Sure enough, after dinner, when it was time to light the lanterns, Zhao Deyan walked into the Tang envoy's tent. After a few polite words from both sides, Tang Jian got straight to the point.
"Commander Zhao, let's be honest, what conditions does your country offer?"
This was not the first time that Zhao Deyan met Tang Jian. They had often sent envoys to each other in the past few years. It was not surprising at all that they were so straightforward. Did Weiye come alone just to negotiate the price?
"Youzhou!" Two simple words, no redundant words.
Youzhou?
Tang Jian was stunned for a moment, deputy envoy Qin Huaidao was puzzled, and secretary Liu Jinyuan frowned in thought.
After a moment of silence, Tang Jian's face suddenly changed, and he said angrily: "You have such a big appetite. Do you want me to cede land to the Tang Dynasty? And the entire Youzhou? Then there is no need to talk, let's go to war. We don't want the prince anymore, In the future, a monument will be erected for him. Come, pack your bags..."
"Ahem... Tang Qingzheng, Qingzheng... we can talk, we can talk about everything. Isn't this what we are here to discuss? Youdao is asking for high prices and paying back the money. If you don't agree, you can say it. Let's discuss it. Big It's not easy to come all the way." Zhao Deyan quickly grabbed Tang Jian.
Tang Jian sat back again, rolled his eyes and said: "It is impossible to cede land. It is a shame and shame to cede land and pay compensation. Even if His Majesty agreed to save his son, the civil and military officials of the dynasty and the people of the Tang Dynasty would not agree. If you are sincere, find someone else. The way."
Um? ? ? Qin Huaidao and Liu Jinyuan were both stunned. Looking at their performances, especially that of Tang Jian, the minister of Honglu Temple, they thought to themselves, is this a real diplomat? How come the imaginary scene of verbal exchanges and verbal battles with scholars is completely different in reality? It's obviously a vegetable market where you can buy food and bargain.
The other party is Zhao Deyan, a notorious lackey. It looks like you are very familiar with each other. If you don't know, I would have thought you two were old friends for many years.
"Can't Youzhou? Then go to the northern part of Bingzhou, with Taiyuan as the boundary. From now on, the grassland will have cultivated fields, and maybe we can get rid of nomadism." Zhao Deyan changed places.
Tang Jian sneered and said: "This is not a matter of the location and size of the territory. Even an inch of land is a great shame and humiliation. Military Advisor Zhao, you are also from the Central Plains. Although you are loyal to the emperor by eating the emperor's salary, you are helping other countries to cede and sell the ancestral land." , can you do it too?"
Zhao Deyan laughed loudly, "What ancestral land? During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, this was a barbaric land outside the Great Wall. The Qin Dynasty unified the six countries, and this was the Xiongnu. The Five Husties disrupted China, let alone Youzhou, Shanxi, it was Luoyang, Chang'an, not crawling Under the iron heel rule of those barbarians? The territory has always belonged to the strong men of the day. But it does not say who it belonged to before, and who it will always belong to in the future. If this is the case, then the world should still be ruled by Xia Jie, Shang Zhou. "
Hiss... This man deserves to be the wisest man in the grassland, and he is really eloquent. Secretary Liu Jinyuan was impressed and took another look.
Qin Huaidao listened very well. He had never heard of these things in Chang'an. He had been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and what he read most was the art of war. But it turns out that the battlefield of civil servants also has a different style. I don’t know why, but even though I don’t like this person, his words always make sense.
Tang Jian rolled his sleeves and said: "It is useless to argue with words. Land is not traded. It is just a prince, and the city will not be exchanged. Gaining the prince and losing the support of the people is the way to the defeat of the Tang Dynasty. If the Turks set their sights on the territory of the Tang Dynasty, Then even if we send troops to get it, if Datang is defeated and the city is robbed, we have nothing to say. But if you want to use this method to gain territory, it is impossible."
Zhao Deyan put his palms together and praised: "Well, he is worthy of being the first diplomat of the Tang Dynasty. He has backbone. Since the territory is not given, then listen to our Khan's other condition."
"Forty thousand war horses."
you……
"Don't panic, we still have 40,000 war horses in the back. You can take out 40,000 war horses. Isn't it exactly 40,000 that was taken from Youzhou last time? In addition, there are 100,000 jins of grain, 500 carts of cloth, salt, iron and tea..."
Tang Jian interrupted angrily: "You have such a big appetite, you still want salt and iron tea?"
Zhao Deyan spread his hands, "It's not that we have a big appetite, it's that your prince is valuable. Isn't the prince of a country worth this price? Well, then go back and stop talking. The prince is fostered here, and our Khan will adopt him. As an adopted son, if the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is worried, he can send a batch of food, drink and property every year as living expenses for the boarding house."
"When the prince comes of age in the future and needs to return to inherit the throne, we will send him to Chang'an as a gift."
Hiss...what a killing move. Secretary Liu Jinyuan took a breath, this was a threat.
Tang Jian snorted coldly: "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty has more than one prince, and a new crown prince will be established. The Turks are detaining our prince, and we will send troops to recapture him in the future."
Zhao Deyan waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter, everyone can see that sooner or later the two countries will have a war. It doesn't matter if the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty doesn't want a son. We don't accept prisoners here. When the time comes, we will kill Ji Qi."
you……
Tang Jian was here as an envoy to ask for someone. Even if he didn't come back, he still had to ensure the safety of the prince. How could he dare to help the emperor make decisions?
After a moment of silence, he changed his words and said: "The price you offered is too high. The Tang Dynasty has been fighting for years, the treasury is empty, and there is not so much money and food. I can't make the decision. I need to send someone back to ask for instructions."
Zhao Deyan took out the list and threw it over, "It doesn't matter, we are not in a hurry. The longer you stay, the higher the prince's boarding fee will be. The more we will earn. This is the list. You can discuss it with Chang'an slowly. It's not early. Alright, I'm taking my leave, Tang Qing is going to bed early."
When he was about to walk out of the door, Zhao Deyan stopped and said, "Ah, by the way, your Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a token that he asked me to deliver to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty on his behalf."
With that said, he took out a white brocade handkerchief, threw it to Tang Jian, turned around and strode away.
Tang Jian looked at the handkerchief in his hand and sighed, Zhao Deyan... was difficult to deal with. In the first confrontation, he was completely defeated. Being manipulated by the opponent to death.
Qin Huaidao asked in confusion: "Master Tang, is this really the prince's token? Why does it look like a woman's handkerchief?"
Tang Jian nodded and said: "Although Zhao Deyan has an average character, he is not confused in what he does, and he will not be fake. The prince has been tossing and turning for many days, and there must be nothing valuable on him. It is not easy to have a handkerchief. This Although the handkerchief is small, the embroidery is exquisite and the materials are high-quality. It is not an ordinary person's item. We don't recognize it, so of course someone will recognize it when it is sent back to Chang'an."
Send back to Chang'an? how? Do you really want to ask Changan for compensation?
Tang Jian said feebly: "What else? If you ask for a high price, then you have to pay back the money. Let's talk first. If we can't reach an agreement, then we can talk about starting a war. Before leaving, His Majesty said that the national treasury cannot be touched. At most, it is the private treasury of the palace. Take away the Xiao family chamber of commerce. , let’s see how big Xie Li’s appetite is.”
Pfft... Qin Huaidao said in his heart, the palace's private treasury may not have much money, but the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce? Everyone knows that this is richer than the national treasury. If Jie Li points less, you can definitely afford the compensation.
"Go to bed early. We will probably stay here for a while. Be smart. It is best to see His Highness the Crown Prince in person to ensure his safety."
