The Child Emperor-Chapter 328: Withdrawing and Advancing

The Emperor convened a court session at his sickbed. Higher-ranking generals and officials stood beside the Emperor, those of lower rank arranged themselves in the outer room, and those of even lower status stood in the courtyard—over a hundred people in total.

The door remained open, but everyone spoke in hushed voices, so those outside could not hear anything and could only make a show of straining to listen.

Han Ruzi lay on a couch with his eyes closed, resting his spirit, his face full of weariness. News of the Emperor’s illness had already spread, so he no longer needed to conceal it.

Deng Cui, the defending general, reported on the recent battle situation, finishing in just a few sentences: “Each time the Xiongnu eliminate a relief force, they come to parade beneath the city walls. This has happened three times so far.”

Though the Ministry of War officials did not command battles, they understood all troop deployments, so one stepped forward to fill time by reporting in detail the defenses in all directions around Jincheng and the estimated enemy numbers. Though Jincheng was not large, it had stored considerable provisions originally meant to supply Mayi City beyond the frontier, which could now be put to use—enough for several months without problem…

Han Ruzi occasionally made a sound of acknowledgment to show he was still listening.

As for methods of breaking through the siege, the officials all offered their strategies, but these were all based on the assumption that the Xiongnu’s many cruelties would lead to their own downfall, or that Chu armies from across the realm would arrive simultaneously for rescue. In plain terms, they were waiting for a miracle to occur.

Deng Cui, the commanding general, remained silent and even somewhat rudely surveyed the Emperor’s quarters to pass the time.

When everyone finally finished speaking, they fell into sudden silence. The Emperor no longer even made sounds of acknowledgment, as if he had fallen asleep. No one dared disturb him, nor did anyone dare leave, so they stood there quietly.

After a full quarter-hour, the Emperor finally opened his eyes and, with a eunuch’s support, struggled to sit up. He asked weakly, “Where is the Great Chanyu?”

The assembled officials exchanged glances, suspecting the Emperor might have had a dream—awake in body but not in mind—which would explain such a seemingly random question.

Deng Cui maintained his detached demeanor, so a Ministry of War official had to respond: “The Great Chanyu’s banner has never appeared outside the city. We speculate that he has very likely led troops south to join with the Qi rebel forces.”

Jincheng was cut off from news, so they could only guess at outside developments.

Han Ruzi shook his head slightly. “The Xiongnu might go south, but the Great Chanyu will not—he dare not venture too far from the steppes.” He struggled to lift his eyelids and looked toward the officials in the room, saying, “Which minister just mentioned peace negotiations?”

An official from the Ministry of Rites hurried forward: “This humble subject did mention peace negotiations. This humble subject believes…”

The official eagerly tried to add qualifying conditions to his suggestion to avoid causing trouble, but the Emperor had already nodded. “Good, we shall follow Minister Lou’s method and negotiate with the Great Chanyu. When can you depart?”

“Ah?” Lord Lou was greatly shocked. “In this humble subject’s foolish opinion, now is not yet the time for peace negotiations. We must wait for the Chu armies…”

Han Ruzi shook his head. “We cannot wait. You will prepare today and leave the city tomorrow.”

Minister Lou fell to his knees with a thud, filled with regret. Not daring to refuse outright, he could only accept the command while inwardly plotting how to delay until the matter was forgotten.

But the Emperor was not as confused as he had imagined.

“Minister Lou alone will not suffice—we must also select a deputy envoy. Which beloved minister volunteers for this position?”

The Emperor seemed completely unaware of the current situation. The Ministry of War was also to blame, having grown accustomed to reporting more good news and less bad, making the defense of the city sound not at all dire. This led the Emperor to make his decision about peace negotiations while half-asleep, thinking it was a simple matter.

The assembled officials all glanced sideways at the Ministry of War officials. The very same officials who had been speaking eloquently moments before now stared fixedly at their own feet, motionless and saying not a word.

To everyone’s relief, the Emperor already had someone in mind: “Where is Qiao Wanfu?”

More than half the people in the room had never heard the name “Qiao Wanfu.” An official immediately turned to ask those in the outer room, who in turn asked those in the courtyard, finally locating Qiao Wanfu among the group of advisors.

Qiao Wanfu had originally been Granary Supervisor at Ao Granary, but due to his merit in battle, he had been promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. In reality, he was merely one of the Emperor’s many advisors, with less real power than when he had been a minor granary supervisor.

