The Child Emperor-Chapter 342: The Emperor’s Dilemma
The Xiongnu forces withdrew as agreed, positioning themselves about five miles from the hastily constructed negotiation tent, two miles farther back than the Chu forces. However, the terrain was flat with no walls for obstruction, so once an attack was launched, this slight disadvantage would quickly disappear.
The tent was well-positioned on a high ground with an open view. Wang He stood guard on horseback outside, watching the Xiongnu army in the distance, ready to sound a warning at any moment, while Meng E stayed close to the Emperor’s side.
The Xiongnu side had made similar arrangements: two people entered the tent while one remained outside on guard. However, this guard paid little attention to the movements of the Jincheng City forces. He dismounted and sat on a rock, carefully polishing his blade, occasionally glancing at the Emperor’s guards with a look of disdain.
Jin Chuiduo did not recognize Meng E, nor did she notice she was a woman in disguise. After entering the tent, she sat on the felt carpet like a Xiongnu, with her attendant standing guard beside her, appearing to attach little importance to these negotiations.
Only Jin Chuiduo seemed to care.
“You shouldn’t have brought so few people on your northern tour,” Jin Chuiduo’s first words carried a tone of reproach.
“The Great Chanyu shouldn’t have led the Xiongnu south through the passes either,” Han Ruzi smiled. Jin Chuiduo was still as beautiful as ever. Unlike Zhang Qinyan who bewitched men’s souls, Jin Chuiduo possessed extraordinary beauty but was unwilling to display it, striving to suppress it with seriousness and pride. Zhang Qinyan, on the other hand, used her gaze and techniques to enhance her beauty. Han Ruzi thought that neither woman had completely succeeded in their aims.
“In time to come, many people will frequently mention my mistakes – there’s no rush for this moment.” Han Ruzi could imagine that if he survived this ordeal, he would probably never be able to leave the Capital again.
Jin Chuiduo lowered her gaze, then looked up and said, “The Great Chanyu hopes you will be the Emperor of Great Chu. He says he needs a powerful ally, not a weak vassal. Only this way can we jointly face the strong enemies from the west.”
“Indeed, and I need an ally on the steppes, not an invader within the Great Wall. The Xiongnu must withdraw from Chu territory.”
Jin Chuiduo leaned forward slightly toward the Emperor across from her and said, “The person beside me doesn’t understand Chu language, so I can speak frankly to you: The Great Chanyu will not give up the territory he has already gained. His desire for the protection of city walls has reached an obsessive degree. All negotiations can only proceed on this basis. I came here to save your life, because… you once saved the Jin family.”
“Then I might as well speak frankly too. I will not be the first Great Chu Emperor to cede territory. The Great Chanyu understands this as well. He sent you to negotiate only as a feint. His real purpose is to free up his hands to annihilate the Chu forces beyond the frontier.”
When a person finds themselves in desperate straits, they often give rise to various fantasies, always thinking that gold will fall from the sky, treasures will surge from the water, or lost valuables will be found on the ground… Han Ruzi was no exception to this common tendency. But after learning about the situation in various regions from Cai Xinghai, he had calmed down, abandoned his fantasies, and made only the simplest deductions.
Thus the truth suddenly became clear.
“What the Great Chanyu wants is not just a section of wall, but the entire Great Wall. This way, there would be natural defenses in the north, and he could threaten Great Chu at any time when moving south. He needs a powerful ally, but this ally must be obedient and accept his command.”
Jin Chuiduo sighed softly. Naturally, the Great Chanyu would not tell her his complete plan, but based on her understanding, Han Ruzi’s guess would not be wrong. “Even so, you could still survive and have the chance to recover the lost territory…”
Han Ruzi smiled again. “I am the Emperor, the Emperor of Great Chu. I would rather die here and let the Capital establish a new ruler than bear the crime of leaving Great Chu’s territory broken and divided.”
