Chapter 302

Negotiating with the Dayuan Kingdom's Cheng Cheng?

Upon hearing this, Xie Chan naturally refused.

But Ling Chen brought along a host of civil and military officials, and earnestly pleaded in every possible way. It had to be you, General Xie is the main commander of the Cheshi forces, his deterrent power is sufficient, and so on and so forth.

We must give those soft eggs of the Dayuan Kingdom a taste of their own medicine!

General Xie, we cannot let those soft eggs of the Dayuan Kingdom go……

Those soft eggs……

Xie Chan heard this and her mouth twitched, black lines appearing on her face.

Soft egg……soft egg!

You are the soft eggs, your whole family are soft eggs!

"Miss, what should we do?"

Returning to the Great General's manor, Xiao Tao felt somewhat gloomy; these people really are……just now she almost wanted to step forward and beat someone up!

Xie Chan smiled wryly: "Xiao Tao, you send a few brothers to Yanqi, try to inform Uncle Cheng, well, how to put it……"

She was very worried.

How should this be said?

You raised the Princess of the Dayuan Kingdom from childhood, and by accident, she became the Great General of the Western Regions Construction Corps? Today I am here as your representative to negotiate, Uncle Cheng, show mercy?

This?

Xiao Tao beside her also offered various suggestions.

Why not take this opportunity to reveal our identities and return to the Dayuan Kingdom? After all, the Dayuan Kingdom has also come seeking peace, so in the future, we and the Western Regions Construction Corps will be brother units.

But upon hearing this, Xie Chan's head swelled.

These past few months, in the Western Regions Construction Corps, she has been full of vigor, the internal environment is exceptionally pure and vibrant; to have her return to the smog-filled, deceitful Dayuan court?

Now……

Could this Dayuan Kingdom's Princess possibly compare to the Great General of the Western Regions Construction Corps?

Most importantly……

Or rather, the cohesion and unity of this Western Regions Construction Corps, the energy it can unleash, what impact will it have on the Northern Western Regions?

Under such an impact, can the Dayuan Kingdom still stand firm?

After a moment's thought, she said: "Tell Uncle Cheng, on the day of negotiation, just pretend not to know me!"

"Ah?"

Xiao Tao pouted, turned around and went to deliver the order.

Three days later.

Xie Chan led her own guard unit and arrived at Yanqi.

Cheng Cheng's negotiation team had already been there for several days. Upon arriving at Yanqi, Cheng Cheng truly felt the gap between the Dayuan Kingdom and this Western Regions Construction. Originally he thought, after the Western Regions Construction Corps suffered a large-scale invasion by the Northern Border Army, it would be in panic and disarray, fleeing in disarray. However, upon arriving at Yanqi, what he felt was instead these people's united front, resolute in resistance.

Killing intent!

This construction corps has killing intent!

Even after suffering war's ravages, they remain orderly; the city is well-kept, and he also saw the horse carriages from the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce coming from all directions, endlessly, bringing supplies to Yanqi. The entire city is still prosperous and bustling……

He couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

Looking at the current state of the Dayuan Kingdom, Wu Kaiti was killed, Qiuci fell into the struggle among his several sons for power……Qiuci in chaos, Jingjue, Gumo, and Wusu are eyeing each other like tigers watching their prey.

This Dayuan Kingdom……is clearly on the verge of losing control.

"Hehe, Governor Cheng, have you rested well these past few days?"

The administrative head of Yanqi is Zhen Shaoming, who placed third in the first imperial examination of the Western Regions Construction Corps; during the Longyan era, he was already renowned far and wide, a capable hand in managing local affairs, yet he offended the powerful and was imprisoned in shackles. After Liu Zheng discovered him, he was immediately appointed to specifically manage Yanqi——Ling Chen is the overall commander of Yanqi and Cheshi, while the Cheshi side is managed by another Prefect.

Since Cheng Cheng arrived, Yanqi has been warmly welcoming him every day, which can also be considered respect for the Dayuan Kingdom's envoy.

This is what makes Cheng Cheng most gloomy……

What are these people in Yanqi eating?

Jiangnan's taro!

Hanzhong's rice!

Shu's sugarcane sugar!

Jinghua's fine noodles!

