The Stone Road

by G R Matthews

  “Perhaps, the tea will calm the storm in his stomach, Hsin?” Cheng said as he poured and against all protocol, handed the first cup to Zhou, who turned to look at Hsin, awaiting the explosion. The Senior Diplomat nodded as he received his own cup.

  “Ah,” Hsin gave a deep sigh of satisfaction as he sipped the scaldingly hot beverage. “The tea is excellent, Honoured Cheng.”

  “Thank you. The leaves are picked only in the evening when the sap is at its height, and then only the very tips of the youngest leaves. The drying process is very quick in the mountains where it grows. It was explained to me why this is but I must confess I did not understand very much. All I needed to know is that the tea is good and worthy of guests. The duke drinks the very same tea and, I have heard, even the emperor, blessed be him in Jade Heaven, has a supply of his own from the mountain.”

  “Then we are in good company,” Hsin turned a sly glance on Zhou. “I hope everyone appreciates your care as much as I do.”

  Zhou took a breath to respond but when no suitable words came to mind he settled for silence and slight bow towards the Yaart negotiator.

  “If I may,” Hsin began, “I have never had the pleasure of visiting your lovely city before. The current difficulties have always precluded that possibility. Would it be possible for myself and my aide,” he nodded towards Zhou, who could say nothing about his sudden demotion, “to have a small tour. I am sure you have many wonders to see.”

  “Do we not have more on the list for the day?” Cheng picked up his papers and started to sort through them.

  “We do, however, I am willing to waive our claim on the Shinxi marshes in any treaty we construct between our two nations.” Hsin took another sip of his tea.

  Zhou almost spat his tea out across the room. The marshes were the best way to the Green River and from there the backbone of trade for Wubei. Being in the mountains was good for defence and mining, the largest money earner for the province, but not so good for trade. Giving up the marshes and easy access to the river would cost Wubei dearly in the long run.

  Cheng’s eyes narrowed and he made a few jerky scratches on his papers, “That would be most agreeable.”

  “Good, then it is settled. Our discussions for the day are done and we have time for a tour.” Hsin clapped his hands together softly in pleasure. “This has been a good day.”

  “Of course, Honoured Hsin. Let me just speak to the guards and ensure we have everything we need. Then we can begin the tour.” As Cheng stood he threw a few glances at Zhou, who returned a neutral face. Cheng opened the door and went outside, closing it behind him.

  “Are you mad?” Zhou spat out the words like poison towards Hsin.

  “Take care with your tongue, Zhou. You could still be going home in disgrace.” Hsin, for once, displayed none of the anger he usually did. Zhou craned his neck around to look carefully at Hsin’s face.

  “You’re up to something, Venerable Hsin,” he said in accusation.

  “By venerable, you mean old. You know what else it says, it says experience, cunning, thought and guile. It comes with age and after many negotiations. If this afternoon works as it should, then we will have this war sewn up before evening.” Zhou saw Hsin’s face take on a much more cunning look, “Then Yaart will pay dearly for starting the war and for killing our people.”

  “I don’t understand.” Zhou forced the admission out between gritted teeth.

  “Thirty years of war, Zhou. Thirty years of deaths, village raids, of our young men going off to fight.” Zhou, looking directly into Hsin’s eyes, saw them mist over. “So many dead. Every family has lost someone, even yours Zhou, but some have lost much more. For them we must strike a hard peace, a punishing peace to ensure that it can never happen again. We must forge a peace that lasts a thousand generations and to do that we must weaken Yaart.”

  Hsin paused and Zhou waited as the Senior Diplomat brought his face back to the calm, professional visage it had worn throughout the negotiations so far. “I was sent to petition the emperor in the first years of the war, did you know that? We wanted his diplomats to resolve a peace between Wubei and Yaart. The emperor would not see me or any of our group. His aide said the emperor would not get involved in a small border dispute between two of his Dukes. Well, this small dispute has lasted thirty years. Today we can end it.”

  Zhou was struck by the passion in the whispered voice but there was something much harder and colder riding underneath it. He worried over it and the only word that came to mind was retribution.

