Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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King Sansang sighed, running a hand through his hair. ”I don’t like this uncertainty. Mo Du seemed uneasy as well, and he’s not one to jump at shadows. Whatever this envoy brings, it will have far reaching implications for our kingdom, much more than becoming tributary to Lie Fan.”

Queen Woo rose from her seat and approached her husband, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. ”Whatever happens, we will face it together. Goguryeo has endured countless challenges throughout its history, and we will endure this one as well. For now, let us focus on presenting ourselves as strong and united. The envoy must see that we are not a kingdom to be trifled with even if we are tributary to his lord.”

Her words seemed to steady King Sansang, and he nodded in agreement. Together, they made their way to the main hall, where the formal audience would take place. The hall was a grand space, its high ceilings supported by massive wooden beams, its walls adorned with banners and symbols of Goguryeo’s heritage.

At the far end of the hall stood the throne, a majestic seat that symbolized the king’s authority. As they took their places, the atmosphere grew tense, the weight of the moment pressing down on everyone present.

When Li Wei was finally ushered into the main hall by Mo Du and Dal Gae, the room fell silent. He walked with measured steps, his posture erect and confident.

Behind him, his elite guards stood at attention, their presence a silent reminder of the power they represented. Li Wei approached the throne and bowed deeply, his movements deliberate and respectful.

”Your Majesty,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of his mission, ”I come on behalf of Lord Lie Fan, the ruler of Central and North of Mainland, to deliver terms that will ensure more peace and stability between our lands. These terms are designed to prevent conflict and foster cooperation, and I trust that you will see the wisdom in accepting them.”

With that, he presented the document containing the terms. King Sansang accepted it with a nod, his expression unreadable. As he began to read, the room seemed to hold its breath.

The terms were severe, designed to cripple Goguryeo’s ability to rebel without provoking outright defiance. They demanded the reduction of Goguryeo’s standing army by 50%, the imposition of economic law like converting to the mainland currency, and the establishment of a Lie Clan Supervision Bureau that would oversee the kingdom’s affairs.

King Sansang’s face darkened as he read, his hands tightening around the document. He looked up at Li Wei, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. ”These terms are unacceptable,” he said, his voice low but firm. ”They would strip Goguryeo of its sovereignty, reduce us to little more than a vassal state and not just a tributary state anymore. How can you expect us to accept such demands?”

Li Wei met the king’s gaze without flinching. ”Your Majesty, these terms are not meant to humiliate or subjugate Goguryeo. They are a necessary measure to ensure peace and stability in the region. Lord Lie Fan has no desire for conflict, but he cannot ignore the threat that Goguryeo’s military capabilities pose. By accepting these terms, you would be securing the future of your kingdom and the safety of your people.”

The room erupted into murmurs as the advisors and officials present began to discuss the terms. Mo Du and Dal Gae exchanged worried glances, their earlier unease now fully justified. Queen Woo, seated beside her husband, leaned in to whisper something in his ear, her expression calm but resolute.

King Sansang took a deep breath, his mind racing. He knew that outright rejection of the terms could lead to war, a conflict that Goguryeo was ill prepared to form currently as they haven’t done enough preparation yet.

But accepting them would mean surrendering much of the kingdom’s autonomy, a bitter pill to swallow. He looked at Li Wei, his voice steady as he spoke. ”We will need time to consider these terms. They are not something that can be decided lightly.”

Li Wei nodded, his expression understanding but firm. ”Of course, Your Majesty. Take the time you need. But remember, the sooner these terms are accepted, the sooner we can move toward a future of peace and cooperation between both nations, I will await in Gungnae for some time for your reply.”

As the audience concluded, the tension in the room remained palpable. The terms presented by Li Wei had set in motion a chain of events that would shape the future of Goguryeo and its relationship with Lie Fan’s growing empire.

For King Sansang and his advisors, the road ahead was fraught with difficult decisions, each one carrying the weight of their kingdom’s destiny, as one wrong move could end Goguryeo’s destiny forever.

After the tense and emotionally charged audience concluded, Li Wei and his escort were escorted to the chamber prepared for them at the far end of the Palace West Wing.

The room was spacious and well-appointed, a clear attempt by the Goguryeo court to maintain an air of hospitality despite the underlying tension.

Li Wei, with his keen eyes, noted the subtle details, the fine silk drapes, the intricately carved wooden furniture, and the subtle scent of incense that filled the air. It was a gesture of respect, but also a reminder of Goguryeo’s pride and dignity, even in the face of what they perceived as an insult.

