There was a charcoal fire under the kang, and several people sat on it to bake it, and everyone's faces were red as if there was a little more blood. The kang was placed on the north side of the signing room, and three people on each side knelt on the east and west. The usual habit of the Tuyuhun people is to sit cross-legged, and after kneeling for a long time, they accidentally get used to it, and while talking, Fu Lu and the other two men adjusted their postures and simply sat cross-legged on the kang. Murong Yan is a woman and a royal family, but she has always been very dignified and sat on her knees listening to everyone talking and bargaining.

"Since the establishment of the state is so beneficial, why does the Duke of Wei insist on negotiating peace with us?" Fu Lu looked at Xue Chongxun suspiciously.

"I don't want to see innocent lives lost to war unless I have to." Xue Chongxun said calmly.

Apparently this was not the truth, and it was impossible for him to tell a few Gentiles what he was thinking. The Tang Dynasty's state taxes were at their own expense, guarding the border for the Tang Dynasty, and in fact had the nature of mercenaries. In the process of the Tang Dynasty's foreign expansion, it solved the problems of ethnic contradictions, regional stability, financial burden, etc., and at the same time was able to use brave nomads to guard the border passes, which had many benefits, but there was a great hidden danger.

Xue Chongxun knew about the famous Anshi Rebellion, and of course he understood the severity of the consequences, and the Anshi Rebellion had a lot to do with the failure of national integration. When the country is gradually leveling down, the government military system is corrupted, the army's combat strength is declining, and it slowly begins to rely on nomadic mercenaries, which will naturally form a situation of foreign strength and middle work. Now that there is power and opportunity in front of him, why didn't he, as a Han Chinese, try to find a viable path for the Tang Dynasty's security policy?

At this moment, a teenage maid wearing a two-ring headdress came up with tea, Xue Chongxun turned his head to look at it, and did not stop talking...... Many people just talk about confidential things in front of her, and she doesn't understand them. Thinking about it like this, Xue Chongxun unknowingly became the elite of this country.

Murong Yan stretched out her hand and gently stroked the pigtail in her ear, she didn't smile but smiled, she said slowly: "What Wei Guogong said is very true, no matter how beneficial the Tang Dynasty is, but negotiating peace is the best choice for us to Tuyuhun, Wei Guogong fights for our clan, and my Murong family is sincerely grateful." It's just that the difficulties raised by the prime minister, please consider it more ...... Gong Weiguo" She represented the Murong family on formal occasions, and called her husband still the prime minister, which sounded more formal.

As soon as she spoke, Wang Changling, who had never squinted, couldn't help but take a second look.

When Murong Yan spoke, her lips opened lightly, occasionally revealing the white and lovely teeth in her mouth, and her expression was more like smiling, but when she looked closely, she was not smiling. She spoke to Xue Chongxun, and when she looked at it, Xue Chongxun suddenly felt like a spring breeze.

"Now we Tuyuhun is already difficult to maintain, if we not only draw Ding to fight Shibao City, but also have to collect huge taxes, it will inevitably make the clansmen dissatisfied with the Murong family and the nobles, if we can't maintain the situation at that time, the two-benefit policy proposed by Wei Guogong will inevitably fail." Murong Yan spoke very softly, reasonably, modestly, and calmly with a humane tone.

Xue Chongxun couldn't refuse to give in after hearing this, and he didn't know whether he was convinced of Murong Yan's reason, or because he couldn't refuse her expectant eyes.

There were six negotiators, but only one person from each side really made the decision. At this time, the concept of the system is not like the principle of "the minority obeys the majority" in later generations, but "there are no two days", from the central and local institutions, the decision-making power is concentrated in one person to avoid indecision, in Shanzhou, the person who decides is Xue Chongxun, Wang Changling, Yu Wenxiao, etc., only have the right to build yì, and it is the matter of the chief to listen or not.

But this model is flawed, a person will be affected by factors such as affection, human affection, etc., and there is no guarantee that every decision is rational. Now Xue Chongxun couldn't figure out whether his thoughts were rational or not.

So he turned his head and glanced at Wang Changling with an inquiring expression, Wang Changling didn't seem to notice Xue Chongxun's eyes, and only lowered his eyes and pondered something.

At this moment, Xue Chongxun suddenly found Murong Yan looking at him with a smile on his face, and that smiling gaze seemed to be able to see through his heart...... Is she slightly laughing at me for not being assertive?

Xue Chongxun's deformed self-esteem immediately became troubled, and he immediately made a decision: "After careful consideration, I can reduce the amount of the currency, and the amount of the currency this year will be one-fifth of the harvest in the following years." ”

Fu Lu's face suddenly showed a hint of joy, and he hurriedly said: "Recently, it is very difficult to draw Ding twice in a row, if Wei Guogong agrees to waive this year's tribute, I promise to persuade the tribes to take Shibao City in one fell swoop." ”

Xue Chongxun frowned and said, "If you don't pay money and food, how can you guarantee the supply of the Jiannan Army stationed in Ambush City?" ”

Fu Lu said: "Only for one year." If we don't build the stone fort for the Tang army, the Longyou army gnaws the stone fort city by itself, which is not the same costly, in comparison, providing foster care for a garrison of 8,000 people is much cheaper than launching an attack. ”

Xue Chongxun pondered for a moment, and said in his heart This is the truth, not to mention the cost of transferring troops to fight, tens of thousands of people died in Shibao, and the imperial court also had a lot of financial expenses to compensate the families of the fallen soldiers, and they also had to give land.

