Imperial warlords: Cannons are the only truth

While the negotiation teams of the Salo people and the Yi people were still in the capital trying to delay the attack of the Daqian Zhenguo army under the guise of peace talks.

The Daqian Zhenguo Army's "Operation Punisher" has quietly begun.

"Isn't the condition you've proposed a bit too harsh?"

"This is simply robbery!"

At the negotiating table, after hearing the "peace talks" terms from the Qian Kingdom, Sharo's representative, Hewlett Jeff, couldn't help but criticize, "Offering such harsh terms shows that your side has absolutely no sincerity in 'peace talks'!"

"Wait a minute..." Ge Daqiang, who was representing the Great Qian in negotiations with the Sharo people, tapped on the table: "Have you all figured out your own roles?"

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"This time you've come begging us for 'peace talks,' and we've already been quite generous in letting you sit at the negotiating table and whine for so long!"

"Besides—is sincerity something we need to consider? It's not like we want to make peace!"

Ge Daqiang looked at him like he was an idiot and leaned back in his chair: "Don't you guys know the rules?"

"When you come to ask someone for a favor, you don't show sincerity yourself, but instead expect others to show you sincerity?"

"Lord Ge! I believe we have demonstrated our sincerity!"

Hewlett Jeff, suppressing his anger in fairly standard Chinese, said to Ge Daqiang, "We are willing to express our sincerest apologies to the Daqian side for their wrongful act of occupying the Dagasa region."

"Furthermore, we are willing to provide you with corresponding financial compensation."

"We also hope to conclude an alliance with Daqian and sign a non-aggression pact."

"I think these conditions are enough to demonstrate our sincerity in the peace talks."

As Hewlett Jeff watched Ge Daqiang's increasingly perfunctory attitude and apparent lack of interest in the negotiations, he felt a strong sense of unease.

"However, your side has proposed that we disarm our entire nation and accept the constraints of the Great Qian!"

"I would like to ask you, Lord Ge—who would accept such conditions?"

"This is no different from robbery!"

"You can't say that, can you?"

Ge Daqiang glanced at Hewlett Jeff, who was furious but dared not unleash his fury, with amusement: "Aren't you guys quite familiar with this kind of thing?"

"Isn't taking advantage of someone's misfortune and seizing territory your forte?"

"If it weren't for the checks and balances of the Western Luo Kingdoms, you probably wouldn't have taken more than just the Dagasa region, would you?"

As for whether these conditions will be accepted...

"That's not something we need to consider."

"If he doesn't accept it, then we'll beat him until he does."

"Haven't you already proven this method?"

"It works great!"

We'd like to give it a try too...

"Lord Ge..." Just as Hewlett Jeff was about to retort, one of his own men hurriedly walked over.

Then, he whispered something in Hewlett Jeff's ear.

"What!" Hewlett Jeff jumped to his feet, his eyes filled with shock and anger as he glared at Ge Daqiang, who was leisurely picking up his teacup to drink.

"Master Ge!"

"I thought the Great Qian Dynasty had always been a country of trustworthy gentlemen."

"I never imagined you could be so despicable!"

"During the peace talks, you suddenly launched an attack on our side..."

"We have received confirmed information—two hours ago, the Daqian Zhenguo army crossed the border between Dagasa and Saluo!"

"What explanation do you have for this?"

"explain?"

Ge Daqiang casually put down his teacup and said with a smile, "What do we need to explain?"

"Who should I explain this to?"

Do we need to explain?

"It seems we never explicitly announced a ceasefire, did we?"

Ge Daqiang said with a disdainful look, "Besides, don't you know what you've been doing behind the scenes?"

"You have the nerve to ask us for an explanation!"

"I've already explained seven or eight points! You want me to explain...?"

"Did you come to the capital for peace talks with the intention of making peace?"

Ge Daqiang retorted, "Do you think we don't know your true intentions and the little tricks you've been secretly playing?"

"On one hand, they came to us crying and shouting that they wanted to negotiate peace; on the other hand, they sent people to Xiluo to find ways to create a rebellious front."

"To put it bluntly, your trip here—the peace talks are just a pretext; your real purpose is to buy time."

"Am I right about that?"

"Don't think that your little tricks are very secretive."

"We know the situation in Xiluo very well!"

"We're just playing along now, isn't that reasonable?"

"Lord Ge! I believe there must be a major misunderstanding here!"

When Ge Daqiang exposed their secrets, Hewlett Jeff was dumbfounded.

Before arriving, Salo president Kolcraw Glenn had told Hewlett Jeff with certainty that they had taken confidentiality into full consideration from the very beginning.

Therefore, their coordinated operations in Xiluo were carried out very discreetly.

The people of Qian Kingdom would never know.

But the truth is—not only did they know, but it seems they knew all along!

"Misunderstand?"

"What a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding...!"

As he spoke, Ge Daqiang stood up and stretched comfortably: "Alright, I'm tired after talking nonsense with you guys for so many days and acting in so many plays!"

"If you really want to negotiate, we have already made the terms of the negotiation clear to you."

"This is the only condition for peace talks, and it cannot be changed! There is absolutely no room for negotiation..."

"Lord Ge, do you really intend to resolve this issue by force?"

When he saw Ge Daqiang get up to leave, Hewlett Jeff immediately panicked.

"If we don't fight, can you accept our conditions?"

"If you say you can, then prove your sincerity with your actions."

As Ge Daqiang left his seat, he casually remarked, "If you voluntarily disarm, we can avoid fighting."

"After all, we, the people of Qian, are absolutely not warmongers—we love peace!"

As he spoke, Ge Daqiang, who was walking past Hewlett Jeff, patted him on the shoulder: "Tell your President Ge Lan about our terms."

"As long as you agree to these conditions, all problems will be solved."

Ge Daqiang checked the time: "Oh!"

"It's almost lunchtime, no wonder my stomach keeps growling..."

"However, I don't think you're in the mood to eat here anymore."

"If you want to leave, we'll arrange your return trip immediately..."

Ge Daqiang ignored Hewlett Jeff and the others, and casually instructed his entourage, "By the way, inform the Yi Kingdom that the peace talks this afternoon are off."

"Whether we talk or not, the result will be the same..."