Chapter 665: Peace Accord Reached

"Such a humiliating peace treaty, and they actually dare to sign it! Can a mere piece of paper really stop the swords and halt the war, bringing eternal peace? The Northern Han's ambition to swallow the world is known even to children, yet all the ministers at court remain oblivious?

Just wait—within a few years, those who advocate peace today will surely regret it beyond measure! The tribute money and grain they send will be used by the Han army to attack our passes and cities, to kill our soldiers and people!" Wang Zhaoyuan cursed as he strode out of the palace, his face full of indignation, rarely so uncomposed.

Above the palace, the sky was bleak and overcast, much like Wang Zhaoyuan's foul mood at the moment—all gloom and shadow. He took a deep breath and slammed his fist: "Alas!"

"Commissioner, please watch your words!" the Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs following behind him cautioned.

"If they dare do it, why should they fear being spoken of?" Wang Zhaoyuan retorted indignantly. At this moment, Wang Zhaoyuan felt a sense of "all the world is drunk while I alone am sober," his heart filled with a feeling of powerlessness.

"Commissioner Wang, His Majesty is hosting a banquet for the Han envoys and requests your presence!" A palace eunuch hurried up to Wang Zhaoyuan and announced.

Stopping in his tracks, Wang Zhaoyuan turned his head and stared at the eunuch with a hard expression, saying: "Please convey to His Majesty that your servant feels slightly unwell and needs to return home to recuperate. I am not fit to attend the state banquet, and I beg His Majesty's forgiveness!"

After two days of negotiations, the Han and Shu finally reached an agreement on peace talks. Moreover, after that night's banquet at Chancellor Li Hao's residence, the Han envoys' attitude had clearly softened, becoming much more gentle and reasonable.

In order to restore peace to the soldiers and civilians of both nations and to maintain lasting friendship, the two sides concluded a treaty of alliance, laying down arms and making peace. The specific terms were naturally revised on the basis of Zhao Pu's four conditions.

First, Shu must abandon its imperial title, style itself the Shu sovereign, and become a vassal of the Great Han.

Second, starting from next year, Shu shall annually present to the Great Han one thousand bolts of brocade, two thousand bolts of silk, one hundred thousand dan of rice, fifty thousand jin of wine, and one hundred thousand jin of tea.

Third, Shu shall reduce its garrison at Lizhou to no more than five thousand troops; correspondingly, the Great Han's garrison at Xingyuan Prefecture shall not exceed ten thousand.

Fourth, the two nations shall open border markets to strengthen trade between their peoples.

As for territorial demands on Shu, Zhao Pu simply abandoned them—especially Lizhou and Jianmen, which were simply non-negotiable. Originally, Meng Chang and his ministers had wanted to spend more wealth to buy back Hanzhong, but Zhao Pu flatly refused. To avoid him opening his mouth even wider, the Shu sovereign and his ministers ultimately swallowed their pride and accepted. Of course, they largely understood that trying to recover lost territory through negotiation was nothing but wishful thinking.

As for Meng Chang's wish to retain his imperial title and become a brother nation with the Great Han, Zhao Pu was unmoved by either soft or hard approaches and would not agree. It was ultimately decided to follow the Jinling model—nominal vassalage on the surface, while behind closed doors he could still play at being emperor.

Zhao Pu also proposed that Meng Chang send one of his sons to Kaifeng as a hostage, but Meng Chang refused on the grounds that his sons were still young and it would be inconvenient for them to travel far. However, he did agree that after two years, once the Prince of Qin, Meng Xuanzhe, reached the age of twenty, he would go to the Eastern Capital. Zhao Pu did not mind—after all, this was merely his improvisation; and as for two years later, perhaps Meng Xuanzhe would no longer need to go as a hostage, but rather the whole Meng Chang family would be packed up and sent to the Eastern Capital together.

Meng Chang also proposed spending money to ransom the captured Shu soldiers, hoping to let them return home and reunite with their families. On this matter, Zhao Pu left not even a sliver of room for negotiation. Those prisoners were considerable in number, and the Emperor already had plans for them. If he dared to make his own decisions on this matter, returning to Kaifeng would likely mean facing charges—Zhao Pu was well aware of this.

Overall, the treaty between Han and Shu was far more lenient compared to the earlier Han–Tang peace agreement. Against the Southern Tang, that had been sucking blood and marrow. Although Shu had lost Qin, Feng, and Hanzhong, it had only lost its hopes of expanding northward; south of Hanzhong, there were still mountains and rivers as natural defenses. As for the Southern Tang, with the Yangtze stretching two thousand li and all of Jiangbei lost, how could it speak of natural defenses?

Therefore, regarding the final peace agreement, the Shu sovereign and his ministers were actually quite satisfied, even feeling that Zhao Pu had been too "merciful." The only truly substantial burden was the annual tribute, and for Shu, that was hardly worth mentioning.

The only one who expressed dissatisfaction was Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Zhaoyuan. In his view, there was simply no need to sue for peace and pay such a heavy price. The Han army couldn't cross over right now, but in the future, once the Han army was fully prepared, would they care about a piece of paper?

