"In addition, we have another option, which is to give up on the other cities and head straight for the Arabian capital of Baghdad. With our abilities, we should be able to reach the vicinity of Baghdad by more than two thousand two hundred kilometers. Although they might not be able to take that city, they were more than enough to threaten the Arabian capital and shake the entire Arabian Empire, leaving them with the most humiliating mark in history. Not even one billion taels of gold would be enough to buy back this humiliation.
"In addition, if my guess is correct, the Arabs will most likely pretend to agree to our request and send over one billion taels of gold to buy time for the other armies to think of a way to defeat us. Thus, no matter what, they will! Set! Will! Out! "
Wang Chong's expression was confident, his voice carrying the weight of one thousand jun. Wang Chong never fought a battle he was not confident in. While the threat of war and the demand for reparations were very novel in this world, they had long ago become the norm in the other world, and it had even led to the rapid rise of several peoples in that other world.
War required profit, and this protracted war had lasted until now. Wang Chong needed a satisfactory number as an answer to present to all levels of society, including the people of the Tang dynasty.
As if in response to Wang Chong's words, the flapping of wings rang out in everyone's ears. In the next moment, under everyone's gaze, a huge golden-beaked falcon flapped its wings and descended from the sky. It flew into the hall and landed on the long golden conference table in front of everyone. And on the falcon's leg was a particularly eye-catching rolled-up letter.
"Buzz!"
At the sight of this hunting falcon, the hall instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone's body trembled, and they revealed shocked expressions. A few of them even stood up.
Would the Arabs really agree to one billion taels of gold?
In that instant, everyone held their breath. Swish! A thin hand reached out from the side and took the letter from the leg of the Arabian hunting falcon. A few moments later, Yuan Shusong's expression became agitated.
"Milord, the Arabs have agreed to one billion taels of gold! They've really agreed! "
"What?"
A single stone caused a thousand ripples. Hearing Won Shu-young's words, everyone in the hall was shocked to the point of standing up.
"Let me see!"
The Arab letter first landed in Gao Xianzhi's hands, and then Cheng Qianli, Xi Yuanqing, Lou Shiyi, Li Siye … and then everyone else in the hall. Other than Won Shu-young, there were very few people in the hall who could recognize Arabic.
This matter was far too shocking, shocking at Wang Chong's price of one billion taels of gold, and even more shocking at the Arabs' reaction. It was no longer important whether they could recognize the words on the letter or not. They were just confirming it through this method. Even for Gao Xianzhi, it was unimaginable for him to win one billion taels of gold in a war.
Even the benefits he gained from attacking Stone Country were far from comparable to this. The difference between them was like clouds and mud in the face of a great wizard.
Wang Chong's simple action instantly eclipsed all his previous actions.
"Wonderful!"
Cheng Qianli clenched his fists, his expression excited. No amount of words could compare to the impact of a single Arab letter. At this moment, everyone suddenly understood Wang Chong's strategic intentions.
"One billion taels of gold! If we write a memorial to the Imperial Court, no one in the court, including the civil and military officials, will dare to believe it. Even the civil officials, including the Bureau of Personnel, will have a completely different opinion of us! "
One billion taels of gold was an astronomical sum. Even a Vice Protector-General like Cheng Qianli couldn't help but be moved. Many soldiers had died in the Battle of Talas, and just the compensation for their deaths was an enormous sum. Cheng Qianli had previously considered what he should do. As the leader of these soldiers who had died in battle, every general would protect their subordinates and fight for as many benefits as possible. But now, everything had been resolved.
"However, the Arabs have also put forward a few conditions in their letter."
At this moment, a voice rang out beside his ear. Yuan Shusong frowned slightly and said thoughtfully, "You're right.
"According to the Arabs' conditions, they hope to sign a treaty with us in order to stop the war. The Arabs promise that they will no longer invade the Tang Dynasty, but they hope that we will withdraw from Khorasan and return the territory between Khorasan and Samarkand to them. In addition, they will not threaten to attack any other cities. "
"Buzz!"
The people in the room instantly fell silent at Won Shu-young's words. They glanced at each other, none of them saying anything. From the perspective of the Tang Dynasty, the Arabs' conditions were not impossible to agree to. Exchanging the territory that belonged to the Arabs for one billion taels of gold was not a bad deal. Moreover, the Tang Dynasty had never fought all the way to Khorasan in the more than one thousand years since the beginning of the Qin and Han Dynasties. This was an unprecedented achievement.
