Chapter 664: Zhao Pu's Mission to Shu 3

Heavy, hurried footsteps echoed through the palace corridors—each step carrying a note of pent-up fury and irritation. Behind him followed several ministers of Shu, matching his pace step for step, closely trailing Meng Chang.

He strode straight into the Wenxian Hall, snatched up a jade gui tablet, and hurled it viciously to the ground—shards even splashing onto Wang Zhaoyuan, who stood at the front. Meng Chang's gloomy expression could no longer hold; his handsome face twisted momentarily as he raised a hand and roared in anger: "Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!"

"Your Majesty, calm your wrath!" The assembled ministers all cowered. Chancellor Wu Zhaoyi stepped forward and spoke in a soothing tone.

"How can this wrath be calmed?" Meng Chang whirled to glare at him, fists clenched, suppressing the boiling fury in his chest as he demanded coldly: "You all heard the Northern Han's peace terms in the hall just now—speak, how shall we respond!"

"Your Majesty, of the four articles Zhao Pu proposed, there is clearly not a shred of sincerity for peace! In the main hall of our Shu palace, he was arrogant and presumptuous, slighting our sovereign and ministers—an affront committed first by him!" Wang Zhaoyuan immediately leapt forward, his words fierce: "Your Majesty need not worry overmuch. If the Northern Han wants war, our court can fight them to the very end!"

As Wang Zhaoyuan finished, Chief Minister Li Hao immediately spoke in opposition: "Commissioner Wang's angry words are hardly worth heeding. Zhao Pu's haughty bearing may well be nothing more than posturing and intimidation—not to be taken at face value. Since both states have expressed interest in peace talks, we should calm our minds and discuss the matter coolly!"

"By Chancellor Li's reasoning, are we to accept those absurd, state-humiliating terms from the Northern Han?" Wang Zhaoyuan fixed his gaze on Li Hao, displeasure nearly spilling from his eyes.

Wang Zhaoyuan's indignation was not only over Zhao Pu's mockery and the Northern Han's overbearing terms—it was also that chancellors like Li Hao and Wu Zhaoyi were beginning to raise their heads and dare to oppose him openly.

Back then, Meng Chang had endured fifteen years of patience before finally disposing of the powerful minister Zhang Ye and the autocratic, corrupt former Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Chuhui. Wang Zhaoyuan, as a longtime associate of the emperor, had risen through the post of Communications Commissioner to oversee military affairs, thereafter advancing steadily with his power and position gradually consolidated.

And Wang Zhaoyuan's position as Commissioner of Military Affairs in practice concentrated both military and political authority in one man—the pinnacle of ministerial power—so that even legitimate chancellors like Wu Zhaoyi and Li Hao had to defer to him. In these past years, Wang Zhaoyuan's fame and influence had been utterly unimpeded; otherwise, he would hardly have earned such "regard" from the Northern Han's sovereign and ministers.

However, with repeated defeats in the war against Han, heavy losses of troops, and a greatly weakened state, as the primary person in charge of military affairs, Meng Chang's trust in Wang Zhaoyuan had begun to waver.

After Wang Chuhui, Meng Chang's decision to employ Wang Zhaoyuan rested on several considerations: first, naturally, he was a close associate whose background was known; second, he had grown weary of being constrained by those old ministers and powerful generals, so he promoted a man of shallow seniority to balance the court's forces; third, Wang Zhaoyuan did indeed possess some talent—had he been a complete fool, Meng Chang could not have propped him up even by force.

But no matter how deep the trust, under endless failures it would eventually be worn away. Though still in the position of Commissioner of Military Affairs, Meng Chang's attitude toward him had clearly shifted. Wu, Li, and the others had noticed this, and so began to raise their heads and speak out against him at court; Wang Zhaoyuan had noticed it too, which was why his heart of late was filled with anxiety and impatience.

He dared not complain about Meng Chang, so he could only target chancellors like Li Hao. And now, facing Wang Zhaoyuan's cold, hard stare, Li Hao remained perfectly composed, saying unhurriedly: "Commissioner Wang, do not twist this old man's meaning!"

With that, he bowed to Meng Chang: "Your Majesty, this old minister believes we need not take the Han envoy's proposed peace terms too seriously. Even in marketplace transactions there is haggling and bargaining, let alone matters of such grave national importance. Though our court has suffered setbacks at the borders, we still have the natural defenses of Chuanshu—we are not at the Northern Han's mercy. Even if the Northern Han harbors gluttonous greed, they would not be so foolish as to make such harsh demands; they merely seek to extort advantage from our court through trickery!"

Hearing Li Hao's words, Meng Chang also calmed down and pondered briefly: "Minister Li's meaning—this is negotiable?"

"Exactly! This minister believes that the Northern Han dispatching an envoy proves they too desire peace. Having fought long and hard, and campaigned through winter, the price the Northern Han has paid must be equally severe!" Li Hao said with confidence.

"Your Majesty, since the Northern Han wants peace talks, our court must all the more not show weakness and submit to their extortion!" Seeing Meng Chang nearly persuaded, Wang Zhaoyuan could not hold back and declared loudly: "According to reports from our spies in Hanzhong, the Northern Han's sovereign and ministers are vainglorious and militaristic—in Feng, Cheng, Jie, Xing and elsewhere, the people are seething with resentment and complaints fill the streets. Our Shu people cannot bear the heavy corvée labor and have repeatedly risen up against tyranny.

