Chapter 167

At Hagu Fortress, the messenger who arrived introduced himself as Zhang Hiu. Zhang Hiu, a name I knew well. He was a member of the Eastern Wu faction, like Zhuge Ge, and the second son of Zhang Zhao.

Of course, it wasn’t my second brother Zhang Zhao, but the renowned Zhang Zhao (張昭) of Jiangdong.

The fact that they sent Zhang Hiu showed their sincerity.

As I muttered the proposal Zhang Hiu brought, Kang Yu spoke up beside me.

“Couldn’t this be a shallow trick to buy time?”

That was a reasonable point. However, Ma Su had a different opinion.

“That’s unlikely. He’s here for confirmation.”

“Confirmation? Of what?”

“To confirm if our side is truly in trouble. Zhu Huan, the man in charge, is quite resourceful. He likely noticed subtle signs of instability on our side and sent Zhang Hiu to verify. If we let him go, he’ll report what he observed. If we kill him, they’ll suspect we’re hiding something.”

Everyone nodded solemnly at Ma Su’s words, but some still questioned the significance.

“Even if they know, what changes? Hagu Fortress is on the verge of falling.”

Bu Chuan spoke firmly, and Ma Su immediately responded.

“The fall isn’t the issue, General Bu. If they know, Sun Ding won’t fight to the death. Killing Sun Ding could be the worst mistake we make.”

At Ma Su’s words, Bu Chuan’s mouth clamped shut.

However, since I was already half-convinced that the situation in Xingbu was part of Cao Wei’s scheme, I thought this might work out well.

Leaving Hagu Fortress as it was and returning to Xingbu was one option, but taking Hagu Fortress and leaving Guan Yu in Xingbu was another. The meeting with Sun Ding would be a good opportunity to decide our next move.

“Tell the messenger we accept the meeting. Let it be just me and Sun Ding, at a midpoint between Hagu Fortress and our forces.”

Zhang Hiu, waiting in another tent, requested to bring one more person for protection.

Are they worried Sun Ding might be captured by me? As if I’d resort to such tactics.

Unfazed, I agreed.

The meeting was held immediately. Without setting a specific date, they requested to meet right away.

We decided to set up the meeting site on our side. It was a makeshift tent, barely worthy of the name.

While setting up the meeting site, I pondered who to bring.

At first, I considered bringing Ma Su, who had insight into their intentions, but to exert more pressure, I decided on Kang Yu, who had a strong presence.

Sun Ding arrived with Zhu Huan, the commander of Hagu Fortress.

“I am Sun Ding, Crown Prince of Eastern Wu.”

His appearance was striking, exuding a charm that could win anyone over. He seemed to be on the border between youth and adolescence.

Sun Ding’s appearance resembled Sun Quan’s in my memory. However, unlike his father, who had a fierce demeanor, Sun Ding also had a gentle side, likely inherited from his mother.

Since they initiated the semi-formal greeting, I responded in kind.

“I am Chang-ran, Commander Wei of the Han Dynasty.”

“Indeed. I’ve heard much of your esteemed reputation.”

Sun Ding acted as if we weren’t enemies but acquaintances meeting for the first time.

“Since we’ve met as adversaries, let’s skip the pleasantries and get to the point.”

I deliberately spoke bluntly, as if uninterested and wondering why they had called me out.

Despite my hostile tone, Sun Ding maintained a faint smile. Instead, he asked with a sly, confident demeanor.

“You don’t look well. Has something happened in your country? Or is my father coming?”

Empty provocations.

I remained silent in response to Sun Ding’s probing question.

Sun Ding, not intending to waste time, quickly got to the point.

“How about a truce?”

“A truce?”

“Yes.”

Despite being in a precarious position, Sun Ding held his head high and spoke confidently.

“Release the prisoners and let us return safely to Eastern Wu.”

“An absurd demand. We can take Hagu Fortress whenever we wish. Why should we agree?”

“Because if you don’t, I will make Hagu Fortress my grave.”

A threat with his life on the line. I had to admire his courage. Sun Ding was just past his coming-of-age ceremony.

At such a young age, he had this level of talent. No wonder Sun Quan wept whenever his eldest son was mentioned after his death.

Regardless of whether Sun Quan was coming or if there was trouble within the Han Dynasty, Sun Ding’s side had clearly noticed something that made us hesitate.

As Ma Su had said, they seemed to have gained some confidence after hearing that Zhang Hiu had spied on our camp.

“What do we gain from letting you go?”

“We will hand over Hagu Fortress intact.”

“That’s not enough.”

When I firmly rejected, Sun Ding, not expecting me to be satisfied, immediately offered another condition.

“I will also communicate with General Zhu Yan of Jingling County and General Quan Zong of Wuling Army. They will no longer fight your country and will withdraw. With Wuchang as the boundary, the western part of Xiang Province will belong to your country.”

