Defending to the death, assassination, and peace negotiations—on the surface, Han Ruzi had three strategies to counter the enemy, yet none were feasible. Though he didn’t say it aloud, he was clear in his heart that these all amounted to death throes.
Even so, he still had to struggle.
Prince Donghai was granted permission to make preparations, but without an imperial edict, he was likewise forbidden to leave the city.
ng E sent a guard back to remind the Emperor that if he wanted to execute the assassination mission, they had to leave the city before dawn; otherwise, it would be even harder to succeed.
Han Ruzi donned his cloak and, bringing no banner bearers but only a few eunuchs and guards, climbed the city walls again around the fourth watch.
The Xiongnu outside the city were already prepared. In the flickering firelight, the tall siege engines looked like resting giants. Suddenly, one giant “sneezed,” producing a thunderous roar.
The attackers were calibrating their equipnt, firing a stone projectile. Its trajectory was invisible in the darkness, and only the sound of its landing could be heard. Though it fell far from Jincheng City, those on the walls could already feel the power of this strike.
Launching stone projectiles required dozens of n pulling in unison. The first attempt succeeded, and the Xiongnu cheered in unison. Imdiately, soone rode out to asure the distance, allowing them to calculate how close to the city they would need to position their siege engines at dawn.
Afterward, different siege engines conducted test fires. Only one failed—a newly constructed fra couldn’t bear the load and collapsed on the spot. The Xiongnu flew into a rage and forced dozens of craftsn to run toward Jincheng City while they pursued unhurriedly from behind, occasionally drawing their bows to shoot arrows that never missed their mark.
Han Ruzi walked along the city wall for a stretch. The eunuchs ran ahead, reminding the soldiers not to salute to avoid attracting the attention of the Xiongnu outside.
From the backs of the defenders, Han Ruzi sensed uncontrollable fear. They weren’t true soldiers, and seeing such powerful enemies and weapons, they couldn’t help but be afraid.
Han Ruzi couldn’t even think of ways to boost morale.
The south wall had two gates: one was the main gate, where Prince Donghai’s envoy party waited inside, and the other was a side gate, where the guards were hidden.
Han Ruzi first went above the side gate, preparing to release the assassins. At the very least, he wanted to see these n off.
Liu Jie went down to relay the orders.
The city gate opened just a crack, and ten guards filed out with Hua Bin. For Hua Bin, this was no different from suicide, but he had no choice—staying in the city would also an death.
Though he claid he would see everyone off, Han Ruzi’s gaze turned toward the distance without any clear target, just gazing randomly into the distance. Before long, before the Xiongnu formally began their assault, he would also have to send out Prince Donghai to execute another suicide-like mission.
If he had known from the start that being emperor would be so difficult… Han Ruzi would still have chosen without hesitation to be emperor, to be a true emperor. At least now it was he who was making choices, rather than having his choices be chosen by others.
“Wait, have them withdraw first,” Han Ruzi said urgently. He had seen sothing.
Liu Jie was still below the wall. Zhang Youcai hurried to the other side, had others hold his legs, and leaned out from the wall top, shouting down below: “Co back! His Majesty has an edict—summon them back!”
Han Ruzi couldn’t hear the sounds from below. He only saw the guards continue riding forward. Just as they were about to cross the bridge, they all reined in their horses and turned around. They hadn’t looked back when departing, but now they all gazed up at the city wall. Their expressions were invisible in the darkness, but their confusion was obvious.
After a while, the guards obeyed the edict and returned to the city, and the gate was imdiately closed.
ng E ca up to the city wall.
Han Ruzi pointed into the distance. “The Xiongnu have sent people over.”
Indeed, a group of Xiongnu had ridden out from their camp—about twenty or thirty n—and were rapidly approaching Jincheng City.
“Mm.” ng E didn’t understand what this had to do with assassinating the Right Wise King.
“They’re either declaring war or negotiating. We can first create an impression for them.”
