Wei Yunqi smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, the truce should be achieved by the joint efforts of both sides. You cannot expect one side to have sincerity. If Your Majesty can show sincerity, my emperor should also show corresponding sincerity."

Wei Yunqi said it very smoothly, which actually means he didn't say anything, but he reminded Li Yuan that he should not just expect the other party to show sincerity. It is easy to sign a contract, but the difficult thing is how to maintain the contract? This requires the joint efforts of both parties.

Li Yuan understood the other party's meaning, at least he signed the contract with sincerity. As for the execution of the contract, it will be something in the future. I guess Wei Yunqi doesn't know how long he can last.

Li Yuan nodded, "Thank you, Prime Minister Wei, for telling you frankly. It's not too late, so start negotiation!"

The contract was negotiated by both parties in the Secretariat Province. The previous negotiation was also here. The venue was already arranged and it was very simple. There was only a long table with five couches on both sides. A total of five people participated, and there were two recorders, each sitting at both ends of the long table, responsible for recording the negotiation minutes.

The Tang Dynasty was made by Prince Li Jian as the chief negotiator, with Pei Ji as the deputy envoy, and three ministers participated in the negotiations. The chief envoy of the Zhou Dynasty was Wei Yunqi, the minister of the Ministry of Rites Wen Yanbo as the deputy envoy, and the three doctors were the auxiliary envoy. Relatively speaking, the status level of the Zhou Dynasty mission was significantly lower.

However, Wei Yunqi was the Secretary of the Zhou Dynasty. After Su Wei retired from office at the end of the month, he became the right prime minister and the head of all officials of the Zhou Dynasty. He had great power and could represent the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty and make decisions on the spot. Although Li Jiancheng had a high status, he had no decision-making power, and he still needed the emperor to make decisions. Therefore, in terms of real power, the Zhou Dynasty was even more advanced.

Both sides sat down and exchanged a few simple greetings. As the initiator of the negotiations, Wei Yunqi first said to everyone: "In the spring and summer of this year, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou and Longyou have suffered disasters to varying degrees, resulting in a reduction in summer grain production. Therefore, in order to ensure autumn harvest and next spring plowing, my emperor suggested a truce for one year. This time I came to negotiate with you on the order of the emperor. If you have any better suggestions, I would like to listen carefully!"

Wei Yunqi kicked the ball to the opponent again. Li Jiancheng and Pei Ji looked at each other. Li Jiancheng said: "First of all, we support the peace talks. Wei Xiangguo said it well. Longyou encountered a spring drought this year, and summer grain production was generally reduced by 30%. War will only bring greater pain to the people. We are willing to make a ceasefire. We are completely consistent with your ideas, but I don't know what else can we talk about besides the ceasefire?"

Both sides use people's livelihood as a reason for the ceasefire, but the real reason is very secretive. No one will come to the table, but this is actually not important. What is important is the ceasefire itself and the conditions for the ceasefire. The general principle of both sides has been clear and both agreed to the ceasefire. The following is the detailed negotiation.

Of course, although the Zhou Dynasty took the initiative to propose this armistice peace talks, the Tang Dynasty really wanted to do so. Both sides knew this. At the negotiating table, it was the Zhou Dynasty, not the Tang Dynasty.

Wei Yunqi smiled and said, "In order to show our sincerity, we are willing to put Prince Chai back. Of course, we also hope that you will show your corresponding sincerity."

"I wonder what kind of sincerity you need?" Pei Ji asked from the side.

"So keep maintaining free trade! Maintain the current trade status."

Li Jiancheng knew very well what Wei Yunqi said about maintaining the status quo of trade, which was to continue to use various materials from the Tang Dynasty to exchange for pig iron from the Zhou Dynasty. This would lead to huge suffering for the people, but could maintain the needs of the army. In the past, this pressure could be dispersed to Bingzhou and Bashu, but now it cannot be dispersed. It can only be admitted by the people of Guanzhong. It may take less than a year. Even if they can confront the Zhou army militarily, the people's livelihood has collapsed.

But the problem now is not whether Li Jiancheng is willing or not, but that he has no right to decide any countermeasures. Li Jiancheng whispered a few words to Pei Ji. Pei Ji nodded, stood up and smiled apologetically, and turned around.

Li Jiancheng said helplessly: "The father is extremely concerned about this negotiation. He must agree to all decisions. Please forgive me!"

Wei Yunqi smiled and said, "I understand completely. If we negotiate in Zhongdu, we must also report to the emperor's agreement. After all, this is Chang'an."

Soon, Pei Ji hurried back and nodded to Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng had no choice but to say: "The father has already agreed to maintain the current trade state. Please release the prince Chai as soon as possible!"

"Don't worry! In the latest month, Prince Chai will be able to return to Chang'an."

The first condition was successfully reached, but both sides knew that this was just a side dish before the meal. The real big dish had not yet begun. It was impossible for the Zhou Dynasty to stop the war without any conditions when it had the advantage. They must have very strict conditions, otherwise they would not come to Chang'an.

Sure enough, Wei Yunqi said slowly again: "In this peace talk, our emperor also under great pressure. Most court officials and military officials opposed the ceasefire, but our emperor still convinced everyone. However, while the ceasefire, we hope to expand exchanges between the people on both sides, which is also the only condition for our emperor."

