Mo Xiuyao nodded, frowning as he said, "A truce between the two armies is naturally a good thing. These past few years of continuous campaigns have caused the common people to suffer unspeakably. Jhennam Of Gojoseon has the intention to quell the war, and I am very happy. However, the ones fighting the Western Tomb are the troops of the Da Chu State. I'm afraid that this matter … will only be settled after a meeting with King Yu of the Da Chu State. "
Lei Tengfeng raised his eyebrows, looking at Mo Xiuyao as he said seriously, "Why is Prince Ding like this? You and I both understand … although the ones fighting are the troops of Southern Chu, isn't it still up to Prince Ding to decide whether to fight or to make peace? Moreover … I'm afraid that King Yu won't have the chance to discuss this matter with you and me. Currently, the affairs of the Western Tomb State are busy, and I can't wait for the time when Southern Chu sends out an envoy. I hope that His Highness Prince Ding will be magnanimous enough to forgive us. "
Mo Xiuyao sized up Lei Tengfeng with interest for a while, before smiling and saying, "It looks like Jhennam Of Gojoseon is really well-informed."
Lei Tengfeng said with an indifferent smile, "Prince Ding also knows of the relationship between the Emperor Of Xiling and the Infinite Boundless Mountain. Naturally, he has some special channels for information."
Mo Xiuyao nodded absentmindedly, saying, "Since Jhennam Of Gojoseon has this sincerity, I naturally don't want to cause any more trouble. However … there are still some things that we need to make clear in advance. " Lei Tengfeng frowned slightly, "Our army will completely withdraw from the Da Chu State. In addition, I's information on the Da Chu State and Mo Jingli can also be given to Prince Ding. I wonder if His Highness Prince Ding has any other requests? "
Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Well … of course it's compensation. The south is rich, and West-Hill has benefited a lot from the Central Plains over the years. Has Jhennam Of Gojoseon never thought of compensating the people of the Central Plains? "Lei Tengfeng looked at Mo Xiuyao's carefree little face in silence. Actually, Lei Zhenting and Lei Tengfeng were wronged to say that the West-Hill had treated the people of the Central Plains. After all, Xi Ling and the Northern Tribes were different. Although they belonged to two different countries, they were of the same origin. Moreover, Lei Zhenting had always treated the place as his own territory. In terms of intelligence, Lei Zhenting's ability was not something Mo Jingli or Mo Jingqi could compare to. Therefore, in general, the lives of these people were not bad.
However, Lei Tengfeng was the one who had lost the war and was the one who had taken the initiative to invade. As the victim and the victor, he had no reason to refuse the compensation. Taking a deep breath, Lei Tengfeng lowered his eyes and said, "West-Hill can compensate the Prince Ding Mansion with thirty million taels of silver."
Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Eighty million taels. Most of West-Hill's silver mines are in the south. West-Hill should be able to afford this, right? "
Lei Tengfeng's expression changed. He shook his head and said, "At most forty million taels." Mo Xiuyao naturally understood the logic of asking for a sky-high price and asking for a low price. He tilted his head and smiled at Ye Li, then raised his hand to Lei Tengfeng and said, "Seventy million taels."
"No, forty-five million taels. Prince Ding, West-Hill cannot afford a higher price. If you really can't … I can't do anything. " What he meant was that Prince Ding's price was too high. If West-Hill could not afford it, then they might as well fight to the death. Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and Chen Xiufu with some regret. He smiled and said, "Well, let's round it up. Fifty million taels."
Lei Tengfeng's face was livid. He said in a low voice, "Okay, pay it over three years."
Mo Xiuyao was not short of money. Three years was not a long time, so he was not in a hurry. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "No problem. Then I thank Jhennam Of Gojoseon for your understanding. I will immediately order Murong Shen and Marquis Nan to withdraw their troops. I hope West-Hill will also abide by the agreement? "
"Of course." Lei Tengfeng said in a low voice.
Lei Tengfeng agreed readily. Mo Xiuyao was also in a good mood. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Great. In that case, let's leave the rest of the trivial matters to the subordinates. Let's … let Minister Zuo be in charge of this matter. "
Chen Xiufu was stunned. He quickly stood up and said, "Yes, sir." Chen Xiufu understood that this was trust in him, and also a test for him. The matter of negotiating with West-Hill was left to him, a West-Hill citizen, to be in charge. Even if Prince Ding had expressed his trust in him to the officials of Glass City and entrusted him with important tasks.
Lei Tengfeng was stunned. He looked at Chen Xiufu and nodded, "In that case, I will have to trouble Minister Chen. Today, the Prince Ding Mansion is busy. I will take my leave first. "
Chen Xiufu said indifferently, "Jhennam Of Gojoseon is too serious."
Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Then I will not accompany Jhennam Of Gojoseon. Minister Zuo, I will leave West-Hill's matters to you."
"Yes, Jhennam Of Gojoseon, please." Lei Tengfeng and Chen Xiufu said their goodbyes and left the Flower Hall.
