After hearing this, Xiang Xiaoqiang approached and said with a smile:
"Lord Gua, I understand your difficulties. Alas, we are all the same. It is hard to disobey the emperor's order... It's all about getting something cheap at the negotiation table. If you don't get it, you will have to bear the reputation of 'signing a traitorous treaty' when you go back.
, just like Li Zhongtang in the Qing Dynasty... In fact, we are all sharing the worries for the Holy One... Alas, it is difficult, our negotiation is the most difficult..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed and got closer to Guade Xin, even saying "We are the Qing Dynasty". Guade Xin listened to a series of pleasant words coming out of the young man's mouth and nodded again and again. This was indeed what he said to his heart.
. But he still stared at the other person, guessing what Xiang Xiaoqiang's purpose was.
Xiang Xiaoqiang whispered:
"Master Gua, don't worry, I won't embarrass you... But... I would like to ask Master Gua to give you some advice on where the bottom line is on the Emperor's side, so that we can better cooperate with you... Everyone is happy
Once this matter is settled, it will be easier for both parties to do business, okay..."
Guade Xin's eyes lit up, and he knew better. It turned out that this kid bribed him with a big diamond to find out the bottom line of the negotiation.
But... how can we reveal the bottom line of negotiation to the other party? How can we negotiate after it is revealed? Negotiation between two parties is like two people playing cards. If one party shows all the cards in his hand to the other party, how can he still play? Can he still win?
Guade Xin smiled slightly and said:
"My lord, even if I tell you the bottom line, what can you do? Well, I will tell you that our bottom line is that the first one is to write our conclusion of the war into the treaty and have both parties sign it. On this one, you
Can it satisfy you? If you can't satisfy even this one, then what's the use of knowing other bottom lines? You can't reach an agreement anyway."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"We can talk about it, we can talk about it."
Guade Xin's heart tightened, and he suddenly felt that there was another big and heavy thing in his hand. When he looked down, he saw another diamond, radiant and as big as a chestnut.
He couldn't help but take another look at the diamond on the other hand. The two diamonds were about the same size, one was slightly yellow and the other was slightly red. They were both cut and finished, but they had not yet been set. Guadexin's heartbeat began to beat faster.
, roughly estimating how much these two pieces would be worth if they were both real.
Xiang Xiaoqiang saw what he was thinking and smiled:
"Don't worry, Mr. Gua, they are all genuine. The Ming Dynasty Zhuque Silver House just came in from Africa last month. One piece was purchased for US$55,000, and one piece was purchased for US$60,000. Added together and converted into Qingyang, that is nearly 400,000...
…you can keep it for yourself, give it away, or sell it out
That's fine... When we get to Beijing and change hands, it costs at least five or six hundred thousand yuan... Sir, don't worry, Zhuque Silver House is a business under our Majesty's name. After the goods arrived last month, we first selected a few pieces with the best cuts.
To present to our Majesty...these two pieces were obtained from her jewelry by our Majesty himself.
I picked it out from the box and asked me to send it to honor your lord... Haha, so Lord Gua, don't worry, our Majesty's royal reputation is also attached to it... You also know that those who are saints are rich all over the world, and they will never do it for
Save tens of thousands of dollars to lose your identity and get fake goods to deceive others.
It's a cheap deal... Lord Gua, you can rest assured... After everyone signs the treaty this time, the relationship between us will definitely enter a period of great relaxation... There may be more exchanges between the two parties in the future, haha... So maybe there will be something in the future.
The place still relies on adults to take care of it..."
Guade Xin held a big diamond in both hands, with his heart pounding, but his face remained calm, and he listened coldly to Xiang Xiaoqiang's lies. In such a long paragraph, there were only two sentences for him.
The biggest effect. The first sentence is "If you change hands in Beijing, it will cost you at least five to six million yuan." The second sentence is "The saints are all rich in the world, and they will never buy fakes just to save tens of thousands of dollars."
The despicable deeds of others."
The first of Xiang Xiaoqiang's two sentences really made Guade Xin's heart flutter. Five or six million yuan, although this is just a drop in the bucket of his family fortune, but no matter how much he earns, he can get five or six million yuan in one go like this.
It really hasn't happened a few times. Even if this guy makes a false report, if half of it is taken away, it's still two to three hundred thousand. And
And this is not to ask him to do anything desperate, but to clarify the bottom line of the negotiation, and these hundreds of thousands can be put into his pocket, which is very safe. As long as Nanming can accept the core requirements of the Qing side, there will be practical benefits in other aspects.
, no matter how little the Qing Dynasty deserves, at least the emperor can explain it himself.
Having said that, as long as I can explain the past to the emperor, no matter how small the actual benefits are, what does it have to do with me? It is true that I put the five or six million in my pocket.
In addition, Xiang Xiaoqiang's last sentence dispelled his concerns about "fake goods" to a large extent. It is also true that Xiang Xiaoqiang's current bribery is for the national interests of Nanming. It will definitely not cost him his own money. It will definitely cost him.
