Chapter 505: The Treaty That Doomed the State

"What!" Li Zhenggu's face changed at these words, so startled he cried out involuntarily, and asked Li Jing in disbelief: "What did Your Majesty say?"

"Other than this, there is no other way to make the Han army cease hostilities and withdraw north!" Li Jing's face was taut, his knuckles white from clenching, his expression full of humiliation.

"Your Majesty must not!" Li Zhenggu immediately prostrated himself and said urgently: "Huainan is half the state, like a man's two feet — if one is lost, how can the Great Tang stand in the world? If the north of the Yangtze is lost, how can Jiangnan be defended!"

"If we do not cede the north of the Yangtze, the Han army will not relent, and I fear even Jiangnan will be hard to preserve!" Li Deming rebutted from the side.

Hearing this, Li Zhenggu immediately turned his head and berated: "It must be you, treacherous villain, who has fed such slander to Your Majesty. What benefits did the Han emperor promise you, that you dare to propose such a state-selling scheme?"

Being berated to his face like this by Li Zhenggu, Li Deming could hardly bear it. In the Tang court, he had long been squeezed out by the Song Qiqiu–Li Zhenggu clique, and he too replied in a blaze of anger: "How dare a common fellow insult me! I merely presented the Han emperor's wishes to Your Majesty — how is that selling out the state?

It is you people who fail to grasp the larger picture, ignore the greater interest, overreach yourselves, and prattle about military affairs! If not for you, how could the Great Tang have suffered defeat after defeat, to come to this perilous pass? Do you truly want to bring the Great Tang to ruin before you are satisfied?"

"Treacherous minister! Treacherous villain! Treacherous sycophant! Treacherous schemer!" Li Zhenggu rose directly, rolling up his sleeves as if about to resort to blows, and continued to rain down four consecutive curses: "You commit foul deeds, and still dare to speak grandly in the great hall, before the Son of Heaven!"

"You court jester, slandering me like this — I will not let the matter rest!" Li Deming shot back.

"Both of you, silence!" Li Jing, irritated by their quarrelling, could not help but shout to stop them.

The argument in the hall ceased abruptly, falling suddenly so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard. Sinking dejectedly behind the imperial desk, Li Jing looked at Zhong Mo and Li Deming: "You two, go to the north of the Yangtze once more, and discuss peace terms with the Han emperor. Tell the Han emperor that I agree to cede Huainan, and ask the Han army to suspend hostilities for now! As for the matter of acknowledging vassalage and paying tribute, a separate memorial will be drawn up!"

"Your servant obeys!" Li Deming said immediately.

"Your Majesty, please think thrice!" Li Zhenggu urged again.

"Think again, think thrice — can that drive back the Han army? Can you recover the cities and lands seized by the Northern Han?" Li Jing countered, rendering Li Zhenggu speechless. In his heart, Li Jing truly did not want to hear any more reports of defeat; since the beginning of spring, the Huainan campaign had already frayed his nerves.

After withdrawing from the hall, Li Zhenggu hurriedly separated himself from Li Deming, caught up with Zhong Mo, and asked: "Vice Minister Zhong, when you two went north to meet the Han emperor face to face, what exactly happened? You were the chief envoy — how did you let that Li Deming work his wicked schemes?"

Meeting Li Zhenggu's piercing gaze, Zhong Mo merely shook his head slightly and sighed: "Things have come to this; saying more is useless. Does Lord Li think the Han army will withdraw so easily?"

"But even so, we cannot cede all of Huainan!" Li Zhenggu said sternly.

In the hall just now, Zhong Mo had not said much, letting Li Deming take the lead and letting the two Lis quarrel, intending to downplay his own weight and role in these peace negotiations as much as possible. Now, facing Li Zhenggu, he likewise did not intend to say much, only putting on a dejected and powerless air as he slowly walked out of the palace.

Li Zhenggu naturally would not let the matter rest, and immediately left the palace to seek out Song Qiqiu. And the news that the Tang sovereign intended to cede all of Huainan in exchange for peace spread like a gale through the Southern Tang court and countryside, immediately stirring up an uproar.