Ye Li looked at the empty doorway and said indifferently, "Lei Tengfeng … compared to Lei Zhenting, he is still a little inexperienced." Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "It is already not bad. He can't become the second Lei Zhenting in the border city after Lei Zhenting's death. Also … he can't become Lei Zhenting. But, to be able to endure … is already not bad. " Lei Zhenting had fought his way out of the many princes of the late West-Hill Emperor. Even though he did not sit on the throne, he took over the power after the late West-Hill Emperor passed away. This ability was not something that Lei Tengfeng, who had been pampered and protected by Lei Zhenting since he was young, could have. It was already very good that Lei Tengfeng could hold his ground at the crucial moment and endure when he needed to. In time, he should become a good Lord of Preservation. But to be as awe-inspiring as when Lei Zhenting was still around, it would be a little difficult.
"Li, why do you care about how he is? You should think about … how we are going to spend the forty million compensation from West-Hill. "Mo Xiuyao hugged Ye Li and laughed softly. Forty million was definitely not a small amount for the Prince Ding Mansion or West-Hill. Otherwise, Lei Tengfeng would not have insisted on paying it off in three years. With this money, the Prince Ding Mansion's losses from the war over the past few years would basically be covered. Not to mention the territory under the Prince Ding Mansion's control today, which was close to four-fifths of the former Da Chu State's territory and one-third of West-Hill's territory. Now, the Prince Ding Mansion's area was larger than the existing West-Hill and Da Chu State's combined. Now that everything had been temporarily settled, all the benefits had been taken by the Prince Ding Mansion.
Ye Li looked curiously at Mo Xiuyao and asked, "How do you want to spend it?" The war compensation was naturally put into the Prince Ding Mansion's treasury. Obviously, Mo Xiuyao had no room to spend it however he wanted. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had always separated public from private matters. Even if the entire Prince Ding Mansion belonged to them, the two of them would never use the money in the public account for personal use. Fortunately, the two of them were not people who liked extravagance, so they never had to worry about money.
Mo Xiuyao played with Ye Li's hair. Thinking about Ye Li's words, he felt a bit helpless. "I want to build a beautiful palace for Miss Li." Seeing his dejected appearance, Ye Li couldn't help but smile. "A few days ago, you said that you would accompany me to go sightseeing in a few years. When your palace is built, who will live in it? "
Mo Xiuyao raised his head to look at her and said seriously, "I want to give Miss Li the most magnificent and exquisite palace, the most beautiful clothes and jewelry, and the most exquisite delicacies. As long as Li wants it, I will find it for Miss Li. "
Ye Li smiled at him and said with a faint smile, "I didn't know that I had the potential to be a beauty who could destroy a country. A waste of money and manpower. I just want our family to be safe and happy together. I just want to be able to do what I want to do. After so many years, seeing that we can live peacefully and happily, I feel like … … I've already gotten what I want. "
"Miss Li has never told me what she wants." Mo Xiuyao said with a bit of regret and unwillingness. Miss Li did not have any extravagant desires for power, clothes, and jewelry. Even Mo Xiuyao was not sure what she liked or hated. This was something that Prince Ding was always worried about.
"Because what I want, you've already given me." Ye Li said with a faint smile.
"Given you?" Mo Xiuyao was a bit confused.
Ye Li leaned into his embrace and said softly, "A lifetime, a generation, a pair. Only this … … is what I want. "
Mo Xiuyao stilled. He raised a hand to tightly wrap around her slender waist and said in a low voice, "A lifetime, a generation, a pair … … Mo Xiuyao, in this life, only has Miss Li." There was no oath or pledge of eternal love. Mo Xiuyao just said it lightly. It was like a simple statement, but it was more comforting than any oath. Ye Li nodded slightly, "I know. I also feel the same. "
Chen Xiufu accompanied Lei Tengfeng out of the study. The two walked side by side. Lei Tengfeng looked at Chen Xiufu beside him and couldn't help but smile, "It seems that Mister Xiuting is greatly valued by Prince Ding and Wang Fei in the Prince Ding Mansion?"
Chen Xiufu said seriously, "Chen Xiuting is very grateful for Prince and Wang Fei's kindness." Lei Tengfeng thought for a moment and asked with a smile, "If I am willing to make you the Prime Minister of West-Hill, would you be willing to deign to return to West-Hill and assist I?"
Chen Xiufu looked at him calmly for a moment and shook his head gently, "A loyal minister will not serve two masters. Chen Xiuting does not dare to claim to be loyal, but I am also not a two-faced and indecisive person. Chen Xiuting does not dare to accept Jhennam Of Gojoseon's kindness. "
Lei Tengfeng was originally just testing him. Naturally, he didn't expect Chen Xiufu to change sides and return to West-Hill so easily. But Lei Tengfeng felt a little uncomfortable after being rejected so cleanly by Chen Xiufu. He stopped and looked at Chen Xiufu, asking, "Does Mister Xiuting have any advice on the current situation of West-Hill? This … you should be able to say. "
Chen Xiufu hesitated for a moment and finally said, "A ruler is not a ruler, a minister is not a minister, or a minister is not a minister, or a minister is strong and a master is weak. This is not the way to go in the long run. Jhennam Of Gojoseon should make plans early. " Lei Tengfeng was stunned and wanted to ask again, but Chen Xiufu didn't intend to say anything more. He turned sideways and raised his hand to Lei Tengfeng, "Jhennam Of Gojoseon, please."
Lei Tengfeng could only suppress the questions in his heart and nodded, "Prime Minister Chen, please."
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