Chapter 1335 - 1171: Da Xing Peace Negotiations
Chapter 1335: Chapter 1171: Da Xing Peace Negotiations
"Prince Gong forming an alliance with Da Xing? Would that not be like bargaining with a tiger for its skin? Easy to invite a god, hard to send it away—does he not fear getting himself swallowed whole? In my opinion, he would never be so foolish!" Tong Shunmin shook his head; if it were him, he would never do such a thing.
"Indeed! But it is still better than losing his life, is it not? Moreover, he has no shortage of choices—there is still Prince Jing. Anything is possible; we cannot sit and wait until they have already formed an alliance before we think of a countermeasure, that would be far too passive."
Gu Chengyu felt that, given Prince Gong’s temperament, it was entirely possible he might truly ally with Prince Jing. The man possessed the bearing of a would‑be hegemon, his thinking was far from pedantic.
"Prince Jing? Hearing you say so, I too find it quite likely. Only, how can Lord Gu Siqing be certain Da Xing will agree to open mutual markets?"
Deng Wenshang did feel that opening mutual markets would greatly benefit the National Treasury’s revenue, yet the matter was indeed perilous.
He had only just taken over the Ministry of Revenue; earlier he already knew the court was poor, but when those files were piled on his desk, and after he had opened the National Treasury to inspect it, he realized Shen Shikang had not been crying wolf—the court was truly destitute!
"For that, someone must be sent to Da Xing for peace talks. Da Xing has already dispatched an envoy bearing a letter of negotiation, now on the road. I wonder whom you all deem fit within the court to shoulder such a weighty charge?"
Gu Chengyu tossed out the question; in any case, he would certainly not be traveling to Da Xing together with the envoy.
"What? This is news from Da Xing? Why are we only hearing of it today?" Yu Zheng’s expression darkened somewhat; they had known nothing of this affair. No wonder Gu Chengyu was so confident about opening mutual markets—so Da Xing already had the intention to negotiate peace.
The others’ faces also grew somewhat unsightly; they had received no prior word at all. It had only been a few days, and the court was already being controlled by Gu Chengyu?
"The news also arrived only this morning; the border is far from the Capital, delays are inevitable." In truth, Gu Chengyu’s knowledge of this did not come from the Da Xing Court, but from Gu Wanqian.
"Lord Gu Siqing must have known of this long ago, no? Otherwise he would not have proposed mutual markets so quickly. Lord Gu Siqing, such capable methods! It has been only a few days, and we courtiers have all become mere window dressing!"
Yu Zheng had never been on harmonious terms with Gu Chengyu. He had long suspected that Gu Chengyu was connected to his legitimate daughter’s illness. Only Gu Chengyu was exceedingly cautious in his actions, leaving him with no proof.
Furthermore, Gu Chengyu had been basking in the Emperor’s favor these past two years; if Yu Zheng wanted to deal with him, he had to weigh his own standing. Otherwise he would catch no fish and end up stinking himself.
He naturally still remembered Xia Qing’s fate—though it was officially for colluding with foreign countries, Gu Chengyu had involved himself, and Xia Qing’s defeat in the end was entirely due to Gu Chengyu’s calculations.
And now he truly could not swallow it any longer. By seniority and background, he was the one most likely to ascend to the post of Grand Secretary, yet the Emperor’s conduct left him ill at ease. He found Gu Chengyu increasingly disagreeable, harboring a constant resentment in his heart that he nonetheless had to suppress.
"You claim the idea of opening mutual markets came to you only this morning, yet the border has already begun implementing the purchase of conscripts. That does not add up, does it?"
They were no fools. They had only received word today that measures had already begun at the border, yet they had all been kept in the dark.
"The matter of purchasing conscripts did indeed precede the news from Da Xing by a bit." Gu Chengyu did not deny it, for he had already memorialized the Emperor and ordered the border officials to begin ahead of time.
"And the Silver for purchasing conscripts? Whence did it come?" Tong Shunmin asked in puzzlement.
"It was by the Emperor’s decree, drawn from the Ministry of Revenue. Of course, it is only a temporary loan; once the mutual markets at the border begin to yield results, the funds can be repaid, and will even greatly benefit the replenishing of the National Treasury. His Majesty has already nodded assent—so even if you raise objections, they will be to no avail."
All fell silent. They could not even get an audience with the Emperor, yet Gu Chengyu could produce imperial rescripts every few days. They could not help but suspect that the Emperor had been virtually confined by Gu Chengyu.
"Why would Da Xing agree to peace talks? They have long eyed our Dayan like a tiger—would they so easily give up? Is this not likely a ruse?" Yu Zheng was the first to raise doubts. Had Da Xing lost two hundred thousand troops and thus shaken its foundations?
"Though Da Xing’s soldiers are fierce in battle, its populace has always been sparse; those two hundred thousand were a grievous blow. Coupled with internal strife, they scarcely have the heart left for war."
Gu Chengyu shook his head. Only once Dayan’s internal turmoil was calmed and its national strength revived would it be time to settle the Da Xing question.
Of course, if Da Xing proved sensible and sought relations between the two states, that would not be unacceptable either. After all, it was a barren land, too distant and difficult to govern for Dayan.
"And who is the envoy coming to Dayan?" Zhong Shize frowned. Whatever the case, the Cabinet’s authority now rested in Gu Chengyu’s hands; they were but an arm that could not twist the thigh.
"I hear it is the Seventh Prince, Ge Yuan." Gu Chengyu lifted the tea on the table and took a sip. These days, anyone with a mind to inquire could uncover Ge Yuan’s identity.
By now, anyone well‑informed knew that the Seventh Prince had been retrieved from Dayan, and as for his connection with Gu Wanqian, these men were surely clear enough.
"The Seventh Prince Ge Yuan? I’ve heard he is an old acquaintance of Lord Gu Siqing!" Yu Zheng’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm. At this point, who in the court did not know that this Seventh Prince of Da Xing was Gu Chengyu’s ’nephew’?
They had even impeached Gu Chengyu over this, yet the Emperor shielded him thoroughly and paid it no heed.
Ge Yuan had followed Gu Chengyu for years—was it possible Gu Chengyu knew nothing of his background? That strained belief. There must have been traces; who could say whether Gu Chengyu had not deliberately let the man slip away?
"Indeed. Not long after his birth, by coincidence he was taken in by one of my clansmen, and thus lived in Dayan for eighteen years. As my clansman’s household was poor, he was later sent here to help his parents manage their family business. So many years have passed, and I truly did not know he bore such a status. Yet now he has acknowledged his ancestors and clan; former matters are like clouds of the past. When we meet henceforth, it will be under a different identity."
Gu Chengyu’s meaning was that their identities had changed; even if Gu Wanqian returned to the Capital, he would no longer be his ’nephew’.
"Hmph! That is but Lord Gu Siqing’s unilateral account. Very well—whatever Lord Gu Siqing says, so shall it be! Still, you and he are acquaintances after all; once he arrives in the Capital, why not have Lord Gu Siqing confer with him and then serve as envoy to Da Xing? For this peace mission, none but Lord Gu Siqing is suitable!"
A glint flashed in Yu Zheng’s eyes. If they could truly send Gu Chengyu out as envoy to Da Xing, that would be ideal.
"You yourself have said that I am his old acquaintance—if Da Xing should put forward unreasonable demands, how am I to refuse them? In that case, I would hardly be suitable. In the next few days, let us await the court’s selection of a candidate; I will then report to the Emperor. What say you all?"
Gu Chengyu refused to take the bait; he had no wish to come into contact with Gu Wanqian. There would naturally be others to handle these peace negotiations.