Zhu Si finally accepted the olive branch offered by Guo Song and sent his left minister Yao Lingyan to Chang'an for negotiations.
Zhu Si initially considered sending Zhao Niansheng, minister of Honglu Temple, to Chang'an to negotiate. However, Yuanxiu believed that the minister of Honglu Temple was too low-level and that going to Chang'an to negotiate would be a bit rude and would cause problems. After all, it was Guo Song who personally arranged for the Queen Mother's coffin to be delivered.
.
He strongly advocated letting Yao Lingyan go to Chang'an, and at his insistence, Zhu Si finally accepted the suggestion.
Of course Yao Lingyan knew that Yuan Xiu was trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife, so it was best to die in Chang'an and not come back.
As one of the culprits of the Jingyuan Mutiny, Yao Lingyan knew that he was guilty of a serious crime. He almost destroyed the entire Tang Dynasty. If he went to Chengdu, he would definitely die, but what about Chang'an?
Yao Lingyan didn't know what his fate would be. After all, Guo Song claimed to be a Tang minister. Would he please the court and have him executed? Yao Lingyan really had no idea.
But he had no choice but to set off anxiously...
In the Jin Palace, Guo Song received a message from Luoyang. Zhu Si had sent Yao Lingyan to Chang'an to negotiate the withdrawal of troops from Mengjinguan. Other messengers were fine, but Yao Lingyan was one of the thirteen traitors publicly wanted by the imperial court.
Fourth, if Yao Lingyan is allowed to come to Chang'an publicly, I'm afraid there will be criticism from the court.
Guo Song did not care about the empty court in Chengdu, but the Jingyuan mutiny had become a pain for everyone in the world. Guo Song was not willing to touch this scar at this time and cause dissatisfaction among the people of the world.
"What good suggestions does Chang Shi have?" Guo Song pondered for a moment and asked.
Pan Liao stood aside, he smiled slightly and said: "It's very simple. If His Highness doesn't want Yao Lingyan to come to Chang'an, then find another place, such as somewhere in Guozhou, which is not in Guanzhong and is a place under our actual control. Those who don't understand the situation
, I thought we sent someone to Zhu Si’s place.”
"In Chang Shi's opinion, let's put it in Nexiang County. As a reciprocal, we will also send a high-ranking official there."
Guo Song thought for a while and said to Wen Miao: "Go and invite Zhang Sima over!"
.........
Contrary to Yao Lingyan's expectation, he had no chance to go to Chang'an, or even to Guanzhong. When he arrived in Mianchi County, he got the news that the King of Jin had sent Right Sima Zhang Qianyi to Enxiang County to prepare for the war in Enxiang County.
Negotiate yourself.
This news made Yao Lingyan overjoyed. It seemed that Guo Song also disliked him as a trouble and did not want to go to Chang'an by himself. What a good thing! At least his life was safe.
Two days later, Zhang Qianyi and Yao Lingyan arrived in Nexiang County almost at the same time. Of course, they did not come alone, but each brought their deputies, entourages and guards. For a while, the small Nexiang County became lively.
Zhao Wenxi, the magistrate of Nexiang County, was the busiest. Such an important negotiation was actually held in the small county of Nexiang. Zhao Wenxi was happy and nervous at the same time. He was happy that he had the opportunity to show his face, which could make King Jin pay attention to Nexiang County and make him
I have direct contact with You Sima, and that is the Vice-President of the country!
Nervousness is the fear that I will not think carefully and screw up.
The first is accommodation. Zhao Wenxi arranged two large houses for both parties to live. The house was an old house of a wealthy businessman in Ranxiang County, but he was doing business in Chang'an, so the house was closed and made very comfortable. He also arranged for servants, maids, and scouts, and
They killed pigs and sheep, and sent people everywhere to find supplies of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The negotiation location was arranged at the county government office. The inner hall was magnificently decorated, and outside was a yard with a rockery and fish pond.
Zhang Qianyi took Yan Shuo, the doctor of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and Yao Lingyan took Xu Jian, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War. Their ranks were announced. They met in the courtyard, exchanged a few words, and walked into the inner hall to sit down together.
It can be seen that Zhao Wenxi has put some effort into it. When he is sitting in the row of seats, his back is facing east, while his opponent's back is facing east. This is in line with the current geographical location between the two countries.
Originally, Zhao Wenxi wanted his side to face north and south, and let the other side occupy the ministerial position, but the county magistrate advised him that this would arouse the other side's resentment. Zhao Wenxi accepted the advice and adjusted the position to east-west, while his side faced west to east.
This was the position of emperors since the Han and Tang Dynasties, and they vaguely had the upper hand.
Zhang Qianyi and Yao Lingyan sat at the top, and two deputies sat at the bottom. Yao Lingyan leaned forward and said: "First of all, I would like to thank the Emperor for returning the coffin of the Queen Mother to Luoyang, and thank you for your goodwill."
