Zhai nodded. “I’m worried what will happen when Tai arrives this morning and learns of your plans.” He paused, waiting for Wen to meet his eyes. “There could be fighting, Sire.”
Wen shook his head at that. “I don’t think that’s likely, Zhai. While it’s true that we don’t have that many men here, no more than a few dozen, Tai will have even less. No,” he continued as he turned back to look out at the road, “I don’t think we have to worry about Tai Tian too much more.”
“And what of the remaining men still in the field around Linzi?” Zhai asked. “Should I have them recalled back to Wei?”
“Let us wait until the meeting with Marquis’ Lie and Jing,” Wen said. “If all goes well and they decide to switch their support to Kang like I have, then we’ll most likely be battling against House Tian and those troops will still be needed.”
“Very well, Sire. I will leave you to your thoughts,” Zhai said as he gave an unseen bow and moved away.
Wen continued to stare out at the road, but he was looking in the wrong direction. As General Zhai had surmised, the first group of chariots to approach that morning came not from the west, but from the east, and they were driven not by friends, but by soon-to-be enemies.
Wen heard the commotion down in the compound before he heard the thundering of the chariots, and it was when he turned to look behind him at what all the noise was about that he saw the tell-tale cloud of dust that could only be created in a chariot’s wake.
He began moving along the wall toward the narrow set of stairs but was stopped suddenly by Wu coming up.
“Tai Tian will be here in moments,” Wu said, his eyes boring accusingly into Wen. “What will you do?”
Wen pushed past his son and started down the stairs.
“I’ll meet with him and explain the situation,” Wen called back behind him, annoyed at the worries his son obviously felt.
Soldiers rushed about the compound as if expecting an attack, and Wen chuckled as he moved toward the gate, thinking it odd that the atmosphere of the place was heavy with the foreboding of enemies approaching and not that of friends. Wen stepped out of the compound’s gateway just as the lead chariot pulled to a stop, the cloud of dust floating up behind it to obscure all view of who’d arrived. Several men began coughing, but Wen just stood still, his arms behind his back, as he waited for Tai Tian to approach. After a few moments a shape began to swirl forth from the dust and Wen saw that it was indeed Tai.
“Marquis Wen, it’s an honor to see you here!” Tai said as he walked toward Wen.
Several guards near Wen reached for their swords, but Wen did nothing and Tai stopped a few feet in front of him to bow.
“I’m honored that you’ve chosen to be here,” Tai said. “I’ve heard your men have captured Duke Kang, although why they rushed him back across the border is beyond me.”
Tai took off the gloves he’d been wearing and used them to slap the dust from his brown robes. The man before Wen was old beyond his years and many deep lines and wrinkles etched his face, no doubt earned through years of worry and struggle against the ruling House of Jiang. His hair was short and messy, balding on top, and his beard and mustache were much the same. Still, his eyes were confident and he held his head high.
“General Zhai Jue was unsure of what to do when Duke Kang fell into his hands,” Wen said. “His first inclination was to rush him back to Anyi, but when he’d regained his senses he stopped at the first place he could and sent a message off to me. Now here I stand before you, ready to remedy the situation.”
“We can remedy it right quick if you’d present Kang to me,” Tai said as he patted the sword that hung from his waist. “I’ve been waiting to meet face-to-face with Kang again for many years.”
“I’ve no doubt that you have,” Wen replied, “and you shall get your wish, of meeting him today, but there shall be no more bloodshed.”
Tai narrowed his eyes and stared back at Wen. “What do you mean by that? We had a deal that you’d help me defeat Kang and in return I would support you.”
“It is correct that the deal was between you and I, but Marquis’ Lie and Jing were also a party to it,” Wen said. “Both are on their way here now, and should arrive sometime this morning.”
“You’ve made a deal with Kang, haven’t you,” Tai said accusingly, his eyes growing large as his hand gripped firmly onto the pommel of his sword.
