As the war progressed, Southern Song officials gradually learned that the Ming army strictly controlled military discipline and were very surprised when they did not cause huge damage to civilian production in the Southern Song Dynasty. They felt that this was quite similar to the style of the Yue family army who froze to death without demolishing their houses.
But in this case, Shi Hao really had nothing to refute Ming Guo's reasons.
This made him quite confused.
Seeing Shi Hao's blushing face, Zhou Zhixue glanced at Zhou Zhi, who understood.
"Well, since the Southern Dynasty is really in trouble, it's not like the Ming Dynasty can't think about it for the Southern Dynasty. We can talk about the currency, and the price can't be lowered."
"What's the price?"
Shi Hao looked at Zhou Zhi nervously, obviously not deceived by his words.
Zhou Zhi shrugged and said it didn't matter.
"The third paragraph is to cede land. The Southern Dynasty must agree, and then we can continue to talk about the currency. If they don't agree to cede land, there is no need to discuss anything!"
Shi Hao knew that was the case.
Sure enough, the Ming Dynasty used the second requirement to threaten the realization of the third requirement.
However, the third requirement is absolutely unacceptable to Shi Hao.
Once the Huainan East Road is lost, the Southern Song Dynasty will completely lose the Huaihe River defense line.
Although the Song Dynasty had not managed Huainan much before, and the overall defense goal was to defend the river but not the Huaihe River, after this battle, the defense policies of the DPRK and China were bound to change.
The Song Dynasty will definitely vigorously manage the Huainan defense line to make it more reliable and protect the Yangtze River Basin. However, if the Ming Dynasty cuts off the Huainan East Road, then it will be meaningless for the Southern Song Dynasty to build other parts. The battle lines between the two sides have been Pushed to the Yangtze River Basin.
Song Ting finally no longer had to argue about whether to defend Jiang or Huai.
The consequences are too serious.
Shi Hao felt that he could not accept it no matter what.
For the Southern Song Dynasty, the Huaihe River was equivalent to Yanyun in the Northern Song Dynasty. It could not be lost. Once lost, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Huainan East Road must not be ceded!"
Shi Hao shook his head firmly.
Zhou Zhi suddenly turned dark, and Zhou Zhixue also looked very bad.
"If the Southern Dynasty makes up its mind not to cede the Huainan East Road, it means that the peace talks will not go forward. Does the Southern Dynasty think that the Ming army really cannot take Lin'an? Or does the Southern Dynasty think that they can use this opportunity to gather enough troops to fight the Ming army? Could it be that the Southern Dynasty was using this as a way to delay the war?"
"it's not true!"
Shi Hao quickly expressed: "It's just that the requirements of the Northern Dynasty were too harsh, and the Song Dynasty really couldn't accept it, otherwise the recipient will be blamed by thousands of people!"
Zhou Zhi patted the table.
"Xiangong Shi, the Southern Dynasty seems to have not understood the current situation. You have been defeated. Hundreds of thousands of troops were defeated by the Ming army. The Ming army made demands on you as a victor. Peace talks can be negotiated, but it does not mean that you can refuse. "
Shi Hao thought about it and felt embarrassed.
"The Song Dynasty is not unaware of this kind of thing, but...but..."
"No but! Now you can still fight for a little bit on the issue of Sui coins. If you don't agree, the Ming army will attack the city immediately! The beautiful Lin'an will instantly turn into a battlefield and a wasteland. This is what the Southern Dynasties want to see. ?"
Zhou Zhi's expression gradually became fierce: "Or is it that the Emperor of the Southern Dynasties plans to bring shame to Jingkang again?"
Shi Hao's pupils shrank and he immediately thought of some not-so-good scenes.
"Is the Northern Dynasty really going to fight to the death?"
"You seem to have some misunderstanding?"
Zhou Zhi sneered: "Judging from the combat effectiveness of the Southern Dynasty army that our army has seen all the way south, it is okay to kill the fish, but the net cannot be broken. Mr. Shi should not have too many misunderstandings about the combat effectiveness of the Southern Dynasty army. This is not good for Shi Xianggong analyzed the pros and cons of signing a peace treaty."
Shi Hao was stunned, and then an extremely strong sense of humiliation surged into his heart.
"The Northern Dynasty was too domineering and completely ignored the friendship of the allies..."
Zhou Zhixue shook his head.
