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As Mo Du left to carry out the king's orders, King Sansang stood by the window, gazing out at the rising sun. The challenges ahead were immense, but he felt a renewed sense of determination. Goguryeo had faced countless trials throughout its history, and it had always emerged stronger. This time would be no different.
Meanwhile, in the chamber where Li Wei and his escort were staying, the envoy was already awake, preparing for the day ahead. He had slept little, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the meeting and the challenges that lay ahead. As he dressed, one of his elite guards entered the room.
"Sir," the guard said, "a Goguryeo eunuch has arrived. He delivered words that King Sansang requests your presence in the grand hall."
Li Wei nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "Very well. Let us not keep him waiting."
As Li Wei made his way to the grand hall, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The next few hours would determine the course of events, as the stage was set for a pivotal moment in history, and the decisions made would shape the destiny of nations.
When Li Wei and his elite guards arrived at the grand hall of Goguryeo's palace, the atmosphere was markedly different from the previous day. The hall, which had been relatively subdued during the initial meeting with only high ranking court officials, was now filled to capacity with the entirety of Goguryeo's court officials.
Civil and military officials alike stood in orderly rows, their expressions a mixture of tension, defiance, and cautious hope. The sheer number of people present signaled to Li Wei that this was no ordinary audience.
King Sansang had clearly chosen to make this a public affair, a move that spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation. Li Wei's sharp instincts immediately told him that the king had either decided to reject the terms outright or present a counterproposal. Neither option boded well for his mission.
As Li Wei stepped forward, the weight of countless eyes bore down on him. The grand hall, with its towering wooden beams and intricate banners, seemed to amplify the tension in the air. He approached the throne with measured steps, his posture erect and his expression composed.
When he reached the front, he bowed deeply, his movements deliberate and respectful. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice calm but firm, "I thank you for summoning me here to hear your response. I trust that you have considered the terms presented with the gravity they deserve."
King Sansang, seated on his throne with Queen Woo by his side, regarded Li Wei with a steady gaze. The king's face was a mask of composure, but the faint lines of weariness around his eyes betrayed the toll the past hours had taken on him since the pressure was enormous.
He gestured for Li Wei to rise, his voice carrying the weight of authority as he spoke. "Envoy Li Wei, we are grateful that your lord, Lie Fan, showed restraint during our last conflict and gave Goguryeo the chance to become a tributary state for him."
"Since then, we have fulfilled our obligations faithfully, sending tribute on time and maintaining peace along our borders. However, the terms you have presented now come without warning and would upend the stability of our kingdom. They would alter not only our way of life but also the very foundations of our governance. Such demands cannot be accepted lightly."
Li Wei's expression shifted subtly as soon as he heard King Sansang's words, his calm demeanor giving way to a more somber and serious tone compared to his previous one. He straightened his posture and met King Sansang's gaze directly.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of warning, "are you saying that Goguryeo rejects the terms that we have given? If so, I must remind you that there will be consequences. My lord does not make such demands lightly, and he expects them to be met without hesitation."
The moment the words left Li Wei's lips, the grand hall erupted into chaos. The officials, already on edge since yesterday, reacted with a mixture of outrage and indignation as it pushed them over the edge.
General Yeon Gaesomun, the fiery and outspoken military leader, stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. "How dare you threaten us in our own hall!" he roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "Goguryeo is a tributary and not some vassal to be bullied into submission. If your lord seeks war, then war he shall have with us!"
The faction aligned with General Yeon Gaesomun echoed his sentiments, their voices rising in a cacophony of defiance. Li Wei's elite guards, trained to anticipate such situations, immediately closed ranks around him, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords ready to be taken out. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the threat of violence.
King Sansang, however, remained calm amidst the uproar. He raised a hand, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Enough!" he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
The officials, though still visibly agitated, fell silent at their king's order. "This is not the time for rash actions. We will not dishonor ourselves by resorting to threats or violence in our own hall."