The guards around Wen tensed and reached for their own swords, causing Tai’s men, who’d by this time gathered around their leader, to reach for theirs. No swords were drawn, but several tense moments passed in silence as the two groups of men stared at one another, each waiting for a cue from their leader as to which way to act.
Wen remained unperturbed by the show and kept his hands behind his back as he stared at Tai. “I’ve made no deals with Duke Kang. Right now we’re simply waiting for Marquis’ Lie and Jing to arrive so that we can all three jointly agree on the best outcome of this situation.”
Tai stared daggers at Wen for another few moments before he removed his hand from his sword. Immediately the men around him and Wen relaxed, the sudden standoff ended.
“I’ll remind you that we had a deal, Wen,” Tai said through gritted teeth.
“We had a deal to help you defeat Duke Kang,” Wen shot back, “and that we’ve done. Duke Kang sits here now in captivity. But instead of rushing to Linzi and taking the last bastions of his power and the heir that will succeed him, you chose to ride here to kill the man.” Wen narrowed his own eyes and tilted his head at Tai. “I have to seriously question the motives of such a man when that decision is made. Is he seeking to secure a seat of power, or simply on a blind quest for vengeance?”
“Are you saying I’m not fit to rule?” Tai said angrily, his hand again moving toward his sword hilt. “For if you are, then perhaps we should-”
Tai’s words were cut off as a guard atop the compound’s walls cried out.
“There!” the man pointed, drawing all eyes upward to him. “Chariots approaching from the west, dozens of them.”
Tai and the men around him turned around to look at the road behind them, where already a faint cloud of dust could be seen in the distance, its size growing larger with each passing moment.
“It would appear that Marquis’ Lie and Jing have arrived,” Wen said loudly, the sound of the approaching chariots already audible in the distance.
Tai turned his head to regard Wen but said nothing, and after a moment he moved away to be closer to his own men, whom he began talking to in a hushed voice, as hushed as it could be with dozens of chariots bearing down on them.
Zhai Huang moved up to stand next to Wen.
“Marquis Lie,” Wen said without taking his eyes from the chariots in the distance.
“And possibly Marquis Jing as well, with the number of chariots,” Zhai said.
Both men stood by in silence for several minutes as they watched the chariots approach. The cloud of dust grew larger and larger and Wen knew that the guard had misspoke. There were more than a dozen chariots approaching, most likely two-to-three times that number. A slight tremble could be felt under their feet, and the chariots were still several hundred yards distant, although the thunder of their wheels boomed loudly, and each man, even Wen, felt a swelling amount of pounding fear build in their chests at the force coming toward them.
Zhai raised his arm and pointed. “That’s Lie riding in the first chariot.”
Wen nodded as he caught sight of the man. Marquis Lie of Zhao appeared different from most rulers in that he chose to cut his hair short, although the long beard and mustache that framed his large nose and small mouth were the envy of many in the Seven States. As usual, he was attired in bright blue robes that seemed to flow over his body, although the blue was barely discernable with the dust coating it.
Next to him on the chariot was a man that Wen assumed to be an advisor, perhaps even his Minister of War. Lie had had many advisors over the years, for his
father’s death had come when he was but a boy. That boy had managed to survive with his advisors aid, and Wen knew that he’d grown to become a capable ruler.
“Looks like more than a dozen chariots,” Zhai said, and Wen nodded.
“They’ve never quite had the forces that we do, but they do like to show off what they do have” the Minister of War added as he looked at the Zhao chariots. “Lie seems more interested in showing off his power than using it to subdue the many smaller states.”
“They’re more particular in their ambitions, choosing to go after targets closer to home,” Wen said. “I don’t think they’d have had the gall to cross a neighboring state’s borders to go after an enemy.”
“Zhongshan lies right next to them,” Zhai said. “They could’ve conquered that state years ago, I don’t know why they didn’t.”
“He’s not made from the same stuff as his great-grandfather, Zhao Xiangzi,” Wen said as he watched Marquis Lie approach. “I doubt that Lie would ever have said no to Zhi Xiangzi, throwing his capital into a three-year siege.”
