Chapter 1225: Then What's There to Talk About

Zhao Jin's face held a faint, calm smile; Ji Xiang's face was full of disdain; Ruhui kept shaking his head over there. Wang Zhaojing, still as gentle as ever, spoke: "In the prefectures, subprefectures, and counties I just listed, the numbers of government troops shall remain as they are and must not change. Any movement of government troops must be notified in advance to the Xuzhou General's Office. If troops are moved, increased, or decreased without notification, the Zhao Family Army will consider it an intent to do battle, and the government troops shall bear the consequences themselves!"

"Xuzhou General?" Cui Wensheng repeated. Wang Zhaojing turned and gestured with his hand: "My elder brother is the Xuzhou General, with overall jurisdiction over the Zhao Family Army and the military and civil administration of all prefectures, subprefectures, and counties!"

"What use is such an illegitimate and unjustified official post? Why not accept an imperial appointment from the court? A Chief Military Commander of a garrison also carries a general's seal." At this, Zhao Yan could not help but interject a couple of lines, thinking the other party had previously disdained the title of Chief Military Commander because it lacked the rank of general.

"My title can only be decided by myself. No one else can give it," Zhao Jin replied. Zhao Yan was immediately choked into silence, a flash of anger crossing his face, but he dropped the subject.

After Wang Zhaojing finished speaking, he waited for the other side's response. Zhao Yan and Cui Wensheng remained silent. Both sides stayed quiet for a while, even the scratching sounds of the clerks' brushes recording the proceedings stopped. Wang Zhaojing looked at them in surprise. Zhao Yan's side also felt something was amiss and asked in a deep voice, "Why have you stopped speaking?"

"Do Lord Zhao and Eunuch Cui have nothing to say about that last article?" Wang Zhaojing asked.

The two men exchanged a glance. Cui Wensheng spoke: "Please, Young Master Wang, continue. Once you have finished, we can discuss everything from the beginning."

This attitude, however, indicated that they did not have too many objections to this article. Wang Zhaojing gave a self-deprecating smile. They would rather die than cede territory, yet they cared little about this demand to limit the number and movement of government troops. Reputation truly was paramount.

"In the areas surrounding the places I just mentioned, it is recommended that the stationing and movement of government troops also be notified to the Xuzhou General's Office. This is not mandatory, but if any misunderstandings arise from reckless actions, I am sure no one wishes to see that." After Wang Zhaojing finished, he glanced at the other side, then turned his head to glance at Zhao Jin before continuing his statement.

"In the prefectures, subprefectures, and counties just mentioned, the court shall not arbitrarily reduce or waive taxes and levies, nor shall it arbitrarily bestow favors or rewards. Apart from the existing civil and military officials, no additional officials or government offices shall be arbitrarily appointed or established. Gentlemen, please take note: if the court or local authorities act recklessly in these matters, it will be regarded as equivalent to a troop movement, and the Xuzhou General's Office will not tolerate it." Wang Zhaojing's face no longer held a smile; his statement was very solemn.

Fengyang Governor Zhao Yan, however, gave a cold laugh and said sarcastically, "This official thought you would not want the court to increase taxes and levies. So it is about not reducing them, to play this game of bestowing favors and winning the people's hearts?"

"Lord Zhao, first, the taxes and grain collected by the court in these areas over the past few years were all collected and paid by Xuzhou. The court should not hypocritically stir up trouble. Second, the court's Liaodong military surtax has already scraped these places clean to the last drop. Do you really think the court and the local authorities still have the people's hearts?" Wang Zhaojing retorted tit-for-tat.

Governor Zhao Yan was stunned. However, he could not confirm the first point Wang Zhaojing made. He turned his head and quietly asked Cui Wensheng. Eunuch Cui could only sigh and tell the truth. Zhao Yan's face darkened again, and he said no more. But at this moment, a disdainful smile also appeared on Wang Zhaojing's face. Earlier, they had been so righteous and indignant, yet now, everything being discussed here were concrete acts of ceding territory, and Zhao Yan and Cui Wensheng were very calm about it.

It seemed reputation was paramount, but only reputation was paramount. As long as one did not bear the infamy, as long as one was not seen as ceding territory and suing for peace, then the actual reality did not matter so much.

"Then I shall continue. Our side has the freedom to trade with the world, and the court and local authorities shall not interfere."

"Profit-chasing scoundrels. Why would the court quibble with you over this?"

By now, Zhao Yan had lost the poised and dignified bearing of a former Minister and current Governor. His words were caustic; he seemed to want to mock every sentence Wang Zhaojing uttered. Eunuch Cui Wensheng and the several advisors all kept their heads down.

Wang Zhaojing paid no mind to this, merely smiled, and then continued his statement: "Our Xuzhou ships have the right to dock, trade, and establish commercial warehouses at various ports. The following three locations must be arranged immediately: first, the Dengzhou naval port in Dengzhou Prefecture, Shandong; second, Tianjin Port in Tianjin; and third, Pi Island Port. At these three ports, Xuzhou ships shall have fixed dock berths, under our own jurisdiction, not subject to the king's law, and government troops shall not interfere. Otherwise, it will be regarded as an act of war."

