Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 919 When the fake is true, the truth is also false

The morning sun slanted across the long bluestone street, and the sound of horses' hooves echoed throughout Chenliu City. Zhao Dezhao, dressed in a gold-embroidered python robe, shimmered in the sunlight. Behind him, two thousand Wu soldiers in iron armor formed a sharp wedge formation, their helmet plumes fluttering and their sword sheaths striking their saddles in a continuous chorus.

Several clerks and officials were protected in the middle, dressed in blue robes and scholar's caps, holding scrolls and seal boxes, deliberately putting on a refined and scholarly appearance to make the words "peace negotiation mission" seem more real and to cover up the truth.

The street vendors had just lifted the lids of their steamers, the white steam still lingering, when they were startled into standing still by the motorcycles. The water carriers put down their carrying poles, and the old man selling candied hawthorns gaped, his hawthorn skewers falling to the ground with a "thud." The children, who had been chasing kites, now crowded around the adults' legs, their big, bright eyes wide open.

"Wu Jun?" someone asked, trembling.

"It's the Wu character flag, can you see it clearly!"

"What's going on? How did Wu's army enter the city?"

"That's not the eldest prince anymore. He was personally inspecting the people's conditions just a few days ago."

The murmurs spread like ripples, and some people recognized the Crown Prince Zhao Dezhao from his luxurious attire.

Zhao Dezhao reined in his horse, raised the yellow silk scroll high in his hand, and let his sleeve slip down to reveal the snow-white satin lining underneath. He shouted loudly, "Song and Wu have made peace! There will be no more fighting in Chenliu City! All people, listen up—make way and welcome the Wu envoy into the city!"

Before the words were finished, the scroll was unfurled with a whoosh, revealing the imperial seal in bright red cinnabar, which fluttered in the wind.

The streets were initially silent, then erupted in a frenzy of surprise. Had the Wu-Song peace talks succeeded?
"Peace talks? Really?"

"No more fighting?"

"Then we don't need to nail our doors shut!"

The surprise came so quickly that some were stunned, while others were already chanting Buddhist prayers. The woman selling steamed buns tied her apron around her waist, her eyes crinkling with laughter; the young waiter at the teahouse entrance called out, "Song and Wu are negotiating peace—weapons are being stored away—"

An old man, leaning on his cane, shakily made way for the middle of the road; a woman took her crying child into her arms and gently patted his back, coaxing him: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, there's no more fighting."

Several bold young men ran alongside the horse team, shouting, "Long live the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

The people along the way were overjoyed upon hearing the news; if peace could be negotiated, it would indeed be a great thing.

Some of the Song army guards patrolling the streets were also baffled by this scene.

How is this going?

"Lord Lu, is that really the eldest prince?"

A military officer surnamed Lu nodded: "I have seen him. He is indeed the eldest prince, Zhao Dezhao. He came to Chenliu City this time to negotiate peace between Song and Wu. He went to the Wu army camp yesterday, but I didn't expect him to bring people into the city today. It seems that the negotiations have yielded results."

"Then Wu's army won't attack the city, right?" The soldiers patrolling the streets were all very curious.

"If the peace negotiations are successful and the Wu army withdraws, then there will be no need for fighting, and the Wu army will not attack the city."

"That's wonderful! We don't have to die on the battlefield anymore. We can go home and fulfill our filial duties. There's an eighty-year-old mother waiting to be taken care of at home," a middle-aged soldier couldn't help but exclaim.

“My family includes my elderly mother and my wife whom I just married last year. Nobody wants to fight here, but we have no choice.”

"If there's no more war, we can finally live a good life."

Many Song soldiers no longer wanted to fight, especially when faced with the ferocity of the Wu army; they were genuinely afraid.

Therefore, when the Song soldiers patrolling the streets saw the Crown Prince leading the Wu army through the passage, they did not stop him, and were even happy to see it happen.

Thus, this bizarre scene unfolded: Zhao Dezhao, holding a fake peace treaty and accompanied by two thousand elite guards, rode swiftly and unimpeded towards the temporary general's mansion within the city.

