Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1458 Negotiation
Nanyang is situated in a strategically important location, with natural barriers on all sides.

It is bordered by the Qinling Mountains to the north, with continuous mountain ranges forming a natural defense line.

It is located south of the Han River, facing the important military town of Xiangyang across the river.

It is bordered by Wudang Mountain to the west and is located at the intersection of the Qinling Mountains and the Daba Mountains, making its terrain complex.

The Wuguan Pass in the northwest leads directly to Guanzhong, making it a strategic passage.

With Xuchang to the northeast and Runan to the southeast, these two places are now entirely under the control of the Han Dynasty. If the Wu Kingdom truly wants Nanyang, this is probably the worst news.

Nanyang is now under the joint control of the Han and Wu states, and the Wei state's influence has been completely isolated.

Since Xuchang and Runan were garrisoned by Han troops, and the Guanzhong forces could easily move east through Wuguan Pass, in addition, Shangyong and Hanzhong could contain Xiangyang from the west.

If the Wu Kingdom wanted to take over Nanyang, it would be absolutely impossible without the approval of the Han Dynasty.

If we were to launch a forceful offensive and anger the Han army, they could encircle us from three sides:
The troops from Xuchang and Runan marched out to the east; the elite troops from Guanzhong marched south from Wuguan; and the troops from Shangyong and Hanzhong pressed towards the west of Xiangyang.

At that time, not only would Nanyang be lost, but even the important town of Xiangyang might be captured by the Han army in one fell swoop.

If it were someone like Mr. Feng, he would never have taken on this hot potato just for the sake of saving face and achieving political success.

There are no real benefits; instead, it puts you in danger.

The hall of the Grand Marshal's residence was filled with the aroma of tea.

Qin Bo carefully picked up the teacup, using this action to conceal his nervousness. After gathering his thoughts for a while, he finally revealed Zhuge Ke's ideas about Nanyang:
"My lord, you are wise. Grand Tutor Zhuge is well aware that Nanyang is a strategic location, so he dares not presume to possess it exclusively. I am willing to exchange Nanyang for one million bushels of grain from Shu to relieve the famine in Jingzhou."

"This is truly a win-win situation. It can reassure the people of Wu and also ensure that Nanyang clearly belongs to the Han Dynasty, thus eliminating the worry of a dispute between the two countries."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yong's eyes widened immediately, and he sat up straight.

Instead of the weighing of options that Qin Bo had anticipated, his face displayed an extremely strange expression.

It was as if he had heard some absurd joke, but he forced himself to suppress his laughter and finally just let out a soft "heh".

The voice was soft, but it was full of sarcasm:

"Lord Qin, did I hear you right? You mean that your Grand Tutor wants to exchange Nanyang Commandery, which does not even belong to Wu and even needs the consent of my Han Dynasty, for a million bushels of grain from my Han Dynasty?"

Feng Da Sima's speech was not fast, but the sarcasm in his tone was undisguised, making Qin Bo feel a great deal of pressure:
"This business acumen is truly astute. Could it be that the commercial spirit in Wu has become so strong lately that even a shrewd strategist like Zhuge Liang has learned this 'empty-handed...bait-a-wolf' technique?"

Yuan Xun stopped calling him that and started calling him "Grand Tutor Zhuge," clearly indicating his intention to distance himself from him.

Perhaps it was the heat, but Qin Bo's forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat. He quickly stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Your Excellency is too kind! The Grand Tutor had no such intention! It was only because grain prices in Jingzhou were soaring and the people were suffering that the Grand Tutor was deeply worried and thus came up with this expedient measure."

"Furthermore, if the Han Dynasty agrees, it will be tacitly acknowledging Nanyang's return to Wu, allowing our country to rightfully take over. At that time..."

"At that time?" Feng Yong interrupted him, his sneer deepening. "Lord Qin, we are both sensible people, why bother with such empty talk?"

"Xuchang and Runan are already in my hands, the Wuguan Pass is under my control, and the troops of Shangyong and Hanzhong are eyeing Xiangyang. Tell me, without the approval of my Great Han, can a single soldier of your Wu Kingdom enter Nanyang?"

"This 'legitimate' claim is nothing but a piece of paper without the permission of my Great Han! To exchange what is in my pocket for what is in my granary, Qin ruler, do you think there is any justice in the world?"

Qin Bo wiped the sweat from his brow, and under the immense pressure from Grand Marshal Feng, he spoke with difficulty:
"Has Your Excellency forgotten that when I came here last time, Your Excellency promised that as long as Great Wu returned 30% of the customs duties of Jingzhou, Nanyang would be the territory of Great Wu?"

