“We’ll begin with Jié Qiáng’s act of undeniable courage,” King Zhāng began. He looked down on his youngest son with pride and smiled. “Tell us of this mission.”
Jié Qiáng watched his father lean back against his throne in anticipation of details he wasn’t ready to share. The explanation of his mother’s situation had somewhat alleviated his anger, but he would always believe her illness was his blame alone.
Yǒng Ming looked toward Jié Qiáng for him to begin. When he said nothing, he looked back at Yáng Ning, who gave a short shake of his head indicating Jié Qiáng wasn’t ready.
“Father,” spoke up Yǒng Ming, “if it pleases His Majesty and the officials, I would like to speak first about the plan.”
King Zhāng continued to watch Jié Qiáng. From the brief interaction of his oldest son and the guard, he assumed the ordeal had by Jié Qiáng must have been harrowing. He expected hardship at the hands of the deadly enemy, but had there been much more even these three strong and brave men could not bear repeating?
“Speak, my son,” he agreed and listened with interest.
“The plan was initially Qiáng’s,” Yǒng Ming began. “I was to first offer a truce to the Yīng soldiers so we could carry out the mission without worry over their interference.”
“We heard of the truce,” King Zhāng replied. “Your ability to succeed in such an impossible task has prompted the Ministry of War to recommend you as a unit commander.”
Yǒng Ming bowed low to first his father and then to the Minister of War standing at the front of the officials to his left.
“I humbly accept the appointment, Your Majesty and Minister Jūn Duì Zhăng,” he replied and then continued.
“After we were certain of the truce, Jié Qiáng made his way into an area of the forest where we knew the Wáng Píng were waiting. They dragged him away and a small group of our elite soldiers followed until they reached a camp hidden from our scouts.
He told them who he was in an effort to manipulate them into using him as a hostage for negotiation. They did exactly that, giving us time to return to their camp and attack.
There was no one left after our raid except for a few innocent prisoners they’d been torturing and feasting upon.”
Yǒng Ming stopped speaking as his words became understood by those in the hall. There were horrified gasps after the initial mumbles of respect at the mission.
“Your Majesty,” called out the Minister of War. “If I may ask a question?”
“You may, Minister Jūn Duì Zhăng,” permitted the king.
“Prince Jié Qiáng, will you tell us what you saw in their camp?” the minister requested.
Jié Qiáng took a deep breath and glanced at his brother. He knew Yǒng Ming would speak for him if he so needed, but hiding from the events of that time would be viewed as cowardly among the ministers and his father. With another deep breath, he spoke.
“I will answer to the best of my ability, Minister, but the things I saw and heard are not for open court. I have written down all accounts to be shared with you and my father and whomever else needs to see it. For now, I can confirm all of our suspicions.
The Wáng Píng does engage in cannibalism. Their victims are not simply put to death before their flesh is consumed. I witnessed men, women, and children eaten alive. This was after and at times during other atrocities committed against their victims. Wáng Píng clansmen assaulted their victims in various ways, including sexual torture.”
“The children, as well?” wondered Queen Bái Xià Wén in tears.
“Yes, Royal Mother,” Jié Qiáng replied. “The clansmen seemed particularly interested in children.”
Out of respect for the queen, he only gave a brief description of the pregnant woman and what they did to both mother and child. Upon hearing the disturbed mutterings in the gallery behind him and seeing his royal mother become earnestly distressed, he decided he’d said enough about that aspect of his observances.
“Something to note, Father, is the number of uniforms I saw lined up against a wall near their weapon tent.”
“What kind of uniforms?” the king inquired.
“Many were soldier uniforms,” he answered. “I saw robes rich men wear, as well, not just commoner clothes. The uniforms I saw bore the insignias of both Zhāng and Yīng armies.”
“Your Highness, do you think those uniforms belonged to our own men, or were they used to infiltrate our army?” inquired Minister Duì Zhăng.
“I believe there is a possibility for both, Minister,” Jié Qiáng replied. “However, from what we witnessed of their brutality, I am inclined to believe they were our men’s uniforms.”
Yǒng Ming added his own information. “The Wáng Píng was killing our men from the trees when we were using the forest as cover. They were doing the same to the Yīng soldiers. This is why the Yīng commander was eager to agree to a truce.”
King Zhāng nodded in understanding and motioned for his sons to continue.
“By the time we returned for Qiáng, they were readying themselves to take more of our men,” informed Yǒng Ming. “We quickly infiltrated and killed most of the camp. The three clansmen we kept alive for interrogation managed to kill themselves before we reached our battle camp.”
When it seemed his sons’ reports were complete, King Zhāng looked down at them before settling his gaze onto Jié Qiáng.
“Word of this temporary truce and the successful mission of which you just spoke spread to Yīng kingdom before your return,” he informed them. “King Yīng Yǒng Chāo and I have discussed at length the necessity for a permanent truce so that we may deal with this clan once and for all.”