"Wu Bing?" At the entrance of the general's mansion, there were hundreds of guards. They were all horrified when they saw this scene and drew their swords and bows in preparation.

"I am a prince of the Great Song Dynasty, the commander in charge of the peace negotiations between Wu and Song. I have brought the Wu army peace negotiators to the General's Mansion to discuss matters. No one is allowed to make any rash moves. If you offend the Wu envoy, you will not be able to bear the consequences!"

Prince Zhao shouted loudly, startling the guards at the door.

Wu's soldiers came down and quickly surrounded the general's mansion, immediately confronting the Song army.

"what's up?"

"I don't know, but something seems off."

"Do you want to take action?"

"Follow orders."

Some Song soldiers were momentarily confused, and some captains and commanders looked at each other, stunned by the scene.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the guards inside the gate immediately turned around and ran into the general's mansion to report the news.

Cao Bin and Zhang Yongde were discussing matters in the mansion when they were suddenly informed by a guard that Prince Zhao had entered the city with Wu troops and an envoy, saying that the peace talks had been successful.

"The peace talks were successful?" Cao Bin was somewhat doubtful. In truth, he didn't believe that the Wu army would really give up halfway, accept the peace talks, and abandon the attack. After all, the Wu army was already very close to destroying the Song state. At this point, the Wu army had no obstacles or demoralization, so there was absolutely no need for them to negotiate peace.

Therefore, Cao Bin was prepared to fight to the death, and when he suddenly heard the news of peace talks, he found it unbelievable.

"Let's go out and take a look."

"Your Highness's sudden entry of Wu soldiers into the city is rather abrupt and inappropriate!"

Cao Bin and Zhang Yongde led their men outside.

"If the peace talks are successful and Wu's army retreats south of the Huai River, as long as ten years pass and the Song Dynasty recovers its strength, it will be able to fight Wu's army again."

"It would be best to wait out sixty years, until Su Chen passes away, and the Wu Kingdom declines. When the next emperor of Wu takes over, he will certainly be inferior to Su Chen. At that time, the Wu Kingdom will be annexed by the Song Kingdom."

As Cao Bin and Zhang Yongde walked, they discussed the matter and felt that if the Wu Kingdom accepted the peace negotiations at this time, it would be ruining its own future and would inevitably be destroyed by the Song Dynasty in the future, because the northern dynasties had a natural oppressive force on the southern dynasties.

When Cao Cao and Zhang Fei, along with several subordinate generals, entered the courtyard, Zhao Dezhao also led Wu army generals into the courtyard, and the two sides met.

Ma Donglin and Ma Zhanchao stood behind Zhao Dezhao, their hands on their swords, their eyes fixed on Cao Bin, Zhang Yongde, and the others. As long as they controlled them, they could carry out a mutiny.

Although they are few in number for the time being, the two thousand soldiers they brought are enough to infiltrate the enemy's lair and carry out a decapitation strike.

Moreover, with Pan Mei leading his troops behind, they will be able to provide support quickly.

"Your Highness, what exactly is going on?" Zhang Yongde saw that there were many Wu soldiers standing behind Zhao Dezhao, looking wary, not at all like the guards of the envoy delegation who had come to negotiate.

Cao Bin's expression turned cold, as if he realized that the situation was not right.

Zhao Dezhao said to Cao Bin and the others, "Generals, after yesterday's negotiations at the Wu army camp, we have reached a peace agreement. Chenliu City will be temporarily handed over to the Wu army. We will go out of the city together to meet Marshal Su and accept the peace agreement."

“How can we negotiate peace like this? If Chenliu City is handed over to the Wu army, what will be left of the Song Dynasty? This is the heart of Kaifeng Prefecture, and Bianjing City is just ahead.” Zhang Yongde raised the question directly.

At this moment, Cao Bin also fixed his gaze on the eldest prince Zhao Dezhao and asked solemnly, "Your Highness, what exactly were the peace terms you proposed to the Wu army? Can you tell us in front of all the generals?"