Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 445 How could he be so understanding?

Gao Huan frowned as he looked at the dishes on the table.

"Why fish again?"

Duan Shao stood beside Gao Huan, feeling somewhat awkward.

They were all from the north, and their daily diet consisted mainly of beef and mutton. However, when they arrived in the Jianghuai region, their staple food became fish and shrimp.

The cooks who came with Gao Huan's army didn't know how to cook fish and shrimp, and the dishes they made had a fishy smell, which Gao Huan found very unpleasant.

"My lord, let me think of a way to see if we can buy some meat from the surrounding farmers."

Gao Huan waved his hand and said:

"Forget it, after years of chaos, ordinary people don't have the heart to raise livestock. It's good enough if they can survive. Don't make this trip for nothing."

After listening to Gao Huan's words, Duan Shao thought for a moment and said:

"My lord, Hou Jing should have some livestock. Why don't we ask him for some?"

Gao Huan, who was rummaging through the fish's belly, heard this, looked at Duan Shao, and said something.

"At this point, I'm trying to avoid him, and you actually come knocking on my door?"

Duan Shao was somewhat confused, but the sudden sound from outside the tent made Gao Huan's expression change.

"General, I'll go and inform them."

"Why bother announcing anything? We're all brothers, no need to stand on ceremony."

Even if Li Shuang came to Gao Huan's camp, it wouldn't be possible for this to happen, except for Hou Jing.

Hou Jing, carrying two pieces of lamb chops and some wine, walked into the tent, bringing with him a gust of wind.

Upon seeing Gao Huan eating fish, Hou Jing laughed and said:
"He Liuhun, I knew you were eating fish!"

Hou Jing walked over, tossed the lamb chop he was holding to Duan Shao, and said:

"Xiaoxian, these are sheep that were slaughtered this morning. Have the cook prepare them."

Duan Shao glanced at Gao Huan, who nodded, and then Duan Shao took the meat and left.

Hou Jing sat down next to Gao Huan, close by, with a smile on his face.

"He Liuhun, you said your brother was thinking of you, so he brought meat to see you as soon as he arrived in Xiacai."

Compared to Hou Jing's enthusiasm, Gao Huan was much colder, and he shoved Hou Jing away.

"If you don't come to see me, that's what a brother does."

"What are you talking about? Would I not think of you when something good happens?"

Gao Huan looked at the piece of chewing gum in front of him, feeling somewhat annoyed.

"Speak, what kind of rotten business is it this time?"

Hou Jing chuckled softly, then leaned closer and said:
"This is a genuinely good thing that brings both fame and fortune!"

Gao Huan didn't believe it at all. If you thought of me, you would have gone by yourself long ago.

"Really?"

Hou Jing smiled and said:
"Believe it or not, it's true. Ohno Sawa couldn't hold on any longer and is planning to sue for peace."

Gao Huan frowned slightly as he listened to Hou Jing's explanation:
"Liang's army is attacking Hanzhong and Bashu, and its military strength is at its peak. Nalanqin has been attacking cities and capturing strongholds, repeatedly defeating our veteran generals, and his momentum is unstoppable. Now, Yang Kan's Longyou troops are eyeing Tuyuhun, and Li Bi's Lingwu army is eyeing the Five Hu tribes. There are no extra troops in Guanzhong to support Hanzhong and Bashu. Da Yeshuang wants to make peace, but he can't refuse this offer."

Gao Huan looked at Hou Jing and asked:
"Why don't you just go by yourself?"

“He Liuhun, you don’t know, I’ve been in Yuzhou for years and I’ve caused the Liang people a lot of trouble. I can’t talk to them. But you, He Liuhun, are different. The aristocratic families in Hebei have been flattered by you so much that they all recognize you as the Gao family of Bohai, and the same goes for those in the south.”

Gao Huan was very dissatisfied upon hearing this.

“What do you mean by ‘recognize’? I was originally from the Gao clan of Bohai.”

Hou Jing could only agree with him.

Just then, Duan Shao walked in, cupped his hands, and said:
"My lord, General, the mutton has been prepared by the cook."

