Chapter 101: Undercurrents of Peace Negotiations

Huzi knew better than to ask too many questions when his master was this livid. He busied himself with cleaning the floor of coals with a broom and dustpan. He also made sure to summon an inn employee to relight the brazier. As he waited for Pang Xiao to cool off, the guard also personally brewed a cup of tea for his master. When he saw the prince’s expression lighten slightly, he finally dared voice the questions burning the tip of his tongue. “Why would His Majesty suddenly speak of peace? We’ve always had the upper hand in the war. It should be Great Yan begging for peace. Why are we the ones to speak of it first?”

Pang Xiao swept his robe aside to sit on a round chair. A mocking lilt curved his lips. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Master, I don’t understand.” Huzi scratched his head curiously.

“We’ve fought Northern Ji for so many years now, and then picked up the mess that was the country after a hard victory. We then declared war on Great Yan almost immediately, disregarding the Tatars to the north who have always been harassing, raiding, and looting us. Ji Zeyu’s men in the north need rations and feed as well. How deep do you think our nation’s vaults go?”

“But… but Great Zhou’s armies are strong…”

“The fiercest soldier and strongest horse has strength only if they’re fed. Did the emperor declare war on Great Yan right after his coronation only because he wants to unite the world?”

Huzi blinked and ‘ohhhh’ed in comprehension after a long while. “I get it! His Majesty wants the rich land that Great Yan sits on. Not to mention how easy of a target they are, so he wanted to fight a war to feed another war.”

Pang Xiao poured himself another cup of tea and sipped it slowly. Huzi paced in several circles and then smacked his forehead. “His Majesty doesn’t really want peace, does he? We are… out of silver for the front lines? The emperor’s lying about the negotiations so that… we get a sum of silver to continue the war?”

Pang Xiao nodded absently as he stared at the white porcelain teacup in his hand. His gaze was unfathomably deep.

“Tsk tsk, this makes things interesting. Those Great Yan idiots want nothing more than peace. They’ll probably come with all the sincerity they have. That’s why old fart Weichi forced Qin Huaiyuan to offer up the Qin fourth miss. If they go through the negotiations and then discover it to be all a sham, won’t their citizens be furious?”

“Great Yan citizenry is already up in arms.” Pang Xiao firmly poked the teacup with a callused finger, sending it spinning round and round. “That old fart Weichi favors the trampress and savages his loyal subjects. Whether it’s the death of Imperial Physician Tang, Sun Yuanming, or the execution of all the Duke of Ding’s male relatives, all of this has only enabled the people to see how trash their emperor is. A coward to the bone, to think nothing of the life and death of the ordinary people and soldiers. Whenever trouble knocks, he sends his loyal subjects to answer the door. After a string of events like this, both Great Yan’s citizens and army will be completely disappointed in their emperor. This, is what His Majesty wants.”

“So that’s why the emperor wanted Sun Yu’s brains.” Huzi understood it all now. “He wanted to enrage the populace and drive them to hate their emperor even more.”