"When living in different places, I am afraid that the Southern Dynasties will not be gentler than the Ming Dynasty. Everyone is the same, but there is a difference in strength. Therefore, between countries, it is better not to be emotional. Mr. Shi, emotions cannot be fought for the country and the people. Benefit."
Shi Hao was completely speechless.
So Zhou Zhi made it clear.
"Agree, or not? If you agree to the third item, the number of coins in the second item can be reduced as appropriate. If you don't agree, at this time tomorrow, the Ming army will begin to attack Lin'an City without mercy! By then, You have no choice."
Shi Hao thought about it and felt that there was no hope of making a comeback relying solely on the Lin'an garrison. As for the armies in other places...
It is not that the Ming Dynasty did not have corresponding border defense troops. Once a large-scale mobilization of border defense troops in the Southern Song Dynasty was detected, they would definitely take advantage of the situation and the situation would become more serious.
It is for this reason that when someone in the court suggested mobilizing elite troops from the Jinghu and Sichuan-Shu regions to attack King Anqin, Shi Haocai firmly opposed this proposal, believing that the Lianghuai War Zone had collapsed and the remaining two war zones could not be allowed to Something happened to the main force.
So the current battle situation has really become a war between the Ming army outside the city and the Song army inside the city.
The Song army in the city had nothing but Lin'an City to rely on.
How can this battle be won?
But Shi Hao really didn't dare to agree to these conditions, and Zhao Min didn't let go. He really didn't dare to make the decision, lest it cause more serious consequences.
So Shi Hao finally asked the Ming army to give him some time to return to the DPRK to mediate.
"Mediation is possible, but it must be fruitful and must be time-limited. The time limit is twelve hours. The results must be given within twelve hours. Otherwise, tomorrow at this time, the Ming army will officially attack Lin'an!"
Zhou Zhi gave Shi Hao an ultimatum.
After Shi Hao left, Zhou Zhi and Zhou Zhixue discussed it and felt that the Song people in the city had no idea and had unrealistic illusions. They should take a resolute stance to make the Song people in the city completely lose their illusions and face reality.
Then the two men jointly signed an order, ordering the main force of the Ming army to start taking action.
A large number of siege engines are ready for use.
The trebuchet is ready for use, the crossbow is ready for use, the ram chariot is ready for use, the crash chariot is ready for use, the ladder is ready for use, and the wooden curtain is ready for use.
Pre-battle inspections of gunpowder weapons began immediately, and pre-battle inspections of swords, guns, swords, halberds, bows, and arrows immediately began. The commanders of each unit and battalion sent all the above officers and instructors to the general headquarters for a meeting to receive their respective tasks, and then went back to assign tasks. Each instructor went back to hold a meeting Mobilization rally before the war.
The Huotou Army immediately began to prepare war meals for the soldiers, requiring all to be dry rice, and taking out meat to replenish the soldiers' energy.
According to the military regulations of the Ming army, all three meals a day before a battle must include meat, and more oil and water can be added so that the soldiers can build up their strength and have oil and water in their bellies, so that the war can last longer.
The entire army immediately entered the highest level of combat readiness, and was not allowed to slack off for a moment, and was ready to attack Lin'an, the capital of Song Dynasty.
Just when Zhao Min was furious because he could not give in to the four major demands of the Ming Dynasty, the actions of the Ming army put huge pressure on the people in Lin'an City.
The officers and soldiers climbed up the city wall and watched the active combat preparations of the Ming army outside the city. When they saw more and more terrifying war equipment being pushed down under the city in preparation for the attack, they all felt strong fear.
This fear stimulated the hearts of everyone in the city, and soon spread to the court and Zhao Xun himself.
"Will the Ming Dynasty really attack Lin'an?"
Zhao Min asked Shi Hao with doubts and reluctance on his face.
Shi Hao nodded silently.
He didn't doubt it.
But Zhao Min still didn't want to believe it, just like a drowning man clutching at the last straw, desperately believing that the straw could really bear his weight, let him survive, and let him breathe.
So he decided to wait. He decided to give it a final try and play heartbeat with the Ming army outside the city who was preparing to attack the city. He felt that his courage could reverse the situation and make the Ming army rational.
He was like a gambler with only the last chip left. He said with red eyes that he wanted to play the last hand without thinking about everything. He blocked everything on the last hand and was irrational.
He would not believe that the straw could not and could not save him in the first place.
He was indeed brave, but most of the civil and military officials in the small court of the Southern Song Dynasty could no longer bear it.
