Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 204 Xifeng's Peace Negotiations! (4k)

The first month of the first year of the Xifeng era.

Huizhou, the central military tent.

Armored soldiers raised their spears.

Each person stood solemnly every three steps.

In the main seat, Jiang Zhao had honey water in his mouth, his face was calm, and his eyes were peaceful and without any emotion.

Below the seat of self-reliant individuals, seats are divided into left and right.

On the left, the civil and military officials, led by Zhang Heng, Gu Tingye, Zhong E, and Bao Shun, all had solemn expressions and did not smile.

On the right, the Western Xia officials, led by Liang Yili, Weiming Manyu, and Xue Zongdao, had solemn expressions and were on high alert.

Besides them, there were dozens of officials from the Great Zhou and Western Xia who were not qualified to be seated, standing solemnly with their eyes fixed straight ahead.

After drinking the cup of honey water, gently set the bamboo cup down.

Jiang Zhao looked down and focused his gaze on a familiar face.

"Prime Minister Weiming, how have you been lately?" Jiang Zhao greeted him with a faint smile.

The king was killed in battle, throwing the Western Xia into chaos.

After about ten days, Li Liangzuo's seven-year-old only son, Li Bingchang, ascended the throne, and Empress Dowager Liang ruled from behind the curtain.

Liang Yili, one of the people in charge of the peace negotiations, was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Liang.

Given the political habits of the Western Xia, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Weiming Manyu's position as prime minister will be stripped sooner or later.

The one who took his place was Liang Yili.

In that case, how could Weiming Manyu possibly be good?
Sure enough, Wei Mingman's face suddenly darkened.

He was Li Liangzuo's cousin and also the prime minister.

When the king personally leads an expedition, the prime minister is naturally in charge of governance and maintaining the operation of the court.

Who would have thought that the king would be killed in battle?

When the young emperor ascended the throne and the empress dowager began ruling from behind the curtain, the situation of the old officials suddenly became dire.

Even the peace negotiations were not initiated by him, but by Liang Yili, the emperor's brother-in-law.

"Ha ha!"

Jiang Zhao shook his head and chuckled softly.

In the past, when the late emperor passed away, Wei Mingman went south to offer condolences, repeatedly referring to the "superior country" and "annual gifts," adopting a humble posture, yet not without a hint of coercion.

Looking at them now, they're nothing more than cheap imitations!

"Let's get down to business."

With his smile vanishing, Jiang Zhao looked toward the Western Xia side and slowly said, "The envoy seeks peace, but what he asks for is nothing more than the corpse of his king, prisoners, and a non-aggression pact, isn't it?"

The process of seeking peace on the frontier is not complicated.

Generally speaking, this means the losing side acknowledging defeat and humbly seeking peace.

Under the leadership of the victor, the victor presents the terms for peace talks, the loser bargains, and an agreement is reached eventually.

Essentially, it's just like bargaining among street vendors.

Liang Yili, Wei Mingmanyu, and Xue Zongdao exchanged glances.

After about three breaths, the emperor's brother-in-law, Liang Yili, tentatively asked, "And the issue of ceding Huizhou and Suizhou."

"Ok?"

Jiang Zhao glanced at it indifferently and said nonchalantly, "Is the envoy joking?"

The issue of ceding Huizhou and Suizhou was, to put it bluntly, that Western Xia still wanted to fight for the ownership of the two prefectures.

How could that be allowed?

Expanding territory on the frontier is a rare opportunity that requires careful consideration of timing, location, and human factors.

This time, if Li Liangzuo had not been unfortunately killed in battle and the Western Xia army had not been defeated and fled, he would not have been able to expand his territory a second time.

At the very least, if Li Liangzuo had not been killed in battle, the difficulty of expanding territory would have been much greater.

How could we possibly return the territory we so painstakingly expanded, the land we gained at the cost of the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers?
Not everyone is like Sima Guang!
Liang Yili sighed and made no comment.

He was just asking tentatively.

At that time, if anyone in the court asks about the issue of territorial cession, he will be able to answer.

"Minister Jiang, please state your terms," ​​Liang Yili said in a deep voice.

