Looting a burning house or delivering coal in the snow? A single contract brought Dali firmly under control
Meng Jiuning sat opposite Gu Moran, watching him smile without saying a word. Her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, slowly tightened, her nails digging into her palms. The pain crept up her arm, allowing her to maintain her upright posture.
If Prince Yi does not send troops, her return to Dali will be tantamount to suicide.
To get Prince Yi to agree to send troops, a sufficient price must be paid.
"What exactly does Your Highness want? Everything is negotiable."
She raised her head, and after speaking, she did not urge him, her hands still folded on her knees, waiting for the prince to name his price.
Gu Moran smiled again, picked up the teapot on the table, and Xie Wanqing quickly handed him a clean teacup.
As the tea is poured into the cup, the tea leaves fall with the flow of water, sticking to the bottom of the cup and swirling around.
Let's start with Dali.
Gu Moran pushed the teacup towards Meng Jiuning.
"Over the past five years, whenever Dali encountered the Tubo invasion from the south, it would seek help from Great Yan. After the Tubo retreated, Dali would give the benefits of the Tea Horse Road to the Tubo Silver City."
Meng Jiuning's lips pressed into a thin line.
" Dali is just a small country, sandwiched between your two countries, and can only try to survive cautiously."
"Seeking survival is fine, and having your cake and eat it too is also acceptable." Gu Moran looked up at her, "But you need to be able to stand firm. Is it appropriate to come to Great Yan for repairs every time you capsize?"
" Great Yan has always been willing to make friends with other nations through courtesy, but it's not stupid."
Meng Jiuning did not take the teacup; the floating tea leaves on the surface of the tea clung to the cup wall, and steam rose from the rim of the cup.
Over the past five years, Dali has indeed oscillated between Jiannan Circuit and Tubo three times.
The first instance was when the Tubo detained a caravan, Dali borrowed troops from Great Yan. As soon as the war began, they secretly sent salt and iron in exchange for the caravan.
The second instance was when the Dayan army was stationed too close to the Great Yan pass. The Dali royal family was worried that the Great Yan army was stationed too close, so they secretly tightened customs duties and allowed Tubo merchants to pass through the southern route.
The third time, Tubo offered warhorses and salt bricks, Dali then resold a batch of military rations to them.
The Dali court officials all said these matters were expedient measures, and that as a nation that Great Yan etiquette, they would not take them seriously.
But in Great Yan's view, the Kingdom of Dali was indeed a fickle and opportunistic country.
"Your Highness, if you only wish to dwell on the past, Dali is powerless to make amends."
Meng Jiuning's fingertips repeatedly brushed against the edge of her sleeve. "If Your Highness is willing to send troops, the southern tariff can be reduced by 10%, and the copper mines can also be negotiated."
"One-tenth?"
Gu Moran smiled briefly.
" The Dali royal family has fled to Yi Prefecture, Princess. If you don't show sincerity, it may take a long time to negotiate."
Meng Jiuning's back was pressed against the back of the chair, her shoulders kept straight, and she could clearly hear the shouts outside the teahouse, the wheels of cars rolling over the stone slabs on the street, and children chasing after windmills.
The people of Yi Prefecture City are living peaceful and stable lives.
But the people of Dali City couldn't wait much longer.
"Of course, we in Dali are sincere. Why don't you tell us what you desire, Your Highness?"
Upon hearing this...
Gu Moran raised his hand, and Su Yao took out a roll of parchment from the side, placed it on the table, and pushed it over by pressing the corner with her fingers.
"Business Security Contract"
Meng Jiuning stared at the roll of sheepskin, stunned.
What kind of security?
Gu Moran stated clearly, "Princess, you should know that the Great Yan army needs to report to the imperial court before it can launch a military campaign. I'm sure you can't wait that long."
"But I am willing to make an exception for you this once."
"Our Yi Prefecture Chamber of Commerce will also fund the formation of Trade Route Guard to transport grain, medicinal herbs, and ironware into Dali."