  Before he could answer, the door swung open and Cheng walked back in accompanied by two guards. Zhou recognised the first guard as the one who had given him the brief tour yesterday and, though there was something vaguely familiar about him, he didn’t recognise the second guard.

  “Honoured Guests, these two Guardsman.” Cheng waved a hand in their general direction. “Feng, whom I believe you have already met, and Kang, will accompany us on our tour. Both have lived in the city and castle for more years than I and may be able to answer some of your questions if I am unable.”

  “Also, because of stray arrows?” Hsin asked with a smile, he raised his hand before Cheng could speak, “I would do exactly same in your place, Cheng. I count it as an honour.” Hsin bowed low to Cheng.

  “Shall we go?” Cheng asked with a small chuckle.

  The guards led them from the room and through the castle corridors, up a flight of stairs and on to the roof of the central keep. The view was incredible. In the mountains the view of the horizon was generally restricted by close proximity of yet more mountains, limiting the scope of vision. At the edge of the parapet, he placed his hands on the stone and lent forward, letting his eyes wash across the vista before him. On the far horizon, a slight grey smudge that hinted at the mountains of his home but, before it and all around the city walls, as far as he could see, were the flat grassland plains of Yaart. If they had been a uniform green the sight would have been pleasant enough but, instead, there were shades of green, browns and yellows. Here and there, small woods rose above the grass and from some, wisps of smoke rose towards the blue skies, little hints of habitation. Roads stretched away from Yaart in the four cardinal directions.

  Zhou knew that the road he had followed to get here petered out as it reached the disputed plains. It had once run all the way to Yaart, but when the war began both sides had destroyed it to prevent the other from moving heavy concentrations of troops easily. Wubei had gone even further, using black powder they had caused avalanches to block the major pathways and passes through the mountains to their city from here. The only path out, the one they had taken to get here, was wide enough for a single wagon and no more. There were guard posts and traps set all along it. The city and its surrounding area were as much a jail as an impregnable fortress for Wubei. But here, with his vision not constrained by mountain crags and steep valleys, he could see and feel the freedom of the plains. He felt dizzy and had to steady himself on the defensive wall of the Yaart castle.

  “Perhaps we have seen enough from up here?” Cheng enquired politely.

  “Indeed, most impressive,” Hsin replied.

  “Incredible,” whispered Zhou.

  They returned to the stairs and began to descend. The guards leading, then Cheng, followed by Hsin with Zhou last. He found it hard to tear himself away from the view but forced himself into the tunnel of stairs. Immediately, he felt trapped and saddened.

  “You were looking in the wrong direction,” Hsin sent back up to him in hushed tones. Zhou puzzled over that comment as they descended. What had he missed?

  “Let us show you the troop training yard. I imagine it is similar to your own but, for some reason, tours for visiting dignitaries must always include the more martial aspects of a castle.” Cheng apologised with a smile. “Though, if you prefer, the duke does have a fine collection of paintings that he is happy to have you view.”

  “Honoured Cheng,” Hsin said as they walked. “I was interested, as
we came to your great city, in the tents and people just outside. Has that always been there? Our old records mentioned nothing of it when I prepared to make the journey here.”

  “It is... a relatively recent addition to our city,” Cheng answered, though Zhou was certain the pause had not been on purpose.

  “Really? That is sad. Still, I suppose every city has its poor. It is strange to see them outside the walls,” Hsin said lightly. Zhou tried but could not detect any tone that might give a clue to the line of conversation the Senior Diplomat was taking. “A beautiful day though. I am glad we had a chance to get outside. May we see the gardens?”

  Hsin, without warning, took a different corridor from the guards at the next junction. Zhou, surprised, almost walked into Cheng’s back as everyone came to halt and hurried to re-adjust their path. Zhou turned first and already, Hsin was striding quickly away. Much more quickly than he had ever moved in the whole time Zhou had known him. Cheng and the guards, in a whisper of slippered feet and jangle of armour, caught up then passed Zhou. By then it was too late, Hsin was already through the door and out in the gardens.

  “This way, I believe.” Hsin turned again and headed off towards the hedge arch that Zhou had visited yesterday.