Li Jiancheng didn't understand and asked quickly: "What does it mean to expand public exchanges between the two sides?"

Wei Yunqi smiled slightly, "Actually, there are several meanings. For example, the scholars of Guanlong come to Zhongzhong to participate in the imperial examination, or the scholars of Zhou Dynasty go to Chang'an to participate in the imperial examination. I hope neither side will stop it. Of course, there was no stop in the past, but we hope that we can continue to maintain it. In addition, the normal migration of ordinary people also hope that both sides will not stop it. Just these two small conditions are very simple!"

Li Jiancheng and Pei Ji took a breath of air conditioning at the same time. This was not a small condition. It was clearly a noose that strangled the Tang Dynasty. Once a large-scale population flowed to the Zhou Dynasty, Guanzhong and Longyou would become a thousand-mile uninhabited area. Such a dynasty would be in name only.

Pei Ji couldn't help asking, "What if we stop the people from experiencing?"

Wei Yunqi said lightly: "Since an agreement is reached, it must be implemented. If the agreement is not implemented, it means that the agreement is invalid and the armistice will be over."

Li Jiancheng nodded, "We will talk about this for the time being today. We will discuss the conditions proposed by Prime Minister Wei just now, and then give Prime Minister Wei a reply."

"Will continue negotiations tomorrow?"

"This is not necessarily the case. We will notify Wei Xiangguo in advance before negotiation."

"Okay then! We'll go back."

Wei Yunqi stood up, and the other entourages also stood up. Li Jiancheng sent someone to escort Wei Yunqi and others back to the VIP hotel. He and Pei Ji hurried to Wude Hall.

When he returned to the carriage at the VIP hotel, Wen Yanbo couldn't help but smile and said, "Li Jiancheng and Pei Ji's stunned look just now is really unforgettable. In fact, this condition is not harsh, why can't they accept it? If the people of Guanzhong really want to leave, if they stop it, it will be a change in their minds. What's the point?"

Wei Yunqi smiled faintly and said, "This is actually just a bottom line problem. The prince is still not thick and dark enough. He dare not take risks on this bottom line problem. Pei Ji is the same. They are all wise people and know that once they agree to the serious consequences of this condition, the foundation for the founding of the Tang Dynasty will be gone."

"Does Wei Xiangguo think Emperor Li Yuan agree?"

Wei Yunqi nodded, "He will definitely agree. If he does not agree, he will die faster. If he agrees, there may be a glimmer of hope. As the emperor, he has no choice."

In the Wude Hall, Li Yuan and several important officials were discussing the conditions proposed by the Zhou Dynasty. Although Li Jiancheng, Chen Shuda and Liu Wenjing both expressed their opposition, Li Yuan did not immediately make a statement. He paced back and forth on the steps of the hall with his hands, repeatedly weighing the pros and cons.

At this time, he turned around and asked Li Shentong: "Where is the opinion of Shentong?"

Li Shentong hesitated and said, "Actually, this matter is not necessarily harmful to us. The key is that we must learn to seek profit and avoid harm."

"How do you say this?" Li Yuan asked with interest.

"Your Majesty, the escape of a large number of Guanzhong people does have a great impact on us, but if it is handled well, the Guanzhong people may not necessarily escape. In other words, by the time they want to escape, more than half a year has passed, and we don't care whether this treaty should be followed."

Li Yuan nodded, Li Shentong was just saying that it was in his heart. He said to everyone: "I agree with the idea of ​​the General Shentong. Don't think that the people of Guanlong want to escape. If they were not forced to do so, they would not leave their hometown easily. I am not short of money and food now, and I can be exempted from taxes for one year, and even allocate some land. Without taxes and land expectations, ordinary people are willing to wait for hope, at least they will not leave immediately. After last six months and a year, weigh the pros and cons and then consider whether to leave or not, what should I do if my property is gone, who will sell the land to, etc., and finally handle the funeral and prepare to leave, it is time for a year to pass. I have also been a lower-level official and know the people's hearts very much. I decided that the other party's conditions may seem serious, but the actual effect is not great, and it is completely acceptable."

Pei Ji, who had been silent, said, "Your Majesty's far-reaching thoughts have made us suddenly understand. Your Majesty is right. If you do not accept the other party's conditions, then a war will break out immediately by Pujin Pass. That will scare a large number of people from their homes and cause chaos in Guanzhong. We have no time to prepare for war, so we agree. We will win a year, and there may not be any losses. But if we don't agree, we will only lose money, but we will lose precious time. No matter how we weigh the pros and cons, we should agree."

At this time, Prime Minister Tang Jian also expressed his opinion: "I also agree with Your Majesty's decision."

Li Yuan nodded and asked Li Jiancheng and the other two, "Do you still have to object?"

"If the father decides to agree, then the minister has no objection."

"I have no objection!" Chen Shuda and Liu Wenjing both expressed their no longer objection.

"Then it's decided, agree to all their requests, and buy me a year."

After pausing for a while, Li Yuan said to Li Jiancheng: "I have another thing. You discuss with Wei Yunqi tonight. If the agreement is made tonight, then you will sign the contract directly tomorrow."
Chapter completed!