CHAPTER 1083: CHAPTER 596: ENTERING THE PALACE WITH SWORD (PART 2)

Morning, Imperial Palace.

The Court Meeting regarding the peace negotiations was held under the gaze of the public.

Xu Wenyan and Xu Xueling, following protocol, left most of their followers at the gate of the Imperial City.

They themselves led the accompanying delegation of civil servants, walking through the tall and deep gate tunnel to the Meridian Gate Square, which had been stained with blood twice in the past three years.

At this moment, the east had already broken dawn, and the snow on the square had been cleared, but a thin layer of frost remained.

The court officials, both civil and military, had already crossed the east and west side gates ahead of them, passed the Golden Water Bridge, and waited at the square adjacent to the white jade steps. Their gazes followed the steps upward to the majestic and solemn Jinluan Palace.

When they saw the delegation approaching, the officials all turned their gazes towards them.

They saw nearly twenty peace negotiators dressed in ceremonial attire, their chests puffed out and heads held high.

The distinctly separate gazes of both sides intersected and clashed in the air, almost like they were striking sparks.

However, strangely, no one spoke until a eunuch’s sharp call came from the steps.

Everyone in the square steadied their spirits and orderly followed the steps into the Jinluan Palace.

The civil servants stood to the left, the military officers to the right, and the delegation was left in the center.

Then, wearing a Dragon Robe, adorned with a crown, and with a pearl curtain draped, the Emperor of Great Yu came through the side door step by step, turned, and sat on the Dragon Seat with no lack of authority.

The officials, including the delegation, all saluted in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty..."

Well, the basic respect was still given.

"You may rise." Xu Zhenguan’s voice was calm, showing no emotion.

When the officials stood up, Xu Zhenguan looked down at the delegation calmly and said, "Since the peace negotiation delegation entered the capital, it has been a long time, and the year is nearing its end. The peace talks should have a procedure. Minister Sun, report on the peace talks during this period."

The Empress did not immediately converse with the delegation but first had the ministers report. One reason was to provide the officials present who were unaware of the latest developments with an update. Secondly, it was also to slight the delegation and assert home field advantage.

The main official responsible for the negotiation was the Minister of Rites. He stepped forward and saluted, "Your Majesty, since the peace negotiations commenced, we have been commanded by the Ministry of Rites regarding the conflicts on Xiping Road and Iron Pass Road..."

The Minister of Rites first restated the general background and then began to publicly disclose the specific progress of the peace talks.

With words articulating this month or two of negotiation’s important milestones, including the initially excessive demands made by the rebels, and how the court "forced" them to abandon these demands one by one.

When mentioning the front-line warfare, it was glossed over, employing a rhetoric of subtle suggestion.

If we skip over the various pull and plays during the process, the current consensus reached has two points:

Firstly, Prince Hejian and Yanshan King are willing to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Empress’s rule, pledge allegiance to the Empress, and cease hostilities.

This point is the foundation of the negotiations.

Secondly, the price the court is willing to pay.

The court agrees to retain the titles of the Vassal Kings of Hejian and Yanshan, attributing their previous rebellion to being deceived by the Kuangfu Society.

But demands the disarmament of the two major Vassal Kings.

However, the delegation is not satisfied with this. This is also where the negotiations have reached an impasse.

After the Minister of Rites finished speaking, the Empress finally turned her gaze to the delegation.

The simple-minded Xu Wenyan was the first to bow and, with a cheerful tone, began to speak with an innocent demeanor: "During this time, thanks to Your Majesty’s care, we have been well in the capital. I originally thought that we could achieve a result in the negotiations before the new year, allowing me to bring back good news and eliminate misunderstandings within our Royal Family, thawing old grievances... However, despite many days of negotiation, progress has been slow... Especially since receiving a letter from home revealing that front-line warfare has flared up again, entrapping the people of our Yu country in the cold winter’s warfare... This is something our Prince Hejian’s Mansion does not wish to see..."

Xu Wenyan appeared somewhat clumsy, as if he was reciting a script.

After a string of formal remarks, he sighed, expressing a sense of regret: "... My father, the king, cannot bear to see fratricidal war and sufferer dislocation, thus expressing great sincerity in negotiations. However, the demands of the court are such that my Hejian’s Mansion cannot agree... Today, I might as well state here, that if peace is desired, Your Majesty should not only publicly issue an edict promising not to threaten our Prince Hejian’s Mansion in the future but also grant counties like Dingyuan, Wen’an, Huangshui... as fiefs to our Prince Hejian’s Mansion. The court should not interfere in the internal affairs of these fiefs..."

Xu Xueling also spoke: "Our Yanshan King’s Mansion demands the same. In addition to the edict of acknowledgment, lands such as Tongyuan, Lin Hai, Bai Mountain... must be handed over to the Yanshan King’s Mansion for eternal governance..."

The plot thickens!

To put it simply, it’s two words: "land cession"!

As for disarmament, that naturally won’t happen.

Upon hearing these words, the officials responsible for the negotiations were still calm, but many of the other ministers present showed expressions of anger!

The other party is too greedy!

Even though the proposed territorial cessions do not encompass the entirety of Xiping and Iron Pass Roads—everyone knows that a complete cession is impossible.

Still, leaving the court with some areas, the areas left to the court are inferior counties. Furthermore, the court already occupies numerous regions within the two roads.

But the most crucial point is... Not only does this create two ’countries within a country,’ but also, if agreed, the court will completely lose control of these two roads. Especially Xiping Road, according to the land cession list provided by Xu Wenyan, it would firmly place the passage to the Western Regions under the control of Prince Hejian.

"Outrageous!" An angry voice suddenly erupted in the hall without any warning.

Grandmaster Dong, now in his twilight years, leaned on his staff, stepping out from the civil servant ranks, tapping his staff on the ground with force, making a rhythmic knocking sound. This veteran minister, who had aged and weakened considerably over the past year due to his work, glared angrily at the delegation: "You claim to submit, yet demand land cessions?! Clearly, it’s a wolf-like ambition, deserving of condemnation!"

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