Chapter Seventy-six Pre-negotiation

  At this time, Wei Liangchen and Xiao Yi were discussing the map placed on the table, Xiao Yi with a proud look, while Wei Liangchen had a bitter face.

  "Master, I just received a secret report from the inside of the Han Mansion. It says that Yue Yun and Miss Li have returned. They claim to have been kidnapped by bandits at the birthday banquet and only managed to escape yesterday." Fan Tong said quietly to Qin Xi, bowing his head.

  "Damn it! Yue Yun that kid and my Yu Rou sister have been together for two days and two nights, who knows what they've done! The two of them are a lonely man and woman, and they're already in love, I'm afraid they've already done something improper!" Qin Xi clenched his fists and said with hatred.

  Thinking of the beautiful woman he had set his eyes on, she actually fell into someone else's arms, making him burn with jealousy. Moreover, Yue Yun also kicked him at the birthday banquet, losing face for him. This made Qin Xi hate her to the bone.

  "This... young master, Master Xiang has repeatedly instructed me to remind you, don't let a merchant's daughter hinder the main event!" Fan Tong said with a stiff upper lip.

  He knew that Qin Hui's desire for women was not ordinary. Even Qin Hui often said that if his son could put more energy into proper affairs, he would have arranged for Qin Hui to hold an important position in the court long ago.

  "Mr. Fan, rest assured! I'm not someone who can't tell the difference between what's important and what's not!" Qin Yi said impatiently.

  He was actually very annoyed in his heart, except that Li Yujiao ignored him, making him feel frustrated, and Liu Mingcheng, who had originally wanted to win over, also had an attitude that was neither cold nor hot.

  He also went to visit Liu Mingcheng for the past two days, and when he asked if he would support his own father, Liu Mingcheng dodged the topic, leaving him with a soft nail. He naturally knew that this was all because of Xiao Yi's boastful words at the banquet, which caused Liu Mingcheng's dissatisfaction, and since he was sitting at the same table as Xiao Yi, it was inevitable that Liu Mingcheng would misunderstand Xiao Yi as someone he had brought to cause trouble.

  After a moment of silence, he calmed down and returned to the negotiating table with Fan Tong.

  "After hearing the dispute between Xiao Yi and Wei Liangchen, Qin Xi said with difficulty: "Director Xiao, it should not be a big problem to demarcate the western boundary of our two countries with Dashanguan as the boundary. However, your country's proposed eastern boundary with the Yangtze River as the boundary, and the central section with the Han River as the boundary is likely to be more difficult. Not to mention that it will be difficult to pass in the imperial court, even the officials of our country may not agree!"

  For the past two days, he has been negotiating with Xiao Yi. The conditions initially proposed by Xiao Yi were extremely harsh, with the western boundary set at the Daba Mountains and all of Wushan to the east bounded by the Yangtze River. Additionally, an annual tribute of 500,000 taels of silver and 500,000 bolts of silk would be required. This was far more severe than the treaty signed under the auspices of Wanyan Zongbi last year.

  Qin Xi deeply understood that under these conditions, it would be impossible to pass on the imperial court.

  If the Yangtze River is really used as a boundary, then the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty will also occupy the strategic location of the Yangtze River. In just a few years, by recruiting personnel and building ships, they will inevitably establish a powerful navy. At that time, when they launch a large-scale southern campaign again, the Song Dynasty can only wait for death.

  However, Fan Tong and Wei Liangchen both knew that the initial conditions offered by both sides of the negotiations must have been quite outrageous. So they proposed to take the actual control line between the two sides as the boundary.

  Xiao Yi is not going to agree to this, is he joking? The Yue Family Army is right under the walls of Bianjing City, how can they possibly agree to such a request?

  After two days of grinding, he finally agreed to the western section with Dashan Pass as the boundary, but insisted that the central section should be bounded by the Han River and the eastern section by the Yangtze River.

  "Qin Gongzi, I don't know why you must have the Jianghuai region. Those places have been ravaged by war for many years and are no longer habitable. Hand it over to Da Jin, and you'll be getting rid of a burden!" Xiao Yi said with a fake smile.

  Qin Xi listened and patiently explained: "Xiao, in fact, for me or my father, it doesn't matter. However, the problem is that the current court is not just a matter of one person's word being final. Although Zhao Ding and Zhang Ju have already lost power, they still have a group of followers. If we were to cede the Jianghuai region to your country, there would certainly be many ministers opposing it in the imperial court, and my father might also be unable to persuade the officials to agree."

