Chapter 663: Zhao Pu's Mission to Shu 2

"Who are you?" In the dimly lit room, Zhao Pu frowned slightly, staring at the hostel clerk standing before him with hands clasped: "Who sent you, and what business do you have with me?"

"I am a southwest agent of the Wude Office. Since the Vice Minister is on a diplomatic mission, I have been ordered to cooperate with your work!" The visitor's plain, matter-of-fact reply largely dispelled most of Zhao Pu's doubts.

Still, he did not let down his guard. He sized the man up: a round face, a small mustache, skin that looked very smooth and delicate, and a smile that always carried a spring-breeze warmth.

Zhao Pu said: "How did you sneak into the hostel?"

The agent replied calmly: "Upon learning that the Vice Minister would be arriving, I deliberately secured a position as a hostel clerk and have been waiting here for two days!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu could not help but be surprised: "Has the Wude Office's penetration of Chengdu already become this formidable?"

"I can only say that the mere position of a hostel clerk counts for nothing!" said the agent, his expression and demeanor both conveying that this was hardly a difficult feat.

Somewhat reassured, Zhao Pu nodded. Seeing this, the agent said: "If the Vice Minister has any needs or arrangements in Chengdu, you may give your orders directly—we will cooperate fully!"

"Perfect timing—tell me, what is the current situation in the Chengdu court?" Zhao Pu asked immediately.

The agent answered without hesitation: "Ever since Nanzheng fell, officials and commoners in Chengdu have been terrified, and the entire court has been shaken. The Shu sovereign Meng Chang has held grand court sessions for three consecutive days to discuss military matters, and has transferred three thousand troops from the imperial army guarding the imperial city to the north to reinforce the defenses of Lizhou.

The Shu court's ministers, led by Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Zhaoyuan, say that our army has been worn down by continuous fighting, men weary and horses exhausted, and suggest that the Shu sovereign concentrate his strength and wait until next spring to launch a counteroffensive, catching us off guard and retaking Xingyuan Prefecture.

Chancellor Wu Zhaoyi and Li Hao and others, meanwhile, attack Wang Zhaoyuan for improper deployment and failure to reinforce Hanzhong, which led to the fall of Xingyuan Prefecture. They also firmly oppose continuing military operations—Wu Zhaoyi was the first to propose peace talks!

The two sides argued endlessly, and the Shu sovereign was also hesitant and indecisive. Only upon learning that the Vice Minister was coming on a diplomatic mission did they set the debate aside, but he has never shown any intention of sending troops!"

"Wu Zhaoyi!" Zhao Pu muttered the name, a curve rising at the corner of his mouth: "As you say, the Shu court's sovereign and ministers likely also harbor thoughts of peace!"

"Exactly!" said the agent: "Apparently, recently the Shu sovereign and several ministers have already drafted a peace proposal."

A smile blossomed on his face, and Zhao Pu's eyes gleamed with the light of deep scheming. If Shu had intentions of seeking peace, then he should take the opportunity to secure more benefits for the Great Han.

"What of the people's sentiment in Chengdu?" Zhao Pu asked again.

"Ever since Nanzheng fell, rumors have spread everywhere, and the populace has been greatly disturbed. Several thousand Shu people have fled south to escape the disaster! Over the past month or more, the price of rice in Chengdu has already tripled, now reaching twenty-four wen per dou! To supply the northern defenses, most of Chengdu's granaries have been allocated for military use, while profiteering merchants have seized the chance to hoard goods and speculate.

A month ago, the Shu court increased the grain tax, sharply raised the salt price, and added market and customs taxes. There are also corrupt officials exploiting the situation for personal gain. The common people of Chengdu are suffering beyond words, and many have already fled into the countryside to hide.

The Bureau of Military Affairs has also forcibly conscripted fifty thousand able-bodied young men from various prefectures and counties to train outside Chengdu, to replenish the northern battle losses. Within Chengdu city, public order has deteriorated recently—theft, assault, and brawls occur from time to time, and the authorities repeatedly prohibit them without success..."

"Such chaos seems not to have wounded the fundamentals!" Zhao Pu's expression was relaxed, almost ready to cheer, though his demeanor clearly showed he still felt it was not enough. He was even considering whether ceasing hostilities might give Shu a chance to catch its breath.

"Shu has enjoyed peace for many years, but with twenty years of accumulated reserves, despite considerable losses, its finances and manpower should not be this strained!" Zhao Pu thought for a moment, then asked.

"The Vice Minister may not know—the scholars and people of Shu have indeed enjoyed twenty years of peace, with a wealthy state and prosperous people. But ever since falling out with the Great Han and suffering successive defeats, their losses in troops, horses, money, and grain have been enormous. Especially before the great battle at Qinfeng—starting from the fifth year of Qianyou, over two years, half of the Shu court's money and grain and most of its elite troops were all sent north. Because of the prolonged fighting, the manpower expended numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and in the end they were shattered in a single battle, all perishing in the north.

To this day, great wealth still exists among the Shu people, but most of it is held in the hands of Shu's powerful nobles, officials, local strongmen, and wealthy merchants. These people have grown rich off the national crisis without regard for the people's livelihood or the state's difficulties...

Furthermore, since last year, the Shu sovereign has been building a crystal palace on Moha Pool, using extravagant materials and gathering vast quantities of rare treasures, at enormous expense. Now, it is only the Shu state treasury that is in difficulty!"

