Since it was proposed by the Western Regions Allied Forces, Li Xiang will not be too proactive and will directly set the meeting place and time for them. If you are unwilling, then just pretend that it has never been proposed.
Many people were unwilling to go to Gaochang to negotiate at the time and place given by Li Xiang. If it were in the past, they would have been willing to go there to negotiate, but the problem was that Gaochang had been occupied by the Tang Dynasty. On the surface, Gaochang was an independent country, but did they actually have any rights?
According to the information obtained by the Western Regions Allied Forces, the King of Gaochang only had the guards in the palace left. If he wanted to mobilize troops from other places, he had to obtain approval from Tang officials. If the Tang officials did not approve, he would not be able to go out of the city for a stroll.
Under these circumstances, are we kidding to go to Gaochang to negotiate? If the talks fail, who will be able to escape?
However, General Kang Ying was determined to go to the negotiations. Even though Li Xiang's demands were excessive, he still set out with his men. Xueyantuo Khan naturally hoped that the negotiations would break down, and this guy also said a lot of bad things, but in the end General Kang Ying still set out.
"They agreed to such a request. It seems that our past actions have left a deep impression on them. It's as if we are warmongers who want to start a war at the slightest disagreement."
Niu Jinda looked at the negotiation team coming from afar. There were not many people, and they came completely according to our requirements. There were no more than 300 guards.
"General Niu is wrong. This is the result of the mighty power of the Tang Dynasty..."
Because it involved diplomatic negotiations, Lord Zhao came over from the royal city. There were some things that Lord Zhao had to answer. Although Li Xiang was the commander here, Li Xiang did not understand as well as Lord Zhao about many diplomatic matters. Moreover, it was also to shut up many people. If Lord Zhao did not come to participate, then who knows how many rumors would come out in Chang'an City.
"You're right, old man. What you said means the same thing as what I said, but you expressed it in classical Chinese, while I'm speaking in plain language. None of my soldiers can even read. If I told them what you said, I guess many of them would never understand it in their entire lives."
Niu Jinda laughed and said, Lord Zhao beside him also smiled and shook his head. For civil servants like Lord Zhao, they were indeed not suitable to deal with people like Niu Jinda.
Just when the Western Turkic negotiators were 500 meters away from the border, dozens of cavalrymen from the Tang army rushed out. According to Li Xiang's request, these guards had to set up camp here, so only General Kang Ying could go in with 20 guards.
This project was added temporarily, purely to test the other party. If the other party is not satisfied, it means that they are determined to fight us, but if the other party gives in, it means that they do not have this determination and can make concessions without limits for the sake of negotiation.
Niu Jinda's heart was in his throat. He did not have the same vision as Li Xiang, so he did not know what the other party was thinking. Li Xiang had already seen through the other party's thoughts, and now he was just verifying it.
"It seems like they're cursing. I just said that this last-minute project we added was too harsh. They only allowed them to bring 20 people. Even if I went to negotiate, I would turn around and leave immediately."
Niu Jinda complained that when the three of them were discussing just now, Li Xiang made this proposal and Niu Jinda opposed it, but Li Xiang and Lord Zhao both supported it, so Niu Jinda could only listen from the side.
"General Niu, that's wrong. You turned around and left because the power of the Tang Dynasty is here. Do you think they have the same ability? Their appearance here today, and they asked to be here, speaks volumes. We are just trying to confirm it."
Lord Zhao stroked his beard and said that if the other side had sent more people, then Lord Zhao would not dare to draw this conclusion, but the other side only had about 300 people, which obviously did not mean they were here to fight. Even if these 300 people were all reincarnations of gods, they probably could not do anything to us.
In diplomatic situations, if you show weakness even once, you will lose the initiative. Although our request is excessive now, Lord Zhao and Li Xiang are more than 80% sure that General Kang Ying of the Western Regions Allied Forces will do it.
Just when the three were confused, shouting and cursing were heard in the distance. Li Xiang and the others could not understand the sound, which should be a language from the Western Regions. Niu Jinda looked at Li Xiang and the other two with some pride, which meant that you two had calculated wrong, right?
Just as Niu Jinda was about to speak, a cavalry rushed over from the opposite side. Apart from the two leaders, there were only twenty cavalrymen behind them. Li Xiang and Lord Zhao both laughed. As long as the Western Regions coalition chose to negotiate, they would not have the confidence to fight, so no matter how we test them, they would listen honestly. If we close the door to negotiations, they could not bear the responsibility.
"This...do you still have any manliness left?"
Niu Jinda looked at the scene in front of him with great difficulty. After all, you are not ordinary people. You all carry knives on your waists. How can you be bullied like this?
"A gentleman's courage is certainly important, but as Lord Zhao just said, we must clearly see who is standing behind us. The most powerful of the countries in the Western Regions is the Western Turks, but they were once defeated by us. Does this mean that they have become more daring after fleeing to the west?"
Li Xiang's words made Lord Zhao nod his head, clearly agreeing with what Li Xiang meant. Back when the Turks were still united, they were no match for the Tang Dynasty. Now that they have come to the even more hostile environment of the Northwest, have the Western Turks become more powerful? This is illogical.
Seeing that they were already right in front of them, Li Xiang and the other two had no time to chat here. They packed up a little and hurried down to meet General Kang Ying of the Western Turkic Khanate to see what they wanted to say.
General Kang Ying was indeed angry, but thinking of the purpose of his visit, he had to suppress all his anger. If he went to the negotiations with emotions, it would be embarrassing at the least and would put the entire Western Region in danger of war. The Tang Dynasty was now like a tiger. Just because you didn't cause trouble for it didn't mean it wouldn't cause trouble for you.