The moon is bright and the stars are scarce, the city gate of Zhengzhou City is open, Zhanhuai stands outside the city gate, looking up at the golden flag on the city tower, that is Xiao Jiu's flag, I am afraid that only Xiao Jiu's flag in the world is woven with gold thread.

Zhanhuai's gaze moved down the flagpole and fell on the shadow on the city tower. The two lanterns reflected her face clearly, and she was smiling at him, it was Xiao Jiu.

The corners of Zhanhuai's mouth were raised upward, and a doting smile was hooked, this city was not given to Xiao Jiu by him, it was Xiao Jiu who brought it down by himself.

Zhan Huai turned around and raised his arms high: "Enter the city!" ”

On the third day of August, the fifth month of Zhanhuai's army, he conquered Zhengzhou.

On the tenth day of August, Zhanhuai and Huo Roufeng conquered Kaifeng, Zhang Baochen was dead, He Hui led the remnants of the army to retreat to Zhoukou, and fled from Zhoukou to Anhui by water.

Zhan Huai's soldiers were divided into three routes, and Cai Ruoyu, Xu Shichong and Jiang Zheng were sent to exterminate the remnants of the Taiping Society in Henan.

On the ninth day of the ninth month of September, Chongyang Day, Emperor Minghe received a war report, and the rebellion of Zhang Baochen, which lasted for three years, has been settled!

This was supposed to be a happy event that should be celebrated together, but no one in the hall could laugh.

Zhanhuai defeated Zhang Baochen, occupied Henan, and won another piece of territory for himself.

Along with this news, there was the bad news that Xichangbo was seriously injured and Jiahai captured two more cities.

Emperor Minghe was angry, and Long Yan was furious, but now was not the time for him to be angry, once Jiahai entered Beizhili, Long Ting would not be protected.

After arguing with several cabinet elders, he proposed peace talks with Jiahai.

Shoufu Qu Yan was the little Jiuqing during the first emperor's reign, but he was suppressed by Zhao Xu and never entered the cabinet. After Zhao Xu's death, Emperor Ming He first let him enter the cabinet, and this year he was promoted to the first assistant, a scholar of the Huagai Palace, and a scholar of the Ministry of Officials.

Qu Yan said: "The Tatars are different from the Han people, they are nomadic people, although they are brave and good at fighting, but they do not understand the way of governing the country, each tribe is every time they grab the city, it is a plunder, the Tartars are now worried about internal and external troubles, if they can persuade Jiahai, they are allowed to take property and livestock, or Xiao imitates Emperor Gaozong to the princess and relatives, so that Jiahai will withdraw from the army, and the two countries will be safe and quiet from then on, and the border will be peaceful. ”

Now if you want money or not, you want no people, who wants to fight, what to fight, if you can make peace, that is the best.

At the end of October, it was the cold season of early winter in the north, and Emperor Ming He sent Qu Yan, the first assistant, and Zhong Shiji, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, to Taiyuan to negotiate peace with Jiahai.

On the tenth day of November, Qu Yan and his entourage arrived in Taiyuan, and Jiahai asked Xie Sicheng to sign the contract on his behalf on the grounds that he did not know Chinese.

In the past year, since Jiahai entered the customs, Xie Sicheng's name has spread all over the government and the opposition, Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji both knew that Xie Sicheng was born in the Taiping Society, but they didn't expect that Xie Sicheng was younger than the legend, and it was not what they imagined.

Qu Yan sighed in his heart, such a talent was used by the Tartars.

Qu Yan originally thought that although Jiahai sent Xie Sicheng to talk, it would be Jiahai who really made the decision.

But after living in Taiyuan for a few days, Qu Yan learned that Jiahai was not in Taiyuan at all, and Xie Sicheng was in charge of the joint discussion.

Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji were surprised, in their opinion, Jiahai was a Tatar, and Xie Sicheng was a Han, and it was impossible for Jiahai to fully trust Xie Sicheng.

But in fact, Jiahai did not come over in person to discuss such an important matter, nor did he send important figures among the Tatars to participate, except for Xie Sicheng, there were five or six other middle-level officials.

Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji couldn't guess what medicine was sold in the sea gourd, so they didn't dare to relax, and they officially talked with Xie Sicheng a few days later.

As soon as he started to talk, Qu Yan knew that he still underestimated Xie Sicheng, Xie Sicheng was thoughtful and responsive, often Qu Yan had just spoken, and Xie Sicheng blocked his words.

The negotiation was even more difficult than expected, and soon, Qu Yan understood why Jiahai did not come in person.

Xie Sicheng understands the minds of the Han people better than him, and understands the strategies of the Han people, the so-called knowing oneself and knowing the other, and winning all battles, but the current situation is that Xie Sicheng has guessed them, but they can't guess Xie Sicheng.

Xie Sicheng put forward three conditions, one is to compensate Tatar for all the losses caused by the cessation of the war, 500,000 taels of silver, 200,000 horses of silk, 100,000 ingots of pig iron, and 100,000 quintals of medicinal materials; The second is to allow the Tatars to open markets at the border gates, conduct mutual trade with the Han people, and exempt the Tatars from various taxes; The third is that the Tatars are willing to assist the Han people in exterminating the Zhanhuai rebels, and as a thank you, they need to give the Shaanxi, Yu, and Gan places under the jurisdiction of Zhanhuai to the Tatars after the extinction of Zhanhuai.

Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji discussed for two days, but they still didn't dare to decide, Xie Sicheng's requirements were too harsh, first of all, the treasury was empty, where could he get so much silver and property for a while; Second, let the Tartars open a market at the border pass, and then the Tartars will be able to enter and exit the border at will, and the border pass will inevitably be in chaos; As for the third one, that is, to lure the wolf into the house, the Tatars exterminated Zhanhuai, then the entire northwest is the Tatars.

Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji decided to talk to Xie Sicheng in private, even if they promised Xie Sicheng benefits.

The two hosted a banquet for Xie Sicheng in the largest restaurant in Taiyuan, but after waiting for a full hour, Xie Sicheng did not come. Just when the two of them were anxious, a small servant came and said coldly: "My family said that before the contract is signed, I still won't meet with the two elders." ”

In desperation, the two had no choice but to reply to Xie Sicheng: The matter is serious, and they must be enlightened.

The two reported the content of the negotiation to Emperor Minghe in its original form, and then stayed in Taiyuan, anxiously waiting for the court's reply.

Unlike Qu Yan and Zhong Shiji, Xie Sicheng is calm. He has the chance to win this negotiation, and the little emperor has been driven to a dead end, so he can only agree.

On their own side, at most, they will make a little concession and give the other party a little sweetness.

Of course, this little sweetness is not given in vain.

Sure enough, a few days later, when the two sides made an appointment to talk again, Qu Yan said: "His Majesty the Emperor of this dynasty said that the disaster of Zhanhuai is the internal affairs of this dynasty, and if you don't work for your country to help, this third article can be avoided." ”

This was expected by Xie Sicheng, he said: "It is reported that Zhanhuai has occupied Henan, and often lives in Luoyang Kaifeng, there is a great intention to set the capital here, Henan is the land of the Central Plains, your country is worried that our Tartar iron hooves will take advantage of the time to exterminate Zhanhuai to step on the Central Plains, which is understandable." ”

Qu Yan smiled slightly: "So Lord Xie can understand, that's the best, then ......"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Sicheng interrupted him: "Don't worry, Qu Shoufu, I haven't finished my words yet." ”

Qu Yan said: "Okay, Lord Xie, please continue." ”

"I want to say that your emperor may have misunderstood, and our Great Khan doesn't have the idea of helping you go to Henan to fight."