Jin Chuiduo stared at him, remained silent for a while, then said, “The envoys sent from the Capital didn’t say this. They were willing to pay any price just to exchange for your life.”
The envoy Han Ruzi had sent was Qiao Wanfu, who held a low position, while the capital’s envoy was Minister of Personnel Feng Ju. When the two groups met, only the latter could make decisions.
“The Capital’s envoy acts according to my mother’s wishes. The decisions he makes don’t count.”
Jin Chuiduo resumed her normal sitting posture. “Then what do you plan to do? Just wait here to die for your country?”
“I haven’t reached the point where I must die: there are loyal ministers holding the Capital, large armies gathering in the north, and in the south Chai Yue leads troops, currently attacking the Yan region. His choice is very correct. The Great Chanyu must also feel the threat from the south, which is why he wants to negotiate.”
“So you’re saying that you came out of the city to negotiate with me just to buy time?”
“I’m here to ask for your help, to ask you to help me delay for a little time, even if it’s just a few days.”
Jin Chuiduo pondered for a long while. “The Qi army in Linzi City has already made promises to the Great Chanyu’s envoys. They will soon mobilize all their forces to launch an attack on Chai Yue’s army from the rear, with the Xiongnu forces moving south in coordination. The Great Chanyu isn’t solely focused on defeating the Chu army beyond the frontier—he’s waiting for the right moment. When that time comes, you won’t even have a chance to negotiate.”
“I trust the generals of Great Chu and am willing to take the risk.”
“You always…” Jin Chuiduo showed some reproach again, then immediately restrained herself. “Very well, I’ll tell the Great Chanyu that you’re interested in negotiations, but you want to meet with the envoy from the Capital first to discuss the situation. With messages going back and forth, perhaps I can buy you a few days.”
“Thank you.”
“This is just a small repayment.” Jin Chuiduo stood up. “By the way, you need to compensate the Right Wise King with a Great Chu princess.”
“Hm?”
“One of your deserters ran off with the Right Wise King’s favorite concubine.”
Han Ruzi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Jin Chuiduo’s lips twitched, suppressing a smile. “No matter what background this deserter has, what he did was too excessive. The Right Wise King is putting this debt on your account, claiming that if negotiations succeed, Great Chu must compensate him with a princess. If they fail, he’ll grab one from the Capital.”
Han Ruzi’s smile faded. If the main Chu forces suffered successive defeats, the Right Wise King’s threat would no longer be a joke. “Fine.”
Since the negotiations were just for delay anyway, Han Ruzi could temporarily accept any conditions.
Jin Chuiduo walked to the door and turned back. “I can understand your choice.”
Jin Chuiduo had been resolute in her desire to return to the steppes as a Xiongnu. She did not regret it even though it caused her father’s death. In a certain sense, she truly understood Han Ruzi’s feelings of preferring to die in battle rather than submit to the Great Chanyu. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
After the Xiongnu woman left, Han Ruzi sat in place for a while longer. Meng E quietly reminded him, “It’s time to go back.”
The entire city of Jincheng was in extreme tension. Seeing the emperor’s return, they opened the gates early to welcome him, with cheers continuing from the city gate all the way to Prince Dai’s mansion.
Jin Chuiduo hadn’t promised how long the ceasefire would last, nor had she explained how she would restrain the Right Wise King, so Han Ruzi couldn’t rest easy staying in the city. He only reduced the number of guards on duty, giving everyone a chance to rest.
At dusk, he attended Chao Hua’s funeral. This was wartime, separated from his hometown by countless mountains and rivers, so they could only use cremation. Chao Hua and numerous soldiers’ bodies were all cremated in a corner of the city, then buried underground to prevent future humiliation by the Xiongnu.
It wasn’t until deep into the night that Han Ruzi returned to his quarters. Fan Zhuangshan sent word that the Xiongnu indeed hadn’t moved forward on a large scale, but had sent small units to guard the siege engines outside the city. Fan Zhuangshan wanted to lead troops out of the city for a surprise attack.
