The Glory After Rebirth [重生之尊荣]

Chapter 502- 504

Chapter 502: A Peace Negotiator from the Wan Kingdom?

As Ling Zhang hiding among members of a caravan affiliated to Jiahe Chamber of Commerce entered Jifang City, Yuwen Tong received a message from the Wan army, which said that an envoy of the Wan Kingdom was on his way to seek an audience with Yuwen Tong.

"Why did they send an envoy here at this point in time?" said Yuwen Jin.

Chen Jing's army had been retreating in defeat again and again. He seriously believed that he could save the day by merely sending out an envoy?

"Sire, this might be some kind of trick." Yao Yi and the other bodyguards of Yuwen Tong's, who knew that someone whose identity was unknown was planning to take revenge on Yuwen Tong, instantly tensed up. Naturally, they were on full alert for the Wan envoy who was heading for their encampment to seek an audience in these circumstances.

"Is the Wan Kingdom planning to sue for peace, by any chance?" said one of the officers.

Xiao Jiangyue shook his head. "They would be showing a blatant disregard for us if they sue for peace at this point in time. I mean, we've taken Langqiao City and occupied the whole south of the Wan Kingdom. From the vantage point of the present, there's no way their troops could stop us from taking more cities. If they want to sue for peace, the terms they'll have to offer would be the cession of all the cities we've taken or reducing the Wan Kingdom to a tributary of the Great Wen, but I don't think the Wan Kingdom would give up that easily. Even if they really make that offer, and that's a big if, on no account would we accept it."

Given how things stood in this war, what made the Wan Kingdom think they were still in a position to sue for peace? The troops in Jifang City? Their northern garrisons that could move south? They seriously believed they would be able to hold the army of the Great Wen at bay with these two forces? They were too naive.

Yuwen Tong thought for a while and then said, "It does no harm for me to grant their envoy an audience. I'll find out what it is they're up to."

Xiao Jiangyue and the others also felt that there was no harm in Yuwen Tong's meeting the envoy. They wouldn't suffer any losses anyway. They just wanted to ascertain what game the Wan Kingdom was playing.

...

The Wan envoy soon arrived. He acted quite humbly when he was brought to Yuwen Tong. "We want to make peace with the Great Wen."

It turned out the envoy was indeed here to sue for peace, but currently it was manifest that the two sides were not on equal terms. Besides, the Great Wen had nothing to gain by signing a peace accord. What made these people of the Wan Kingdom think they would agree?

Yuwen Tong, who couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush, directly said, "You're in no position to sue for peace. More than half of your country is under my control. Considering Langqiao City has fallen, it's only a matter of time before my army flatten the Wan capital. Why would I agree to make peace with you?"

The look on the envoy's face instantly went ugly. In a disapproving tone of voice, he replied, "No offence, but don't you think you're being overconfident, Your Majesty? There's no way your men could breach the defense of Jifang City. On top of that, a Luohai army has mustered outside Youzhou Pass. If you want to stop them from taking Youzhou Pass, you'll have no choice but to sent your North-western Army back. How are you going to take Jifang City without the North-western Army? Besides, your troops, who have come a long way and been through so many fights, have some time ago been tired out. Soon our northern garrisons would arrive to rendezvous with our troops in Jifang City. How long do you think your men would last under their concerted attack? It's a far better choice to put an end to this war which is taking a heavy toll on the economy of both sides than it is to continue it. We're willing to cede the two south-western prefectures to you as a demonstration of our sincerity."