  "Yes! General Xiao, you also know that the old treaty signed between our two countries last year used the Yellow River as the border and returned Henan and Shaanxi to the Great Song. However, it was breached by the Fourth Prince just half a year after signing. Many high-ranking officials and military officers in my court are outraged. If the new treaty is compared to the one from last year, the conditions are too vastly different, I'm afraid we will also find it difficult to persuade the imperial court and the ministers." Wei Liangchen also spoke with a bitter tone.

  Xiao Yi tilted his head and pondered for a moment before saying sternly, "If that's the case, you can have Jianghuai, but Henan must be completely under our Great Jin's control. Anyway, that place is all flat plains, which is advantageous for cavalry battles. You won't be able to defend it even if you go there!"

  Qin Xi and Wei Liangchen exchanged a glance, and Fang nodded slightly. They felt that this condition could be taken to the imperial court for discussion with some confidence.

  "Let's continue to talk about the amount of 'annual tribute'. Last year's old agreement was 2.5 million taels of silver and 2.5 million bolts of silk, this year's new agreement if according to your request, each increased to 5 million, not to mention whether it can be passed on the imperial court. Just such a large amount, our country's finances cannot afford it. In recent years, in order to make up for military expenses and settle refugees, our country's finances have already been exhausted!" Wei Liangchen shook his head.

  Xiao Yi coldly glanced at the two of them and asked: "Then how much can you accept?"

  Qin Xi and Fan Tongyu whispered for a moment before saying: "Maintaining the original number, we should have confidence in persuading the officials and courtiers to accept."

  "That's out of the question! The Fourth Prince has entrusted me, and at most, we can only lower it to 3.5 million taels of silver and 3.5 million bolts of silk!" Xiao Yi said sternly.

  "But we really can't afford it now!" Wei Liangchen explained with a cold sweat on his forehead.

  Xiao Yi snorted and said, "Hmph! Why don't you think about it? Once we sign the treaty, you can demobilize a large number of troops and let them return to their fields. If these people engage in production, won't that increase taxes? Moreover, you'll reduce a lot of military expenses, so shouldn't you be making a profit?"

  Then he continued to talk: "With my great Jin as a barrier in front of you, the Western Xia, Goryeo and Mongolian tribes dare not move south. My great Jin has made such a great contribution, so it's only right that you give us more silver and silk!"

  If someone else were here listening to this, they would definitely be furious. In the Song Hui Zong period, even the Western Army of Northern Song couldn't win against Xi Xia, how dare they go and attack Jin Guo?

  Mongolia was still in a state of disunity at that time, although there was a Khan named Hulagu who had some disagreements with the Jin Dynasty, but he could only control his own tribe. Tribes like Tatars, Kereits and Naimans did not listen to him, and they often fought each other internally, so how could they have the strength to attack the Jin Dynasty?

  As for the king of Goryeo, Wang Kon, he was even more submissive to the Jin dynasty, fearing that if he provoked the Jin dynasty, it would attack him. He was so obedient to the emperor of the Jin dynasty that he was like a son, and he did not dare to have any other intentions towards the Jin dynasty.

  Moreover, what Xiao Yi proposed was to allow the Song Dynasty to disarm its soldiers and return to their fields with peace of mind. This is exactly what Sima Zhao had in mind, and everyone knows it. If the Song Dynasty really disbands a large number of troops, and the Jin army violates this newly signed treaty again and marches south, how can the Song Dynasty resist? It's not like the Jin Dynasty hasn't torn up treaties before.

  Unfortunately, the representatives of the Song and Jin dynasties who negotiated were all pro-peace factions. Qin Hui even went to great lengths to ensure that the peace treaty could be passed in the imperial court, first sending his son Qin Xi to communicate with them, so as not to actually propose these outrageous conditions on the imperial court. Both sides refused to back down for the sake of face, resulting in the failure of the peace talks.

  Fan Tongjian and Wei Liangchen both looked embarrassed, and hastily mediated: "Let's put this condition aside for the time being, and discuss the next item: can the two countries change their titles from monarch-subject to uncle-nephew? If your country agrees, there will be a reason to persuade those dignitaries..."

  "I don't dare agree to this condition, Fourth Master will never agree to it..." Xiao Yi shook his head repeatedly.

  The four of them started a new argument and didn't stop until almost noon.