Side Story Chapter 9: Sharpness Revealed!
As this violet-robed official spoke in a clearly intoxicated voice, Imperial Censor Duan Cao frowned and gave him a stern reprimand. “Lord Zheng, do not discuss court affairs while intoxicated.”
Lord Zheng grew even angrier at Duan Cao’s words, his eyes narrowing in savagery. “Imperial Censor Duan, though you do not like me, the Spring Rain Banquet is to be enjoyed by all officials, and the Turks have even begun to discuss peace. Are you going to criticize me for having a few cups of wine at such a joyous occasion?”
But he was still a veteran official of the court, so he knew that this was an important matter and immediately put down his wine cup. At that moment, his entire demeanor changed, exuding a forceful aura, a refined and trust-instilling dignity.
“Your Majesty, the Turks have sent their First Prince to seek peace, and this alone is enough to express their sincerity. Moreover, that they have sent a treasure shows that they recognize their mistakes. Your subject believes that both countries should value the lives of their people first and cease the war. In this way, we can also display the magnanimity of the Great Tang!
“As for Third Highness’s objections… I view this as merely a wish to sow chaos and discord!”
Lord Zheng respectfully spoke his views to the Tang Emperor, but with his final words, he turned to Li Taiyi sternly.
Li Taiyi raised an eyebrow at Lord Zheng’s words.
He knew that Lord Zheng was part of Li Chengyi’s faction, and he wasn’t surprised at all that this man had come out to make trouble for him.
Nor did he care.
Li Taiyi looked around at the other officials in the Palace of Qilin Virtue. Although Lord Zheng had voiced his objections to Li Taiyi’s words, there were still people in the hall who were against the peace treaty. It was clear that his words had proved effective.
“The Third Prince has misunderstood us.” A voice speaking in awkward Tang language rang out in everyone’s ears. Ashina Cui, his face brimming with respect, turned to Li Taiyi and saluted him. “We Turks are actually warm and hospitable. The reason the two sides fight with each other is misunderstanding. Now that we are discussing peace, strengthening relations, and understanding each other better so as to bring peace for all ages, does this not benefit both countries?”
Though Ashina Cui had a smile on his face, the gaze he aimed at Li Taiyi gleamed with almost imperceptible killing intent.
“There is no need for the First Prince to be so polite. This one is merely voicing his opinion.”
Sensing Ashina Cui’s gaze, Li Taiyi inwardly sneered, but he maintained the smile on his face.
“But I am very curious about one thing. Since your esteemed country has proposed peace, it must have some idea already of some first steps. What are the specifics of the peace treaty?”
“The Third Prince does not need to be concerned. This treaty was drafted by the Turks after careful consideration. The two sides simply need to carve out a piece of territory on the border, both sides withdrawing from it so that the area can become a place where both countries can engage in friendly interactions and deepen their understanding of each other. I am certain that it will reduce the misunderstandings that have built up over many years.
“And it can also avoid wars caused by these misunderstandings!” Ashina Cui said.
As he spoke, Ashina Cui saw that Li Taiyi had a mocking smile on his lips. For some reason, his heart thumped in ill foreboding.
“First Prince, how much would this distance be?”
“One hundred…”
Ashina Cui unconsciously began to say his prepared reply, but he suddenly realized something and immediately fell silent.
As all the officials were confused as to why Ashina Cui had fallen silent, the Tang Emperor suddenly spoke. “Both sides will retreat one hundred li.”
This left all the officials even more confused.
“Both sides will retreat one hundred li?”
Li Taiyi first bowed to the Emperor, and then, appearing ‘confused’, he turned to another court official.
“Minister Zhou, if both sides withdrew one hundred li, where would we be withdrawing to?”
“Third Prince, let this subject think…” Minister of Revenue Zhou Jing hadn’t expected Li Taiyi to suddenly turn to him, and he froze for a moment. However, he soon gave the answer. “It should be Feng City.”
“So it is Feng City. That should be a small city on the edge of the Yin Mountains? If so… doesn’t that mean that we would be ceding the strategic area of the Yin Mountains?”
Li Taiyi appeared enlightened, and as he spoke, he subtly glanced at the nearby Ashina Cui.
The hall instantly fell silent, deathly still, as all the officials were stupefied.
A mere one hundred li was nothing to the vast Great Tang, but if this one hundred included a strategic area, then it was unacceptable.
As Prince Xuan had said, the area past the Yin Mountains was flat and featureless, devoid of natural barriers. If the Turks tore up the treaty and attacked, the Great Tang would be unable to bear the result.
The moment Li Taiyi had spoken, Ashina Cui paled, his heart thumping in dismay, and he stared at Li Taiyi in shock.
Had the Third Prince of the Great Tang intentionally asked this question, or was it by accident that he had exposed this point?!
Regardless, Ashina Cui had never imagined this.
Before entering the capital, Ashina Cui had already ordered someone to investigate everything. The Spring Rain Banquet and Wei Yuanzhong had all been part of his plan.
He had heard of the Third Prince’s infamous reputation and had treated him with little regard. He had never imagined that this sort of pleasure-loving Prince would expose the one point that the Turks wanted to hide the most!
