Chapter 1340: Targeting Your Qingqiu City

Xuanyuan just shook his head: "No, this is still impossible. Even if we swapped like this, it would basically mean swapping all of our Xuanyuan Tribe's territory to your Huaxia. Our Xuanyuan Tribe would control the land of the Shennong Clan, but we would also be giving up our own territory."

"Look again, the products produced on our Xuanyuan Tribe's land that you in Huaxia need, you can already obtain without going through trade. For you, isn't that too much of a bargain? Our Xuanyuan Tribe would lose too much; we will not do this trade."

"As for this, of course we can continue to talk. If you aren't willing to swap three days' travel for one day's travel, then you can swap three and a half or four days' travel. It's not like there's no room for concession at all, right?"

Xuanyuan felt helpless inside, because whenever he traded with Baifeng, it was this kind of back-and-forth tug-of-war, each sticking to their own version, and then giving a little here and a little there. Only after arguing for half a day like this could the price be settled.

This kind of thing was almost torture for Xuanyuan, but he couldn't avoid talking to him like this, because the price Baifeng could offer, the things he could provide, were unique in the whole world. He had no choice but to engage in this tug-of-war with Baifeng.

"Don't talk about three and a half days; four days won't work either. Think about it, such a large Shennong Clan territory swapped to you—I'm afraid that in the end, I wouldn't even be able to keep Qingqiu City. How could this be possible?"

Baifeng said with complete indifference: "It's just a Qingqiu City. Compared to the boundless and sufficiently flat territory of the Shennong Clan, what does that count for? As long as you spend some time, the land of the Shennong Clan can grow products with value far exceeding that of your Qingqiu City. This trade can be said to be very worthwhile."

Xuanyuan retorted tit-for-tat: "Then if I use territory to swap for your Huaxia City, would you be willing to swap?"

Baifeng spread his hands: "Of course I can. As long as your price is reasonable enough, there is nothing that cannot be traded. Look at the current Huaxia City, possessing so many people, possessing so much wealth, built so well. But even if I were truly willing to swap, who could afford it?"

"Don't talk about one city; even for the entire Shennong Clan territory, what do you want: a Huaxia City or the Shennong Clan territory?"

"I can swap Huaxia City out, it's just that you can't afford the price. So, what could a Qingqiu City count for? I can afford the price too. I think the wealth accumulated at Changyang Mountain over so many years is probably more than Qingqiu City, right? What are you unhappy about?"

Xuanyuan laughed speechlessly: "Baifeng, for you, Huaxia City might be something you can give up at any time, but our Qingqiu City cannot. Our ancestors are all in Qingqiu City; it is impossible to give it up."

"Even if we occupy the Shennong Clan, Qingqiu City will still be the center. Is your Huaxia City really that easy to give up?"

"Of course not. I also want to place Huaxia City in a sufficiently central position, but as you can see now, our Huaxia City is already on the edge of our territory. We have nowhere else to go."

"Trading territory with you now, wouldn't that just allow us to place our Huaxia City a bit more centrally? Further away from your tribe, a bit safer. Our ideas have no problems, so let's continue the negotiation and talk about the trade ratio."

Xuanyuan now revealed an 'I see' expression: "In the end, you are still doing this for the safety of Huaxia City. Then, since it's like this, we can talk."

"You don't seek my Qingqiu City, and I give your Huaxia City more land. How about we talk in this direction, what do you think?"

"Fine, let's talk like that. Tell me your thoughts; what should the ratio be?"

Xuanyuan spoke without ceremony: "Fifteen days' travel of land for one day's travel of land. I don't think there's a problem with that, right?"

Baifeng pretended to be shocked: "Oh my! Xuanyuan, you are cutting this way too ruthlessly. I already offered four days for one, and you directly ask for fifteen days for one. If you talk like this, I'm afraid it won't work."

"Then you tell me, be serious, how many days for how many days exactly?"

Baifeng said very seriously: "Six days. At most six days for one day. I don't know how big the Shennong Clan is, but I think even if we swap like this, it's impossible to swap all your Qingqiu City to me."

Xuanyuan shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, six days won't work. You truly don't understand the vastness of the Shennong Clan. Even if it were six days for one, it is still a bit dangerous for our Xuanyuan Tribe. Moreover, the land of the Shennong Clan is almost all undeveloped land."

"Our Xuanyuan Tribe's land—the closer you get to Qingqiu City, the better it is developed. The roads have already been opened for you, and perhaps even the farmland has been given to you. If you do this, you are taking too much advantage; it is absolutely not okay."

"How about this: twelve days' travel for one day's travel. I would be willing to trade like that."

Baifeng clicked his tongue repeatedly: "No, no, this is all benefits for your Xuanyuan Tribe, but for us in Huaxia, there is no benefit at all. No matter how big the Shennong Clan is, how big can it be?"

"We have already conquered so much territory; how many days' distance of territory could be left?"

"Huaxia might spend several years just to swap for a few days of your land, maybe three or four days' travel. I have no way to answer to my tribesmen for this. Either we reduce the intensity of our support, or we come and talk about this matter again."

Xuanyuan knew Baifeng was threatening him, but he could also feel Baifeng's need for this matter; otherwise, he wouldn't have come specifically to negotiate. So he said very firmly: "On this point, our Xuanyuan Tribe truly cannot satisfy you. In last year's treaty, this clause didn't even exist. You are redefining it this year just like this. Baifeng, if it's all like this, wouldn't we in Xuanyuan have to re-sign all our previous contracts?"

"Just look at the time limits. Those contracts signed in the past might still be favorable to your Xuanyuan Tribe, but they might be unfavorable to us in Huaxia. If you are willing to re-sign, we would be even happier. Perhaps we in Huaxia would reset the prices, setting them higher so you have no benefits to gain."

"A contract like this now is completely unfair and unreasonable to us in Huaxia. Our Soldiers and ordinary people are all unwilling to continue this contract. Furthermore, there is no time limit. If this treaty is still used this year, it will definitely affect other things, such as not being able to gather the grain for you, or the Weapon supply not being sufficient, and so on."