Chapter 504: Cede Territory, Acknowledge Suzerainty, Pay Tribute

The next day, near noon, the Tang envoys Zhong Mo and Li Deming were finally brought before Liu Chengyou. Both were neatly dressed in caps and belts, though their faces were pale.

The Husheng Army had been ordered to perform a martial display, clearly having grasped Liu Chengyou's intent. Generals Li Chongjin and Wang Yansheng, besides their regular drills, had also brought over a dozen death-row prisoners from the Hefei prison, dressed them in Tang army uniforms, and killed them before Zhong and Li's eyes. It wasn't that they had never seen men killed, but facing such brutal and cruel conduct by the Han army still frightened both of them.

"Your subjects Zhong Mo (Li Deming) pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han!" Facing the Son of Heaven seated behind the desk, the two immediately knelt and paid homage.

Zhong Mo fared somewhat better, while Li Deming's face still bore traces of fear. A sharp gaze swept quickly over both of them. Liu Chengyou looked at Zhong Mo and said, "Vice Minister Zhong, we meet again!"

"To behold Your Majesty's countenance is this foreign minister's honor!" Though the words were flattering, Zhong Mo's tone was neither servile nor overbearing.

Liu Chengyou could sense that Zhong Mo was not nearly as intimidated as he had imagined. He turned his gaze to Li Deming: "So you are Vice Minister Li?"

Li Deming raised his head to glance at Liu Chengyou, then quickly lowered it again: "This humble subject is indeed he."

"From the martial display you just witnessed, how does our Great Han's army appear?" Liu Chengyou asked lightly.

Li Deming answered without hesitation: "The soldiers are stalwart, the arms and armor excellent—truly the mightiest army under heaven!"

"Hahaha..." Liu Chengyou laughed openly, seemingly quite pleased with the answer.

"Speak, then!" The smile vanished. Liu Chengyou appeared unwilling to play games any longer, waving his hand directly: "What plans does Li Jing have in sending you two north?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subjects have come by order, hoping that the great state will withdraw its armies and cease hostilities. If so, our lord is willing to acknowledge the Great Han as suzerain and pay tribute, and further cede the six prefectures of Guang, Shou, Hao, Si, Chu, and Hai!" Zhong Mo clasped his hands. Unlike Sun Sheng, who would still haggle, he laid all his cards on the table at once.

"Ha!" Liu Chengyou let out a sneer and said coldly: "The six prefectures you speak of have already all submitted to the Great Han and are prefectures and counties under Our rule. You seek to bribe Us with Han territory, to be generous with what is Ours—what exactly is your intention?"

The Han Emperor's words were nothing but bandit logic; his greedy countenance was laid bare before the two ministers. Zhong Mo's face twitched slightly, his mood darkening. Clearly, Liu Chengyou was not satisfied with Li Jing's terms.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou suddenly changed his expression, glaring fiercely at the two and speaking in a harsh tone: "First Sun Sheng, then you two—coming north one after another to fool Us. Do you take Us for easy prey? Guards! Drag these two out of the prefectural office and behead them as a public example!"

The Son of Heaven's order fell, and immediately four guards entered, seized Zhong and Li, and began dragging them out of the hall. The sudden turn of events left the two completely unable to react. Seeing the Han Emperor's demeanor, which showed no sign of pretense, and his killing intent so heavy, they immediately panicked.

Zhong Mo struggled and shouted: "When two states are at war, envoys are not executed!"

Li Deming, meanwhile, directly begged for mercy, crying out piteously, his legs dragging on the ground and flailing about, nearly shaking off his boots.

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your subject has something to say, your subject has something to say!" Li Deming's cries were torn and almost shrill.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou waved his hand to have the guards release the two. Li Fang, who had been waiting at the side, closed his mouth, having prepared to offer remonstrance. Liu Chengyou's gaze was cold, his manner impatient, and he said in a frigid voice: "What more do you have to say? I have no leisure to listen to your deceptive prattle here!"

This time, the two knelt directly before the imperial presence. Zhong Mo's expression was taut, his face unnaturally pale. Li Deming then prostrated himself and said: "Our lord was unaware of Your Majesty's might and the Han army's strength. I only beg Your Majesty to grant your subject a reprieve of two or three days. I wish to return to Jinling and request that the lands of Huainan be offered to Your Majesty!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou's expression finally softened. Looking at this Li Deming—now this was a man who knew which way the wind blew. He pondered for a moment, staring at the man until his heart raced with anxiety and cold sweat broke out, then said in a low, measured voice: "Since that is so, I will give you a chance and spare your life for now!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Deming said immediately.

Liu Chengyou pointed toward the south and said: "Go back and tell Li Jing that what I seek is not much—cede territory, acknowledge suzerainty, and pay tribute! At this moment, my Han armies are sweeping through the prefectures of Huainan. His time is running out. Once I have taken it all, Huainan alone will not be enough to make me halt my armies! Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Li Deming said: "Your subject understands!"

"Send men to escort them back!" Liu Chengyou ordered.

After the two Tang envoys departed, Liu Chengyou once again masked all expression from his face, appearing numb as usual, while his mind was exceptionally active.

"Your Majesty!" Li Fang placed several compiled memorials on the desk and asked softly: "If you intimidate the false Tang so severely, pressing them too hard, I fear it may backfire and stiffen their resolve to resist!"

