Here comes the key question.
Shen Qian remained expressionless and nodded, saying, "That's right. General Li Hu is brave and was 'invited' to Xijing by our army's Commander Lin Feng. He is currently being well-fed and treated without any mistreatment."
"The Grand Commander said that General Li Hu is the bravest in the army and should be used to resist foreign aggression, rather than wasted on internal strife."
"If the cooperation is successful and the atmosphere is harmonious, it is not impossible to return General Li Hu."
His deliberate linking of Li Hu's return to a "cooperative atmosphere" rather than using it directly as a bargaining chip was far more shrewd.
Li Yuan understood the underlying meaning and knew that getting Li Hu back easily would not be a simple matter.
He then changed the subject: "Now that the Northern Barbarians are advancing south, I wonder what specific plans Grand Commander Zhao has for jointly resisting them? Surely we can't just stop at a non-aggression pact?"
Shen Qian said solemnly, "If the imperial court is willing, cooperation can naturally go further."
"For example, the two sides can establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism to exchange information in a timely manner regarding the deployment and movements of the Northern Barbarian troops."
“Our Hedong region is located on the flank of the Northern Di. If we can send troops to harass their supply lines or tie down some of their forces, it will also relieve the pressure on your front lines.”
“Even providing some military support when necessary is not out of the question. Of course, all of this must be based on mutual trust.”
This is already a very sincere proposal.
Li Yuan quickly weighed the options in his mind. If it could really be realized, it would undoubtedly be a timely help to the court, which was currently in dire straits.
But he also knew that Zhao Muyun was by no means a philanthropist, and that such help would inevitably come with political demands or be a prelude to the future distribution of benefits.
"Mr. Shen's words do make sense. However..."
Li Yuan leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, "There is considerable dissent in the court regarding this matter. In particular, some ministers who are on good terms with Prime Minister Yang Yan are strongly opposed to any contact with your side, believing that this is like raising a tiger to cause trouble."
He began to probe He Dongfang's attitude toward Yang Yan and the extent to which he might intervene in the internal power struggles of the court.
Shen Qian sneered inwardly, knowing that Li Yuan was using this as bait.
His expression remained calm as he said indifferently, "Prime Minister Yang Yan? Oh, I heard he has already escaped from Xijing and returned to the capital."
"A defeated army, instead of reflecting on its own mistakes, obstructs cooperation that benefits the country and its people; its intentions are despicable."
"As for the dissent in the court, that's a matter for Mr. Yuan's master to worry about. I, Hedong, only deal with people who are decisive and can represent the court."
"If anyone disregards the overall situation for their own selfish reasons, then it's better not to mention cooperation."
Although his tone was calm, it carried a strong sense of confidence and an unquestionable bottom line.
It was made clear that Hedong only recognizes Li Jingang's decisions and will not get entangled with the opposition, including Yang Yan.
"The Grand Commander also said, if you want to fight, we'll fight to the bitter end; if you want to talk, then sit down and have a proper talk!"
What!
That's quite an overbearing tone, but Zhao Muyun seems to have the power to back it up now.
Li Yuan gave Shen Qian a deep look. From the other party's attitude, he sensed the strength and clear goals of Zhao Muyun Group.
During this meeting, the two sides exchanged preliminary views and gained an understanding of each other's bottom lines and intentions, but there is still a long way to go before a real agreement is reached.
In particular, the issues surrounding Li Hu, and the specific conditions for deeper cooperation, require higher-level authorization and more in-depth negotiations.
However, the Tartar cavalry will not wait for anyone, and the Fengchao side must make a decision as soon as possible.
Mr. Shen is a man of few words and quick thinking.
Li Yuan raised his teacup. "Today's conversation has been very fruitful. I will report your intentions to the head of the family in detail. I believe we will have another opportunity to talk soon."
"Waiting for good news."
Shen Qian also raised his glass in a gesture of respect.
The first encounter at Fenglingdu ended in an atmosphere that seemed peaceful but was actually fraught with hidden tension.
Both sides obtained the information they wanted and understood that the real game had only just begun.
......
At the same time that Li Yuan and Shen Qian were secretly meeting at Fenglingdu, Yang Yan in the capital was in a state of extreme anxiety and unease.
Although he was under house arrest, he was still able to learn about the outside world through various channels thanks to his influence.
Although he couldn't know the secret decisions made by Li Jingang and Feng Liang regarding the debate in the court about whether to contact Zhao Muyun, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
In particular, Li Yuan's sudden departure from the capital for recuperation aroused his suspicions.
"We cannot let Zhao Muyun's evil scheme succeed."
Yang Yan paced anxiously in the study, whispering to his few remaining confidants, "His Majesty must have listened to Feng Liang's slander and is considering making peace with Zhao Muyun!"
“Once the peace talks are successful and Zhao Muyun gains a firm foothold, he and Yinji will be the greatest enemies of the Great Feng.”
"Chao'er will also find himself isolated and helpless in Jiannan Road!"
However, he was well aware of his situation.
Having lost battle and territory, his prestige was ruined, and he had no voice in the court.
Its only value now is perhaps as a banner for the "pro-war faction" to fight against the "pro-peace faction".
Once he loses even this value, his fate is predictable.
"Prime Minister, our power in the court is not what it used to be. Direct opposition will probably have little effect and will only arouse His Majesty's greater suspicion."
"I said with concern," one of the staff members said.
"If direct opposition doesn't work, then we'll take a roundabout approach!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Yang Yan's eyes. "We can't just focus on the peace talks themselves. We need to create trouble for them and prevent the peace talks from succeeding!"
He quickly issued the order:
"Immediately send people to spread the word among the students of the Imperial Academy that someone in the court is a coward who wants to make peace with the traitor Zhao Muyun, which is an act of national humiliation!"
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