Chapter 530
Chapter 530
An hour later.
After receiving simple treatment from a physician from Yue, the Chu delegation once again sat at the negotiation table. Every one of them had dark bruises on their faces. Though they looked utterly wretched, the injuries were mostly superficial scrapes, nothing severe. The face of Wang Huili, Chu’s Chief Minister of Ceremonies, was swollen so red it was hard to look at, but his life was in no danger. By now, the pain had gone numb, and he could no longer feel it.
He was now filled not only with fury but also with fear. Only now did he truly feel that they were in enemy territory. No words could describe their astonishment.
*Could there truly be such an arrogant and audacious person in this world? To publicly beat the delegation of another nation… his lack of restraint is terrifying. Does he not fear death? Is he not afraid that when he serves as an envoy to another country, he’ll be beaten to death there? But for now, I must deal with the fire at my feet.*
On both sides of the negotiation table, officials from the two nations were still seated. On the right were the dozen or so men from Chu. On the left, it was still just Ning Zheng and Shen Lang, but the atmosphere seemed more harmonious than before. Though Shen Lang’s side had only two people, he alone was swaggering with triumph, his presence overwhelming the opposition. He sat crookedly at the table with his legs crossed and spoke.
“I am Shen Lang. Does Lord Wang Huili remember me?”
*Remember you? Even if I were turned to ash and became a ghost, I would never forget you.*
At Shen Lang’s question, a muscle in the Chu minister’s groin twitched, and he felt a dull ache again. Shen Lang furrowed his brow and asked again.
“Do you remember?”
This didn't feel like a negotiation between two nations; it was more like a standoff between gangsters.
“I remember, I remember.”
*A wise man knows not to suffer an obvious loss. Shen Lang, you despicable cur, just you wait. I will protest to your King of Yue, report this to the King of Chu, and report it in the Yan capital. I will air my grievances before the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty himself. You are a dead man! For beating the envoys of another nation, you are finished. Just wait until you’re beheaded or cut in half at the waist before the public!*
“Do you remember?”
Shen Lang’s voice was loud and arrogant. He placed his hands on the table as if ready to clap at any moment, looking like he was about to summon the horde of beggars to beat them half to death again. In an instant, the dozen or so members of the Chu delegation nodded their heads frantically.
“We remember, we remember.”
“Isn’t this better? I think the atmosphere between our two sides has become quite amicable now. Shall we continue our discussion? Actually, there’s not much to discuss. This is our final offer. In four months, Chu and Yue will resolve the origin of this dispute in a decisive battle on the border. Our State of Yue will dispatch two thousand soldiers, and your State of Chu can dispatch five thousand. Chu can mobilize any army you wish—for instance, your most elite, most formidable troops. Then, we will engage in a public battle to the death. The losing side’s king will issue a public apology, cede twenty *li* of border territory and twenty-three forts, and compensate the other side with eight hundred thousand gold coins. That’s it. Who is in favor, and who is opposed? The negotiations are over. Why drag out such a simple matter for months? The moment I, Shen Lang, appeared, it was resolved instantly, was it not? Hahaha.”
After hearing Shen Lang’s words, the Chu delegation was completely dumbfounded. Wang Huili, the Chief Minister of Ceremonies, simply could not believe what he had just heard. A moment ago, Shen Lang beating them, foreign envoys, was already outrageous enough, but compared to what he just said, that was nothing.
*Is Shen Lang truly a madman? Could there be anything more absurd in this world? Shen Lang, are you selling out your country like this? Of course, proposing a decisive battle at the border is nothing new. When negotiations fail, resolving matters through a border battle has long been a custom. But such battles are normally fought between evenly matched forces with comparable strength. Yet Yue wants to fight our five thousand elite Chu soldiers with a mere two thousand? Even a blind and deaf fool wouldn't propose such insane terms.*
*Even in a two-thousand-versus-two-thousand fight, Yue wouldn't be able to defeat our Chu. Not long ago, when the King of Wu and the King of Yue had their decisive battle at the border, it was a clash of one thousand against one thousand, and didn't Yue end up losing? In contrast, our Chu is engaged in campaigns of conquest year-round, fighting and killing one another; our elite soldiers are far more numerous than Wu's. Shen Lang, were you so worried we wouldn't win that you proposed such a ridiculous condition? Could you be a spy planted by our State of Chu?*
For a long moment, Wang Huili, Chu’s Chief Minister of Ceremonies, even forgot the pain in his groin. In a trembling voice, he said.
“Your Highness Ning Zheng, one must not jest in matters of diplomacy between our two nations.”
Where in the world was there a diplomat who worked for the benefit of an enemy nation?
“I have full authority in these negotiations, and Shen Lang represents my will completely.”
At Ning Zheng’s declaration, the Chu delegation fell silent once more.
*What a windfall! With terms like these for a decisive battle, we could win with our eyes closed. This is like them handing us a victory on a silver platter. Our threats of meeting on the battlefield were just bluffs, mere intimidation. This has turned out far better than we ever imagined, hasn't it?*
Wang Huili racked his brain, trying to figure out what kind of conspiracy might be hidden in this, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't see any scheme.
