Enlightened Empire

Chapter 467: Strength Through Weakness

As he looked up at the Wonders of the World shop in Challwala's outer city, Amautu once more realized how poor his initial negotiating position was. After the events from last night, the southern minister Brymstock insisted on advancing the time of the meeting to today, and he insisted on changing the meeting place as well.

In the southern kingdom's own property out here in the outer city — far away from the Sky Ziggurat — Amautu's home advantage was minimized as much as possible. No doubt they had also prepared an elaborate escape plan had Amautu come with soldiers to apprehend them. Not only had the king lost the trust of the other party prior to the start of negotiations, he had also lost much of his home advantage.

Amautu had long planned out his strategy, so his apparent weakness wouldn't be a problem this time. Thus unconcerned with the deliberate signs of distrust the southern minister and the northern lords had shown him, he entered the shop.

Shortly thereafter, Amautu sat at a table together with Brymstock di Pluritac, who represented the southern kingdom as its finance minister, and Tacao Calvu Betucio, Governor of the North, who represented the northern lords.

The seating arrangement clearly drew the lines right from the start. While Amautu sat alone on one end of the table, Brymstock and Betucio sat together to his opposite. Apart from the transcribers to record the meeting, there was no one else left in the room, not even their personal attendants. In such a private meeting, the participants had no reason to strictly adhere to the usual code of conduct.

As a result, the first question from Brymstock after their introductions was: "Where are your scholar friends, King Amautu?"

Of course, Amautu would never make the mistake of bringing any scholars to the meeting, not after what had happened the previous night. Thus, the first, probing attack didn't bother him too much, despite the rude tone.

"They are not here, of course," Amautu calmly replied. "This meeting's purpose is to reconsider northern medalan politics. No outsiders should be present on such an occasion."

As he spoke, Amautu stared squarely at the fair-skinned merchant who was representing the southern kingdom. Yet just how the king had done before, the fat man acted as if he hadn't heard the slight.

"That's good." He sneered instead. "Your Chutwa friends have already done enough damage. They are not welcome here."

Clearly, this foreign merchant had set out to provoke him today. Yet rather than angry, Amautu got nervous. If this foreigner did nothing but throw out accusations, then his entire negotiation strategy would be useless. If the other side was unwilling to even talk, they would never reach an agreement. Luckily, the third party at the table was more reliable, and more invested in the peace process.

"King Amautu, you have crossed a line last night," Betucio added, though in a much more diplomatic tone. "Although this governor has always stood behind his king, this time, the actions of the Scholarly Court have been inexcusable. After the events of last night, we cannot in good conscience believe that King Amautu has come here with good intentions."

Not long ago, Betucio had still been considered part of Master Ichtaka's line of disciples. However, the brazen actions of the scholars had forced Betucio to side with his family and his fellow lords, and against Amautu. As he spoke, the governor of the north barely looked at his king's face. Rather than angry or afraid, he appeared to be more disappointed. It was a disheartening reaction, and Amautu himself was uncomfortable to have lost such a loyal ally, all because of the incessant meddling from his fellow disciples.

"Last night was a mistake. However, this king was not involved in the matter, please believe as much," he tried to explain himself to his old friend. Even though he knew that he had to perform today if he wanted to succeed in negotiations, he couldn't shake the bad feeling when he faced Betucio. "This king has always had good intentions in all of his actions, yet he cannot control what some of his subjects do on their own."

Unsurprisingly, neither of the two reacted to Amautu's frank confession. Who would believe that a king would have no power in his own capital? In truth, it wasn't like Amautu had no power at all. Rather, he had deliberately given up control completely to trap his senior brother. As a result, his excuses sounded rather hollow, even to himself. Yet how could he possibly explain that without looking like the villain?

As Amautu was still confused over his past actions and his future strategy, Betucio had taken out a bamboo scroll, and pushed it to the king across the table.

"This here is a paper signed by all lords of northern Medala," he explained. "Within, we state our condemnation of King Amautu's past actions, as well as our desire for change. Within, we further commit ourselves to a return to past traditions, past civility, and past respect for the status of the medalan lords. We demand that the rights and private property of all medalan lords be guaranteed, and that their losses be compensated. The levied warriors of the Scholarly Guards are also to be returned to their respective estates, and no further levies should be demanded by the king in the future. Finally, all Chutwa scholars should be barred from entry into the northern kingdom from now henceforth."

Although Amautu took the piece of paper, he didn't bother with reading it. Betucio had done a very good job of explaining the contents, after all. Instead, the king shook his head, while trying to look as embarrassed as possible.

"That is impossible," he said, and placed the paper back onto the table. In response, the foreigner meddled with the local affairs of the north once more.

"King Amautu, maybe we have not been sufficiently clear, because Governor Betucio is too polite," the merchant said, and pressed his hands onto the table in a gesture which was probably meant to look threatening. "These are not suggestions, they are demands. And if these demands are not met, the northern lords will take matters into their own hands. By then, all consequences will have to be borne by you."