At the same time, it was not necessarily a good thing for the Great Tang soldiers to be stuck here for a long time in unfamiliar territory.
"I object!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out. Su Hanshan suddenly opened his mouth and said with a cold and hard expression,
"If we really agree to the Arabs' conditions, all our previous efforts will have been for naught. There is a first time for everything. We were able to occupy the unfamiliar Western Regions and operate until now, so we can also occupy Khorasan and firmly control it. No matter what, it's worth a try! "
"Of course not!"
Wang Chong heartily laughed.
"Right now, the Arabs coveted the Central Plains and were defeated by us, so they attacked Khorasan and besieged us. In this war, the Arabs are paying one billion taels of gold to compensate us for our losses. This is not some equal exchange. It seems like His Majesty Mutasim still doesn't understand his own situation, nor does he understand the attitude a loser should have. General Cheng, lead the army across the Tigris River and attack the closest city, Shandar. When we're about to occupy it, withdraw to Khorasan! Let them understand their situation. "
"Understood! Leave this matter to me!"
Cheng Qianli smiled.
The development of this war had already surpassed the limits of his understanding, but Cheng Qianli had unreservedly trusted Wang Chong. Thus, no matter what Wang Chong said, he would carry it out without hesitation.
After discussing a few more details about the defense of the city, the meeting concluded and the crowd quickly dispersed.
"Wang Chong, the Arabs still have many experts. Do you really think that they will keep their promise?"
Once everyone had left, only Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi were left in the room.
"Lord Protector-General, you also said that the Arabs still have many intelligent people. How could they really negotiate peace with us? This is just a delaying tactic! "
Wang Chong firmly said.
Arabia was a country of war that delighted in conquest. From the very start, Wang Chong had concluded that they would never truly negotiate peace, so how could there be a peace treaty?
But Wang Chong wanted one billion taels of gold, and whether the Arabs were willing or not, they had to hand it over. Now was not the time for them to be begging for help.
… …
After leaving the conference hall, Wang Chong climbed onto the western wall of Khorasan and looked into the distance. Beyond the wall, he could hear the howling of the Tigris River. This wide river was a natural barrier, an invisible line of defense for Khorasan.
From the moment he had first arrived at Khorasan and laid eyes on this river, Wang Chong had sensed its military value. From a certain perspective, Abu Muslim had been correct. Khorasan truly was extremely difficult to break.
"General, have you ever thought about how we should respond when the Caliph Mutasim III of Arabia sends hundreds of thousands of soldiers in a thunderous rage, as well as countless governors and generals? There will never be any true negotiation with the Arabs. Even if they agree, General will find it very difficult to retreat unscathed. "
A voice suddenly came from behind him, and it sounded heavy.
"Haha, so General already knows about our business with the Arabs. Does Great General also believe that we will yield Khorasan and withdraw? "
Wang Chong faintly smiled, not even turning his head.
He had naturally not come to the high walls of Khorasan to admire the grandeur of the Tigris River. There were far too many rivers like this in the Central Plains. Bahram's invitation was the true reason he had appeared here.
"Of course not, or else I would not have appeared here."
Bahram said in somewhat choppy Arabic. Bahram did not speak the language of the Tang dynasty, and Wang Chong did not speak Khorasani. In the end, for the sake of communication, the two had decided to use Arabic.
"… But in the rebel army, everyone has this suspicion. If you retreat, everyone will panic, and this wave of soldiers we gathered with great difficulty will instantly disperse. Moreover, the Arabs will pursue us relentlessly. When the time comes, everyone will suffer grievous losses."
Bahram paused for a moment before continuing, a deep concern on his brow. He did not care about the negotiations between the Tang dynasty and the Arabs, nor did he care about the one billion taels of gold. From a certain perspective, Bahram even believed that this was a good thing, because only if the Tang dynasty benefited from it would they stay.
The Arabs were far too powerful, so powerful that no empire other than the Tang dynasty could contend against them.
So many rebel soldiers had been willing to come out this time because they saw hope in the Tang dynasty. Thus, if the Tang dynasty were to withdraw from Khorasan, one could easily imagine the impact it would have on them.
"This matter will depend on General's prestige to pacify them. The Tang dynasty will not retreat, at least not without reason. "
Wang Chong faintly smiled.
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