Chapter two hundred and sixty-one [hospitable hospitality]
Chapter 261 [Warm reception]
The news that the envoys from the grassland have arrived in Loulan City has spread. Loulan City has quickly become lively these days. Everyone in the streets, taverns and hotels, coachmen and footmen are talking about this matter.
Talking back and forth is nothing more than speculation about the outcome of this negotiation.
The northwest province of Desa is close to the frontline of the steppe people. It is the place that has suffered the most from the steppe people. The folk customs here are fierce and they hate the steppe people deeply. In the chaos of the streets and alleys, the main tone of the war dominates. He gained the upper hand. And as Duwei's majesty in the Province of Desa grew stronger, he gained the support of the people, and everyone was convinced. They felt that although the Duke was young, he was worthy of being wise and powerful, and his identity as a mysterious and legendary magician added to the increase. Having gained the confidence of the people, they just thought that even if the hateful prairie people came, with the leadership of this magical duke, their own side would definitely be able to defeat the hateful prairie people.
However, some business groups that come and go prefer peace talks. After all, businessmen believe that peace can bring wealth. Moreover, there are many cattle, sheep and horses on the grassland, which are scarce goods in the mainland, and some fabrics, silks, and daily necessities in the mainland are all Being able to sell it at a good price on the grassland is really a huge source of wealth.
If a war breaks out, then this way of making money will be cut off. Therefore, the caravans coming and going are also paying special attention to the news. There are even people from several large business groups waiting outside the Duke's Palace every day to see if the Duke has anything new. Announcement comes out.
There was a lot of public opinion outside, but Du Wei was sitting in the Duke's Palace, quietly waiting for the grassland people's delegation to arrive. In his spare time, he looked through the minutes of the previous negotiations brought by Villa, just to watch the quarrel.
Finally, on this day, a mission from the grassland people arrived from the imperial capital. "Under the protection" of a thousand Royal Guards, the mission itself also had a hundred people.
The leader is a guy named Hanmuye. This Hanmuye Duwei already knows his identity. He is forty years old this year, and his status on the grassland is also very high. He is now a member of the royal family of the grassland on the grassland. The uncle of the clan leader. In other words, he is the uncle of the Prairie King, which means he has the status of a prince.
Although most of the minutes of the meeting were just boring words, the information about this Hamuye was quite detailed. The information in the records showed that this guy was not only Uncle Wang, but he also had a small tribe in his hands. He also had a close relationship with Several business groups in the empire have business dealings. Among the grassland people who are regarded as barbarians, many nobles in the empire have a high opinion of this Hamuyeh and think that he is relatively civilized.
Hammuye himself was also very depressed. He had been spitting on the diplomats in the imperial capital and the Roland Empire for more than ten days, but no progress had been made at all. He was pushed to the northwest province of Desa again.
The most important thing is that among the barbaric races in the grassland, Hamuye is a rare figure who is good at dancing. On the grassland, strength is respected. However, Hamuye himself is not an outstanding warrior and relies solely on himself. He inherited a tribe due to his bloodline identity. After decades of career, he relied on his keen observation to stand beside his nephew, and relied on his brains to almost stabilize the royal family. He is the number one thinker among the members. To be able to do this in a race of barbarians, I have to say that he is quite capable.
However, this negotiation in the imperial capital made Hamuye extremely frustrated. While he was having a war of words with the officials of the empire, he was secretly doing things up and down. He also showed off many hidden lines that he had been running for many years, just hoping to find out about Prince Chen.
He knew that the current head of the Roland Empire was not Augustine VI, but the new regent.
In matters like negotiation, if you can know a little about the tone of the other party's top leader and find out the other party's attitude, you will have an advantage.
But what disappoints Hammuye is that this young regent seems difficult to deal with. He has spent a lot of money to manage it, but there is no news at all. It seems that no one else knows what the attitude of this regent is.
I know. And now, news comes that the regent has actually handed over such a big matter to the Tulip Duke in the northwest...
What kind of attitude is this?
Do the Roland people want to fight or make peace? What on earth is...
What makes Han Muye even more helpless is that although this Duke of Tulip is younger than Prince Chen, he is not an easy guy to deal with! Because...
Whether he is a politician or an official, Hammuye has studied the culture of the Roland people for many years and knows the bureaucratic customs of the Roland people very well. He can always find the weaknesses of the other party. However, this Tulip Duke makes him a little difficult to deal with.
The opponent is young...most of the young people are passionate, maybe he will be a militant?
However, the other party is not a bureaucrat, but a magician! Everyone knows that magicians have eccentric temperaments! Magicians do not have any national principles and stances. They do things based on temporary preferences, which makes it even more unpredictable.
