The Taiping army seized Dengzhou and truly occupied the entire county of Songjiang.

The news spread, not only made the defenders and appointed officials of the Taiping Army stationed in various places compete to celebrate, but also made many people who were still skeptical of the Taiping Army feel at ease. For example, Feng Liangchen, who was forcibly promoted to the position of general of the Protector Army but played an important role in the Taiping Army's entry into Dengzhou, was finally able to sleep well.

Although he had great confidence in the terrifying achievements of the Taiping Army and the entire plan drawn up, it was not really implemented for a moment, and Feng Liangchen's heart did not dare to let go for a moment. It wasn't until the dust settled that he was sure that his wealth and status were assured.

As for the possible future liquidation of the empire?

If it had been a year ago, he might have been jealous. But since the Taiping Army was born, the shape of the Eastern Continent has changed too quickly. In his eyes, the empire that was attacked by the Wudou Midao Rebellion, the Taiping Army's rebellion, the rebellion of the Kingdom of Oman and the Lena Dynasty at the same time was already the end of the dynasty.

As long as he can guarantee his personal rich future, what does it make if he is loyal to whom?

The businessmen of Dengzhou, who also played an important role, had similar ideas as Feng Liangchen. As long as they could guarantee their trade and some of their economic privileges in Dengzhou, they did not mind letting the Taiping army take the place of the empire - although there was some helplessness in it.

But, apparently, not everyone thinks so.

When Fang An, the imperial envoy who had been repeatedly delayed, finally set off from Daqingguan in a hurry and secretly rushed to Dengzhou, his face was full of chagrin and remorse.

Although the Empire had arranged a mission, there was still plenty of time before the city guards arrived. Therefore, after being detained by the defenders of Daqing Pass, Fang An was not particularly anxious. Especially with Chen Wu's decision coming back, the Daqingguan defenders used "there are a large number of horse bandits along the way" as an excuse to serve good wine and food, and Fang An stayed in Daqingguan for two more days with peace of mind.

However, it was this crucial two or three days that allowed the Taiping Army to suddenly exert its strength and capture Dengzhou!

If Fang An could know that two or three days would allow the situation in Songjiang to change so much, he would break out of the Daqing Pass even if he was desperate. After all, before setting out from the center, when he discussed the conditions of recruitment with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other central ministers, the core exchange of interests was to give up the county town of Dengzhou as a bargaining chip!

Now that Zhao'an's negotiations haven't started yet, his biggest bargaining chip is gone, how can this make Fang An not in a hurry?

It's just that things have happened, and there is no point in regretting them. He could only look at the restored city of Dengzhou, and at the same time entered the governor's palace under the escort of two groups of Taiping soldiers.

The capture of Dengzhou was too significant for the Taiping army, and all kinds of affairs that needed to be decided by him personally were beyond imagination. Even though he had a group of outstanding talents, he was still so busy in the past two days that he didn't even have time to meet with the detained governor Chi Chang at a joint banquet for Dengzhou businessmen. As for the proposed promotion and reward, and further personnel appointment adjustments to Dengzhou, which has been initially mastered, it is completely too late.

To be able to meet the envoy of the empire as soon as possible is already trying to find time.

At this moment, Chen Wu left Fang An with the impression of a young commander with a slightly tired look, bloodshot eyes, but full of spirit. In Chen Wu's hand, a thick stack of reports could be seen. There are preliminary statistics of money, grain, and ordnance in the treasury of Dengzhou; There are also reports of not too many casualties in the first battle of the city; and disaster relief and compensation programmes for hundreds of civilians affected by riots and fires.

"It's so young......"

As the first person in the entire empire center to see this famous thief leader with his own eyes, Fang An's hatred couldn't help but feel a little more admiration in his heart. He suddenly remembered a rumor in his heart, and couldn't help but look at Chen Wu carefully a few times, and finally shook his head slightly.

It doesn't look like the Chen family at all!

"Don't talk nonsense, as you can see, Ben is already going crazy!"

Chen Wu pushed the report aside, leaned back into the chair, adjusted his sitting posture to make his stiff body more comfortable, and said without raising his head: "Deputy Chief Fang An, let's open the conditions of the empire." ”

The matter of Dengzhou was intertwined with the war in Tiannan County, so he really had no extra time. Even if he could have finalized his relationship with the Empire a moment earlier, he would have been able to mobilize all his energy to the south more relaxedly. For the Kingdom of Oman, he is no less jealous than the center of the empire, and he must beat them back to the Red River Valley at any cost.

"General Tiangong is really refreshing......"

Fang An, who didn't even take a break from his feet, didn't expect Chen Wu to be so straightforward, completely different from other diplomats who had dealt with him, and he looked a little embarrassed. In the opening remarks he had thought of earlier, he prepared a lot of foreshadowing, such as Chen Wu's intention to recruit troops when he was in Longshan, but he was oppressed by the local government and had no choice but to do it, etc., which not only gave Chen Wu but also the empire a reason. Unexpectedly, Chen Wu directly skipped these cumbersome rhetoric and talked about the core content.

However, as the party that took the initiative to recruit peace, he could only accommodate the leader of the rebel army in front of him.

