Chapter 726 0721 [Peace Negotiation]

Chuigong Hall.

Zhu Guoxiang sat on the throne in the hall, Zhu Ming sat on the east side, and officials from the Cabinet and the Honglu Temple sat in a row.

The Jin envoys came to the court for an audience and negotiations, but they were not forced to kneel. Anyway, the Imperial Archery Competition had already demonstrated martial arts, so there was no need to worry about those details.

It was close to the winter solstice, and the peace talks had been held for three rounds.

The Jin people naturally could not reveal their bottom line directly, and their demands in the first round of negotiations were very outrageous.

That is, the diplomatic relations and territorial boundaries between the Ming and Jin countries were fully restored to the Song and Liao periods, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun still belonged to the Jin Kingdom. The reason was also very sufficient. The Ming Dynasty inherited the legal system of the Song Dynasty, and the Jin Dynasty inherited the legal system of the Liao Dynasty.

The two countries agreed to be brotherly countries, and the Jin Kingdom was willing to lower its posture and treat the Ming Dynasty as an elder brother in the future, and the two countries would not pay tribute to each other.

The Ming officials who participated in the negotiations were furious about this and resolutely refused to recognize that the Jin Kingdom inherited the legal system of the Liao Dynasty, believing that the Jin Kingdom was a group of barbarians who stole the country and were arrogant. They demanded that the Jin Kingdom hand over the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun and submit to the Ming Dynasty.

The two sides parted unhappily and began to contact and test each other privately.

In the second round of negotiations, the Jin Kingdom slightly softened its stance and was willing to return several prefectures south of Yanshan Mountain. However, the Ming Dynasty had to withdraw its troops from Lushun and the Liaoxi Corridor, and had to pay a one-time ransom of 500,000 guan of land.

Ming officials also made some concessions and did not demand the Jin Kingdom to submit, and the other conditions were the same as in the first negotiation.

In the third round of negotiations, the Jin Kingdom's demands were relaxed again, and no ransom money was asked for the land south of Yanshan Mountain. However, the Jin Kingdom's rule over the grassland was emphasized, and the Ming Dynasty must publicly recognize that Mobei belonged to the Jin Kingdom's territory and must publicly declare that Yelu Dashi was a traitor to the Jin Kingdom.

Ming officials insisted that the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun must be returned. As long as the Jin Kingdom was willing to give up the land of Youyun, the Ming Dynasty could turn against Yelu Dashi and regard him as an internal separatist regime of the Jin Kingdom.

At this moment, it was already the fourth round of negotiations, and it was also the last round of negotiations.

If the talks fail, the Jin envoys can go back.

Wanyan Xiyin took the lead and said: "Several states south of Yanshan can be given to the Ming Dynasty. But we will never give the states around Yunzhong and north of Yanshan. In the past, Jin and Song had an alliance, but Song broke the alliance many times, which led the Jin army to move south. If Yunzhong is also given to Ming, what should we do if Ming also breaks the contract like Song in the future? By that time, my Jin Dynasty will no longer have the danger of Yunzhong Pass, and the Ming army can march north at will."

Xiao Chu said: "How could the Ming Dynasty be as treacherous as the barbarians in the north? You are judging the gentlemen of the Ming Dynasty with the heart of a villain."

"We must be on guard against others." Wanyan Xiyin said.

Xiao Chu said: "The Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun have belonged to the Han for thousands of years, and have only been occupied by the Liao Kingdom for more than a hundred years. If the Jin Kingdom does not return them, what is the point of peace talks? Wherever the Ming Dynasty points its spearhead, any lost territory can be taken back. Now it is the Jin Kingdom that is anxious for peace talks, not the Ming Dynasty."

Zhong Shidao sneered: "If the war continues next year, I am afraid that the Jin Kingdom will have no military rations? Maybe before the Jin Kingdom's army sets out, the various ethnic tribes in the country will rebel."

"Your Excellency is too alarmist," Wanyan Zongfu said with a smile, "My Great Jin is peaceful and prosperous, and the people of all ethnic groups are happy. If there is another war, the warriors of all ethnic groups will definitely be ready to die!"

