Chapter 80: The Banquet at the Prince’s Residence

Jing Ke was not yearning for Lord Yan Chun’s famed ice-cellar wine, but was anxious to learn the state of the war in Liaoxi. Within and beyond the Liao Sea Pass, the panic-stricken Yan troops were jumping at shadows, and mounted patrols swarmed the mountains, sealing off every path and trail. Jing Ke had not been entrusted with the Moon Goddess’s messenger birds, so he had no way of knowing the situation at the front.

“Ha! Brother, your arrival is most timely!”

“Oh? And who is this distinguished gentleman with you?”

To his surprise, the wine-loving trickster had at his side a man of exceptional bearing, with precisely the looks and stature Lord Yan Chun found most irksome.

“Brother Yan, this is Gao Jianli, my sworn brother in life and death, and also the deputy consul and advisor at our embassy. He has come today especially to witness the grandeur of the Upper Lord’s residence.”

With tensions running high between the two nations, Gao Jianli was uneasy about Jing Ke traveling alone, so Jing Ke had no choice but to bring along this unwanted companion.

“So it is Deputy Consul Gao, truly a man of noble presence—reminds me of my own youth,” Yan Chun observed, choosing to draw nearer rather than rebuke.

“You flatter me, my lord,” Gao Jianli replied, though inwardly vexed. If I resembled you in your youth, how could I ever hope to win the heart of the most beautiful lady?

Gao Jianli was skilled at both the sword and the zither, a man of many talents, but ultimately a poor youth with lofty pride, unimpressed by ordinary beauties. Only Lady Yan Fei of the East Lord had once caught his eye, but the outcome was… less than ideal.

“Come, bring out the wine!” Yan Chun called.

The well-prepared servants promptly set out fine wine and small dishes, though the main course would have to wait.

The Upper Lord raised his cup with gusto. “Brother, let this be our last drink together! Should we meet again in another life, let us share wine once more!”

“What do you mean by this, Brother Yan? Does the King of Yan intend to seize our Imperial Embassy?” Jing Ke frowned, wondering if the situation had soured so quickly.

Gao Jianli rose to his feet, hand at his sword, ready for anything.

“Rest easy, brother! No one in Yan dares touch the embassy, not even if your closest friend were to stain my residence with blood. The king would not hold it against you.”

So it was—out of favor, out of mind. Lord Yan Chun sighed with frank resignation.

“What are you implying, Brother Yan? How could I ever commit such an injustice?” Jing Ke grew all the more puzzled.

Yan Chun shook his head and sighed, then rose to his feet as well.

“It was Zhao who goaded our king into marching on Liaoxi. Yet I, being of little influence, could not stop it. Now, a hundred thousand veterans of Yan have perished! The irony is that I, who opposed the war, am now deemed its chief culprit!”

“Tomorrow, I must journey east to Liao to offer myself for punishment. Perhaps this is a farewell for life.”

Whether he would live or die on this journey, Yan Chun could not say. But he would not sit in Ji City, waiting for the ministers to judge him.

“Good!” Jing Ke exclaimed in delight—then quickly fell silent.

So the Yan army had suffered defeat again! Gao Jianli sighed inwardly. Just how powerful was this northern kingdom? Perhaps even an alliance of three states would not suffice to check its might.

“Take heart, Brother Yan! This was not your fault, and I will do all in my power to keep you safe,” Jing Ke assured him.

Yan Chun had treated him sincerely—Jing Ke could not stand by and do nothing. At last, the time had come for repayment; this friendship with Jing Ke had always been meant for such a day.

“Please, brother, do not intervene. Life and death are in the hands of fate. To have a friend such as you in this life is enough for me.”

“Come, let us drink our fill tonight.” Without another word, Yan Chun drained his cup.

Jing Ke matched him, silently vowing to stand by his side, even if it meant incurring the wrath of the northern king.

In that moment, Yan Chun seemed every bit the heroic drinker—bold and full of spirit.

All had heard that Lord Yan Chun was a petty man in power, but Gao Jianli shook his head—rumors were never to be trusted.

Ju Xin, too, was an old acquaintance of the lord’s household, and the steward led him straight to the inner chamber.

“To have the Grand Strategist grace my humble home is a great honor indeed,” Yan Chun greeted him, no longer needing to dissemble before his old partner.

Ju Xin immediately discerned much at a glance and responded in kind.

“My lord, you have done your utmost for the country, and I mourn for you. Yet one man’s strength is limited; I can only offer what little I can.”