Whenever there are political opponents, there are always clues to find out the opponent's weaknesses, whether they are greedy for money or lustful, good for fame or power, bold and tough, timid or cowardly, or calm and cautious...
But these days, while on the road, Hamuye has carefully looked at the information he collected about the Tulip Duke, but he came to a very helpless result: a tiger bites a turtle, and there is nowhere to bite!
Are you greedy for money? The magician is rich and transcendent, and will not value wealth.
Womanizing? This little Duke is only fifteen years old... and it is said that he even refused the marriage of the most beautiful woman among the nobility of the Roland Empire, the Marquise Liszt.
Like fame? This little duke is already very famous.
Power? He is already a duke!
Bold? Judging from what he did in the northwest, he is quite a bold guy.
Timid? He seems to be a little timid. He expressed peace to the Northwest Army, and I heard that he also showed weakness to Bohan recently...
Prudent? It is relatively cautious, at least judging from the other party's administrative policy. It does not blindly expand the army, maintains a province with more than 20,000 troops, and knows the principle of step by step... It is not easy for a young man of this age.
.
Reckless? Reckless enough! Breaking into the camp alone and then running to the Northwest Army's lair... This is obviously risking his own safety.
Finally, Hammuye came to a conclusion that made him feel like going crazy:
The opponent in this negotiation, Duke Tulip, was a magician who was not greedy for money, lust, reputation, or power. At the same time, he killed a guy who was both bold and timid, cautious and reckless...
This... what a fucking bullshit conclusion this is!
I'm afraid the only bargaining chip that can be used as a reference is: after all, this military friction occurred in the province of Desa, and the Duke of Tulip was the main "party"!
Then he may take the lead in the battle out of anger...or he may be cowardly because he is closest to the grassland soldiers.
...still have no clue!
With this feeling of uneasiness, I finally arrived at Loulan City in Desa Province.
After the previous war, Hammuye was ordered to lead the delegation to the capital of the Roland Empire. However, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the group of them quietly went on the road and did not pass through Loulan City, but took a detour. This time they came to Loulan.
City, Jean Hamouyeh’s first reaction was:
There is such a majestic city in the northwest?!
It was previously rumored that the new city would be built in three months. Although it was built in public at the time. But after all, there is no TV news in this world, so most people just heard about it. The news was so magical that it made people half-believe it.
Today I finally saw this majestic city, which made Hamuye sigh in his heart: Did such a city... really take three months to build?
Hmph... I'm afraid it may not be three months. The Roland people have always been cunning and do things mysteriously. It's not that they don't do it.
The convoy entered the city all the way. Although it was protected by soldiers and the Duke of Tulip also ordered martial law, sitting in the carriage, Hamuye could also vaguely feel that the eyes of the people watching in the distance were mostly filled with emotion.
Hostilely.
Hmm... The people under his command have this attitude, so the leader may also have the same attitude.
Hamuye didn't care about the attitudes of these civilians. He was calculating in his mind. When he saw the young Duke, should his attitude be appropriately tough? Or should he show a little friendliness appropriately...
The motorcade finally arrived in front of the Duke's Palace. The carriage stopped in front of the drawbridge, and then soldiers under martial law stood on both sides of the street, and the entire street was blocked.
With the support of two young prairie guards around him, Hamuye stepped out of the carriage, raised his head and glanced at the castle in front of him, and then looked at the Roland officials who greeted him.
Dardaniel, dressed in the uniform of an imperial city guard, came up to him and introduced himself first. Then he smiled lightly and said, "Your Majesty, please come with me."
Hamuye couldn't help but feel dissatisfied. With his status as a prince on the grassland, even if the other party didn't come to greet Duke Tulip, he would have sent a deputy envoy. But only another mere city guard came... Could it be intentional?
Do you want to show off to yourself?
As Dardaniel walked into the castle, Hammuye was taken into a luxuriously furnished conference hall. Before he entered, he took a deep breath and was vaguely looking forward to meeting this opponent. Unfortunately, he declined.
When I walked in, I was disappointed!
A fat, rough man was sitting in the door. When he saw Hamuye pushing the door open, he quickly stood up, grinned widely, and he was very cheerful. Then he strode over, not caring about any politeness, and just treated him as a prairie man.
gave Hammuye a warm hug.
"It's such an honor for an old friend to come here! It's a pity that this is not a grassland, otherwise there must be good kumiss to entertain the distinguished guests!"
Hamuye was a little confused by the other party's hug. After taking a step back, he looked at the other party carefully before he came to his senses. He had a forced smile on his face to hide the weirdness in his heart: "Oh...it turns out to be General Longbottom.