"With such a sovereign and such a state of affairs, how could it not perish!" Having heard all this, Zhao Pu nodded, his bright eyes full of mockery.

In fact, what the agent said was not much different from what Zhao Pu had anticipated—merely more detailed.

"Very well, what you have said is extremely valuable, and I am quite satisfied. It is getting late; to avoid drawing attention, you may withdraw now!" With a baseline established in his mind, Zhao Pu said.

"I take my leave!" said the agent.

"By the way, do you know how to contact the people of the Military Intelligence Office?" Just before the man left, Zhao Pu suddenly asked.

At the question, a slight flicker of something unusual passed through the agent's eyes. He turned back, gave a bow, and said flatly: "The Wude Office and the Military Intelligence Office are not subordinate to one another and operate independently. If orders come from above, their people will take the initiative to contact you, Vice Minister!"

Zhao Pu was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly understood. He was a quick-witted man by nature and guessed that there might be some friction between the two offices.

"I take my leave. And as I said—if the Vice Minister has any matters, feel free to arrange them!" Leaving behind these words with neither humility nor arrogance, the agent finally withdrew, even helping to close the door.

Shortly after, a serving maid entered. Seeing Zhao Pu sitting cross-legged in thought, she carefully approached, smoothed the brocade quilt, then removed her clothes, exposing her fair skin and petite figure to the air, before slipping beneath the covers.

After a moment, a soft voice sounded: "My lord, the bed is warm—please come to rest!"

Zhao Pu snapped back to attention, looking at the young lady beneath the brocade quilt on the couch. Her delicate, adorable appearance was pleasing to the heart, and he suddenly felt a surge of desire.

The next day, Zhao Pu, refreshed and in high spirits, swaggered into the palace to see Meng Chang. To show due respect, Meng Chang received him in the main hall of the Shu palace, with all the senior ministers of the Shu court present.

Upon entering the hall, he did not glance sideways—the other Shu ministers seemed beneath his notice entirely—and directly sized up Meng Chang: handsome in appearance, though slightly overweight, with a faint trace of worry lingering in his bearing.

Offering only a simple salute, Zhao Pu, with a solemn expression and a loud voice, addressed Meng Chang seated on the golden throne: "I, Zhao Pu, by order of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han, have come to see the sovereign of Shu!"

From the moment he entered the hall, Zhao Pu had been putting on an arrogant display, and his insolent words and manner had already bred resentment. The chief minister Ouyang Jiong stepped forward and rebuked: "The Han envoy is rude! Why do you not kneel before the Son of Heaven of our Great Shu!"

Without even glancing at Ouyang Jiong, Zhao Pu said flatly: "I am an envoy of the celestial dynasty above—how could I kneel to a lord of a separatist regime!"

At Zhao Pu's words, Ouyang Jiong grew furious and berated him.

Meng Chang, for his part, though his expression and eyes showed displeasure, still held back. He stared coldly at Zhao Pu and said in a deep voice: "No need for such empty words or hollow formalities. The two states of Shu and Han are currently at war—what business does the Han sovereign have in sending you to Chengdu?"

"Since the sovereign is so direct, I shall not be long-winded either. I have heard that Shu intends to cease hostilities and seek peace, so I have come west by my sovereign's command—to see the sincerity of the soldiers and people of the Two Rivers?"

"Arrogant!" Zhao Pu's attitude provoked Wang Zhaoyuan, who stepped forward directly and rebuked: "The Han emperor sits far away in the Eastern Capital—where did he hear such rumors of peace talks? Our court still has a hundred thousand armored soldiers and millions of able-bodied people—why should we fear your Northern Han! If you have the courage, send your horses and attack! To come to Chengdu and engage in such deceptive talk—what delusion!"

Hearing this, Zhao Pu looked at him: "And who might you be?"

"This is the Commissioner of Military Affairs of our Great Shu, Wang Zhaoyuan!" someone volunteered.

"I have long heard of your name!" Zhao Pu smiled: "Versed in the art of war, with extraordinary long-range strategy, planning within the tent and deciding victory a thousand li away—Commissioner Wang's reputation has reached even me in the Eastern Capital. Today I see you in person, and indeed the reputation is well deserved—truly overestimating one's abilities!"

"You!" Zhao Pu's tone remained steadily mocking, and Wang Zhaoyuan's face grew darker and darker with each word. Had they not been in the hall, he would have wanted to strike him directly.

"Your Excellency the envoy, are you not being far too rude!" Meng Chang said coldly, his expression icy.

Seeing this, Zhao Pu finally revealed a warm smile: "For the sake of peace between our two states, I have come a thousand li with a heart full of sincerity. It is only that Commissioner Wang clamors for war and stubbornly insists on battle—quite regrettable!"

Taking a deep breath, Meng Chang waved his hand: "I would like to hear what sincerity the Great Han has to offer!"

At the question, Zhao Pu spoke unhurriedly and at length: "If you wish to cease hostilities—first, there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two masters in a state. Shu must abolish its imperial title and submit as a vassal to the Great Han; second, this war has dragged on long and consumed enormous resources from the Great Han's people—Shu must compensate for military expenses; third, the Shu court must pay tribute to the Great Han each year; fourth, to avoid future disputes, Shu must reduce its military preparations and cede Lizhou and Jiange to the Great Han."