Although there was a document, sending it became a big problem. If Ye Feng could not be persuaded, they would lose their heads upon returning, and Wang Kuang might not spare them.
After an unknown period of silence, one person spat on the ground and said resolutely, "Everyone is afraid of death and dares not deliver this document. Why don't I go?"
Staring at the young face, the retainers hesitated. They felt the last shred of guilt within them awakened and hastily said, "Child, you are so young. If you were really killed, how worried your parents would be."
"Still, we cannot disgrace our ancestors!" the young man said resolutely, his gaze firm. "Our ancestors succeeded then, and I can succeed now!"
"Who were your ancestors?" The retainers were all confused. In their eyes, this young man clearly lacked common sense. In the Three Kingdoms period, anyone who reached this position must have had powerful figures among their ancestors!
"My ancestor was precisely Gan Luo!" The young man's eyes were calm. "I am his twenty-first generation descendant, Gan Quan!"
Gan Luo was enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed prime minister at the age of twelve. However, to continue the glory of his ancestors was not an easy task. For one thing, the disparity in bargaining chips between them and Ye Feng was enough to deter most people!
"Have you thought it through?" Someone with a conscience asked, "You might die somewhere on this trip!"
"What is there to fear!" Gan Quan said righteously. "Moreover, the King of Chu spared most of the common people. How much more would he spare me, an envoy? When two nations are at war, envoys are not killed!"
"Good?" With the hope of survival, the remaining people naturally would not refuse this task. In an instant, they agreed, handing over the heads, Wang Kuang's seal, and the letter to Gan Quan.
"I will surely not fail my mission!" Gan Quan said with tears in his eyes, hurrying down the mountain. "I will surely come to save you!"
"Thank you, sir. If the great task fails, please protect yourself!" The retainers bowed slightly, watching Gan Quan depart.
Gan Quan followed the mountain path all the way down. As camps appeared and aromas wafted out, he quickly brushed the snow from his head, tidied his clothes, and held the hastily made tally in his hand. He respectfully said, "I am here to pay my respects to the King of Chu. I request an audience with the King of Chu!"
Ye Feng had already instructed everyone not to block the way. Gan Quan's journey was incredibly smooth, and he entered directly. In half a moment, he reached the entrance of the camp. Ye Feng's voice was clearly audible!
"Minister, please wait. I will inform the King!" The guard bowed slightly and said.
Ye Feng heard it clearly. Just as the guard was about to speak, he raised his hand to stop him, then asked Lu Bu, "Feng Xian, how long do you think they will last? It's been more than three days."
"This general bets five days at most, but I don't know if the King will truly forgive them, or if the King intends to let them go down the mountain!" Lu Bu deliberately spoke loudly, knowing Gan Quan was waiting outside.
The two of them played their parts, and Ye Feng naturally wanted to give Lu Bu face. He paused slightly and kicked the ball back, "What do you think I should do, Feng Xian? Or, if you were in my position, what decision would you make?"
"If I were the King, I would wait a few more days and then charge forward, leaving no survivors!" Lu Bu said through gritted teeth. "It would also be a good deed to accumulate merit."
"Oh? You are so sure they won't resist? There's a saying, 'Do not pursue a cornered enemy.' Be careful of a final desperate struggle!" Ye Feng pretended ignorance and spoke slowly, as they were not ordinary people after all!
"Whether they are ordinary or not is not important. I refuse to believe they have the strength to do anything after three days and three nights of starvation. As long as the King gives Lu Bu a thousand men, I will capture Hua Xiong and his entire group!" Lu Bu clenched his fist and said coldly. "It's one thing to bully the weak with numbers, but to stab someone in the back! Lu Bu will make them pay!"
With a thunderous blow, the low table in front of Lu Bu was instantly shattered into pieces. Gan Quan watched clearly and felt a moment of daze. Should he go in or not.
If he turned and left, he could safely escape with the tally. However, those on the mountain had no chance of survival. Moreover, it had reached the point of cannibalism. If a colleague was on the verge of death, someone would have already made arrangements for the disposal of the corpse.
Everything had reached this point. Thinking of this, Ye Feng sighed heavily, "I wonder what sins were committed to cause such trouble!"
"Minister, it is extremely cold here for you. Why don't you come with us to eat something? When the King is finished with everything, he will surely summon you!" A soldier, seeing the wobbling Gan Quan, quickly reminded him, "Otherwise, even if the King summons you, what can you do?" m..oΓg
"Thank you for your kindness, little brother!" Gan Quan looked at the tally with unwavering resolve. "An envoy has his mission. There are things one must do and things one must not. Even if I die, I will not flee!"
"Another fool!" The young soldier shook his head and left. A moment later, he returned with a piece of venison, looking very solemn!
