Xijing, the Grand Governor's Office.
Zhao Muyun carefully reviewed the draft agreement sent back by Shen Qian, her gaze sharp.
The core of the draft includes:
Both sides immediately cease fire and use the existing line of actual control as the boundary;
Li Jingang only acknowledges all the powers of Zhao Muyun's Grand Commandery within its existing controlled area and authorizes it to fight against the Northern Barbarians with all its might.
However, the existence of Emperor Yin Zhao and the Prince of Xiao Jin's residence was not mentioned at all.
Li Jingang strictly ordered Yang Chao of Jiannan Circuit to refrain from any provocative behavior; both sides established an intelligence-sharing mechanism to jointly deal with the Northern Barbarians; the matter of Li Hu was temporarily suspended and would be discussed again after the situation against the Barbarians stabilized.
"Although it is not entirely satisfactory, this is the general trend, and we can only do this."
Zhao Muyun put down the draft and said to Fan Nan and the others, "Our Great Yin Dynasty doesn't need Li Jingang's recognition, and these things are irrelevant now. The most urgent task is to stabilize Hedong. My mentor!"
"Yes!" Fan Nan bowed slightly.
"Please represent me and go to Fenglingdu immediately to formally sign this agreement with Li Jingang's representative."
"Remember, we need to maintain a proper posture. Right now, we're helping them stabilize their flank! But we also need to give them some dignity. After all, we still need their efforts on the main battlefield against the Di," Zhao Muyun instructed.
"Understood," Fan Nan replied calmly.
......
Luoyang, the Imperial Palace.
Li Jingang looked at the draft presented by Feng Liang, his expression shifting, before finally letting out a long sigh:
"Draft the decree... affix the seal. Feng Liang, you personally go to Fenglingdu, on behalf of me, to sign this agreement with Zhao Muyun's representative. You must... you must make this happen, to ensure that Hedong can hold out on the northern front!"
"I obey the decree!"
Feng Liang felt a mix of emotions, but mostly he felt relieved.
This may be the only viable way out in the current desperate situation.
A few days later, at Fenglingdu, "Wangheju".
The atmosphere was completely different from the previous secret meetings.
The inn was heavily guarded, with elite guards from both sides standing at attention.
Although they still eyed each other warily, the tense killing intent had faded, replaced by a solemn and united atmosphere.
Inside the main private room on the second floor, an incense table had already been set up.
Fan Nan, the chief secretary of the Grand General's Office of the Great Yin Dynasty, and Feng Liang, the right prime minister of the Great Feng Dynasty, finally sat down face to face.
Although the two represent different factions, they share the same goal at this moment.
Without much small talk, both parties confirmed the final agreement text.
The wording of the text was carefully considered, taking into account both the dignity of the Great Feng Dynasty and the actual power of the Hedong Grand General's Office and its responsibility to jointly resist the Di people.
"Prime Minister Feng, please."
Fan Nan dipped the brush in ink and handed it over.
Feng Liang took a deep breath, took the pen, solemnly signed his name on the agreement, and affixed the temporary full authority seal bestowed by the Emperor of Dafeng.
Subsequently, Fan Nan also signed and affixed his seal on behalf of Zhao Muyun.
The moment the two documents were exchanged and each party put them away marked the moment when the two sides, who were originally at odds, temporarily formed an alliance under the powerful external threat.
“To show our sincerity,” Fan Nan spoke first, “our Grand Commandery has ordered the immediate release of the third batch of two hundred prisoners of war captured during the Battle of Xijing. They can return to Luoyang with Prime Minister Feng.”
Feng Liang nodded: "We will also immediately order the opening of the Longmen Pass and Shanzhou passage. The first batch of 30,000 shi of military rations has already been transported from the capital and will soon be able to travel north through Shanzhou."
"As for Jiannan Circuit... His Majesty has already issued a stern decree reprimanding Yang Chao, stating that if he dares to act recklessly again, it will be considered treason!"
The news of the signing of the agreement was not deliberately concealed. Instead, both parties jointly dispatched fast horses to spread the news in all directions as quickly as possible along the official roads and through post stations.
Soon, the news that "the Great Feng and the Hedong Grand General's Office joined hands to resist the Northern Di" spread like wildfire throughout both sides of the Yellow River and even further afield.
This news was like a shot in the arm, giving the people and soldiers who were under great threat from the Northern Di army a glimmer of hope.
At the same time, it was like a boulder thrown into an already turbulent situation, stirring up even more ripples.
The two major powers in the Central Plains, Xijing and Jingcheng, began to painstakingly adjust their directions around the common goal of "resisting the Di".
Despite deep-seated suspicion and distrust between them, the beacon fires of the Northern Di forced them to temporarily unite against a common enemy.
The alliance at Fenglingdu was finally reached under the pressure of blood and fire.
However, the ink was barely dry on the agreement, and the iron hooves of the Northern Barbarians were still thundering across Hebei and the Yan-Yun region. The real test had only just begun.
Whether this fragile alliance can withstand the test of war remains to be seen.
But at least on the Central Plains, the banner of resistance against foreign aggression was once again raised with concerted efforts.
......
A few days later!
The capital city, the Ziwei Palace.
At the court assembly, Li Jingang overruled the objections of the majority and formally issued an edict:
"Ren Niu Desheng will be the Right Route Marshal, and Ma Zongliang will be the Left Route Marshal, each leading 50,000 elite troops!"
"Immediately proceed to Hebei and engage in a decisive battle with Wuzhu's main force along the Xiangzhou and Weizhou line to relieve the siege of Li Biao and Li Bao's troops!"
"We must stop the enemy north of the Yellow River, defend our capital, and demonstrate our national power!"
As soon as the imperial edict was issued, camps stretched as far as the eye could see outside Luoyang, with banners obscuring the sun.
Niu Desheng was as fiery as fire. Upon receiving the appointment, he immediately mustered his troops and led the way to break camp and advance north.
Ma Zongliang, on the other hand, was more cautious. He reorganized his troops while sending out a large number of scouts to carefully investigate the movements of the Northern Barbarians.
The fact that 100,000 troops were once again mobilized demonstrates Li Jingang's determination to win this battle.
at the same time.
Xijing, the Grand Governor's Office.
Han Zhong and Lin Feng had already arrived by fast horse. Prince Yinji of Jin and Zhou Hong were still escorting Yinzhao in Linzhou and would arrive soon.
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