Chapter 614: Tripartite Negotiations (Minor Revision)
Because of Song Mo's hesitation, the Dali government's crackdown on illegal salt sales continued.
Faced with uncooperative citizens and with no progress in their actions, the local government officials were exhausted and their tempers were growing increasingly irritable.
Wang Dong, who goes by the alias Dongfeng, was comforting a big brother from the government office whom he had just met.
"Brother Li, I believe in your judgment. After all, you have been working in the government office for more than ten years. You have seen all kinds of monsters, right?" Dongfeng complimented him while urging him to drink.
"That is. But it's no use. There's no evidence."
"Brother Li, this is simple. Since you suspect they bought contraband salt, then find their salt and then pour a basin of water into it, and everything will disappear."
"That family ran out of salt, so they had to buy new ones. You take your brothers and keep an eye on them, and follow the clues. Isn't it possible to catch the culprit?"
"Yes, I can definitely do that! Brother Dongfeng, you have a really good brain."
"No, no, I was just saying it casually. I don't know if it will work, but I'm glad it didn't interfere with your business, Brother Li. Come on, let's have a drink!"
Li Putou understood the plan, drank the last glass of wine, said goodbye to Wang Dong, and left happily.
Wang Dong waited until he was far away, put the change in his hand on the table, and then slowly left.
Not long after, news came that yamen runners bullied the common people and wasted the salt in their homes, but the people dared not speak out.
At night, someone poured night incense on the gate of the county government office.
Li Putou and his brothers were put in sacks and beaten when they were alone at night.
Wang Dong thought to himself, recently, he and his brothers have been active in the Jizhou area. Now it's time to move on to the next place.
He was a man as erratic as the wind. Wherever he went, there was blood and rain.
…
When many local governments were tracking down the remains of salt merchants, they caused public resentment and anger due to violent law enforcement. In some places where the people were tough, the common people formed groups and threw night incense on the government offices at night.
There were even cases where ordinary people who had committed crimes killed government officials because they used too much force.
When the news came together, Xie Zhan frowned. He knew that the emperor had to make a decision!
Song Mo finally agreed to peace talks with Pingzhou.
As soon as the Dali court delivered the message, Pingzhou readily agreed to peace talks.
"Who are you from Pingzhou who are here to discuss this matter? The governor?" People from the Honglu Temple of the Dali court negotiated with people from Pingzhou.
Pingzhou refused. "What are you thinking? How could our governor come in person to discuss such a small matter?"
Xie Zhan ordered, "Send a message to Pingzhou, saying that the emperor hopes Governor Lu can come in person for this negotiation."
Having not seen Lu Songli for many years, he wanted to meet her in person and estimate her current strength.
Pingzhou, Changli
This request from the Dali court immediately made the civil servants in Pingzhou furious.
"The Dali court hopes the governor will attend this negotiation?"
At this time, Pingzhou has the upper hand. It is outrageous that Dali still puts forward conditions.
"Governor, don't agree to it. Who knows what evil they are up to?"
It's no wonder they think that. After all, Dali has a criminal record. His body isn't even cold yet.
"Yeah, do they have to decide what to say? Why?!"
Amidst the clamor, Guo Chong said slowly, "The Dali court has requested that our governor attend the negotiation meeting. Does that mean that Emperor Song Mo will also be present?"
"Yes, if Emperor Song Mo of the Dali court doesn't attend, why do they ask our governor to attend?"
"That's right, they don't think that Xie Zhan, just a general of the Dali army, can be on par with our governor, right?"
Lu Songli finally said, "Then let's ask the Dali court about the specifications they have prepared for this peace meeting. If Dali is sincere enough, it's not impossible for this governor to attend the peace meeting as they wish."
Lu Songli did not object to attending the peace talks. She thought that the plan to seize Zhuozhou had already begun, and they should lay the groundwork for the next stage of planning.
Now Xie Zhan handed her a ladder, and she could take this opportunity to climb up.
Now all her subordinates are working hard to elevate her status, so she naturally cannot disappoint them and lower her status.
Everyone understood that the governor's intention was also everyone's intention.
