First: Territorial division.
The Star Luo Empire must unconditionally relinquish its overseas colonies (kingdoms) and recognize their independence.
(PS: This refers to the newly established Heaven Realm Kingdom. For now, it's the only one trying to become independent.)
Of course, Xu Nian'an wouldn't return the territories he had conquered, either. (Tiger Roar Defense Line.)
As for the Great God Circle Defense Line, it had long since been razed to the ground. With the nuclear contamination, that place wasn't much use to anyone anyway.····
Second: Military restrictions.
As the defeated country, the Star Luo Empire had been the first to stir up trouble and declare war. It had been deemed to have committed acts of aggression against another country. To restrict its actions and prevent this sort of problem from happening again, its total troop strength would be capped.
The Star Luo Empire's future military forces could not exceed three hundred thousand.
That was a force that was neither too large nor too small.
Three hundred thousand was far beyond the strength of an ordinary kingdom, yet not so overwhelming that a kingdom with an army of that size would become ridiculously powerful.
It was worth remembering that in the beginning, the Starry Sky Kingdom—the predecessor before the Great Ming Empire—had also had a total force of three hundred thousand.
The moment the figure of three hundred thousand was proposed, the Star Luo Emperor was displeased.
After a day of discussion, the figure proposed by the other side had gone from six hundred thousand to five hundred and fifty, then to five hundred thousand.
Actually, Xu Nian'an didn't care all that much about this.
Because on future battlefields, ordinary soldiers would become cannon fodder.
Victory or defeat on the battlefield wouldn't be decided by numbers.
That was why Xu Nian'an had agreed to the other side's demand.
It wasn't just because Xu Nian'an planned to establish a Soul Master Academy. He also planned to carry out his scheme to make everyone a Soul Master.
····
Third: War reparations.
Xu Nian'an could let the first two matters go without pressing for more, because he didn't care about them. But he had to fight for this third one.
Because the Great Ming Empire couldn't develop rapidly without financial backing.
"As the defeated country, you of the Star Luo Empire must pay my Great Ming Empire ten billion Gold Soul Coins in war reparations."
Hearing Xu Nian'an's words, Star Luo Emperor Dai Haochen shot to his feet.
"Ten... ten billion? Great Ming Emperor, have you gone mad, or have I?"
"Do you know how much ten billion Gold Soul Coins is?"
"A mountain of gold, more than a dozen mountains of silver, and hundreds of mountains of copper might not be enough to trade for it!"
Perhaps many people had no concept of what ten billion Gold Soul Coins meant. Ten thousand years later, a Snow Empress Embryo mistaken for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo could fetch over a hundred million at auction.
A top-grade Soul Bone could easily sell for over ten million.
But what Xu Nian'an wanted to say was that this was the economy ten thousand years later, after continuous economic growth and the development of gold mines, which had allowed the empires to accumulate so many Gold Soul Coins.
Things were different now. Ordinary laborers were the main productive force. Judging by how Xu Nian'an had only amassed thirty million Gold Soul Coins after destroying several countries, even a nation couldn't simply cough up a few billion Gold Soul Coins.
"Star Luo Emperor, I hope you understand the position you're in right now."
Xu Nian'an sat in the vast seat of honor, looking at Star Luo Emperor Dai Haochen with disdain.
"You are the defeated country, Star Luo. When my Great Ming is willing to make concessions on certain matters, it isn't because we fear you. It's because we know that no matter how many people you have, you still can't threaten my Great Ming."
Hearing Xu Nian'an's taunting words, Dai Haochen's face darkened.
Xu Nian'an didn't even look at Dai Haochen's expression.
What kind of person was he, to think Xu Nian'an should be concerned with his feelings?
He shouldn't have agreed to the other side's demand for five hundred thousand troops under the military restrictions in the first place.
Now he was only asking for ten billion Gold Soul Coins, and the man dared to haggle.
Bastard. Was ten billion Gold Soul Coins really that much?
It would only hollow out the Star Luo Empire's economy for the next few hundred years.
What did a defeated country need an economy for? What use was money to them?
If he dared to demand an economy today, tomorrow he'd dare to send troops out again to conquer kingdoms and foreign colonies, and the day after that he'd dare attack the Great Ming Empire again.
If Xu Nian'an didn't beat them hard the first time—beat them until it hurt, until they understood that wars were built up step by step with money—how could they learn to cherish the peace they'd waited so long for?
"Don't worry. I'm not asking your Star Luo Empire to pay the whole sum at once. We can pay in installments."
Hearing Xu Nian'an's words, Dai Haochen let out a deep breath.
They could pay in installments, not all at once.
Seeing that the Star Luo Empire really couldn't come up with that much money, Xu Nian'an couldn't help feeling a little regretful.
If the Star Luo Empire really could pay that much, the Great Ming Empire could instantly enter a period of rapid development.
"Not less than ten million a year. The interest will rise by five percent every ten years."
Xu Nian'an casually added another condition.
The final clause was simply to stop the Star Luo Empire from dragging things out forever and refusing to repay the debt even when it had the money.
OK.
At last, the main terms Xu Nian'an had brought to the negotiations had all been settled.
The remaining matters to negotiate, such as metal mines, gold mines, silver mines, and the Ming Army stationed in Star Luo, could be left to someone else.
Xu Nian'an's time was extremely precious.
Right now, time was money. News of the Star Luo Empire's defeat and Star Luo City's encirclement might not have spread yet.
Even if it had, it couldn't have traveled far.
Xu Nian'an could take advantage of this opportunity to head north, return to the Great Ming border, and catch the Heaven Dou Empire off guard.
When Star Luo Emperor Dai Haochen finally signed the treaty, defeated, a cold system notification rang in Xu Nian'an's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the main quest: personally lead the expedition, defend the homeland, defeat the invaders, and make your name shake the continent!"
In fact, Xu Nian'an's name had already spread across the continent when he defeated the Galloping Wolf Kingdom.
This was merely the icing on the cake.
Just as Xu Nian'an was about to confirm the quest's completion and claim the main quest reward, the Imperial Guard once again reported news.
"Reporting, Your Majesty! The Hadrian Kingdom has declared independence, joined the Western Alliance United Nations, and is willing to pay the Great Ming Empire ten million Gold Soul Coins in tribute!"
Oh, how interesting.
Hearing the news, Xu Nian'an couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
It seemed the other side had learned something, prompting it to swiftly break away from the Star Luo Empire and join the Western Alliance United Nations. It was even willing to pay protection money, cleaning away any excuse Xu Nian'an's Great Ming Empire might have for starting a war.
In truth, Xu Nian'an's guess was right.
Ever since Haagen-Dazs had approached the Hadrian Kingdom under the banner of the Western Alliance United Nations, the Hadrian Kingdom had kept a close eye on the battlefield between the Star Luo Empire and the Great Ming Empire.
The very day it saw Star Luo City surrounded by the Great Ming Army and the Great Ming flag hoisted over it, the Hadrian Kingdom declared independence.
And now, the very next day, it had brought money to pay for protection.
···
In the first year, the Star Luo Empire paid one hundred and fifty million Gold Soul Coins in war reparations.
It was worth remembering that this was the accumulation of more than a thousand years by the Star Luo Empire. Now its treasury was suddenly empty.
Seeing this, Xu Nian'an grinned from ear to ear.
One hundred and sixty million in hand! Wahahaha! Do you know how much one hundred and sixty million is?
You couldn't haul it all away even with wagons!