freenovelworld Chapter 307 If I, Duan Qingye, want to continue fighting, can your Eastern Jin Dynasty withstand it?
Chapter 307 If I, Duan Qingye, want to continue fighting, can your Eastern Jin Dynasty withstand it?
Chu Ruohan met the Third Prince, her eyes seemingly calm and even, but actually concealing a sharp edge.
Was his statement a simple warning, or did it have another meaning?
It is an obvious fact that Prince Su and the Third Prince are at odds.
If I tell the Third Prince what I've found out, I might be able to use him to expose Gu Chengyan's true colors.
But if you provoke this third prince who is devoted to Buddhism but is also shrewd and calculating in every way...
Will this lead to even bigger trouble?
Chu Ruohan's mind raced.
The biggest threat now is Gu Chengyan, who is hiding in the shadows.
Holding the title of Prince Su and wielding immense power, he was like a sharp blade hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
As for the Third Prince... even if she doesn't provoke him, given the current situation in the capital, it would be difficult for her to truly remain uninvolved.
The lesser of two evils.
Chu Ruohan composed herself, curtsied, and spoke in a very low voice, carrying just the right amount of worry and hesitation.
"Your Highness, please understand. I did not intend to provoke you. It's just..."
She raised her eyes, glanced quickly at the Third Prince, and then quickly lowered her head again.
"It's just that I've had some contact with His Highness Prince Su recently, and I feel... I feel that His Highness seems to be somewhat different from before."
"How different?"
The Third Prince paused slightly in his movement of turning the prayer beads, but his tone remained calm.
"I can't explain it either."
Chu Ruohan frowned. "It seems that his temperament, style of doing things, and even some minor habits are different from what I remember about His Highness Prince Su."
"I know that people always change. Perhaps I am overthinking it."
She didn't point it out directly, nor did she mention Gu Chengyan's name.
He simply and subtly voiced his observations and doubts.
The Third Prince listened quietly, his face expressionless, only a faint glint in the depths of his eyes.
After a while, he slowly spoke.
"Mrs. Gu's observation is indeed meticulous."
He neither confirmed nor denied, but simply looked at Chu Ruohan with a calm gaze.
"I will keep an eye on this matter."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Madam Gu is currently pregnant and should not overexert herself. It would be best for her to stay at home and rest during her pregnancy."
"As for Prince Su," he said in a slightly cold voice, "if he comes to visit again, Madam Gu should simply claim illness and refuse to see him."
Chu Ruohan felt relieved, knowing that she had achieved her goal.
It would be far more convincing for the Third Prince to investigate and discover the truth himself than for her to directly reveal it.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I understand now." She bowed respectfully again.
The Third Prince nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to continue walking deeper into Cixi Palace.
The shadow of the monk's robe stretched long and thin on the palace wall.
Pingzhou Camp, Central Command Tent.
The atmosphere was oppressive, and all the generals in the tent had solemn expressions.
Wang Wu, sitting in the main seat, had a face so gloomy it could drip water.
"General Lü led 100,000 elite troops to launch a surprise attack on Zheng's rear, a move intended as a surprise attack, but unexpectedly..."
"We were ambushed in Yan Hui Valley and suffered heavy casualties!" Wang Wu's voice was low and filled with suppressed anger.
The tent was completely silent.
Gu Junze sat in the lower seat, his expression calm, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome.
His mother devised this plan with the intention of taking him by surprise.
But times change, and the same strategy may no longer be effective.
Wang Wu's gaze swept over everyone in the tent, finally landing sharply on Gu Junze, his tone suggestive.
"Such a meticulous plan, with the marching route being top secret, how could it be easily leaked, and how could we have fallen right into the enemy's ambush?"
"Could it be..." Wang Wu drawled, "that there's a traitor within our army? Someone is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country?!"
Gu Junze's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he had not yet spoken.
Gu Cheng'an, who was standing next to him, suddenly stood up, his face filled with anger.
"General Wang! What do you mean by that? Since my elder brother took command of the troops, when has he not always led from the front and given his life for the country? How could you..."
"Insolence!" Wang Wu slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "This is the central command tent. How dare you, a convicted criminal, make such a racket here!"
"Your brother hasn't even spoken yet, when did it become your turn to interrupt? Sit down!"
Gu Cheng'an was so choked up that his face turned red, but because of his status, he could only sit down angrily again, his eyes still glaring fiercely at Wang Wu.
Just then, a hurried report came from outside the tent.
"Report! General! The enemy commander has sent a messenger with a message!"
Delivering a letter?
Everyone inside the tent was taken aback.
Zheng had just won a battle and its morale was high, so why would they suddenly send a letter?
Wang Wu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Bring it here!"
The guards quickly entered and handed over a letter sealed with wax.
Wang Wu tore open the seal, unfolded the letter, and quickly scanned it.
The next moment, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
"armistice?"
"Duan Qingye actually took the initiative to propose signing a ceasefire agreement with our army?"
These words caused an uproar throughout the tent.
"What? A ceasefire?"
"Didn't Zheng just gain the upper hand? Why is it suddenly calling for a truce?"
"Is there a trick here?"
The generals discussed the matter extensively, all finding it highly suspicious.
"They were the ones who wanted to start the war, and now they're saying they won't? What are they up to?"
In any case, if a ceasefire can be achieved, it will always be a good thing.
After some discussion, Wang Wu decided to meet with Duan Qingye to find out what was going on with him.
Inside the makeshift negotiation tents set up on the front lines between the two armies.
Wang Wu and Duan Qingye sat facing each other, and the atmosphere was not exactly harmonious.
Duan Qingye was clad in silver armor, his face arrogant, with a faint hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth.
"General Wang, let's not beat around the bush."
Duan Qingye spoke first, his voice carrying the ruggedness characteristic of a military general, "I have come here today to seek a ceasefire."
Wang Wuqiang suppressed his doubts and said in a deep voice, "Since your army is willing to cease hostilities, that is naturally good. However, in war between two countries, both sides suffer losses."
"If you want a ceasefire, shouldn't your army show some sincerity?"
"Oh? Sincerity?" Duan Qingye raised an eyebrow.
“That’s right.” Wang Wu straightened his back. “Your army must return all six cities that you previously occupied on the border of my Eastern Jin!”
Upon hearing this, Duan Qingye burst into laughter, slamming his hand on the table as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Hahaha! General Wang, are you still half asleep?"
His laughter stopped abruptly, and his eyes suddenly turned icy cold.
"Do you even understand the current situation? If I, Duan Qingye, want to continue fighting, can your Eastern Jin Dynasty withstand it?"
"You want all six cities back? Dream on!"
Duan Qingye stood up and looked down at Wang Wu.
"A ceasefire is an opportunity I'm giving you. As for conditions, you have no right to discuss them!"
"If you can't make the decision, go back and ask your dog emperor who only knows how to hide in the palace!"
"Insolence!" Wang Wu roared in fury, standing up abruptly and pointing at Duan Qingye, "How dare you insult my Emperor!"
Duan Qingye scoffed, his face full of disdain.
"Insult? I was merely stating the facts!"
He turned away, walked to the tent entrance, and said coldly without turning his head.
"I'll give you three days to consider! Either accept the ceasefire, or let's settle this on the battlefield!"
After saying that, he strode away from the tent.
Wang Wu was so angry that he trembled all over and his face turned ashen. Watching Duan Qingye's arrogant departure, he slammed his fist hard on the table.
The negotiations ended in discord.