Both men fell silent as the final approach of the chariots drowned out all chance for conversation
Wen thought about his recent deal with Lie and their previous relationship. The two had never really known one another before Lie had summoned him to Handan to discuss the proposal by Tai Tian. Wen had had much better relations with Lie’s father, Marquis Xian. Xian had been the younger brother of Zhao Xiangzi, the man unfortunate enough to anger Zhi Xiangzi and bring about the Battle of Jinyang, and the subsequent fall of Zhi and rise of Wei, Han, and Zhao to the status of the Three Jins. The two men had gotten to know one another quite well over the years, and Wen would even admit that they were very nearly friends, and not just rivals. Nine years, before, however, Xian had died, leaving his then ten year old son to rule. The boy had been surrounded by advisors for years and Wen had not seen him once in that time. Now, at the age of twenty, the boy seemed to come into his own as a man, and would no doubt rule for many years.
Another minute passed and nothing could be heard but the thundering rumble and Wen could feel the earth shaking beneath him. Then suddenly it all stopped as the lead chariot reached them, the cloud of dust that followed in its wake continuing on to wash over everything in sight.
Several of the guards and Tai’s soldiers began to cough, and even Wen was forced to put his robed arm up in front of his mouth to keep the dust at bay.
It took another minute for the cloud to dissipate, and by then Marquis Lie spotted Marquis Wen and the two made eye contact. Wen gave a slight nod which was returned by Lie. Without taking his eyes from Wen, Lie reached behind him to grab his advisor’s arm and direct his gaze to the ruler of Wei. Both men then began walking to where Wen and Zhai were standing.
“Marquis Lie,” Wen said as the man stopped in front of them.
Marquis Lie of Zhao wiped at the dust covering the arms of his robes, their dark blue a dull brown from the journey. His eyes, an unusual grey tone, bore into Wen.
“Marquis Wen, how are you? You look quite well. No one would believe that you’ve been on the road for the past five days.”
Marquis Lie smiled as he said the words and came to a stop when he was a few feet in front of Wen. He continued to smile as he looked Wen up and down, never even deigning to notice Zhai Huang.
“If I show no signs of wear it’s only because your lands are so easy to travel across,” Wen said with his own smile.
Lie’s smile faltered for a moment but he quickly regained his composure, although Wen inwardly smiled all the wider to himself at the man’s reaction. Despite the peace that had existed between their two states since the Battle of Jinyang more than fifty years before, neither man had any love for the other, and it was more the easier targets of smaller states than any historic precedence which kept them from war.
“I’m glad that you found them so accommodating, although I don’t know how long we can allow Wei forces to move back and forth from Anyi to Zhongshan across our lands,” Lie said after a moment.
Wen’s own smile lessened then, but instead of firming it up he let it go entirely. No need to keep up the façade or the niceties, he figured.
“There are many roads just as accommodating as yours,” Wen said after a moment, and Lie nodded, both men then letting the topic go.
Tai Tian walked up and both men glanced his way but said nothing.
“Thank you for answering my summons,” Wen said after a moment, directing his gaze back to Lie.
“How could I not, with the news that you gave me,” Lie replied as he looked from Tai to Wen. “Is Duke Kang here then?”
“Oh, yes,” Wen answered. “He’s within the compound behind me. We’ve been awaiting your and Marquis Jing’s arrival.”
“You’ve not spoken with him already?” Lie asked in a skeptical tone.
“I spoke with him first thing after I arrived yesterday,” Wen replied.
“And what did you say?” Lie asked.
“I told him that he was lucky to be alive,” Wen said.
Lie stared back at Wen for a few moments. “I’m sure,” he said before turning to face Tai. “Tai Tian, it has been some time. How does it feel to have the State of Qi within your grasp?”
“I’m not sure how fully it is within my grasp,” Tai replied. “I’ve a strange feeling that Duke Kang’s not in quite the perilous position I’d have thought him to be.”
“And why is that?” came a voice from behind Lie.
