In just a few dozen breaths, Meng Shi committed suicide so simply and neatly.
He didn't say any heroic words like "keep your loyalty to reflect history", nor did he curse Ning Yongnian before he died.
Even when his body fell, it was just a "pop" like an ordinary person...
In the end, all that was left was that sentence——
Unexpectedly, I, Meng, have been fighting for a lifetime, and in the end, I will die because of it.
"..."
Blood slowly seeped into the cracks in the ground, and the hall fell into a long silence.
The moment Meng Shi fell, Li Wutong suddenly closed his eyes as if he was frightened, and his body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Li Qize still didn't even look at Meng Shi.
On the matter of "sacrifice for comfort", both the father and daughter chose to remain silent.
But the reasons for silence are different.
Li Wutong had to compromise in order to protect Dafeng.
As for Li Qi...
In fact, Li Qi's ideas are different from Li Wutong's.
He never believed that Ning Yongnian would give up Dafeng...even though the latter was now sitting on the negotiating table.
In other words, the two remaining conditions must have content that far exceeds Dafeng's bottom line.
"..."
"Master Min, since General Meng has committed suicide out of fear of crime, we temporarily believe that you will deal with the remaining criminals impartially."
On the other side, after glancing at Meng Shi's body, Sima Cong said calmly: "However, the third-level generals in your army must immediately remove their armor and surrender."
"I wonder if adults agree?"
From handing people over to Daning for trial to being judged by Da Feng himself.
Although Sima Cong kept saying that these people still had to "disown their armor and submit to the law," everyone knew that they would definitely not be able to "submit the law."
In other words, Mengshi's death was indeed not in vain.
"I see......"
Min Zhongguang fell back on the chair weakly, his eyes dull.
"What about border defense?"
Sima Cong smiled and asked again: "I wonder if your Excellency still has any objections?"
"No......"
"Okay, since that's the case, let's leave the third paragraph of the covenant like this for now."
Nodding, Sima Cong waved his hand to drag Meng Shi's body out of the hall, and then glanced at the eunuch next to him.
The latter immediately walked out of the palace door with understanding, presumably to convey the latest progress of the negotiations to the etiquette officer.
It is estimated that in a few dozen breaths, the crowd outside will know about Meng Shi's suicide.
The people of Dafeng will undoubtedly find it very difficult to accept this.
They may scold the imperial court for its weakness and incompetence, and may lament Meng Shi's death.
But no matter what, the negotiations will continue.
Now, three of the five conditions have been agreed upon.
As for the last two...
...
"Is marriage..."
The stars are sparse and the shadows of the river are turning, and the frost is heavy and the moon is solitary.
The new moon appears, reflecting the vastness of the Gobi desert.
Negotiations had been going on all day from dawn to early night.
Although the snow is still falling in Huailing City, it is cloudless and the stars and moon are bright in the Western Desert Gobi.
Beside the bonfire, Wei Changtian looked up at the distant crescent moon above his head and asked softly:
"Li Wutong and Ning Wenjun?"
"yes."
Zhang San looked at Wei Changtian carefully and said truthfully: "It is Princess Wuping and the eldest prince."
"..."
"So, she agreed?"
"this......"
After taking a gentle breath, Zhang San's expression became more complicated.
He quietly looked at Yang Liushi and saw the latter nodded slightly, then lowered his head and silently replied:
"yes."
"Princess Wuping agreed."
"..."
The fire was bright, and the burning branches smelled slightly burnt.
Wei Changtian sighed lightly, his face expressionless and he didn't know what he was thinking.
I don’t know how long this silence lasted, until Yang Liushi came over and sat next to him and asked softly:
"Sir...are you okay?"
"fine."
Wei Changtian turned his head and smiled: "It's just expected."
"Um......"
Yang Liushi nodded lightly, moved her body, and sat closer to Wei Changtian.
Although the latter does seem "good" now, it is impossible not to have a trace of confusion in his heart.
Even if he really gave up on Li Wutong.
"Sir, four conditions have been agreed upon."
After a moment of silence, Yang Liushi changed the topic softly: "Now it seems that the two sides may really be able to negotiate."
"yes."
Looking at the blazing bonfire in front of him, Wei Changtian nodded noncommittally.
As Yang Liushi said, so far, Dafeng has accepted the first four conditions of Ning Yongnian.
1. Make Daning the main country and cede the land of the four prefectures.
2. Indemnity of 40,000 taels, and tribute to Daning every year.
3. The border is not fortified, and warriors of the upper third level are not allowed to hold military positions.
4. Li Wutong married Ning Wenjun, and the two countries made peace.
To be fair, although these four conditions are very unequal, they are actually not excessive.
Except for Meng Shi's death, the rest of the contents were within Wei Changtian's previous expectations...even more conservative than he expected.
So, does Ning Yongnian have such low requirements?
After spending a long time and trying all the tricks, we finally won this national war, but in the end it was just like this?
Could it be that he was trapped by the domestic situation in Daning and gave in?
impossible.
Ning Yongnian is not this kind of person.
There was no way he could just spit out the fat that reached his mouth.
So......
"Zhang San."
Suddenly, Wei Changtian raised his head and asked Zhang San: "The last condition hasn't been negotiated yet?"
"Sir, no."
Zhang San immediately replied: "I haven't received the news yet, it should be that we are still talking about it."
"How long have they been talking?"
"It's been almost two hours since afternoon."
"Two hours..."
Frowning, Wei Changtian felt a bad premonition in his heart.
The previous four conditions were basically negotiated very quickly, and they were agreed upon in half an hour at most.
But the fifth condition was discussed for two hours with no result.
That can only mean that this condition has greatly exceeded Dafeng's bottom line.
However, territorial, sovereignty, military, and economic issues have all been discussed...
What else can't Dafeng give in to?
The more Wei Changtian thought about it, the more confused he became, including Yang Liushi, who was also thinking about the same problem.
Then at a certain moment, the latter suddenly raised his head and asked Zhang San.
"Zhang San, among the four mansions ceded to Daning by Da Feng, is there Huailing Mansion?"
"Miss Liu Shi, no."
"..."
For a moment, Yang Liushi's eyes suddenly widened, and after a moment of hesitation, she whispered something in Wei Changtian's ear.
After hearing these words, the latter's body suddenly trembled.
"Zhang San!"
Wei Changtian stood up suddenly and immediately walked towards the carriage parked not far away.
"Hurry all night! Go to Huailing City as quickly as possible!"
"In addition, notify my father and Han Zhao immediately! Let them make all preparations!"
"..."
Seeing Wei Changtian who suddenly became extremely impatient, Zhang San hurriedly ran to untie the reins of several horses, but his expression was a little confused.
He didn't know what Yang Liushi said to Wei Changtian that made the latter react like this.
Little did he know that Wei Changtian himself was the same. Before Yang Liushi reminded him, he never thought that Ning Yongnian might do this.
Including Li Qi, Li Wutong, Min Zhongguang two hours ago...
When they heard Sima Cong tell Daning's last condition, they thought Ning Yongnian was crazy.
Because the latter actually wanted to use the lives of more than a million people in Huailing City to bury the two million people who died in Yuanzhou City.
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