Zhao Yan picked up his teacup and took a sip. The quality and flavor of the tea displeased him greatly, and he frowned. But he could not be bothered with that now. Zhao Yan leaned over and conferred briefly with Cui Wensheng. Eunuch Cui Wensheng spoke: "This Dengzhou naval port is easy to discuss. You Xuzhou people have long since extended your hand there; those who should know already know. But this Tianjin Port is the maritime gateway to the capital. How could we possibly let you get close? This absolutely cannot be agreed to. As for this Pi Island naval port, if you wish to go, then go!"

"Eunuch Cui, Lord Zhao, can you both make the final decision and agree to everything we are discussing today?" Wang Zhaojing suddenly asked.

Both Cui Wensheng and Zhao Yan shook their heads. Everything Wang Zhaojing had laid out could only be discussed by the Grand Secretariat and then implemented with the Emperor's permission. How could the two of them make such decisions? This answer was within Wang Zhaojing's expectations. He said slowly, "Since neither of you can make the decisions, what is the point of arguing? Just report back what I have stated."

This blunt, face-slapping remark made the two venerable gentlemen, the grand official and the eunuch, flush red with anger. Yet soon, they were left helpless and dejected. Wang Zhaojing's words made perfect sense. Whether they argued or refuted, they could not change anything. This cuttingly direct speech plunged the scene into silence once more. Zhao Yan and Cui Wensheng were speechless. The advisors and clerks behind them had long since finished recording, but looking at the content written on the paper, these scholars, well-versed in practical governance, wished they had never written it. Never mind what the Governor and the Eunuch ahead of them thought; they had always believed the Great Ming's empire would endure for ten thousand ages. What were troubles like the Mongols, the Jurchens, or the tribal chieftains but mere skin ailments? The Great Ming, though seemingly walking a difficult path, would pull through and continue on.

In the hearts of these few scholars, the Xuzhou bandits were nothing more than a gathering of cunning rogues, taking risks for profit. They had merely succeeded in their gamble and won a battle against the government troops. Since they had won by luck and the court had agreed to offer amnesty, peace should naturally follow. They would be no trouble or harm at all, and might even become an asset. After all, the Great Ming had far too few capable soldiers these days.

Yet, after all that thinking, having come today to participate in the amnesty negotiations and witnessed the demands of these Xuzhou bandits, having seen the attitude of these Xuzhou bandits, all their expectations came crashing down. Seeing the record on the paper, recalling the words just spoken, a thought occurred to these few scholars, whether they liked it or not: This Great Ming might truly not have far to go...

Although Governor Zhao Yan was furious at these words, he recovered quickly. He simply turned around and asked for that record to read. There was not much text, and the ink was still wet, but Zhao Yan's expression grew heavier and heavier.

"The court will likely not agree to what you have proposed," Zhao Yan said in a raspy voice, his face looking even more ashen.

"It was the court that initiated the peace talks. We have proposed these terms. We have not ceded territory, nor have we declared our own banner, much less demanded reparations. What we have proposed is merely the status quo. As for the matter of these three naval ports, do fewer sea merchants unload their goods at Tianjin Port? Those sea merchants are all called 'Japanese pirates' in the government offices. Moreover, we only require a verbal promise from the court; we are not asking for it to be put down on paper as proof. If the court still refuses such terms, then it utterly lacks sincerity in these peace talks!" Wang Zhaojing explained gently.

"It is amnesty, amnesty!" Zhao Yan emphasized in a muffled voice, then looked to Cui Wensheng as if for help. Eunuch Cui Wensheng sighed and spoke: "To be fair, your terms are not excessive. If Eunuch Wei were still controlling the court, after some haggling, they would probably all be agreed to. But now, the upright officials are gradually gaining power. For this amnesty, you should be the ones bowing your heads and submitting. Yet you refuse official posts and instead put forward such terms. There will inevitably be those who say you harbor sinister intentions. Whoever agrees will be branded a traitor selling out the country and subverting the law, a wicked eunuch-party conspirator. I can predict how the upright party members do things: they will not yield a single step, and might even mobilize a grand army to launch a punitive expedition."

Governor Zhao Yan nodded. The Donglin upright officials did things without regard for practical reality, fixating solely on so-called fundamentals and the great principles of the sages. Under such a working style, seemingly righteous but actually rigid and stubborn, there could be no accommodation or flexibility, not even adaptation to circumstances. The outcome was easy to guess.

Eunuch Cui spoke earnestly over there: "Gentlemen, this time the court has the intention of offering amnesty. Did your Xuzhou side not also voluntarily pull back your forces? I also know that right now is the critical time for spring planting, and you do not wish to harm the crops and reduce the grain supply. Since neither side wants to fight, then negotiate a result of not fighting. Why put forward terms that are so easy to break the talks over?"

Everyone could judge and deduce the overall situation and reasoning. The reason neither side wanted this battle to drag into the second or third month and beyond was precisely because one side was anxious to open the Grand Canal transport, and the other could not afford to delay the critical spring planting.

Wang Zhaojing smiled slightly, turned his head to look at Zhao Jin, and then spoke: "Eunuch Cui, the reason we pulled back was to show our sincerity. Putting forward such terms is also a form of our sincerity. But if the court lacks sincerity, then we will fight if we must. Once the outcome is decided again, I imagine it will be much easier to talk."

No one called Wang Zhaojing's words arrogant. Zhao Yan and Cui Wensheng had both witnessed, in different ways, the great battle in the first month of the fourth year of the Tianqi era and knew the other side had the strength to say so. Zhao Yan shook his head and said in a raspy voice, "If that's how it is, then what's there to talk about?"

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