Chapter 478: Chapter 239: Post-War Transactions
Translator: 549690339
“In the peace negotiations with Zhou Country, both our families have jointly agreed that the territories of the two countries will be decided based on the areas currently controlled.
Specifically, in Hanzhong Prefecture, the four prefectures of Nanzheng, Xixiang, Nanjiang, and Baishi that are occupied by you, the three prefectures of Xicheng, Fangling, and Guining in Xiangyang Prefecture, as well as the three prefectures of Jingmen, Jingling, and Jingshan currently occupied by the court, will all be ceded to me.”
From now on, the two countries will use the current prefectures and counties as their borders, and each party will cease hostilities, call an end to the war, and shake hands in peace.”
On the tenth day of the ninth month, Yang Jing personally came from Xiangyang to deliver this news.
After hearing it, Lu Yuan also felt relieved.
Since the Northern Expedition, it has been a long time since they had started fighting from the beginning of the twelfth month in the seventh year of Hongdao, until now in the ninth a month of the eighth year of Hongdao, about nine months altogether. It’s finally time to take a break.
Thus, after hearing the news, he asked anxiously, “When will the Zhou People withdraw their troops?”
Outside Nanzheng City, He Basheng still leads a 300,000-strong army, keeping an eye on this county town!
If they don’t retreat, even if a peace agreement has already been reached, Lu Yuan cannot feel at ease.
Yang Jing said, “By now, the order from the Zhou Country court should have reached He Basheng’s side. As long as he receives the edict, it shouldn’t take long for him to withdraw. After all, the Zhou People have more than just us to guard against.”
Saying this, he hinted, “The Wei Country to the north is also not at rest.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan had a thought and wondered if the court had any other arrangements or actions in the Wei Country to the north of Zhou Country.
This was not an impossible thing.
After all, Yue Country has already been established for 200 years, and if you count the aristocratic families in Linhai, their heritage is even longer, up to a thousand years.
In a thousand years, these aristocratic families have established deep-rooted networks of relationships throughout the Nine Provinces or even in the neighboring states, which is not a surprising thing.
At this moment, perhaps the Yue Country court has mobilized some relationships in Wei Country to provoke the Zhou People from the north, forcing them to compromise and retreat.
Thinking this, Lu Yuan no longer felt anxious, nodding his head, “Then let’s wait a little longer.”
The Zhou People did not make him wait long.
On the third day of Yang Jing’s arrival, the Zhou People, who had originally been besieging Nanzheng City, began to withdraw and dismantle their camps, lifting the siege.
At the same time, the Zhou People also sent a messenger to inform them of the withdrawal of troops and the peace negotiations between the two countries.
Naturally, there was nothing to say about the matter.
Lu Yuan had no intention of getting entangled with the Zhou People any further. After all, the Northern Expedition was over, and fighting them would mean that Changsha was fighting against the entire Zhou Country alone.
He, of course, would not do such a foolish thing.
Therefore, when the messenger proposed not to pursue the withdrawal of the troops, Lu Yuan gladly agreed.
However, it was a different matter when the messenger mentioned another matter after that, which made Lu Yuan slightly puzzled, “He Basheng wants to meet me?”
The Zhou Country messenger in front of him nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty, Grand General He Basheng wants to meet with you to discuss some matters.”
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, then asked, “When, where, and how do we meet?”
The messenger said, “There is a Huangshi Pavilion outside the city, built near the river with green mountains on one side and beautiful scenery. We will meet there. The meeting time is tomorrow, with only Grand General He Basheng and Your Majesty.”
Hearing the details of the meeting, Lu Yuan’s expression changed slightly, and he thought for a long time before finally nodding, “All right, I will come to the meeting tomorrow.”
He was not afraid of meeting He Basheng alone.
Before leaving, He Basheng specifically invited him to meet, and Lu Yuan did not believe that it was because the former admired him after the battle and wanted to make friends with him.
It was more likely that the other party had some ulterior motive, or that the other party, on behalf of Zhou Country, had some kind of intention and wanted to have a talk with him.
Now that the Northern Expedition has come to an end, the fundamental conflict between Lu Yuan and Zhou Country has been resolved.
As for the territory of Hanzhong Prefecture, it will soon be exchanged, and by then, those in conflict with Zhou Country at the front line will be changed.
Lu Yuan’s only remaining conflict with Zhou Country is probably the three western prefectures of Xiangyang County that are still occupied.
However, this minor conflict is trivial compared to Yue Country, Jihui, and Qiao Kangquan, and is not a major issue.
Thus, at this point, there is a basis for renewed cooperation between him and Zhou Country.
So there is no harm in meeting with He Basheng.
“Then I’ll go and inform Grand General He Basheng that I’ll be waiting for Your Majesty at Huangshi Pavilion tomorrow.”
Hearing Lu Yuan’s agreement, a hint of joy appeared on the face of the messenger below, who hurriedly replied, “Now that everything is settled, I won’t stay any longer.”
He then bowed and left.
After the Zhou People’s messenger left, Yang Jing hurried over, “Have the Zhou People withdrawn?”
Lu Yuan nodded, “Yes, He Basheng sent someone to inform me, asking me to abide by the peace covenant and not to pursue their returning army.”
Well, he didn’t mention the part about He Basheng requesting a meeting to Yang Jing.
After all, the two of them would be discussing things that might be directed against Yue Country when they meet.
Could he really tell Yang Jing, Yue Country’s Martial Proclamation Marquis, about this?
So, not knowing about the matter, Yang Jing, after hearing the request of the Zhou People, said, “It’s common knowledge that an army should not be pursued when returning. And with the peace treaty, we really shouldn’t provoke the other side or attack them.”
Lu Yuan said, “I, of course, understand this principle. That’s why I have already agreed to their request.”
“It’s clear that Your Majesty is far-sighted, and I, as a diplomat, naturally know.”
Yang Jing laughed, then changed the subject and brought up another matter, “Now that the Zhou People have agreed to peace and the Western Plains Prefecture has been taken back, the Northern Expedition has come to an end. As for the rewards for Jihui and Qiao Family Head, the court should have news soon.