Chapter 589: - Seeking Peace

The great fire in Ying Capital continued to burn, but the city was no longer the primary focus of the Yan army.

This was the result of a long-distance forced march.

But not the entirety of it.

Prince of Jingnan left the city and returned to the army camp. After that, he did not appear again.

He had said himself that his injuries were severe.

So unlike in the past, this was not another attempt to test Count Pingye. He genuinely no longer possessed the physical condition needed to command the army.

The Sword Saint even guessed Tian Wujing might need to sleep for quite some time.

The prince’s command tent was cleared for Zheng Fan to use temporarily.

Messengers had already gone out with orders that every officer of Brigadier General rank and above was to report immediately for council.

When scholars discussed how to command troops, they usually reduced everything to two methods.

Strict military discipline.

Or love the soldiers like sons.

One could not say they were wrong.

But it was the kind of correctness found in saying that a man who wants to live needs to eat.

True enough.

And completely useless.

If you wanted to rapidly take control of an army, the first thing you had to control was its middle and upper officer corps.

Those officers would carry your will downward.

With them as the skeleton, the army could truly become yours to command.

Count Pingye sat in the commander’s seat inside the prince’s tent.

He held a waterskin and drank in small mouthfuls.

A map of Great Chu’s heartland lay spread across the ground before him.

Fourth Lady had gone to treat the wounded.

The Sword Saint remained beside Zheng Fan, Longyuan held in his arms as though he were dozing, perhaps still savoring the spectacle he had witnessed inside the great fire earlier.

Crack.

Crackle.

The firewood inside the brazier snapped from time to time.

Count Pingye studied the map.

Then drank another mouthful of water.

The Sword Saint opened his eyes slightly and looked at Zheng Fan.

“Truthfully, I’ve always been curious. You’re a Count of Yan, yet when you shouted about betraying Yan, the words came out so easily.”

What words?

Betray Yan.

“Do you know what the first gift Great Yan ever gave me was?”

“A gift?”

“Believe it or not, my first impression of Great Yan was working as a corvée laborer in the desert and being used as bait by the Commandery Princess of the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence to lure the Sha Tuo Tribe into attacking. Very few of the laborers survived that battle.”

The Sword Saint frowned slightly.

He seemed to be thinking.

Trying to determine what sort of rhetorical device Zheng Fan was using.

Zheng Fan, however, was too lazy to explain further.

In Great Yan, the only person he truly owed was Old Tian.

After all, Old Tian had saved his life several times.

But toward everyone else, even toward the country itself, he did not feel he owed much of anything.

Nor did he feel he had received any great unearned grace.

He had awakened in this world.

He was not born and raised here.

And besides, the Commandery Princess had taught him an unforgettable first lesson almost the moment he arrived.

Yes.

After that, he kept rising in office.

The court rewarded him.

The Emperor of Yan rewarded him.

Little Sixth rewarded him.

But as far as the court and Emperor Yan were concerned, those rewards came because Zheng Fan had repeatedly earned military merit.

Put simply, it was like helping someone harvest wheat during the busy season.

I do the work.

You feed me.

Then give me half a string of cash as payment.

Neither side owes the other.

I rendered service for Great Yan.

I bled for Great Yan.

The State of Yan gave me office, status, and treatment.

That was only proper.

It was not as though Great Yan had ever provided him with compulsory education and public healthcare.

Why should he feel indebted?

As for Little Sixth, yes, the man had funded him.

That favor had to be acknowledged.

But now Zheng Fan was already publicly regarded as the representative figure of the Sixth Prince’s faction.

Little Sixth had certainly made use of Zheng Fan’s name as a standing monument to attract others into serving him too.

Look.

Look!

Count Pingye, now at the height of his glory, was someone I funded back then.

Do you want to become like him too?

Then what are you hesitating for?

Join the Sixth Prince’s faction!

So at the end of the day, it was still mutual use.

There was no need to explain all of this to the Sword Saint.

And the Sword Saint probably would not understand it even if Zheng Fan tried.

A stranger alone in a foreign land.

Zheng Fan did possess some fondness for Yan. He had fought under the Black Dragon Banner for a long time, after all.

But to offer the state all his loyalty without reservation, unwavering until death?

Sorry.

Count Pingye genuinely could not do that.

Unless, from the beginning, Emperor Yan had brought him into the palace and raised him as an illegitimate son.

But...

Looking at how Ji Chengjue and the other princes were treated, Count Pingye suspected that if such a thing had happened, he might actually have become even more desperate to rebel against Great Yan.

At that moment, a soldier outside reported that the officers had all arrived.

“Let them in,” Count Pingye said.

“Yes.”

Soon, the officers entered the prince’s tent.