“What impression?” ng E had always understood the Emperor’s thinking, but now she was sowhat puzzled.
Han Ruzi didn’t explain. He said to Zhang Youcai: “Summon Prince Donghai to the wall.”
Zhang Youcai ran ahead while Han Ruzi beckoned to ng E, indicating she should follow.
The group quickly arrived above the main gate. Prince Donghai had just climbed the wall after receiving the edict and approached the Emperor with a confused expression.
Han Ruzi stood on the inner side of the city wall, keeping himself hidden from those outside the city, and said to Prince Donghai: “The Xiongnu have sent envoys. You go receive them and find a way to make them think sothing major has happened in the city.”
“Sothing major… oh.” Prince Donghai understood. “Then Your Majesty should not remain here. With Your Majesty watching from behind, my performance won’t feel right.”
Han Ruzi led his people down from the wall. ng E also understood the Emperor’s plan. They returned by the sa route and continued hiding behind the side gate, quietly waiting for the right mont.
If they could make the Xiongnu believe the Emperor had been killed, the assassination plan by ng E and the others might have a greater chance of success.
Han Ruzi waited below the city wall, hope rising in his heart. As ti passed, this hope quickly diminished. Even if the Xiongnu believed the Emperor had been assassinated, they still would not easily trust the Chu people. ng E and the others would still be like sheep entering a tiger’s mouth, only further enraging the Right Wise King.
Prince Donghai’s attendant hurried down and knelt before the Emperor, saying: “Prince Donghai requests Your Majesty to ascend the wall.”
Han Ruzi was slightly startled. Prince Donghai’s task was to fabricate lies – why would he want the Emperor to show himself in person? But he still stepped toward the wall. Prince Donghai must have had his reasons for doing this.
Prince Donghai approached with a surprised expression. “It’s an envoy from the Great Chanyu. They’ve truly co to negotiate.”
“The Great Chanyu’s envoy just left not long ago…”
“It seems the Great Chanyu doesn’t trust the Right Wise King either, so he sent another group of envoys. They arrived just in ti. This envoy is also soone Your Majesty knows.”
Prince Donghai’s expression was sowhat strange. Han Ruzi walked to the edge of the city wall and looked out.
There were more than twenty Xiongnu envoys, and the leader was actually a woman.
“Is that the Great Chu Emperor on the wall?” the woman asked in the Central Plains language.
It was indeed Jin Chuiduo.
Han Ruzi was stunned for a mont, then nodded to the eunuch beside him. Zhang Youcai called out loudly: “His Majesty is here. I am Zhang Youcai. Does Miss Jin still rember ?”
Jin Chuizuo seed to nod slightly. “Please rest assured, Your Majesty. The Xiongnu will not attack the city today and will withdraw imdiately. Two hours from now, please co out of the city to negotiate. The eting point will be three miles from the city and five miles from the Xiongnu camp. Each side may bring only two people.”
“Wait.” Han Ruzi spoke, but Jin Chuiduo was unwilling to say more. She turned her horse around and led her people away.
“What does she an? With just a few words she wants to lure Your Majesty out of the city?” Prince Donghai felt he needed to explain himself. “I hinted to her, but she didn’t believe it at all. She said she knew the Emperor was alive…”
“Let’s wait and see. If the Xiongnu truly withdraw, We can go out to negotiate.”
“It’s too risky!”
“Soone must take risks.” Han Ruzi gazed into the distance. “Go have soone prepare three good horses. Wang He, you will accompany Us out of the city. Go summon ng E.”
For the negotiation where each side could bring two people, Han Ruzi chose Wang He and ng E.
Wang He was rely a guard captain and dared not say anything else. He imdiately went to find ng E. Prince Donghai hesitated for a mont, then also went down to arrange for horses.
The Xiongnu showed no signs of withdrawal yet. The tall siege engines still stood in their original positions, with large numbers of cavalry guarding in front.
Dawn had broken, but the Xiongnu still showed no movent.
