Diplomacy's Job is the 265th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
A messenger arrives at a carriage, and says, that the King of Qi has granted an audience to Sai Taku, who is already on his way.
High Command's tactical meeting in Kanyou shows the plan to make sure, that Qi does not enter the coalition army.
Arriving at the palace in Qi, Sai Taku proceeds without delay to the Qi king. Which states, that the army of Qi is on hold until this meeting is over. So whatever Sai Taku says now is of great importance. Sai Taku proceeds to ask how much Ri Boku has promised Qi if they enter the coalition against Qin. The ministers of Qi grow angry while feeling insulted, but the Qi King smiles, and says, that wealth is the only real reason to do warfare.
He then states that there was not an exact amount of wealth granted, but says, that the entirety of the Qin Kingdom should be divided by the states, according to the number of soldiers they contributed. Sai Taku offers Qi the double amount of riches if the Qi Army withdrew. And the king accepts, telling, that is great, to earn double, without losing a single soldier.
When this message reaches Kanyou there is a great joy but Ryo Fui states, that 50'000 isn't a big difference. Shou Hei Kun says it is less about the numbers than having a potential threat behind the coalition army. Shou Bun Kun thinks that this will have a great effect on the enemy soldiers if they could not capture the Qin capital in a short time. Then the message arrives, that the army of Wei was slowed down in the Rai plains.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei (flashback and main story)
- Shou Bun Kun (flashback and main story)
- Unnamed officials (flashback and main story)
- Unnamed messengers
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ryo Fui (flashback and main story)
- Shou Hei Kun (flashback and main story)
- Sai Taku
- Kou
- Unnamed officials (flashback and main story)
- Unnamed members of escort
- Ei Sei Faction
- Mou Bu Army
- Mou Bu (mentioned)
- Chou Tou Army
- Chou Tou (mentioned)
- Six Great Generals
- Ou Ki (mentioned)
Qi
- Royal Palace
- King of Qi
- Unnamed officials
- Unnamed soldiers
- Gan Mo Army
- Gan Mo (mentioned)
Wei
- Go Hou Mei Army
- Unnamed officers
- Unnamed members
Zhao
- Ri Boku Army
- Ri Boku (mentioned)
Yan
- Geki Shin Army
- Geki Shin (mentioned)
High Points
- Sai Taku meets with Ou Ken, the king of Qi to withdraw his military forces is successful.
- The reason for the importance of this is explained: to put pressure on the coalition army's rear.
Trivia
- First appearance of Qi king, Ou Ken.
- Gan Mo is mentioned for the first time.