"What we want is the southern tariff for twenty years after the war, and the mining rights to three copper mines, as compensation for the losses we incurred in helping Dali resist the Tubo."
Meng Jiuning opened the contract; line after line of words on the parchment, the terms so detailed they made her throat dry.
The Yi Prefecture Guard can be stationed on the southern route of Dali.
The guards could repair the passes and lay grain routes on their own.
Dali cannot refuse the Yi Prefecture Chamber of Commerce to establish a warehouse.
The copper mining rights are managed by personnel designated by the Yi Prefecture Chamber of Commerce.
The customs duties from the southern route were first used to repay military expenses, and then distributed to the Dali royal family.
Once this contract is signed, Dali will still be Dali, but it will be tethered by an invisible rope and held in Yi Prefecture's hands.
"Your Highness, isn't it a bit too harsh for Dali to pay twenty years' worth of customs duties and three copper mines?"
Those who protect you still need to eat.
"You want the guards to be stationed inside the pass? Is that something the guards should do? Or are you going to station troops in Dali?"
"Hey? Don't talk nonsense. We have no interest in interfering in Dali's internal affairs. The escort team is just a merchant caravan, but you should know that merchant caravans can't travel on mountain roads without knives; there are too many bandits."
"Your Highness," Meng Jiuning said, closing the parchment scroll and pressing her fingertip against the edge, "If this contract were to reach the hands of the Dali court officials, they would think I've gone mad."
Gu Moran turned the map around.
"Then there's nothing to discuss. Princess, you should go back and ask them whether they're willing to hand over the city gates to Tubo or the copper mines to Yi Prefecture."
Meng Jiuning placed her hand on the table, her mind flashing back to the image of her father falling, past the sealed palace gates and the hastily packed carriage, and also past the fires burning in the villages on the southern route.
Tubo wanted the entire Kingdom of Dali, while Yi Prefecture only wanted customs duties and copper mines.
Without further hesitation, she picked up the paper cutter on the table, cut her fingertip, and pressed it to the end of the contract.
I'll sign.
Xie Wanqing looked up at her, and Su Yao was also taken aback.
Meng Jiuning withdrew her finger, and blood flowed down her fingertip, dripping onto her sleeve.
"If anyone in the Dali royal family objects, I will be responsible for suppressing it." She looked at Gu Moran. "To show my sincerity, I am willing to stay in Yi Prefecture as a hostage and as the executor of the contract. I will be responsible for the handover of weapons, provisions, customs duties, and copper mines."
"Let Wang Batian return to Dali with your army."
The teahouse fell silent.
Gu Moran's hand, which had picked up the teacup, froze in mid-air.
"Are you willing to be a hostage?"
"Willing."
Meng Jiuning spoke earnestly, " Dali truly needs the help of Great Yan. I implore Your Highness to immediately order troops to relieve Dali."
Gu Moran looked towards the door.
Wang Batian was standing there, his ears perked up. When he noticed the group looking over, he immediately puffed out his chest.
Gu Moran rolled up the contract and handed it to Su Yao to keep safe. He then wrote a warrant and gave it to Xue Huan.
" Wang Batian, you go with Xue Huan to the main camp outside the city."
"You've already reached an agreement? Ah, great, great!"
Meng Jiuning watched Wang Batian's retreating figure, her fingers curling slightly.
Although this prince was ruthless, he was also a straightforward person.
She thought it would take several days of negotiations to reach a result.
Gu Moran leaned back in his chair, his face looking somewhat tired in the teahouse's lamplight.
"Since the princess is willing to be a hostage, from today onwards, you will live in the outer courtyard of the Prince Yi Prefecture's Residence. You will be accompanied by someone when you come and go. You may write letters, but they must go through Su Yao."
Meng Jiuning looked up, "Are you trying to spy on me?"
"To protect you."
What if I don't want to?
"Then please go back to Dali. You were the one who suggested becoming a hostage."
Meng Jiuning gripped her sleeve, remaining silent for a long time.
Gu Moran picked up the teacup and took a small sip.