At the same time, a group of Shu generals defending the passes in the north, led by Zhao Chongtao and Han Baozhen, also opposed the peace talks. But as defeated generals, they had little say in the matter.

"He really said that?" Learning of Wang Zhaoyuan's reply, Meng Chang was somewhat surprised.

"Your Majesty, this humble servant would not dare spread falsehoods—these are Commissioner Wang's exact words!" the eunuch answered carefully.

Upon hearing this, Meng Chang's gaze slowly turned cold and heavy as he murmured: "He has grown so arrogant and insolent, daring to defy me so openly? Has he forgotten who it was that raised him up?"

"What else did he say?" Meng Chang asked again.

"This humble servant also heard..." Seeing Meng Chang's displeased expression, the eunuch dared not delay and eagerly recounted the remarks Wang Zhaoyuan had made as he left the palace.

"Hmph! He no longer holds me in his regard, daring to criticize my policies so brazenly. Is he the only loyal minister in Great Shu? Since he took charge of military affairs, how many battles has our Great Shu lost? How many soldiers, horses, and supplies have been lost? If not for that, why would I need to lower my own status and negotiate peace with the Northern Han? He wants to be Zhuge Wuhou, but I am not Liu Adou!" Meng Chang muttered coldly, his words full of cutting accusations, his tone harsher than ever before, venting the pent-up anger and dissatisfaction in his heart.

In truth, how could Meng Chang truly believe that a mere treaty could restrain the Northern Han? How could he have failed to notice the Northern Han's ambition to unify the world? The Later Tang had been powerful, and so the Former Shu was destroyed. Now the Northern Han was even more powerful, its armies sweeping all before them, looking down upon the world—what future could his Later Shu possibly have?

After years of repeated defeats in the struggle for Longyou, Meng Chang's will and confidence had been thoroughly crushed. He was weary, exhausted. Now, rather than continuing to resist the mighty Han, he would rather spend some money and goods to buy peace. Even if it only delayed the Northern Han's military action, he could close his borders and amuse himself in comfort.

To celebrate the conclusion of the peace treaty, the Crystal Palace where the banquet was held was decorated with colorful silks hanging everywhere. Eunuchs and palace maids bustled about attending to the guests, and Shu's ministers were all immersed in the joyful atmosphere, toasting one another and mingling warmly, celebrating the peace between the two nations with drunken enthusiasm.

Meng Chang had put on a smiling face, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, resuming his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

"Vice Minister Zhao, I... I offer you a toast!" His mouth twitched slightly—Meng Chang clearly couldn't change his twenty-year habit of self-address—but he still spoke to Zhao Pu with a faint smile.

"Thank you, Sovereign!" Zhao Pu had completely shed the arrogance and haughtiness he had shown upon first arriving, becoming low-key and humble instead. Raising his cup with both hands, he said: "For the friendship between our two nations, for the well-being of the common people, your servant drinks first in respect!"

Seeing that although Zhao Pu's face showed signs of intoxication, his eyes remained clear and sharp, Meng Chang couldn't help but feel a pang of reflection—perhaps this man was not the greedy and contemptible figure he had appeared to be.

Come to think of it, how could the Han Emperor employ a mere wine-bag and rice-sack? How laughable that some Shu ministers secretly looked down upon and criticized Zhao Pu.

With a wave of his hand, several beautiful court dancers entered the hall. The orchestra struck up their instruments, and seductive music filled the air, intoxicating all who heard it. Of course, even more intoxicating were the beautiful women dancing gracefully.

The beauties of the Crystal Palace were all called "Flower Stamen," and Consort Xu Hui was the most mature and beautiful blossom among them. To celebrate, Consort Hui personally took the stage and led a dance, her peerlessly elegant bearing truly worthy of admiration.

"General He, why aren't you touching your cup? Are you amazed by this luxurious Crystal Palace, or captivated by the peerless beauties of the Shu palace?" Zhao Pu turned his head and looked at He Jiyun, who was seated upright at his table.

Upon being asked, He Jiyun's square face flushed slightly. He picked up his cup and said in a low voice: "This humble general was merely reflecting—Meng Chang has a good reputation among the Shu people and is known for his virtue, yet I never expected the palace to be so extravagantly opulent. Though Shu is wealthy, if all its riches are spent on such palaces, how can the nation not perish!"

"Well said, General!" Zhao Pu smiled faintly: "The Shu sovereign was frugal in his early years, but he has fallen into decadence recently!"

"Such splendor cannot be experienced in the Eastern Capital. Since the Shu sovereign has so warmly invited us, General, let yourself go and enjoy it to the fullest! Come, please!" Zhao Pu appeared completely at ease, adopting the local customs.

Although Zhao Pu was not from a noble family, he was still the descendant of officials, and the wife he married was from a wealthy household. He had never suffered much hardship and had even lived a life of luxury.

Since arriving in Chengdu, Zhao Pu's eyes had been truly opened. The extravagance and refined lifestyle of the Shu sovereign and his ministers were something the Northern Han court in the Eastern Capital simply could not compare to...

However, though wealth could move hearts and wine could intoxicate the mind, Zhao Pu had not been seduced by it. In fact, he silently applauded the scene he witnessed in the Shu court.