But he didn't promise Fulu, now they are meat on the board, of course, to maximize benefits. Xue Chongxun shook his head and said: "Garrison, siege, and currency are the three conditions for peace talks, and we can't make concessions, otherwise I'm afraid we won't be able to negotiate." ”

Unexpectedly, Murong Yan said again: "With a heart of great benevolence, the Duke of Wei Guo will save the innocent people from the scourge of war and turn war into jade silk, please have mercy on the farmers and herdsmen of Tuguhun and alleviate their suffering from hunger and cold." Besides, the more tolerant you are, the easier it will be for you to succeed, right? ”

Xue Chongxun groaned, as soon as he was wearing a high hat, if he didn't agree, didn't he say that Lao Tzu had no benevolence? Although he didn't have any benevolence and righteousness, even if he was full of men and women thieves and prostitutes in front of Murong Yan, he always wanted to be full of benevolence, righteousness and morality.

At this time, Wang Changling said: "The lord is an official of the Tang Dynasty, and he only considers the hunger and cold of the people of the Tang Dynasty, and it is impossible to let the people under his rule starve for the sake of food and clothing of other clans, which is his duty." ”

Murong Yan said: "Tuyuhun returns to the Tang Dynasty, aren't we also the people of the Tang Dynasty?" ”

Xue Chongxun was already a little hesitant when he heard Wang Changling speak, and then a bell rang from afar outside, which was the time of the bridge tower at three o'clock in the morning. The morning negotiations started late, and before I knew it, it was noon.

The concentrated expressions of the crowd were immediately relieved, it was time for lunch, they could rest for a while, and the peace discussion was estimated to be postponed until the afternoon.

But at this time, Xue Chongxun suddenly patted the swallowtail head with the palm of his hand, and said happily: "Cheng, it's decided." First, the garrison, our Tang army should be stationed in the Tuyuhun Wangcheng, and have the right to operate in the territory and have the right to inquire about military affairs; Second, siege, you must mobilize men and horses before the summer solstice to launch an attack on the stone castle city; Third, the Na currency, exempt from this year's taxes, from next year, that is, the third year of Changyuan, must pay one-fifth of the harvest of agriculture, animal husbandry, and commerce, and the officials of the Tang Dynasty have the right to inspect and estimate the operations in Tuyuhun. Let's be more cheerful and promise to write a document in the afternoon as proof; If you don't agree, I won't be with you more! ”

Fu Lu laughed: "Wei Guogong is a straightforward person, worthy of fellowship!" Why don't we make an alliance with blood? ”

Xue Chongxun sneered, "I don't believe in that thing. If one side tears up the treaty, it is a signal to start a war. ”

Fu Lu was in a good mood, and when he looked at Murong Yan, he smiled and said a few words of Tugu Hun language. Xue Chongxun didn't understand, guessing that it was probably praising his wife's words, and Murong Yan did have a lot of credit for the success of today's negotiations.

Xue Chongxun stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "I'm glad that we are discussing peace and shun, and I hope that the relationship between the monarchs and ministers of the two states will be happy." ”

Fu Lu saw that he stretched out his hand to himself, and he didn't know what he wanted to do, could it be that there was any etiquette in the Tang Dynasty that he didn't know? Fu Lu had never been to Chang'an, so he naturally didn't know many rules, so he also stretched out his hand in a hurry and grabbed Xue Chongxun's forearm to show friendship. Xue Chongxun smiled and shook it up and down before letting go.

"A banquet will be held in the lobby to celebrate the achievement, so that we can participate in the grand event."

……

In the past few days, the yamen has been very lively, Xue Chongxun remembered Cheng Ting, and there was a banquet with a pleasant atmosphere in the evening, so he went back to the inner house and called her to participate together.

Many women have some common characteristics, such as liking to dress up beautifully in public, attend banquets, go shopping, and so on. Cheng Ting was no exception, she picked out clothes and jewelry at home for a long time, and spent more than half an hour on elaborate makeup, and almost all the afternoon was spent preparing for the banquet.

The lobby was full of guests and friends, in addition to Shanzhou officials, there were also local squires, and they were lively and unhappy. In the hall, a group of orchids were singing and dancing, and the small bells on the exposed navels and bare ankles were shaking loudly. When Xue Chongxun and Cheng Ting's hands walked in from the Qilin Gate, everyone's eyes turned from Hu Ji to Cheng Ting...... Because of the palace makeup on her body. Shanzhou is remote, and the local upper-class people have basically never really seen the things in the court, only those who are lucky enough to enter the palace for banquets will bring out the court's service and entertainment methods after they come out, and it will form a popular fashion among the people and even in neighboring countries.

High updo, ruffled skirts, red silk draped over the shoulders, and green floor-length dresses are like modern evening dresses, but the shoulders and back are not exposed.

This kind of clothing is obviously not suitable for wearing in Shanzhou Prefecture, and the hem of the long skirt is soiled as soon as it walks down the corridor...... It is impossible for the floor of the state government to be spotless everywhere, and there is no shortage of manpower, so the long skirt is like a mop when walked on, but it plays a certain role in cleaning.

Cheng Ting's face was flushed, and she appeared in front of everyone with a hint of shyness in this kind of dress, although she did not have the noble grace of a princess, she had a kind of pure and cordial like a sister next door, and that little bit of shyness became more and more cute.

Xue Chongxun took his hand to the warm pavilion above, first hugged his fists to the Fulu couple who had stood up, and then took a seat. Xue Chongxun is the prince of the Tang Dynasty, and the status of Tuyuhun's princess is not much different, so they sit together on an equal footing and sit together in the warm pavilion.

At this time, Xue Chongxun saw that there were some snowflakes on Cheng Ting's sideburns, probably floating up from the outside in the corridor just now, so he said softly: "Ting'er, don't move." Then he reached out and gently flicked it off.

Seeing this, Murong Yan on the other side couldn't help but say to Fu Lu in Tuyuhun language: "You see how meticulous people are to their women. ”A