"As we have said before, it is impossible for the Emperor to agree to the conditions proposed by Liu Thief, especially the latter one. The Ming Dynasty has never ceded its territory to other emperors." Wei Zhongxian said with a gloomy face.
Gu Bingqian said helplessly: "If both conditions are not agreed to, Liu Thief's side will have no choice but to continue sending troops to encircle and suppress Liu Thief, but the Ministry of Revenue can no longer spare any extra money and food to use to encircle and suppress Liu Thief."
After speaking, he looked at Wei Zhongxian.
"How about you send someone to Datong again to persuade Liu Tie to give up the second condition. If you just keep Liu Tie in Xuanda, our family can persuade the emperor." Wei Zhongxian said hesitantly.
Gu Bingqian sighed and said: "That's all we can do. I'll find a way to send someone else, but this time the person who goes to see Liu Thief must be able to make the decision. I'm afraid it won't be possible for him to be an ordinary official."
"Do you have any suitable candidates?" Wei Zhongxian asked.
Gu Bingqian thought for a while and said: "It is better to let the governor of Taiyuan come forward, but the Holy Minister needs Wei to speak."
"Okay, let's talk to the emperor about our attack, but you have to tell the governor of Taiyuan that Liu Thief can agree to the first condition, but he must not agree to the second condition, otherwise there will be no negotiation for recruitment." Wei Zhongxian looked at Gu Bingqian and said.
Gu Bingqian nodded.
Regarding the two conditions put forward by Liu Heng, he also felt that the first one could be barely agreed, and the second one was not negotiable at all. Once he agreed to such harsh conditions, he might not be able to keep his position as the chief minister of the cabinet.
There are many people in the court who are eyeing the position of chief minister of the cabinet. Han Xu and Zhu Guozhen were taken down by him because of Liu Thief's affairs. Others can also use the same method to take advantage of him.
After the two people discussed it, Gu Bingqian took the initiative to leave.
Many people know that Wei Zhongxian bought a house outside the palace. As the chief minister of the cabinet, he had his own political demands. He did not want people to think that he was Wei Zhongxian's lackey and obeyed Wei Zhongxian's orders in everything.
If it weren't for the fact that Xuanda Liu's affair was related to his position as chief minister of the cabinet, he would not have been willing to enter Wei Zhongxian's house outside the palace. Usually when something happened, he would send his subordinates to see Wei Zhongxian instead of him. Show up in person.
From the capital to Taiyuan, the imperial courier passed the news through the post station. It did not take too long. The cabinet's suggestions appeared on the desk of Pan Xiguang, the governor of Taiyuan.
"Go and find Councilor Liao from the Chief Envoy's Department." Pan Xiguang sent his subordinates to summon Liao Wenguang.
The governor's Yamen and the chief envoy Si Yamen are both in Taiyuan Mansion.
Not long after, Liao Wenguang was taken to the governor's Yamen.
"I have seen Futai." Liao Wenguang bowed to Governor Pan Xiguang who was sitting on the Taishi chair.
Pan Xiguangxu raised his right hand, pointed to the empty seat next to him, and said to him: "Sit down!"
"Thank you Futai." Liao Wenguang thanked him, walked to the seat next to him, and sat down carefully, only daring to sit halfway down his buttocks.
Pan Xiguang picked up the tureen on the table, put it to his mouth, blew the hot air inside, took a sip, and then said, "If I ask you to go to Datong Town again, do you dare to go there again?"
"If Futai needs to go to the official position, I will go to the official position." Liao Wenguang agreed without thinking.
If it were another rebel bandit's lair, he would naturally have to consider whether to go there again. However, having been to Datong Town, he understood that Liu Thief was different from those previous rebel bandits. He was not cruel, and Datong was not a chaotic mess. There is no danger in Datong. The only unpleasant part is that you often have to eat those mediocre potatoes.
Pan Xiguang stroked his beard and was very satisfied with Liao Wenguang's attitude.
"Futai, do you want to go to Datong Town again?" Liao Wenguang asked tentatively.
Pan Xiguang nodded slightly and said: "I hope you can go to Datong Town again and ask Thief Liu from Datong Town to come to Yanmen Pass to discuss recruitment matters."
"Has the imperial court agreed to Liu Thief's conditions?" Liao Wenguang's eyes widened.
He knew very clearly how harsh the two conditions he brought back from Datong Town were. He never expected that the court would agree to such harsh conditions.
Pan Xiguang shook his head slightly and said: "As for whether to agree to their conditions, we still need to discuss it. The court cannot allow them to randomly impose any harsh conditions, and they must agree to them all."
In front of Liao Wenguang, he neither said that the court agreed to the conditions for the Tiger Flag, nor that he disagreed.
However, Liao Wenguang understood in his heart.
Since the imperial court wanted to negotiate, it would agree to at least one of the two conditions. In other words, the imperial court acquiesced to Liu Heng and the rebel army staying in Datong. The only condition that could be negotiated was whether to send officials to announce this.
Thinking that when Liu Heng introduced Zhao Yutu to him, he called him the Chief Envoy of Datong, which shows that the rebels have already set up officials in Xuanda to govern the place.
Moreover, these officials who rebelled against the bandits had already been appointed to guard the local areas. At least the places they passed through were well governed, which was much better than the prefectures and counties in Taiyuan.
Therefore, he felt that Liu Heng would not agree to the imperial court sending officials to Xuanda to take office.
"I've left this matter to you, can you do it well?" Pan Xiguang looked at Liao Wenguang and said.
Liao Wenguang came back to his senses and asked: "Is the imperial court really planning to recruit Thief Liu?"
"Don't worry, this time I personally come to discuss with Liu Thief. I am not trying to find Liu Thief at Yanmen Pass and attack him." Pan Xiguang knew what he suspected, so he explained to him.
Liao Wenguang stood up from his seat, saluted Pan Xiguang, and said: "For the sake of the imperial court, I am willing to go."
"Haha, okay." Pan Xiguang held his beard and said with a smile, "In that case, you go back to clean up and hit the road early. I will personally wait for your good news at Yanmen Pass."
"Yes." Liao Wenguang agreed.
After receiving the errand, Liao Wenguang left the governor's office.
Instead of returning to the Chief Envoy, he returned directly to his home and asked his maid to prepare a change of clothes. He also asked his attendant to withdraw some money from his account and bring it with him.
This time he planned to take Chang Sui with him to Datong Town.
The last time I went back to Datong Town, I was surrounded by some fighting men who didn't know how to serve others. Many things were inconvenient. If I had a long-term follower to follow me, I wouldn't need to eat potatoes for so many days.
Although potatoes can also fill his stomach, he really can't adapt to the taste of potatoes.
"Master, everything is packed. When are we leaving?" Chang Sui came to the study to look for Liao Wenguang.
Liao Wenguang sat behind the desk, leaning on the back of the chair, eyes slightly closed, and said with his mouth: "Go and watch outside to see when the people from Fubiao Camp will arrive?"
"Yes." Changsui retreated.
The Fubiao Camp is the military force directly commanded by the governor. The last time he went to Datong Town, he also followed the governor's order and was escorted all the way by the soldiers from the Fubiao Camp.
This time when I went to Datong Town, the escorts were also selected from Fubiao Camp.