Gan Quan accepted it with a smile, wrapped it layer by layer in oil paper, and then put it into his embrace. "Good things should be tasted by the lord first!"
"If anyone comes to beg for mercy, this King will kill him! How dare they lay hands on Feng Xian!" Ye Feng said indignantly. "No matter who it is, drag them out and beat them!"
Ye Feng followed the guard's gaze and gave him a look. The guard then hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, someone is requesting an audience outside. It seems to be one of those people from the mountain!"
"What do they want? What benefits can they still offer me now?" Ye Feng pushed it away, waving his hand. "I will not see them. If they want to come in, they must show sufficient sincerity!"
The guard rushed out with an apologetic look. "Sir, you heard it clearly. Why don't you leave first? Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to explain!"
"It's alright," Gan Quan said with a smile. "Please report to him again and tell him that I have prepared ample sincerity and request an audience with the King. As for killing or whipping, I will abide by your decision!"
The guard had no choice but to shake his head and, steeling himself, spoke again. As expected, Ye Feng was furious. "I said I won't see him! I won't see him! Disturbing me time and again, what do they want!"
"Your Majesty, why not see what he has prepared before making a decision? Otherwise, people will accuse you of being tyrannical!" Lu Bu bowed and said with concern. "It will be more loss than gain."
"Since Feng Xian speaks, it wouldn't hurt to see him. Let him in," Ye Feng said with a stern face and a scolding tone. "If he loses his life, he cannot blame me!"
The guard came out of the camp and spread his hands. "Sir, you should have heard clearly. Go in, but the King is currently in a rage!"
Ye Feng and Lu Bu exchanged a knowing smile and sat in the main seats, their faces stern, waiting for Gan Quan to slowly enter. Ye Feng said in a sarcastic tone, "I wonder if you have come to declare war or for something else. This King will agree to anything, but do not regret it!"
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? Since I have come, it is naturally to reconcile with you, and from now on, neither party will invade. I implore Your Majesty to open a path, and we will leave immediately, and will not disturb Your Majesty!" Gan Quan held the tally and said sincerely. "This is a document written by my lord. I implore Your Majesty to read it. Gan Quan truly dares not speak carelessly!"
The document was respectfully passed to Ye Feng by a Brocade-Clad Guard. Ye Feng glanced at it briefly, his face turning ashen. "You wanted to fight, so you fought. Now you want to stop fighting and make peace, and I have to agree? Is there such a good thing? Go back, and we will settle it on the battlefield."
Gan Quan felt his scalp tingle but still patiently said, "As the saying goes, it is better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Moreover, Your Majesty spared my lord's life today, so in the future, you will have a place for supplies and reinforcements for your distant expeditions. 'Far alliances, near attacks' is precisely the principle!"
"This King can cooperate with others, but why should I cooperate with treacherous and faithless people like you!" Ye Feng disdained Wang Kuang's actions and was unwilling to cooperate with him. If it were not for the sake of the people, Gan Quan would not have entered the camp today!
"I have often heard that the King of Chu has a compassionate heart. Even if not for my lord, but for the people, you will agree. Moreover, I know one or two things about what Your Majesty is worried about. This is the second gift!" Gan Quan gently placed the package on a tray, which was then delivered to Ye Feng by a Brocade-Clad Guard!
"What trick are you playing? If this King does not wish to agree, it will be useless even if you offer the three sacrificial animals," Ye Feng snorted coldly and slowly removed the red cloth from the top of the heads. Instantly, two bloody heads appeared before Ye Feng.
"This is the second gift my lord has prepared for Your Majesty!" Gan Quan said slowly, his face unchanging and his heartbeat steady. "I believe Your Majesty will surely agree to the alliance terms!"
"You are quick to act. Since that is the case, it is not impossible, but..." Ye Feng's tone softened. "This King wants a third gift. Can you make the decision?"
"Whether I can or not, it depends on what Your Majesty says. If it does not involve ceding land, I believe my lord will not object even if I agree!" Gan Quan said neither subserviently nor arrogantly. The tally in his hand jingled in the cold wind!
"Good, this King wants you!" Ye Feng pointed at Gan Quan and said frankly. "As long as you work for this King from now on, this King might not refuse to let them go!"
A commonality across all eras: what is most important? It is talent. How could Ye Feng easily let go of such a good diplomat.
"I am naturally overjoyed to receive Your Majesty's favor. I implore Your Majesty to permit me to go up the mountain to handle everything and then descend with my lord. I will surely pledge allegiance to Your Majesty!" Gan Quan bowed. "I implore Your Majesty to keep your promise and write the document yourself."
"What difficulty is there in that!" Ye Feng readily agreed and wrote it clearly in two or three strokes. Just as he handed it to Gan Quan, he heard a commotion outside!
"What happened!" Ye Feng stood up and asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, something big has happened. We don't know who led people to surround us."