Chapter 531
Chapter 531
"Haha, the heavens are truly aiding our State of Chu!"
The King of Chu was ecstatic. He had never imagined Ning Yuanxian would fall ill. And to think it was a stroke, the most dangerous of ailments.
‘Ning Yuanxian, you may be younger and stronger than I, but what good is that now? A stroke has stripped you of all your power. Now, this is going to be a fascinating spectacle. The succession battle between Ning Yi and Ning Qi will escalate in an instant. At a time like this, neither Zhu Lin in the south nor Zhong Yao in the west will have the heart for war. To secure their borders, they must first resolve their internal strife, making the fight for the throne their top priority. And such a time is perfect for extorting an enemy nation. With Ning Yuanxian bedridden, our State of Chu will at least get what it desires.’
Then, another piece of good news arrived. Wang Huili brought the state letter signed with the State of Yue. After reading it, the King of Chu could hardly believe his eyes.
‘Has there ever been such a one-sided deal in this world? How could something so absurd exist? I’ve never heard of a battle with terms so favorable you could win with your eyes closed. Could there be a conspiracy here? Is this perhaps a ploy by the State of Yue to buy themselves some breathing room? Are they worried that with Ning Yuanxian ill, Chu might seize this opportunity to wage war, and so they’ve proposed this ridiculous border battle? Do they think that by dangling such an irresistible piece of bait, our State of Chu will be too eager to take it to start a full-scale war on the border? The King of Yue is overthinking things. I had no real intention of attacking you.’
The King of Chu sneered. In truth, he had already made a secret pact with the Kun King. Only after the Kun King had unified the Shaman tribes, completely crushed Zhu Lin's grand army, and reclaimed the entire southern domain lost to Yue would the King of Chu dispatch his troops. Chu had no desire for a war that could bankrupt the nation.
‘But since the State of Yue has made this offer, I will show them what it means to be hoisted by their own petard. Bait or not, I will take it.’
Just as Shen Lang had predicted, the King of Chu was exceedingly greedy. With such a juicy piece of meat right in front of him, he couldn't resist. Had it been a normal battle, he might not have accepted. What benefit was there in fighting a battle between evenly matched forces? Although, the King of Chu secretly believed he would win even in a fair fight. Besides, with a clear and certain victory laid before him, what reason was there to refuse? Five thousand elite soldiers of Chu against two thousand from Yue—he could win with his eyes closed.
Despite this, the King of Chu did not accept immediately. He summoned several of his ministers for counsel. The consensus among Chu's civil and military officials was that this was a stalling tactic by the King of Yue. They believed that Yue's internal situation must be so dire that they had resorted to such a desperate measure. The officials unanimously agreed that the more dire Yue's situation, the more they should turn the enemy's plot against them, ensuring Yue would fall into its own trap. They insisted that Yue must not be given any chance to retract the offer. Thus, the King of Chu immediately affixed his seal to the state letter and dispatched a new delegation to the State of Yue to express his agreement to the border battle and to promptly set a specific date for the engagement.
* * *
After news of the ridiculously lopsided border battle spread, the entire State of Yue was in an uproar. A blizzard of impeachment memorials from numerous censors once again descended upon the royal palace, denouncing Shen Lang and Ning Zheng for signing such a humiliating treaty.
Memorials with such content poured in, but with the king already bedridden, they vanished without a trace, like stones dropped into the sea. However, the notoriety of Ning Zheng and Shen Lang soared once more. Frightened by the recent incident where failed examination candidates had wailed at the Sage Temple, the students of the Imperial Academy and the Grand Academy dared not surround Ning Zheng's Marquis of Changping's estate. Still, everyone who passed his residence pinched their noses as if a foul stench emanated from within. Some even spat in the direction of his estate from a great distance.
‘You traitors who sold out the country!’
* * *
The Chu delegation swiftly returned to the capital of Yue. The King of Chu had agreed to the border battle and stated he would adhere strictly to the terms written in the state letter. All that remained was to set a specific date with King Ning Yuanxian. At that point, the bedridden King Ning Yuanxian finally showed a reaction. He flew into a rage, declaring that he had never agreed to this battle. He claimed it was the unauthorized work of Ning Zheng and Shen Lang and that there was no need to honor it. Following this, Ning Yuanxian ordered the Imperial Guard to surround Ning Zheng's Marquis of Changping's estate and await further orders.
At this, the civil and military officials of Yue all realized what was happening. It seemed the border battle was merely a stalling tactic devised by the king, and Ning Zheng and Shen Lang were just taking the fall. Otherwise, how could they have signed such a preposterous state letter, pitting two thousand Yue soldiers against five thousand from Chu? A direct confrontation with those numbers was a guaranteed loss.
However, the Chu delegation was displeased with the King of Yue's reversal.
‘Ning Zheng may be a useless prince, but are you saying you won’t honor a state letter signed by a prince of the realm? The border battle has already been discussed and the letter signed. Can you truly just say you won’t abide by it and be done with it?’
