While Li Jingang was secretly making contact with Zhao Muyun, Yang Yan, who was under house arrest in the mansion, was also not quiet.
He used the old department road to secretly send messages outward, contacting officials in the court who still sympathized with him or had interests related to him, exaggerating Zhao Muyun's threat and opposing any form of peace talks.
He even secretly sent someone to Jiannan Road to contact his nephew Yang Chao, urging him to intensify preparations for war, strengthen the army, and await changes in the situation.
An invisible contest revolving around "peace" and "war" is unfolding fiercely, both openly and covertly, within and outside the imperial court of the capital.
Li Yuan received the secret decree and dared not delay in the slightest.
He disguised himself as the leader of a caravan heading to Hedong for trade, carefully selected more than ten highly skilled and absolutely loyal guards, and quietly left the capital.
To avoid suspicion, they even detoured through Hanoi, then crossed the Mengjin River northward, making a roundabout way to the agreed-upon Fenglingdu.
Fenglingdu, an ancient ferry crossing on the great river, connects Xijing with Hedong and the Central Plains. It has always been a strategic location fought over by military strategists and a gathering place for people from all walks of life.
Now, Longmen Pass is occupied by the Hedong Army, and Shanzhou is controlled by the Feng Army. The Fenglingdu area has become a buffer zone where the two forces intersect and test each other.
It's a melting pot of all sorts of people, well-informed, yet fraught with danger.
Li Yuan chose this location to meet with Zhao Muyun's representative precisely because of its complexity and relative "neutrality."
He arrived several days in advance, booked a secluded riverside inn called "Wangheju" that was easy to guard, and sent his men to secretly control several key observation points upstream and downstream of the ferry crossing.
Almost at the same time that Li Yuan arrived, Xijing also received the news.
Zhao Muyun attached great importance to this, as it was not only an opportunity to test Li Jingang's true attitude, but also a stage to demonstrate the magnanimity and strength of Hedong.
"Shen Qian, you must attend this meeting in person."
Zhao Muyun made a decision inside the headquarters: "You are familiar with the situation in the capital, and it is more appropriate for you to deal with Li Yuan. Fan Bingbing's identity is special and should not be exposed."
"Understood, Your subordinate." Shen Qian bowed and accepted the order.
“Remember a few points,” Zhao Muyun instructed. “First, maintain a respectful but not arrogant attitude. We are not begging for peace, but proposing cooperation based on common interests.”
"Second, the bottom line must be clear. A temporary truce is acceptable, with the current control line as the boundary, but Li Jingang must publicly promise to cease all military operations against the east bank of the Yellow River."
"Third, Li Hu is an important bargaining chip for us, and we cannot easily let him go unless we get enough benefits in return, or Li Jingang shows genuine sincerity in cooperating, such as providing substantial intelligence or material support in the fight against the Northern Barbarians."
"Fourth, to test their attitude toward Yang Yan... to see how much influence this defeated general still has in the capital."
"In short, to sum it up: if you want to talk, we'll sit down and talk; if you want to fight, we'll fight to the bitter end!"
"Your subordinate will keep this in mind."
Shen Qian memorized Zhao Muyun's instructions one by one.
"Besides your skilled night watchmen, we'll pick a few elite scouts from Tang Yanhai's scout battalion to go with you."
"Safety first. If you suspect anything is amiss, evacuate immediately without hesitation," Zhao Muyun solemnly instructed at the end.
"Thank you, Grand Commander!"
......
Two days later, Shen Qian, accompanied by fifty elite guards, disguised as a merchant caravan, arrived at Fenglingdu.
Instead of going directly to "Wangheju", he chose a well-defended warehouse on the other side of the ferry to settle down and sent people to secretly observe the movements of "Wangheju" to confirm that there were no signs of a large-scale ambush.
That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few, and the river roared.
The two parties exchanged information through an intermediary and agreed to meet the following day at noon in a private room on the second floor of "Wangheju" overlooking the river.
The next day at noon, the sun was blazing, and the river breeze carried moisture.
The atmosphere inside and outside Wangheju was solemn.
Li Yuan's guards appeared to be loosely distributed around the inn, but in reality, they had blocked all the key passages.
Shen Qian brought only two elite scouts into the inn, while the rest of his men waited at the warehouse, ready to provide support at any time.
Inside the private room, the leaders from both sides finally met.
Li Yuannian was about forty years old. He had a refined and scholarly appearance, but having been in a high position for a long time, he naturally exuded an air of authority between his brows.
He was dressed in brocade robes, looking like a wealthy merchant, but his true nature was hard to conceal.
He was originally a clerk in Xiazhou City. When Li Jingang rebelled and lacked literati, he recruited him without explanation.
At first, they were filled with fear and apprehension, but unexpectedly, Li Jingang actually entered the capital and became the emperor.
And he and his entire family rose to prominence, becoming princes.
Although they had little real power, they held a prestigious position.
Shen Qian was dressed in a blue robe, with an ordinary face, but his eyes were unusually calm, as if he could see through people's hearts.
"I am Shen Qian from Hedong. I have come here on the orders of Grand Commander Zhao to meet with your esteemed envoy."
Shen Qian took the initiative to cup his hands in greeting, his tone calm.
"My surname is Yuan. I am a merchant and have been entrusted by a friend in the capital to come and understand your sincerity in seeking cooperation."
Li Yuan also returned the greeting with a bow, using an alias, leaving no room for error.
After the two sat down and exchanged brief pleasantries, they got straight to the point, their words filled with probing and witty remarks.
"Mr. Shen, your Grand Commander proposed 'cooperation against the Di,' but what exactly does he mean by that?"
"And how can you convince my master that this isn't just a stopgap measure for you to stabilize the western front so you can focus your full efforts on advancing eastward or southward?" Li Yuan asked first, his gaze sharp.
Shen Qian smiled slightly and said calmly, "Mr. Yuan is wise. The Northern Barbarians are ferocious and leave nothing but desolation in their wake; this is a common knowledge throughout the world."
"The conflict between Hedong and you is, in the end, an internal affair of our own country, while the Northern Barbarians are foreign invaders who want to destroy our race and our culture!"
"The Grand Commander knows perfectly well which is more important. If it is a matter of expediency, then we in Hedong can simply sit back and watch the Northern Barbarians fight you, and then make our move when both sides are exhausted. Wouldn't that be more in our best interest?"
Why proactively propose cooperation and give others a handle against you?
He paused, then continued, "The primary purpose of cooperation is to end hostilities. Both sides will maintain the status quo along the existing lines of actual control, namely the Longmen Pass and Shanzhou line, and the Luzhou and Zezhou line, and refrain from invading each other."
“In this way, you can concentrate your forces to defend against the northern barbarians, and we will also send troops out of Yunzhou to resist another large army of the Tartars, and also harass their rear, causing their backyard to catch fire.”
Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "It is certainly good to cease hostilities. However, words alone are not enough. How can we guarantee that you will not break your promise?"
"The Grand Commander may issue a document to proclaim to the world that he agrees with you that he will never launch an attack before the Northern Barbarians withdraw their troops."
Shen Qian was prepared. "Of course, the premise is that the imperial court must also make the same commitment and withdraw the troops deployed on the border with obvious offensive intentions."
"In addition, to show our sincerity, we can release some of your officers and soldiers who were captured in the battles of Longmen Pass and Xijing."
Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly. Releasing the prisoners was indeed a gesture of sincerity.
But he remained expressionless and instead asked, "I heard that General Li Hu is currently a guest of your esteemed home?"
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