Chiba, a port city in the eastern part of the Land of Fire, was now adorned with the crimson banners of the Land of Water.
The banners fluttered in the sea breeze, echoing the massive warships docked in the harbor, exuding the deterrent power of the Land of Water everywhere.
On the morning of the agreed meeting day, First Prince Yuanichi Kyu arrived early at the most luxurious seaside pavilion in the harbor, accompanied by three trusted ministers and several guards. He wore a brand new purple court robe, made of exquisite fabric, but it couldn't hide the anxiety in his eyes.
Ever since the envoy brought back the news, he had been both looking forward to the Land of Water's aid to help him stabilize his territory, and worried that this aid would become a shackle, turning him into their puppet.
As soon as he pushed open the door of the seaside pavilion, the scene in the main hall came into view.
Fifth Prince Yuanichi Ko was already seated by the window, with a cup of untouched hot tea in front of him.
The guards by his side all wore long swords at their waists, but unlike the First Prince's guards, they didn't stand tall and proud. Instead, they bowed their heads slightly. Their eyes held a hint of apprehension, and even their posture showed cautiousness, forming a stark contrast to the vigilance in the First Prince's guards' eyes.
The Fifth Prince's sphere of influence was in the southern part of the Land of Fire, originally the weakest among the five princes, only managing to gain a foothold thanks to the deterrent power of the Land of Water.
So, when he received the invitation, he rushed over without the slightest hesitation. He knew his position depended entirely on their support and he had no right to refuse.
Seeing Kyu walk in, Ko immediately stood up and bowed slightly.
His tone carried a hint of deliberate respect. "Big brother, you've arrived very early. It seems you also attach great importance to this meeting."
Kyu didn't respond. He just raised his chin, signaling his trusted ministers to take seats nearby, while he himself sat in the empty seat opposite the Fifth Prince.
His gaze swept over the guards behind the Fifth Prince, then fell on the Land of Water warships by the harbor outside the window.
Those warships were massive, and the ninjas on the deck were drilling in an orderly fashion, their metal armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and even their movements exuded strict discipline.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging disdain and unease in his heart, and said in a somewhat stiff voice, "Fifth brother has also come, hasn't he? We are all here for the Land of Fire."
The two sat in silence, and the atmosphere in the hall was particularly subtle.
Kyu picked up the hot tea brought by the maid, but didn't drink it, merely using the cup lid to gently skim off the foam, his eyes distant.
Ko occasionally stole glances at Kyu, his eyes filled with apprehension.
Although the First Prince's power had shrunk, he still had residual military strength, an existence he dared not easily provoke.
It wasn't until noon that a neat sound of footsteps came from outside the door, breaking the silence.
Shun, accompanied by Tetsu, slowly walked into the hall. He wore a magnificent black brocade robe with dark gold patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, his black hair tied up with a jade crown, and a faint smile on his face. However, his eyes were as unfathomable as a deep pool, causing the two princes to involuntarily tense up.
Kyu instinctively sat up straighter, while Ko quietly clenched his fists.
"Your Excellencies, the two princes, you have waited a long time."
Shun sat in the main seat, and a maid immediately stepped forward to pour him a steaming cup of matcha.
He picked up the teacup, gently blew on the hot steam, and spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he were chatting casually, as if these weren't the two princes of the Land of Fire, but ordinary friends.
"The war in the Land of Fire has been going on for so long, and the common people are suffering. I imagine both of you are physically and mentally exhausted. I invited you here this time to discuss something with you. I want to mediate the war, on the condition that you recognize the territories of the Second, Third, and Fourth Princes."
Kyu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief, and his voice rose several octaves. "Your Excellency Shun, you want me to recognize the territories of those three rebels. They colluded with foreign enemies and split the Land of Fire, they don't deserve to have fiefdoms at all."
His fingers tightly gripped the teacup, his knuckles white, and he didn't even notice the tea spilling.
Ko frowned, his expression changing slightly, but his tone was much more tactful than the First Prince's. "Yes, Your Excellency Shun. If we rashly recognize their territories, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the public, and the nobles and common people of the Land of Fire will not agree either."
Although he relied on the Land of Water, he was also worried that if the Second, Third, and Fourth Princes' power grew, it would threaten his own living space.
Shun put down his teacup, his eyes gradually sharpening. "Your Excellencies, the two princes, I know you have concerns. But have you ever considered whether the current Land of Fire can withstand continued internal strife?"
He raised his hand to signal Tetsu, who immediately handed a scroll of intel to the two princes.
"In fact, three years ago, your father, the old Daimyo of the Land of Fire, already predicted today's situation."
Kyu suddenly clenched his fists, leaning forward, his voice urgent. "What did you say? Father... he already knew it would be like this?"
Shun picked up his teacup, took a shallow sip, and slowly nodded. "Three years ago, he sought my help, but I refused. I only promised to save your lives. If you are defeated in the future, you can come to the Land of Water to settle, and your father left you a sum of money, enough for you to maintain a decent life."
This sentence was like a clap of thunder, instantly stunning the two princes.
Shun chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "If the war continues, it will only allow the three nations to expand their territories, and eventually the land of the Land of Fire will be completely divided by the three nations. By then, let alone your fiefdoms, even the national title of the Land of Fire might not be preserved."
Kyu looked at the intel on the scroll, his fingers trembling slightly.
"They are criminals of the Land of Fire. If we just let them go like this, how can we explain it to our clansmen? How can we explain it to the people of the Land of Fire?"
Shun chuckled. "The Land of Fire's biggest concern right now isn't who the criminals are, but how to survive. As long as you recognize the territories of the Second, Third, and Fourth Princes, I will persuade the Land of Earth, Land of Lightning, and Land of Wind to stop their attacks. I will give you 5-10 years to develop, which is very important to you, isn't it?"
Ko's eyes suddenly lit up, but he didn't dare to immediately express his stance, only looking at Kyu, waiting for his reaction.
Noticing Ko's wavering, Kyu became even more anxious, but he understood that the current situation was beyond his control.
At this moment, Ko spoke first, with a hint of flattery, "Your Excellency Shun, I have no objection. As long as the Land of Fire can stabilize, recognizing their territories is fine."
Kyu looked at Ko's attitude, and then thought of his own precarious territory, gritting his teeth and nodding. "I also agree, but I have one condition. The three nations must immediately withdraw their troops, and the Land of Water must not interfere in our internal affairs."
Shun showed a satisfied smile and said, "Your Excellencies, rest assured, I will negotiate with the three nations as soon as possible to make them withdraw their troops, and I will not interfere in your internal affairs."