Ma Kuo went to the Tanggu tribes this year and recently returned to Tokyo, just in time for this negotiation. He laughed: "Others don't know, but I don't know? I have been to Jin several times, staying for at least half a year each time, and I have many old friends in Jin. Not only are the various ethnic groups going to rebel, I am afraid that the Jurchens are also full of contradictions."

Wanyan Xiyin refused to admit it: "This is nonsense, just hearsay."

The two sides entangled and pulled for more than ten minutes, and Zhu Ming suddenly said: "Don't say it anymore, the Ming Dynasty can only take the land south of Yanshan, but the Jin Dynasty must hand over Juyongguan!"

Wanyan Zongfu knew that he had to show his bottom line, and answered straightforwardly: "Yes."

This was decided by Wanyan Zongfu and Wanyan Xiyin in recent days. Because the Ming Dynasty's attitude was too tough in the first three rounds of negotiations, the Jin Dynasty had to give in more.

Hand over Juyongguan, and Shimenguan.

Shimenguan is south of the Badaling Great Wall and is also an important checkpoint of that passage. It will be reinforced after the peace talks.

This means that in the future, each of the Ming and Jin countries will have a pass. The Ming Dynasty controls Juyong Pass, and the Jin Dynasty controls Shimen Pass. Whoever wants to send troops must first capture the other country's pass.

"There is also Lulong Pass." Zhu Ming added.

"No." Wanyan Zongfu refused.

Lulong Pass is Xifengkou, and it is actually okay to give it to the Ming Dynasty. Because the Ming Dynasty got it mainly for defense. If it really wants to attack, it will be closer to cross the sea and attack Liaoyang. And if the Jin Dynasty wants to go south to plunder, it doesn't necessarily have to go through Xifengkou, such as Gubeikou.

The reason why Wanyan Zongfu refused is simply that he didn't want to give in again.

Zhu Ming said: "If you don't give Lulong Pass, you must compensate with 300 horses, the kind of war horses that can carry heavy armored cavalry!"

Wanyan Zongfu said: "This matter needs to be discussed."

"Please do as you wish." Zhu Ming said.

Wanyan Zongfu and Wanyan Xiyin walked into the empty side hall next to them.

Wanyan Xiyin said: "The Ming army is only good at firearms, and their armored heavy cavalry is not as good as Hezhameng'an. The Jin Dynasty can afford 300 good horses."

"We can't just give them away if they ask for it," Wanyan Zongfu said, "We can give them good horses, up to 20."

Wanyan Xiyin worriedly said: "I'm afraid 20 good horses won't satisfy Prince Zhu's appetite."

Wanyan Zongfu said: "The counteroffer is twenty horses. If we really can't reach an agreement, I'll give you fifty horses."

"Okay." Wanyan Xiyin nodded.

The two discussed it again and returned to the main hall.

Wanyan Zongfu said: "Dajin doesn't have many good horses, so we can only give you twenty."

Ju Ming became more and more forceful: "I don't want to worry about everything like a businessman, so I just give you an accurate number!"

"Prince Zhu's arrogance is not in vain," Wanyan Zongfu said, "Fifty horses, if you are willing to accept, continue the negotiation."

Ju Ming shook his head: "Too little."

Wanyan Zongfu looked at Wanyan Xiyin. After the two made eye contact, they broke through the bottom line again: "Eighty horses!"

"One hundred horses, give me a round number." Ju Ming decided unilaterally.

The momentum of the negotiation was completely suppressed by Ju Ming. Wanyan Zongfu retreated again and again: "Then one hundred horses. How can the Ming Dynasty guarantee that after the peace negotiation, it will not send troops across the sea to harass Dajin?"

Ju Ming said: "Kill three animals and swear to the heavenly alliance. Within five years, the two sides will not fight again!"

"Only five years?" Wanyan Xiyin was a little disappointed.

Ju Ming asked, "If I said fifty years, would you believe it?"

As soon as this statement came out, the envoy from the Kingdom of Jin felt Zhu Ming's sincerity and concluded that Prince Zhu really intended to suspend troops for five years to develop internal affairs.

