#547 - Peace Talks (Part 2)
In no more than a few dozen breaths, Meng Shi had so decisively taken his own life.
He didn't utter any heroic words like "My loyal heart will illuminate history," nor did he fiercely curse Ning Yongnian before his death.
Even when his body fell, it was just a common "thud."
In the end, all that remained was that sentence:
"I never imagined that I, Meng, who spent my life on the battlefield, would die because of this."
...
Fresh blood slowly seeped into the cracks in the ground, and a long silence fell over the hall.
The moment Meng Shi fell, Li Wutong seemed startled, suddenly closing her eyes and trembling slightly.
Li Qi, however, still didn't look at Meng Shi even once.
In fact, Li Qi's thoughts were different from Li Wutong's.
He never believed that Ning Yongnian would give up on Da Feng... even though the latter was now sitting at the negotiating table.
Or rather, the two remaining conditions must contain content that far exceeded Da Feng's bottom line.
...
"Lord Min, since General Meng has already committed suicide to atone for his crimes, then we will temporarily believe that your country will fairly deal with the remaining guilty officials."
On the other side, Sima Cong glanced at Meng Shi's corpse and said calmly, "However, the top three rank generals in your country's army must immediately disarm and submit to the law."
"I wonder if Your Excellency agrees?"
From handing people over to Da Ning for trial to Da Feng trying them themselves.
Although Sima Cong repeatedly said that these people still had to "disarm and submit to the law," everyone knew that they would definitely not "submit to the law."
In other words, Meng Shi did not die in vain.
"I understand..."
Min Zhongguang slumped back into his chair, his eyes vacant.
"What about border defense?"
Sima Cong asked with a smile, "I wonder if Your Excellency has any objections?"
"No."
"Good, in that case, the third clause of the alliance will be temporarily set like this."
Nodding, Sima Cong waved his hand to have Meng Shi's body dragged out of the hall, then glanced at the eunuch beside him.
The latter immediately understood and walked out of the palace gate, presumably to convey the latest progress of the negotiations to the etiquette officer.
It was estimated that in a few dozen breaths, the crowd waiting outside would know the news of Meng Shi's suicide.
The Da Feng people would undoubtedly find this difficult to accept.
They might罵 the court's weakness and incompetence, and they might sigh with regret at Meng Shi's death.
But no matter what, the negotiations had to continue.
Now, three of the five conditions had been agreed upon.
As for the last two...
"A marriage alliance, is it..."
Stars are sparse, river shadows turn, frost is heavy, and the moonlight is lonely.
The new moon first appeared, reflecting the vast Gobi Desert for thousands of miles.
From dawn to early night, the negotiations had been going on all day.
Although it was still snowing in Huailing City, the Western Desert Gobi was cloudless and the stars and moon were bright.
Beside the bonfire, Wei Changtian looked up at the distant crescent moon above his head and asked softly:
"Li Wutong and Ning Wenjun?"
"Yes."
Zhang San looked at Wei Changtian cautiously and said truthfully, "It is indeed Princess Wuping and the First Prince."
...
"So, she agreed?"
"This..."
Taking a light breath, Zhang San's expression became more complicated.
He secretly exchanged glances with Yang Liushi, and seeing the latter nod slightly, he lowered his head and silently replied:
"Yes."
"Princess Wuping agreed."
...
The fire was bright, and the burning branches had a slight burnt smell.
Wei Changtian sighed lightly, his face expressionless, not knowing what he was thinking.
It was unknown how long this silence lasted, until Yang Liushi walked over and sat beside him, asking softly:
"Gongzi... are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Wei Changtian turned his head and smiled: "It's just as expected."
"Mm."
Yang Liushi nodded lightly, moved her body, and sat a little closer to Wei Changtian.
Although the latter seemed very "good" now, it was impossible for there not to be a trace of waves in his heart.
Even if he had really given up on Li Wutong.
"Gongzi, four conditions have been agreed upon."
After a moment of silence, Yang Liushi changed the subject softly: "Now it seems that the two sides may really be able to reach an agreement."
"Yes."
Looking at the raging bonfire in front of him, Wei Changtian nodded noncommittally.
Just like Yang Liushi said, so far, Da Feng had accepted Ning Yongnian's first four conditions.
1. Respect Da Ning as the main country and cede the land of four prefectures.
2. Pay four hundred million taels in compensation, and also pay tribute to Da Ning every year.
3. No defenses are allowed on the border, and martial artists above the third rank are not allowed to hold military positions.
4. Li Wutong will marry Ning Wenjun, and the two countries will have a marriage alliance.
Objectively speaking, although these four conditions were very unequal, they were not excessive.
Apart from Meng Shi's death, the rest of the content was within Wei Changtian's previous expectations... even more conservative than he expected.
So, was Ning Yongnian asking for so little?
After spending so much effort, scheming and calculating, and finally winning this national war, was this all he wanted in the end?
Could it be that he was trapped by the domestic situation in Da Ning and made concessions?
Impossible.
Ning Yongnian was not that kind of person.
There was no way he would spit out the fat that had reached his mouth.
Then...
"Zhang San."
Suddenly, Wei Changtian looked up and asked Zhang San, "The last condition hasn't been negotiated yet?"
"Returning to Gongzi, no."
Zhang San immediately replied: "No news has been received yet, it should still be under discussion."
"How long have they been talking?"
"From noon until now, it has been almost two hours."
"Two hours..."
Frowning, an ominous premonition surged in Wei Changtian's heart.
The previous four conditions were basically negotiated very quickly, and the most it took was half an hour to reach an agreement.
But this fifth condition had been discussed for two hours without any results.
That could only mean that this condition had greatly exceeded Da Feng's bottom line.
However, issues of territory, sovereignty, military affairs, and economy had already been discussed...
What else could Da Feng not concede?
The more Wei Changtian thought about it, the more confused he became, including Yang Liushi, who was also thinking about the same question.
Then, at a certain moment, the latter suddenly looked up and asked Zhang San.
"Zhang San, among the four prefectures that Da Feng ceded to Da Ning, is there Huailing Prefecture?"
"Girl Liushi, no."
...
In an instant, Yang Liushi suddenly widened her eyes, hesitated for a moment, and whispered a word in Wei Changtian's ear.
After the latter heard this sentence, his body suddenly trembled.
"Zhang San!"
Wei Changtian suddenly stood up and immediately walked towards the carriage parked not far away.
"Travel overnight! Go to Huailing City as quickly as possible!"
"Also, immediately inform my father and Han Zhao! Let them make all preparations!"
...
Looking at Wei Changtian, who had suddenly become extremely anxious, Zhang San hurriedly ran to untie the reins of several horses, but his expression was a little dazed.
He didn't know what Yang Liushi had said to Wei Changtian, which caused the latter to react so strongly.
Little did they know that Wei Changtian himself was actually the same. Before Yang Liushi reminded him, he had never thought that Ning Yongnian might do this.
Including Li Qi, Li Wutong, and Min Zhongguang two hours ago...
When they heard Sima Cong say Da Ning's last condition, they only thought Ning Yongnian was crazy.
Because the latter actually wanted to use the lives of more than a million people in Huailing City to bury the two million people who died in Yuanzhou City.
