Negotiation 3

“I swear not to refuse sleeping in the open, being blown by the wind while eating.”

Lusufengcan shibu ci (露宿風餐誓不辭).

“Drinking the fresh blood of enemy generals as rouge.”

Yinjiang xianxue dai yanzhi (飲將鮮血代胭脂).

“The victory song sung on horseback is the Qingping tune.”

Kaige mashang qingping qu (凱歌馬上清平曲).

“It is not the time when Wang Zhaojun left for the frontier.”

Bushi Zhaojun chusai shi (不是昭君出塞時).

As the recitation ended, the frozen air in the official residence seemed to melt all at once, causing a stir.

The poem I recited was the third of four poems given by the Chongzhen Emperor to Qin Liangyu, the only female general to have her name recorded in the 24 officially recognized histories of China.

I had liked and memorized it, but never thought I’d actually use it like this. Indeed, the saying that it’s never bad to memorize and learn was right.

Befitting the greatest literati of the time, praised as the Three Caos along with his two sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi who inherited his talent for literature, Cao Cao closed his eyes and moved his lips as if savoring the poem.

Seeming to have grasped the meaning contained in the poem, Cao Cao opened his eyes halfway and asked:

“‘It is not the time when Wang Zhaojun left for the frontier.’ The Zhaojun mentioned in the last line is related to what I said earlier?”

It was a coincidence, but Cao Cao seemed to firmly believe it. True to his passion for poetry, his eyes shone as if asking for my interpretation.

When I nodded, Cao Cao looked satisfied as if he had expected it, but at the same time, his expression hardened and he smiled bitterly.

He had realized what I was trying to convey through that poem.

The last four lines that Cao Cao pointed out. Wang Zhaojun goes to marry the Xiongnu at the frontier for peace. However, the poem claims it is not that time, meaning that she has come out for struggle, not peace.

It was a poem with consistent content.

The fighting spirit to never retreat and fight to the end.

The resolve of unyielding determination not to be swayed by your bluff.

Cao Cao seemed to sense that he didn’t have much time left. Although there’s a possibility he might live longer than in the original history by burning his will to live with strong vengeance, it’s more reasonable that his physical fatigue and mental stress would increase, shortening his lifespan instead.

Reading that I had no intention of backing down at all, Cao Cao hid his disappointment and withdrew his initial proposal. Yet he naturally packaged it as if he was doing us a favor.

“I heard a good poem. And that resolute mindset as well. Good. I’ll hear your proposal.”

I had stepped forward, but the overall person in charge of this negotiation was still Guan Yu. When I turned to look at Guan Yu, he nodded as if telling me to do as I pleased and stepped back, acting relaxed.

“In exchange for returning the prisoners, we will set the border between our two countries at Xinye, and receive the territory south of it.”

“And?”

“We will determine the duration of the ceasefire.”

“How absurd. Not setting a date means the ceasefire will last until you attack again, doesn’t it?”

It was as Cao Cao interpreted.

As I acknowledged this, from among the Wei officials listening on the side, a military officer suddenly jumped out. It was a face I had seen before, Xu Huang.

“King of Wei! There’s no need to listen any further. If they want a quick battle, we should just give it to them!”

The one who refuted Xu Huang’s claim was not from our side, but Zhang Ji, the envoy who had come as a messenger.

“Marquis Doting, please restrain your words! Have you forgotten that Marquis Anping is a prisoner?”

“This is a matter of national importance. I too admire Marquis Anping and know how valuable he is. But even he would not want this important matter to go wrong because of him.”

As Zhang Ji and Xu Huang’s voices grew louder, other ministers also added their opinions, and the inside of the official residence became noisy.

“Enough. That’s enough. I’ll follow the proposal.”

“King of Wei!”

“King of Wei!”

Xu Huang and Zhang Ji, who had been opposing each other, now tried to stop Cao Cao in unison. But Cao Cao shook his head and firmed his resolve.

“Zitong (Zhang Ji’s courtesy name), it seems their preparations were more thorough than your strategy.”

Zhang Ji, who had advised bringing in Sun Quan, looked as if he might shed tears from excessive remorse and prostrated himself before Cao Cao, kowtowing.

“It’s all due to my lack! I will gladly accept any punishment!”

“How could this be your fault? It’s because I was careless, who should I blame?”

Cao Cao let out a long sigh.

After the unbelievable great defeat at Chibi, Cao Cao had suffered continuous defeats in the war against Liu Bei, so how complicated must his feelings be? But Cao Cao was Cao Cao.

“I accept the ceasefire. We’ll use Xinye as the border. In return, I want not only the prisoners from Fancheng, but also Yu Jin and the Seven Armies returned.”

This was not my domain. As I turned to look at Guan Yu, he stepped forward, realizing it was his turn.

“We will follow Your Excellency’s conditions.”

As Guan Yu bowed his head with a formal salute, he was full of courtesy as if addressing Liu Bei. For him, it must have been a negotiation that went better than expected, so he might have felt that Cao Cao was being considerate.

Rather, this was a negotiation where we made concessions to quickly eliminate the uncertainty in the south.

“Are you leaving right away?”

“Aren’t we both busy?”

We because of Sun Quan who invaded Jingzhou, Cao Cao because of the alienation of public sentiment that started with Wei Feng’s rebellion. With dangers in the rear, it’s not the time to enjoy banquets.

Cao Cao seemed to have asked out of formality and didn’t inquire further.

“But it feels regrettable to send you off like this. Zhongkang, are you there?”

“Yes, King of Wei. Did you call?”

Xu Chu, Zhongkang.

Just as Liu Bei had Zhao Yun, it would be fair to say Cao Cao had Xu Chu, as Xu Chu possessed a towering physique and heavy spirit.