Good fellow……

As a high-ranking Minister of Personnel of the Dayuan Kingdom, I eat daily nothing so splendid……

He even feels a bit "unwilling to leave Shu".

Cheng Cheng quickly clasped his hands and smiled: "Governor Zhen, such hospitality, I am deeply honored."

Zhen Shaoming laughed heartily: "Tomorrow our General Xie will arrive at Yanqi to conduct specific negotiations; I have already prepared everything."

Cheng Cheng smiled wryly: "I have heard that General Xie just killed the renowned general Zheng Yuxing of Longyan, his fame is unmatched; I hope General Xie will show mercy!"

Zhen Shaoming laughed: "Governor, in negotiations between two states, where does favor come from? If our Western Regions Construction Corps were defeated, I fear your king would not even grant us the chance to negotiate!"

Cheng Cheng smiled wryly repeatedly.

Zhen Shaoming added: "However, Governor Cheng, you need not worry too much; our General Xie is a rare female commander in the military, open-minded, gentle in temperament, kind-hearted, and will not make things too difficult for you."

Cheng Cheng looked astonished: "Is General Xie a woman?"

Zhen Shaoming smiled proudly: "The Western Regions Construction Corps practices gender equality; General Xie is naturally a heroine among women. What a coincidence, her name is Xie Chan, and she is still……your fellow Western Regions person……"

"Bang!"

As Cheng Cheng was still walking, hearing this, he nearly bumped his head into the pillar beside him, his face changing drastically: "You you you you, you said who?"

Xie Chan?

Princess?

The next day...

Cheng Cheng brought his own negotiation team, looking gloomy, staring at Xie Chan, Xiao Tao, and that group of Night Walkers across from him...

"Thirty thousand Sweat-Blood Horses, not one less!"

"Three hundred thousand shi of grain and fodder!"

"One hundred thousand slaves!"

"Additionally, an annual tribute to the Protectorate of no less than five thousand Sweat-Blood Horses!"

"Each year..."

Xie Chan had a cold, stern expression, unyielding, slamming the table and glaring.

Zhen Shaoming blinked his eyes, his face full of bewilderment.

Cheng Cheng was drenched in sweat.

Who said he was broad-minded?

Who said he had a gentle temperament?

Who said he was kind-hearted!

Deceiver!

Everyone is deceiving!

Cheng Cheng felt as if he no longer recognized the princess before him—someone he had watched grow up since childhood, even her name, which he had helped choose for the Dayuan Kingdom princess...

This lion opened its mouth wide, truly frightening him.

This is draining Dayuan Kingdom dry!

Those are Sweat-Blood Horses—opening with thirty thousand? And five thousand each year?

This grain and fodder...

This annual silver, annual cattle and sheep...

"Pfft..."

Cheng Cheng couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of old blood—what evil deed has he done to deserve this assignment! More crucially, the other party is the Princess!

The terms of this negotiation.

Are they to be accepted...

Or rejected?

Should I accept?

Or should I not accept?

Facing Xie Chan's imposing presence, he was caught between a rock and a hard place, cold sweat dripping.

Looking at the noisy crowd at the Liangzhou Prefecture gate.

Ying Rong and the Liangzhou magnates were all laughing heartily in a nearby teahouse.

"Lord Ying's move is truly a stroke of genius!"

"See how Governor Liu will handle this!"

A group of people were flattering him nearby.

Ying Rong, however, just chuckled and shook his head: "Gentlemen, such talk is reckless—this people's petition has nothing to do with me, Ying Rong! This is the populace's plea, the plea for Liangzhou's stability!"

The crowd laughed uproariously, raising their cups in unison.

Liu Zheng's reforms will surely hurt these people deeply.

But...

Liu Zheng's aura is like a rainbow, his military strength formidable—he now controls the entire Liangzhou military; the situation favors the strong, relying on them—how can they oppose Liu Zheng?

But...

These commoners are different!

Since Liu Zheng began governing Yinzhou, he has consistently advocated "loving the people as one's own children," "diligent governance and love for the people," and "water can carry a boat, yet it can also capsize it."

He has thus earned himself considerable reputation.

Today...

He will use your spear to attack your shield!

Let's see how you fare!

A group of people are all waiting to see Liu Zheng's joke.