…
In the evening, Lu Songli returned to Qin's house.
As soon as they returned to their room after dinner, Qin Sheng couldn't wait to ask her, "Lili, are you going to attend the negotiation meeting between Pingzhou and the Dali court?"
Lu Songli said, "Not necessarily. It depends on the reaction from Dali." But she estimated that Song Mo would most likely not agree.
He really wanted to say, can I not go?
Qin Sheng paced back and forth, back and forth. What should he do? How should he ask without appearing petty?
"Last time in the East China Sea, Xie Zhan looked much older than me. After he returned to Chang'an, I heard he had a lot of troubles and must have been very worried. Maybe he'll be even older when we see him next time."
"Really?" Lu Songli smiled.
"That's for sure." Qin Sheng had an expression of certainty and affirmation on his face.
"If I attend the meeting, can you come with me?" Although the possibility was slim, she was willing to coax him.
Hearing this, Qin Sheng's eyes lit up, "Okay, let's work together to piss off Xie Zhan to death. But Lili, I'm currently stationed in Jizhou."
"Have you sorted out the issues in Jizhou?"
Qin Sheng nodded vigorously, "Yes, it has been sorted out."
"Then let Big Brother take his troops and replace you."
"Hurrah."
…
"How dare you! How dare Pingzhou ask me to attend this peace meeting?" Song Mo was furious.
They made such a request because they thought Lu Songli could be on equal footing with him as an emperor, right?
Xie Zhan's face was also very solemn. Pingzhou dared to make such a request. Wasn't it because they thought he was not qualified and not worthy of Lu Songli's status?
Pingzhou's reply letter was a slap in the face to both of them.
"That's what Pingzhou requires."
"I won't go! How can the traitors of Pingzhou be qualified to be on equal footing with me?" Song Mo turned away.
"Grand Commander, what should we do now?"
"You guys can do whatever you want!" Xie Zhan also waved his sleeves and left.
The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was in tears, his life was so difficult.
The officials from Xie Zhan's camp couldn't stand it any longer and suggested, "The peace talks will continue. No demands will be made on the participants. Talk to the Pingzhou side this way."
"I understand."
…
The reply from the Dali court let the Pingzhou officials know that Emperor Song Mo was unwilling to attend the peace talks. Then they understood instantly that there was no need to trouble their governor for this meeting!
Everything just needs to follow the procedure. Lu Songli specifically appointed Guo Chong to be in charge of the peace talks.
Among the several counselors, Guo Chong is a compound talent who is proficient in general affairs, military strategy and internal affairs; Dong Jichuan is unruly; and Xue Xu is more willing to deal with internal affairs.
The place for peace talks was set in Juyang, which is the border between Shanggu County of Pingzhou and Zhuozhou.
No one else would object to Lu Songli's decision, but would act according to her will.
"Governor, ask Military Advisor Guo Duoan to bring some troops over." What if the negotiations go wrong and things turn sour?
"Yes, we must deploy heavy troops in Juyang!"
"Not only that, but also..."
Xianbei Royal Court
The news that Pingzhou agreed to negotiate with Dali on the issue of affordable salt reached the Xianbei, who immediately sent envoys to Pingzhou, expressing that they liked Pingzhou's affordable salt very much and that if Dali was not satisfied, they would help beat Dali into submission.
Pingzhou dumped salt into Dali, and the Xianbei took the opportunity to buy a lot of cheap salt.
They recruited Han lackeys, disguised themselves as Dali salt dealers, and contacted the salt merchants in Pingzhou, obtaining salt at an extremely low price of 110 coins per catty! They made a fortune!
Although they knew that the cheap salt sold by Pingzhou to Dali came from the salt lake in Longcheng, they could only watch Longcheng drooling.
After all, when Pingzhou was first separated and at its weakest, they couldn't take Longhu. It would be even more difficult to take Longhu now.
Pingzhou rejected Xianbei's request for a substitute.
Seeing that Pingzhou still insisted on negotiations, the Xianbei said that they also wanted to participate!
Anyway, what they want is long-term stable and affordable salt! They don't want to trade high-priced salt with Dali anymore!
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