Zhang Qianyi smiled and waved his hand, "When the two countries fight, their ancestors will not be harmed. This is the principle that His Majesty the King of Jin has always adhered to. No need to thank you!"
Yao Lingyan added: "Mengjinguan is the northern gate of Luoyang. For us, there is no room for error. The emperor cherishes the lives of his soldiers and wants to avoid war. He hopes to resolve it through negotiation. Since both of us can sit here, it means that we are both
We come here with sincerity and hope that we can be honest with each other and resolve the Meng-Jinggong matter as soon as possible."
Zhang Qiangyi smiled slightly, "Yao Xiangguo used two hopes, which shows his sincerity. I think since we are all here, we must be sincere and hope to solve the problem. Even if there are differences, it depends on whether the conditions are acceptable.
The problem has nothing to do with sincerity, is that right, Yao Xiangguo?"
Yao Lingyan smiled bitterly, of course it was a condition. The condition was too high and unacceptable, so what kind of sincerity could there be?
"Then let's have an honest talk. We hope that you will withdraw from Mengjing Pass and retreat to the other side of the Yellow River. This will be completed within ten days. In exchange, we can promise not to attack Jiangnan within three years."
Zhang Qianyi shook his head, "These conditions are not equal. First, we occupied Mengjinguan, but you still have not set foot on the south bank of the Yangtze River; second, Jiangnan actually has nothing to do with us. We help Jiangnan only for the personal reasons of His Highness the King of Jin and the old Prime Minister Han."
It's just friendship. Of course, this can also be used as a condition, but it is a little weaker, so I say it is not equivalent."
Yao Lingyan is also trying to attract good friends. Of course he wants to start with the lowest conditions, and it is reasonable for the other party not to accept them.
This is like buying and selling goods. The goods just exit the Mengjing Pass. The buyer can bid first, or the seller can bid first. Yao Lingyan is the buyer. He first offered a low price and bought it with a fait accompli and a meaningless promise.
Go down to Mengjinguan.
Of course the seller cannot accept this offer.
Then the next step should be for the seller to make an offer. Yao Lingyan was mentally prepared that the price offered by the other party must be an unacceptably high price.
Zhang Qianyi was silent for a moment and said: "We hope to exchange Weiguan for Mengjinguan!"
"impossible!"
Yao Lingyan refused flatly. This condition was simply unacceptable. It would be better not to exchange the west gate for the north gate. If the Wei Pass was lost, the Jin army could attack Luoyang like a broken bamboo.
"I have already said that I hope that both parties will be sincere. The importance of Weiguan Pass is far greater than that of Mengjinguan Pass. If you propose Weiguan Pass as a condition, I really can't see your sincerity."
"Without sincerity, we would not have come. I cannot accept Yao Xiangguo's accusation!" Zhang Qianyi said coldly.
Both sides were silent. Zhang Qianyi winked at Yan Shuo. Yan Shuo understood and said slowly: "Continuing the stalemate is not an option. How about Yao Xiangguo give me a bottom line, and then we can add as much as we can from the bottom line upward."
It depends on the final outcome of the negotiations."
Yao Lingyan shook his head, "I can't tell you the bottom line, but I can tell you a principle. Our concessions cannot involve territory. At most, we can talk about trade, or redemption, or we can talk about Jiangnan. Others are unrealistic.
Don't bring things up, otherwise it would be better to start a war."
Zhang Qianyi smiled and said: "I understand your principles, but I also want to ask His Highness the King of Jin for instructions. Why don't we talk about this first today, and let's go back and ask for instructions to see if we can find a balance point acceptable to both parties."
.”
"Okay! When will the next meeting be?"
Zhang Qianyi thought for a while and said: "There's no point in delaying it for too long, just three days later! I think the reply should be here."
The two sides agreed to talk again in three days, and the first day of negotiations ended like this. They tested each other out and probably got the idea.
Back at their place of residence, Zhang Fengyi and Yan Shuo were sitting in the hall drinking tea. Zhang Qianyi smiled and said, "Can you feel Zhu Si's true thoughts?"
Yan Shuo nodded, "Actually, Yao Lingyan has already let it slip. Zhu Si wants to use the redemption method to buy Mengjinguan with money, and then attaches the condition that he will not attack Jiangnan."
"It seems we have the same view! I think so too."
"Does His Highness King Jin have any requirements in this regard?" Yan Shuo asked.
Zhang Qianyi shook his head, "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling there is, but when we set off, he told me that the conditions were Wogguan and Jiangnan. He probably wanted us to test each other out before finally settling on the bottom line."
Yan Shuo was a little anxious. He put down the tea cup and said, "Let's report to His Highness King Jin immediately!"
An hour later, the carrier pigeons from both sides took off one after another, flying towards Chang'an and Luoyang.