Volume 1, Chapter 8: Duel of Words at Bright Moon Pavilion (2/2)

Paying her obeisance, young master Qin replied, “This one is Qin Zheng in the service of the Prince of Qi.”

With a smile, Zhao Jue said, “Young master Qin’s tongue is as sharp as a sword, gaining Zhao Jue’s admiration. There are some matters that no matter how eloquently spoken can surpa.s.s strength and interests. My Southern Chu has already acknowledged that we do not have the ability to be treated as an equal with Great Yong. If Great Yong were to attack the Kingdom of Shu, my Southern Chu would prepare its troops in order to defend itself.”

Seeing Zhao Jue’s stubborness, young master Qin could only smile wryly as she responded, “The Prince of De has made his decision and sticks by it, and will not be swayed by mere words. Qin Zheng was impetuous and begs for forgiveness.”

Zhao Jue nodded his head slightly and apologized. “This Prince has many military matters to deal with, thus must depart. Would everyone please forgive me?” No one thought that Zhao Jue would be so determined and had planned originally to continue lobbying him when he had gotten tipsy and merry. At this moment, they had no alternative but to escort him out.

As everyone was exchanging glances, my mind raced. Rising from my seat, I suggested, “All the daren are weary, so please allow this lowly official to escort His Highness out.” The Prince of Qi and the others were not in the mood to take other. Shang Weijun agonizingly replied, “That will be fine.”

I followed Zhao Jue out. Zhao Jue was somewhat tired. I carefully considered this merely thirty-year old prince. The pressure on him in these last few years must have been acute. In the three years since our last meeting, the hair on his temples had turned slightly white. He continued to exude a firm and indomitable spirit. This was Southern Chu’s main pillar. I was not only filled with admiration, but also felt sad for him. His painstaking efforts were not understood by others. I could not understand how he had this kind of courage.

Feeling my gaze, Zhao Jue indifferently asked, “Who are you?”

Respectfully, I answered, “This lowly official is Jiang Zhe, a Hanlin Reader-in-Waiting, tasked with accompanying the king.”

Surprised, Zhao Jue questioned, “You are Jiang Zhe? Why were you with the Prince of Qi?”

I hurriedly explained, “This lowly official was ordered by the King to receive the Prince of Qi. Today, the Prince of Qi forced this lowly official to be present. This lowly official had the fortune of hearing Your Highness’s teachings, and is truly fortunate.”

Although Zhao Jue felt that it was strange, he didn’t investigate in-depth. With a pained voice, he spoke, “I have read your poetry; it is very well written.

<blockquote cla.s.s=”Quote”>Awakened, bugles ring through the camps.With military music played out by various instruments they are entranced,Warriors on coursers speed by, with bows fully drawn, hotly after their enemies’ end,I vow to restore His Majesty to sovereignty with my morale greatly enhanced,Deplorably old I’ll be before any achievement attained.’”</blockquote>

He was seemingly intoxicated by the concept of this Dance of the Cavalry poem that I had written while I was in Jiangxia. He subconsciously stroked the hair on his temples. After some time, he wondered, “Do you think that we should attack the Kingdom of Shu?”

Seeing that there was no way around, I replied, “Before this lowly official can express his opinion, please allow this lowly official to ask three questions.”

Zhao Jue looked at me with amazement before talking. “Ask away.”

A look of grief flashed in my eyes as I asked, “First, would Your Highness please tell me who in Southern Chu, from the King to the common people, understands the rapacious designs of Great Yong?”

Zhao Jue stirred after being silent for some time. “There aren’t many. Even my trusted subordinates advised me to attack Shu.”

“Second,” I continued to ask, “Would Your Highness please tell me if Great Yong were to attack Shu and Shu were to request for our help, would our Southern Chu dare to dispatch troops?”

Distressed, Zhao Jue remarked, “We would not dare. Our King would inevitably sit and watch Shu be destroyed.”

Even though I understood his pain, I chose to continue to ask my third question, “Third, if Your Highness continues to oppose the invasion of Shu, but the King has already made his decision and chooses to use a different general, does Southern Chu have a more capable general than yourself?”

My three continuous questions were each increasingly penetrating. Zhao Jue felt himself break out in a cold sweat at them, staring fixedly at me.

