Chapter 168 Negotiations Fail

As for Sugao demanding weapons and ships, that's even more impossible.

Giving weapons to the enemy is like stabbing yourself in the back.

Before Mu Xi could even refuse, Shi Meng, the naval commander of Zhennan who had just escorted the ship, couldn't help but shout at the bow of another ship: "Bullshit, pirates, you're dreaming! Where did you get these ships? They're worthless compared to that filthy thing."

Since Bai Su surrendered, Mu Xi has only met the other seven people who swore a blood oath.

Others had no recollection of him, but when they saw Shi Meng, they were truly startled.

Mu Xi had never seen such an unusually robust person before. He was at least two meters tall and walked like a small mountain.

While others might speak with a booming voice, his voice had to be like a tidal wave.

Although he is over fifty years old, he is as strong as an ox, and his pair of watermelon-sized purple-gold hammers are enough to make him one of ten men in battle.

How did such a talented person end up working under Dai Rong in the Southern Border?

Su Xiong's eyes flashed as he glared at Shi Meng, but he seemed wary of Shi Meng's brute strength. He snorted coldly and ignored him, refocusing his gaze on Mu Xi. He grinned, revealing an even more lewd smile: "If you won't even give us weapons and ships, then we can exchange them for people. Send over five hundred... no... eight hundred young, fertile women, and I can release them immediately."

Mu Xi had been informed of these requirements made by Su Xiong beforehand.

Pirates have long occupied the islands.

Island resources are abundant but unsuitable for cultivation. Moreover, since they can be easily seized, why bother cultivating them?

Therefore, among the looted goods, grain must be the most prominent.

Besides food, the pirates also lacked the ability to build ships and weapons, so they relied on plunder and the accumulation of their ancestors' wealth.

Finally, there are women.

The island environment is harsh, and survival depends on the instinct of natural selection. It is not easy for women to survive, and even if they survive, it is not easy for them to give birth, and even if they do give birth, it is not easy for them to raise their children to adulthood. In short, procreation is of paramount importance.

Mu Xi was already mentally prepared, but upon hearing this, her eyes still couldn't help but flash with icy rage: "That's even more impossible. These pirates and bandits are truly ignorant of morality. Do you regard me, a woman from Yan Sheng, as beasts like yourselves?"

"If this won't work and that won't work, what's the point of talking?" Guan Xiong's face hardened, revealing a fierce glint. "Coming to talk today is already giving face to you, Prince Jin Fang. If you don't intend to redeem Zhu Mingjun, that's fine too. I'll throw him into the sea to feed the fish in no time."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Mingjun realized her fear and hugged Guan Lan, saying, "Oh dear, say something, try to persuade the 'Young Master.' Everything can be discussed. He's asking for too much; isn't he just making things difficult for people? We're already in contact with each other, why make things so complicated?"

Su Lan, naturally adept at reading people, glanced at Su Xiong's expression and dared not speak. Instead, she turned to Mu Xi and Mu Xun: "Your Highness is truly boring. Negotiations should always be two-way; Your Highness should at least offer a price... Besides... look at this young man, with his ethereal beauty and otherworldly grace. Such a person is truly... How about Your Highness exchange a brother for him..."

"Ouch..." Before she could finish speaking, Mu Xi threw away a copper talisman hanging on her body.

Originally, in Yansheng, men wore jade and women wore gold, but Mu Xi was a complete landlubber, had never been on a boat, and knew nothing about swimming. So Bai Su sent her a bronze talisman specially obtained from a shaman to suppress the sea.

Su Lan wasn't hit, and turned back with her intoxicated smile: "Why should the young master be angry? One should enjoy life to the fullest when things are going well..."

On the other side, Shi Meng, unable to contain himself any longer, was already yelling and about to sprint over in his boat: "Bah, you lowly scoundrels, how dare you slight our young master..."

"Young Master, would you be willing to give me your fourteenth brother? I'd be willing to exchange something for him." Mu Xi's words silenced Guan Lan.

Suga saw everything, his face contorted with rage, revealing a ferocious grin: "Prince Jin Fang, let's get down to business. No ships, no food, no women, what are you going to use to negotiate? If you had these things, you could have as many women as you wanted, let alone a mere fourteenth prince. But if you don't have them... then there's nothing to talk about."

Mu Xi forcibly suppressed her boiling anger and murderous intent: "We don't have anything else, but we do have quite a few captured pirates. How about exchanging one hundred for one?"

Bai Su has been leading his troops to wipe out the pirates in the southern border these days, initially killing them without exception.

Later, Mu Xi came up with the idea of ​​exchanging hostages for hostages.

Guan Xiong shook his head: "One hundred people... Although this good-for-nothing's life is worthless in our Wanzhu Mountain sea area, but to exchange one hundred people for him... I'm afraid even the Sea Lord wouldn't agree."

Mu Xi then added, "Two hundred people."

Bai Su captured a total of only a little over two hundred pirates alive; he couldn't possibly give more than that.

These people were locked up in the prison and did nothing but consume food every day, so Mu Xi thought about whether they could exchange hostages.

But Suga still refused: "Those people are useless since they were arrested. What use would they be if we brought them back? In fact, we would have to feed them. It's not as practical as feeding them."

Mu Xi had no choice but to stall: "If you need grain, then I need the young master to grant me some more time. I still need to request it from the court."

Suga was already impatient: "How much longer? We've already dragged this out for so many days. Don't even think about rescuing them any longer. Don't forget, this is the territory of the 'King of Wanzhu Mountain,' and it's not up to you useless fools from Yansheng to decide."

"It's just grain, did you actually convey the message to the King?" Zhu Mingjun couldn't help but interject at this moment. "If you did, the King, out of consideration for our blood ties, would certainly not abandon me."

Upon hearing this, Suga slapped his thigh and said, "That's right. Even if we have to wait for so long, we can't wait in vain. The grain supply must be doubled, 200,000 shi."

Mu Xi cursed Zhu Mingjun inwardly, but on the surface she still had to explain to Guan Xiong: "Yan Sheng is superfluous. This year there is a disaster, and the people do not have enough food. It is not easy to raise funds. If you add your blessing, it will be doubled, and you will have to wait a while longer."

"How long?" Sugao didn't seem to care about the time.

Mu Xi thought for a moment: "It will probably take two or three months."

Requesting grain transfers is impossible, since her military order clearly states "without losing a single soldier."

King Yu never mentioned redeeming Zhu Mingjun at all.

Now that negotiations have broken down, the only option left is to resort to force if soft tactics fail.

At sea, direct confrontation naturally relies on warships and crossbows.

However, the Zhennan fleet that went to sea for negotiations today was still equipped with its current equipment, in order to look impressive and not lose its prestige.

Previously, Mu Xi had consulted Shi Meng about whether the Zhennan naval force could accomplish the task of launching a direct attack and raid at sea, even breaking through the pirates' defenses, capturing their stronghold, and taking down a major pirate.

As for Zhu Mingjun, whether she snatched back the living or the dead, it was still snatching; she had done everything she could to be kind and righteous.