Chapter 263 [Kill three birds with one stone]
Poor Hamuyeh was thrown away by Duwei for two days. Hamuyeh was extremely angry at first, but he was an experienced politician after all, and then he controlled his anger very well. , and even issued strict orders strictly prohibiting his subordinates from causing trouble in the Duke's Mansion.
Otherwise, his rude and fierce entourage of prairie warriors might have started fighting with the guards of the Duke's Palace long ago after holding back their anger.
Now, under the strict orders of Hammuye, these grassland people are quite peaceful. However, the dignified envoys of a country actually have to pay for themselves and send people out to buy food in surrounding restaurants every day... Such treatment , I’m afraid this is the first time in history.
At that time, the restaurants around the Duke's Palace, after getting hints from the Duke, faced these "fat sheep" that came to their doorsteps, and raised their prices three times, which was considered a small profit.
"They have been very honest these past two days." Du Wei stood on the tower, hiding behind the window sill, looking at the tents below. The warriors of the prairie people were guarding outside the tents, while Hamuye was very honest and went to the tents every day. While he was stuck in the tent, he sent someone to ask Mud as usual every day, "Has the Duke's magic experiment ended, and can we start talks?"
Every time the other party asked this question, Mader would give a perfunctory reply: "After the Duke is done with his work, he will naturally come to see the distinguished guest."
But then, he would add a sentence intentionally or unintentionally: "The Duke said that I would like to ask your distinguished guest to think about the agreement drafted before. Anyway, I have nothing to do recently. If you have any constructive suggestions, you might as well give them. Clearly, we can raise it immediately after the Duke has time to meet, without wasting the time of both parties."
That means: We'll raise the price all over the place, and you can just pay it back on the spot, but in the end you still have to come up with conditions.
However, it seems that Hamuye is not in a hurry and seems to be determined to fight Du Wei.
"It seems that trying to provoke him is not very effective." Du Wei sighed and looked at Philip next to him: "Do you have any other clever tricks?"
Philip thought for a while and said with a smile: "Sir, we are just testing each other's bottom line. In the past two days, it seems that the results are actually pretty good."
Du Wei rubbed his nose and nodded: "You are right. If the grassland people were really tough, he would have been unable to bear our neglect. It seems that they don't want to fight."
"You shouldn't want to fight. However, this time it's their fault after all. Their troops came to our territory. It's their fault anyway. It's just that they don't seem to want to make any compensation. Fight again. We don’t want to fight, so if we continue to waste it like this, the prairie people are also willing to do it.”
"Then... we might as well be a little tougher?" Du Wei touched his chin and smiled slyly.
"I think it's almost done." Philip was a little worried: "After all, we don't have the strength to really start a war now. If we really piss off the other party..."
"But we have to get some benefits and compensation." Du Wei shook his head.
Philip, the staff member, doesn't have any good ideas. This drag-out tactic is already a good strategy. Anyway, he doesn't want to fight, and the other party doesn't want to fight either, and he has set a "harsh" condition, which is already very tough. Well, when the time comes, speaking to the outside world, both the warring faction and the peace-promoting faction will have nothing to say to Du Wei.
How about...brainstorming?
Du Wei also understands the reason why the Three Stooges are better than Zhuge Liang. Although Philip has grown astonishingly, he still tends to be orthodox in his thinking and taking eccentric ideas is not his specialty.
As a last resort, Du Wei simply called in several generals under his command for discussion.
Longbottom Dardanelle, and even the young Gaida who was quite heroic in the Battle of Gilliat City (now promoted to Longbottom's deputy), Uncle Alpha, Captain Lao Yan, etc.
…
"I came to see you today to discuss how to deal with this Hamuye." Du Wei looked at the generals under his command and smiled: "I know that this kind of government strategy is not what you are good at. But... brainstorming,
Maybe our way of thinking is too routine. But you can come up with some wonderful ideas."
A few thick-lined generals thought for a while, but it was the young Gaida who spoke first.
The man had a murderous look on his face and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty the Duke...don't they send people to the city every day? We can send people to pretend to be thieves or local gangsters, give their people a lesson, and injure a few.
If necessary, kill someone and see if this guy can still keep his composure!"
Du Wei glanced at Xiao 250, sighed helplessly, picked up a pen and gave it to Xiao 250: "General Gaida, take this pen, that's the corner over there, go and squat there.
Let’s draw circles and play…”
Then Du Wei looked at Longbottom: "Dear General, do you have any suggestions?"
"Otherwise, find someone to pretend to be an assassin and assassinate this Hamuye, whether it's poisoning or assassinating... This guy is very difficult to deal with. Even if you don't really kill him, let him be seriously injured or seriously ill, the prairie people will have another chance.
If you send an envoy, it might be easier to deal with."
Du Wei stared at Longbottom, handed him a pen, and pointed at the corner: "Dear general, go and draw with Gaida..."
When Du Wei looked at Lao Yan, Lao Yan didn't wait for Du Wei to speak and said with a wry smile: "Sir... please give me a pen too."
Dardaniel thought for a while and suddenly said: "Perhaps... I have a way. However, I'm afraid I need General Longbottom's cooperation."
"Oh?" Du Wei's eyes lit up.
Dardaniel then came up with a weird idea:
"Now Hamuye refuses to speak, and everyone is competing for patience. Your Excellency, Duke, you are keeping him dry, and your strategy is right. But Hamuye is not a fool. The key for us now is that we don't have enough chips in our hands, and he also
We understand that the empire is not willing to go to war. So if we leave him alone, he will have nothing to fear. And if we drag it out day by day, we will not gain much.
Sir, with all due respect, in this negotiation, no one wants to fight, so at least both parties have a unified opinion on this point. Then there are two biggest problems.