Everyone outside had presumably already learned that Count Pingye, not Prince of Jingnan, was inside, so no one looked surprised upon seeing Zheng Fan standing there.

Then, regardless of seniority or official rank, all the officers raised their clasped hands in salute.

“Greetings, Count Pingye.”

“Greetings, Count Pingye.”

Zheng Fan returned the salute.

Then straightened.

His gaze swept across the men below.

“Ying Capital is already burning. We have the great merit in our hands. His Highness means that he cannot be bothered dealing with the closing stages, so he has handed them to this Count. From this moment onward, by His Highness’s command, this Count will temporarily command this Jingnan Army. Gentlemen, will you give this Count some face?”

The Sword Saint stood in a shadowed corner and watched Zheng Fan.

There was one thing even he had to admit.

This Count surnamed Zheng behaved completely differently in formal public settings than he did in private.

Among the officers below, quite a few already knew Prince of Jingnan had probably been wounded. They suspected His Highness was temporarily unable to control the situation personally and had therefore secretly summoned Count Pingye to take command.

Those who knew the inside story naturally understood that if they wanted army morale to remain stable, they had to do everything possible to help Count Pingye stabilize and control the force.

Those who did not know the details were already somewhat accustomed to Count Pingye commanding troops in Prince of Jingnan’s place.

First, Count Pingye possessed enough military merit and prestige. The officers respected him.

Second, earlier in the campaign Count Pingye had already spent a long period inside the prince’s command tent helping His Highness process military affairs.

So not long after Zheng Fan finished speaking, the officers changed from a standing clasped-hand salute to dropping to one knee.

Together, they shouted:

“This general is willing to obey Count Pingye’s commands!”

“This general is willing to obey Count Pingye’s commands!”

No one asked to see Prince of Jingnan’s command token to confirm the legality and completeness of the transfer.

Rules existed for people whose relationships were distant.

Everyone had seen how Prince of Jingnan treated Count Pingye over the years.

None of them were blind.

“Gentlemen, rise.”

Zheng Fan motioned for everyone to stand.

Then pointed to the map hung before them and began:

“What we need to do now is find the traveling court of that Regent of Chu. He slipped away, but he absolutely cannot have gone too far. First, he did not have enough time. He is dragging along an entire household, not to mention a large force of Imperial Clan Guards. Second, he cannot bear to go too far from Ying Capital. If he moves too far away, he becomes completely blind to what is happening here. He should not be north of Ying Capital. That is the direction we came from. In this Count’s judgment, he needs safety while remaining relatively close to the capital. East and west are both poor choices. Only to the south does he possess depth. If the situation becomes extreme, he can continue south and use southern Chu as a foundation from which to rise again. South of Ying Capital, beyond the capital region, lies Panhe Commandery. Farther south of Panhe is what truly counts as Great Chu’s southern territory.”

Zheng Fan tapped one mountain range south of Panhe Commandery.

“Here is Mount Liugong. Several centuries ago, the ancestors of Chu advanced from here, crossed Mount Liugong, and campaigned against the Shanyue tribes occupying the south. Mount Liugong once served as a major Chu military base. The place is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is one of the key routes connecting Chu’s northern and southern territories. If this Count were the Regent of Chu, this Count would probably choose this place as the temporary station for the traveling court while observing the situation. Of course, this Count’s deduction may not be accurate. But it does not matter. At worst we sweep south while hunting hares from the grass. This Count refuses to believe that with accompanying ministers, imperial clan members, and such a large force of Imperial Clan Guards, that many people can hide without leaving a trace. And if he really can hide that quietly, then this Count would actually be delighted.”

One Brigadier General asked:

“Count, why is that?”

Count Pingye gave the man a slight nod.

Not bad.

Zheng Fan had already forgotten his name, but the man had understood quickly enough to respond and keep the discussion moving. Worth paying a little more attention to in the future.

“Because he is the Regent. At the same time, he effectively counts as Chu’s emperor now. Once the capital has been burned, if he does not speak, all of Chu immediately falls into a state without a head. So he must speak. He must tell his subjects and the various Chu armies still fighting ours that he is still here, that their emperor is still here. If he truly hides completely, that actually saves us trouble. But this Count’s elder brother-in-law is not some cowardly rat. So in this Count’s judgment, once our army moves south, we should quickly discover where his traveling court is. This Count’s wife misses her elder brother very much back home. This Count is afraid of his wife. You all know that. A Princess, after all. She also chose to follow this Count to Great Yan willingly. Naturally I have to coax her and yield to her a little. She misses her brother. What can I do? No choice. We can only invite this Count’s elder brother-in-law to Great Yan for a visit. Only then can this Count’s household know peace. So before anything else, this Count asks all of you to help me with this favor.”

