Chu Envoy Attacked, Three Kingdoms Declare War

Three months later.

Great Liang City, capital of Wei. Qianqing Palace.

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu gathered numerous civil officials to discuss an important matter.

Chu Country, which was about to wage war against Wei Country, had sent envoys who would soon arrive in Daliang, Wei's capital.

The entire Great Wei court erupted into heated debate over this.

"Why has Chu Country sent envoys to Wei at a time like this?" Seated upon the throne, Jian'an Emperor frowned and voiced his question.

Receiving envoys from other countries was one of Minister of Rites Wu Hanwen's chief responsibilities. Seeing Jian'an Emperor raise the question, he stepped forward voluntarily. "In reply to Your Majesty, in this humble subject's view, Chu Country wishes to offer courtesy before resorting to arms, persuading Wei Country to cede its cities. If we refuse, they can use that as a pretext to send troops afterward."

Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat Hong Daowen also stepped forward. "Minister Wu's words are sound. This subject concurs."

Minister of War and Junior Guardian Yu Hezheng said, "Your Majesty, through our combined efforts, the provisions for the garrisons across the land have been fully prepared. The armies of the Three Borderlands have been mobilized, and the appointed generals are successively heading for their respective defensive posts. Should Chu Country behave discourteously, we need only meet their point with our point. Great Wei does not fear Chu Country."

Zhang Qian, Minister of Personnel and Grand Preceptor, suddenly said, "Gentlemen, if Chu Country sent envoys to Wei merely because it wished to offer courtesy before resorting to arms, this humble subject finds that reasoning far too forced."

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu's expression turned serious. "What is Grand Preceptor Zhang's view?"

"Since the Zhou Dynasty, rites and music have collapsed, and warfare has become the way of deceit. The various states favor striking without declaration, catching their enemies unprepared. Chu Country has learned much from the barbarians, rejects ritual teachings, and even takes pride in it. Why would they send a delegation here, seeking courtesy before resorting to arms?"

As soon as Zhang Qian, Minister of Personnel and Grand Preceptor, said this, the other ministers fell into thought.

Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs Xiao Boling and Minister of Works Chen Mou did not quite agree with this view.

Xiao Boling stepped forward and said, "Though Chu Country is indeed barbaric and refuses civilization, we must remember that this time, Chu, Zhao, and Han have formed an alliance to attack Wei. Zhao and Han place great importance on etiquette; they cannot possibly wage war without declaration. They must seek a pretext to claim the righteous cause."

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu said, "So this time, Chu Country intends to make an issue out of these envoys?"

Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs Xiao Boling said, "Precisely. This humble subject believes that once Chu Country approaches Great Liang City, it would be best to send the Golden Guard to receive them, so as to guard against unforeseen mishaps. When two states are at war, envoys are not slain. If Chu Country's envoys encounter trouble within Wei's borders, it will give Chu Country a pretext to seize upon."

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu pondered for a moment before saying, "Beloved Minister Xiao's words are reasonable. Convey my decree: have the Golden Guard General lead a detachment of the Imperial Guard, together with Beloved Minister Wu, to receive Chu Country's envoys outside Great Liang City."

"This subject accepts the order." Wu Hanwen cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

One detachment consisted of two companies, each company having one hundred men. Each company was divided into two teams of fifty, and each team had five squads, with Squad Leaders and Squad Leaders. Thus, this detachment of the Imperial Guard numbered two hundred men.

The Imperial Guard were all Martial Warriors trained in the arts. Such a deployment was enough to deter the petty scoundrels nearby.

Xiao Boling suddenly recalled something and reminded him, "Your Majesty, the Red River Palace Master has broken through to the Creation Realm. We cannot afford to let down our guard. At this time, the Zhengyi Sect Leader must take action."

Zhao Yongxu replied expressionlessly, "I have already made my considerations regarding this matter."

"Your Majesty is wise. This subject was overly concerned."

