"To be able to meet the heir of the most mysterious and oldest family in the Federation, and to be able to meet such a young heir who is full of courage and judgment … this is my honor." The middle-aged man didn't seem to have the aura of the anti-government forces in the mountains. Instead, he was like a businessman who gently expressed his respect for the Tai family.
"I didn't expect you anti-government forces to flatter like the politicians in the Federation," Tai Zhiyuan said with slight sarcasm.
"If it can make you feel better, I don't mind flattering you even louder."
Tai Zhiyuan looked at the second-in-command of the anti-government forces not far in front of him. He gradually compared the image with the image in the information, but he found that the two images didn't match.
"No matter if it's the Federation or your organization, it seems that you only have one code name, and that is … him." He gradually calmed down and said, "But in a conversation, there is always a need for a name."
"Childe Tai, you can call me a mountain man," the middle-aged man said.
Tai Zhiyuan calmly but firmly shook his head. "I don't like this kind of literary name."
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Then you can call me Zhongcai."
"Okay, Mr. Zhongcai, I don't want to say things like how stupid you are. You should know better than me how many people in the Federation want you dead."
Tai Zhiyuan knew that he wasn't facing an ordinary person, but a very troublesome and powerful figure in the Federation. Moreover, this was the first time in his adult life that he truly represented the Tai family in a conversation with the major forces as the heir of the Tai family. Therefore, he was very cautious and said a few more words to buy time for himself to calm down.
"Please tell me your intention directly." He stared at the middle-aged man's ugly triangular eyes and asked directly.
"I come with the request of the 70,000 soldiers in the mountains, the hope of the 13 million citizens of the Federation in the mountains, and the trust of comrade Nanshui." The middle-aged man's tone was very serious at this moment. "I come with the intention of peace, and I hope to get a response from the Federation."
…
…
Peace? This was such a familiar yet strange word. This was especially true for the conflict between the Federation Government and the Anti-Government Army. How many years had it been since the Anti-Government Army fought in the Four Prefectures? Although the military had gradually faded in the past two decades, the upper echelons of the Federation knew that the foundation of the anti-government forces was still above their military strength. Both sides had been fighting back for countless years, and countless people had been sacrificed. Blood had dyed every inch of the mountain red. Peace!
Tai Zhiyuan's fingers that were stirring the coffee instantly stiffened. A strange expression gradually appeared on his pale face. He had never thought that the second in command of the anti-government army would go straight to the point and actually throw out such a heavyweight bomb!
The peace negotiations between the Federation government and the anti-government forces had gone through countless rounds and produced countless peace agreements. However, in the end, due to the betrayal of one party or the outbreak of an unexpected incident, the paper agreement would be put to rest. Even though the moderate faction of the anti-government forces had long ascended onto the Federation's political stage and began to seek the support of the voters with a non-violent image, in reality, in those areas outside of the media's reach, the armed conflict between the government and anti-government forces had always continued.
If this was a normal peace negotiation, Tai Zhiyuan definitely wouldn't be so shocked. However, since the person in front of him was the second in command of the anti-government forces, a core strength that was deeply trusted by Nanshui, the peace he spoke of was naturally not the peace on paper. It was a real peace that could be implemented.
"You should contact the President's Office or the Ministry of Defense directly." Tai Zhiyuan took a deep breath and suppressed the faint excitement in his heart. He calmly said, "If you are truly willing to return the Federation to a period of peace without civil war, I will represent the Tai family to express a 120% welcome and immediately provide full support to the Four Prefectures."
These words were said beautifully, but in reality, they were equivalent to not saying anything. The peace negotiations between the government and the anti-government forces should have been left to the politicians and professional soldiers to negotiate. Tai Zhiyuan didn't have the urge to participate. He knew that admittedly, this could bring him abundant political capital and a good reputation among the citizens. However, this was a matter that was destined to be complicated and extremely risky. If he wasn't careful, it could become a black hole that swallowed everything.
"Young Master Tai must be joking. If I could talk to the President of the Federation or those soldiers, I naturally wouldn't come to find you," the middle-aged man said calmly. The middle-aged man replied calmly, "The federal government is used to going back on their word. If we really put down the guns in our hands and stop the roaring of the armored vehicles' engines, perhaps the next day, countless mechas and planes will begin to attack the mountainous area..."
"Then you still shouldn't have come to find me." Tai Zhiyuan said as calmly as he could. "I am just a young man who is still studying. You can't expect me to do anything."
"But everyone in the major factions wants to get in touch with you at this time, because everyone knows that after the coming of age ceremony, Lady Tai will gradually return the family business to your hands," the middle-aged man said with a smile. "Moreover, Lady Tai is not that easy to meet. I am not Senator Macklin. I am someone who is still on the Federation's war criminal list. If I dare to reveal my identity and ask to meet her in the capital special region, I'm sure that after three minutes, countless soldiers will begin to hunt me down. "
"That's right. It's always easier to meet a student like me." Tai Zhiyuan said, "But the problem is, although I just completed the coming of age ceremony, according to the family rules, I can't immediately decide all the family affairs."
