Chapter 45
The Armistice Agreement
It was a calm day.
A envoy from the Zhao Kingdom arrived at the Southern Corps. This was the newly appointed commander who would lead the corps in place of the previous general, who had been assassinated by Yi Hwan.
It was rare for a commander of a corps to come as an envoy, so everyone’s attention was intensely focused.
Peng Mu-wei and the Zhao commander sat across from each other, with key generals from both sides present.
After the formal greetings, the Zhao commander asked before getting to the point:
“Wasn’t General Hwang-ho supposed to be the commander?”
“The general is busy with state affairs and is temporarily at the palace. I am standing in for him. If you have anything to say, speak to me.”
The Zhao commander made a fleeting, peculiar expression, then got straight to business.
“I came to ask your opinion on establishing an armistice. If accepted, I suggest a duration of two years.”
“Troublesome because of the Qin Kingdom, perhaps?”
“Not exactly troublesome, just somewhat annoying. Do you really think Qin could be our match?”
“Suggesting an armistice suddenly because it’s ‘annoying’? Hahaha. You expect me to believe that?”
“Believe it or not is your choice. I merely conveyed our intention; it’s up to you whether to continue this exhausting campaign or agree to an armistice.”
A tense standoff ensued.
The attending generals glared at one another, heating up the atmosphere. Among them, Jeong-cheon’s aura was sharp, almost deadly. The Zhao generals staring at him felt the same; after all, Jeong-cheon was the one who had inflicted the greatest damage on Zhao.
Meanwhile, Peng Mu-wei felt inwardly uneasy.
It would be nice if the supreme commander were here.
When the Zhao delegation arrived, he first informed Yi Hwan. But for some reason, Yi Hwan told him to handle it himself and did not attend.
Though Peng Mu-wei had a strong physique and bold temperament, his political skill was lacking, leaving him unsure of how to secure the best outcome.
At that moment, Jeong-cheon stood up.
“We must not accept this!”
“General, please remain seated.”
“Thousands of warriors have died! Their spirits are watching us!”
The Zhao commander coldly retorted:
“We’ve lost our share as well. Especially to you, I believe?”
“You should blame your own incompetence!”
“I would like to say the same to you.”
“What did you say?!”
Bang!
Jeong-cheon jumped up, overturning his chair. The Zhao generals opposite reacted immediately.
Peng Mu-wei raised his voice:
“If you escalate, you will have to leave, General Jeong!”
“You all stay out of this.”
Then, Jeong-cheon’s telepathic message flowed into Peng Mu-wei’s ear:
[Use the tense atmosphere to buy some time.]
“…!”
Peng Mu-wei realized that Jeong-cheon had a plan. He spoke sternly:
“We cannot continue under such tension. Let’s take a brief recess to cool our heads. Colonel, serve refreshments to the envoys.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gomi entered Yi Hwan’s tent.
Yi Hwan had been waiting.
“Last night, about ten thousand Zhao troops slipped away.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. I verified it personally.”
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair, a faint smile on his lips.
“So, it was a predictable move. How many troops remain in the Zhao camp now?”
“Even at most, they won’t exceed thirty thousand. It’s enough that we could overwhelm them if we attacked.”
“Feasible, yes. But it cannot be done. The palace is unstable right now; if we ignite war carelessly, it could backfire.”
In fact, Yi Hwan opposed attacking when Zhao diverted forces due to conflict with Qin, judging that a full-scale war would be reckless given the Crown Prince Yi So’s unstable position.
“What will you do?”
“First, let’s go hear what they have to say.”
Yi Hwan finished his tea and stood. Cheol Mu-ok brought his coat and sword.
Soon, Yi Hwan headed toward the command room where negotiations were taking place, followed by Cheol Mu-ok and Gomi.
“Any news from Gui-ju?”
“No, no reports so far.”
Yi Hwan walked leisurely, then suddenly said something offhand:
“Isn’t it lonely living alone in that large house? I’d think it’s nicer to live with a crowd.”
“I’ll pass.”
Gomi refused as decisively as before.
Soon, Yi Hwan entered the command room courtyard.
“Salute!”
The generals raised their voices in a loud salute. The Zhao generals simply stared at Yi Hwan as he entered.
Jeong-cheon stepped outside.
Yi Hwan asked calmly:
“How are the negotiations going?”
“They took a short break and have just reconvened. Please come in.”
As Yi Hwan entered, the Yan generals all stood and bowed.
Peng Mu-wei greeted Yi Hwan:
“Welcome, Supreme Commander.”
Yi Hwan slowly scanned the Zhao generals. Once they realized he was the supreme commander, even the Zhao envoy and generals rose in salute.
The Zhao commander was puzzled:
Why is this seemingly useless man here? And why do the generals treat him with such respect?
Their demeanor and expressions were full of reverence, especially Peng Mu-wei.
An even more surprising sight followed.
“Please, have a seat.”
When Peng Mu-wei offered his seat to Yi Hwan, the Zhao commander was incredulous:
He’s giving up his seat? The negotiator?