The first thing is that we cannot offend the landlords and war factions in the imperial capital! Therefore, peace talks are necessary. But it is best for the other party to propose peace, not us. If we take the initiative to seek peace, then the main war factions in the imperial capital will
I'm afraid they will blame you for being weak and traitorous, leaving a stain on your future political career. It is best for the other party to take the initiative to propose 'peace'. In this way, we pretend to be tough and then accept it. In terms of public opinion, it is also
We will be supported. If the other party gives us a step, we can go down the ladder, and the main war faction in the imperial capital will no longer attack us with words."
A smile flashed in Du Wei's eyes. He looked deeply at Dardaniel and said, "Go on."
Dardaniel coughed and continued: "Just now it was the first, now let's talk about the second... uh, this second problem is the advantage! Logically speaking, the other party is in the wrong this time.
In terms of peace talks, the other party should pay some compensation. The more compensation the other party pays, the more face you will have as a negotiator. Speak out and let the grassland people bow their heads to compensate. You can also earn reputation.
and political achievements. But the problem now is that the other party doesn’t seem to want to pay any price and just wants to delay. He knows that we can’t fight. So no matter how tough we pretend to be, he won’t be afraid. This Hamouye’s plan is probably
I don't want to pay any benefits, so I want to deny this matter. But in this case, as an envoy, my lord, you don't ask for any compensation, but it is too unreasonable. You have to make the other party pay the price no matter what.
There is no benefit for us to gain, and this is absolutely not possible."
Du Wei's smile became even weirder: "Well, the two questions you mentioned are actually one: how to make the grassland people take the initiative to sue for peace and pay compensation."
Dardaniel smiled strangely, scratched his head, and said with a smile: "That's what I mean. But... there are gains and losses. If we just ask for compensation in this matter, they will definitely refuse. It's better...
…Use the method of exchange! Make a deal with the other party. As long as we take advantage of the transaction content and get actual benefits, that’s it.”
Du Wei nodded and looked at Dardaniel: "You don't have to be secretive, just tell me directly, what are you thinking about?"
"My lord, have you forgotten that there is an imperial cavalry division on the grassland? An army of 20,000 cavalry is not too much, but it is not too small either! The empire spends a lot of money every year to support such a cavalry force.
, but the main expenses are wasted on long-distance supplies. For the grassland people, this army stationed on the grassland is also a thorn in their eyes and a thorn in their flesh. But in my opinion... this army
The army really doesn't have much meaning in existence! It's better to... withdraw!"
As soon as he said this, Longbottom suddenly shouted and glared at Dardaniel: "What did you say! Withdraw?! Are you kidding me! If there were not an army of 20,000 people, the people on the grassland would
Those guys are even more unscrupulous in what they do!"
Dardanelle smiled, looked at Longbottom, and said calmly: "General, if it was when you commanded that army on the grassland, the grassland people might still have some scruples under your majesty.
...But now, according to my information, the effect of these 20,000 people is really limited! The generals you succeed after you are far inferior in ability to you. These 20,000 people besides making the prairie people sick and disgusted
Apart from that, it’s really not of much use, and it consumes a lot of military expenses every year! It’s enough to support a legion of military expenses and support 20,000 cavalry... Isn’t this kind of approach ridiculous?! If you were in charge of this
The commander-in-chief of 20,000 people, with your methods and army management, I will not hesitate to support the continued maintenance of 20,000 people! Even if it costs a legion of military expenses, I think it is worth it! But now... it is not worth it.
Got it!"
Longbottom was silent for a while. Although he was unwilling to admit it, he had to sigh: Dardaniel was indeed right.
"Negotiations should not be forced. If we want the other party to make a big step, we must first make a small step. We are now waiting for the other party to give us a step, and maybe Tahamouye is also waiting for us to give him a step.
Well." Dardaniel thought about this, thought for a while, and said: "I think this matter is an excellent opportunity for the Duke! We can put forward a condition: evacuate these 20,000 people from the grassland! Of course...
...The deal to withdraw the troops must not be made public! This kind of thing can only be a secret deal. Otherwise, if it is revealed, the people who do not know the truth and the public opinion in the imperial capital will probably call us traitors! We can secretly propose to the other party to withdraw the troops.
.In name only, we just ask them to pay compensation."
"What else?" Du Wei looked at Dardaniel with a smile.
"Also... I think it would be best if we could take the opportunity to get the 20,000 cavalry...
The cavalry is thinking about it. After all, the military expenditure is too huge, and the actual effect is low... If we take the opportunity to propose... we will accept these 20,000 people..."
"No, no, no!" Little 250 Gaida shook his head: "Throughout the thousand-year history of the empire, only private armies have been incorporated into the official army! How can there be any official army that has been demoted into a private army! The military will never agree to such a thing.
!”
Dardanelle smiled and said: "So I say, this matter depends on General Longbottom! Of course we can't directly say that we will accept 20,000 people in the imperial capital. After all, a dignified official army has been demoted to the lord's personal status.
Military, this is too shameful in name. The military bosses will never be willing to lose face like this. So, we might as well say to the imperial capital: Duke Tulip is loyal to the country and is willing to bear the military expenses of 20,000 people!
At the same time, when applying to the military, they said that Desa Province has insufficient military strength and is located on the border, so there is a shortage of troops. Therefore, we asked them to order an army of 20,000 people to be stationed in our Desa Province and turn it into a border garrison.
Officers and troops! Sir, do you think that as long as the army of 20,000 people stays on our territory, and we provide all their food, clothing, and housing, they will be squeezed to death by us! Time passes, slowly.
It will be controlled by us. Although it is still an official army in name, in fact, it has become your private army."
Du Wei's eyes became darker and darker.
To be continued...