Chapter Forty-Nine: Deng Qing's Compromise

Li Zisheng had not expected Deng Qing to be aware of this situation in advance, and what shocked him even more was the subtext hidden within Mr. Zhong's words.

Although Mr. Zhong spoke with intense hostility, as if he wished to eliminate Ashina Canghe right then and there, it was glaringly obvious why he had pointedly mentioned that the person his mentor was meant to treat was the elderly man in the brocade hat and fur coat. Based on the information he possessed, the patient was a prominent Turkic figure—if his guesses were correct, it was the young Ashina girl he had seen previously.

Furthermore, Mr. Zhong’s subsequent remarks served as a direct suggestion for the old man to withdraw from the upcoming literary competition, or perhaps even greater affairs. While it seemed to be a blunt mockery of the old man’s frailty and his inability to withstand the rigors of such events, it was, in essence, a warning to avoid unnecessary risks.

Mr. Zhong’s attitude was truly intriguing; it was difficult to discern his true intentions.

However, since he had noticed this, General Deng must have noticed it as well, which was precisely what surprised him. How could Deng Qing tolerate Mr. Zhong’s conduct? At a minor level, Mr. Zhong’s actions could be seen as merely reminding a local military leader, but at a major level, it amounted to leaking classified military secrets of the Great Tang—a capital offense of treason. Under Tang law, such an act could lead to the execution of his entire clan. Yet, Deng Qing endured it, implying that he had long been aware of the situation and that Mr. Zhong was certainly no fool.

Li Zisheng had been puzzled by Mr. Zhong’s strange behavior, but it now seemed that, beyond the warning, the rest was merely a tacit understanding among these men. They were simply putting on a performance for outsiders. Li Zisheng shook his head.

"Zhong Bai, there is no need for such bitterness," Ashina Canghe sighed, seemingly harboring hidden grievances. "I am not the man I once was. The glory of the past has faded, and only a frail, flickering life remains. Do you think I do not desire a peaceful and quiet life? Alas, when one is caught in the currents of the court, one is no longer the master of one's own fate."

This was the first time the old man had addressed Mr. Zhong by his given name.

"Mr. Ashina, my Lingzhou soldiers accidentally killed your deputy leader. This was due to a lapse in my command. I ask that you return Captain Zhang Hongde to me, and I shall deal with him accordingly."

Although the atmosphere remained tense, Li Zisheng knew that the exchange between Mr. Zhong and Ashina Canghe had concluded; everything that needed to be said had been conveyed. Deng Qing stepped forward and offered a bow—a gesture of greeting between equals. After all, as the official in charge of the interactions between the Tang and the Turks, holding a high position, a junior’s bow would have been beneath his station.

"Hmph, General Deng, you speak of killing as if it were a trifling matter. I never imagined that the soldiers of the Great Tang could be so barbaric and unreasonable. Where has the Confucian righteousness and the courtesy that the Great Tang so prides itself on gone?" Ashina Canghe’s attitude shifted sharply the moment Deng Qing mentioned Zhang Hongde’s crime.

"Mr. Ashina, there is no need to be hasty. Zhang Hongde is a captain in the Tang military and holds an important post. Even if he is to be punished, it must be done by the Great Tang. For an outsider to interfere is to overstep one’s bounds," Deng Qing countered without yielding an inch.

A crowd had gathered, mostly composed of Tang soldiers. However, they were well-disciplined, standing in orderly, imposing formations.

Hearing this, Ashina Canghe was not in the least bit ruffled; instead, he smiled faintly. "General, I am but a humble man, yet I know the principle of a life for a life. I also know of your Confucian and Taoist teachings—that murderers will be meted out justice by Heaven, and that the Son of Heaven is subject to the same laws as the commoners. How is it that, in your hands, it has become a matter for you alone to decide? By this logic, does General Deng claim the authority to dictate life and death over all under heaven?"

Though Ashina Canghe spoke with measured calm, using the well-worn rhetoric of Confucianism and Taoism, his words were laced with lethal intent. If Deng Qing handled this poorly, the old man would surely accuse him of treason. In the current Tang dynasty, the charge of treason was the most severe of all; if exploited by those with ulterior motives, Deng Qing would never be able to recover his standing.

What a deep and calculating mind this Ashina Canghe possessed.

"Hmph, do not try to provoke me with your words. I ask you again: will you return Zhang Hongde?" Deng Qing ignored the old man’s trap, knowing that to argue further would only lead him deeper into the snare, potentially threatening his own safety. He chose to get straight to the point.

Mr. Zhong and Li Zisheng exchanged an almost imperceptible shake of their heads. Deng Qing had already lost the upper hand. In terms of shrewdness and calculation, he was ultimately no match for the old man.

Ashina Canghe chuckled. "General, do not be impatient. The death of my deputy is a tragedy that moves the heart. I will not pressure you further. Zhang Hongde must pay for his crime with his life, but I propose that we postpone the literary competition for a few days. If the scholars from both sides meet now, they will surely be filled with mutual animosity, which would not be conducive to the event. General Deng, do you agree to my proposal?"

It was as if Ashina Canghe had grasped Deng Qing’s inner thoughts perfectly, offering a proposal that Deng Qing could not refuse.

Deng Qing glanced at his soldiers, then back at the calm and composed Ashina Canghe. His hatred for the old fox reached its peak, yet he felt trapped and helpless. His own plans had reached a critical juncture where failure was not an option. Zhang Hongde was, after all, merely a pawn. *So be it*, he thought. *Let him die. My grand design is what matters.* His goal was to delay the competition to silence the critics above and allow his plans to proceed smoothly. He had sacrificed enough for this, and he would not fail now.

After a long, heavy silence, Deng Qing seemed to concede, nodding slowly at Ashina Canghe.

"Very well. General Deng is a man of substance; I admire that." Ashina Canghe offered the compliment without a hint of genuine respect, as if he had expected this outcome all along.

"Bring him here," he commanded. "Bring that wretch, Zhang Hongde, forward."