Luoshui.
The moon sets and the sun rises.
In a blink of an eye, the third round of negotiations has begun.
Dashang is still retreating again and again, while the eight tribes in Mobei have always been tough and refused to give in.
At the end of the day, there was only one point of contention between the two sides.
Baidi City!
This is the bottom line of Dashang. However, the eight tribes in Mobei also know the importance of Baidi City and will never compromise on Dashang's requirements.
Originally, the leaders of the Eight Mobei tribes, led by Tantai Jingyue and Lord Helan, did not want to negotiate peace, let alone give up Baidi City.
In comparison, Dashang is looking forward to the arrival of peace even more.
Fighting on multiple fronts, Dashang was already exhausted and needed time to recuperate.
The third round of negotiations broke up amid quarrels between the two parties.
To the east is the army camp.
In the handsome tent.
After Dashang's envoys came back, they held another urgent meeting.
None of the ministers expected that the attitude of the Eight Departments of Mobei would be so tough, and if this discussion continued, there would be no results at all.
"Your Highness."
Yan Danqing, the minister of Honglu Temple, said seriously, "Baidicheng, we may not come back."
Mu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the people around him and said, "Everyone go back and rest first. I and Master Yan have a few words to say."
"yes."
The envoys accepted the order and immediately left the camp.
"Your Highness, what's the matter?"
In the tent, Yan Danqing looked at the eldest prince in front of him and asked in confusion.
"Master Yan, the peace negotiation must be completed."
Mu Yuan said seriously, "If it doesn't work out, we don't want Baidi City anymore."
"What's the meaning?"
Hearing this, Yan Danqing frowned and said, "Your Highness, isn't this the same as sending hostages in vain to ask for peace from the Eight Tribes of Mobei? In this way, my great merchant's face will be lost."
Even if they exchange for a city, it can be considered that these envoys have fulfilled their responsibilities. They have not exchanged anything and returned the hostages for nothing. How will the people of Dashang treat them?
"Expediency."
Mu Yuan sighed softly and said, "Da Shang, you need time to recuperate now. As long as we take this breath, we will definitely be able to retake Baidi City and the sixteen northern states. We will endure the temporary humiliation and exchange for Dashang." The respite is worth it.”
"Your Majesty, is this what Your Majesty meant?"
Yan Danqing clenched his hands tightly and asked with a look of gloom on his old face.
"Um."
Mu Yuan nodded and responded, "Oral instructions."
Yan Danqing trembled and said feebly, "I understand."
There is no imperial edict, only oral instructions. If the negotiation goes unfavorably, it will only be their ministers who will bear the infamy.
Outside the handsome tent.
After several Honglu Temple officials came out, they returned to their tents one after another, their expressions not very good.
By this time, everyone gradually realized that during this peace negotiation, they would not get anything back from the Eight Tribes of Mobei.
They are the envoys of the Great Shang. If the peace talks fail, they will not only lose their own face.
At night.
Li Ziye sat in the tent, carefully wiping the Chunjun sword in his hand, not bothered by the peace negotiations.
Now, what is there to talk about? Just fight, adopt the policy of strengthening the walls and clearing the wilderness, and spend the winter with the Eight Tribes of Mobei. The Eight Tribes' cavalry will have to retreat if they cannot retreat.
There is a winter respite, enough is enough.
It was not easy for him to capture those hostages, and it would be really embarrassing to send them back for nothing.
In front of the formation, killing a few at a time, or just a few dozen, to disturb the morale of the eight troops in Mobei is not more useful than sending them back for nothing.
"Professor Li."
At this time, an old voice sounded outside the tent and asked, "Have you rested?"
Li Ziye heard the sound outside, put away the sword on the table, stood up and walked outside. When he saw the old man outside the tent, he said with a gentle expression, "Master Yan, why haven't you rested so late?"
"I would like to have a few words with Professor Li." Yan Danqing responded.
"Master Yan, please come inside."
Li Ziye stepped out of the way and said politely.
"Nagging."
Yan Danqing nodded and immediately stepped into the tent.
"Master Yan, what's the matter?"
In the tent, Li Ziye poured a cup of tea for the old man in front of him and asked.
"I remembered how Li Jiaoxi calmly responded to the difficulties faced by the envoys of Tianyu Palace in front of the emperor. So, I came here to have a few words with Li Jiaoxi."
Yan Danqing said softly, "Why has Li Jiaoxi not spoken much in the past two days of peace talks? He is not at all like the young hero he was when he faced the envoys of Tianyu Palace."
"It's different."
Li Ziye sighed softly and responded, "At that time, only when the great merchants and ministers were united could we have nothing to fear, but it is different now."
Yan Danqing listened to the words of the young man in front of him and fell silent. After a moment, he asked, "Jiaoxi Li, tomorrow is the last negotiation. Do you think we can go back to Baidi City?"
"cannot."
Li Ziye shook his head and said, "If we continue to talk, there will be no results. We have never touched the sore point of Mobei Babu. We will definitely not be able to talk."
"The sore spot?"
When Yan Danqing heard this, he looked puzzled and said, "What do you mean?"
"Master Yan, in this war, who has the upper hand so far?"
Li Ziye didn't rush to answer, but asked instead.
"The eight tribes of Mobei." Yan Danqing replied.
"Since they have the advantage, why are they willing to negotiate?" Li Ziye continued to ask.
"Because the Eight Tribes of Mobei have a large number of royal hostages in our hands." Yan Danqing responded.
"Yes, but among the eight tribes, not every tribe has hostages."
Li Ziye said seriously, "In the past few days of negotiations, Mr. Yan should have been able to see that some of the princes of several tribes have extremely tough attitudes and obviously do not want peace talks."
Having said this, Li Ziye took a sip of the tea on the table and said calmly, "So, from the very beginning, we shouldn't just be fighting over a few cities. We are focusing on the wrong points."
"Li Jiaoxi, please make it clear." Yan Danqing frowned.
"Master Yan, the Eight Tribes of Mobei are an alliance, not a country. This is their biggest weakness."
Li Ziye said calmly, "The reason why they are willing to negotiate is because the main war faction headed by Tantai Jingyue and Lord Helan do not want their alliance to have cracks. However, if the peace talks fail, internal conflicts will arise." By then, Tantai Jingyue and the others will be able to transfer the anger of the Lord He faction to Dashang, consolidate the alliance, and continue to deal with the outside world in a unified manner."
At this point, Li Ziye changed his tone and asked, "Sir, if from the very beginning, our focus is to continue to intensify their internal conflicts, what will be the result?"
Yan Danqing's body trembled, the waves in his heart continued to surge, and his expression changed several times.
Li Ziye sighed softly when he saw the old man's expression in front of him.
The ministers of Honglu Temple, headed by Mr. Yan, are actually not bad, loyal and eloquent. However, they cannot see many things clearly if they are not in their positions and do not plan their affairs.
"Jiaoxi Li, why didn't you say these things earlier?" After a while, Yan Danqing came back to his senses and asked.
"To whom?"
Li Ziye put down the teacup in his hand and said, "If Master Yan hadn't come to me tonight, I would still have no one to say these words. Sir, I still said the same thing. The current situation is different from when I faced the envoy of Tianyu Palace." Now, it’s different.”
The king is suspicious, the prince is ignorant, and the ministers are greedy for life. Today's Shang Dynasty has long been rotten to the core.
Let's fight, it won't be broken or established. When he goes back, he will stab this piece of rotten flesh with a knife again.