The king's authority restored a semblance of order, though the undercurrent of tension remained. King Sansang turned back to Li Wei, his expression stern but composed. "I apologize for the outburst, Envoy Li Wei, it's unbecoming actions. However, you must understand that your words just now carry great weight, and my people are rightfully protective of our sovereignty."
"Let me be clear, Goguryeo is not rejecting the terms outright. Instead, we have prepared a counterproposal that we believe addresses both your lord's concerns and our own."
With a nod from the king, Mo Du stepped forward, holding a scroll in his hands. The elder advisor's face was a picture of calm determination as he presented the document to Li Wei. "This is our counterproposal," Mo Du said, his voice steady. "We believe it offers a fair and balanced solution that respects both our sovereignty and your lord's interests."
Li Wei accepted the scroll with a nod, his expression unreadable. He unrolled it carefully, his eyes scanning the meticulously written characters. As he read, his initial calm gave way to visible surprise.
The counterproposal was far more detailed and nuanced than he had anticipated. It called for a gradual reduction of Goguryeo's standing army rather than an immediate 50% cut, a phased implementation of the currency conversion to avoid economic destabilization, and the establishment of a joint council to oversee the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau.
Additionally, it included a clause requesting military assistance from Lie Fan in the event of an external threat, a provision that Li Wei knew would be difficult for his lord to accept.
When he finished reading, Li Wei looked up, his expression a mixture of respect and concern. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice measured, "this counterproposal is… thorough. However, I must be frank. My lord's terms were not presented as a basis for negotiation. They were intended to be accepted as they are. I do not have the authority to agree to these changes, nor do I believe my lord will find them acceptable."
King Sansang's expression hardened, but he maintained his composure. "Envoy Li Wei," he replied, "we understand your position. However, these terms are not just a matter of policy for us, they are a matter of survival."
"The changes we propose are not meant to undermine your lord's goals but to ensure that Goguryeo can continue to function as a stable and sovereign state. We urge you to convey our counterproposal to Lie Fan and ask him to consider it with the gravity it deserves."
Li Wei hesitated, his mind racing. He knew that returning to Lie Fan with anything less than full acceptance of the original terms would be seen as a failure.
Yet, he also recognized the sincerity in King Sansang's words and the determination of the Goguryeo officials. "Your Majesty," he said at last, "I will convey your counterproposal to my lord. However, I cannot guarantee his response. He is a man of great vision and resolve, and he does not take kindly to deviations from his plans."
King Sansang nodded, his expression resolute. "That is all we ask. In the meantime, we will continue to prepare for whatever outcome may come. Goguryeo has faced many challenges throughout its history, and we will face this one with the same determination and resilience."
As Li Wei rolled up the scroll and handed it to one of his guards, the weight of the moment settled over the grand hall. The officials, though still tense, seemed to sense that a critical juncture had been reached. The path ahead was uncertain, but the lines had been drawn, and both sides knew that the decisions made in the coming days would shape the future of the region.
Li Wei bowed once more, his demeanor respectful but firm. "Your Majesty, I will take my leave now and return to my lord with your counterproposal. I trust that you will continue to act with the wisdom and restraint you have shown today."
King Sansang inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Safe travels, Envoy Li Wei. May the winds favor your journey."
As Li Wei and his guards turned to leave, the grand hall remained silent, the weight of the moment lingering in the air. The officials watched as the envoy departed, their expressions a mixture of hope and apprehension. For Goguryeo, the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but they were determined to face it with unity and resolve.
Meanwhile, Li Wei's mind was already racing with thoughts of the journey ahead and the report he would have to deliver to Lie Fan.
He knew that the counterproposal would not be well received, but he also understood the importance of presenting it with clarity and precision. As he stepped out of the grand hall and into the morning light, Li Wei took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs.
The challenges for him were immense, but he was ready to face them. For now, his focus was on the journey home and the task of conveying Goguryeo's counterproposal to his lord. The decisions that followed would determine the course of history, and Li Wei knew that every step he took carried the weight of that responsibility.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 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