Chapter 279 Negotiation, from anti-war to main war
Chapter 279 Negotiation, from anti-war to main war
at the same time.
The 5,000 Xianbei cavalry stranded in Taiyuan, with the cooperation of Kirby Neng, attacked Jinyang, the county seat of Taiyuan, Wei State, and then attacked for a symbolic period, leaving hundreds of corpses behind, and retreated in a hurry before the Wei army could leave the city to counterattack.
.
This military operation of the Xianbei people did not achieve any substantial gains, but instead exposed the problem of low siege capability.
News of this attack was quickly sent to the Wei army's chief general Qin Lang and his deputy Bi Gui. The two looked at each other and were both overjoyed.
The appearance of a large number of Xianbei soldiers and horses in Taiyuan County means that there are only 10,000 cavalry left under Kirby Neng's command. Even if the 20,000 soldiers and horses left behind in Shicheng, the Xianbei base camp, are included, there are only 30,000 cavalry.
With this small amount of troops, both generals saw hope of completely defeating Kirby's troops in one battle.
What an advantage!
Bi Gui's victory was applauded, and things were just as he expected. Kirby was able to leave some of his troops in Taiyuan, waiting for the opportunity.
"General, this place is only more than fifty miles away from Shicheng, and victory is in sight. Now, even if Kirby can take the initiative to express his surrender to me, the great Wei Dynasty, the general should refuse."
Qin Lang nodded in agreement.
The army has arrived here, so of course they have to fight it first before talking about anything else.
Although it was only his first time taking charge of the army, he had a humble attitude, low-key behavior, and calm demeanor. He did not have the stubbornness of a veteran on the battlefield. Except for the dispute with Bi Gui on the first day, the two of them had never been popular in the past few days.
Face. In addition, Qin Lang has extraordinary conversation and dignified appearance. In the past few days, he has gradually won Bi Gui's favor.
After the two reached an agreement on their military goals, Bi Gui took the final decision on most matters in the army. You must know that Qin Lang is the chief general.
Under Qin Lang's intentional humility, the generals were in harmony and the morale of the army was high. This momentum was exactly what a strong army should have when it was about to usher in a great victory.
………
Stone City.
There was a cheerful atmosphere in the Xianbei people's base camp. Ma Su and Kirby could sit across from each other and listen to a very philosophical story told by a Xianbei elder who strongly opposed the war.
His beard and hair are all white, and his eyes are full of wisdom that sees through everything.
His story was told to Kobe and Ma Su.
A long time ago, there was a very brave and warrior leader of a prairie tribe. After his country was attacked and blackmailed by a big country again, he planned to raise the entire tribe's troops to resist.
However, several respected elders in the clan told him: endure the calm for a while, take a step back and the sea and the sky are brighter. It is normal for small countries to be neighbors with big countries, and it is normal for them to suffer losses!
The leader once believed this sentence deeply.
As a result, he soon discovered that his patience and humility had actually become an excuse for the big country to intensify its efforts and take advantage of the situation. His tribe was extorted more often, and the amount became even larger.
In the past, the big countries only extorted some furs, cattle, sheep, and horses. Now they actually want to send their young people to join the army to help the big countries fight wars, put down rebellions in various places, and invade other countries.
This made the leader a little intolerable.
So, the leader summoned all the warriors in his clan, took up arms and began to fight back against the big country. His clansmen shared the same hatred of the enemy, fought bravely and feared death, and marched forward bravely regardless of their own safety in every battle. The powerful country was frightened and retreated every step of the way.
Although the leader's soldiers suffered heavy casualties during the war, the soldiers of the great powers suffered even greater casualties, with casualties two, three, or even four times their number.
Ten thousand of the leader's soldiers were killed in battle. It doesn't matter. Tens of thousands of the army of the great country were killed in battle, and many cities were lost.
The war continued, and the leader's territory became larger and larger, and his prestige became higher and higher. The big countries were also frightened by the attack. Not only did they no longer dare to blackmail the leader's tribe, they even sent envoys to ask for peace.
However, when the leader who became the winner stood on the towering city wall that he had captured, what he saw was an empty city and the old, weak, women and children—almost all the strong men in his tribe had been wiped out.
The leader felt that he had won, and his tribe finally stood up and stood proudly among the powerful nations. However, the respected elders once again told him with a bitter look on their faces - no matter how big or small a country is, a warlike person will perish.
The leader sneered at this. Next, he responded with more violent means to every enemy who dared to provoke his tribe, beating them until they knelt on the ground and called them grandpa.