The more than 10,000 prisoners, the body of the king, and the non-aggression pact were all things that had to be redeemed.

Seeking peace proactively inevitably comes at an unimaginable cost.

However, even so, they had no choice but to seek peace.

The king was killed in battle, and the young king ascended the throne. The people of the Great Xia were filled with fear, and the civil and military officials were anxious and uneasy.

The desire for peace has reached its peak among everyone, from top to bottom.

Seeking peace is imperative!
"First, Western Xia must become a vassal state. Any ruler of Western Xia must be granted a title by the Emperor of the Great Zhou in order to be considered legitimate," Jiang Zhao said slowly.

This is an agreement that existed before.

The Qingli Peace Treaty, in which Western Xia became a vassal state, was based on a similar treaty.

It may not be important, but in Confucian societies, this is the thing that matters most.

It still needs to be emphasized.

Liang Yili nodded: "Okay."

"Second, Huizhou and Suizhou will henceforth be part of the Great Zhou territory. Therefore, the border troops should be allowed to build fortresses on the outskirts of Huizhou and Suizhou," Jiang Zhao continued.

After a few moments of contemplation, Liang Yi replied, "Okay."

Once the fortress was repaired, it became clear that retaking Huizhou and Suizhou would be extremely difficult.

Even so, we had no choice but to agree.

Who made the Great Xia the loser?

"Third, establish border markets to facilitate trade between the two countries and allow the Western Xia to trade tea, porcelain, silk and medicinal herbs in the form of camels, salt, ironware, grain and medicinal herbs."

This is an unequal trade in goods.

The designated traded goods, including salt, ironware, and grain, are typical strategic materials.

In comparison, tea, porcelain, and silk were far less important.

Is there any trade inequality? Are there any merchants trading?

The answer is yes!
Without exception, all the nobles of the Western Xia Dynasty were extremely fond of tea, porcelain, and silk.

Tea, in particular, was almost an integral part of daily life in the Western Xia Dynasty and was indispensable.

The beef, mutton, milk, and cheese in the diet of the Western Xia people were all greasy and difficult to digest, while tea could help to cut through the greasiness.

The key point is that the Western Xia people consumed a large amount of tea on a daily basis, but the Western Xia territory could hardly produce any tea, so they had to buy it from other countries.

This is why the "annual bestowal" specifically stipulated that tea should be bestowed.

Therefore, even if everyone knows that tea is not as important as salt, ironware, or grain, there will certainly be no shortage of merchants trading with it.

Ultimately, not everyone cares about the survival of the nation; those who want to enjoy tea should continue enjoying their tea.

The courtesan, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, is truly a reflection of human nature.

"can."

Liang Yili frowned, and after about ten breaths, nodded in agreement.

As a defeated nation, it was destined to sign some unequal treaties.

Jiang Zhao added, "In addition, the Western Xia is famous for its fine horses, and the Tangut horses are renowned throughout the world. The Western Xia must sell a thousand high-quality warhorses to the Great Zhou every year."

"This is impossible!"

Liang Yili was startled and subconsciously rejected the idea.

It should be noted that the Great Xia only produces three to four thousand high-quality warhorses annually.

Forced trade of a thousand high-quality warhorses—a quarter of them gone in one go! That's too ruthless!

Horses have always been a weakness of southern regimes.

Thanks to their superior horses, the Western Xia were able to repeatedly invade the surrounding borders.

During the Jiayou era, Dongzhan signed an alliance and began trading warhorses with the Great Zhou, which to some extent made up for this weakness.

If Great Xia also starts trading, this weakness will become smaller and smaller.

If this continues for too long, it may even cease to exist.

"Anything is possible," Jiang Zhao said with a faint smile.

"I'm afraid that won't work."

After hesitating for a few moments, Liang Yili still chose to refuse.

Warhorses are truly top-tier strategic resources.

It is no exaggeration to say that this matter concerns the fate of the nation. If the warhorses were truly given to them, the Great Xia Dynasty would likely never have a chance to recover.

Jiang Zhao noticed Liang Yili's concerns and looked down intently, saying meaningfully, "With the strength of Western Xia, can they really turn the tide of battle with just a thousand more warhorses?"