Seated upon the Dragon Throne, Jian'an Emperor's thoughts were heavy.

A Martial Warrior of the Creation Realm could move mountains and fill seas, standing alone against three armies.

If ordinary soldiers were sent to besiege such a person, they would only throw away their lives in vain.

Against an existence like that, only high-level Martial Warriors could offer some resistance.

The Martial Warrior with the highest cultivation in all Great Wei was the Zhengyi Sect Leader.

Yet Zhao Yongxu had sought him out several times, only for the other man to show little interest each time, using the critical stage of his cultivation as an excuse to put him off for the moment.

He merely said that he would act only when Wei Country faced the crisis of national destruction, leaving Zhao Yongxu helpless.

Zhao Yongxu reminded him, "Beloved Minister Chen, hasten the forging progress of the God-Demon Weapons. They may prove greatly useful in the future."

Minister of Works Chen Mou stepped forward and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. This subject will certainly do his utmost."

According to the diplomatic rites between states, in order to show respect for the country they were visiting, Chu Country's envoys had to first send someone to present their letter of state. Only after receiving the Wei King's permission could they enter Daliang, Wei Country's capital.

Before that, Chu Country's envoys would find a suitable place to set up camp and quietly await the outcome after the letter of state was submitted.

Yet just after Chu Country's envoys submitted their letter of state and Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu received it, he nearly immediately dispatched Minister of Rites Wu Hanwen and the Golden Guard General to receive them.

A full detachment of the Imperial Guard went with them as well.

However, when Wu Hanwen and several other officials arrived at the place where they were to receive Chu Country's envoys, they discovered that every Chu envoy had been slaughtered. Not a single one had survived.

A total of seventy or eighty people had all been silenced.

Wu Hanwen arranged for the Golden Guard General to remain behind, while he himself rushed back to Great Liang City without stopping, bringing back this shocking news.

"Who exactly attacked Chu Country's envoys?" Zhao Yongxu's tone carried a trace of anger.

Minister of Justice Li Yangchun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, grant this subject some time. I will certainly uncover the truth of this matter."

"There is no time. This is Chu Country's scheme. This is exactly what they have been waiting for." Xiao Boling sighed.

Chu Country's envoys had barely arrived in Wei before something happened to them, and it had happened near Great Liang City.

No matter what, Wei Country could not absolve itself of involvement.

But such a major case could not be thoroughly investigated in a day or two.

By then, Chu Country had likely long since made its preparations. Once they received the news, it would be time for Chu, Zhao, and Han to send out their armies.

Even if Wei gave them an explanation, the other side would not accept it.

After all, spring had arrived. It was precisely the right season for war.

A clash of weapons between them was unavoidable.

Just as Xiao Boling had said, after the Chu envoys were attacked, news of it somehow quickly reached Chu Country.

Because the Chu envoys had been killed in Wei Country, Chu Lord Xiong Tuo issued a proclamation of war listing Wei Country's three great crimes.

First, Wei Country had recently mobilized troops and appointed generals throughout the Three Borderlands in succession, revealing its intent to wage war. Chu Country had sent envoys to Great Liang City with the wish for peace, yet they had not even met the Wei King before they were intercepted and killed. Wei Country's purpose was glaringly obvious: it was an act of discourtesy.

Second, Wei Country, as a great state, bullied the weak with its strength, oppressing weak states such as Han Country. In history, it had also destroyed small states such as Wei and Dai. This was a lack of benevolence and righteousness.

Third, for nearly a hundred years, Wei Country had secretly forged God-Demon Weapons, seeking to challenge the Martial Arts order of the world and break the alliance agreement. This was disloyalty toward the Martial Arts Forces of the world.

Thus, beneath these three great crimes, the three kingdoms of Chu, Zhao, and Han, led by Chu Country, formally declared war upon Wei Country. Each gathered armies along the borders and advanced toward Wei Country.

New book—please recommend it, please keep reading.