity and ancestral temples, and cannot be decided by me alone. I implore Lord Jia to inform King Mingxing, allowing me to personally explain our dynasty's sincerity, perhaps... perhaps there is room for negotiation."

"Of course." Jia Wen stood up, his smile unchanged. "Lord Shen, please rest assured. In three days, my lord will receive your esteemed envoy in the central military tent."

After seeing Jia Wen off, Shen Yue sat alone under the lamp, his face ashen. He knew that this peace negotiation was probably doomed to failure from the very beginning. What the other side wanted was not money, nor the title of vassal state, but the entire Jiangnan region! But he bore a mission, and even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to do everything in his power.

Three days later, at the central command tent of the Star Army. Outside the tent, armored soldiers stood in rows, their swords and spears gleaming like snow, exuding a chilling aura. Shen Yue took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and, holding his staff, entered the tent under the guidance of the Star Army's ceremonial officer.

The tent was spacious, its furnishings simple yet imposing. Chen Xing sat upright in the main seat, not wearing a full crown and tassels, but only a black casual robe. Yet, his gaze held an air of dominance over the world. High-ranking civil and military officials, including Jia Wen, Chen Wei, and Dian Xiong, stood on either side.

Shen Yue stepped forward, paid his respects according to etiquette, presented the letter and gift list, and conveyed the Southern Dynasty emperor's intention to "make peace," his words being extremely respectful.

Chen Xing listened quietly, without glancing at the thick gift list. His gaze calmly fell on Shen Yue, and he spoke slowly, his voice low but clear, like the clanging of metal, resounding throughout the tent:

"Your Excellency has traveled a long way and has had a difficult journey. I appreciate the Southern Dynasty Emperor's kind intentions."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning stern, his gaze sharp as lightning:

"However, I lead a million troops, watering our horses on the Yangtze River, with the aim of punishing the wicked and upholding justice, unifying the world, and relieving the suffering of the people! How could I have come for mere gold and silk?"

"The land of Jiangnan, a land of beauty and splendor, originally belonged to the Chinese nation. However, the Liang dynasty was weak and incompetent, with powerful ministers in power and wealthy clans annexing land, causing widespread suffering among the people! I have led my troops south, which is in accordance with Heaven and the people, to relieve the people of Jiangnan from their misery! Should we divide the country along the river? Should we submit to them and pay tribute?"

Chen Xing suddenly stood up, pointed south, and his voice shook the roof tiles:

"My ambition lies in unifying the world! Jiangnan will sooner or later be mine!"

"Your Excellency may return and inform the ruler and ministers of the Southern Dynasty: If you understand the will of Heaven, open the city gates and surrender as soon as possible, so that the people may be spared the ravages of war, and the civil and military officials may each hold their positions in peace. I will treat you with courtesy and be generous in bestowing rewards upon you! If you remain obstinate and wish to rely solely on the Yangtze River to resist stubbornly..."

His gaze swept over the murderous generals in the tent, and he smiled coldly:

"Then my valiant warriors of the Star Kingdom will soon ride the waves across! When that time comes, do not say you were not warned!"

His words were forceful and resolute, completely extinguishing any illusions of "dividing the country along the river" and leaving only two paths: "submission" or "destruction."

Shen Yue shuddered, his face turning deathly pale, his hand holding the staff trembling slightly. He opened his mouth, as if to say something more, but saw Chen Xing already seated, waving his hand and saying:

"see a visitor out."

Jia Wen stepped forward and gestured for the distraught Shen Yue to return, his tone still calm: "Lord Shen, please return. Please consider my lord's words carefully. The well-being of millions of people in Jiangnan rests on the very thought of the Southern Dynasty's ruler and his ministers."