"What the Grand Tutor is asking for today is precisely to continue the old agreement made by the late Emperor. If Your Excellency agrees to the matter of Nanyang, our country will immediately return the thirty percent of the customs duties as a sign of our sincerity! This is exactly in accordance with the previous agreement!"

Grand Marshal Feng extended his hand, signaling the other party to stop:
"Wait a minute, let me sort this out. You mean you don't want Nanyang, but instead return the 30% customs duty from Jingzhou in exchange for grain from Shu to stabilize grain prices in Jingzhou?"

Knowing that he couldn't hide his thoughts, he had no choice but to honestly admit, "Your Excellency, the Grand Tutor... that is exactly what I meant."

He smiled bitterly to himself, thinking that if possible, it would be best not to have to return the customs duties.

This is also why Qin Bo did not mention tariffs at the beginning.

But he also knew that he was facing the shrewd and far-sighted Grand Marshal Feng, and it would be almost impossible to fool him.

So he tried it out briefly, and when he saw that Feng Junhou's expression was not right, he immediately stated his bottom line and tried to make amends by offering tariffs.

State affairs are state affairs, and private relationships are private relationships.

It's not worth letting personal relationships, built up over the years, deteriorate because of national affairs.

It’s a bit difficult…

A brief silence fell over the hall as Grand Marshal Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

I don't want to give up Nanyang, and I don't want to give up the grain, but I do want the tariffs. What should I do?

"Well, Mr. Qin, actually, I'm in a difficult position too!"

Just as Qin Bo was about to have a nervous breakdown from the "snap snapping" sound, Grand Marshal Feng finally spoke:
"We have a close relationship, and there are no outsiders here, so I'll just tell you the truth."

"If you had just agreed to the matter in Nanyang back then, why would we have wasted so much breath today?"

If they had agreed back then, the Han Dynasty would have completely obtained the customs duties of Jingzhou, and the Wu Kingdom would probably have already stationed troops in Nanyang.

The Han Dynasty would certainly not, with the overall situation already settled, risk the infamy of betraying its allies by acting like the cowards of Jiangdong over a mere Nanyang.

Therefore, given that Wu had stationed troops in Nanyang, it was understandable that Zhuge Ke would exchange Nanyang for grain.

Given the alliance between the two countries, the Han Dynasty could not simply stand by and watch its people perish.

but now……

"As the saying goes, times change. Last time I proposed exchanging tariffs for Nanyang, it was based on the situation at the time."

"Your country's troops stationed in Nanyang are just the right time to join forces with the Han Dynasty to attack Xuchang, Runan and other places. This is called a joint attack, and we can share the benefits."

“The situation has changed now. Xuchang and Runan have fallen, and Nanyang is already in my grasp. It would be unreasonable to use it for further transactions.”

"Even if I agree to this because of our friendship, I'm afraid my soldiers of the Great Han Dynasty will not agree."

Upon hearing this, Qin Bo immediately became anxious: "My Lord..."

Grand Marshal Feng raised one finger, indicating to Qin Bo to let him finish speaking first:

"Since the King of Qin has mentioned the old treaty, let's have a proper discussion about the word 'covenant'."

He picked up the teacup, but didn't drink; he merely stroked the warm rim of the cup, his voice as steady as a mountain:

"During the Battle of Luoyang, when the soldiers of the Han Dynasty fought bloody battles and fortified the city, did you ever see a single soldier from your country join the attack?"

"However, after the war, the Wu ruler demanded 30% of the customs duties of Jingzhou as 'compensation' based on a treaty that had not been fully fulfilled."

"At that time, our Great Han Dynasty made concessions for the sake of the overall situation. This was the magnanimity and benevolence of our Great Han Dynasty, but it is not a right that your country should have!"

His tone grew increasingly forceful, and he looked directly at Qin Bo:
"How similar is the situation in Nanyang today! Xuchang and Runan have been recovered, and Nanyang is now an isolated city, within easy reach. I ask you, how much effort did the Wu Kingdom put in during this process? How much blood did they shed?"

"If it is always our great Han Dynasty that fights and sheds blood, while your country sits comfortably in Jiangdong and wants to share the spoils of victory after the war, is this the way of allies? This is clearly reaping the benefits without sowing!"

"If this continues, where is the fairness of the alliance? What is the meaning of the blood and sweat shed by our Han soldiers?"

At this point, Feng Yong smiled deeply:
"Lord Qin, if our Han Dynasty were to take Nanyang by itself and not supply any grain from Shu, what could your Wu Kingdom do to me?"

Qin Bo was greatly surprised: "What does Your Excellency mean by this?"