Normally, the highest authority in such negotiations belongs to the negotiator. It was extremely unusual to yield the seat—especially since Yi Hwan was rumored even to Zhao as an incompetent commander.
Yi Hwan looked directly at the Zhao envoy and asked:
“I heard you came to propose an armistice.”
“Yes, Supreme Commander.”
“Have you reached a conclusion?”
The Zhao commander looked at Peng Mu-wei and replied calmly:
“It seems you misunderstood our intentions, so no conclusion has been reached yet.”
“I see. Then let’s begin again.”
“Before that, we must confirm something.”
“What is it?”
“We need to clarify whether you are the negotiator with authority or simply an observer, considering the armistice’s effect.”
Yi Hwan instead looked at Peng Mu-wei:
“May I act on your behalf?”
“Of course, Supreme Commander.”
Yi Hwan then turned back to the Zhao commander:
“Shall we proceed?”
“Yes. Please begin.”
Peng Mu-wei first explained Zhao’s conditions, which so far consisted solely of proposing the armistice.
Yi Hwan calmly said:
“State your conditions.”
“If the armistice is accepted, both sides must withdraw to neutral territory.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, a general brought in tea. Everyone waited until Yi Hwan spoke. He took a slow sip before speaking.
Clink.
“I will now state our conditions.”
“We will listen.”
“Ah! Correction—it is not a condition but a demand.”
“…Pardon?”
“Withdraw your camp two hundred li back within fifteen days. If you advance even a step forward afterward, the armistice is void, and Zhao will bear full responsibility for any resulting events. And one more thing: our Yan forces will remain here continuously.”
“Hah!”
The Zhao commander looked incredulous, and the other generals seemed to think Yi Hwan was speaking nonsense.
Yi Hwan paid no mind.
“I must correct myself again.”
“…”
“It is not a demand, but a threat.”
“Supreme Commander!”
Even the Yan generals were shocked.
Yi Hwan continued:
“If you do not comply, we will launch a full attack. But of course, I promise not to harm you; the envoy must not be killed.”
Bang!
“Are you joking?”
“Does that look like a joke?”
Yi Hwan’s demeanor turned icy. Snapping his fingers, Gomi, face covered, entered.
[Why cover your face…]
[An intelligence officer must never reveal their face to the enemy.]
Yi Hwan, slightly embarrassed, continued:
“Wol-ju.”
“Yes, Supreme Commander.”
“How many troops are in Zhao’s camp?”
“At most twenty to thirty thousand.”
“Certain?”
“I stake my life on it.”
Yi Hwan stared at the Zhao envoy, whose face reddened with anger and disbelief. Gomi had tampered effectively with the intelligence.
Yi Hwan continued:
“I considered it carefully. If I killed you and your friends here and launched a full assault, this endless land conflict would end. Ah! I almost forgot something.”
Clink.
Yi Hwan toyed with his teacup, smiling coldly.
“Did you receive the gift I sent?”
“…!”
“I sent it quickly before it could rot. Perhaps I should have sprinkled it with fishmeal?”
It was a threat aimed at the Blood Demon leader and his minions. The Zhao generals gritted their teeth. No one dared openly stare at Yi Hwan again.
The Zhao commander felt as though he had been struck by a sword.
They siphoned off troops so secretly, yet he knows the situation precisely…
In reality, the Zhao camp had barely more than ten thousand troops remaining, not twenty to thirty thousand. If Yi Hwan’s statement were not a bluff, Zhao could not withstand the Southern Corps.
Though he wanted to test Yi Hwan’s nerve, if it wasn’t a bluff, they could die immediately.
Something is wrong with this intelligence… This man… he’s completely insane!
Killing envoys is prohibited in any era, yet Yi Hwan seemed capable of it.
In the rising chaos, the Zhao envoy gritted his teeth.
Crunch!
Then:
[Accept it. Otherwise, you’ll never return home.]
Yi Hwan’s telepathic voice thundered in his ear, and his vision blurred.
Ssshh!
“Ugh!”
Sweat poured from the Zhao envoy’s face.
Yi Hwan’s telepathic message continued:
[Just retreat two hundred li and nothing will happen. If you reached the position of envoy, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy what you have and live the rest of your life comfortably rather than die here? That’s what I’d do.]
Ssshh.
“Grrk!”
[Time is short. Delay further and your brain will start melting. Hahaha.]
The Zhao envoy squeezed his eyes shut, then weakly uttered:
“…We will accept your terms.”
“Envoy!”
“You must not accept, envoy!”
The Zhao generals leapt up, one almost tipping his chair.
“It is my will. Follow it.”
Meanwhile, Peng Mu-wei, Jeong-cheon, and the Yan generals were dumbfounded. They could not believe what they were seeing, right in front of their eyes.
“General Jeong.”
“Yes, Supreme Commander.”
“Prepare the agreement.”
“Yes, sir.”
Standing alongside Cheol Mu-ok, Gomi smirked at Yi Hwan’s head.
Is this for real? They agreed to this?
Even with troops pulled away due to conflict with Qin, she thought Zhao would never accept. Two hundred li was almost neutral territory.
Yet they accepted it.
This person… what is he really…?