After learning that Dengzhou had just fallen into the hands of the Taiping army, on the way into the city, he had urgently adjusted the original plan and the conditions for recruiting An, and at this moment he was not in a hurry and said: "Since the general is busy with affairs, I will say it directly." His Majesty the Emperor understood the difficulties of the general, and saw that after the general entered Songjiang, the military discipline was strict and the people did not commit any crimes, and magnanimously gave the general and the officers and soldiers of the Taiping Army a chance......"

Secretly glancing at Chen Wu's face, Fang An swallowed the half of the words that he didn't say later, and put forward four main points.

"First: Lift the name of the Taiping Army, reorganize the existing soldiers of the Taiping Army, and follow the imperial regulations."

"Second: pay taxes as usual!"

"Third: canonize Chen Wu as the governor of Songjiang County, and the current generals of the Taiping Army can also obtain positions in Songjiang, and the responsibility for the previous rebellion will be pardoned. But other local officials at all levels will still be appointed by the Empire. ”

"Fourth: Mobilize the army to the south and assist the Tiannan Army against the soldiers of the Kingdom of Oman!"

These four contents, which have both rights and obligations, basically cover the most important content of the entire recruitment conditions. There were dozens of other inconsequential clauses that filled several pages before and after, but neither Fang An nor Chen Wu tacitly ignored them.

As long as these are finalized, the rest can be compromised at will.

In fact, before entering Daqingguan, Fang An drafted another clause, that is, the Taiping Army must give up Daqingguan. The bottom limit of the empire is that the Daqing Pass must be controlled by the empire, of course, in order not to irritate the Taiping army, the specific number of garrisons can be discussed. In exchange, the empire issued a direct decree to cede Dengzhou.

Now that Dengzhou has fallen, this exchange is naturally meaningless. Feeling that he couldn't think of anything else that could make Chen Wu back down, Fang An could only temporarily decide to delete this article.

This is also a helpless move.

"No!"

This condition is already full of sincerity in the eyes of the empire, but it is far from Chen Wu's psychological bottom line. He said without hesitation: "The first point, the Taiping Army has no objection, and the fourth point is also negotiable. But on the second and third points, the Taiping Army will never agree! ”

Yes?

Fang An was slightly stunned, almost suspecting that he had heard the wrong thing.

Chen Wu's opposition was expected by him. The so-called bargaining, even if you are satisfied, most of you have to continue to raise the price to try it, not to mention such a major event as Zhao'an. But in the expectation of Fang An and the courtiers, Chen Wu should be the fourth point that he insisted on opposing the most, so that he could be left and right. Unexpectedly, Chen Wu actually said that "it can be discussed" on the fourth point, but expressed strong opposition on the second and third points.

What does this mean by the Taiping Army?

Are you really willing to fight against the armies of the Kingdom of Oman?

Fang An speculated in his heart about Chen Wu's thoughts, if this was the case, it would undoubtedly be an excellent piece of good news for the empire. But is the Taiping Army really so stupid and so kind?

Of course, surprise in his heart turned to surprise, and he politely asked Chen Wu to continue to speak on the surface.

As far as the second and third points are concerned, the empire has a bottom line, and the point he put forward is only an offer from his own side, and it is not absolutely impossible to make concessions.

"First of all, the second point is taxation!" Money and food are the foundation for the maintenance of an army, and it is also the foundation for his rule over Songjiang, so naturally he cannot make concessions lightly. "All the finances of Songjiang County are only paid in a symbolic amount, and the rest are all withheld for local construction and maintenance of the army."

As for the specific number, if you look good, you will give a flower head, and if you don't want to pay attention to it, you will simply give a gold coin.

As long as the empire is embarrassed to accept it, Chen Wu is absolutely cheeky enough to be embarrassed to give it.

"It can't be!"

If a place doesn't even pay taxes, what is the difference between it and the kingdom of **? What's more, Songjiang is rich in the world and is one of the richest states and counties in the empire. Like the likes of Yuanshan County and Ninghai County, if they are tied together and doubled, they can't compare to the money and grain paid by Songjiang every year.

Fang An gave in appropriately: "The army's salary, armor and weapons can be allocated by the imperial center. As long as a figure is reported after the reorganization, the military department will naturally issue it in full, and there is no need for the general to bother. ”

So? The size of the Taiping army's army was clearly felt by the empire, and it was limited by people?

Chen Wuke is not so stupid, he will not agree to this in any case.

He even explicitly told Fang An that if the empire did not give in on this point, the two sides would not have to talk about it.

After some arguments, Chen Wu and Fang An each gave in a step. The Taiping army abolished the previous tax standard and instead paid 1 million gold coins and 200,000 stone of grain to the empire every year. Instead, all the remaining income went to Matsue for his own use, and the empire no longer cared about it.

For Fang An, this point undoubtedly exceeded the requirements before departure, which made him feel very embarrassed. But Chen Wu's toughness, and the fact that the Taiping army had already taken over Songjiang, forced him to make concessions. As for whether the center will be able to pass through guò after the final return, only God knows.

However, the concession of the second clause is only the beginning of the whole negotiation!