!I haven’t seen you for many years, but your body is still so strong! I heard that you joined the Tulip family last year, and we were all good friends on the grassland back then. Speaking of which, we don’t even know each other before we fight!”
Longbottom smiled like a reckless man, and held Hammuye's hand carelessly and walked into the banquet hall. After sitting down, Hammuye looked around, and then said with a smile: "I wonder where the Duke is?"
"Oh, our Lord Duke was busy researching a new set of magic last night, so early this morning he asked me to greet the envoy on his behalf." Longbottom laughed: "Prince, you also know that our Duke
Your Excellency is a magician, so your temperament is naturally a little weird. But when we meet old friends, we can talk about anything!"
Hammuye was unhappy in his heart, and tried not to show it on his face. He said calmly: "In this case, I might as well go back and rest. When the Duke is free, we can sit down and talk together."
"No hurry, no hurry!" Longbottom smiled, then stretched out his big palm and touched his arms for a long time before he pulled out a document. However, he didn't know how to get it in his arms, but it was wrinkled.
Babbled, as if still a little sweaty. Longbottom put it on the table with a smile. Pushed it in front of Hammuye, and said with a smile: "Our Lord Duke said that although there are some frictions, the relationship between the empire and the grassland people
Friendship has a long history and no misunderstanding can harm the friendship between the two parties. So, since we are good friends, what can't we sit down and talk about slowly?"
This sounds like a human saying! Hamuye muttered in his heart. Looking at the wrinkled thing in front of him that seemed to be stained with a fat man's sweat, he couldn't help but feel a little disgusted. He frowned and said, "Then this thing is..."
"This is an agreement drafted by our lord, the Duke. We are all good friends. Let's just pretend that this little friction never happened. For the sake of everyone's friendship, your lord, the Duke, has said that this time the matter will be reduced to a minor one.
Forget it. Good friends shouldn't care about these things."
"Agreement?" Hammuye took it over. Resisting the urge to feel disgusted, he opened it and took a look. When he saw the terms above, he became furious and slammed the table: "Longbottom! Could it be that Duke Tulip is here?"
Are you kidding me?!"
This "agreement" clearly stated: As the party that provoked this friction, in order to reflect the friendship between the two parties, the grassland people must make certain compensation to the empire, including: 30,000 war horses, 50,000 cattle and sheep, and slaves.
Five thousand. At the same time, they will bear all the costs of rebuilding the city of Giliyat...
"Longbottom!" Hammuye said angrily: "It seems that the Duke has no sincerity in peace talks. In this case, why am I still here! Are you entertaining me with this kind of joke!!"
Longbottom rubbed his nose, the smile on his face faded, and he said in a serious tone: "Hanmuye, I have been in the northwest for so many years, do you think I, Longbottom, am the kind of person who likes to joke?"
After saying that, he stood up: "I was just ordered to deliver the message. I gave you the things. The Duke said that if you want to leave, we will send them to you... But he also said that Prince Hamuye is a wise man.
The local is a smart and wise king. He takes everyone's friendship into consideration and will not do anything rash. Besides, this thing is not non-negotiable, so... you accept this thing, and then
Think about it carefully, and when the Duke is finished tomorrow, you can come up with a price so that everyone can discuss it easily."
Hamuye suddenly calmed down... Huh, this Tulip Duke seems to be a militant... His tough stance... can also be regarded as a means of negotiation.
Thinking of this, he laughed instead: "Okay! I will stay for a few more days. The Duke will be busy tomorrow, right? I will accept this thing. When the Duke is free tomorrow, we will take our time.
Let’s talk in detail.”
After saying that, Hammuye suppressed his anger and stood up with a smile on his face: "Then... please forgive me for being unreasonable. I have worked hard all the way and am a little tired. I wonder where I will stay tonight?"
Longbottom laughed: "Old friend, our Lord Duke is a hospitable person, how could he neglect a good friend! We have already made arrangements! I guarantee your satisfaction!"
After saying that, the fat man personally led Hamuye out, exited the castle through the back door, and came to the "specially prepared" residence for Hamuye.
Originally, Hamuye could still hold back his anger, but when he saw the other party's "warm reception", he couldn't help but fall out!
"Longbottom! You..."
Longbottom had a warm smile on his face: "The Duke has said that he respects the bravery of the prairie men and knows that you, the Roland people, are not used to living in the luxurious mansion. And...the Duke has said that the best person to entertain guests is
The realm is to achieve 'home away from home'! In other words, it is best to make guests feel at home! So... we racked our brains and prepared such a place! Yi? Old friend, aren't you satisfied?
Huh? Aren’t the people on the grassland just used to living here?”
In front of us, on an open space behind the castle, there were a few isolated tents set up in the middle. Judging from the appearance of the tents, there seemed to be some air leakage...