“Hahahahaha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

The officers all burst into laughter.

After growing accustomed to the severe atmosphere of military councils under Prince of Jingnan, encountering Count Pingye’s easygoing manner genuinely felt different.

When His Highness chaired a council, a scene of everyone laughing like this would have been impossible.

“This Count’s intent is to divide into three routes, but the three cannot spread too far apart. We have fought this war to this point, and everyone can already see that victory and the return home are not far away. We cannot fall into a pit now. That would be truly unworthy. Chu still has a few cards left. It is entirely possible they will exploit our advance and ambush us. So the three routes must be able to support one another. No one is permitted to break away from the main direction without authorization. General Ren Juan.”

“This general is here!”

“You will lead fifteen thousand cavalry as my left wing.”

“This general accepts the command!”

Years earlier, Zheng Fan had nominally served under Ren Juan.

Now he could directly issue the man orders.

Ren Juan felt no resentment.

People hated nepotism mostly because the overwhelming majority of men who climbed through connections were useless trash.

But once a genuinely capable and accomplished man also possessed powerful connections, those same connections immediately became an additional halo around him.

“General Chen Yang.”

“This general is here!”

“You will lead fifteen thousand cavalry as my right wing.”

“This general obeys!”

“This Count will personally command the central army and open the road for all three routes.”

After speaking, Zheng Fan swept his gaze across the officers again.

“The fire in Ying Capital will not go out quickly. This Count knows many of the boys want to dig some wealth from the city and take it home. This Count has always liked fighting wars where both fame and profit are gained. Our sons tie their heads to their belts and fight Chu slaves, opening territory for Great Yan, staining battlefields with blood. What is wrong with taking a little wealth? This Count has always believed that it is only proper if every Great Yan soldier lives as comfortably as some rich village landlord, with his wife and children well provided for at home. But right now, this war is not finished. We cannot remain here. When you return to your camps, explain the reason clearly to the men. Do not let resentment build. Once we go south, if our luck is good and we catch this Count’s elder brother-in-law, then as Great Chu’s Imperial Son-in-Law, this Count will fulfill the duties of a host. I guarantee all of you will eat and drink your fill, then take away more than your horses can carry. If we fail to catch him, that is fine too. If we chase him far enough away, or force this Count’s elder brother-in-law to seek peace, then when we return home, this Count will personally take everyone to some wealthy part of Chu and let you plunder it properly. When it comes to greed for money, when it comes to enjoying life, this Count has yet to meet anyone better than me!”

This had to be brought up.

It had to be explained clearly.

Yan troops fought fiercely and possessed excellent military quality. The Jingnan Army was the finest among them.

But after victory, Yan military discipline in matters of looting, burning, and killing could also be extremely harsh.

Of course, no army in this age was truly different.

Ying Capital was burning, yes, but there were still vast amounts of valuables inside for anyone willing to enter and loot them.

Making soldiers stare at an enormous imperial capital without allowing them to rampage through it even once was genuinely cruel.

It could easily create resentment, which could then turn into war-weariness.

That was a major taboo.

So for now, Count Pingye could only paint a cake to ease their hunger and point toward distant plums to quench their thirst.

The officers nodded, saying they understood and would explain things to their subordinates upon returning.

The commanders present had already risen beyond the level of cheap temptations.

Ordinary wealth no longer stirred them too deeply.

Of course they were greedy for money.

Human nature was greedy.

But they cared far more about official rank and noble title after earning merit and receiving rewards.

A Brigadier General could become a Roaming General, yes?

A Roaming General could become a Garrison Commander, yes?

A Garrison Commander might earn a noble title, yes?

Rumor had already spread throughout the army that after this campaign Count Pingye would likely be made Marquis.

They did not dream of becoming Marquis themselves.

But even raising their noble ranks by one level would be enough to pass wealth and status through several generations.

Count Pingye raised Wuyai and shouted:

“Gentlemen, His Highness has already burned Ying Capital for us. Now it is time for us to do something for His Highness. We cannot keep making His Highness exhaust himself like this. In this war, we will win. The Jingnan Army will win!”

Every officer drew his saber and raised it overhead.

Together they roared:

“Victory!”

...

Mount Liugong had long since stopped being a military fortress.

Several centuries earlier, Chu had indeed used this place as a starting point for campaigns against the Shanyue tribes in the southern territories.

But afterward, most of the south fell under Chu rule.

Only a small number of areas such as Wutong Commandery still contained unstable Shanyue tribes.

Broadly speaking, Chu control had already encompassed the entire southern region.

So Mount Liugong became a scenic resort.

Ying Capital was relatively cold in winter.

Some nobles and even members of the imperial clan liked coming to Mount Liugong to spend the season.