Until one day, the leader suddenly discovered that there were a group of united enemies all around the tribe, watching eagerly. And his tribe was facing the risk of extinction at any time - because in the past, in order to maintain the purity of the tribe, his army had
, they only seize the city and then expel other local ethnic groups instead of absorbing them into the tribe.
He has fought against invincible enemies all over the world, and his enemies have gone from being just one to now being numerous.
The tribe has not become stronger, but has become weaker than before.
The leader finally realized that simply throwing punches would not solve the fundamental problem.
From then on, the leader learned to put down his fists and convince others with reason. However, occasionally, he would habitually pick up his fists and wave them at disobedient opponents. This method was obviously much better than the previous method.
.
The leader's enemies are gradually decreasing, and the tribe is becoming more vibrant again.
…
Hearing this, Ma Di couldn't stand it anymore. This old guy was clearly reflecting that he had provoked a dispute between Xianbei and Wei, and plunged Xianbei into a quagmire of war.
So he directly retorted: "Now, the Wei people want to destroy your tribe. May I ask, elder, what should be done?"
The old man with white hair and white beard looked at Ma Su with a wise look: "We can ask for surrender. Wei has inherited the Han Dynasty and has the demeanor of a great country, so he will definitely withdraw his troops."
"Very good. Since the elder is so confident, please go to the Wei army camp."
Hearing this, the elder's face changed a little, and he excused himself: "The two countries are at war at this time, so it is not convenient to send an envoy. This matter can be dealt with after the war."
Ma Di laughed and said: "The two countries are at war. If you don't kill the envoy, please ask the elders to come. If you can tell Xianbei's peace in his life with an unshakable tongue, wouldn't it be famous on bamboo and silk!"
Kirby Neng seemed to realize the benefits of going on an envoy. He looked at the elder with bright eyes and said, "Uncle, why don't you just make a trip."
The elder left with a depressed look on his face. When he was escorted out of the city by several soldiers, he looked very embarrassed and no longer had any trace of the elder's demeanor.
Ma Su and Kirby looked at each other tacitly, and smiled at each other.
The old guy relied on his high moral standing and kept gesticulating in front of Kirby Neng all day long, talking about things that Ma Di called "poisonous chicken soup" and "big principles", which annoyed Kirby Neng very much.
It's better now, the world is clean!
The benefits don't stop there.
Regardless of whether the old man's invitation to surrender is successful or not, it can completely dispel the doubts of the generals of the Wei army and make them feel confident to urge the army.
After meeting with the Xianbei elders and learning that Kirby had the idea of "surrender", Bi Gui immediately asked: "May I ask the elder, how long is the validity period of the Xianbei people's surrender this time? One year? Two years? Or three
Months?”
"Of course it's not a year or two. We Xianbei are so weak and can only survive under the wings of the Wei Dynasty. How could we possibly rebel within three months?" The Xianbei elder certainly denied it.
You guys should do this often! Bi Gui sneered: "Oh? Tell me, I am very curious, how do you plan to surrender? If you nominally surrender in this way, old man, you don't have to say anything."
"Of course, it's not just a nominal surrender. I, King Kebi Neng, also want to offer a large number of cattle and sheep, just to be able to stay in the pass and live."
Bi Gui laughed: "It's just cattle and sheep? Where's the horse?"
"Yes!"
"What about the compensation for the last war? My great Wei soldiers can't die in vain, right?"
Does that mean that my Xianbei warrior deserves to die in vain? The elder felt a little aggrieved: "Uh, that's true."
Bi Gui nodded: "Very good, then what about the war compensation this time?"
"We haven't fought yet this time." The Xianbei elder muttered, very quietly.
But Bi Gui heard it, and immediately stood up and walked up to him, saying in a cold voice: "My 70,000-strong army came all the way, and the people were eaten by the horses, and the cost was huge. Don't we need compensation?"
The Xianbei elder looked a little confused and asked nonchalantly: "How much compensation do you want, sir?"
Bi Gui and Qin Lang exchanged glances, smiled slightly and said: "One hundred thousand cattle and sheep, and ten thousand horses!"
The elder was silent for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "Sir, you are robbing me!"
Bi Gui spread his hands and said nonchalantly: "Don't agree? If you don't agree, then start a war!"
The elder's facial features were all piled up, and he was almost crying. When he came, Kirby could only say that he would be solely responsible for the negotiations. As long as he could make peace, Xianbei was willing to pay any price.
However, the elder knew that after compensating the Wei Dynasty with 100,000 cattle and sheep, the Xianbei people would have a hard time this winter.
Maybe, many tribesmen will starve to death.