Lowering my head, I expounded, “Nowadays, our country cannot act autonomously. If Your Highness persists in your opposition, the King will dispatch another to attack Shu. Our country’s soldiers and generals are no match for those of Great Yong or Shu. If we use up too much of our limited resources in attacking Shu, at that time, Great Yong will be able to easily destroy Southern Chu like a hot knife through b.u.t.ter. If Your Highness were willing to lead the troops personally, then we may be able to acquire a portion of Sichuan’s critical points to serve as a base. As long as we are able to use Longyou and Guanzhong as a buffer and properly defend the Xiangfan region, Great Yong will be restrained. Southern Chu will receive at least ten years’ worth of benefits. As long as Southern Chu is patient and waits for the right opportunity, then we may be able to conquer the world.”

At first, Zhao Jue’s face revealed a look of sorrow that gradually calmed, before finally being replaced by a look of unwavering determination. He replied, “Jiang daren is truly an incomparable minister. If I am to lead the army to attack Shu, would Jiang daren be willing to serve as my adviser?”

You must be joking? I didn’t want to go to war. Therefore, I indifferently answered, “This lowly official does not understand military matters or strategy, and dares not obey. If Your Highness has any questions, this lowly official will not hide anything and will speak frankly.”

Zhao Jue looked at me stunned, unable to understand why I had rejected such a good opportunity. In a heavy voice, he replied, “Everyone bears responsibility with the fate of our country in the balance. Since Jiang daren is a va.s.sal of Southern Chu, how can you not spare no effort for our Southern Chu? You should think it over.” After finis.h.i.+ng, he led his people away.

I resentfully watched Zhao Jue depart. What a fellow to repay kindness with malice. I just advised you, and this is how you repay me? To want me on the battlefield was really complete nonsense. What’s to be done? I bitterly began to think of who I could ask to help so that I need not join the army on its campaign.

Footnotes:

<ol><li>直言不讳, zhiyanbuwei – idiom, lit. to speak bluntly; not to mince words</li><li>Under traditional Chinese funeral rites, family members of the deceased are required to observe the proper mourning rites which include avoiding bright colored garb, wearing white garb. Traditionally, the rites were observed for direct family members for up to twenty-seven months (rounded up to three years). As the Prince of De is the younger brother of King Ling, he must observe a minimum of nine months of mourning.</li><li>秦川, qinchuan – refers to the region that is now modern-day Shaanxi and Gansu</li><li>唇亡齿寒, chunw.a.n.gchihan – idiom, lit. without the lips, the teeth would feel cold; fig. intimately interdependent</li><li>奇耻大辱, qichidaru – idiom, lit. extraordinary shame and humiliation</li><li>心腹之患, xinfuzhihuan – idiom, lit. calamity within one’s bosom; hidden great danger or trouble</li><li>岂有此理, qiyoucili – idiom, lit. how can this be so?; preposterous, ridiculous, absurd</li><li>This is an apocryphal story of how Duke Wu of Zheng (郑武公, Martial Duke of Zheng) conquered the state of Hu (胡国) during the Spring and Autumn Period. He first married his daughter to the ruler of Hu. During the wedding celebrations, Duke Wu asked his advisers who he could invade. One of his advisers suggested Hu. Angrily, Duke Wu stated that the two states were brothers and state of Zheng could not invade. The ruler of Hu was happy and later the state of Hu ceased to defend against Zheng. Seizing the opportunity, Zheng invaded and conquered Hu.</li><li>This is a poem by Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji ent.i.tled Dance of the Cavalry (破阵子)</li><li>势如破竹, s.h.i.+rupozhu – idiom, lit. as easily as breaking bamboo; like a knife through hot b.u.t.ter, irresistible force</li><li>陇右, longyou – aka Longxi (陇西) refers to the area that was once part of the Hexi Corridor connecting China proper with the Silk Road</li><li>关中, guanzhong – lit. the land within the pa.s.ses; refers to the territory originally controlled by the state Qin during the Warring States Period</li><li>襄樊, Xiangfan – refers to the two neighboring cities of Xiang and Fan that were combined in 1949 to form the city of Xiangyang</li><li>卧薪尝胆, woxinchangdan – idiom, lit. to lie on firewood and taste good; to suffer patiently, but firmly resolved on revenge</li><li>国家兴亡，匹夫有责, guojiaxingw.a.n.g, pifuyouze – idiom, everyone bears responsibility for the prosperity of the nation</li></ol>