However, not to mention these officials, even ordinary scholars knew what kind of disaster it would be if a country's sea routes and waterways were ceded.
After thinking for a long time, Pang Jue said firmly, "Old Man would rather die than cede three prefectures and a river!"
The Gyeongo officials immediately respected Pang Jue. However, they were saddened that such a hero could only come to Jingguo to negotiate.
The Jingguo officials also looked at the Left Prime Minister of Jingguo with respect.
Fang Yun said slowly, "Then you can go to hell."
The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly froze.
Not only the Gyeongo officials, but many Jingguo officials also looked at Fang Yun in surprise.
Pang Jue looked at Fang Yun with grief and indignation. His body trembled slightly.
"Jingguo is too much!" Pang Jue stood up angrily. His body swayed and the people beside him hurriedly supported him.
Cao Dean hurriedly stood up and said, "Fang Xusheng, Lord Pang, please calm down. This is a negotiation between two countries. Don't let your emotions affect your decisions. Come, serve some tea. Let's take a break before we continue. "
Pang Jue snorted and sat down slowly.
After hearing Cao Dean's words, some of the officials realized that this was a negotiation tactic used by Fang Yun and Cao Dean.
Fang Yun played the villain and used all means to pressure Gyeongo. Once Gyeongo officials couldn't take it anymore, Cao Dean hurriedly stepped in to mediate.
Moreover, the more aggressive Fang Yun was, the happier Pang Jue and the other officials were.
Both sides knew that Fang Yun's conditions were negotiable. Therefore, the more Pang Jue was humiliated and the more he objected, the less criticism he would receive when he returned to Gyeongo.
Gyeongo's people would only praise Pang Jue for not being afraid of power and for standing up to Xusheng's pressure and resolutely opposing unfair content so that Gyeongo could avoid losing more land.
Next, Fang Yun and Pang Jue did not participate. The officials in charge of foreign affairs from both sides began an intense negotiation.
Ceding three prefectures and the area around Yijiang was only one-third of Gyeongo's territory, but the tax revenue from this one-third of the territory was more than half of the country's.
In the beginning, Gyeongo was determined not to give up on Haizhou and the riverside area. However, they soon realized that Jingguo didn't care about Yongzhou and Lingzhou at all. They only cared about Haizhou and the riverside area. If they did not agree, then Jingguo would definitely give up on the peace talks.
The two sides talked for another two hours, but they still couldn't come to an agreement.
Fang Yun finally showed an impatient look and said to Cao Dean without any trace of politeness, "I told you before, if we don't suppress them, they won't bow their heads! At that time, they will be much more obedient than they are now. "
Cao Dean smiled bitterly and said, "Don't say too much."
The Gyeongo officials' eyes were red. Fang Yun's words were worse than death for them.
They knew that this was Jingguo's negotiation strategy, but they couldn't retaliate.
Pang Jue sighed and said, "Why don't we start talking about other terms first?"
Both sides reached a compromise on this point and temporarily shelved the terms of ceding land.
The negotiations for other terms were unusually smooth.
For example, Pang Jue not only promised to allow the establishment of the Fang Family Library and the Fang Family Academy, but he was also willing to provide the land for free.
As for the recruitment of workers, Gyeongo was also very cooperative. They hoped to establish their own government office to recruit workers and take the initiative to provide Jingguo with labor from the poor and remote areas.
As for the issue of trade taxes, both sides discussed for a long time. In the end, both sides compromised a little. Jingguo's goods sold in Gyeongo had to be at least half of Gyeongo's market price. There were no restrictions on goods that cost less than three copper coins.
Both sides went back and forth and gradually finalized other terms. Some of the terms were obviously unreasonable, so Jingguo also compromised.
Finally, both sides finished discussing other terms.
Tea and fruits were served again. Both sides rested and began to eat and drink.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, both sides began the final negotiations on ceding land.
Gyeongo knew that Jingguo needed Hu Province, but they still refused to let it go. They were only willing to cede Yongzhou, which wasn't the most valuable. In the end, Fang Yun was so angry that he left in a huff and stopped the negotiations. The Gyeongo officials were frightened and panicked.
Cao Dean hurriedly chased after him. After fifteen minutes, Cao Dean returned and said helplessly, "Everyone, please don't blame Fang Xusheng. Before he came, he boasted in front of the Empress Dowager that he would definitely be able to seize three provinces. Who knew that you would only cede Yongzhou? This made him embarrassed. I tried my best to persuade him to calm down. He said that he would calm down first and come back when the time was right. Although he didn't say it explicitly, if he wasn't satisfied, I'm afraid that he would completely cancel the negotiations and send down the Zhengdao. "
Assistant Minister Yang Xuwen, who rarely spoke, said, "My friends from Gyeongo, think about it. Once the Zhengdao is sent down to Gyeongo, what's the use of having so much land?"
Gyeongo's officials fell silent.
The Zhengdao was far stronger than the Miscellaneous School. Even if the Zongsheng took action, he could only control the situation to a certain extent. The entire Gyeongo's officials would still fall into chaos.
Everyone knew that once the Zhengdao was sealed for too long, the nearby countries could use all kinds of excuses to annex Gyeongo.
After a long time, Pang Jue said coldly, "If Gyeongo only wants Hai Province, Old Man will agree even if he has to bear the infamy of the ages!"
"Prime Minister Pang …"
The other Gyeongo's officials looked at Pang Jue with red eyes.
Cao Dean stroked his beard and said, "If that's all, Old Man will have a hard time explaining to Fang Xusheng. However, Gyeongo can't cede any more cities along the river. Why don't both sides take a step back? We only want Hai Province. As for the regions along the river, we'll only choose five cities and rent them for a hundred years. What do you think? "
Pang Jue didn't answer immediately, but Gyeongo's officials looked very happy.
Gyeongo could totally accept this result!
Gyeongo's bottom line was two ordinary provinces. Ceding Hai Province and renting five cities sounded better than ceding two provinces.
Pang Jue held the official seal in his hand and sent the letter. Finally, he raised his head and said slowly, "Gyeongo agrees to cede Hai Province and rent five cities along the river for a hundred years!"
At this moment, the sky was slightly brightening.
After the two sides finished discussing the details, Fang Yun came in with a dark face. Finally, the two sides officially signed the "Hai Province Treaty".
As soon as the treaty was signed, Jingguo's national luck soared like a raging fire, while Gyeongo's national luck weakened significantly.
After sending off Gyeongo's negotiating team, the cabinet held a celebratory banquet that night!
In fact, Jingguo's original goal was Hai Province and the five cities along the river.
After the celebratory banquet, a tipsy Fang Yun was sent back to the palace in a carriage. At this moment, Zhao Yuan was already sound asleep. Fang Yun couldn't wake him up, so he was sent to the cabinet's quarters by a eunuch.
Just as Fang Yun was about to go to sleep, he received an encrypted and urgent message from the Dragon Marquis, Ao Qingyue.
The Dragons received news from the Ancient Sea Cliff that Elder Bi had appeared in the Ancient Sea Cliff!
Zhuge Liang's former residence of Half-saint had appeared in the Ancient Sea Cliff!
The treasure of the Holy Burial Valley had appeared in the Ancient Sea Cliff!
All the major powers in the Ancient Sea Cliff were fighting for the Literati Star fragment!
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