Again, this bastard was trying to provoke him. However, the insults only helped Amautu calm down. Maybe he still felt guilty about the way he had treated Betucio and some of the other lords. However, his main opponent was this man of the southern kingdom, and his aim was to end his incessant meddling in their internal affairs. With such an enemy, he would no longer feel bad about lying to achieve his goals. In the first place, this was something he needed to do to regain his authority. Only then could he start to put things right.

"This king is well aware of the implied threats in this document. However, there is nothing I can do," Amautu began. In order to weaken his impression further, he even began to humiliate himself by addressing himself in the first person. "I have neither the power, nor the authority, to deport all scholars from the kingdom. In the first place, authority over international matters for the Medala Empire lie with the Triumvirate Meeting, officially. Though even if a resolution could be reached or if I were to act on my own accord, I do not possess the strength to execute such a resolution."

"Have things deteriorated this far?" Betucio asked. His deep frown told Amautu that the governor understood what his king was hinting at.

"Indeed they have, my old friend." The king nodded, and looked down, in his best attempt to appear embarrassed. "Apart from my attendant and a few private servants, I have no control over any of the king's warriors any longer. I control neither the Scholarly Guards, nor Terminus. Now everything is in the hands of Master Ichtaka and his disciples."

Of course, that was a massive exaggeration. Amautu was still the most powerful political entity in the kingdom, apart from maybe his master. Though that wasn't something these people needed to know, nor could they know it. Once again, he would use a difference in knowledge to gain an advantage during negotiations.

With a lowered head, Amautu observed the two men opposite for their reactions. While Betucio looked sympathetic to his plight, the foreigner predictably looked unhappy.

"In that case, why are you here by yourself, powerless king Amautu?" he probed for a hole in Amautu's story. "Leading such important negotiations by yourself, it certainly seems like you still have a lot of power left, or at least a lot of trust from your master."

This foreign invader was as perceptive as he was annoying. Although Amautu had suffered yet another insult, he had to hold back and once more pretend to be pitiful.

"Minister Brymstock, you simply do not understand the way the Chutwa scholars think." Amautu sighed, before he told his story. "While these negotiations seem to be of vital importance to us, the Chutwa simply never cared about their outcome. In the first place, the great scholars would never lower themselves to arguing with barbarians. Thus, I could come here by myself."

"Then if they don't care, why do they get involved in local matters at all? Why not just stay here in Challwala and do whatever it is they care about?" the annoying Brymstock probed further. Finally, his questions had led Amautu exactly to the place he wanted to go. After another sigh, he stared at the two people on the other side of the table to raise the tension. Only after a while did he reply.

"They are indeed interested in Medala, or rather, they are interested in converting Medala into another Chutwa tributary state. However, they believe that simply killing anyone who would get in their way would be a much easier solution. After all, the Chutwa have far more advanced cultivation techniques than the Medalans, so they have plenty of warriors to throw away. The events of last night were the result of their beliefs and their power. So long as the lords continue to oppose a takeover by the Chutwa scholars, they are unlikely to stop."

"Are you threatening us, King Amautu?" Brymstock tried to threaten back. However, he hesitated in his response just a little too long, proof that even he had been intimidated by last night's events.

"No, I am simply warning you." Amautu sighed again, and covered his face with his hands for a few seconds to hide his sneer. "All I want is to prevent further bloodshed, as well as the eventual destruction of the northern kingdom in a brutal civil war."

"If they want a war, they can have it." This time, Betucio was the one to reply, though his words seemed even less convincing than Brymstock's. His voice lacked any force, and a deep frown of worry had developed on his face, no doubt caused by the image of countless mindless Chutwa warriors overrunning the estates of the north.

"Don't be so sure, my friend," Amautu further stoked the flames with a shake of his head. "Just how many men have you lost last night alone? I guarantee you, this attack was far from the limit the scholars can achieve. Terminus is endless. Even I cannot tell how many men they have hidden within those dark halls. As far as I can tell, they can throw endless waves at their foes, until they die from exhaustion."

Of course, none of that had been true. Amautu had full control over the Scholarly Guards. Not even his master could freely wield the king's warriors. In fact, Amautu had decent control over Terminus as well. The attacks of the previous night had only been possible because Amautu had allowed Ohtli to make use of the king's seal for a day. Now, his senior brother had lost his privilege, and all the power he had enjoyed with it. Not to mention, after last night's losses, Terminus wouldn't be able to launch another attack for months, at least.

However, the foreigner and Governor Betucio couldn't possibly know any of that. Even the all-pervasive spies of the southern kingdom couldn't easily uncover core secrets in an enemy kingdom's capital. With this difference in knowledge, and with the fear of last night still fresh on their minds, he had successfully managed to intimidate his opponents. Indeed, the room returned to silence for quite a while as Amautu let them steep in their own thoughts.

