Chapter 413: Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Ying Yuan hasn't decided yet whether to fight or make peace.
However, after Huo Guang received the news, he had other thoughts.
"Your Majesty, instead of letting me go to the capital, you told me to do what I should do well."
"So what is the right thing to do?"
Huo Guang guessed that it must be about peace talks, but did this require special instructions?
Could it be that Your Majesty has other intentions and wants me to demonstrate the strength of our Great Qin in the peace talks?
If that's the case...
Huo Guang's eyes suddenly became much firmer.
He had full confidence and knew clearly how the peace talks should proceed.
Before he arrived at the territory of Yan State.
Someone informed Li Shimin that Qin had sent envoys to seek peace.
After hearing this, the latter couldn't help but laugh and said, "The Qin State is obviously afraid of me and my Great Yan!"
"The more afraid they are, the more I will fight them!"
"Send a message to Li Jing, tell him to speed up his march and capture the Jin border within half a month!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone went to convey the emperor's oral instructions.
At the same time, Fang Xuanling said worriedly, "Your Majesty, the Qin State has come to seek peace. We should negotiate with them."
"If we fight without talking, I'm afraid our reputation among the people will be bad."
Reputation?
Li Shimin sneered, "Do you think I have a good reputation among the people of other nations?"
"In a world of great strife, only strength prevails. Reputation or not is unimportant to me."
These words made Fang Xuanling stunned, and he immediately felt that he had expressed his meaning incorrectly.
Yes, Li Er must have a bad reputation among the people of the world.
It’s just that...between countries, sometimes there is more than just war.
"Your Majesty, I suggest that we should negotiate with Qin while fighting at the same time."
Fang Xuanling had no choice but to settle for the second best.
Li Shimin asked, "Why do you have to talk to Prime Minister Qin?"
Fang Xuanling bowed and said, "Give Qin hope. Only in this way will Qin not rush to use military force."
"This will buy General Li Jing more time to capture more land."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Okay, since we want to talk, then you will represent Dayan and do it."
"Remember, if Qin doesn't voluntarily give up half of Jin's territory and pay at least 60 million taels of silver, I will not withdraw my troops!"
This is his bottom line, which is like asking for too much.
Fang Xuanling didn't say anything else.
Because even he thought that Qin chose to seek peace because it was afraid of Yan.
The place for negotiations between the two countries was set in "Huaicheng", not far from the border of Jin and Tu.
This place is considered a border town of Yan State.
The fourth year of Taichu, late December.
The Qin envoys headed by Huo Guang and the Yan negotiating representatives headed by Fang Xuanling formally met in Huaicheng.
At the same time, Li Jing also led a large army, braving the heavy snow, and stationed troops outside the northern gate of Jintu Town.
Once upon a time, Li Mu died in this city.
At this moment, the one guarding Zhenbei Pass was the fierce general Dian Wei.
Although he was not as good as Huo Qubing, Yue Fei and others in leading troops in battle.
However, it is more than enough to guard a small city.
Moreover, the weather was on his side. Heavy snow for several consecutive days made the surface of the city wall extremely smooth.
It can't even hold up the ladder to the city.
It was for this reason that Li Jing did not rush to attack.
Li Shimin was also a cavalry emperor and was well-versed in military books. He certainly knew that Li Jing was in trouble.
It would be impossible to capture Zhenbei Pass within half a month, so he asked Li Jing to wait for the right time to act.
now.
Inside Huaicheng.
The officials led by Huo Guang and Fang Xuanling were conducting their first friendly talks.
Um...
Both sides demonstrated the magnanimity that a great power should have.
If he hadn't exercised restraint, someone would have died by now.
However, Huo Guang and Fang Xuanling did not participate in this meeting.
They didn't show up until the dinner.
What was surprising was that during their first meeting, the two did not confront each other. Instead, they chatted with each other like good friends who had not seen each other for many years.
Huo Guang picked up a glass of wine, took the initiative to walk towards Fang Xuanling, and said with a smile:
"Dayan has two counselors, known in the world as Fang Mou and Du Duan. It is a great honor to meet Fang Mou today."
Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling also picked up his wine glass and bowed slightly, saying, "General Huo, you are too kind. I have also heard of your great name for a long time."
Then, the two smiled at each other and drank the wine in their glasses.
After a pause, Fang Xuanling asked curiously:
"General Huo, what do you think the peace talks between our two countries can achieve?"
Huo Guang pondered for a moment, then said bluntly:
"The outcome of the talks is not important. What is important is that you and I are both making efforts and contributions to the peace between our two countries."
Fang Xuanling nodded and said sincerely:
"General Huo is absolutely right. For the sake of peace between our two countries, why don't we have another drink together?"
Soon, the two of them drank several glasses of wine in succession.
Then Fang Xuanling got to the point, "What His Majesty the Emperor of Great Yan means is..."
"If you, the Qin State, are willing to cede half of Jin's territory, and at the same time give me, Great Yan, 60 million taels of silver."
"My Yan State will naturally not lead troops to attack your Qin State."
Huo Guang shook his head and smiled as he heard this: "From what Mr. Fang said, it seems your country has no sincerity in peace talks."
Fang Xuanling asked in return: "From what General Huo said, it seems that he is not willing to accept our country's bottom line."
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