The Stone Road by G R Matthews

Would it be possible for myself and my aide,” he nodded towards Zhou, who could say nothing about his sudden demotion, “to have a small tour. I am sure you have many wonders to see.”
    “Do we not have more on the list for the day?” Cheng picked up his papers and started to sort through them.
    “We do, however, I am willing to waive our claim on the Shinxi marshes in any treaty we construct between our two nations.” Hsin took another sip of his tea.
    Zhou almost spat his tea out across the room. The marshes were the best way to the Green River and from there the backbone of trade for Wubei. Being in the mountains was good for defence and mining, the largest money earner for the province, but not so good for trade. Giving up the marshes and easy access to the river would cost Wubei dearly in the long run.
    Cheng’s eyes narrowed and he made a few jerky scratches on his papers, “That would be most agreeable.”
    “Good, then it is settled. Our discussions for the day are done and we have time for a tour.” Hsin clapped his hands together softly in pleasure. “This has been a good day.”
    “Of course, Honoured Hsin. Let me just speak to the guards and ensure we have everything we need. Then we can begin the tour.” As Cheng stood he threw a few glances at Zhou, who returned a neutral face. Cheng opened the door and went outside, closing it behind him.
    “Are you mad?” Zhou spat out the words like poison towards Hsin.
    “Take care with your tongue, Zhou. You could still be going home in disgrace.” Hsin, for once, displayed none of the anger he usually did. Zhou craned his neck around to look carefully at Hsin’s face.
    “You’re up to something, Venerable Hsin,” he said in accusation.
    “By venerable, you mean old. You know what else it says, it says experience, cunning, thought and guile. It comes with age and after many negotiations. If this afternoon works as it should, then we will have this war sewn up before evening.” Zhou saw Hsin’s face take on a much more cunning look, “Then Yaart will pay dearly for starting the war and for killing our people.”
    “I don’t understand.” Zhou forced the admission out between gritted teeth.
    “Thirty years of war, Zhou. Thirty years of deaths, village raids, of our young men going off to fight.” Zhou, looking directly into Hsin’s eyes, saw them mist over. “So many dead. Every family has lost someone, even yours Zhou, but some have lost much more. For them we must strike a hard peace, a punishing peace to ensure that it can never happen again. We must forge a peace that lasts a thousand generations and to do that we must weaken Yaart.”
    Hsin paused and Zhou waited as the Senior Diplomat brought his face back to the calm, professional visage it had worn throughout the negotiations so far. “I was sent to petition the emperor in the first years of the war, did you know that? We wanted his diplomats to resolve a peace between Wubei and Yaart. The emperor would not see me or any of our group. His aide said the emperor would not get involved in a small border dispute between two of his Dukes. Well, this small dispute has lasted thirty years. Today we can end it.”
    Zhou was struck by the passion in the whispered voice but there was something much harder and colder riding underneath it. He worried over it and the only word that came to mind was retribution.
    Before he could answer, the door swung open and Cheng walked back in accompanied by two guards. Zhou recognised the first guard as the one who had given him the brief tour yesterday and, though there was something vaguely familiar about him, he didn’t recognise the second guard.
    “Honoured Guests, these two Guardsman.” Cheng waved a hand in their general direction. “Feng, whom I believe you have already met, and Kang, will accompany us on our tour. Both have lived in the city and castle for more years than I and may be able to answer some of your questions if I am