Chapter 642: Beidacang

Prefect Liu, representing the Longyan imperial court, is negotiating with Tie Mucheng.

This matter has still garnered the attention of quite a few people.

There is no Method...

They cannot defeat the other side!

The Grassland Elite Cavalry led by Tie Mucheng fought their way almost all the way to Longyan. These elite cavalry are also very cunning, specifically taking small rural paths and burning, killing, and looting along the way. It is not that the Longyan side has not tried to manage it, but they truly cannot defeat them! Coming and going like the wind and possessing fierce combat power are their characteristics.

It also happened to coincide with Xie Tianyao's birthday, so Longyan did not intend to carry out a large-scale punitive expedition.

Who would have thought.

The other side directly brought their troops and captives right outside Jinghua City.

These ten or twenty thousand Grassland Elite Cavalry naturally do not count for much. But the Longyan Dynasty could hardly slaughter those thirty thousand captives; that would not conform to the benevolence and righteousness that Longyan has always championed.

"How is it? How is it? Is he dead?"

Crown Prince Xie Fang has been pacing back and forth all day, asking every little while.

"Your Highness, he went in..."

A servant reported.

Xie Fang's expression changed drastically: "What? Wasn't it said that people were arranged to assassinate him? What is going on!"

Only then did he learn that the situation where Liu Zheng was supposed to die had been turned around by Pei Qianyun through his own efforts!

"Damn it!"

Xie Fang's expression darkened.

Liang Zheng also frowned.

He still didn't die after that?

"Is there any news?"

"Is there any news from over there?"

People in Jinghua greet each other like this.

At the foot of the Capital, it seems everyone understands politics, and everyone wants to discuss and criticize the imperial court's policies; this is the arrogance and common failing of the people of the Capital.

"Hahaha, the negotiations failed several times, so this Prefect Liu can succeed? I think it's doubtful!"

In a restaurant, a wealthy gentleman with several servants laughed loudly.

"Master Wang, that may not be so! Don't forget, this is the world-renowned Prefect Liu!"

"There is almost nothing that can stump him!"

"Hmph, so what if it is Prefect Liu? Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice! This bunch of Grassland Barbarians this time have a huge appetite!"

A group of people soon began to argue.

Some felt Prefect Liu could do it.

Some felt Prefect Liu could not.

Amidst this clamor.

The first day of negotiations ended.

That is correct.

Negotiations are not something that can be accomplished overnight. Both sides are constantly pulling at each other.

And so.

On the first day, the negotiations made no substantive progress.

"Hahahaha, see? What did I say? It's a good thing this Prefect Liu didn't die at the hands of those barbarians!"

"It is still early, how can you draw a conclusion?"

"Hmph, let's wait and see!"

And after the first day of negotiations ended.

Others might not know, but Tie Mucheng was completely bewildered at this moment.

Zhebie, standing to the side, said in disbelief: "Great Khan, is what this Prefect Liu said true? That Liaodong region has been cold, bitter, and barren since ancient times; is it really some kind of rich and fertile land?"

Others also shook their heads one after another.

That was the place of exile for the Longyan Dynasty a long time ago! Ningguta is located there! In other words, although the Liaodong region belongs to the Longyan Dynasty on the map, in reality, the people of the Longyan Dynasty had long forgotten this place. In their eyes, the Liaodong region is not even comparable to the Southern Barbarian Lands; although the Southern Barbarian Lands have many poisonous insects and miasma, at least there are plenty of crops. But this Liaodong region, apart from ice and snow, is nothing but ice and snow. At a glance, it is all desolate. There are almost no permanent residents here. Only some minority Barbarians are active in those forests.

"That's right, Great Khan, we must not be deceived!"

"Exchange those thirty thousand captives for that useless Liaodong region? Bah!"

"They think too highly of themselves!"

"Great Khan, this must be a conspiracy by Longyan! Who doesn't know that the Liaodong region is swarming with wild beasts, covered in swamps, and filled with swarms of mosquitoes and gadflies! Isn't this deliberately leading our people to their graves!"

"Exactly, Great Khan!"

A group of people also spoke up one after another on the side.

Tie Mucheng, however, smiled faintly: "My sworn brothers, you should have heard the conditions proposed by Prefect Liu. Our tribe and the Longyan imperial court will each contribute one hundred thousand people to jointly build the Northern Great Granary! Heh, the name 'Northern Great Granary' is truly interesting. Furthermore, his Yintan City will provide all the funding and hold half the shares..."

He looked around and said testily: "Do you think that if this Liaodong region were truly worthless, he would be foolish enough to engage in such a losing business?"

The whole room suddenly fell silent.

Isn't that so?

Who doesn't know that this Prefect Liu's ability to make money is the best in the world. He never does losing business.

Jointly build the Beidacang!

Both sides contribute people and effort to jointly build this large-scale conglomerate, the Beidacang.

Build together, develop together!

This was what Liu Zheng proposed today.

Yintan City is going to pay a price of nearly ten million taels of silver for this! That is ten million taels! Half a year's fiscal revenue for the Longyan Dynasty. Such a vast sum of money is something these Grassland barbarians wouldn't even dare to imagine!

Once Tie Mucheng said this, no one spoke again.

Tie Mucheng.

Was tempted.

The next day.

The negotiations began again.

The content of this day's negotiations was mainly still about the withdrawal of troops and the matters of jointly building the Northern Great Granary. The point of contention between the two sides was that Tie Mucheng, this hero of the Grassland, had caught a whiff of something unusual after the first day of negotiations and seized it immediately, proposing that while joint construction of the Northern Great Granary was acceptable, and the Qiang tribes could also provide one hundred thousand laborers, he must obtain administrative power over the Liaodong region!

In other words, he wanted Longyan to cede this territory to him!

He had a premonition.

This Liaodong region, under the development of Viscount Liu, would likely become a second Liangzhou!

Cession.

Although Liu Zheng had the heart to indulge himself, he truly did not want to bear the name of a traitor.

The Longyan Dynasty has been established for so long, and it has never ceded an inch of land to a foreign country! Except for some vassal states that were truly beyond reach and impossible to attend to, there has never been a precedent of ceding land through war.

He could not bear this infamy.

He still insisted on developing the Liaodong region into a special zone. Both sides could form a company named "Beidacang" to govern this place through a conglomerate, with each side stationing half the troops to realize joint management by the two nations.

The two sides bickered for a day.

It ended without result again.

The people in Jinghua were once again very disappointed.

Waited a whole day, just for this?

Might as well exercise and strengthen one's physical fitness!

The third day.

Negotiations continued.

The fourth day......

The fifth day......

People suddenly felt something was wrong.

Those who were waiting to see Viscount Liu make a fool of himself could no longer laugh.

Yes.

If these negotiations had not been settled, these Grassland barbarians would certainly have driven the negotiation delegation back just like before; how could they have continued with you for five days?

Something is wrong!

Something is very wrong!

What is this Viscount Liu discussing with the Grassland barbarians?

Finally.

The seventh day.

The negotiations concluded.

When the content of the negotiations between the two sides was exposed, the entire Jinghua exploded.