Of course, unlike Xu Chu, Zhao Yun wasn’t Liu Bei’s bodyguard, but the two could be compared in that they protected their lords and their families.

“Bring me my swords.”

Xu Chu quickly returned with several swords. While the Sword of Heaven’s Will might be fictional, befitting the supreme ruler of the time, each of Cao Cao’s swords looked like masterpieces among masterpieces at a glance.

Among them, two swords looked exactly alike as if they were twin swords, and Cao Cao picked those up.

“They’re called the White Wall Swords.”

“White Wall Swords?”

It was a name I had never heard before. After all, when one thinks of Cao Cao’s swords in later generations, they usually recall the Sword of Heaven’s Will and the Blue River Sword.

As I unconsciously repeated the name, Cao Cao personally explained the history behind the swords.

“I had five identical swords forged and bestowed them on my children who preferred literary arts over martial arts.”

They were quintuplet swords, five in total. However, they weren’t completely identical, as there were differences in the symbols engraved on the swords. They were dragon, tiger, bear, horse, and sparrow respectively.

The sword symbolizing the dragon was for Cao Cao himself, the sword with the tiger symbol was for his eldest son and successor Cao Pi, and the swords with bear and horse were given to Cao Zhi and Cao Lin, he said.

Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhi are the Three Caos known for their literary talent, so they’re quite suitable as people who excel more in literary arts.

While I was listening intently to Cao Cao’s explanation as if hearing an interesting story, Cao Cao’s sudden declaration pierced my ears.

“I’ll bestow the remaining last White Wall Sword to you. This will be a token of this negotiation.”

Cao Cao held out the White Wall Sword, looking straight at me without leaving any room for misunderstanding.

Not only his action but also his words while giving the White Wall Sword were exquisite. By adding the justification that it was a token of negotiation rather than a simple gesture of goodwill, he was blocking the option of refusal.

As I hesitated for a moment, Ma Chao, who had come with the delegation, hurriedly approached and whispered:

“General, you must not accept it.”

“Dexin.”

“That sword is a poisoned chalice. On a larger scale, it’s a trick to cause internal strife by treating you the same as his own sons, making his earlier proposal true. And on a smaller scale, it’s an attempt to cage you, who have the fate of a phoenix, as a mere sparrow. General, please refuse.”

You might think this is paranoia, but as I’ve said repeatedly, this was still an era where superstitions were considered established theories. Ma Chao’s concern wasn’t entirely nonsensical.

Initially, what Ma Chao was most worried about was probably the former, the trick to cause internal strife.

However, the words that came out of my mouth were contrary to Ma Chao’s concerned advice.

“May I come to receive it directly?”

If it’s a distance where it can be passed from hand to hand, using assassination techniques is a matter of an instant. Even if the bodyguard is right next to him, it’s impossible to stop me unless he’s already holding a knife to my neck.

Even Cao Cao in his youth couldn’t guarantee his safety, so Cao Cao, who is close to death, would meet his end if I just decided to do it. His subordinates wouldn’t allow that quietly.

If it’s difficult for me to refuse, I might as well make them withdraw it from their side.

But he was Cao Cao. Before Zhang Ji, Yang Biao, Chen Qun, and others could offer advice, Cao Cao voiced his will.

“I allow it.”

“Ki-King of Wei!”

“Your Majesty!”

Cao Cao remained detached even to the pitiful cries calling him in shock.

Thud. As my foot stepped onto the first step of the platform where Cao Cao’s throne was placed, sharp glares filled with killing intent poured in from all directions. I paid no heed and took the next step.

The moment I stood on the platform where Cao Cao’s throne was situated, after climbing all five steps:

“You’re hesitating.”

Cao Cao said, taking his eyes off the White Wall Sword I was raising my hand to.

“If you strike me down now, you could kill me. Will you do it?”

At Cao Cao’s words, sharp sounds of swords being drawn resonated from all around. In the tense standoff where it seemed they might rush at me at any moment, I calmly admitted:

“I did consider it.”

“You mean not now.”

“Yes. Because there’s no need to do so. You know too, don’t you, Lord Cao?”

The fact that you will die soon.

Even to the unspoken latter part, Cao Cao nodded as if he had heard what I said in my heart and laughed out loud.

“Yes. You already knew. That’s why you did that.”

Cao Cao, who let go of the White Wall Sword and handed it to me, captured me in his eyes filled with regret.

“Even now, I don’t think Xuande is superior to me. However, I now have to admit that I myself raised Xuande as my rival.”

It was paradoxical, but it was Cao Cao himself, Liu Bei’s arch-enemy, who took in Liu Bei, married my father and mother, and put me under Liu Bei’s command.

If he had followed Xun Yu’s advice and killed Liu Bei when he took him in, he would have undoubtedly unified the world.

Cao Cao closed his eyes for a moment to erase his lingering attachment and spoke for the last time, not as a ruler but as a poet:

“I want to give you a farewell poem.”

“I’ll gladly listen.”

Cao Cao stood up and walked along the path spread out in front of him, slowly parting his lips.

The poem that was a reply to my poem and a parting gift resounded in the official residence.

It was a recitation of a poem announcing the time of farewell.

“Wearing a campaign robe made of Shu brocade, self-tailored.”

Shujin zhengpao zicai cheng (蜀錦征袍自裁成).

“Riding a horse adorned with peach blossoms, requesting a long ribbon.”

Taohua mashang qing changyying (桃花馬上請長纓).

“Even women gladly accept hardships and reproach.”

Youlai jinguo gan xinshow (由來巾幗甘心受).

“Why must a general be a man?”

Hebi jiangjun shi zhangfu (何必將軍是丈夫).