So, he came with a mission, Yan Chun realized, having thought Ju Xin was here to bid him farewell.

“Please, have a sip first. This is Jing Ke, our ambassador of ironclad promise—no need for further introduction.”

Ju Xin raised his hand respectfully to Jing Ke, who had no choice but to rise and return the gesture.

“Your word is famed throughout the seven kingdoms, Ambassador Jing. I have long admired you; it is my good fortune to drink with you today.”

With that, Ju Xin downed his cup.

After the formalities, Ju Xin dispensed with further pleasantries.

“The king commands: the Upper Lord shall go north to sue for peace on his behalf. I am willing to accompany you, my lord, and do all I can to restore relations between our two nations.”

With outsiders present, Ju Xin could say no more.

Upon mention of the royal command, Yan Chun had no need to ask further—he knew there would be nothing pleasant in store for him.

Ju Xin was a true minister of cunning; after a few cups with him, Jing Ke took his leave.

Once the two envoys had gone, Yan Chun dismissed the servants and maids.

“Ju Xin, after decades of mutual support, let us dispense with formalities.”

Ju Xin smiled and nodded. “Your kindness, my lord, I shall remember all my life. I only hope you may let go of your burdens.”

Yan Chun nodded faintly, waiting in silence for news.

“The king’s order is that you go north to accept blame, but more importantly, that you persuade the northern cabinet. To deflect the northern king’s wrath, our king is willing to ally with the north to punish Zhao, and to offer up all Zhao’s territory to the northern king.”

Yan Chun’s anger turned to shock—so, even as a scapegoat, he was still to be used one last time!

“Alas! Perhaps striking at Zhao may quell the northern king’s fury. But after that…” He shook his head and sighed, unwilling to concern himself further with Yan’s fate.

Ju Xin smiled to himself—truly, of all Yan’s ministers, only this one saw things clearly.

“My lord, the north’s conquest of Zhao may not be a blessing for their army. Zhao may be weak, but its people are stubborn and hard to rule; should the north annex Zhao, they will suffer heavy losses. Nor will Western Qin stand idly by.”

Such insight! Yan Chun was stunned by the depth of this counsel.

“Could this be Qu Wu’s strategy, that old blockhead?”

Ju Xin frowned and shook his head—Yan Chun was still too shortsighted.

“My lord, for once you are mistaken. This is the plan of setting wolves against tigers—an idea I conceived myself.”

Yan Chun was taken aback, scarcely believing it.

“Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Brother, your talents have even deceived me!”

“Had you known earlier of Pang Nuan’s reckless schemes, Yan would never have acted first.”

Ju Xin and the others had only learned of Pang Nuan’s plan when the army was about to march.

“Hmph! Pang Nuan is but a self-serving fraud. What good are a million allied troops? Zhao’s army deliberately split its forces to wear down Yan and the north, while Zhao reaps the rewards.”

Ju Xin was clearly dissatisfied.

Yan Chun lowered his head in silence. A moment ago, he had thought Ju Xin a great talent, but seeing him boast in hindsight, he seemed no different from that old scoundrel Pang Nuan.

He had indeed misjudged the north’s strength, and underestimated King Lin Bei.

“Tomorrow, as we set out for Liaodong, I shall rely on your guidance, brother. Only thus can Yan hope to weather this crisis.”

Ju Xin nodded solemnly. Yan’s fate was tied to his; he would rather leave than serve the north, where even the lords owned no private land or serfs.

After seeing Ju Xin off, Lord Yan Chun, somewhat tipsy, began to chuckle to himself.

“Though Yan may find peace, my lord, your glory may not return,” Jue Ying warned him. Even if Yan Chun escaped death, he would lose his titles and estates, and then the grandest household in all Yan would scatter like monkeys from a fallen tree.

Yan Chun only smiled and shook his head.

“Jue Ying, I’m laughing at Ju Xin’s self-confidence—he’s never truly witnessed the might of the northern army, nor the power of their king. One day, he’ll see just how laughable his calculations were.”

“The northern king has no intention of swallowing Yan whole; he knows the Flame Emperor’s realm also needs time to consolidate. I believe the campaign against Zhao is only to seize land and conscript craftsmen and laborers—not to annex everything at once.”

“The great desert has been wild for over a thousand years, yet the seven kingdoms have ruled for centuries. The hearts of the people are not so easily won—not even with land reform.”

The twenty thousand infantry in Liaoxi were once subjects of Yan—yet they were willing to die for the empire! Yan Chun now understood the true effect land reform had on the people’s hearts.