"Then why are you here, King Amautu? Only to prove how useless you are?" Brymstock finally asked, maybe to regain a modicum of initiative. However, everything was too late now. The seeds of doubt had long been sown.

"No, while I cannot accede to your demands, there are still some things I can do," Amautu offered. After showing them a bleak future without escape, he would prove that he was the only one who could prevent the worst result. However, the foreigner proved stubborn till the end.

"If you cannot fulfill the demands in the paper, then the lords have already decided to go to war," he insisted in a low voice which would have sounded intimidating, had they come from a ,more imposing man.

"Minister, this king simply does not have the power to fulfill anything." Amautu smiled weakly. "No matter how much you threaten, this simple truth will not change. I can only do the things I can do, and the scholars prevent me from doing most."

Thus, Amautu had painted himself as just another victim, an unwilling ally of the scholars, who had been forced into passivity. Most importantly, this weak position he had established guaranteed that he couldn't be forced to agree to any harsh demands from the lords. How could he commit to reparations when he had no power in the first place? In the end, it was his former disciple Betucio who asked the final question, which completed Amautu's plans.

"In that case, what can King Amautu offer?"

"At the very least, I can guarantee property rights for the lords and the territorial integrity of their estates," Amautu said readily. Trying to take either had proven impossible anyways. "After the recent attempts of the scholars to infiltrate further inland failed, they became frustrated with their progress. If I offer to take over the mission of enlightening the local lords, I can surely stall their brazen attempts in the future."

"Is that all you will give? An armistice and an empty promise?" the spoilsport foreigner asked, but Amautu was now undeterred by his bad attitude.

"I can also guarantee that the lords will no longer be targeted by Terminus," the king added another empty promise. For a while, Terminus would be incapable of such attacks in the first place. "However, in return, the lords will have to continue sending men for the Scholarly Guards."

"That's impossible. This runs counter to one of our core demands." This time, it was Betucio's turn to deny Amautu's request. After all, the lords had lost a lot of population by sending them to the capital. Yet this was a point Amautu had to insist on. How else would he strengthen his forces, to one day take over the north, just how Corco had taken over the south?

"Without any visible benefits from these negotiations, the scholars will consider my mission a failure. Should I prove unreliable, they will continue to interfere in Medala's internal affairs," the king argued. "I have to offer the scholars something if I wish to gain their trust."

"And that something are the warriors of Medala?" Betucio complained in a critical tone.

"Yes, I can tell them that the lords have stopped resisting, and prove it through your surrender of warriors." Amautu acted excited, and then added a sly grin. "In fact, you do not need to send any core warriors at all. You could send old men, or even commoners. Anything really, just to deceive the scholars."

While, in response to the improved offer, Brymstock looked like he had swallowed a frog — and in fairness, he probably had, based on his belly — Betucio stroked his chin for a few seconds, before he finally gave the reply Amautu wanted to hear.

"That would be doable, I believe most brothers would agree to such an arrangement," he finally said, and showed a smile of relief. Clearly, he had never wanted a war in the first place.

Although the foreigner wanted to say something again, eager to disrupt the peace, Amautu spoke up first. After some research, he had learned how to win him over as well.

"Of course, the northern kingdom will not only guarantee the property rights of any medalan noble — even from other kingdoms — we will also allow Minister Brymstock to officially sell his bonds in the north, without any interference," Amautu said, pretending to be magnanimous. Though maybe he really was this time, since this was the only true concession he had made today.

Ever since he had entered the northern kingdom, this foreigner had done nothing but disrupt his plans. At this point, Amautu would be happy to help him sell his papers, just to get rid of him. Luckily, Brymstock di Pluritac didn't even think for a second, and directly agreed, as if he had just been waiting for Amautu's words.

"In that case, I believe we have a deal." He suddenly smiled, and jumped up to shake the king's hands before he could rethink his decision. Although Amautu couldn't shake the thought that he had somehow been played, he had finally achieved his goals.

Thus, the imminent civil war in the north ended with a handshake and a signature. In the process, the least powerful actor in the city — King Amautu — ended up with the largest advantage. After leveraging his weak position to negotiate strong terms, he managed to restore the status quo in the kingdom, while also intimidating the lords and weakening his senior brother's authority in the process.

Surely, his master wouldn't like that he had simply thrown his head disciple under the bus, and many other scholars with him. However, now that he had somewhat reconciled with the lords, Amautu's status in the kingdom had grown in importance again. Thus, ambitious people like Ohtli could no longer get rid of him quite so easily, no matter how they tried to fool their master.

Not to mention, he would soon travel to Tequitlali. Amautu hoped that after following his master's advice to get married to the right woman, he would remain in Master Ichtaka's good graces. By then, he would be able to work with the lords, the scholars and the people of Tequitlali, depending on his needs. While Amautu was still balancing on a knife's edge, the King of the North could finally see the end of the blade, and the wide open space on the other side.