"Huh?" Liang Yili was taken aback.

The two looked at each other, and Jiang Zhao glanced sideways, looking towards the direction of the Liao Kingdom.

Warhorses are not for fighting the Western Xia!

With just a glance, Liang Yili's firm stance softened considerably.

Rough words are not rough.

Given the strength of the Great Xia, it had always struggled to survive between the Great Zhou and the Liao Kingdom.

The so-called three major regimes did not actually form a tripartite balance of power. Instead, the Great Xia was used as a buffer to allow the two behemoths to reach a peace.

The Liao Kingdom had excellent warhorses, so it was reasonable for the Great Zhou to purchase them to deal with the Liao Kingdom.

Jiang Zhao withdrew his gaze and slowly said, "In the past, the two countries had an annual gift. Now, the annual gift has been replaced by an annual tribute."

"Fourth, the Western Xia presented the Great Zhou with an annual tribute of 300,000 strings of cash."

"impossible!"

Liang Yili slammed his hand on the table, his face turning red instantly.

Instantly, tensions rose within the tent.

The sounds of war brought Liang Yili to his senses.

He quickly explained, "The Great Zhou is a superior nation, and its annual tribute of several hundred thousand strings of cash is barely enough to cause any serious damage. But the Great Xia is a small country; how can it afford an annual tribute of three hundred thousand strings of cash?"

"I hope the commander-in-chief will understand." Perhaps considering the somber atmosphere, Liang Yili's tone unconsciously lowered.

Jiang Zhao, sitting in the main seat, slightly raised his eyelids and echoed, "That makes sense."

"How about this."

With a flick of his sleeve, Jiang Zhao said generously, "Cut it down to two hundred thousand strings of cash."

"One of the conditions for establishing the border market was the purchase of one thousand high-quality warhorses from the Western Xia."

"Currently, the market price of warhorses in the Great Zhou Dynasty is around thirty strings of cash. I will calculate it as forty strings of cash per horse, and one thousand horses would be forty thousand strings of cash. The salt lakes of the Western Xia Dynasty are rich in salt, and the market price is two strings of cash per stone. I will calculate it as three strings of cash per stone, and more than fifty thousand stones would be one hundred and sixty thousand strings of cash."

Jiang Zhao's expression was serious as he solemnly said, "Based on this calculation, an annual tribute of a thousand high-quality warhorses and over fifty thousand shi of salt would suffice. What do you think?"

"This"

Liang Yili hesitated.

In comparison, 100,000 strings of cash is indeed much more acceptable.

Jiang Zhao even helped him calculate the costs.

A thousand warhorses and over fifty thousand stones of salt.

The dosage was perfectly controlled, exactly within his tolerance range.

He was already mentally prepared for the presence of a thousand warhorses.

More than 50,000 shi of salt was not a big problem.

The Great Xia produces about 500,000 shi of salt a year, with 50,000 to 60,000 shi being less than a fraction of that.

During the reign of the late Emperor Li Yuanhao, the Zhou and Xia dynasties negotiated peace and once engaged in "forced buying and selling," forcing the Great Zhou to purchase 100,000 shi of salt every year.

From this perspective, the salt production of the Great Xia Dynasty was truly astonishing; more than 50,000 shi of salt was not a difficult task at all.

The difference is that these 50,000 shi of salt were purely "indemnity," whereas during the reign of the late emperor, they could be sold for money.

After a full twenty or thirty breaths of silence, Liang Yili sighed, "Alright, we can trade in Huizhou from now on."

This one is not an issue.

"it is good!"

Jiang Zhao clapped his hands and laughed: "The Imperial Brother-in-law is indeed a straightforward person."

"May I ask about the body of the king and the prisoners?" Liang Yili asked hurriedly.

The body of the monarch is a matter of national prestige, and should never be left in the Great Zhou unless absolutely necessary.

"Someone is coming."

Jiang Zhao waved his hand, and soldiers carried Li Liangzuo's body.

Despite being specially treated and dried out, the body is still easily distinguishable from the real thing.

"His Majesty."

The body was immediately revealed, and the Prime Minister Weiming Manyu wept uncontrollably.

