HCB Chapter 319 Barbarian Conditions
Chapter 319 Barbarian Conditions
What Aturu said was very serious.
It seemed as if the barbarians were the victorious side and could break through Hushan Pass and attack the capital at any time.
But now, the Barbarian Khan could not bear to see so many casualties, so he decided to negotiate.
No one would believe such words. If the barbarian Khan really cared about the lives of the people, he should not lead the army south.
There are too many records of barbarian armies in the north attacking cities and massacring them. It doesn't seem like they were showing any mercy at all.
But now, the Wu court also doesn't want to fight anymore.
It has been more than a year since the barbarians attacked the border of Wu State.
Too much money and food were transported to the front line, and there were too many casualties.
The entire Wu Kingdom court was running at a loss, and the capital was in danger.
If it weren’t for the Sixth Prince personally stationed at Hushan Pass and continuously resisting the barbarians’ attacks.
The capital city had been breached long ago, and everyone in the court was on the run.
It’s just strange that they are a bunch of big talkers who usually yell about everything in the court.
Now they have all shut up.
They are not fools. They can yell at their ministers or even Emperor Wu, no problem.
This is the ancestral rule, the rules set by Emperor Taizu himself.
But these people who talk big now stop talking when facing the barbarians.
At first they shouted all kinds of slander and defamation against the Sixth Prince.
After being threatened by the Sixth Prince, he even regarded sending troops to Hushan Pass as the key.
Emperor Wu had no choice but to lock them all up.
But not long after, due to the strong public opinion, it had to be released.
Normally in the court, they often attacked the Sixth Prince of Hushan Pass.
Either the Sixth Prince fought ineffectively, or he wasted countless money and food and achieved nothing.
As long as the Sixth Prince didn't hold a knife in his hand, they were not afraid at all.
Besides, in the court, it is impossible for Emperor Wu to really give the Sixth Prince a knife.
And now the barbarian envoys are here. If they make any more noise, they will use this as an excuse to slander and insult the barbarians and kill them directly.
Emperor Wu would not say anything else.
Now the entire court is silent, everyone is waiting for Emperor Wu's decision.
Emperor Wu naturally wanted to negotiate.
He sat on the dragon throne, but could not speak directly. Instead, he looked at his own people among the ministers.
Someone understood and immediately stepped forward to ask, "You barbarians want to negotiate, but our Great Wu Nation naturally does not want to engage in a war that has resulted in countless casualties and displacement for our people."
"In that case, you barbarians should withdraw your troops."
It sounds nice to say, now that the barbarian envoys have arrived and the army of hundreds of thousands has marched to Hushan Pass in a mighty force, how could they retreat easily?
Just to rob a wave?
Moreover, of the 400,000 elite cavalrymen of the barbarian army, only about 200,000 remain by now.
How could I just let this go?
Atulu stroked his white beard and chuckled, "We barbarians are naturally willing to withdraw."
"But we need your Wu Nation to agree to a few requests from our barbarians."
"Tell me, do you want money and food?" the minister who stood up asked, "Our Wu Kingdom's money and food are all in the hands of the soldiers on the front lines."
If the barbarians want things, such as money and food, they can give them.
After all, every time the Wu Kingdom fought a decisive battle with the barbarians, after the peace talks, the Wu Kingdom would provide certain supplies, and the barbarians would only leave when they were satisfied.
In fact, to put it bluntly, the barbarians could no longer fight, otherwise they would not have given up so easily.
Atulu chuckled and said, "Our Khan has personally requested that, first, all the territories currently occupied by our barbarians must be returned to us. From now on, no soldier from the Great Wu Kingdom will be allowed to leave Hushan Pass."
As soon as these words came out, everyone was in an uproar.
"How is that possible?" Someone immediately stood up with an angry look on his face. "North of Hushan Pass, there's a vast area, more than a dozen state capitals, all of which belong to our Dawu Nation. How could they all belong to you barbarians just because of a single sentence?"
This is indeed asking too much.
Many people looked at the old emperor on the stage.
The old emperor now also has a sullen look on his face.
He wanted to negotiate with the barbarians, and even wanted to negotiate immediately so that the barbarians would leave.
But the prerequisite is that he doesn’t get scolded.
Even if he had to pay compensation in the form of money and food, or even if the barbarians took away the civilians captured in the north, he would still accept it.
After all, even if the Wu army wanted to snatch it back, they didn't have the ability to do so.
But now, he was asked to recognize all the territories north of Hushan Pass.
This is equivalent to ceding land and paying compensation. By then, how many people in the entire Wu State will curse him to death?
But Emperor Wu did not speak.
The other ministers all started to cry out. Who would dare to speak up about such a thing?
All they asked for was ceding land and paying compensation. More than a dozen states were ceded away. It was a heinous crime that would make their ancestors come back to life with anger.
Atulu said nonchalantly, "At present, these places were conquered by our barbarian soldiers, sword by sword and gun by gun."
"If you, the Wu Nation, want to fight for it, then send your troops to attack. We, the barbarians, will naturally have no objection. Otherwise, you will have no choice but to recognize it as our territory."
This is indeed impossible to get back at the moment, but there is no guarantee that we cannot fight for it back in the future.
Therefore, this treaty must not be signed.
The two sides were arguing fiercely.
The Martial Emperor suddenly said calmly, "What other conditions do you barbarians have?"
"Second." Atulu raised a finger and said, "Tell Han Dingtian's northern troops to abandon the city immediately and retreat south to the south of Hushan Pass."
"Impossible." This time, even some high-ranking officials couldn't stand it anymore: "Han Dingtian is the general in charge of the border, and he still insists on staying at the front line. If all the troops retreat south, wouldn't that be equivalent to abandoning the border?"
Atulu laughed and said, "Is the border you are talking about still the border of your Wu Kingdom?"
In one sentence, everyone was stunned.
Atulu smiled nonchalantly and said, "Of course, if you don't want Han Dingtian to retreat south, we barbarians can accept it."
"Just don't feel bad when Han Dingtian's 70,000 to 80,000 troops are surrounded and eaten by my barbarians."
This is a real conspiracy.
Everyone knew that if Han Dingtian did not retreat south, what awaited him would be endless siege by the barbarians.
We just need to surround them. Han Dingtian's remaining troops, who are short of food and clothing, won't be able to hold out for long.
But retreating south would mean completely giving up the last piece of land in the north.
With just one sentence, all the ministers in the court shut up out of frustration.
Atulu added, "Third, our barbarian army has suffered heavy casualties since the expedition, so the Wu Kingdom must pay war compensation of 50 million taels of silver and one million dan of grain."
Everyone gasped, what a ridiculous request!
Fifty million taels and one million dan of grain made Emperor Wu's face turn black.
With so much money, he could recruit an army of hundreds of thousands and equip them with weapons.
Atulu added, "Fourth, the Wu Kingdom must return the tens of thousands of warriors that our barbarians captured earlier, so that they can return home safely and reunite after signing the contract."