The twelfth day of the first lunar month in the twenty-third year of Zhaohua.
Wen Boyu and Nian Chengfeng had already gone to the Yizheng Hall before dawn.
Many officials have arrived, and the yamen in the palace are lit with red lanterns or candles. Although it is quiet, the officials of various ministries have begun a new day of work.
Too many illnesses!
It's a lot to handle!
There was a drought or flood in a certain place that was reported last year and has yet to be dealt with.
There is also a case of banditry in a certain place.
Of course, there are also matters such as spring plowing, Jinke's autumn period, etc.
In the government hall, in Wen Boiyu's official office, Cheng Jingting, the minister under the provincial sect, Nian Chengfeng, the minister in charge of the provincial affairs department, and Qiyao, the minister in charge of the provincial affairs department, were sitting around Wen Boiyu. It was not that they were discussing. Those memorials were matters of negotiation with the Wu envoys.
Wen Boyu cooked a pot of tea. Cheng Jingting was a little impatient. In addition, he was originally a dignified prince, so he always spoke directly:
"Wu's envoy will arrive in Kyoto in about three days!"
"How many times have I asked you this?"
"There is a prince of Wu State in this mission! Since it is a mission led by the prince, their plans may be very big!"
"I have summoned them both today. You must give me a clear idea of how to negotiate... how to go about it!"
Wen Boyu grinned, "Are you in a hurry?"
"Can this not be urgent?!"
Cheng Jingting's eyes widened, "You left this rubbish thing to me. He should have negotiated with Honglu Temple under the old man... What do you mean by doing this?"
Wen Boyu raised his eyes and said, "You are old, don't worry!"
"So what if it's the Crown Prince of Wu who's here?"
"As for why I left this matter to your subordinates...this is not my decision!"
Cheng Jingting was startled, "Whose decision is it?"
"Who else could it be? The Prince Regent, of course."
"...Why me?"
"He said that you are impatient and it would be best if you go and talk."
Cheng Jingting couldn't understand it.
Since Wu State has sent a mission, it has already received rumors before. Wu State's plot may be the territory of Wuyaguan——
The State of Wu has stationed 80,000 troops in Zhaohua City outside Wuya Pass!
Ningguo is in troubled times!
Although Li Chenan sent the Red Flame Army to Wuyaguan, the Red Flame Army might be able to resist Wu for a while, but war is ultimately about national strength.
However, Ning State’s national power is currently the weakest.
Not to mention that Wu State captured Wuyaguan, if the war fell into Jiaozuo, it would definitely drag Ning State into an abyss!
A single battle could exhaust Ning Guo's national strength.
So if other countries also raise troops to attack Ning at this time... Ning State will simply not be able to resist!
Therefore, in the view of Cheng Jingting or Nian Chengfeng, the best result of the negotiation is to cede Wuyaguan Line to Wu State.
The Red Flame Army retreated a hundred miles to the line of the Yudan River.
Being able to hold most of the territory of Annan Road is considered the best outcome.
This proposal had already been submitted to Wen Boiyu, but he shelved it and seemed not to take it to heart at all.
Negotiations often require several rounds of bargaining before each side takes a step back to reach a final resolution.
This requires an incredible amount of patience.
Then Qi Yao, the most patient former Duke of Qi, should be the best candidate.
But now Wen Boyu actually said that the regent decided to use Cheng Jingting, who had the worst temper, to negotiate with the Wu envoy...
"How can I have that kind of patience?"
"I am very worried that I will kill Wu's envoy if he does not do anything right!"
Cheng Jingting waved his hands repeatedly: "The regent is young and doesn't know much about me. You, Wen Boiyu, are so old, how can you follow the regent and fool around?"
After the water boiled, Wen Boyu took a spoonful of tea and put it into the teapot. Then Shi Shiran sat up straight and said with a smile:
"At first, I didn't understand the Regent's intentions, but after listening to the Regent's proposal for negotiations, I also felt that it would be best for you to negotiate... The Regent said that there was a lot of trouble in Shangshu Province, six departments, Even Honglu Temple doesn’t have the energy to waste time with the Wu Kingdom.”