At his revelation of an end to the ages-long war, the brothers stared at each other in disbelief. Jié Qiáng looked behind him to see Yáng Ning with the same shocked expression.
“In order to guarantee this truce, we have both agreed to a marriage alliance.”
King Zhāng waited a moment for Jié Qiáng to understand what he had said.
As soon as Jié Qiáng realized what was meant, he vigorously shook his head and determinedly replied, “No!”
“I’ll not hear a word of opposition,” King Zhāng sternly warned. “You’ll be married this time and you will not sabotage this contract.
You ruined our chance at a healing herb for our men. Now, you will not lose us this opportunity for peace, a peace we haven’t seen in over a hundred years. We must have this alliance if we are to ever rid the world of this vermin.”
“All right, Father,” Jié Qiáng replied with a tone of contempt. “If this is so important, give her to Yǒng Ming as a concubine. He’s the crown prince and only has a wife and daughter. It’s time he made sons in preparation for his time on the throne.”
Yǒng Ming glared at Jié Qiáng.
“Why are you bringing me into this?” he hissed.
Jié Qiáng ignored his brother’s ire and the soft chuckle of Yáng Ning.
“Is it not enough I was a hostage for my people?” he continued. “I would do it again for our soldiers and our kingdom. I would risk everything to end this war with Yīng because I understand how the people are the victims more than the kings who command them.
It wasn’t the battle you forced me into that changed me. It was the person you hate, the person you sent me away to forget. I will not be ordered to forget her, and I will not be kept from her any longer!”
His voice had risen so loud, it echoed throughout the massive hall. No attempt at silencing him by his brother or his guard had worked. He refused to be taken from his Little Crane again, and he would stand up to his father no matter what it meant.
King Zhāng’s face was red and covered in sweat as his anger rose, and he stood to confront his son.
“Gāng Jié, your health,” Queen Bái Xià Wén whispered as she tried to pull him back down to his seat.
“Princess Yīng Mîn Jíng is no concubine!” the king roared. “She is the only daughter of King Yīng! She is the daughter of Queen Zhuāngyán Xiù Guī! She is the last reminder of the queen who died only six years ago!
You speak as though she is only a pawn in a game of feuding kingdoms. We may be at war but I know what it means for her father to make this agreement. I respect his sacrifice and you better, as well, because this marriage will happen regardless of your wish to return to past affairs.
I understand the risk you took for everyone, and I’m proud you finally came around. The war made you a better man, as I’d hoped, but it doesn’t negate your duty to your people.”
“She wasn’t a passing affair,” Jié Qiáng argued. “You still don’t understand how I feel. It wasn’t the war that made me see my people and seek an end to the bloodshed. It was that girl that you so easily dismiss.”
Yǒng Ming could see the bad blood between his father and brother beginning to return and attempted to calm it.
“Father,” he interrupted. “I don’t feel the people will be ready for this truce. As citizens, they haven’t seen what we have of the battles. They won’t understand the importance of this truce. It is still fresh in their minds how long we’ve been enemies. Do you think this marriage is wise? They won’t accept it or Her Highness' presence in our kingdom.”
King Zhāng glowered at Jié Qiáng a moment longer before looking at his oldest son with an answer.
“King Yīng and I both understand precisely what you say. The people will have to accept what their kings have decreed. I’ve ensured his daughter will be safe here, protected at all times from those who wish to stop this alliance or hurt her as a representative of Yīng Kingdom. We are still discussing the strategic points of this marriage.”
Jié Qiáng snorted in frustration. “You’ll both discuss it with no regard for your children’s thoughts. I am aware that marriage contracts are a common tool for alliances. You, Father, are still not aware that I will not agree to this.
“Enough!” commanded King Zhāng. “We will not speak of her again. You’ll be given Guānghuī Palace to live with your new wife. You will share the responsibility of us all to see that this peace is upheld and our joint efforts to annihilate the Wáng Píng is successful.
When contract agreements are decided and signed, you will ride to Yīng Kingdom to escort your wife home and see to her every comfort. Until the wedding, we remain beneath a decree of truce. You'll have time to accept this duty as plans are arranged.
If you do anything to harm this negotiation, I will disown you and send you to the farthest corners of civilization. You’ll live among the wild tribesmen of the north, for all I care. If you wish to behave as a barbarian, you can live like one.”
King Zhāng sat hard upon his seat and drank down the water his wife handed him.
“We should leave,” Yǒng Ming quietly cautioned his brother. “Speak no more or he’ll find another way to punish you.”
Jié Qiáng tried to calm his quick breathing and quell the desire to continue the heated argument, but he knew his brother was right. Without bowing, he turned and walked angrily down the aisle.
Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning bowed to the king and queen and hurried after Jié Qiáng. Along the way, they listened to the angry mutterings of the officials. It seemed the honor Jié Qiáng had earned was forgotten as they spoke of his disrespect to the crown and obsession with that strange Yīng girl.
Comments (0)
See all