507. Terms In Effect

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In the shadows, Goguryeo would prepare for the day when it could stand tall once more, no longer bound by the demands of the Han. King Sansang knew that the road ahead would be long and filled with challenges, but with Queen Woo by his side and the strength of his people behind him, he was ready to face whatever came next. The kingdom would endure, as it always had, and when the time was right, it would rise again, stronger and more resilient than ever.

Meanwhile, Mo Du sat at his desk, quill in hand, carefully crafting the letter that would seal Goguryeo's compliance with the Han's demands. The flickering light of the oil lamps illuminated the room, casting long shadows that seemed to dance on the walls as he wrote.

The tension in the air was palpable; every stroke of his quill carried the weight of the future of his kingdom. He knew that this letter was more than just an agreement—it was a lifeline, a temporary shield to protect Goguryeo from the wrath of Gongsun Gong, the Han warlord who ruled over Xiangping.

The terms were humiliating, but Mo Du, like King Sansang, understood the necessity of survival. The tribute and hostages would appease the Han for now, buying Goguryeo time to rebuild and regain its strength.

The trade agreement, which allowed Han merchants unrestricted access to Goguryeo's markets, was another bitter pill to swallow, but it was a small price to pay if it kept the Han at bay.

In return, King Sansang expected the same leniency for Goguryeo's traders, an economic foothold that could prove useful in the future and also a source of valuable information for Goguryeo's rise in the future.

After carefully reviewing the letter, Mo Du rolled it up and sealed it with the royal stamp of Goguryeo. He called for one of the trusted royal couriers and handed him the missive. The messenger, knowing the importance of the task, bowed deeply before hurrying out to release the carrier bird that would deliver the message to Xiangping.

As the bird took flight, disappearing into the dark night, Mo Du exhaled deeply. His work was done, but he knew the true test had only just begun. In the coming days, Goguryeo would either solidify its tenuous peace or find itself once again at the mercy of the Han warlords. Only time would tell if their strategy of compliance would pay off or backfire.

Two days later, in Xiangping, Jinseok sat nervously in Xiangping's governor's castle. The opulence of the surroundings did little to ease his anxiety. Every day, Gongsun Gong's servants and ministers asked him the same question: "Has King Sansang sent his response yet?"

And every day, Jinseok had to bow and apologize, explaining that the messenger had not yet arrived. His position as an envoy for Goguryeo had once been one of pride and prestige, but in recent weeks, it had become a source of immense pressure.

Gongsun Gong, who put an act of impatience and volatile temperament, slowly increased the act by growing increasingly agitated with each passing day.

Jinseok could feel the cold eyes of the Han officials following him wherever he went, as if they were waiting for the slightest misstep, ready to use him as a scapegoat should King Sansang's answer displease their lord.

Jinseok had tried his best to remain calm, reminding himself that the kingdom's survival depended on him maintaining a diplomatic front. He had been in Xiangping for weeks, negotiating the terms of peace, but unbeknownst to him, the real reason why Gongsun Gong put such an act was when he had received a letter from Lie Fan personally, something that was very rare for Gongsun Gong.

The letter praised Gongsun Gong for his handling of the situation and subtly hinted at the promise of military support if Goguryeo dared to break the agreement. This emboldened Gongsun Gong immensely, and in turn, he began to put immense pressure on Jinseok to gain Goguryeo's response.

As he paced the courtyard that evening, his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden arrival of one of his guards.

"Envoy Jinseok, a letter has arrived for you," the guard said, bowing slightly.

Jinseok's heart leaped into his throat. He followed the guard back to his chambers, where a messenger bird sat perched on the windowsill. His hands trembled slightly as he untied the letter from the bird's leg. With great care, he broke the seal and unrolled the parchment.

It was from Mo Du, as expected, detailing King Sansang's acceptance of the Han's terms. The tribute would be sent by the end of the week, and the hostages, which had been selected carefully from among Goguryeo's nobility, would accompany the gifts. The trade agreement was also confirmed, with King Sansang requesting that Goguryeo's merchants be allowed similar freedom within Han territories.

Relief washed over Jinseok like a wave. At last, he had the answer Gongsun Gong had been demanding. However, the relief was tempered with the knowledge that this was merely the first step. The hostages would soon leave Goguryeo, and Jinseok would be expected to ensure that the tribute and agreement were carried out to the letter.

Without delay, Jinseok made his way to the governor's hall, where Gongsun Gong held court. The warlord was seated on a raised dais, flanked by his advisors and guards. He looked up as Jinseok entered, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"Well?" Gongsun Gong asked, his voice cold and imperious. "Has your king finally given his answer, or are you here to waste more of my time?"

Jinseok bowed deeply before stepping forward. "My lord, I bring you King Sansang's response. He has agreed to all the terms laid out by Your Excellency. The tribute and hostages will be sent by the end of the week, and King Sansang requests that Goguryeo merchants be granted the same trade privileges as those of the Han."