The Chu delegation repeatedly requested an audience with Ning Yuanxian, but he consistently avoided them, citing his grave illness. Finally, the King of Chu's patience wore thin. He once again deployed a grand army of one hundred thousand to the Yue border, showing every sign of preparing for a major battle. Instantly, the clouds of war gathered again over the border between Chu and Yue. The new delegation from Chu was led by a high-ranking official, the Vice Minister of Rites.
As Chu's grand army approached the border, numerous skirmishes broke out, and urgent reports flooded in from the Zhong Clan's Western Pacification Commandery. The reports stated that Chu's army had advanced right up to the border, their massive force like a gathering storm cloud. Thanks to the pressure from Chu's one hundred thousand troops, the Vice Minister of Rites from Chu finally gained an audience with Ning Yuanxian.
The King of Yue he met looked as if he had aged ten years. His once-black hair was now mostly white, and he had grown quite thin. He received the delegation sitting upright in his sickbed, but he kept his hands hidden under the covers. Moreover, his entire body trembled uncontrollably. The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu, now certain that King Ning Yuanxian had suffered a stroke, spoke in a booming, confident voice.
"Your Majesty, the King of Yue, the state letter has been signed and must be executed. Otherwise, what will become of the State of Yue's dignity?"
Ning Yuanxian said coolly.
"Everything was done by Ning Zheng on his own accord. It is by no means the will of our State of Yue."
The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu noticed that Ning Yuanxian was speaking with deliberate slowness, his words not flowing smoothly. His condition seemed even more severe than anticipated.
The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu said.
"But His Highness Ning Zheng received the king's decree and was granted full authority for these negotiations. Therefore, the state letter he signed is authoritative and fully represents the will of the King of Yue. Furthermore, copies of this letter are not only held by our two nations but are also preserved by the Great Yan Dynasty."
Ning Yuanxian erupted in anger.
"This traitor, this traitorous wretch! I knew from the start he was an ill omen. Eunuch Li, Eunuch Li! Immediately seize Ning Zheng, throw him in the dungeons of the Imperial Clan Court, and await my judgment."
Eunuch Li received the order and departed. Soon after, Ning Zheng was arrested again and imprisoned in the dungeons of the Imperial Clan Court. Everyone in the capital of Yue clapped their hands and cheered. But was arresting Ning Zheng enough? The true culprit behind this treason was Shen Lang; Ning Zheng had merely been the one to sign. The idea for this absurd border battle had come from Shen Lang. After Ning Zheng's arrest, numerous censors, as if their morale had been boosted, once again sent a blizzard of impeachment memorials to the palace against Shen Lang. They pleaded with the king to execute the traitor who sold out the country, demanding Shen Lang face the ultimate punishment according to the law. Yet, the king acted as if he saw and heard nothing.
When their impeachment memorials proved useless, countless censors began to protest in front of the royal palace, kowtowing until their foreheads were bloody. Finally, the king issued another decree, sending the Imperial Guard into the Marquis of Changping's estate to place Shen Lang under house arrest within one of its buildings, ordering him not to take a single step outside and to await judgment. After that, Ning Yuanxian once again summoned the Vice Minister of Rites from Chu to the palace.
"Now, your country should be satisfied. I have imprisoned Ning Zheng, the main culprit behind this affair. This border battle was entirely their fabrication, so your country should not take it seriously."
The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu sneered inwardly.
‘King of Yue, are you the one treating matters of state like child’s play? Fearing that our State of Chu would attack after you fell gravely ill, you dangled this absurd border battle as bait, a mere stalling tactic, did you not? You have miscalculated. Do you think our State of Chu is so easily fooled? Since you have thrown the meat, we will gladly devour it. Ning Zheng is the main culprit? What a joke. Is he not just a scapegoat to take the fall for you?
Ning Yuanxian, you are a cruel man indeed. To be so harsh with your own son. But then again, it is not so strange. Everyone knows that Ning Zheng is your least favored son, is he not? You even treat him as an ill omen. If you weren’t going to sacrifice him, who else would you choose? But how could our State of Chu possibly let you have your way?’
The Vice Minister of Rites said coolly.
"Your Majesty, King of Yue, our great king has commanded me to deliver a personal letter to you. May I unfold it and read it to you?"
Then, the Vice Minister of Rites from Chu presented the personal letter from the King of Chu. The letter was very simple, containing just a single line.
This was a blatant threat: fight the battle or face a war. King Ning Yuanxian’s face twitched, and unable to contain himself, his hands trembled incessantly. The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu sneered inwardly.
‘King of Yue, your stalling tactics have all failed. This time, your dignity will be trampled, and you will have to pay reparations in both money and land.’
The Vice Minister of Rites from Chu said in a slow tone.
"Your Majesty, King of Yue, if you say one more time that you will not hold the battle, I will immediately leave Yue and close the door on negotiations for good. When that time comes, our two nations will truly face each other with weapons drawn."
Ning Yuanxian said in a trembling voice.
"How has it come to this? Are you not pushing things too far?"
Just then, an urgent voice was heard from outside.
"Urgent news! The grand army of Chu has once again breached ten li into Yue territory and has advanced to the foot of the city walls! Your Majesty, this is a crisis! The Chu forces have reached the city walls—the situation is dire!"