Chapter 166: Good News
Meanwhile, Luo Ping, having disguised himself along with a dozen or so men, had secretly infiltrated Xingqing Prefecture.
The Song Dynasty had already established a liaison post in Xingqing Prefecture, one that was set up only after Zhao Huan ascended the throne. It was virtually impossible that Zhao Huan harbor no ambitions regarding Western Xia.
"General Luo, the emissary dispatched by His Majesty has just arrived in the city. I shall introduce the two of you," Zhang Wei, the chief official of the Xingqing Prefecture liaison post, said to Luo Ping.
Luo Ping had not expected the imperial court to send an emissary as well. Unaware of the court's intentions and whether his own mission might conflict with them, he nodded hastily and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Chief Zhang."
Thus, Zhang Wei discreetly arranged a meeting between Luo Ping and Du Qian, the imperial envoy on this diplomatic mission to Western Xia.
Du Qian was a civil official. Upon meeting Luo Ping, he could not help but frown. Luo Ping simply carried too thick an aura of bloodshed about him; even from a distance, he gave off an unsettling sensation—this must be what was legendary known as a murderous aura.
"Before my departure, His Majesty specifically instructed me to remind Chief Zhang to keep an eye on your movements. Never did I expect to run into you here," Du Qian said, subconsciously taking a step away from Luo Ping.
"Lord Du, does the imperial court have any particular objective in sending you to Western Xia this time?" Luo Ping asked Du Qian.
Du Qian raised his head, looking somewhat displeased at Luo Ping. The Song Dynasty favored civil officials over military ones, and as a scholar-official, Du Qian felt that Luo Ping's questioning sounded rather like a superior interrogating a subordinate.
Although Luo Ping was a military commander, he was quick-witted and naturally noticed Du Qian's displeasure. He hurriedly added, "Lord Du, I have no intention of prying into state secrets. It is simply that I, too, am carrying out orders within the city, and to prevent any accidental conflict between our operations, I wished to inform you in advance."
Hearing this, Du Qian nodded and said, "It is hardly a state secret. His Majesty has decided to renegotiate with Western Xia and resolved to cease the annual payment of tribute."
Luo Ping had not anticipated that Du Qian's purpose was of this nature, and a surge of joy rose in his heart. As a passionate military man, he had always felt deeply humiliated by the Song Dynasty's practice of paying tribute, especially given that the Song was the victorious side in its conflicts with Western Xia.
For the victor to pay tribute to the vanquished was likely a practice unique to the Song Dynasty throughout Chinese and even world history. Although the tribute paid by the Song would eventually be recouped through bilateral trade, it remained a profoundly galling matter.
"His Majesty has decided to withhold the tribute from Western Xia? Ah, that is truly exhilarating news!" Luo Ping said, somewhat excitedly.
Du Qian smiled bitterly inwardly. Once this news leaked, it would indeed lift everyone's spirits, but at the moment, he could hardly feel joyful. The Emperor had given the order, but the burden on his own shoulders had grown vastly heavier. Whether he could successfully accomplish this mission was something Du Qian, to be honest, had little confidence in.
Noticing the hesitation on Du Qian's face and knowing he must be feeling anxious, Luo Ping smiled and asked, "Does Lord Du lack confidence in this undertaking?"
Du Qian glared at Luo Ping and said, "Naturally I lack confidence. I only fear that if the negotiations fail and spark a war between the two nations, I shall become the sinner responsible for the catastrophe."
Luo Ping nodded and said, "Lord Du, I happen to have some good news to share with you, which may prove quite beneficial to your upcoming negotiations."
Du Qian raised his head, waiting for Luo Ping to continue.
"Not long ago, the Feiyu Army fought two consecutive victorious battles against the Western Xia forces, utterly wiping out nearly one hundred thousand of their troops," Luo Ping said with a trace of pride.
"What?" Du Qian was startled by the news. One must realize that the entire military strength of Western Xia numbered only around two hundred and fifty thousand men. For nearly one hundred thousand to be eliminated in one stroke by the Feiyu Army meant that nearly half of Western Xia's military force had been wiped out.
"General Luo... haha... you certainly know how to tell amusing tales to cheer me up," Du Qian said, though his tone clearly revealed his disbelief.
Luo Ping curled his lip. Since this campaign had been fought deep within Western Xia territory, word had not yet reached the Song heartland. Zhang Wei, standing nearby, hurriedly chimed in, "Lord Du, this is indeed the truth. I have already dispatched the report back to Bianjing, though it likely has not yet reached His Majesty's hands."
Hearing Zhang Wei corroborate the claim, Du Qian finally believed it. Yet the expression on his face remained one of sheer incredulity as he murmured, "You... how many men do you actually have?"
A lingering sense of pride stirred in Luo Ping's heart, and he replied, "Battles are won by quality, not mere numbers. Although my Feiyu Army numbers fewer than five thousand men, we stand utterly undaunted even when facing an army of one hundred thousand."
By now, Du Qian no longer dared to underestimate Luo Ping. Feeling once more the intense, bloody aura radiating from him, he finally understood that this menacing aura was the ultimate testimony of one who had crawled out of mountains of corpses.
"You have truly endured hardships," Du Qian said to Luo Ping. "No wonder His Majesty holds you in such deep concern, even instructing me before my departure to make sure Chief Zhang keeps watch for any news of you."
Hearing this, Luo Ping felt deeply moved. The Song Dynasty valued civil servants and suppressed military men, and their status as generals had never been particularly high. Yet now, they, the Feiyu Army, had the fortune of being remembered by the Emperor himself—how could they not rejoice?
"Since His Majesty cares for us so deeply, we would gladly die here in Western Xia without a single regret," Luo Ping said with mounting emotion.
Du Qian waved his hand upon hearing this and said, "You are all heroic sons of our dynasty; do not throw away your lives on a momentary impulse. Before I left, His Majesty gave strict instructions that you must exercise caution and endure for the time being. It will not be long before he leads a great army to bring you all home."
When Du Qian had first heard Zhao Huan utter those words, he had been somewhat perplexed, assuming it was merely comforting rhetoric meant for subordinates. But recalling them now, they carried an entirely different weight. Perhaps Zhao Huan had not merely been speaking idly at the time, but had genuinely intended to do just that.
The current Emperor is truly a ruler of extraordinary talent and grand strategy! Du Qian could not help thinking to himself.
Luo Ping was filled with elation. Fortunately, neither he nor Yang Weiguo were reckless men. By now, Yang Weiguo must have broken through Fengning Duobaozhong's encirclement and pressed forward to the west.