As Li Wei’s escort began to unpack their belongings and settle in, the envoy himself took a moment to reflect on the meeting. He knew that the terms he had presented were severe, but he also understood the necessity behind them.

In his mind, Lord Lie Fan’s vision for the region was one of stability and unity, but achieving that vision required difficult decisions. Li Wei had done his part; now, it was up to King Sansang and his advisors to respond. He could only hope that they would see reason and avoid a path that would lead to unnecessary conflict.

Meanwhile, back in the grand hall, the atmosphere was anything but calm. As soon as Li Wei and his escort had left, King Sansang’s composure shattered. He threw the parchment containing the terms onto the floor, his face flushed with anger. The sound of the document hitting the polished stone echoed through the hall, a stark contrast to the silence that had followed Li Wei’s departure.

”How dare they!” King Sansang roared, his voice trembling with fury. ”These terms are an insult, not just to me, but to every man, woman, and child in Goguryeo! They would strip us of our sovereignty, reduce us to nothing more than puppets dancing to Lie Fan’s tune!”

The advisors and officials in the hall, including Mo Du and Dal Gae, immediately dropped to their knees, their heads bowed in a gesture of deference. ”Your Majesty, please calm yourself,” Mo Du said, his voice steady but urgent. ”We must approach this situation with a clear mind. Anger will only cloud our judgment.”

But King Sansang was in no mood for reason. ”Calm myself?” he snapped, his eyes blazing. ”How can I be calm when my kingdom is being humiliated in such a manner? These terms are not just an attack on our sovereignty; they are an attack on our very identity as a people!”

Mo Du, who had served King Sansang for decades since he was a young prince and had seen the king through countless challenges, remained steadfast. ”Your Majesty, I understand your anger. Truly, I do. But by allowing our emotions to dictate our actions, we are playing directly into Lie Fan’s hands. He wants us to be divided, to be weakened by our own anger and fear. If we are not careful, we will fracture from within, and that will make it all the easier for him to trample us underfoot.”

King Sansang paused, his chest heaving as he struggled to control his emotions. Mo Du’s words struck a chord, cutting through the haze of anger that had clouded his mind.

He took several deep breaths, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Slowly, the tension in his shoulders began to ease, and he sank back onto his throne, his expression still grim but no longer consumed by rage.

”You are right, Mo Du,” he said at last, his voice quieter but no less intense. ”I cannot allow my anger to dictate our course of action. But that does not change the fact that these terms are unacceptable. We must find a way to respond that protects our sovereignty and our people.”

With that, King Sansang turned to his advisors and officials, his gaze sweeping across the room. ”I want to hear your thoughts. What do you make of these terms, and how should we proceed?”

The room fell silent as the advisors exchanged uneasy glances. It was Dal Gae, the younger and more energetic of the two chief advisors, who spoke first. ”Your Majesty,” he began, his voice cautious but firm, ”while the terms are indeed severe, we must consider the reality of our situation. Goguryeo is not in a position to wage war against Lie Fan’s forces. His armies are vast, his resources seemingly limitless. If we reject these terms outright, we risk provoking a conflict that we cannot win.”

King Sansang’s eyes narrowed, but he did not interrupt. Dal Gae pressed on. ”That being said, we cannot simply accept these terms as they are. To do so would be to surrender our sovereignty and our dignity. Instead, we should seek to negotiate. We must find a way to modify the terms, to make them more palatable while still addressing Lie Fan’s concerns.”

Mo Du nodded in agreement. ”Dal Gae speaks wisely, Your Majesty. Negotiation is our best course of action. We must find a way to balance our need for sovereignty with the reality of our situation. If we can present a counterproposal that addresses Lie Fan’s concerns while preserving our autonomy, we may be able to avoid conflict.”

King Sansang leaned back on his throne, his expression thoughtful. ”And what would such a counterproposal look like?” he asked.

Mo Du and Dal Gae exchanged a glance before Mo Du spoke. ”We could propose a gradual reduction of our standing army, rather than an immediate 50% cut. This would give us time to adjust and ensure that our defenses remain strong. As for the economic terms, we could suggest a phased implementation of the currency conversion, allowing our economy to adapt without being destabilized. And regarding the Lie Clan Supervision Bureau, we could propose a joint council, with representatives from both Goguryeo and Lie Fan’s domain, to oversee its operations. This would ensure that our voice is heard and our interests are protected.”

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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