Grand Marshal Feng did not answer, but leaned back, no longer looking at him, and continued speaking to himself:
"In the more than twenty years since our two countries pledged allegiance, the only territory your country has expanded is Xiangyang. But even in Xiangyang, our Han soldiers have contributed their efforts."

“I even personally led a large army to help you tie down the Wei army in Jingzhou at Wuguan Pass. Otherwise, how could Lu Boyan have so easily taken Xiangyang?” (Chapter 1205)
"Back then, did we ever make unreasonable demands on Xiangyang based on our alliance, as your country does today? No!"

"Why? Because we know all too well that alliances are based on righteousness, and benefits are derived from merit. Without the toil of blood and sweat, how can there be even a shred of benefit? How can one enjoy the benefits of others without being the vanguard? This is not the way of alliances, much less the principle of diplomatic relations!"

Finally, the cup was slammed onto the table, spilling tea in the process.
"Therefore, to try to extract real benefits from Nanyang with empty words today would chill the hearts of our Han soldiers and betray the principles of alliance! There is absolutely no room for discussion on this matter!"

These were the conditions before we took Xuchang and Runan. If we take Xuchang and Runan and still want these conditions, then I've taken Xuchang and Runan for nothing.
Qin Bo opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but didn't know where to begin.

To be fair, over the years, Wu has indeed benefited more from its interactions with Han.

"He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him." So where does he get the confidence to stand up for himself now?
We can't just say we're going to give back all the benefits we've taken in the past, can we?
Since I can't vomit it out, I can only endure it for now.

Moreover, it is now the state of Wu that needs something from others, not the state of Han that needs something from Wu.

Any sophisticated diplomatic rhetoric appears pale and powerless in the face of an absolute disparity in strength.

He could only manage to squeeze out one last reason, his voice almost pleading:

“My lord… what you say is certainly reasonable. However… however, Wu and Han are ultimately allies, as close as lips and teeth.”

"If Jingzhou were to experience a peasant uprising due to a food shortage, and the situation were to become unstable, it would be... well, not a good thing for the peace and tranquility of the southeastern border of the Han Dynasty."

"I hope Your Excellency will consider the long-standing friendly relations between our two countries and show mercy..."

"That's right!" Grand Marshal Feng slapped his thigh. "If Grand Tutor Zhuge hadn't resorted to these petty tricks, but instead used the pretext of friendly relations between the two countries to borrow grain from the Han Dynasty to aid the people of Jingzhou, would the Han Dynasty have ignored him?"

"Although the Han Dynasty is currently short of grain reserves, for the sake of good relations between the two countries, as long as Grand Tutor Zhuge sincerely asks for help, the Han Dynasty will tighten its belt and squeeze out a portion to lend to your country in an emergency."

Qin Bo was taken aback by this sudden turn of events, then a surge of immense joy welled up inside him. He almost staggered to his feet, about to perform a deep bow: "Thank you, my lord! Your great kindness is appreciated by all of Wu..."

"Wait!" Feng Yong raised his hand and gestured to stop him, his expression quite calm.
"Don't thank me yet. I've already said that the treasury of our Great Han is not well-stocked either, and this time we are tightening our belts to help you."

"Even if I do my best to negotiate with His Majesty, the amount of grain I can allocate to your country will inevitably be limited, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to relieve Jingzhou's urgent needs."

Then, changing the subject, he revealed his true purpose:
"The missing portion will still need to be raised by your country itself. And the method of raising this portion... lies in the 30% of the Jingzhou customs duties that you are willing to return."

"At that time, your country can use this tariff to purchase the necessary grain and fodder at the fair market price in the Chang'an Exchange."

Feng Yong leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty:

"Let's set aside the matter of Nanyang for now. But this customs duty is a certificate for exchanging real grain. Let's keep things separate. What does Your Majesty think?"

These words were like ice water poured over his head, instantly cooling Qin Bo's excitement.

Feng Da Sima's words caused him to go from bad to good, his emotions almost completely swayed.

After thinking it over and over, I finally managed to calm myself down and make sense of what the other person was saying.

There's no need to discuss Nanyang anymore; there's no need to think about it further.

Not only do you have to pay back the tariffs, but you also have to use the money you get back to buy my grain!
Qin Bo frequently traveled to the Han Kingdom and, being from the Imperial Academy, was naturally familiar with the stock exchange.

The Chang'an Exchange lists the prices of bulk commodities daily, ensuring price transparency.

Although no one in the Han Dynasty dared to cause trouble regarding grain prices, grain prices have continued to rise since the beginning of spring.

The price increase is much larger than in previous years.

The upward trend was only barely curbed after the summer grain was stored.