The area also possessed many natural hot springs that were extremely beneficial for recuperation.

The Regent himself was staying inside the imperial villa there.

At that moment, he sat beside a pond with a fishing rod in hand.

Around him sat the elderly Meng Shou and two men holding the posts of Left and Right Situ.

Left and Right Situ had originally been offices within the princely residence.

They were not formal positions of the central court.

News of the great fire in Ying Capital had already reached this place.

The Regent arranged for one group of people to pretend they had escaped from Ying Capital.

Some were noble-born.

Some were commoners.

At the gate of the imperial villa, they performed a little play.

The plot was simple.

They wept bitterly that the Yan had slaughtered and looted throughout Ying Capital, set the city ablaze, and behaved worse than beasts.

The Regent flew into a rage.

He denounced the Yan for massacring his subjects and wept over the deaths of so many great nobles who had remained behind in the capital.

Then an imperial proclamation was issued throughout Great Chu exposing Yan brutality.

The real purpose, however, was to tell the Chu people that their emperor had not burned to death in Ying Capital.

He was still alive.

He could still command Great Chu’s soldiers and civilians in resisting Yan.

In truth, this lie was destined never to fool anyone determined to investigate it.

There were simply too many things that could not be explained.

It could not withstand serious scrutiny.

But those who truly understood would remain silent.

So the lie could continue.

A few days later, news arrived that the Yan army which had broken Ying Capital had not withdrawn.

Instead, under Count Pingye’s command, it had marched directly south, entered Panhe Commandery, and was advancing straight toward Mount Liugong.

The entire traveling court at Mount Liugong was shaken.

First, the shock from Ying Capital’s destruction had not yet faded.

Second, the Yan had come with such fierce momentum and such a clear objective that it genuinely made people panic.

Left Situ Ding Liang spoke:

“Your Highness, Old General Zhang Jian means to attempt a battle south of Mount Liugong.”

The Zhang Clan to which Zhang Jian belonged did not possess a Pillar of State title, but in status it was not much inferior to the Shi Clan.

More importantly, the Zhang Clan was one of the military houses within the Imperial Clan Guards that had declared loyalty to the Regent earliest.

Right Situ Ma Lun said:

“This subject believes General Zhang Jian’s idea is correct. Whether we intend to defend here or move the traveling court again, we need to fight one battle first and stabilize army morale.”

If the traveling court kept running, that would be bad.

Run long enough, and the act of fleeing itself could break the entire force.

The Regent, however, tossed aside the fishing rod in his hand.

He smiled and pointed toward the pond.

“There were never any fish stocked in this pond. No matter how long we fish, nothing will bite.”

Then the Regent rose.

A eunuch brought over a bronze basin so he could wash his hands.

“The Yan are signaling that they want to withdraw. They do not truly intend to continue fighting. Ying Capital burned. Let it burn. It burned away many matters and people that would have been troublesome for Us to deal with personally. Now, we should preserve as much of our remaining foundation as possible so that when the time comes to gather the mountains and rivers again, we can do so with greater ease. Whether we fight the Yan beneath Mount Liugong and win or lose, no matter how desperately we fight, there is no benefit. It is no different from fishing in this pond. If we win one battle, we still have to seek peace. If we lose, then when we seek peace we must lower ourselves even farther. What meaning is there in that? We said before that against Yan, we do not contend for one morning or one evening. Ten years from now, twenty years from now, we shall look again. Ding Liang, receive the decree.”

Ding Liang immediately knelt.

“This subject is here!”

“We appoint you Imperial Envoy. Carry Our decree to the Yan army and seek peace with Our brother-in-law. The terms are nothing more than this: we yield Zhennan Pass. We yield Shanggu Commandery as well. In any case, Nian Yao’s side will not be able to hold much longer. We want Nian Yao’s army returned whole and intact. As for everything else, negotiate as you see fit. Oh, and one more thing. How to display Great Chu’s moral backbone, how to argue from principle, how to turn our request for peace into something like: We swear to use the strength of the entire state to fight the Yan dogs to the end, until Great Chu has only one soldier left. Better yet, add something like: even if Chu is reduced to three households, the one that destroys Yan will still be Chu. Then say all of this forced the Yan dogs to recognize the difficulty and retreat. You handle the details yourself.”

Ding Liang smiled bitterly.

“Your Highness, will the Yan truly allow this subject to do that?”

“My brother-in-law knows how to behave. He knows what to do. In any case, the Yan have already won. Letting us save a little face costs them nothing more than lifting a hand. Besides, after this war ends, we will still have to remain neighbors. As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as useful as a close neighbor. And besides, he and We are relatives to begin with.”

[End of Chapter 589]