#479 - World Affairs
From beheading those officials who presented memorials accusing Wei Changtian of instructing Ning Yuke to plot a rebellion, to later openly confronting Ning Yongnian in the early court, uttering the phrase "solve the case in a hundred days."
Although almost everyone knew that the Wei family had completely broken free from the imperial family's control after the Liu family was destroyed.
Although everyone was aware of the "secret" that Ning Yuke was supported by Wei Changtian.
Although Wei Xianzhi had previously shown disrespect towards Ning Yongnian in public on several occasions.
But when Wei Xianzhi really said to Ning Yongnian, and to the whole world, the words "If you want the Wei family to rebel, then the Wei family will rebel," everyone felt their heart skip a beat.
Overhead, the night sky shrouded in thick smoke seemed even lower.
A muffled rumble came from all directions, and it was unknown whether it was thunder brewing in the clouds, or the sound of blades being drawn.
...
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
In an atmosphere of suppression and extreme tension, Ning Yongnian remained silent for dozens of breaths.
Then, he slowly raised his right hand.
At this moment, nearly ten thousand people inside and outside the palace walls held their breath, as if they had already seen the scene of the entire capital engulfed in flames and filled with the sounds of killing.
The greatest rebellion since the founding of the Da Ning Dynasty was only a final wave of the arm away, but when Ning Yongnian saw Wei Xianzhi's unbridled gaze, he ultimately did not lower his hand.
In those dozens of breaths, he finally believed one thing.
Wei Xianzhi was not pressuring him.
The Wei family really dared to rebel.
Li Huaizhong's mouth suddenly widened, and he urgently wanted to say something.
However, when he saw those cold eyes, he immediately swallowed all the remaining words back into his throat.
"Shua shua shua!"
Red armor flashed, and after a few breaths, there was no longer a single imperial guard around the Meridian Gate tower.
At this time, Wei Xianzhi also jumped up without hesitation, leaped onto the city tower, and stood opposite Ning Yongnian.
No kneeling, no bowing, no cupping of hands.
At this moment, all the pleasantries and probing were meaningless.
Even Ning Yongnian was no longer the esteemed emperor, and Wei Xianzhi was no longer a subject.
These two middle-aged men of similar age, each representing two huge forces, were about to conduct a negotiation above the Meridian Gate concerning the future of the entire Da Ning Dynasty.
If they could reach an agreement, then this delicate balance might continue to persist.
If they couldn't reach an agreement, then a great chaos, which would not know when it would end, but would certainly begin tonight, would sweep across the thirty-six prefectures, and cause a far more serious and far-reaching impact than the "Spring Dragon Rebellion."
As for the result...
Perhaps, the Da Ning Dynasty would no longer have the Wei family.
Perhaps, the Da Ning Dynasty would no longer be surnamed Ning.
...
"Wei Qing, I still have a million soldiers."
The dragon robe swayed, and this was Ning Yongnian's first sentence.
"So, is the land of the six southwestern prefectures enough?"
This was the second sentence.
Unlike the usual negotiation process of "first asking for the sky-high price, and then bargaining on the spot," Ning Yongnian seemed to show enough sincerity from the beginning.
Indeed, at least nominally, nearly a million soldiers in the entire Da Ning Dynasty still pledged allegiance to him.
Compared with the Wei family, which seemed to only control the Xuanyi Guard and Shu Prefecture, this power did not seem to be on the same level.
Although it had undergone an "expansion," the Xuanyi Guard now had a total of only over 100,000 yamen runners in the thirty-six prefectures, which was not comparable to a million at all.
However, everyone knew that this was not the Wei family's entire foundation.
At least in this capital, the strength that the Wei family had shown was enough to contend with Ning Yongnian.
Therefore, Ning Yongnian did not say any more nonsense, but directly gave his conditions.
The six southwestern prefectures.
An, Pei, Su, Lan, Wei, and Shu.
These six prefectures were adjacent to each other, occupying most of the southwest of Da Ning, and the area was almost about one-fifth of the Da Ning's territory.
And it was not known whether it was a coincidence, but these six prefectures were almost exactly the same as the six prefectures that Da Li wanted.
The only difference was that Da Li did not want Shu Prefecture, but wanted Ding Prefecture.
Wei Xianzhi did not know about the deal that Wei Changtian and Gui Pei'an had made, but even if he knew, he probably would not think too much about it now.
After all, there were only a few prefectures and counties in the southwest of Da Ning, and it was normal for them to overlap.
Therefore, he was now only rapidly thinking about the meaning behind Ning Yongnian's condition.
First of all, these six prefectures were definitely given to the Wei family in the form of a "fief," which meant that he, Wei Xianzhi, would become the first prince of a different surname in the history of Da Ning, and would immediately sit on the land of six prefectures.
Secondly, since it included Shu Prefecture, it meant that as long as he nodded, the war in Shu Prefecture would stop immediately.
Finally, since there was a fief, the Wei family would definitely not be able to continue to stay in the capital, so the Xuanyi Guard would naturally decline rapidly, and then be replaced by the new organization that Ning Yongnian would establish at that time.
In summary, Ning Yongnian actually wanted to use the land of six prefectures to exchange for the imperial family's absolute control over the remaining thirty prefectures.
The six southwestern prefectures would be given to your Wei family, as long as they were still nominally the territory of Da Ning, you could do whatever you wanted with the rest.
However, in exchange, you should not interfere with the remaining thirty prefectures.
As for whether there would be internal strife in the future... then the two families would rely on their own abilities at that time.
...
Smart people never need to say too much.
Therefore, although Ning Yongnian only said two sentences, Wei Xianzhi basically understood the essence of this transaction completely.
Without a doubt, facing the current Wei family, Ning Yongnian had already made a great concession.
However...
"Your Majesty."
Looking at Ning Yongnian, he calmly shook his head: "Not enough."
"Not enough?"
Ning Yongnian looked back, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes: "Then I wonder how many prefectures Wei Qing thinks are enough?"
"The twelve southern prefectures."
Wei Xianzhi calmly replied: "Plus, withdrawing troops from Da Feng."
...
The gray mist obscures the sky, the black clouds smell of wind and blood.
Just after Wei Xianzhi made a big opening and said the Wei family's conditions, the entire city tower was immediately shrouded in a terrifying aura like a stormy sea.
The corners of the two men's clothes fluttered in the wind, and their gazes collided without concealment.
Although Wei Xianzhi was only a third-rank peak, he did not lose the slightest bit of ground in the face of Ning Yongnian's solid second-rank coercion, and even asked with a smile.
"What, can't do it?"
...
The land of twelve prefectures, the entire south of Da Ning, and also withdrawing troops from Da Feng.
This price undoubtedly exceeded Ning Yongnian's bottom line, and Wei Xianzhi's last four words made him instantly laugh in anger:
"Hahaha, Wei Qing, it seems that you never thought about negotiating peace with me!"
"Your Majesty, you are mistaken."
Wei Xianzhi shook his head: "If I didn't want to talk, I wouldn't be standing here today, it's just that you and I couldn't reach an agreement."
"Is that so?"
Ning Yongnian narrowed his eyes and asked, word by word: "Then according to you, you are determined to rebel?!"
"Your Majesty, I have never said that, but if possible..."
Wei Xianzhi glanced at the densely packed imperial guards inside the city wall, and then withdrew his gaze and replied with a smile that was not a smile:
"This humble minister really wants to see how much ability Your Majesty has."