There was a brief silence as Gongsun Gong studied the envoy. Then, a slow smile spread across his face.

"Good," Gongsun Gong said, leaning back in his chair. "It seems your king is wise enough to know when to submit. I will allow your merchants the same privileges, as agreed."

Jinseok felt a wave of relief but kept his composure. "Thank you, my lord," he said, bowing once again. "I will ensure that the tribute and hostages are prepared for the journey to Xiangping."

As he left the hall, Jinseok's mind raced. The immediate threat had been neutralized, but the tension was far from over.

Gongsun Gong's acceptance of the agreement did not mean that Goguryeo was safe. Far from it. The Han would be watching Goguryeo closely, and any sign of disobedience or rebellion could lead to devastating consequences.

Back in Goguryeo, King Sansang received confirmation of Jinseok's success through a letter that the latter sent. The Han had accepted their terms, and for the time being, the immediate threat of invasion had been averted. But as he sat in his chambers, his thoughts were already turning toward the future.

The selection of hostages had been completed, and the noble families whose sons and daughters would be sent to Xiangping had made their reluctant farewells. The tribute, consisting of gifts of gold, silk, precious artifacts, and valuable herbs, was being prepared for transport.

Everything was in motion as they had planned, and yet the king could not shake the feeling that they were merely buying time as he slowly contemplated by himself.

He met with Mo Du and Queen Woo in the council chambers the next day. Mo Du had returned from overseeing the final preparations for the hostages and tribute, while Queen Woo had spent the morning reassuring the noble families and personally seeing to the well-being of the young hostages.

"My king," Mo Du said as they gathered, "the preparations are complete. The tribute and hostages will be sent tomorrow, as agreed. We have done everything possible to ensure that the Han will have no reason to doubt our loyalty."

King Sansang nodded, though his mind was still troubled. "And what of the future? We have secured peace for now, but how long will it last? Gongsun Gong and the Han may be satisfied today, but we cannot trust that he will not increase his demand more from us in the coming years."

Queen Woo, always calm and composed, spoke next. "This peace may be fragile, but it gives us time, my lord. Time to rebuild our armies, strengthen our alliances, especially with our southern neighbors, and prepare for the day when we will no longer have to bend to the will of the Han."

King Sansang looked at his wife, admiring her wisdom and resolve. He knew that she was right, but the uncertainty of the future weighed heavily on him. Still, they had done everything possible to secure the safety of their people. Now, they would have to play the long game, waiting patiently for the right moment to assert their independence once again.

The next morning, the tribute caravan set out from Goguryeo, accompanied by the young hostages who would be delivered to Xiangping. The people of the kingdom watched in solemn silence as their noble sons and daughters were led away, their faces a mixture of pride and sorrow.

As the Goguryeo caravan began its long journey toward Xiangping, laden with tribute and hostages, another, quieter movement was underway, one that the Goguryeo court was entirely unaware of.

While King Sansang, Mo Du, and Queen Woo focused on the delicate balance of maintaining peace with the Han, an unseen threat began to infiltrate their kingdom. It was subtle, invisible to all but the most astute observers, yet it was already beginning to take root deep within Goguryeo's borders.

This was the work of the Oriole, who under the guidance of its second grandmaster, Xu Kai, the Oriole had been tasked with expanding its influence into Goguryeo's domain, laying the groundwork for what could become a vast and far-reaching spy network.

Xu Kai was a man of exceptional skill and discipline, a master of subterfuge and intelligence gathering. When he received the order from Lie Fan to expand the Oriole's reach, he immediately set to work, studying the intricacies of Goguryeo's culture, language, and political landscape.

Xu Kai had prepared for this mission meticulously. He had spent months learning the language of Goguryeo, immersing himself in its history and traditions, studying its governance, and even mastering the dialects spoken in various regions.

He had also tasked his team with doing the same, ensuring that when the time came, they could blend into Goguryeo's society without raising suspicion. By the time the order came to infiltrate Goguryeo, Xu Kai and his operatives were more than ready.

As the Goguryeo caravans wound their way through the mountain passes and forests toward Xiangping, Xu Kai and his team were already in place, scattered across various towns and villages, posing as merchants, scholars, and even refugees from distant lands.

Their goal was to establish a network of informants and spies who could gather intelligence on the inner workings of Goguryeo's court, military movements, and any signs of dissent or unrest among its people.

Xu Kai himself traveled under the guise of a merchant from the southern regions of China, peddling fine silks, porcelain, and exotic spices. His cover allowed him to move freely throughout Goguryeo, visiting different towns and cities without drawing undue attention. As he moved, he quietly established connections with local merchants, innkeepers, and craftsmen—people who were well-positioned to overhear gossip and news. He offered them generous payments in exchange for information, careful not to reveal his true purpose.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0