Chapter 307 If I, Duan Qingye, want to continue fighting, can your Eastern Jin Dynasty withstand it?
Chu Ruohan met the Third Prince with a pair of eyes that seemed calm but actually contained a sharp edge.
Was his words a simple warning, or did they imply something else?
It is an obvious fact that Prince Su and the Third Prince do not get along.
If he tells the Third Prince what he has found out, perhaps he can use him to expose Gu Chengyan's true identity.
But if you provoke the third prince who is devoted to Buddhism but also shrewd and calculating in everything.
Will it lead to greater trouble?
Chu Ruohan’s thoughts raced.
The biggest threat now is Gu Chengyan who is hiding in the dark.
As the King of Su, he holds power, which is like a sharp blade hanging over his head and may fall at any time.
As for the Third Prince… even if she didn't provoke him, given the current situation in the capital, it would be difficult for her to stay out of it.
Choose the lesser of two evils.
Chu Ruohan calmed himself down, bowed, and lowered his voice to a very low level, with 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.
"It's just that I've had occasional contact with His Royal Highness Prince Su recently, and I always feel...I feel that His Royal Highness seems a little different from before."
"How is it different?"
The Third Prince paused slightly in twisting his Buddhist beads, his tone remaining calm.
"I can't explain it either."
Chu Ruohan frowned, "It seems that his temperament, behavior style, and even some subtle habits are different from the impression I have of His Highness Prince Su."
"I know that people always change. Perhaps I am just being overly suspicious."
She didn't point it out directly, nor did she mention Gu Chengyan's name.
He just cleverly put forward his own observations and doubts.
The third prince listened quietly, with no expression on his face, only a faint glimmer of light in the depths of his eyes.
After a while, he slowly spoke.
"Mrs. Gu's observations are quite detailed."
He neither confirmed nor denied, but just looked at Chu Ruohan calmly.
"This matter, the king will pay attention to it."
He paused, "Madam Gu is in a heavy condition now, and it's not easy for her to work hard. It's best for her to rest at home and take care of the baby."
"As for Prince Su," he said in a slightly cold voice, "if he comes again, Madam Gu will just claim to be ill and not see him."
Chu Ruohan felt relieved, knowing that her goal had been achieved.
It would be far more convincing for the Third Prince to investigate and discover the truth himself than for her to tell it directly.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your advice. I understand." She bowed respectfully again.
The third prince nodded slightly, said no more, turned around and continued walking deeper into Ci'an Palace.
The shadow of the monk's robe stretched out long and thin on the palace wall.
Pingzhou camp, the main tent of the central army.
The atmosphere was depressing, and all the generals in the tent had serious expressions.
Wang Wu, who was sitting in the main seat, had a face so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it.
"General Lu led a hundred thousand elite troops to bypass the border and raid the rear of Zheng State. This was originally a surprise attack, but unexpectedly..."
"We were ambushed in Yanhui Valley and suffered heavy casualties!" Wang Wu's voice was low, filled with suppressed anger.
There was silence in the tent.
Gu Junze sat in the lower position with a calm expression, and did not seem surprised by the result.
His mother had made this plan in order to catch him off guard.
But times have changed, and the same strategy may not be useful anymore.
Wang Wu's gaze swept across everyone in the tent, finally landing sharply on Gu Junze, his tone suggestive.
"Such a meticulous plan, with a top-secret marching route, how could it be leaked so easily and fall right into an enemy ambush?"
"Could it be..." Wang Wu dragged out his voice, "is there a traitor in our army? Someone collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country?!"
Gu Junze's eyebrows moved slightly, but he didn't speak yet.
Gu Cheng'an beside him suddenly stood up with anger on his face.
"General Wang! What do you mean by that? Ever since my elder brother took command of the army, he has always led the troops and served the country with all his heart! How could you..."
"How dare you!" Wang Wu slammed the table and shouted, "This is the central army tent. How can we allow a criminal like you to make noise here?"
"Your brother hasn't spoken yet, when is it your turn to interrupt? Sit down!"
Gu Cheng'an's face turned red from choking, but due to his status, he could only sit down again angrily, still glaring at Wang Wu fiercely.
At this moment, a hurried report came from outside the tent.
"Report! General! The enemy commander has sent a messenger with a message!"
Delivering a letter?
Everyone in the tent was stunned.
The State of Zheng had just won a battle and its morale was high. Why would they suddenly send a letter?
Wang Wu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Show it up!"
The personal guard quickly stepped inside and handed over a letter sealed with wax.
Wang Wu tore open the seal, unfolded the letter, and scanned it quickly.
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?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole tent was in an uproar.
"What? A truce?"
"Didn't Zheng just gain the upper hand? Why is it suddenly calling for a truce?"
"Is there a trick here?"
The generals discussed this matter and all felt that it was too strange.
"They were the ones who wanted to start a war, and now they're calling it quits? What's the Zheng State 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 test his strength.
In front of the two armies, in a temporary negotiation tent.
Wang Wu and Duan Qingye sat opposite each other, and the atmosphere was not harmonious.
Duan Qingye was dressed in silver armor, had a defiant look on his face, and a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth.
"General Wang, a candid man doesn't speak in jargon."
Duan Qingye spoke first, his voice carrying the unique roughness of a military commander, "I came here today to request a ceasefire."
Wang Wu suppressed his doubts and said solemnly, "Since your army is willing to cease fire, it is naturally a good thing. However, when two countries fight, both sides will suffer losses."
"If we want a ceasefire, shouldn't your army show some sincerity?"
"Oh? Sincerity?" Duan Qingye raised his eyebrows.
"That's right." Wang Wu straightened his back. "Your army must return all six cities that you previously occupied on the border of the Eastern Jin Dynasty!"
Upon hearing this, Duan Qingye burst into laughter, slamming his hands on the table as if he had heard a huge joke.
"Hahaha! General Wang, are you still asleep?"
His laughter stopped and his eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Do you understand the current situation? If I, Duan Qingye, want to continue fighting, can you, the Eastern Jin Dynasty, withstand it?"
"You still want to take back the six cities? Dream on!"
Duan Qingye stood up and looked down at Wang Wu.
"A ceasefire is the opportunity this general is giving you. As for the conditions, you are not qualified to negotiate!"
"If you can't make the decision, go back and ask that dog emperor of yours who only knows how to hide in the palace!"
"How dare you!" Wang Wu was furious. He stood up suddenly and pointed at Duan Qingye, "How dare you insult the Emperor of Chao!"
Duan Qingye sneered, his face full of disdain.
"Insult? This General is only speaking the truth!"
He turned around with a flick of his sleeves, walked to the door of the tent, and said coldly without even looking back.
"I'll give you three days to consider! Either accept a ceasefire, or face the real outcome on the battlefield!"
After saying this, he strode out of the tent.
Wang Wu was so angry that he was shaking all over, his face turned pale. He looked at Duan Qingye's arrogant back as he left, and slammed his fist on the table.
The negotiations ended in a bad mood.
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