Han Ruzi didn’t allow it. The Xiongnu couldn’t possibly let the Chu army succeed in a second surprise attack—they must have a counterattack plan. Moreover, Jin Chuiduo was working hard to facilitate negotiations, so there was no need to stir up trouble.
He couldn’t sleep and couldn’t focus on reading. After eating a little food, he dismissed everyone and paced back and forth alone in his study.
Prince Donghai, who should have been resting, came over. Without saying anything, he sat at the table and flipped through the books placed there.
Han Ruzi guessed that either Liu Jie or Zhang Youcai had called Prince Donghai over. He couldn’t help but sigh softly. An emperor’s hesitation and anxiety shouldn’t be seen by anyone, but what could be hidden from the eunuchs who served him personally?
“You’ve read quite a few history books?” Han Ruzi stopped pacing, indeed needing someone to talk to.
“I’ve read all the ones I should have. No choice—the old teachers kept a close watch.” Prince Donghai put down the book and turned around.
“I wish I could be like the emperors in books, always calm and composed, prophetic, able to solve all problems with a single display of imperial anger.”
“Court historians are also officials. However Your Majesty speaks, that’s how they write. In the national histories, Your Majesty will surely not be inferior to the Martial Emperor.”
“Ha! The Martial Emperor expanded territory and greatly defeated the Xiongnu. How can I compare to him?”
“During the Martial Emperor’s time, the nation was wealthy and the people strong. This is what they call the right time—even if our grandfather had been a mediocre emperor, he could have accomplished great deeds. Your Majesty faces a chaotic world and is about to establish the merit of bringing the dead back to life. How could you be inferior to the Martial Emperor?”
When he was willing, Prince Donghai was indeed skilled at pleasing others, especially at pleasing emperors. Han Ruzi smiled and shook his head. Such flattery held little meaning for him, but it was indeed pleasant to hear. Gradually, his smile faded as he remained troubled by that question.
“When returning to the city, the soldiers and civilians cheered. I wondered whether what I did was truly right. I refused to surrender to the Great Chanyu, and in the end I might cause the death of everyone in the city. If I had surrendered…” Han Ruzi sighed deeply. “If I could make the Great Chanyu believe my surrender was sincere, he might spare Jincheng City.”
Prince Donghai did not speak immediately. After waiting a moment, he said, “Allow me to speak words of great treason. If I were emperor, I would certainly surrender. Whatever the Xiongnu wanted, I would give them. I would have only one request—to let me continue being emperor. Even if only half the realm remained, I would be willing.”
This was exactly what his mother, Maiden Wang, had wanted. Han Ruzi made no response.
Prince Donghai stood up. “That is why I could not compete with Your Majesty, why I am not emperor, why no one is willing to fight for me. Does Your Majesty still not understand? The subjects and people of Great Chu once distanced themselves from the court and remained uninvolved. When the Graceful Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Your Majesty first ascended the throne, none could move them to action. But now, with Your Majesty under siege, Great Chu has not fallen into chaos. The court in the Capital still functions, Feng Shili defends the western passes to the death, Cui Hong and Chai Yue prepare for decisive battle with the Great Chanyu, and Chu forces beyond the frontier gather in ever greater numbers… All of this has only one reason: Your Majesty persists, so they too persist.”
Han Ruzi showed a forced smile. Only he knew how difficult such persistence was.
“Sometimes things are just this strange. At Great Chu’s most critical moment, when Your Majesty faces mortal danger, Your Majesty’s imperial position is also most secure.” Prince Donghai bowed. These words were spoken not only to the emperor but also to himself—he had finally lost all possibility of competing for the throne.
“I need to rest,” Han Ruzi said, his mood growing calm.
Prince Donghai bowed and withdrew.
Han Ruzi returned to his bedchamber to rest. Not long after, the sound of a zither came from outside. Its mood was different from before—mournful and stirring, like a funeral dirge.
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