Qiao Wanfu was short in stature. Upon hearing the summons, he hurried forward, but the officials at the door failed to notice him and were still asking, “Qiao Wanfu—which one is Qiao Wanfu?”

“Your humble servant is here,” Qiao Wanfu replied.

The official searched for a while longer before finally spotting the man raising his hand and running forward. He thought to himself that the Emperor was truly gravely ill.

Qiao Wanfu had not received an imperial summons for a long time, so he felt inevitably anxious. Upon entering the inner chamber, he immediately knelt down and crawled on his knees to the Emperor’s presence.

Han Ruzi had lain down again, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly unaware of Qiao Wanfu’s arrival—or perhaps he had forgotten. Not one of the assembled officials spoke up to remind him.

A eunuch attending closely by his side gently pressed the Emperor’s shoulder. The Emperor opened his eyes again, looked at the two envoys kneeling on the ground, and gave a soft “mm.”

Eunuch Zhang Youcai nodded to Chief Overseer Liu Jie, who announced loudly, “All officials may withdraw. Only the chief and deputy envoys shall remain.”

The officials obeyed the decree, filing out according to rank. Once they had left the Emperor’s quarters, they all breathed sighs of relief, then turned their worry toward the chief and deputy envoys.

Lou Xun, an official from the Ministry of Rites, was a prudent veteran official. Following convention, he had suggested peace negotiations, never imagining that the Emperor would actually agree and entrust him with such a weighty responsibility. He had been constantly thinking of ways to extricate himself and had paid little attention to Qiao Wanfu kneeling beside him.

Liu Jie invited both men to rise, then departed with the other eunuchs, leaving only two guards behind. This was palace protocol—unless given the Emperor’s personal permission, the Chief Overseer could not listen in on discussions between ruler and officials.

Han Ruzi asked, “Lord Lou, how do you plan to persuade the Great Chanyu to accept peace negotiations?”

“This… this… in my foolish opinion, one should naturally appeal to reason and emotion. Those Xiongnu people have long dwelt on the steppes, so after entering the passes they must feel various discomforts. Starting from this angle, we might be able to persuade them to withdraw. However, the current problem is where the Great Chanyu is located—we must first determine…”

“Go outside the city and ask the Xiongnu,” the Emperor provided the answer, then turned to Qiao Wanfu. This was the envoy he truly had in mind, but unfortunately his position was too low. A temporary promotion might be seen through by the Xiongnu, so he had no choice but to arrange for a chief envoy. “What thoughts does Lord Qiao have?” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Qiao Wanfu was completely unprepared but quickly steadied his mind. “Since these are peace negotiations, may Your Majesty’s objectives be disclosed?”

Han Ruzi nodded slightly. “Naturally. For the Xiongnu to withdraw beyond the frontier.”

“That would be difficult. Does Your Majesty have any lower objectives?”

“For the Xiongnu to withdraw beyond the frontier, with both sides agreeing to be brother nations and opening border markets for mutual trade.”

“Also difficult. Does Your Majesty have even lower objectives?”

“For the Xiongnu to withdraw beyond the frontier, the opening of border markets, and for Great Chu to provide annual compensation, with amounts open to negotiation.”

“Mm, also not easy. Could Your Majesty designate a piece of land within the passes to accommodate the Xiongnu?”

Before the Emperor could speak, Lou Xun was already shocked and dismayed. “The imperial ancestors of Great Chu expanded territory and opened frontiers—how could their descendants simply hand it over to foreigners? Your Majesty, such precedent must never be set. This Lord Qiao speaks recklessly and deserves severe punishment.”

Lou Xun had figured it out—the Emperor truly favored Qiao Wanfu as his envoy, while he himself was merely there to make up numbers. If he could make the Emperor lose confidence in this man, he too would be off the hook.

Qiao Wanfu immediately knelt down, not daring to defend himself.

Lou Xun suddenly found his fighting spirit and continued, “Qiao Wanfu is not conducting peace negotiations but selling out the country. Success or failure is a minor matter, but I fear this would show weakness to the Great Chanyu, making the Xiongnu even more brazen in their siege…”

“We understand Lord Lou’s meaning. Go prepare yourself. You must depart the city tomorrow morning without delay.”

Lou Xun dared not disobey the decree. After hesitating for a moment, he had no choice but to withdraw.

“Rise and speak,” Han Ruzi said.

Qiao Wanfu stood up, hands hanging at his sides, still not quite understanding the Emperor’s intentions.

“Lord Qiao seems to understand the ways of commerce quite well.”