In other words, the price of grain at the Chang'an Exchange was already high this year due to supply and demand. If the Wu Kingdom were to purchase it with tariffs, it would be as if it had been skinned twice over!

Qin Bo's face turned from red to white. He wanted to say something, but the words were forced back down by Feng Yong's calm yet unfathomable gaze.

His humility in needing someone's help completely deprived him of the right to bargain.

As I said before, national affairs are national affairs, and personal relationships are personal relationships.

There's no need to risk offending Grand Marshal Feng and damaging personal relationships for the sake of national affairs; it's not worth it.

After a long while, Qin Bo bowed again, completely giving up the struggle:
"My lord... has thought things through and made proper arrangements. I will follow your wishes. Everything will be handled as you say. I only implore you to inform His Majesty as soon as possible to relieve the dire situation of Jingzhou."

“If it were someone else, I might not give them this face, but since it is Qin Jun who has a request, I will go to the palace first thing tomorrow morning to petition His Majesty.”

"Thank you, my lord."

"There's no need to be so polite."

With the business concluded, the atmosphere eased somewhat. Feng Yong casually picked up his teacup, blew on the foam, and steered the conversation towards the recent situation in the Wu Kingdom:
"Yuan Xun (Zhuge Ke's courtesy name) has been in charge of the government for some time now. How are the various parties reacting in Jianye City?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Bo couldn't help but reveal a complicated, bitter smile.

After a moment's thought, he began to speak of the situation after the Great Emperor's death:

"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor has issued several decrees that have shocked the court and the public since he took office."

"His first act was to order the exemption of taxes owed by the people and to abolish the tax checkpoints that harassed merchants everywhere. This move was widely praised by the people."

Feng Yong nodded slightly, neither confirming nor denying: "Oh? It seems Yuan Xun is spreading benevolence to win the hearts of the people. Then... what about the School Affairs Office?"

This was what he was truly concerned about: the School Affairs Office was a key channel for trade between Wu and Xinghan, and it was also a spies he had cultivated for over a decade.

Even though I've already recouped my costs, who would complain about making more money?
It would be truly unjust if Zhuge Ke were to beat him to death with a flurry of punches.

Upon hearing Grand Marshal Feng's question, Qin Bo's smile became even more bitter:
"The Grand Tutor once intended to abolish the Office of the Imperial Censor, believing that its henchmen's actions were detrimental to the national dignity. Later... later, on the one hand, many people in the court who had a past with him pleaded on his behalf."

He paused slightly, then glanced at Feng Yong with a complicated expression.

According to Lü Zhongshu, fortunately, a Mr. Mi had made plans for the School Affairs Office in advance, which allowed the School Affairs Office to escape this disaster.

And that gentleman seemed to have an intricate connection with the lord before him.

There are even rumors that Mi Shiyi Lang directly takes orders from Feng Da Sima.

With a jumble of thoughts in his mind, Qin Bo continued:

"On the other hand, the Grand Tutor also considered that the Office of School Affairs had been dedicated to the transportation and trade with the Great Han for many years and had made great contributions. Abruptly abolishing it might harm the interests of the two countries. After weighing the matter carefully, the Grand Tutor reluctantly agreed to retain it."

He sighed, his tone tinged with self-deprecation and helplessness:
"However, the Imperial Academy is not what it used to be. The Grand Tutor has strictly ordered that it shall no longer supervise officials and the people, but shall focus on managing the functions of the 'Equalization Office', which, to put it bluntly, is to raise money and grain for the court."

"Even Lü Zhongshu was repeatedly reprimanded by the Grand Tutor in public for his past behavior. If he had not sworn to be careful and keep to his duty, he might not have been able to save his life."

As Qin Bo spoke, his voice became somewhat emotional, almost like that of a wronged Xianglin's wife:

"Your Excellency is wise... People like me, former senior officials of the Imperial Academy, are now easily punished. If I make the slightest mistake, I will be doomed."

"This mission is ostensibly for state affairs, but in reality... alas, I was forced into it. Otherwise, why would I have come to Your Majesty's presence to make a fool of myself and incur Your Majesty's displeasure?"

"In reality, it's just that doing this kind of hard work makes one appear law-abiding. Back in the day... sigh!"

Coming here to negotiate with the smooth-talking and deceitful Feng Guiwang, hoping to gain an advantage from him, what is this if not a miserable task?
This complaint was partly a genuine lament about the difficult times and the plummeting status of the School Affairs Office.

Part of it was a deliberate show of weakness, hoping to gain some sympathy or understanding from this powerful minister, so as to leave a glimmer of goodwill for the future.

Feng Yong listened quietly, his gaze deep and unreadable.