Heedless of the season, in order to take Xi County and Nanzheng, they have suffered over ten thousand casualties. Now, including Hanzhong itself, there are signs of famine. The Han army numbers no more than twenty thousand, and they must divide their forces to garrison and suppress each county.

Therefore, the Han army has no strength left to march south. Your Majesty must not be intimidated by their empty threats, must not lightly enter negotiations, and certainly must not agree to their unreasonable demands!"

"Commissioner Wang's words see only the present—have you considered the future? We are now in the depths of winter; the Han army is certainly weary and short on supplies. But what of next year? If they rest and regroup for several months or half a year, with the strength of the Han army, how will we resist them then?" Wu Zhaoyi spoke up.

"You are chancellors of the Great Shu—why do you repeatedly praise the enemy and disparage ourselves? Is the Northern Han truly so fearsome to you ministers and high officials?" Wang Zhaoyuan demanded with agitation.

"Commissioner Wang fancies himself versed in military strategy, boasts of statesmanship, and holds command of military affairs—so why do you lose battle after battle? Had you been able to repel the enemy beyond our borders, would we be playing along with the Northern Han?" Li Hao glanced at Wang Zhaoyuan and rebutted calmly: "I said long ago that the Northern Han rose to power in the Central Plains with strong troops and sturdy horses—not something our court can contend with.

We should have sent envoys to restore good relations. But Commissioner Wang insisted on emulating the Marquis of Wu, repeatedly launching northern expeditions, provoking the mighty Han and bringing about this calamity of northern troops. Now, with armies lost and cities fallen, a Han envoy comes west—what price must we pay before the two states can return to amity?"

"Enough bickering!" Seeing the dispute threatening to escalate, Meng Chang immediately barked a reprimand and said sternly: "The past cannot be undone. I summoned you only to hear your genuine insights and useful strategies for the peace talks—not to listen to you quarrel!"

"Your Majesty, according to what this minister has learned, the Han envoy Zhao Pu has come bearing full authority from the Han emperor. This minister observes that Zhao Pu is a man greedy for wealth and fond of women—if we can bribe him, we may yet secure a treaty acceptable to both sides!" Wu Zhaoyi volunteered.

Hearing this, Meng Chang's brow first furrowed, then after a moment's deliberation gradually relaxed. He swept his gaze over Wu Zhaoyi and Li Hao and instructed: "Minister Wu, Minister Li—you two shall go and speak with that Zhao Pu!"

"As Your Majesty commands!" The two answered in unison as the emperor settled the matter.

While the Shu sovereign and his ministers were furiously debating the "Zhao Pu Four Articles," the Han envoy, having left the Shu palace, adopted a leisurely mood and began touring the city of Chengdu.

Ten thousand households clustered like clouds, a hundred goods flowing like rivers—having experienced it firsthand, Chengdu's prosperity somewhat exceeded Zhao Pu's imagination. Of course, the streets did carry some disorder as well. Zhao Pu walked and observed, carefully taking in every blade of grass, every brick and tile of Chengdu, listening to the street gossip—this was what they called gauging the people's mood; from it one could always glimpse signs of rise and decline.

He wandered all the way to the Hejiang Pavilion outside the southeast of Chengdu's outer wall. Gazing into the distance, the Qingyuan and Jian rivers embraced the city on both sides, light boats and merchant vessels plying their waters—still a scene of bustling activity.

"Looking across the world, there are truly few cities that can compare with Chengdu!" Standing in the pavilion, Zhao Pu sighed long: "This place must hold half of Shu's wealth. When Shu is conquered in the future, I must warn the soldiers to do their utmost to preserve the city..."

"Vice Minister, the Wude Office has sent a secret letter." It was not until evening that he returned to the guest residence. He Jiyun, the guard officer of the envoy delegation, stepped forward, interrupting Zhao Pu's musings, and handed him a wax pellet.

Zhao Pu snapped back to attention, took it discreetly, crushed it open, and extracted a slip of paper to read. His eyes swept over it a few times, and a slight smile appeared.

He Jiyun, seeing this from the side, could not help but ask curiously: "Vice Minister, would it be convenient to share what has happened?"

Zhao Pu chuckled lightly: "The Shu sovereign Meng Chang is furious over the four peace articles I proposed today!"

"Vice Minister, forgive this officer for speaking out of turn. The four articles you proposed were indeed somewhat harsh. Putting myself in his shoes, the Shu sovereign would hardly agree—no wonder he is angry. Will this affect the outcome of the peace talks?" He Jiyun said in a low voice.

"I never expected that General He, a stalwart military man, would have such insight!" Zhao Pu smiled at his words: "Rest assured! The angrier the Shu sovereign is, the more it proves he desires peace and an end to hostilities. Otherwise, given my conduct in the hall today, it would hardly be surprising if he expelled us—or even took my head!"

Shortly thereafter, apparently having received word that Zhao Pu had returned to the guest residence, Zhao Pu received an invitation—Chancellor Li Hao was hosting a banquet in his mansion to entertain him.

"Get ready—we'll go to his residence together and discuss business..." Zhao Pu said with confidence.