“I fail to master the way of the great sages, so turned to studying such minor arts instead.”

“Each profession has its specialization. The legacy of the great sages must be passed on, but minor arts also need people to study them. Moreover, the ways of commerce benefit all under Heaven—they are not minor arts.”

“Your Majesty’s insight exceeds what I can comprehend.”

Han Ruzi chuckled softly. Any casual remark from the Emperor could earn praise—getting officials to abandon this “habit” would not be easy. “Qiao Wanfu, do you understand why We chose you as deputy envoy?”

“This official is slow-witted and merely follows imperial orders. I dare not presume to fathom the sacred will.”

“With powerful enemies surrounding the city, We need more than ‘following imperial orders.’ Go ahead and ‘presume’ a little.”

Qiao Wanfu was somewhat surprised. Though the Emperor’s voice was weak, he did not sound like someone gravely ill. He could not help but quickly glance up, though he could discern nothing, and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I believe that the Xiongnu are barbarians beyond civilization who do not understand propriety or speak of righteousness. They cannot be persuaded through righteous means. Since they are greedy for profit, I must use commercial methods to entice them.”

Han Ruzi nodded. Qiao Wanfu had not disappointed him. Originally he had many matters to instruct, but now there was no need to say them. “The Great Chanyu will definitely receive you, but this mission is fraught with danger. The Great Chanyu might kill the Chu envoys to vent his anger at any time. Are you prepared?”

“I do not fear death, but Lord Lou…”

“He is Vice Minister of Rites. Serving as envoy to the Xiongnu and maintaining integrity in the face of the enemy is his duty.” Han Ruzi had to dispatch a high-ranking minister no matter what. Lou Xun could only be considered unlucky.

“I understand.”

Han Ruzi thought for a moment. “Absolutely no ceding of territory. For other matters, you may decide as you see fit. I have a secret edict for you that may be shown to Lord Lou when necessary.”

Qiao Wanfu was only the deputy envoy and needed a secret edict to make decisions.

Qiao Wanfu received the edict and withdrew to earnestly prepare for the mission to the Xiongnu. Lou Xun, however, sought ways to delay. With the assistance of some familiar officials, he raised difficulties from numerous details such as horses, attendants, ceremonial staffs, wording of correspondence, opening of city gates, and how to communicate with the Xiongnu outside the city. Each matter required one or two days to resolve.

The Emperor issued three consecutive imperial edicts, each more severe than the last. When night fell, Lou Xun finally gave up resistance and invited friends and relatives from the city to bid tearful farewells.

At dawn the next day, the chief and deputy envoys left the city with six attendants. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd on the city walls, they slowly advanced toward the Xiongnu camp. Half an hour later, they were intercepted by a squadron of Xiongnu cavalry. Rather than shooting them dead, the cavalry escorted them into the camp, and those on the city walls could see them no more.

Han Ruzi once again convened court at his sickbed. This time no one dared speak recklessly, and the court session ended quickly. The Emperor kept Deng Cui behind alone. Most officials disliked this General of Chariots and Cavalry. Thinking he was about to face misfortune gave them some comfort.

But Han Ruzi intended to entrust Deng Cui with an important mission.

“How many troops would General Deng need to repel the Xiongnu?”

“Two hundred thousand could fight a battle, three hundred thousand would ensure victory. With five hundred thousand men, I dare guarantee that not a single Xiongnu would return beyond the frontier.”

Great Chu does not have a ready force of five hundred thousand. Han Ruzi said, “Only the frontier garrisons are numerous. Combined, they might number two or three hundred thousand.”

“But if they come to the rescue piecemeal, I fear they will be consumed within a few months.”

“Therefore I must send General Deng personally to the frontier to coordinate the various armies.”

Imperial Envoy Zhuo Ruhe was already at the frontier assembling troops, and Han Ruzi had also sent people with imperial edicts. But he felt it was not enough. Zhuo Ruhe was a civil official who could not command large armies. There had been no news from Marquis Piyuan, Zhang Yin, at Shattered Iron City. Han Ruzi had to dispatch a great general.

Deng Cui showed no surprise and thought for a moment. “Then I need one month to assemble the great army.”

“Twenty days. Tonight I will send people to escort you out of the city.”

“Very well.” Deng Cui agreed readily, not even asking how the Emperor could send him through the siege, or why the Emperor himself did not escape if escape was possible.

“The escape is a matter of life and death. General Deng must be prepared,” Han Ruzi said.