Prince Donghai returned, bringing a large group of generals. Cai Xinghai and Fan Zhuangshan climbed the wall despite their injuries. Without saying anything, they knelt behind the Emperor along with the other generals.
The distant Xiongnu finally responded. The siege engines remained, but the cavalry began to turn around. However, they moved very slowly, seeming reluctant, as if waiting for a change of fortune.
Han Ruzi turned around to face the assembled generals. Just as he was about to speak, civil officials who had received the news also ca running from both sides and silently knelt down.
“When the great enemy is at our gates and soone among you needs to step forward, has anyone ever refused? We, as an unworthy person, have inherited our ancestors’ great enterprise. Resisting enemies, defending territory, and protecting the people are Our responsibilities. When the Xiongnu attacked the city, you all put soldiers first and people first. Now it should be Our turn to go before all officials. Please rise and attend to your duties. If the negotiations do not go well, there may still be a battle today.”
The civil and military officials remained silent and did not rise. So wept aloud. In normal tis, this would be re convention, but at this mont, there was so genuine feeling.
Han Ruzi paid no attention and turned again to look outside. The Xiongnu were indeed retreating. The siege engines could not be dismantled in ti and were left standing alone.
“If we must still go to war, none of those things outside the city can be left. Fan Zhuangshan, Cai Xinghai, you two will divide the assignnts between yourselves in a mont.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Both n prostrated themselves on the ground. Though they were all wounded, neither uttered a word of refusal.
“Rise.” Han Ruzi said again. “Subjects of Great Chu cannot defend the city on their knees.”
Only then did everyone stand up one by one. The civil officials had donned one or two pieces of armor over their long robes, looking incongruous—enough to make decorum officials shake their heads vigorously—but none of that mattered now.
Han Ruzi walked before several scholars who had accompanied them in an advisory capacity. After Jincheng was besieged, their usefulness had proven less than that of ordinary soldiers. Only Shan Mingzhong had once offered a suggestion to change the conscription of laborers to military conscription.
Shan Mingzhong was still young, only in his twenties. Han Ruzi had an impression of this man, so he now stood before this scholar and said: “Civil governance and military achievents stand hand in hand. Even if sothing should happen to , Great Chu will not perish. Military generals show loyalty by dying on the battlefield; scholars show loyalty by defending the court’s foundations. After the city falls, you must find every possible way to return to the Capital, convey my imperial edict, and urge the ministers to quickly enthrone a new ruler.”
The scholars all knelt down again and wept aloud.
Han Ruzi said to Wang He: “Assign each of them a personal guard.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Han Ruzi turned to the other accompanying civil officials. “Gentlen…”
“We ministers have received orders to don military garb. Today we are all generals, and aside from dying on the battlefield, we have no other wish,” said one minister.
“No other wish,” the officials chorused.
Han Ruzi finally looked toward Liu Jie, Zhang Youcai, and the other eunuchs. After pondering for a long while, he said: “Should anything happen, you will remain by my side.”
The eunuchs bowed, taking this as their honor.
“Bring paper and brush,” Han Ruzi said.
The eunuchs carried such items with them. Imdiately soone held up a small table while another spread paper and ground ink. Han Ruzi took up the brush and wrote an imperial edict. He could not rely let the scholars escape back to the Capital—he had to give them so proof.
Liu Jie presented the imperial seal he carried with him. Han Ruzi stamped it on the edict, but after folding it, he did not know to whom he should entrust it. This was a backup edict for use in case of ergency—he could not give it to the scholars just yet.
Prince Donghai? Han Ruzi did not yet trust him to that extent.
While he was still hesitating, Cui Teng ca running up breathlessly and said in surprise: “Everyone’s here—why didn’t anyone call ?”
He had found the right person. Han Ruzi turned once more to look outside the city. The Xiongnu army was retreating even faster now. Soone was setting up temporary tents on the road three miles from the city.
Jin Chuiduo might be trustworthy, but could she intimidate the Right Wise King enough to make him watch the negotiations with his own eyes without attacking?
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