  “Sir?” said the new guard, his voice sounding concerned to Zhou’s ears.

  “I know, Kang, but what can be done. A guest is honoured and protected, above all. Such is the law of the emperor and our traditions.” Cheng passed the guards and rushed to catch up with the still accelerating Hsin.

  “Honoured Hsin, if you could tell me what it is you want to see then I can guide you by the shortest route,” Cheng spoke politely but firmly.

  “No need, I know the way,” Hsin responded.

  No matter how the guards and Cheng sought to catch up, Hsin was always a few steps ahead. The hedge arch came into view and then was gone as Hsin passed through as fast as a runaway horse. Beyond, the gardens opened up from pathways, hedges and planted beds to reveal a small open field bordered by a wooden fence and, surrounding that, a tall hedge. The only entrance was the arch they had passed through. In the centre of the fenced area were three cattle. Three unremarkable, head down, cattle chewing grass.

  “You needed to see our sacred cattle, Hsin?” Cheng asked, out of breath.

  “Indeed, I did. Magnificent beasts. I had no idea that cattle were sacred to Yaart,” Hsin replied.

  “We are a nation of the plains, we are cattle farmers by history and tradition. It makes sense, no?” Cheng said calmly, though his eyes darted around the field.

  “I will tell you what makes sense and maybe Zhou will finally learn something.” Hsin turned to Cheng and the guards, “Your nation is in trouble. The tent city at the gates is full of refugees, starving ones at that. The first ones to reach the city were housed inside the walls but more and more came. If I had to guess, then I would say there was a disaster in the north, perhaps a flood of the Blue River. It is not unheard of. Indeed it is mentioned quite often in the histories and has always had implications for regions further away from the flood itself. The refugees need food and you have little left to feed them. They also brought with disease and illness them. The graveyards contain many fresh graves, my sources tell me. That is why you came to us for peace. You need time to secure your northern borders and you need troops to do it. Banditry and lawlessness will follow any crisis.”

  Cheng looked shocked and fought to find words, “I... there is no... what I mean is...”

  “Do not bother, Cheng. You have been outmanoeuvred here. Before we came, we sent our traders out by the long roads to gather knowledge and intelligence on the situation.” Hsin was taking to his task with undisguised glee. Zhou could see that the old man was enjoying his triumph. “They found out something interesting too. They found out that somehow, for some reason, you were buying up all the wheat and flour you could find at extortionate prices, even from the eastern kingdoms. Why were you doing that, and more to the point, how could you afford it, hmm?”

  The guards looked at Cheng, worry was clear on their faces and Zhou could feel his heart beat faster. This would not end well, he thought. A tragic accident, two diplomats killed in a fall somewhere, apologies would be sent and the duke would send two more to fill their places. Peace was a great prize after thirty years. Neither the guards nor Cheng spoke.

  “How could you afford it?” Hsin repeated, “Now we come to the most intriguing piece of the puzzle. War bankrupts countries, even after thirty years we are both struggling to pay for the conflict but now you, more than we, need money. I would imagine you are close to complete collapse, to total starvation and riots. Once that happens, we could just sweep in and take what we wanted. Where do you get the money?” Hsin began pacing, “And then, of all people, it is the blind idiot Zhou here that stumbles over it. These cattle, these sacred cattle. I don’t know what they are, a gift from the emperor’s sorcerers? An alchemist’s success? A freak of nature perhaps? The last remnants of the Jade herd? It doesn’t matter really. All that matters is that they are not normal beasts. Even though you have cleaned them up, and the field that they graze, you can see how heavy they are. How far their feet sink into the ground? Even now, there is evidence of their gifts to you.” Hsin pointed to the cattle.

  Zhou struggled to see what Hsin was on about then, like the goose that laid the golden egg, one of the cattle excreted a hot, spitting, hissing, yellow syrup that puddled and pooled on the grass. There was total silence as the mess cooled and solidified into a misshapen golden lump.

  Hsin’s face was a manic grin of victory and there was a look of desperation on Cheng’s. Strange as it seemed, and shocking, these magical cattle were alchemical factories turning grass into gold. An unlimited supply.

