Chapter 160: Debate in the Imperial Court

Fortunately, Xu Qianxue's physical condition was clearly far better than Duke Zhao's, and although his expression was angry and he was stunned, he ultimately did not spit blood and collapse.

But Chen Tingjing beside him could not help asking Jia Jing:

"Marquis Jingwu, is the proposal for peace truly infeasible?"

"In recent years Northern Yuan and Hun Xie have continuously demanded trade with our Da Han; if we agree to trade with them, couldn't we get them to withdraw their troops?"

Chen Tingjing's mention of trading for peace was not a baseless claim; the Great Han Court had indeed acted that way a few years ago.

Trade, in fact, means commerce with the steppe tribes.

Generally it is divided into two forms: officially led and privately spontaneous.

The official market, or state‑run market, is organized by the Great Han Court, usually on fixed dates, such as once or several times a year.

It is held at designated border forts, such as Datong Victory Fort, Xuanfu, Shanxi, Yansui, Ningxia, Gansu and other locations.

Transactions are primarily barter; the Da Han officials trade silk, cloth, tea, salt, iron pots and other Central Plains goods for the Mongol steppe tribes' horses, cattle, sheep, furs and other livestock products.

The official market is large in scale, with product varieties strictly controlled, and forms the main body of the trade.

The private market, or folk market, occurs after the official market ends, or at non‑official times, allowing Han‑Mongol border residents and merchants to trade freely.

The folk market offers a richer variety of goods—needles and thread, grains, cotton and other daily necessities—with flexible trading methods; it is an important supplement to the official market and greatly promotes civilian economic exchange.

However, the Han Dynasty's relations with the steppe are alternately warlike and peaceful, so trade requires strict management and restrictions on locations and times.

Trade sites are all situated near military fortresses along the Great Wall, surrounded by high walls and gates, garrisoned by Han Army troops to maintain order and security.

Trading times are strictly stipulated by the authorities.

Among them, goods also require strict regulation:

The Da Han imposes a strict ban on trading strategic materials—ironware, bronzeware, weapons, saltpeter, sulfur, etc. —to prevent the Mongols from using them to forge arms.

Trade of iron pots is especially strict; later a "old‑for‑new" system was even implemented, with limited supply, to curb the steppe tribes' metal‑working capacity.

Consequently, a credential system was even invented:

In the northwest and other regions, the Da Han issues "imperial edicts", a kind of trade license, to control commerce.

Only tribal leaders or their representatives who hold an edict are qualified to enter the market, tightly binding trade to the tribute system.

The opening of trade caused border commerce to surge by dozens of times, and merchants from Shanxi rose as a result.

It gave rise to important trade routes such as the West Gate Ancient Road, continuously transporting Central Plains goods to the Mongolian plateau.

In the first few decades after the Da Han's founding, trade with the northwestern steppe remained very frequent.

Mainly because Emperor Taizu, Emperor Chengzu and others subdued the steppe's Northern Yuan Court and other states, which then were willing to submit to the Da Han, pay tribute, and promise not to raid southward.

Emperor Chengzu, considering the need to focus on confronting False Qing in Liaodong, also agreed to trade with them.

But at that time trade was a charitable concession from the Celestial Empire to the barbarian frontier, a means of handling border affairs, with the Da Han holding the initiative.

According to Emperor Chengzu and his circle, trade is permissible, but the Northern Yuan and other states must pay tribute, submit, obey, and be docile; if they disobey, we will strike them at any time.

Later, as the Han Dynasty's power waned, the Northern Yuan and others brazenly tore up the alliance, repeatedly sending troops to raid border regions, and the Great Han Court consequently banned trade with the steppe tribes.

But at this point, using trade as a condition to make Northern Yuan and Hun Xie withdraw their forces would be a beggar's plea, plunging the Great Han Court into an extremely passive situation.

Even setting aside whether Northern Yuan and Hun Xie would agree to withdraw, if they pull back temporarily and later launch another incursion, what can we do?

Jia Jing shook his head gravely and said:

"This proposal is absolutely untenable. I wonder whether Elder Chen has seen the northwestern report from the Ministry of War?"

"Northern Yuan and Hun Xie have convened at Wolf Mountain, issuing a proclamation that enumerates their grievances against our Da Han over the years."

"Including the humiliation of the Golden Family, the Great Khan's close relatives once slain by Emperor Chengzu, and the Da Han border commanders' killings of their Mongol soldiers and civilians over the years, crossing borders to burn and seize pastures, and so on."

"Although the accounts are a mix of truth and falsehood, many are fabricated, this still shows that making them withdraw cannot rely solely on a single trade agreement."

"They mobilize troops for months; if they retreat easily, they cannot explain it to their own subjects."

"Not to mention False Qing has been stoking the two nations from behind; False Qing would never watch us Da Han achieve a successful peace with Northern Yuan and Hun Xie with open eyes."

"They will inevitably sabotage it, and even if a difficult peace is reached, the terms will surely be beyond what we can accept."

"Moreover, the Northern Yuan Court has suffered consecutive calamities, with over half its livestock dead or wounded."

"Hun Xie has just unified most of the Western Regions; its pastures are insufficient, urgently needing new grazing lands and slaves."

"This is the fundamental reason for their southern expedition; unless their internal problems are solved, even if they withdraw now, they will tear up the treaty and return next year."

"Then what conditions will our Da Han have to use to again press for their surrender?"

"Therefore, speaking of peace is merely our one‑sided wishful thinking."

"Besides causing us to miss the optimal moment to mobilize and eroding the border troops' resolute will to resist, it serves no other positive purpose."

Chen Tingjing, after hearing Jia Jing's words, let out a long sigh, seeming to realize his assumptions, and retreated with a gloomy expression.

But at this moment Xu Qianxue recovered his composure, a trace of embarrassed anger on his face, and said angrily:

"Jia Jing, this is nothing but your speculation! It's just an excuse for you to claim merit by leading troops!"

"Although you achieved a modest victory against False Qing in Liaodong with the aid of Heaven's Luck last time, with our Da Han's current national strength and forces we simply cannot contend with the three‑nation coalition of Northern Yuan, Hun Xie, and False Qing."

"They are all cavalry, swift as wind, proficient with bow and horse; if our Da Han falls into this war quagmire, we will be dragged down and die, which is a loss outweighing any gain!"

It appears Xu Qianxue has also done his homework; instead of speaking directly about peace, he argues that this war offers no chance of victory for the Da Han and would rather be dragged down.

His meaning is, of the two evils, choose the lesser.

Rather than fighting a losing battle or being dragged to death on the northwestern battlefield, it is better to negotiate peace and accept certain conditions.

At the same time, he does not forget to subtly blame Jia Jing, saying his last victory was merely luck.