Chapter 534 - 536: Negotiating Terms

Chapter 534: Chapter 536: Negotiating Terms

"The nerve of him. He not only wants us to release them, but also to return their possessions." Wu Yichen thought of the ships that had been sent back to sea and immediately shook his head. "He’s dreaming."

"Let the prison chief continue to give them the cold shoulder," Gu Wenheng said.

He Gaofei also shook his head. ’How dare they present such a pathetic bargaining chip.’ "Even now, these people still haven’t grasped their situation."

"These people are inherently despicable," Gu Wenheng said. "How could they ever realize their own mistakes?

"Believe me, if we were to humor them, they would turn on us and demand a reckoning the moment their troubles are over. We can’t afford to make such a losing deal."

In his cell, Prince Zuo Tengshang awaited the prison chief’s return with a reply. The man swaggered in, head held high. "Our master says captives have no right to make demands. As for you lot, the next time your countrymen show up, our master will write them a letter and let them come ransom you.

"After all, we have to feed and house you for who knows how long. We can’t afford to take too big a loss on the deal."

"That’s nonsense! We never asked you for anything! Just let us go, and we won’t have to bother each other."

The prison chief scoffed. "Heh. You get free room and board, and you still have the gall to sound so self-righteous.

"All of us men are guarding your doors, bringing you food and water, even cleaning up your shit. You think that doesn’t cost anything?

"Just you wait! Every single thing is an expense. The day of reckoning will come."

...

Once the man left, the bandits immediately started clamoring. "What the hell did he mean by that? He’s going to bill us for this crappy stuff?"

"Is that the point? He said they’re going to wait until more of our people show up before they even send a message back!"

"If that happens, we’ll be utterly disgraced."

"Not only are we prisoners, but we’ll have to be ransomed like common criminals."

"Damn it! They lock us in here and then complain that we’re freeloading. Who would want to stay in a dump like this anyway?"

"..."

"All of you, shut up!" Prince Zuo Tengshang was so anxious a blister was forming on his lip, yet these men were still bickering over trivial matters.

"This is no time to be squabbling over such things! If we don’t get out of here soon, do you think things will go well for you when we return?

"Will the new Prince Zuo tolerate you, his predecessor’s old guard, strutting around in his presence?"

"..."

"Tu Zhong, write another letter for me."

"Prince," Tu Zhong said, "didn’t they already refuse? Right now, they’re completely unwilling. They won’t let us go."

Putting himself in their shoes, Tu Zhong knew that if he were an official on the other side, he wouldn’t release a tiger back into the mountains either.

"Hmph. That’s because the terms I offered weren’t enough. I didn’t expect the one in charge here to be so difficult to tempt."

After receiving several letters and watching the other party’s offer increase little by little, Gu Wenheng finally agreed to meet him.

He sat high in the magistrate’s main hall, watching the shackled Prince Zuo Tengshang walk forward, step by step.

No seat was offered, no special treatment given. He looked down from his high perch, smiling at the prisoner below. "Prince Zuo, we meet again."

Prince Zuo Tengshang held his head high, raising his shackled hands. "Is this how you treat a guest?"

"A guest?" Gu Wenheng replied. "An uninvited one, in our lands, can only be considered an unwelcome one.

"We both know where we stand, so don’t beat around the bush with me.

"The terms you’ve proposed, while tempting on the surface, are nothing but empty promises in my eyes.

"Besides, I don’t believe your promises."

Prince Zuo Tengshang looked at the officials seated in the hall. "Have you all discussed this among yourselves? The terms I’ve offered are already quite generous.

"Just return our warships, and I will send a handsome reward once I’m back. Everyone present will get a share."

Gu Wenheng glanced at He Gaofei and the others. "Mr. He, what are your thoughts?"

He Gaofei and the others immediately stood to show their loyalty. "We are in complete agreement with Mr. Gu."

"Excellent," Gu Wenheng said. "Prince Zuo, in my view, the terms you’ve proposed are merely a facade. Besides, since you’ve been studying the culture of our Rong Dynasty, you should know the saying about releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Do you really think I am that foolish?"

"I will sign a document and stamp it with my personal seal," said Prince Zuo Tengshang. "Everything I have promised you, I will fulfill upon my return.

"To use your own saying, a gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand pounds of gold. And I will even leave it in writing."

Gu Wenheng leaned forward slightly, studying the prince for a long moment. Just as the prince was about to speak again, Gu Wenheng said with casual scorn, "A gentleman? I believe you have a misunderstanding of the term. In my opinion, you don’t have the slightest thing in common with one."

"Insolent! If you continue to belittle me, I will..."

"You will what?" Gu Wenheng cut in. "You can’t even take that? With a temperament like yours, how can I possibly trust you?

"Besides, you have some nerve, demanding we return the spoils of war. I take it you don’t understand the meaning of the term?

"The only reason I summoned you today was because I grew tired of your daily letters. I just wanted to make you give up all hope."

Prince Zuo Tengshang scoffed. "Hah. Do you think you can rest easy just by holding me captive?

"Once a new Prince Zuo is appointed, he will just bring his army here all the same."

"And so what?" Gu Wenheng retorted. "If it really comes to that, you’ll be my shield.

"The only question is whether the new Prince Zuo will point his blade at me... or at you."

"..."

"It’s the same thing over and over. Don’t write to me again. Reading your letters is a waste of my time. You may leave."

Prince Zuo Tengshang had been humiliated repeatedly, and his palms were slick with sweat. He kept reminding himself that this was not the time to act on impulse.

’Just you wait...’

"Then just say it. What will it take for you to let me go?"

"I’m afraid you can’t afford the price," Gu Wenheng said.

"Name it. I’m not a petty man." ’He could agree to any amount of gold and silver now. As for the future...’

Gu Wenheng saw the scheming in his eyes at a glance. "Letting you go is possible. However, the ships are now our spoils of war. We have already repaired the damage they sustained.

"We can discuss it with General Zhou and have his soldiers escort you back.

"As for your ’reward,’ I expect you to show your sincerity by signing a reparations document and agreeing to a ransom.

"I imagine you are not willing to drag this out any further, are you, Prince Zuo?"

The more Prince Zuo Tengshang listened, the angrier he grew. He had to admit, he had been successfully threatened.

If this dragged on any longer, his authority as Prince Zuo would be completely undermined.