The money of the Nanming court. Since it is spent
Who would care about tens of thousands of dollars of the imperial court's money, and why bother to make fakes? As for what Xiang Xiaoqiang said, "There will be a period of peace and relaxation in the future, and the two parties may have more contacts, and they may have to rely on themselves to take care of them."
, Guadexin did not dare to believe it.
It is possible for the Ming and Qing dynasties to enter a period of détente after signing a treaty. After all, the relationship between the Ming and Qing dynasties over the past three hundred years has been in a cycle of "ease - tension - war - signing - détente." But it will never happen because of the period of détente.
, the two parties will have more contacts. Isn’t that right?
Most likely. As for this kid saying "I have to rely on adults to take care of me from now on", it was even more unkind. This tone clearly meant that he wanted to establish a long-term relationship with himself by paying for information. In that case, he would be developed into a spy by Nan Ming.
I'm not that stupid.
Guade Xin is not short of money. There is no way for someone with high authority to make money. There is no need to hang the whole family's head on their waistband just to get Nan Ming's money. This time, I just want to reveal the bottom line of the negotiation. There is no risk.
That’s all.
…
After thinking rapidly in his mind for a while, Gua Dexin smiled, looked at Xiaoqiang with a friendly look, put the two diamonds into his pocket, and then laughed softly:
"Sir Xiang, you are right. It is not easy for us to negotiate. If we can understand each other in this way, what can't be achieved? Hahaha... To tell the truth, this first article is to write down our conclusion on the war.
There is absolutely no room for negotiation when the treaty is entered into and signed by both parties. However...as long as you can agree to this article, our Emperor's will and everything else can be easily discussed."
Xiang Xiaoqiang stared at him sharply and asked immediately:
"What's the best way to negotiate?"
Guadexin touched the two big diamonds in his pocket, smiled and said:
"The second item is that you must stop the expansion of the army and shift from wartime production status to peacetime status. Regarding this item, please..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"Is this one? To be honest, sir, we thought of it when we came here. But we don't want to keep expanding our army. It will cost too much. But there is no way. You have been expanding your army and production in the north.
If we are going to hold a big exercise, we dare not not follow the army expansion... otherwise we will not have any sense of security.
Yes... We also hope to stop the military expansion as soon as possible, but this must require your cooperation. It is only reasonable for our two families to stop preparing for war at the same time... Otherwise, your military strength is several times ours, and you won't dare to borrow our courage.
Unilaterally stop military expansion. Mr. Gua, is this easy for everyone to understand?"
Guadexin nodded and said with a smile:
"That's true..."
After a moment, he smiled and said:
"Haha, since we are all so familiar with each other, I might as well say it directly. We will definitely bring this up at the negotiation table, and we will definitely fight with you. But...haha, sir, you
You know, this is not our bottom line, there is room for it, haha, there is room for it..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang rolled his eyes and nodded:
"oh."
Guadexin said:
"Our emperor also expected in advance that you would ask both families to stop the expansion of the army at the same time. To be honest, your request is reasonable. But...how to put it, the expansion of the army is what our emperor wants. We, the ministers, are not sure what he wants.
What are you doing... Therefore, it is definitely impossible for both sides to stop military expansion at the same time, and it is impossible for us."
"oh."
Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded again. This corrupt official had sold out their emperor's background: Guangwu, this kid, is still determined to invade the south.
Guadexin said:
"The leeway we have here is: it's best if you agree to unilaterally stop the military expansion. If you don't agree, we won't force it. We can leave this one alone and talk about other things. Our two families will continue to expand the military."
Xiang Xiaoqiang pretended that there was a chill in his eyes and nodded. In fact, he was satisfied in his heart. If he continued to expand his army, with the level of corruption and efficiency of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, the strength of both sides would only grow bigger and bigger. And now it seems that the Manchu and Qing Dynasties
From the emperor to the ministers, everyone thought that their military strength was far superior to that of Nanming.
He then asked:
"So, what are your other conditions?"
Guadexin hesitated and said:
"You will no longer be able to instigate and organize our people to flee south. As well as the gang of rebels in the Taihang Mountains, you will no longer be able to support them. In addition, your leaflets, such as "Bright World" and the like, will not be used in the future.
They are no longer allowed to be distributed in our Qing Dynasty land. Especially what is worse, in the past six months, you have relied on your air superiority and often flew airplanes to fly over our Qing Dynasty cities in the middle of the night to drop leaflets... This approach has extremely bad effects, and
Treating our Qing Air Force as if it were nothing, we must stop it from now on."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled and said:
"What's your bottom line? Is there any leeway?"
Guadexin shook his head:
"No."
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled again and said:
"Lord Gua, let me tell you our bottom line...the cost of long-term airdrops for the troops in the Taihang Mountains is too high, and the benefits are indeed not great. We can no longer support them."
Guadexin showed an appreciative look, nodded, and said "Yeah."
But Xiang Xiaoqiang changed his face and said:
"But I'm afraid we have to continue with the leaflets and organizations fleeing south. You just said that your emperor wants to insist on expanding the army and preparing for war, and wants to confront us for a long time, so we will carry out disintegration activities in your rear area, that is
Our long-term policy cannot be changed. This is also for our own safety. This, Mr. Gua, we have no need to discuss."