Gao Huan had Duan Shao stand aside, then asked:

"What are Your Majesty's thoughts on the peace negotiations?"

"Hanzhong cannot be given up, Shu can be negotiated, Ba can be given up, but the Liang people must pay to redeem the land that is given up."

"What number?" "The Liang people want to take over Ba, so they need 200,000 bolts of silk and 800,000 shi of grain. If they do that, the several prefectures in Henan can get through this year of famine."

Gao Huan listened and murmured:

“Jiankang can provide this money and grain; we can use it to exchange for land in Ba. What if the Liang people are unwilling to give it?”

Hou Jingdao:
“An army of 100,000 costs a thousand gold coins a day. If they are unwilling to pay, then let the Liang army kowtow outside Jiangzhou City. After a few months, the Liang people will know that this money and supplies have been well spent.”

……

After a hearty meal, Hou Jing left.

Gao Huan patted his belly, feeling a sense of satisfaction he hadn't had in a long time. He looked at Duan Shao and asked:

"Xiaoxian, what do you think?"

"My lord, I believe this matter is perfectly reasonable!"

Gao Huan stroked his beard and murmured:

"It's precisely because it's reasonable that something's not right."

"What does my lord mean?"

Is Ohno Sawamura a reasonable person?
-
Jiankang.

"What does Heaven mean by this!"

Inside the palace, Xiao Yan's mournful cries echoed throughout the halls, causing Zhu Yi, who had come to report, to stop in his tracks.

Just as Zhu Yi was lingering at the entrance of the palace, a eunuch came out from inside. Zhu Yi pulled the eunuch aside and asked:

"What's wrong, Your Majesty?"

"The Prince of Yiyang died in battle while accompanying the army to attack Jiangzhou."

Zhu Yi, clutching the peace treaty from the envoy ahead, hesitated for a long time before finally entering the palace. When he saw Xiao Yan, the sorrow on his face remained undiminished.

Prince Yiyang, Xiao Yun, was the son of Crown Prince Zhaoming, Xiao Tong. He had come to the army to fight this time with the intention of making military achievements.

"He is so young, I shouldn't have agreed to let him go to war with the army. This is all my fault!"

“Your Majesty must not think that way. Prince Yiyang is loyal to the country, which is the duty of a subject.”

Xiao Yan shook his head, recalling.

“When I close my eyes, I see him as a child. He was so small then, always by my side, wanting me to play chess with him. I never imagined that this would be our eternal separation.”

"Your Majesty, this person is gone; do not grieve. If Your Majesty's health is harmed, what will become of the nation and its people?"

After hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at Zhu Yi and asked:
"How's Ohno Sō doing?"

Zhu Yi quickly took out the memorial and handed it to Xiao Yan.

"Using Ba to exchange for 300,000 bolts of silk and 1.2 million shi of grain, Da Ye Shuang has a good idea."

"Your Majesty said so!"

For the Southern Liang, Ba was merely a strategic buffer zone. If they could capture Jiangzhou, they could prevent the enemy from sailing downstream and destroying the Southern Liang.

The truly valuable part of Yizhou is Shu County, which is the largest agricultural base in the Bashu region.

Xiao Yan was about to refuse, but then he thought of something, softened, and sighed:

"I have seen the battle reports from the front. The fighting is fierce, and countless soldiers are dying every day under the walls of Jiangzhou. This is all my fault!"

"Your Majesty is kind!"

Zhu Yi immediately abandoned his prepared explanation and changed to another one. Zhu Yi was a favored minister, but he was not without talent. However, his talent was mostly used to try to understand Xiao Yan's thoughts.

"The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances. To be able to conquer Ba and Shu without a fight is truly a fortunate thing."

Xiao Yan nodded and said:

"War is an ominous instrument. If we can talk, we should talk as much as possible. If we can avoid losing lives, that is a good deed."

"I obey!"

"I have failed Crown Prince Zhaoming, and I cannot fail anyone else!"

……

(End of this chapter)