Wanyan Zongfu began to consider the affairs of the Jin Kingdom comprehensively. In five years, he should be able to cripple the Yelv Stone and eliminate the huge threat behind the Liao Kingdom. At the same time, domestic children aged 11 or 12 will be able to go to the battlefield in five years, which can solve the problem of insufficient military resources in the Jin Kingdom.

In addition, by developing internal affairs in five years, the internal conflicts among the Jurchen nobles can also be alleviated, and some food can be hoarded for future wars.

However, the Ming army will definitely be stronger by then. How to fight against tens of thousands of Ming army musketeers?

After thinking about it, Wanyan Zongfu could only stop thinking about it and discuss the future matters later. Anyway, we must negotiate a peace now, otherwise we will force a war next year and seize food, which will lead to rebellion.

Wanyan Zongfu said: "For the exchange of territory in March next year, the Ming Dynasty must give some food compensation."

Ju Ming smiled and asked: "How much?"

"One million stones." Wanyan Zongfu said.

"At most 50,000 shi," Ju Ming reminded, "and there is a prerequisite. The Jin soldiers cannot trample the wheat seedlings wantonly. Once a large amount of farmland is found to be trampled, I will not give a single grain of the 50,000 shi."

The two of them were talking about Yanshan Prefecture, Yizhou, Shunzhou, Jizhou, Luanzhou and other places. Although the Jin people handed over the territory to the Ming Dynasty, they would definitely move the people away.

However, the people of the Jin Kingdom had already planted winter wheat, and the Ming Dynasty immigrants had direct access to wheat seedlings, so they had to compensate the Jin Kingdom with some grain.

"Nine hundred and eighty thousand stones!"

"Sixty thousand stones."

"Nine hundred and fifty thousand stones."

"Seventy thousand stones."

"..."

Zhu Ming and Wanyan Zongfu turned the peace talks into a business deal and even started bargaining on the spot.

The wheat yield in those places ranges from seven to eight bushels to two stones per acre.

The Kingdom of Jin only moved 100,000 people there, including many craftsmen.

There are also tens of thousands of survivors from the Liao Kingdom, who did not migrate there from the Jin Kingdom.

But Wanyan Zongwang went to war last year and lost more than 10,000 yuan on the Hebei battlefield. Then another rebellion broke out. Although Liu E quickly put down the rebellion, he lost tens of thousands of people.

Due to excessive grain requisition, many people starved to death!

Nowadays, in the huge territory south of Yanshan, including the non-agricultural population, there are only 110,000 Jin people left. The land being cultivated will never exceed two million acres.

The overall food income is approximately between 1.5 million shi and 2 million shi.

This is because the land is vast and the people are sparse, so it is basically a case of extensive planting and poor harvest.

If women are included, on average each Jin country farmer needs to cultivate twenty or thirty acres of land. There is a lack of careful care and water conservancy facilities, and the yield of most wheat fields is less than one stone per mu.

Moreover, the farmers of the Jin Kingdom only planted wheat, and the people of the Ming Dynasty had to take care of it.

Wanyan Zongfu asked for one million dan, which was reasonable but slightly on the high side.

The two sides struggled for a long time, and the final result was that the Ming Dynasty compensated the Jin Kingdom with 350,000 shi of wheat.

The reason is also very good. Although the territory in Lushun is small, tens of thousands of people have taken refuge in the Ming Dynasty. There are also one or two thousand farmers in the Haibin County area controlled by Li Bao. Farmers in these two places have planted winter wheat, which can offset part of the food losses of the Jin people.

Everyone opened the skylight and made a clear statement, only exchanging land with each other, and all the population would be moved away.

After the negotiation was finalized, Ju Ming returned to the East Palace and called Shi Yuangong and told him: "After the spring, use the northern craftsmen to spread the news in the countryside. It is said that the Ming Dynasty treats people of all ethnic groups well, pays less taxes than the Jin Kingdom, and does not force civilians to fight. . As long as they escape into the mountains and wait for the Jin soldiers to leave, they can get their land back, and the wheat seedlings in the fields will still be theirs."

After thinking about it, Ju Ming added: "The taxes will be exempted in the first year, and the taxes will be halved in the second and third years. As long as they take the risk to stay, no matter how much grain they harvest next year, it will all belong to the farmers themselves!"