"I believe that Lady Tai will gradually transfer the decision-making power to your hands," the middle-aged man said calmly. "The mysterious Tai family has kept a low profile for countless years. Although they still haven't announced your coming of age ceremony this year, those who have gradually come to Ewha University have proven that Lady Tai has no intention of continuing to hide your existence from the public... If my guess is correct, after you finish your studies at Ewha University, you will enter the military. Perhaps you will even go to the frontlines in the West Woods to accumulate military merits. After that, you will begin to enter the government and begin to work as a government official. About ten years later, you will begin to enter the political world to prepare for that final goal."
"Final goal?" Tai Zhiyuan's eyes narrowed. He realized once again that this extremely mysterious man in the Federation's files was indeed not someone who could be easily controlled. At the very least, this man had an extremely powerful intelligence system and analytical ability. This ability in itself was enough to shock people.
"Other than the president... when the great Tai family steps out into the open for the first time, what kind of role play on the stage would you be interested in?" The middle-aged man said with a smile. "But that is a matter for many years to come. What we are talking about now is something that will happen soon."
Speaking of what would happen soon, this middle-aged man's tone became much more serious and cautious. "The Federal military has been preparing for a military invasion of the mountainous region. This has made Comrade Nanshui and I feel an unprecedented pressure...
"The Federation's successive embargoes and sanctions have caused the resources in the mountainous region to be extremely scarce. Even if the citizens of the Federation who sympathize with you want to continue the secret donations from the past few years, due to the lack of channels, they are unable to send the donations to you. Furthermore, due to the existence of Senator Macklin, your base of support from the people in the four states surrounding the mountainous region has been greatly divided. "
Tai Zhiyuan easily pointed out the predicament that the anti-government forces were in. "The people who support you are becoming fewer and fewer. Is that why you have thought of the word 'peace'?"
"The times are stronger than the people." A trace of vicissitudes of life flashed across the middle-aged man's face. "That is why I have come with sincerity to seek a response from your family."
"I still don't understand." Tai Zhiyuan didn't feel the slightest bit uneasy just because the other party had exposed his family's future plans for his political future. He said coldly, "Even if I am already able to make decisions within the family... but what does this have to do with the peace negotiations between you anti-government forces and the government? I have never denied the family's influence on the Federation's politics, but I have never been arrogant enough to think that I can change the attitude of the entire Federation government. "
"But you can try to change the attitude of the Federation President." The middle-aged man looked at Tai Zhiyuan and said with a smile, "Next year is the presidential election. I know that Senator Pabre has already met with the Madam."
Tai Zhiyuan raised his coffee cup, but he didn't drink it. He was deep in thought for a long time. This head of intelligence of the anti-government forces had once again proven to him the valiant power of the intelligence network under his command.
The middle-aged man didn't shut up because of Tai Zhiyuan's silence. He continued his analysis calmly. "So, there are a few reasons why I have to take the risk to come here and talk to you. First, compared to the current Federation President and government, we, the anti-government forces, trust Senator Pabre's moral standards more. Secondly, although Councilman Pauerb had a good reputation among the middle and lower class citizens of the Federation, for the capital ring, and especially for S1, which had the most voters, this lawyer who was born in the family of Donglin miners … was still a somewhat unfamiliar face. He needs an explosive news event to help him gain the approval of the majority of S1 voters in the shortest amount of time. Third, Senator Pabre has no military experience. He has never shown the courage and determination to deal with unexpected situations. His ability in the field of national security has always been widely doubted... During the election, this will undoubtedly become a weakness for his election opponents to attack.
"So, we hope that the Tai family can help us, so that we can directly negotiate a grand reconciliation agreement with Senator Pabre." The middle-aged man continued slowly. "We trust the Tai family's demeanor and Senator Pabre's political ethics. Once the agreement is reached, Senator Pabre will also gain wonderful political capital from it, thus ensuring his success in next year's presidential election."
It had to be said that this intelligence leader of the anti-government forces was also an excellent lobbyist. At this moment, Tai Zhiyuan admitted that he was a little tempted, but at the same time, he became more vigilant. This guy from the anti-government forces was actually more experienced than those professional brokers outside of the capital city management committee. This kind of person really couldn't be taken lightly.
"What kind of conditions do you want?" Tai Zhiyuan asked calmly.
"Before Pabre becomes president, we will begin negotiations. During the negotiations, can the Federal military gather troops take a break first? At the same time, the Federation government's economic blockade... can we privately open a gap? " The middle-aged man smiled and said, "After Senator Pabre becomes president, naturally, everything can be discussed."
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