Tai craned his head and narrowed his eyes to try and get a better view into the still thick cloud of dust that surrounded them, but Wen knew that voice well.
“Tai thinks that I’ve made a deal with Duke Kang,” Wen said in answer to the question.
“And have you?” the voice replied.
Wen didn’t respond, as a form could be seen materializing out of the dust, and a moment later a frail, old man slowly walked into their midst.
“Marquis Jing, it is good to see you again,” Wen said when the man stopped.
“Something you probably thought unlikely after our last encounter,” Jing said gruffly, but a moment later broke out into a nearly toothless smile. He walked closer to Wen and patted him on the arm. “It’s good to see you again as well, Wen.”
If Marquis Wen was old, then Marquis Jing of Han was ancient. His white hair, although long, was so thin that large portions of his bald head could be seen underneath. His face was deeply lined with age and he stood stooped over, gripping a cane for support. Still, there was more life in his brown eyes than seemed possible in such a frail body, and he looked up at each of the men eagerly and warmly.
Wen clapped him lightly on the shoulder, a smile on his own face. He’d known Jing for many years, since Jing’s grandfather had been Marquis, and they’d always had a friendly relationship. Jing had been Marquis for less than ten years, ever since his father had died, and most thought that Jing wouldn’t rule for long. He was already into his seventies when he took the throne, for his father had ruled for many years, and his grandfather before him even longer. Jing had proved his critics wrong, however, and there were many times when Wen thought that the man would outlive even him.
Marquis Lie of Zhao, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of both of them. Whereas both Wen and Jing were at the end of their lives, Lie’s was full before him. Barely older than Wen’s grandson Hui, Lie had been Marquis for the same amount of time as Jing, but most of those years had been spent on the sidelines while the real affairs of state were conducted by older advisors. Finally, when Lie had reached his fifteenth year, he’d been given a free reign over the State of Zhao, and so far he’d done a good enough job to keep the other states at bay. Wen looked at him, still patting the dust from his robes, and thought the chances likely that the man would outlive Wu and still be Marquis when Hui became Marquis of Wei.
“You’ve still not answered my question,” Jing said, drawing Wen from his thoughts.
Jing looked up at
Wen and could see that the younger man, for he was indeed a few years younger than the seemingly ancient Jing, had forgotten what his question was.
“Have you made a deal with Duke Kang?” Jing asked again, his toothless smile showing on his face.
Marquis Lie stopped patting at his robes long enough to look up at Wen, wanting to hear the answer, and Tai Tian moved closer as well.
“I’ve made a proposition, but no deals,” Wen said slowly. “Duke Kang made it clear after hearing what I had to offer that he would make his decision known when you two had arrived.”
“Am I not party to this decision?” Tai blurted out loudly. “I’ve more at stake here than the three of you!”
“What was this proposition?” Lie asked, ignoring Tai completely.
“I want him to accompany us to Luoyang for a meeting with King Weilie of Zhou,” Wen said.
Wen stared back at Lie with a slight smile on his face as the man looked off for a few moments, his mind trying to comprehend what Wen had just said. It took him a moment to look back, a light of realization in his eyes. Wen looked over at Jing, who was smiling up at him, and he could tell the old man had recognized the implications of such a meeting immediately. Tai Tian, however, seemed to be the only one who couldn’t grasp the significance.
“King Weilie in Luoyang?” he stammered. “But why? And what of the deal that the four of us had?”
Wen put his arm around Jing’s shoulder and turned back toward the compound.
“Come, gentlemen. Let us meet with Duke Kang and put all your questions to rest.”
Lie took the cue and began moving toward Wen and Jing who were already halfway to the compound’s gate. Tai stood and stared after them, the realization dawning upon him that the men whose support he’d counted upon to seize the throne of Qi once and for all were turning their back on him in more ways than one. With a frown and a nod at his men he quickly took up after them, not sure what would happen next, only hoping that the outcome wouldn’t be too disastrous.
The Warring States, Books 1-3 Page 16