Previously, ceding merely the six prefectures north of the Huai had already provoked criticism, let alone this time. Especially after Zhong and Li set out once again, the civil and military officials of the Southern Tang, in a surge of fervour, submitted joint memorials, wishing to ask Li Jing to abandon that state-ruining proposal.

Of course, it was not that these court officials were truly so loyal to the Southern Tang, or harboured excessive hatred for the Han army. It was simply that the Huaiyang region held too much profit — especially the salt revenue. How could these vested interests watch it be swallowed up by the Northern Han?

But no matter how loudly they clamoured, Li Jing answered them with a single sentence: if they could drive back the Han army, the negotiations would be dropped. Among the court officials, only Han Xizai and a small number of men of insight could be called impassioned, even sorrowful.

Han Xizai submitted a memorial to Li Jing, hoping he could hold on for a while longer. It was the farming season, and the Northern Han army had been in the field for a long time — they could not possibly remain in Huainan for long. The longer the delay, the more things would change; he begged Li Jing to suspend the peace negotiations for the time being and watch for the right moment.

Unfortunately, although Han Xizai had foresight, he could not overcome Li Jing's desire to end the war. Moreover, having heard similar words too many times, Li Jing found them tiresome. Thus, he gave Han Xizai's proposal no consideration at all. In fact, fearing that Han Xizai might act rashly, he directly sent an imperial physician to his residence to "treat his illness," keeping him resting quietly at home.

As for Song Qiqiu, he merely sighed in disappointment at his residence: "The late emperor built this foundation through hardship and toil, rising before dawn and eating late — and now it crumbles to ruin here. I only pray that before this old man enters his grave, I do not witness the state's downfall."

Luzhou, Hefei.

Setting aside the surging public sentiment in the Southern Tang, upon learning that the two envoys were coming again, the Han Son of Heaven Liu Chengyou's attitude was much better this time. Not only did he have Wang Pu, the Fiscal Commissioner who happened to be at the field headquarters, lead guards to welcome them, he also received them at the earliest opportunity. This display made Li Deming feel rather flattered.

"What good news has Lord Li brought me this time?" Liu Chengyou pretended not to know, even changing his address to a respectful form.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, through your servant's persuasion, my sovereign has agreed to cede territory, acknowledge vassalage, and pay tribute!" Li Deming reported to Liu Chengyou as if currying favour, presenting Li Jing's letter.

Taking it and reading it, a smile bloomed on Liu Chengyou's face. Looking at Li Deming, Liu Chengyou said: "Lord Li has not disappointed my expectations! You have rendered great merit to the Great Han, and I shall not forget it!"

Li Deming hurriedly said: "Your servant only hopes that the two states can soon lay down arms and restore peace! My sovereign asks Your Majesty: could there be a temporary ceasefire, as a token of our intent to make peace?"

"Certainly!" Liu Chengyou immediately instructed Zhang Yisu, the staff officer attending before him: "Draft an edict at once, to be sent to all the armies in Huainan — suspend attacks, rest in place, and await the outcome of the peace talks!"

"Yes!"

For Liu Chengyou, rest was probably the main purpose. After all, in the nearly ten days since taking Shouchun and driving south in force, the various Han armies had advanced with astonishing speed, but the soldiers up and down the ranks could not help but be weary. On the other hand, everything has its measure — in such circumstances, he could change tactics, alternating tension and relaxation, giving Li Jing hope.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's consideration!" Li Deming said.

"As for the details of the peace agreement, let Wang Pu, Minister of Works of our court and Fiscal Commissioner for Land and Water, discuss them with you two!" Liu Chengyou said, giving Wang Pu a wink.

Seeing this, Wang Pu immediately responded: "Your servant obeys!"

