Chapter 1224: Absolutely No Submission, No Negotiated Peace, No Ceding of Territory

Halfway through his words, he saw the other party's people frown — not the irascible kind, but a clear statement of their stance. Grand Coordinator Zhao Yan simply changed tack and said outright: "The court is establishing a new defense command for you gentlemen. If you are willing to go to Henan, Huguang, Shanxi, or Shaanxi, Zhao... Zhao Jin could have a Regional Commander's post. The rest of you would hold various offices within this command, your troops would be organized into imperial forces, and the court would issue provisions and pay. That would be a proper path to bring glory to your ancestors. In the future, if you render meritorious service to the nation and are enfeoffed as lords and appointed generals, that would be yet another layer of honor and prospects."

Cui Wensheng shook his head slightly, his face carrying a touch of emotion. Since the founding of the Ming, amnesty offers had always been low-grade. For a bandit force exceeding ten thousand, getting a Defense Commander's post was already rare; a Battalion Commander's rank was considered decent, and after mustering and inspection, that host of over ten thousand would be whittled down to a few hundred. He had not expected the court to bleed so heavily this time. It seemed the crux now was the factional struggle at court. As long as they could stabilize the situation here and thoroughly defeat Wei Zhongxian's clique in the capital, the situation in Xuzhou would certainly see reversals.

But to directly grant a Regional Commander's post, and to establish a separate defense command at that — no matter the motive, this was generous enough. A Regional Commander was the apex of real-power military officers in the Great Ming; without a Battalion Commander's background, reaching this post was nearly impossible. Establishing a separate command meant carving out a territory; within that territory, so long as you did not raise a banner in open rebellion, you could practically do as you pleased. Being watched by grand coordinators, circuit inspectors, and local officials was a minor future concern. And that promise of enfeoffment as lords and appointment as generals — it seemed illusory, but upon closer thought, it was not impossible. Right now, the Great Ming was ablaze on all sides. Given the elite ferocity of the Xuzhou troops, if they could defend the borders and slay enemies to earn merit, considering the Ming's record in recent years of far more defeats than victories, enfeoffment and high command truly were not impossible. If they could actually agree, it would be a situation of universal delight.

Eunuch Cui Wensheng's spirits lifted for a moment, but he immediately cooled down. Would these lawless, wildly ambitious young men agree to this? If they wanted to win, with their connections in officialdom and their wealth and influence, they would probably already be a Regional Commander of a defense command by now.

Over on that side, Grand Coordinator Zhao Yan was speaking with growing enthusiasm when he saw the other party's people looking indifferent, without even exchanging glances. Cui Wensheng at his side sighed. Zhao Yan naturally understood that his conditions had not moved them. Zhao Yan paused, then spoke: "This is a Regional Commander, with an added title of Commander-in-Chief. You can't hold it without a rank of the first or second grade. This is the highest military officer in our Great Ming..."

The other party remained utterly unmoved. Cui Wensheng coughed. This time, Zhao Yan turned his head without pretense and looked at Eunuch Cui in surprise. Cui Wensheng hesitated, then also said: "There should be more than just this one path. Sir Zhao, speak of it and let the Xuzhou gentlemen consider it in detail."

Zhao Yan's brow furrowed. Eunuch Cui's stance was simply too strange — was he standing on the court's side or on the side of these Xuzhou bandits? Yet who could have imagined that the talks would deadlock right from the start? And to think he had put forward the highest terms from the very beginning. Zhao Yan pondered for a moment, then spoke again: "Perhaps you gentlemen find it hard to leave your homeland. If you remain here in Xuzhou, then the only option is the rank of Mobile Corps Commander. The court can at most grant one Mobile Corps Commander, two Skirmish Commanders, one Regional Commander, and one Defense Commander. The rest you may appoint on your own, and your troops may not exceed five thousand."