The 21-year-old king defeated even Mozang Epang, who had ruled for over a decade.

Logically speaking, this was destined to be a powerful ruler.

Who would have thought that his first personal campaign would end in disaster?

Fate is unfair!
"The prisoners will be released in Xining Ancient City. They will be released once a day, one thousand at a time," Jiang Zhao continued.

"As the commander-in-chief says," Liang Yili nodded.

Releasing prisoners certainly cannot be done all at once.

Distributing 1,000 a day is already very fast.

"Someone, prepare a banquet." Jiang Zhao laughed heartily.

The peace talks between Xifeng and Fengtian were thus concluded!
Bianjing (Kaifeng) was a place where court was held regularly.

Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows.

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying sat with his hands on his knees, looking directly at the officials.

Their gaze exudes an indescribable confidence and self-assurance.

Following the suspension of court proceedings at the end of October, court discussions have resumed!
Below, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial held a memorial and slowly read aloud:

[Your subject Jiang Zhao respectfully reports:]

In the first month of the first year of the Xifeng reign (1751), your subject received a peace request from Liang Yili and Weiming Manyu, envoys of the Western Xia, at Huizhou. They requested the return of their ruler's body, the release of prisoners, and the establishment of a border treaty. Your subject, upholding the majesty and virtue of the Holy Dynasty, hereby solemnly establishes the following terms:

The first is: to rectify names and define roles.

The Western Xia should submit to the emperor and present a memorial. The successor should wait for the imperial decree to be conferred upon him, and he should forever uphold the tributary system.

The second is: to demarcate and defend the territory.

The two prefectures of Hui and Sui shall forever belong to the Holy Dynasty, and may fortifications and garrisons be built along the border to prevent any rebellion.

Thirdly: Customs regulations for border markets.

They opened a border market.

Fourthly: Annual gifts change.

The old bestowals were abolished and replaced with a new tribute called "annual tribute." The annual tribute consisted of 1,000 horses and over 50,000 shi of salt, which was equivalent to 200,000 guan (a unit of currency), and this tribute was never lacking.

Li Liangzuo's body was immediately returned, and a thousand captured soldiers were sent daily to Xining City for handover.

Your Majesty, please consider this carefully!

All five clauses were signed by the envoys, and Liang Yili and others, intimidated by the emperor's power, agreed to them all. Ceding territory to build fortresses would secure Qin and Long; annual supplies of warhorses would replenish the army's vacancies; salt profits would be used to supplement the national treasury; and submission of tribute would demonstrate the legitimacy of the dynasty.

Your humble servant Jiang Zhao, filled with trepidation, respectfully submits this report!

After he finished speaking, the civil and military officials began to discuss the matter animatedly.

Annual gifts and tributes were gifts from the Great Zhou to other countries.

Who would have thought that a "tribute system" could be established, allowing them to receive tribute from other countries?
"Good, good, good!"

On the steps of the imperial palace, Zhao Ceying clapped his hands repeatedly and said "Good!" three times, then laughed heartily.

Throughout history, anyone who aspires to become a great emperor must have had to pay tribute to several small states.

Ten years ago, the Great Zhou Dynasty was still giving gifts to the Western Xia every year, but now the roles have reversed, with annual gifts replaced by annual tributes.

Only Jiang Qing could possess such abilities!
"Jiang Qing is truly a pillar of the nation!"

Zhao Ceying said with delight, "When the meritorious officials who have expanded the territory return, I will hold a grand celebration for the whole country!"

Among the officials, none objected.

The achievement of expanding territory should indeed be celebrated and rewarded, so as not to hurt people's feelings.

During this expansion of territory, the emperor gave Jiang Zichuan his full support, and he contributed significantly to the cause.

Congratulations!

A grand prize!

It deserves to be written about in great detail!

The outcome was almost predictable.

However, the commander-in-chief, Jiang Zhao, was the Duke of Lu, Minister of War with the title of Minister of Rites, and Grand Master of the Palace.

Each of these positions alone would be a high-ranking official in purple robes, let alone all four combined.
Isn't this already a step up to Grand Secretary?
How else can we appreciate it?
(End of this chapter)