  CHAPTER 8

  Haung stood sweating in his guard uniform. Life as a Jiin-Wei had made him forget how heavy and uncomfortable all the armour was. The old diplomat, Hsin, was gloating over his discovery and Cheng was suitably shocked at it all.

  “Honourable Hsin,” Cheng stammered, “I do not know what you hope to gain by these wild theories of yours.”

  “Theories, pah.” The little diplomat from Wubei was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Theories indeed. I assure you that there is nothing wrong with our northern borders or our food supply. The duke has simply decided that our conflict had reached a stalemate and was in danger of dragging on for many more years without resolution. It was a situation he felt was unacceptable and contacted the emperor for permission to sue for peace. That permission was given.”

  “You are hiding behind words, my dear Cheng. The evidence is there for all to see. Even your own people have told us what is going on.” Hsin waved away Cheng’s words.

  Haung stepped forward, judging this to be the right time, “Your eminence, I did warn you that these men were not permitted to come here and that they should be stopped.”

  Cheng turned to him with a face creased in anger, “Guardsman Kang, you will be silent. I will handle this situation. You overstep your position.”

  “Your guards knew we shouldn’t have seen this. It is the last piece in the puzzle, it tells me all I wish to know. When we meet to tomorrow, you will include these fantastical cattle in the negotiations. Wubei will have them or there will be no peace and Yaart can suffocate under the weight of its refugee crisis.” Hsin beckoned the younger diplomat to follow.

  Haung watched them go. The younger one seemed to be arguing with the older. It looked quite heated. They had not gone far out of earshot when they stopped. Haung saw Hsin wave an angry finger at his aide, resulting in the aid stepping back and giving a forced, deep bow. Haung let a small smile pass across his face.

  “It goes to plan then?” Cheng said with a slight tremor in his voice. “I did a good job of this?”

  “Yes. You are performing admirably. I will inform the Commander of such. You have no need to concern yourself,” Haung said in response, he turned to his fellow Jiin-Wei. “Follow, don’t be
seen, but make sure they get back safely.”

  “I’m not worried for me, Jiin-Wei,” Cheng spoke harshly.

  Haung turned a puzzled look on him, “I’m sorry?”

  “When will the Commander let me see my wife again?” Cheng’s tone turned pleading and the words rushed out of his mouth in a torrent, “Is she ok? Has she given birth yet? Do I have a son or a daughter? She is due any day now. Please, can you tell me?”

  Haung turned away from the cracks appearing in Cheng’s normally professional demeanour. Cheng grabbed his arm and Haung had to shake himself free. “I do not know. I will report your concerns to the Commander.”

  He walked away quickly, fighting the urge to gag, sickened by Cheng’s actions and words. Back in his room, he stripped off the armour, grabbing a towel and a change of clothes he made his way to the bathing rooms. Even before he reached them, he could smell the incense and spices that the servants burnt on the sauna coals and he felt the knots in his shoulders loosen.

  He chose the steam sauna room, the constant mist would hide him from view and the relaxing heat did not encourage conversation. He didn’t want to talk to anyone at the moment. Sat in the ceramic tiled chairs, he let the heat invade every pore and each scented breath that inflated his lungs warmed his blood and his heart. Soon the cares of the day were forgotten and expunged with the sweat that began to roll off his body.

  # # #

  Two days after he submitted his written report, Haung was summoned to the Commander’s office.

  “Haung, I have read the report. You have done a good job. The duke is pleased with the service the Jiin-Wei are providing for him.” The Commander smiled at him. “We should be nearing the end of this phase of our plan.”

  “I am glad to have fulfilled my tasks, Commander,” Haung said, but held back the questions he wanted to ask.

  “As you should be, as you should be.” The Commander picked up a small cup of wine and took a sip. “Now we have but small parts to play, Cheng will assist the Wubei closing the jaws around themselves. Tomorrow, I want you to meet the duke and escort him to the negotiating room. His appearance should seal the treaty. Dress in the guard uniform. Your presence should give that wizened devil Hsin all the backbone he needs. You are dismissed.”