kingnovel Chapter 2224 Agreement
Chapter 2224 Agreement
"Each side shall bring guards, with a total number not exceeding five hundred..."
Li Shiming continued to silently read the conditions in the letter, his expression growing increasingly somber.
Five hundred people—that's a delicate number.
This demonstrates sufficient importance attached to the exchange and the tight security provided, without posing a significant military threat, which is in line with the conventions for this type of exchange.
In his letter, Chu Ning also outlined some specific steps for the exchange and details that both parties needed to follow, which seemed quite comprehensive.
After reading the letter, Li Shiming did not immediately express his opinion.
He raised his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, and shot towards the Chu envoy who was quietly waiting for a reply, as if trying to discern Chu Ning's true state of mind when he wrote the letter through the other's expression.
The tent was completely silent, save for the occasional crackling sound from the charcoal brazier.
After a moment, Li Shiming slowly folded the letter and casually placed it on the table beside him.
The playful look on his face had vanished, replaced by a calm that befitted an emperor, exuding an unquestionable authority.
"Go back and tell Chu Ning."
Li Shimin spoke, his voice steady yet carrying a sense of certainty that he was in control of the situation: "His conditions, I grant."
Upon hearing this, the Chu envoy felt a slight sense of relief, but his expression remained respectful.
However, Li Shiming did not finish his sentence.
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening, and his tone carrying a clear warning and emphasis:
"Tomorrow at noon, at Changting Slope, the two sides will exchange hostages, just as he said, but—"
He paused deliberately, making sure that every word he spoke clearly reached the messenger's ears:
"You must remember this well, and you must also make Chu Ning remember this well: neither side shall bring more than five hundred guards! Even one more rider or one more soldier will be considered a breach of contract!"
His voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling murderous intent:
"If Chu Ning dares to play tricks, secretly reinforce his troops or bring more people than agreed upon..."
Then he can forget about ever seeing Han Xing alive again! I will send Han Xing's head to the walls of Jianghuai City on time!
These words were spoken with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.
It is both an emphasis on rules and a blatant threat.
He was warning Chu Ning not to try to use the hostage exchange as an opportunity to do anything else.
Han Xing's life was entirely in his hands; any rash action would lead to the worst possible outcome.
The Chu envoy's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "Your subject will remember this and will report His Majesty the Emperor's words to His Majesty without missing a single word."
Li Shiming waved his hand, as if he had relieved himself of a trivial matter:
"Go, tell him that I am waiting for him at Changtingpo, and that he should take care of himself."
The Chu envoy bowed again, then slowly withdrew from the imperial tent. Under the watchful eyes of the Tang soldiers, he mounted his horse and galloped off towards Jianghuai City, his figure quickly disappearing among the flags of the allied forces' camp.
Inside the imperial tent, Li Shimin sat back down in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
Agreeing to the exchange was part of his plan.
Exchanging Han Xing for Yuchi Bo was a worthwhile deal no matter what, and it also showcased his "benevolence and righteousness".
As for the restriction of only bringing five hundred people, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Chu Ning may think this is for the sake of fairness, but how could Li Shiming really place all his hopes on a "fair" exchange?
At Changtingpo tomorrow, the hostage exchange is just a show on the surface.
The real struggle and danger may have only just begun.
He needed to ensure that, regardless of Chu Ning's other plans, the ultimate winner would have to be him, Li Shiming.
Han Xing can return it, but does Chu Ning want to complete this exchange unscathed?
I'm afraid it won't be that easy.
An hour later, the news spread like ripples from a stone thrown into water, inevitably reaching Chu Xuan's heavily guarded royal tent in the Youzhou army.
A charcoal fire burned inside the tent, dispelling the damp chill of the early morning in Jianghuai, but it could not dispel the deep aura of sullenness and smug satisfaction emanating from Chu Xuan's brows.
He had just finished listening to a report on the deployment of troops and the siege situation.
A trusted guard quietly entered and whispered in his ear the final decision regarding the hostage exchange at Changting Slope the next day, which had just come from the Tang Emperor's tent.
"Oh? Tomorrow at noon, at Changting Slope, each of you will bring five hundred guards to exchange Han Xing and Yuchi Bo?"
Chu Xuan toyed with a warm, smooth jade thumb ring in his hand, a cold smile slowly curving his lips, his eyes flashing with undisguised mockery and calculation.
"My good brother of mine really went all out to save his loyal dog... He's got guts and a willingness to spend a lot of money."
He leaned back slightly into the large chair covered with tiger skin, his gaze seemingly piercing through the tent, seeing the besieged Jianghuai City, and the young, spirited figure on the city wall.
"Chu Ning, oh Chu Ning!"
Chu Xuan muttered to himself, his voice carrying the condescending tone of an elder evaluating a junior, yet also mixed with an undisguised jealousy and ambition.
"You are still too young, too sentimental, and too underestimate the ruthlessness of the struggle for the throne."
"For the sake of a subject, to agree to personally risk his life and leave the protection of a fortified city under the watchful eyes of thousands of troops—is this confidence or foolishness?"
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, the rhythm steady, yet carrying a chilling murderous intent.
"Personally going out of the city to exchange, ah, very good, excellent! This is truly a godsend opportunity, saving me so much trouble in conquering cities and fortresses in the future!"
The cold light in Chu Xuan's eyes suddenly intensified, like a venomous snake that had discovered a fatal weakness:
"It seems that this time, I will not only make you fail at the last moment and suffer heavy losses, but I will also personally take your arrogant head right here on Changting Slope!"
"The throne of this Great Chu should be ruled by someone who is more qualified and better at weighing the pros and cons!"
He could almost picture Chu Ning's head being severed from his body, the complete collapse of the Great Chu army's morale, and him taking over Chu Ning's troops, uniting with the Scorpion Clan, intimidating Li Shiming, and finally donning the imperial robe.
Ambition burned in his heart like wildfire.
However, just as he was engrossed in imagining and planning the grand occasion for tomorrow, a report came from outside the tent once again.
"Your Highness!"
A messenger outside the tent announced loudly: "The Chu army has sent an envoy with a secret letter, which must be delivered to the prince!"
Chu Xuan's thoughts were pulled back to reality, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Chu Ning's letter?
At this time?
Aside from exchanging Han Xing, what else could he possibly need to directly contact him, the "traitorous king"?
"Bring him in." He suppressed his arrogance and regained his usual composure.
An envoy from the Chu army was led into the tent. He was also unarmored, and with a cautious expression, he respectfully presented a smaller letter tube, sealed with special sealing wax, than the one previously given to Li Shiming.
After Chu Xuan's personal guards checked the contents, they handed over the letter.
Chu Xuan waved away the messenger, opened the letter tube alone, and took out a piece of fine paper.