However, when he thought that after paying these huge amounts of materials, he would have the opportunity to reach a permanent peace with Wei, he endured his heartache and said: "We are willing to accept Wei's conditions."
Seeing that the Xianbei elder agreed so happily, Bi Gui and Qin Lang looked at each other again and suddenly laughed loudly.
Business theorem: When bargaining, as long as the price can be reduced, the party who buys the thing will definitely lose money.
Transposing this theorem to the situation of negotiations between two countries, that is: as long as the conditions offered are acceptable to the other party, then there must be room for improvement in the conditions!
After laughing, Bi Gui said word by word: "Old man, you don't seem to have heard clearly. What I just said was a year's compensation. From now on, every year, the Xianbei people will contribute the same amount to the Wei Dynasty.
Cattle, sheep and horses!”
"You, you, you..." The Xianbei elder fell to the ground and said angrily: "You might as well go grab it, I, Xianbei, can't take out so many things!"
"That's right, this is what I mean! Are my 70,000-strong army here to enjoy the mountains and rivers?" Bi Gui smiled and helped him up, and said kindly: "Old man, go back and think about it carefully. This price is only valid today.
.When the army comes to the city tomorrow, it won’t be at this price!”
"Come and see the guests off!"
Two soldiers came in.
The Xianbei elder walked out of the camp in despair, and with the support of several Xianbei warriors, he turned back to Shicheng. He did not bother to inform Kirby of the results of the negotiation, and came to see Ma Su in an aggressive manner.
"Did you already expect that I would be so humiliated when I came here?"
"No, I didn't. Old man, please don't talk nonsense!" Ma Su decisively denied.
The Xianbei elder sneered and continued his analysis without comment.
"The Wei army is already approaching the city. We are outnumbered and the enemy is outnumbered. If we seek peace at this time, we are bound to be blackmailed. In addition, the king suffered heavy losses at Luochuankou. To seek peace now is tantamount to letting others slaughter us."
"You expected that our army would not agree to Wei's conditions, and then you used this to encourage my king to fight to the end with Wei, so as to share more pressure from Wei for you, Shu Han."
"I have to say that there are few people in the world who can match your depth of scheming and viciousness."
Ma Su politely bowed his hand to him: "Old man, this is all speculation and persecution delusion. I never thought so."
The elder waved his hand and said: "Whether you admit it or not, since the matter has reached this point, you must help me, Xianbei, win this battle, otherwise, I will become a ghost and haunt your whole family!"
"..." Ma Su was speechless for a while. The old guy's threat was really... no deterrent at all.
He was suddenly curious about what the old guy experienced in Wei Camp, and why was there such a huge contrast between before and after?
Before going on the mission, I was determined to oppose the war; now, I am determined to fight!
"Old man, what conditions did Wei state impose to make you so angry?"
The elder smacked his withered lips depressedly, and said angrily: "A common man from Wei State, you are going too far to bully others!"
After that, he walked away angrily.
Judging from the fact that he is still very vigorous despite his age, he must have suffered a lot in Wei camp this time.
Ma Di also returned to his camp on the hill outside the city. When he left the city, he was in a very happy mood. The recent war was progressing towards the goal he expected, which made him very satisfied.
As expected, the entire Wei army will be wiped out in this battle.
But Kirby Neng, who had won a great victory, was not the winner, because he had already lost more than 30,000 cavalry before. In the next battle, even if the Xianbei people ambush from all sides, it would be a brutal war.
Xianbei's current total military strength is only about 70,000, while Wei's total strength is 65,000.
It is estimated that after this battle, the Xianbei people will lose at least 20,000 to 30,000 more young men.
Ma Su had already made the decision to stay in Xianbei.
Now, there is no need. After this battle, both Wei and Xianbei will be severely weakened. Moreover, Wei's energy will be attracted to the north. When Zhuge Liang knows this news, he will definitely fight Sima Yi formally.
Ma Su believed that Sima Yi was no match for Zhuge Liang in a duel.
In the evening, Kirby came.
He came alone, so when he saw the great wizard's uncovered face, he stared at him with a pair of bright bull's eyes, making him dumbfounded.
The great wizard quickly covered his veil and hid in the tent.
Ma Su spent a lot of effort to wake Kirby up from his hysteria and stared at him with a half-smile.
Kirby touched his head in embarrassment, looked around, and spoke to break the dullness.
"The war will begin tomorrow."
"Well, are you all ready?"
"Ready."
"Well, is there anything else you're worried about?"
Kirby Neng rubbed Fumu's head vigorously and murmured to himself: "I don't know why, but I always feel uneasy."
"Strange, why is my mind so dull now? I almost can't even remember my last name."