Guadexin pondered for a moment and asked:
"So, have you agreed to our first core request?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang looked directly into his eyes, nodded, and said:
"If we can achieve satisfactory results in other aspects, I can send a message to His Majesty and I will personally persuade Him. This... Lord Gua can rest assured that I am confident that Your Majesty will listen to me on this matter."
Gua Dexin felt relieved for a while, and a big stone fell to the ground. He looked at Xiang Xiaoqiang with a smile, and said with an ambiguous smile:
"Haha, everyone says that Mr. Xiang is a close confidant of Her Majesty the Queen. It seems... that's true... Mr. Xiang is really enviable in his life."
Xiang Xiaoqiang also laughed, with a tacit expression between men on his face. But he said in his heart:
I'm sorry, Rongrong, for the sake of the national interest, please lend me your name.
…
"Okay," Gua Dexin nodded, "As long as you can agree to our core demands, what about these three? If you can no longer support the Taihang Mountain rebels, the other two are easy to discuss... and there is financial compensation.
Problem. Back at the negotiation table, we will propose: For those 6,312 Ming army prisoners, calculated on a per capita basis, you have to give us 1 kilogram of gold per person. Also, we want tungsten bars with a purity of 99.5%.
Ten tons.”
Xiang Xiaoqiang did a mental calculation. Excluding tungsten bars, there were more than 6,000 people, and each person had one kilogram of gold, which was more than six tons of gold. This would take up nearly one-twentieth of the Ming Dynasty's national gold reserves. Guangwu
That boy is brave enough to speak.
Xiang Xiaoqiang sighed and shook his head:
"What's your bottom line?"
"This..." Gua Dexin also showed a sly smile, "Our bottom line is: just give half."
Xiang Xiaoqiang lowered his face and said coldly:
"Lord Gua, there is no one like you. After taking our money, you still don't tell me the real bottom line, and you still want to increase the amount? In this case, please return the diamond to me."
Guade's new surprise:
"Hey, Mr. Xiang, why did I increase the bet? The bottom line given by our emperor is indeed three tons of gold and five tons of tungsten bars. It cannot be less."
Xiang Xiaoqiang snorted and sneered:
"Master Gua, you also know that we have agreed to your core request. We will not give you any of these gold tungsten bars and other accessories, and your emperor will be very satisfied. Master Gua, let's do this, for the sake of our friendship
, gold and tungsten bars, we can give you 200 kilograms of each as a token of appreciation and we won’t make it difficult for you.”
Guade Xin swore an oath, and after some heart-wrenching expressions, he could only accept it with a wry smile and shake his head. Xiang Xiaoqiang was right. Emperor Guangwu had not set any bottom line in this regard, and Nan Ming did not have to give it. Xiang Xiaoqiang agreed to give a small amount symbolically.
, or consider it for the sake of Guadexin. It would be too false to not give it at all. Guadexin would be suspected of making a deal after he returned, and he, Guadexin, would not have done it.
…
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Guade Xin reorganized the terms that had been negotiated in secret. Both parties agreed, and they were waiting for some drama at the negotiation table in the afternoon.
It was not long since the two of them came out to "go to the bathroom" and they had to go back quickly. Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly said:
"Lord Gua, please stay."
Guade Xin turned around, smiled again at Xiaoqiang, leaned over and said with a smile:
"Master Gua, whether our more than 6,000 brothers can return home safely is entrusted to Master Gua."
Guade Xin nodded and smiled:
"Don't worry, sir."
Xiang Xiaoqiang whispered:
"Our Majesty has said that as long as those more than 6,000 brothers return to the Ming Dynasty safely, Master Na Gua will be the reborn parent of our more than 6,000 families in the Ming Dynasty... At that time, we will have someone in Beijing to give Master Gua another important gift.
Thanks……"
Guadexin's eyes lit up again, and he didn't expect there was an extra portion.
Xiang Xiaoqiang also made a wish to prevent Guade Xin from going back on his word, or from the Qing side making another mistake, so that Guade Xin would do his best to help Nan Ming.
"Five million oceans..." Xiang Xiaoqiang leaned closer and chuckled, "As long as our brothers return home safely and Mr. Gua returns to Beijing, he will receive another five hundred thousand oceans... Don't worry, sir, but our Majesty
A little thanks, Mr. Gua doesn’t need to do anything else.”
Guade Xin nodded, grinning from ear to ear and said:
"Okay, don't worry, Sir, I'll take care of it..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang also smiled, and the stone fell to the ground in his heart. In this case, the thousands of Ming officers and soldiers would be basically safe, and they would not be afraid that Guade Xin would not try his best to help. In addition, the money of the Ming intelligence agency is not so easy to get, as long as
Gua Dexin took Nan Ming's 500,000 yuan in Beijing, so it was not up to him. As a civil servant, he did not know how powerful the spy circle was. As long as he got into the water for the first time, he would not be able to spy for the other party in the future. The security team