"You are different. If you go to talk, you can get a result in the shortest time, and you can also let the Wu envoy leave in the shortest time. This is not a bad thing."
Cheng Jingting stroked his long beard and asked, "What does the regent stand for?"
Wen Zhuoyu poured tea and said calmly:
"The Regent's proposition is... no marriage, no indemnity, no cession of territory, and no tribute!"
"..." Cheng Jingting held his beard with his hand and did not move again.
Nian Chengfeng and Qi Yao looked at Wen Boyu in shock.
The meaning of this is of course extremely simple, that is, there is nothing to talk about!
Li Chenan didn't want to talk to Wu Guo at all!
But don’t talk, don’t retreat, don’t give in…
"What will happen if the Wu Kingdom rebels and invades?"
Wen Boyu raised his eyes and said seriously:
"The regent said that if the emperor guards the country, the king will die in the country!"
"The people of Ning are proud and their bones cannot be broken! The territory of Ning country...will not give way to an inch!"
Nian Chengfeng said extremely worriedly: "I'm afraid he really knows how to fight."
Wen Boyu smiled slightly: "The regent said, then beat his mother!"
"He wants to go to Wu Kingdom!"
"I asked him the same thing at the time."
"How did he answer?"
"He said, so what if you die?"
"..."
…
…
Royal palace, harem.
Baihua Palace.
Concubine Li was wearing a plain robe and was not hoeing.
Spring has not yet arrived, but winter snow has covered the earth, and of course her flower fields.
Today, with the rare sunshine in winter, she stood in front of a plum garden.
She is admiring the plum blossoms.
I am alone looking at the red plum blossoms in the garden.
Eunuch Chang stood respectfully behind her.
Eunuch Chang said that Wen Boyu, the chief minister of the current cabinet, wanted to see her.
The reason is that I want to see the aphrodisiac flowers in full bloom!
At this time, the two huge fields of hibiscus flowers had no flowers, not even buds.
What flowers is he looking at?
Of course he wasn't looking at flowers.
So his coming was the result of the letters sent by the remonstrators in the past two days.
"Go and bring Mr. Wen..."
"I'm waiting for him here at the Mei Shang Xuan."
Eunuch Chang bowed and said, "Slave, I obey!"
He retreats.
Concubine Li curled her lips, walked up to the Plum Blossom Pavilion, and made a pot of tea.
Not long after, the warm rain arrived.
He walked into the Plum Appreciation Pavilion, walked up to Concubine Li, bowed and said with great respect:
"My lord, Wen Boiyu, pay your respects to the empress!"
"Please sit down!"
"Thank you, empress."
As soon as Wen Boyu sat down, Concubine Li suddenly asked: "Are the plum blossoms in the plum garden blooming well?"
Wen Boyu was startled, "I'm a little busy. Although the Plum Garden is next door, I haven't gone over to take a look yet."
Concubine Li poured a cup of tea for Wen Zhuiyu, raised her eyes and said with a smile, "Go and have a look."
"Although the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden are fewer than those here in this palace, they match the surrounding architectural landscape better, so they look more layered and give people a more vivid feeling."
"I can roughly guess your purpose of coming."
"In this case, you let the three provinces discuss it. The third prince is not young anymore. Although he is guarding the mausoleum, the imperial mausoleum is not far from the capital after all. This is indeed inappropriate."
"After all, he is the emperor's flesh and blood. Let's make him a prince."
"It's not appropriate for me to live in this harem..."
"This harem is too deserted now, and I don't want to guard this place anymore."
"I will go with the third prince... and leave as soon as spring comes."
"As for the hibiscus you want to see...it will be in full bloom in April, so you can come and see it on your own."
Wen Boyu never expected that Concubine Li would say this so calmly and directly.
Before he had time to be polite, Concubine Li said calmly:
"The Prince Regent must have arrived at Zhouzhuang!"
Sunlight entered the window and fell on Wen Boiyu's face.
There should have been some warmth, but when Wen Boyu heard these words, his whole body felt cold.
He narrowed his eyes.
His hand even fell on a small sword in his sleeve pocket.
However, he suddenly let go of his hand, picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip, stood up, and bowed: "Thank you, sir!"
