A War of Words with the Envoys

Several days later, Yan Prefecture City.

That day, Yan Prefecture City buzzed with voices. The townspeople had gathered early along the main avenue leading to the Yan Prefecture County Office, craning their necks toward the city gates.

The envoys from Northern Liang were due to enter the city that day to discuss peace with Western Chu.

The sun in the east climbed steadily higher.

The crowd, which had been waiting for some time, slowly began to stir.

A procession had appeared ahead.

It was the escort accompanying Northern Liang's envoys to the peace talks in Yan Prefecture.

At its head, two Western Chu thousand-household commanders sat solemnly on horseback, leading the way at a measured pace.

On either side, spear-bearing soldiers marched alongside two carriages.

They passed along the city's main avenue without looking to either side, heading straight toward the County Office.

Yang Qing had already been waiting there with Dai Sheng and the other officials of the Yan Prefecture County Office.

The Northern Liang delegation slowly arrived before the County Office.

The two officers leading the procession dismounted and went to the carriage behind them, one on either side.

The carriage curtain was drawn aside, and a man wearing the official robes of Northern Liang stepped out.

His gaze swept slowly over the surrounding crowd before settling on the men standing outside the County Office.

The moment Yang Qing saw him, everything he knew about the man sprang to mind.

Northern Liang had certainly made a full show of sincerity for these peace talks. Its chief negotiator was Liu Mengde, the reigning court's left chancellor.

Liu Mengde enjoyed considerable prestige in Northern Liang. He was also a remonstrating minister and a veteran of three reigns, deeply trusted by Northern Liang's sovereign, Cheng Ziqian.

In sending him to Western Chu to negotiate peace, Cheng Ziqian clearly hoped to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

Still, how things would unfold remained to be discussed.

Yang Qing had already gotten a clear look at the man stepping out of the second carriage.

He was Du Liangcai, Northern Liang's vice minister of rites and an able official of its current court.

Du Liangcai was reputed to be a confidant of Northern Liang's Regent King, Cheng Hongzhuo, which was why he had attained such high office at so young an age.

One was a man trusted by Northern Liang's sovereign; the other was a rising favorite at court.

With these two chosen as envoys to Western Chu, Yang Qing thought, The next few days should be lively indeed.

These thoughts flickered through Yang Qing's mind before he put them aside.

Looking up, he saw Liu Mengde and Du Liangcai approaching them, one behind the other.

"You must be the renowned Yang Chengming, Military Commissioner Yang?"

Liu Mengde came up to Yang Qing and looked him over, smiling. "Lord Yang, you have accomplished much at such a young age. I truly admire you."

Yang Qing returned his salute. "You flatter me, Chancellor Liu. I merely take my sovereign's stipend and serve him faithfully."

"You recognize me as well, Lord Yang?" Liu Mengde gave Yang Qing a rather surprised look.

"Your illustrious reputation has spread far and wide, Chancellor Liu. Even here in distant Western Chu, I have heard of some of your deeds. Having the good fortune to meet you today is truly one of life's blessings."

Yang Qing's voice was quiet, without the slightest inflection.

Liu Mengde was about to respond when Du Liangcai spoke from behind him. "I, too, have heard of you, Lord Yang. They say you excel at plotting and often win through trickery. Meeting you today, however, has rather surprised me."

Yang Qing glanced at Du Liangcai. "The military classics say that in war, deception knows no bounds. They also say it is hard to leave one's native soil. To keep my fellow countrymen from abandoning their homes and wells, I can only do everything in my power to protect their homeland."

"What you say is true, Lord Yang," Du Liangcai replied. "But with so many remarkable achievements to your name, I imagine the emperor of my humble country greatly admires you. High office and a generous stipend must be just around the corner."

"Glory in life and an empty name after death are hardly worth mentioning. You, on the other hand, Lord Du, have accomplished much at a young age. You are truly an example to us all."

Yang Qing had barely finished speaking when a low ripple of laughter came from the escorts behind Du Liangcai.

The less-than-glorious circumstances behind Du Liangcai's rise were no secret in Northern Liang.

As the escorts for this mission, the Western Chu officers and soldiers naturally knew something of the two envoys' backgrounds.

Yang Qing's words struck a chord, and they laughed.

Du Liangcai was furious. He turned to look, but could not find the source of the laughter.

Turning back, he said to Yang Qing, "We have been left standing idly outside this County Office for half the day. Is this how Western Chu treats its guests?"

Yang Qing did not answer. Instead, Dai Sheng interjected, "We had refreshments prepared inside long ago and intended to invite you both in. But you seemed to be enjoying such a pleasant conversation with our Lord Yang that I did not wish to interrupt, and so..."

Du Liangcai's anger flared even higher, but there was nothing he could fault in Dai Sheng's words. He could only fling his sleeve in indignation. "Lead the way, then!"

Throughout the exchange between Du Liangcai and Yang Qing, Liu Mengde stood quietly to one side, showing no desire whatsoever to intervene.

This only made Du Liangcai angrier. He said to Liu Mengde, "Left Chancellor, we represent His Majesty's honor here in Western Chu."

Liu Mengde smiled faintly. "Of course I understand that. But you seem a little too eager, Lord Du."

"You!"

Du Liangcai snorted coldly again, shook out his sleeves, and strode past Liu Mengde to enter the Yan Prefecture County Office first.

The second hall of the Yan Prefecture County Office.

Yang Qing and Dai Sheng sat opposite Liu Mengde and Du Liangcai, but for the moment, no one spoke first.

After a long silence, Liu Mengde said, "We have come at His Majesty's command to discuss certain matters with Western Chu."

"Please proceed, Chancellor Liu," Yang Qing said calmly.

"Since ancient times, Northern Liang and Western Chu have depended on each other like lips and teeth, supporting one another like horns on either flank. Although disputes have occasionally arisen between our countries, both have still managed to live in peace. Mindful of the hardships our people endure and their struggle to survive, my sovereign has sent this old minister to Western Chu."

"Our emperor shares that wish. He seeks only a lasting end to war between our countries, so that our peoples may rest and recover."

Yang Qing took up the conversation.

"His Majesty sent me here for two purposes. First, we hope to open trade routes between our countries, allowing each to supply what the other lacks. Second, we wish to establish a horse ranch on Yan Mountain."

"Northern Liang's warhorses are strong and sturdy, far beyond ordinary horses. However, our country has little land and many people, leaving us without more suitable places to raise them. We therefore hope to establish a horse ranch at the northern foot of Yan Mountain."

"Of course, once these horses have been raised, Western Chu will have first choice in purchasing them, at prices more favorable than those offered to other countries."

Yang Qing nodded slightly. "Your proposals are certainly reasonable, Chancellor Liu. Trade between our countries should present no great difficulty. Establishing a horse ranch, however, requires further discussion."

Then Yang Qing smiled. "Since Northern Liang has come with sincerity, we will consider the matter sincerely as well. There is no need to rush."

"You have both traveled a long way and must be exhausted. Lodgings have already been prepared for you at the guest residence. Why not go there now?"

"Yang! Whether you agree or not is a matter of a single word. What do you mean by putting us off with one excuse after another?"

Yang Qing was still speaking with Liu Mengde when Du Liangcai slapped the table and sprang to his feet.

"To you, Lord Du, these may be mere trifles. But to the people of Western Chu, they are matters as weighty as the heavens."

"Moreover, your proposal involves establishing a horse ranch on our Yan Mountain. This is a matter of great consequence, and we must proceed with caution."

"Lord Du, do not be hasty!"