Wang Pu's efficiency was quite high. A little later, he came to report back, carrying a bound booklet, and stood respectfully before the emperor, reading aloud: "After discussion with them, the preliminary peace terms are as follows: First, the Southern Tang cedes the fourteen prefectures north of the Yangtze — Shou, Hao, Si, Chu, Guang, Hai, Chu, He, Yang, Tai, Lu, Shu, Huang, and Qi — to the Great Han;

Second, Li Jing abandons the imperial title and acknowledges vassalage, changing his title to 'Sovereign of Tang,' abolishing all imperial regalia, ceremonial, and vestment usages that overstep his station, and adopting the Qianyou calendar;

Third, between Han and Tang, the Yangtze shall be the boundary, with neither side encroaching on the other. Each year, tribute shall be sent to the Eastern Capital: two thousand jin of gold, one hundred thousand min of silver, one hundred fifty thousand strings of cash, five hundred thousand jin of tea, and one hundred thousand dan of grain.

All of these, I beg Your Majesty to review."

"Were all these proposed by our side?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"The first clause was naturally a consensus of both sides. If Li Jing acknowledges vassalage, the second clause is a necessity — there can only be one Son of Heaven in the world, and that is the Son of Heaven of our Great Han of the Central Plains. All other regional separatists who presumptuously claim the imperial title must be eliminated one by one. The tribute list was drafted by the false Tang, and your servant increased the amounts!" Wang Pu answered steadily.

Nodding in approval of his work, Liu Chengyou gave his instruction: "Let it be so for now. Have the agreed terms drawn up as a state document, and let Li Deming carry it back to Jinling!"

"Send only Li Deming? Zhong Mo is the chief envoy after all!" Wang Pu found it somewhat strange.

Liu Chengyou said calmly: "I know. But observing Zhong and Li, Zhong Mo is full of doubts and indecision — if we send him back, I fear complications may arise. The court in Jinling is already seething over this peace agreement; once this document is brought back, it will likely be even more of an uproar. Let Li Deming run errands for our court!"

"Your Majesty's foresight is thorough!" Wang Pu nodded.

"As for Zhong Mo, let him keep Sun Sheng company for a while — playing chess, chatting, composing verses, enjoying the breeze and the moon. Would that not be pleasant?" Liu Chengyou instructed Li Fang, feeling not the slightest qualm about detaining an envoy by force. What could he do? He was the one with the bigger fist.

After making these arrangements, Liu Chengyou turned his gaze to Wang Pu. Observing his bearing, he was clearly much older than the previous year — his hair bun had gained several streaks of grey, and weariness was hard to conceal between his brows.

Liu Chengyou could not help but draw in a breath, and unexpectedly spoke with rare emotion: "Minister Wang, you have worked hard!"

Though the words were brief, they carried noticeably more sincerity.

In the course of the Northern Han's southern campaign, the Eastern Capital served as the main base, the Su and Ying regions as transit points, and Wang Pu was the man responsible for the middle link, doing the complicated and burdensome work.

The supply of grain and military equipment for over a hundred thousand soldiers and civilians in Huainan was his responsibility — coordinating and dispatching nearly a hundred thousand conscripted labourers, raising provisions and pay on the spot, pacifying and comforting the people, and even overseeing the defence of Suzhou.

That the Son of Heaven could lead the army in the south without worry over grain and equipment — the Eastern Capital deserved five parts of the credit, and Wang Pu alone deserved the other five. From what Liu Chengyou had heard, Wang Pu often braved frost and cold, working day and night without pause on official business.

"You are devoted to your duties, but you must also take care of your health — do not overwork yourself!" Liu Chengyou urged: "You are only forty-six, yet half your hair is already grey. I cannot bear to see it!"

"Your servant is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's concern!" Wang Pu made a respectful bow and replied calmly: "Your Majesty follows Heaven's mandate, seeking to unify the realm and achieve peace. Your servant is but a common soldier under Your Majesty's command — to devote my heart, exert my strength, and render service to the state is satisfaction enough. How could I speak of hardship!"

"Minister Wang is truly a pillar of the state!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh in admiration.

"Zhang Dejun!" Liu Chengyou suddenly called out.

"This humble one is here!" Zhang Dejun, who had been immersed in this moment of sovereign-minister camaraderie, gave a start and hurriedly responded.

Liu Chengyou instructed: "Find an imperial physician to take Minister Wang's pulse and check his health. Also, find some of the imperial medicines and tonics and bestow them upon Minister Wang!"

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" At this, even Wang Pu could not help but feel moved.