Ashina Cui shot an imperceptible glance at Li Taiyi that was tinged with hatred and killing intent.
Besides Ashina Cui, Lingwu Circuit Army General Commander Wei Yuanzhong also understood.
Though he didn’t know if the Third Prince had done this on purpose, that he could ask such a critical question showed that this Prince was not a simple character!
Wei Yuanzhong couldn’t help but cast a glance of praise at the Third Prince.
On the throne of the Palace of Qilin Virtue, the Tang Emperor maintained the unreadable look on his face, so only he understood how surprised he was.
Even he had not realized this detail his son had spoken of!
When the Tang Emperor looked at Li Taiyi again, his gaze had somewhat changed.
Although Ashina Cui scowled, he immediately reacted and hastily said, “We Turks went to considerable lengths to compromise on this peace treaty.” But if one looked carefully, one would realize that his smile was extremely unnatural.
“We Turks are taking the matter of the peace treaty very sincerely. With regards to the exact details, we naturally must earnestly discuss them,” Ashina Cui said as he mentally ground his teeth.
The discussion on the peace treaty quickly started back up.
The officials now had their attention on the Yin Mountains, and no matter how many times the Turks insisted on including this area, they obstinately refused to give ground.
No matter how much the civil officials disliked war, they still understood this matter. And when it came to peace talks, how could the uncivilized Turks out-talk the civil officials of the Great Tang?
Seeing this, Li Taiyi nodded and sipped his wine.
He had reached his goal and could now withdraw in success. Regardless of what happened in the future, he had already warned everyone.
“Your Majesty, the protectorates on all sides experience war throughout the year, placing a massive burden on the people. This subject believes that peace should be made.”
“Your majesty, since ancient times, the Turks have been difficult to read, and if we make peace, how can we explain ourselves to the soldiers and generals slain in battle? This subject opposes peace!”
“This subject believes…!”
……
……
The debate went on for some time, so long that even the rain outside the Palace of Qilin Virtue stopped, the clouds pulling away to reveal the moon. Drenched in rain, the Palace of Qilin Virtue glistened like a jewel.
Cough, cough!
Suddenly, as the officials continued to debate, the Tang Emperor lightly coughed.
All the officials instantly stopped talking and worriedly looked at the Emperor.
The Emperor’s brows were creased, and he seemed to be extremely unwell.
“Your Majesty, nothing concerning the sovereign is a minor matter. Forgive this subject’s boldness, but is Your Majesty well?” an imperial censor suddenly asked, his eyes brimming with concern.
“It is nothing. We simply feel an occasional chill.”
The Tang Emperor waved a hand and took a cup of tea from Eunuch Li. As he slowly drank it down, his expression began to improve.
“First Prince, this is a matter of great importance, so let the debate end for today, to be discussed at a later date.
“We are rather tired. Honored officials, this will be discussed in the future!”
The Tang Emperor passed his eyes over the officials as he spoke.
“This lowly subject obeys the decree!”
“The subjects respectfully send off the Emperor!”
The officials immediately bowed and expressed their agreement. After all, the Tang Emperor’s health was of the utmost importance.
Turkic First Prince Ashina Cui, though reluctant, had to stifle his rage and send off the Tang Emperor. After all, he was within the Great Tang, not on the steppe.
The Tang Emperor quickly departed from the hall.
With the Emperor’s departure, the Spring Rain Banquet came to a close, and the officials began to file out.
Meanwhile, Li Taiyi continued to sip his wine, in no hurry to leave. He looked around, and upon seeing a stalwart figure standing nearby, he put down his cup and walked over.
“General Wei, please hold!” Li Taiyi called out.
“Third Highness!”
Wei Yuanzhong, who was preparing to leave, immediately turned around with confusion on his face.
He had rarely interacted with the Third Prince, so why had the Third Prince called out to him?
But Wei Yuanzhong quickly came to his senses and said, “Your Highness, thank you for your assistance today.”
“There is no need for General Wei to be so polite. Everyone knows that the Turks are ambitious people, and as a Prince of the Great Tang, I only did my duty.
“Right, I have heard that General Wei will soon return to the Lingwu Circuit to guard the passes. The north is a dangerous place, and General Wei must never relax your guard,” Li Taiyi sternly said.
Though it was a simple order, Wei Yuanzhong couldn’t help but ponder it more deeply upon seeing the solemn look on Li Taiyi’s face.
He had already heard about Prince Xuan’s stained record, but still, the eyes were more trustworthy than the ears. His execution of Huoyuan at the imperial horse track and his illuminating a critical point in the Turkic peace treaty made him seem very different from what the rumors had said.
In his eyes, Li Taiyi was an outstanding talent that could be molded!
In his view, those rumors were nothing more than a consequence of the War of the Princes.
Wei Yuanzhong quickly got ahold of himself and sternly said, “This subject will remember Your Highness’s words.” He saluted Li Taiyi and left.
In the distance, escorted by the servants, Second Prince Li Chengyi saw Wei Yuanzhong chatting with Li Taiyi. His expression chilled as he turned around in a huff and left.