Zhu Zan didn't jump anymore, picked up the letter and beard on the ground, and cursed.
"What happened?" The man just now came over and asked.
"Huang Cheng, this old man, persuaded the emperor to accept the peace negotiation." Zhu Zan said with a sneer.
The man looked surprised.
"Is he crazy?" he asked.
Zhu Zan sat down on the stone again.
"Open a mutual market and cut off six counties. When we have no defeat, anyone who can say this is crazy." He said, "It's ridiculous that there are so many lunatics in the world."
The man patted Zhu Zan on the shoulder.
"These people who are far away in the court are too afraid of war. The way to solve their fear is to stop the war, but they don't know that what stops the war is not not to fight, but to fight," he said.
Zhu Zan sneered.
"It's not that they don't know, it's just that it's none of their business," he said. "For some people, it doesn't matter if they cede the land and abandon the people. Anyway, they are still rich and powerful."
Things in the court are too lofty and far-reaching, and men feel that they cannot evaluate or influence them.
"What should we do now?" he asked, then do what you can control.
Zhu Zan looked at the letter for a moment.
"Discuss peace." He said, "There must be many people in the court who disagree, the people of the North do not agree, and the generals of the North do not agree."
He said, putting on his beard and standing up.
"We don't agree either."
After saying that, he strode forward.
The man said hello to everyone around him, and many people followed him and headed north quickly.
………………………………
"It's so ridiculous and ridiculous."
The night was dark, but the lights were still bright in Ning Yan's study.
"There are only a few soldiers and generals, and the people are in dire straits and the country is starved."
Ning Yan looked even more haggard than the previous days. He had not yet changed out of his official robe, and he was sitting in front of his desk with an angry expression.
"I think the treasury of the Great Zhou Dynasty is in short supply. It is nonsense to say that it is due to the consumption of military resources by Duke Cheng."
"The national treasury is lacking. We should ask Huang Cheng, who is in charge of the national treasury, where did the money go?"
The desk was slapped and the tea cup was shaken.
Ning Yunzhao, who was sitting opposite, stretched out his hand to support him.
"Uncle, let's change your clothes first." He said softly, unfolding the homely cotton robe in his hand.
The girls were all responsible for changing clothes, but Ning Yan stormed down the court door angrily, entered the study without saying a word, and locked himself up so late that no one could come in.
Mrs. Ning Er had no choice but to ask Ning Yunzhao to come in and see how things were going by delivering clothes.
It has been spread that the imperial court and the Jin people want to negotiate peace.
At first, the people thought that they were surrendering and admitting defeat. Everyone in the capital was happy. After all, not fighting was a good thing.
But soon the Jin envoy's conditions in the court shocked everyone. It turned out that he was not surrendering, but a threat.
The news of 100,000 gold soldiers cast clouds over the entire capital and plunged it into chaos.
Ning Yan and other officials were very angry and reprimanded the Jin envoy on the spot and drove him out. At the subsequent court meeting, they even killed the Jin envoy and sent him to the front line in the North to show that they would never reconcile.
But it is always a good thing not to fight. In addition to the angry militants, there are also a group of officials who feel that this matter is not irreversible.
"Negotiating peace means negotiating." Huang Cheng said slowly, "If you feel the conditions are not suitable, then just negotiate. What's the rush?"
You're talking nonsense, you've already been pooped on your head. If you don't slap me in the face, do you still need to discuss whether you want to sit down and show respect again?
The scoldings between the two sides became more and more fierce. Finally, several veterans in the court simply started fighting with Huang Cheng and others, causing chaos in the court and making the emperor faint with anger.
But then Huang Cheng actually went to talk, and he actually negotiated with her.
"They don't need to open a mutual market. As long as there are three counties, they have no choice. They want to find a way to survive, and they can call Da Zhou a vassal and get a lot of money."
Domain, year coin.
These two things made the emperor's eyes light up.
Although there is not much money in Sui coins, this is an attitude, to bow down and surrender.
To make a former enemy surrender is an achievement, an achievement that can be comforted in front of the ancestors.
"How can this be considered an achievement!"
Ning Yan stood up and walked around, just like he did in the court.
"There are still three counties to cede. This is still not a peace, this is still a threat."
"What does it mean to bow down and surrender? It can never be obtained by grace, gift, and ceded benefits."
"Only until you are convinced."
"I don't believe it. I am a mighty Zhou, and I can't even defeat a mere hundred thousand gold soldiers."
Looking at the angry Ning Yan, Ning Yunzhao looked calm.
"The officials said that the people are poor and the country is depleted and cannot afford to spend money," he said.
"What's even more expensive is the golden man." Ning Yan raised his eyebrows and said.
Ning Yunzhao smiled.
"Uncle, why don't you change your clothes and have something to eat first?" he said.
Ning Yan sat down in front of the desk again.
"No need," he said, picking up his pen, "I will go to the palace immediately after I finish writing this memorial."
This memorial was naturally to refute Huang Cheng and others' request for peace, and to persuade the emperor to continue the war against the Jin people.
Ning Yunzhao stroked his cotton robe.
"Uncle," he said, "however, Your Majesty does not feel this is a threat."
Ning Yan stopped writing and looked up at him.
"I know what you mean." he said.
The reason why Huang Cheng and others were able to jump up and down and try their best to promote peace talks was actually because the emperor had his own thoughts.
Now the debate is between war and peace. To put it bluntly, it is a matter of following the will of the Holy Spirit or going against it.
So now, more and more officials are silent.
"However, loyal words are hard to hear. This is what a minister should do." Ning Yan continued, with a solemn expression.
Ning Yunzhao responded yes.
"I am grinding ink for my uncle." He said, putting his robe aside, standing up and flicking his sleeves.
Ning Yan didn't speak anymore, and the study fell into silence. The light cast the figures of one man studying ink and the other writing quickly on the window.
.....................
…………………………
On December 18, the editor Jiang Jing was demoted to Zhaozhou due to his arrogance, cruelty, slander and resentment towards the imperial court.
On December 20, Li Nan, the remonstrating official, confuses right and wrong.
On December 25th, Ning Yan, the political advisor, was dismissed.
………………………
"So, the peace talks are unstoppable?"
Miss Jun put down the letter in her hand and said calmly.
This time he didn't get angry. The shopkeeper put away his caution and sighed softly.
"Yes." He said, "Grand Scholar Huang Cheng is solely responsible for negotiating peace."
Miss Jun smiled, and her smile turned into sarcasm.
"I know." She finally said.
If not, what can we do? The temples are high and the country is important, but what can we do with ordinary people like them?
The shopkeeper sighed again.
"I'll send you the latest news when I have it," he said in a low voice, saluted and left.
Miss Jun sat in the room without moving for a long time.
"I really shouldn't have..." she murmured, "I really shouldn't have died like that. I should have killed him. I didn't even kill such a waste. What a failure."
She thought about something, but felt blank.
There were footsteps outside the door.
"Miss Jun." Mrs. Yu's voice sounded outside.
Miss Jun responded, the thick door curtain was lifted, and Mrs. Yu walked in.
She was still wearing the floral jacket given by the village women here. After a few days of rest, her feet had healed and she could move freely.
After recovering, Miss Jun watched her come back to her senses.
Once she recovers and can travel again, she will forget about it.
"Mrs. Yu." She stood up and said, "I'll make preparations and we'll set off to Daming Mansion tomorrow or the day after."
Mrs. Yu looked at her and shook her head.
"No, Miss Jun," she said, "I don't plan to go to Daming Mansion. I want to go somewhere else." (To be continued)