“Sounds good, but you’re essentially asking us to let them go, even though they’re as good as dead.”

“Is that how it sounds? Then so be it. Knowing them, they will hold their positions for at least a year against your attacks. And by then, my father will be here.”

“A year? Even for your generals, that’s an overestimation. I assure you, our forces here can take Jingling County and Wuling Army in a month.”

This was half-truth and half-bluff.

Zhuge Jin is an above-average commander, Luo Tong is a capable strategist, and Liu Chan is a fierce general. Ah, I can’t forget Quan Zong either.

But with me, Yi Yan, Shang Cong, the Lanling Army, and the central army mobilized, a month is more than enough. This is sincere.

However, I’m less confident about Zhu Yan. His track record is too impressive. Zhu Yan, the only talent in Eastern Wu comparable to Lu Xun, might indeed hold out for a year. Hence, this is a bluff.

Despite the bluff containing some truth, it didn’t faze Sun Ding.

“Just as you trust your officers, I trust mine. Arguing over whose view is right or wrong is pointless.”

“…A non-answer.”

When I deliberately exude intimidation, even seasoned generals show discomfort. Yet, a 16-year-old with such composure and answers? Impressive.

Cao Cao once said that if you want a son, he should be like Sun Zhongmou. Perhaps it should be Sun Zhongmou’s grandson instead.

But admiration aside, negotiations are a different matter. I can’t just follow Sun Ding’s lead.

“Since you’ve added conditions, I’ll add some of my own.”

“Speak.”

“First, the orders to be sent to Jingling and Wuling must be written by the Crown Prince himself in our presence.”

“If the negotiation is concluded, I will write them here and now.”

“Second, two copies of each order will be made, both bearing the Crown Prince’s seal. One will be delivered, and the other will be kept by us.”

Having only one copy and later denying it would be troublesome.

Sun Ding seemed somewhat displeased but nodded, acknowledging the reasonableness of my demand.

“Third, and lastly, the messengers delivering the orders will be your aides, Zhang Hiu and Jin Piao.”

Sun Ding’s expression worsened more than at the second demand.

By naming Zhang Hiu and Jin Piao, I aimed to enhance the authenticity of the Crown Prince’s orders and use them as hostages during their mission.

“If any of these three conditions are not met, this negotiation is off.”

Despite leaning towards retreat due to the belief in Sima Yi’s trap, my real concern was none other than Guan Yu.

I might be overreacting, and Guan Yu might resolve the issue on his own.

With little bluff and mostly sincerity, Sun Ding pondered briefly before speaking with difficulty.

“Write a pledge that you will keep the agreement, Commander Wei. Then I will accept your conditions.”

“Not just me, but the Crown Prince will also sign the agreement. How about it?”

Once the truce agreement was finalized, both sides returned to their camps. Shortly after, we reconvened with writing materials.

Again, only one companion was brought. Since all documents were to be handwritten by me and Sun Ding, additional personnel were unnecessary.

Finally, all documents were written, and both sides affixed their seals.

The agreement was concluded.

Eastern Wu would withdraw its forces intact, and we would reclaim Xiang Province without further bloodshed.

We refrained from further promises to keep the agreement. At this point, such reminders would only imply distrust.

“Though we started on bad terms, I hope our next meeting will be better.”

“With the world in chaos, that’s easier said than done.”

“The world…”

As I turned to leave, Sun Ding seemed to have more to say.

“One last question.”

I stopped, and Sun Ding asked.

“What is the world?”

The unspoken question—why must we endlessly fight and shed blood under the name of the world—was left unsaid.

What is the world? That question lingered in my mind like a brand.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms states:

“The general trend of the world is that it must unite after division and divide after union (天下大勢 分久必合 合久必分).”

“Man proposes, but Heaven disposes (謀事在人 成事在天).”

What meaning is there in people struggling to unite the world?

Historically, the Jin Dynasty, which ended the Three Kingdoms, soon fragmented into the Sixteen Kingdoms and later split into Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Thus, the world has no meaning.

With that thought, a line from a movie I saw in a past life came to mind.

A long war between two religions over a holy land. At the center, a man asks the wisest man of the era, “What is this holy land?”

The sage answers:

“Nothing.”

Yes, the world has no meaning.

If the endless cycle of union and division is fate, then our efforts might be in vain.

Yet, we dedicate our lives to it.

Because we赋予 it value.

The value of destiny.

I am no different. My obsession to carve my name in history, once discussed with Pang Tong, turned towards the world.

Thus, the world is everything.

I turned to face Sun Ding directly. For the first time since the meeting began, I smiled and lightly clenched my fist, echoing the sage from the movie.

“Everything.”

§

That night, Hagu Fortress burned.

After setting fire to the empty fortress abandoned by Eastern Wu’s forces, we turned our army around.