Xuzhou was the pivotal hub of the realm. Occupying this place was equivalent to severing the Northern and Southern Metropolitan Regions at the waist, allowing intervention in the grain tribute transport at any time. Therefore, the court neither wished to agree to them staying here, nor was it willing to grant too many authorized posts. However, this was merely the court's wishful thinking.

The former Minister of War, now Grand Coordinator of Fengyang and Imperial Amnesty Envoy to Xuzhou, Zhao Yan, saw that after he finished speaking, the other party remained as unmoved as before — no exchanged glances, no private discussions, still just looking at him with that indifferent calm. Could it be they were still dissatisfied with these terms? Zhao Yan's brow furrowed. Among the conditions given to him by the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries, these two were the highest. In fact, even if these were agreed upon here, the capital might not necessarily approve them. How could they fail to sway the other party at all?

Then how was he supposed to continue the talks? The remaining conditions were even harsher. The amnesty strategy produced by the Ministry of War only granted the Xuzhou bandits six Defense Commander titles, and they could not be stationed in one place. They would also have to muster and inspect their troops, cutting at least ninety percent of the Xuzhou bandit forces. Someone had even sent word for him to negotiate terms with the Xuzhou bandits to seize a portion of the properties they operated in various places. If the other party was sensible, the conditions could be relaxed, and even Zhao Yan's own future could be up for discussion.

These were all wild fantasies, dreamed up by men sitting in the capital slapping their heads. Zhao Yan, as Minister of War, had been deeply involved in this punitive campaign against the Xuzhou bandits. He understood perfectly well what kind of strength the other party possessed. Traveling from Hejian Prefecture along the canal into Shandong and all the way to Xuzhou had only confirmed this. How could the other party possibly curry favor with the court and hand over their own properties? What an enormous joke.

The various lords at court all believed that although the court was forced into offering amnesty this time, it was granting the Xuzhou bandits enormous face, and that the Xuzhou bandits ought to weep with gratitude and henceforth enter the proper path to be manipulated by others. But how could that possibly be?

From the very first meeting, Grand Coordinator Zhao Yan knew he had to start from the highest terms. Even if he had to agree to some unrealistic things, he had to agree, or else it would surely collapse. Yet he had not expected that these terms, which seemed unrealistic to him, the other party could not even be bothered to acknowledge. Then what exactly did they want? The court was here to offer amnesty, and you immediately halted your troops — was that not a tacit understanding of good faith? Could there be a reversal at a time like this? Or had the halting of troops and even the withdrawal back then been for some other reason?

While Grand Coordinator Zhao Yan was mulling this over in endless circles, Cui Wensheng spoke up indifferently: "Young Master Zhao, gentlemen, Sir Zhao has just stated the court's intentions. Since we are to talk, both sides must speak. You should also state your side's position."

These words served to ease the somewhat awkward and stagnant atmosphere. Zhao Jin nodded to Wang Zhaojing beside him, then spoke: "Since you two have brought scribes, have them record our conditions so nothing is omitted afterward. Bring in tables and chairs for these gentlemen, and prepare writing brushes, ink, and the like."

The four private secretaries standing behind Cui Wensheng and Zhao Yan all looked rather displeased. To serve as private secretaries to such figures, they were no ordinary scholars without prospects; each held at least the rank of Provincial Graduate. The reason they had not entered officialdom was simply to use their patrons' influence to advance further and seek greater things. Yet here they were being called "scribes" — it was truly infuriating and humiliating, but they could only fume inwardly.

Fuming though they were, neither Zhao Yan and Cui Wensheng nor those private secretaries had any objection to Zhao Jin and his men's decision. Whether from the overall situation or from what they had seen along the way, they knew who held the initiative.

Tables and chairs were set up behind Cui Wensheng and Zhao Yan, and the secretaries went over and sat down. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were also prepared. Behind Zhao Jin and his men, scribes also sat down, except what they held in their hands were stiff pens resembling quills. This drew considerable contempt from Zhao Yan, Cui Wensheng, and their party, who thought to themselves that this was not the proper path at all.