"Your concern is well taken!" Liu Chengyou said: "However, once a man's will has relaxed, it is not so easy to regain his spirit. More importantly, I cannot let Li Jing and his ministers see through my intentions. The more urgently we invade, the harder we press—this is to deepen their deliberations. Even if it backfires, I would merely shift from swift conquest to slow scheming."

After thinking for a moment, Liu Chengyou continued: "Draft an edict to all armies: intensify the offensive, continue eliminating the false Tang's garrison strongholds along the river, and drive the Tang army into the river. Peace—by all means, let us discuss it. War—by all means, let us fight it!"

As for the Tang envoys, their treatment appeared rather decent. Escorted by the Han Emperor's Inner Palace guards, they were brought to the ferry landing, boarded the ship, weighed anchor, and set sail southward.

Inside the cabin, Zhong and Li sat facing each other. Neither was in good condition; their faces were as heavy as water, and no one spoke. The atmosphere was stiflingly dull. After a long while, Zhong Mo finally spoke: "Vice Minister Li, do you truly intend to return to Jinling and request His Majesty to offer Huainan?"

"What else is there to do?" Li Deming lifted his eyelids and said to Zhong Mo: "You have seen how brutal the Han army is—killing at the slightest provocation, savage and merciless. The Han Emperor's greed cannot be satisfied by petty gains. If we do not offer up all of Huainan, how can we end the fighting and dispel the calamity of war?"

Hearing this, Zhong Mo's face showed dismay: "If we propose this, how will we stand in the court in the future, how will we face the elders of Jianghuai? In the annals of history, it will leave a mark—pointed at by a thousand fingers, our infamy laid bare!"

"If Vice Minister Zhong fears criticism, then upon returning to court, I alone will present the proposal. You may remain silent and stay out of it!" Li Deming said flatly.

Seeing his attitude, Zhong Mo fell silent and said no more.

In truth, Li Deming had no other choice. Recalling it, his conduct before the Han Emperor had been utterly disgraceful. Especially when, to save his own life, he had volunteered to persuade the offering of Huainan—once those words left his mouth, there was no turning back.

On the other hand, he had also perceived that although this proposal was detrimental to the Tang and unfavorable to Jianghuai, it would be a great service to the Northern Han. If one day the Northern Han could destroy the Southern Tang, with this merit, he could secure a place in the Northern Han court.

This campaign of the Northern Han against the Tang, with the progress of the war, had drawn the attention of the whole world. Many had come to realize that this age of chaos and strife was nearing its end. Given the Northern Han's flourishing development, barring any major mishap, the realm's reunification was merely a matter of time.

In the eyes of ordinary people, the Northern Han's campaign against the Tang was merely greed for the wealth of Jianghuai. But in the eyes of the discerning, this was the prelude to unifying the realm. And Li Deming was clearly one of those discerning men.

When Zhong and Li returned to Jinling and reported on their mission, sure enough, it immediately provoked Li Jing's fury, and he was greatly displeased with both of them.

"Bandit! Ruffian! Brute!" In the inner hall, Li Jing's hands trembled with rage, nearly overturning the imperial desk. He roared: "I have sent envoys time and again to plead with him, already lowering myself in humiliation. Six vast prefectures still cannot satisfy his ambition—now he covets my entire Huainan! This is too great an insult!"

"If the Northern Han wants war, I will give him war! To humiliate the state to this degree, to humiliate me to this degree—I will not bow my head to that whelp again!" Li Jing waved his arm vigorously, shouting loudly.

Sometimes, the louder one shouts, the more it reveals one's inner emptiness—merely impotent rage. Li Deming and Zhong Mo knelt before the imperial presence. After he had vented, Li Deming finally reported in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the six prefectures along the Huai River are now entirely in Han army control. Most of Chu and Yang are likewise lost, and Huang, Shu, He, and Tai are under attack. Six prefectures alone truly cannot satisfy his ambition!"

"Then must my Great Tang simply let him take whatever he wants?" Li Jing glared at Li Deming.

Li Deming said: "At present, the Northern Han has over a hundred thousand troops attacking our river defenses. I went north and observed the Han army's strength—unmatched under heaven. Our court has suffered successive defeats; how can the Prince of Qi's motley force of under a hundred thousand possibly hold them back? If Your Majesty, out of pride, rejects the peace talks and contends with him, and if the Han Emperor is thoroughly provoked into crossing the river and attacking south, how will Your Majesty withstand it? Once the river defenses are lost, regret will be too late!"

Hearing Li Deming's words, Li Jing's angry expression eased somewhat, revealing a hint of fear. Realizing that scenario, he could not help shuddering twice.

But clearly, he was still unwilling, his eyes showing dejection: "Is there truly no other way?"

"Your Majesty, the Northern Han's attacks on the lands north of the river grow ever more urgent. If you do not decide soon and induce their withdrawal, once Huainan is entirely lost, I fear even the fourteen prefectures will not satisfy the Han Emperor's greed and brutality!" Li Deming sighed mournfully.

To accomplish his mission, Li Deming was throwing caution to the wind, every word displaying the style of a "surrenderist."

But Li Jing still hesitated. The difference between the six prefectures north of the Huai and the fourteen prefectures north of the river was by no means trivial. At this moment, assistance arrived—Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Li Zhenggu came to report: "Tai, He, and Shu prefectures have all surrendered to the Han army!"

Hearing this, Li Jing appeared to have no more illusions. He waved his hand dejectedly, his voice choked: "Enough. I am willing to offer all of Huainan! Acknowledge suzerainty and pay tribute, to drive back the Han troops!"