“Does Your Highness Ning Zheng have the courage to sign this state accord?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Wang Huili shouted loudly.
“Quickly, draw up the accord.”
It would be stranger not to agree to a proposal that would bring such great merit and immense benefit to Chu. He no longer cared about the pain in his groin. After all, he was old, and his manhood was more of an ornament he rarely used. Having stumbled upon these two fools, he had to see this through. The Chu delegation quickly drafted the state accord, clearly writing down its contents.
Then, fearing the other party might change their minds, the Chu delegation hastily affixed their seals, and Ning Zheng did the same. Three copies of the accord were made in total: one for Chu, one for Yue, and the last to be sent to the Great Yan Empire.
Yun Mengze, the Great Yan ambassador, had been watching the entire situation as a witness from the empire's delegation stationed in Yue. As soon as he saw the contents of the accord, he was so stunned he immediately cried out.
“Shen Lang, are you mad? Your Highness Ning Zheng, have you gone mad as well? If the King of Yue finds out about this, he will flay you both alive.”
Not only Yun Mengze but the other dozen or so officials from the Great Yan Empire were also dumbfounded, staring at Shen Lang and Ning Zheng as if they were looking at imbeciles.
*Are there really people in this world who would sell out their own country so thoroughly? These are the kind you wouldn't see once in a hundred years.*
The moment Wang Huili saw all three copies of the accord signed and sealed, he breathed a sigh of relief. This outcome was ten times smoother than he had ever expected.
*It’s done. How truly unexpected. To think that a negotiation deadlocked for months would end in such an absurd fashion… Did Ning Yuanxian’s illness drive Shen Lang and Ning Zheng mad with impatience?*
“We must not delay. We will return to Chu immediately to present this accord to our king, have it sealed, and finalize the date for the battle. Prepare the carriages. We return to Chu at once.”
Wang Huili commanded loudly, but Shen Lang stopped him.
“Lord Wang, are you not injured? Besides, this incident has not been properly investigated. A dozen beggars barged into the negotiation hall and publicly assaulted the envoys of a brother nation. This is an appalling matter to anyone who hears of it. If this isn't thoroughly investigated and a proper explanation given to you, Lord Wang, how could I possibly face His Highness?”
The Chu delegation sneered inwardly at Shen Lang.
*Then what face will you have when you see the King of Yue after selling out your nation's interests?*
“A gentleman does not concern himself with the misdeeds of petty men. We can speak of this later.”
After saying this, Wang Huili tried to leave in a hurry.
*I was lucky to run into two madmen. What if they come to their senses and break their promise? Let's go, quickly! Not only must this deal be sealed, but it must be made irreversible.*
Just then, Shen Lang rushed over and grabbed Wang Huili tightly.
“No! This incident must be investigated thoroughly. You were unjustly beaten, Lord Wang. I must give you a proper explanation.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t need anything of the sort.”
Wang Huili endured the throbbing pain in his groin and tried desperately to leave, but Shen Lang blocked him, refusing to let go. Wang Huili grew anxious. He had to leave this place without a moment's delay. Finally, he gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and said.
“Your Highness Ning Zheng, Young Master Shen, it is true that someone among our delegation went to the Spring Wave Pavilion and left without paying. It was only natural for those beggars to beat us.”
He was truly remarkable. To leave quickly, he admitted to the false accusation of owing money for a prostitute. This Wang Huili did not hesitate to tarnish his own reputation for the sake of his nation’s interests—a truly formidable man.
Shen Lang asked him.
“So what those beggars said was true?”
Wang Huili sighed and said.
“It is all my fault for not teaching them strictly enough, leading my subordinates to commit such a scandal. Young Master Shen, may I go now?”
Then, without waiting for Shen Lang’s reply, he led his delegation and quickly left the negotiation hall. Shen Lang chased after him, shouting.
“Lord Wang, to celebrate the success of our negotiations, you must at least have a meal with us.”
“I won’t eat. It’s fine. There will be plenty of opportunities to dine together in the future.”
Wang Huili led the Chu delegation and fled the negotiation hall as if their lives depended on it. First, they returned to Chu’s encampment within Yue, then, under the protection of several hundred warriors, they swiftly departed the State of Yue and returned to the Chu capital. They didn't even have time to bid farewell to Ning Yuanxian. The hurried journey made the pain in his groin excruciating, and it seemed to swell even more. But for the sake of his achievement, he had no time to worry about such pain.
The Chu delegation traveled day and night. When they passed through Zhong Yao’s defense zone in Zhenxi Province, Wang Huili was still on edge, but he finally felt a sense of relief. He then noticed that Zhong Yao’s army was reducing its forces. It seemed that Ning Yuanxian's illness was having more severe consequences than he had imagined. The reduction of Zhong Yao’s army was a clear sign that they did not want a conflict with Chu. This was an obvious indication that Zhong Yao was prioritizing his support for the Third Prince Ning Qi's bid for the throne over his duty to defend the nation for the king. Truly, the heavens were helping Chu