Wang Zhaojing glanced at Zhao Jin, then spoke: "Sir Zhao, Eunuch Cui, I shall first delineate the territory, and then we will discuss the details."

This opening stunned the court's amnesty envoys. Wang Zhaojing paid no heed to their reaction and continued on his own: "Centered on Xuzhou, southward to include Huai'an Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture, and Fengyang Prefecture — excluding the Central Capital Imperial Tombs from Fengyang Prefecture — westward to Guide Prefecture in Henan, and northward to Yanzhou Prefecture and Dongchang Prefecture in Shandong. Let us first discuss these places."

Before his words had even faded, the faces of Zhao Yan, Cui Wensheng, and the four private secretaries behind them all changed drastically. Eunuch Cui Wensheng's face was ashen, while Zhao Yan's face had gone completely black. He stood up and roared in fury: "You are truly insolent! After fighting just a few battles, you actually want to carve out such a vast territory, and prefectures in the very heartland of the Great Ming at that! There is no need to talk further. I would rather die than negotiate any deal of ceding territory and suing for peace! I will also tell you plainly: in this entire Great Ming, no one will agree to your arrogant demands. The millions of common people and the million-strong army will fight you to the death without end!"

In contrast to Fengyang Grand Coordinator Zhao Yan's agitation, Fengyang Defense Eunuch Cui Wensheng was utterly dejected, propping his forehead on his hand and sighing. Meanwhile, everyone on Zhao Jin's side was smiling. This expression enraged Zhao Yan further; he felt the other party was arrogantly provoking and scornfully mocking them. This truly could not be negotiated. Being demoted and sent to Xuzhou for amnesty talks, perhaps there was a scapegoat's burden to bear, and in the future only the path of dismissal and retirement remained — but at least he could return home and enjoy wealth and peace. Perhaps he would be convicted and imprisoned, but even then there was the possibility of reinstatement.

But even if he met the worst possible end in the factional struggles, dying in the Celestial Prison or the Imperial Prison, he could not agree to a demand like ceding territory. If he agreed, he would fall into a state of eternal damnation. Not only would he himself suffer misfortune, but his family, his kinsmen, even his students and close friends would all be implicated, never to rise again for all eternity, cursed to death by both the upright officials and the eunuch faction alike.

Every civil official of the Great Ming who had served in the central government understood one thing: the Ming's absolute bottom line, both foreign and domestic, was set against the precedent of the Song Dynasty. The Northern and Southern Song had negotiated peace, ceded territory, paid indemnities, and moved their capital in dealings with the Liao, the Jin, and the Mongol Yuan, swallowing their anger and retreating step by step until the nation perished. The Great Ming would absolutely never repeat such mistakes. Even when the Oirats captured Emperor Yingzong at Tumu Fortress, even when Altan Khan broke through the northern defenses several times, the Great Ming absolutely refused to negotiate peace and waver.

If he agreed, the infamy during his lifetime that would drag down his family was already cruel enough; even more cruel was being cursed in the histories after death, never to rise again for ten thousand generations. For a high-ranking civil official like Zhao Yan, this was the most unbearable thing. One's name in life and after death — this was of paramount importance.

"Sir Zhao, please sit, and hear me out. I have only delineated the territory first; I did not say 'cede territory.' Please restrain your agitation for a moment!" Wang Zhaojing said with a smile, his tone full of mockery.

Yet Zhao Yan dared not relax in the slightest. Instead, he glanced at the eunuch Cui Wensheng beside him. Cui Wensheng nodded. This attitude set Zhao Yan's mind somewhat at ease, and only then did he sit back down, huffing with rage, his entire body taut and not daring to relax one bit.

Thanks to "Feiran Ge, zzb, Yuan Heng Li Zhen, Qi Sanwen, Duan Yichen, Qihang 1024" and several other old and new friends for their gifts. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.