nycdaug Chapter 105 Negotiations for a Marriage Alliance
Chapter 105 Negotiations for a Marriage Alliance
Li Mao scrutinized the Wolf Lord, who was feeling somewhat flustered.
Seeing that Prince Shou remained silent, the Wolf Lord continued, looking slightly weary, "Your Highness Prince Shou, a marriage alliance can not only reduce warfare but also create a new situation between the two countries."
Li Mao said with a serious expression, "That is indeed the case, but the premise is that both sides have sufficient trust. What does Wolf Lord think?"
“Of course.” The Wolf Lord nodded slightly and pondered, “I have always respected the Tang Dynasty. If peace can be achieved through marriage, I am personally willing to make concessions in exchange for stability.”
“But the current situation is highly uncertain,” Li Mao said calmly. “I need more leverage.”
Upon hearing this, the Wolf Lord knew that the Tang army would not easily believe him.
A brief silence fell between the two sides. The tent was completely silent, save for the flickering candlelight.
Aya interjected softly at this moment: "We can proceed with the details of the marriage alliance step by step, steadily moving from the easy to the difficult."
“That makes sense.” Li Jingqing nodded in agreement. “Only through this approach can both sides communicate further.”
Li Mao tapped the table slowly, seemingly considering his next move. "The preliminary agreement can be drafted into a written document, with detailed terms and clear responsibilities."
The Wolf Lord nodded solemnly and offered his opinion: "We will release the captured Tang soldiers as a sign of our sincerity."
"However, the future of the marriage alliance between the two countries still requires careful consideration," Li Mao said solemnly.
Suddenly, Afu's voice came from outside the tent. "Your Highness, may I leave for a moment?"
Li Mao frowned slightly and gestured for the Wolf Lord to wait a moment, "Excuse me for a moment."
Stepping outside the tent, Afu whispered, "Your Highness, we have intelligence that some exiled tribes may be dissatisfied with the marriage alliance."
"This is to be expected," Li Mao thought to himself. "A marriage alliance is not something that can be resolved overnight; it will take time to gradually resolve the issues."
"Yes. But if it's not dealt with promptly, it might cause further complications," Afu said, his face full of worry.
Li Mao nodded slightly, his expression thoughtful, and returned to his tent to continue his talks with the Wolf Lord.
"Forgive my rudeness." Li Mao sat down again, his gaze as steady as a mountain. "There was a report earlier; let's continue our previous conversation."
The Wolf Lord said gently, "Your Highness Prince Shou is pragmatic and capable, which I greatly admire. I hope this meeting will establish a long-term channel for dialogue."
“We should certainly comply.” Li Mao agreed, pointing to the location on the map with his finger, saying, “This city can serve as a bridge for marriage alliances; it is practical and stable.”
The negotiations between the two sides gradually became more substantive, and they stopped trying to probe each other.
As the negotiations progressed, Aya opportunely suggested, "If we were to tie the economic interests of the Tang army and the Wolf army together and resume trade, things would certainly be much easier."
“This is a feasible suggestion,” Li Jingqing agreed after reviewing the document. “It’s about forming alliances.”
The Wolf Lord seemed somewhat relieved, and his tone softened, "If the Tang army also has this intention, we can make other arrangements to discuss it."
With a few adjustments, success will surely come naturally.
The peace talks concluded, with both sides reaching a preliminary consensus. Li Mao escorted the Wolf Lord and his entourage out of the tent.
After seeing the Wolf Lord off and returning to their tent, Li Mao and Li Jingqing held a private meeting to carefully consider the day's progress.
"The proposal of a marriage alliance has temporarily stabilized the situation, but everything still needs to be considered," Li Jingqing cautioned.
"Understood," Li Mao replied, his eyes still gleaming with determination. "This is just the beginning; there are still long-term plans and hidden dangers to be resolved."
Outside the tent, a scout rushed over without stopping: "Reporting to Prince Shou, enemy activity on the border is frequent and the situation is unusual, suspected to be related to the tribal alliance."
"Indeed, there are restless individuals." Li Mao's mind suddenly tightened, and he immediately ordered, "Take strict precautions and make further arrangements."
Back in the tent.
Li Jingqing looked at the map in the tent and analyzed softly, "Your Highness, although a marriage alliance can bring temporary peace, it may also be a delaying tactic by the enemy."
Li Mao nodded, pondered for a moment, and said with a hint of worry, "Yes. Superficial peace may bring short-term stability, but what's more, internal and external troubles are emerging, and there is always the risk of unforeseen events."
"Your Highness, should we continue to push forward with the trade tare proposal? This would not only stabilize relations between the two countries, but also bring tribal forces under our control," Li Jingqing suggested.
Li Mao nodded slightly: "Indeed, this is a win-win strategy. At the same time, we must also intensify our efforts to gather intelligence on the tribes' movements. If there is any unusual activity, we must quell it immediately."
At this moment, Afu entered the tent, his expression unusually serious. "Your Highness, scouts report that the exiled tribes on the border are attempting to unite and plan to harass trade routes as a sign of their dissatisfaction with the peace talks."
"They are probably worried about losing their existing interests," Li Jingqing said.
Li Mao said calmly, "They are only considering short-term gains, but if they disrupt the current situation, it will inevitably lead to greater conflict. We must stop this trend in its infancy."
"Your Highness, should I step in to appease them? Perhaps this could prevent the situation from escalating," Li Jingqing volunteered.
Li Mao hesitated for a moment, then nodded gratefully: "We can negotiate, but we must be prepared for unpredictable situations. If they show signs of becoming more aggressive, we must deal with them decisively."
Afu said uneasily from the side, "However, this could also be a trap. The tribe may appear to be holding back, but they are secretly gathering strength."
"As Afu said, those who remain hidden must have something in mind, and we must not let our guard down," Li Mao emphasized.
In the evening, Li Mao rode his horse to inspect the camp. He inspected the various border defenses to ensure that the soldiers were well-equipped and that the deployment was rigorous.
While pondering, I recalled the detailed gentleman's agreement I made with the Wolf Lord during our initial conversation, which seemed unlikely to be fully implemented in the short term.
The following morning, during a meeting in his tent, Li Mao summoned several of his trusted generals.
"Gentlemen, although the marriage alliance is proceeding slowly at first, there are many factors that cannot be ignored," Li Mao said bluntly.
"Please explain, Your Highness, and we will fully cooperate," Afu said with a firm gaze.
Li Mao looked around at each general, then slowly began to speak. "From prisoners of war and territory to the locations where their respective troops are stationed, all the necessary terms and protective measures need to be added."
"Economic cooperation terms are equally important. Our long-term stability depends on mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," Li Jingqing added.
Li Mao continued, "Afu, you are responsible for drafting the supplementary documents. The content must be specific, including all implementation details."
"This subordinate obeys the order and will not overlook anything," Afu replied.
After the meeting ended, Li Mao waved his hand, and the generals dispersed.
In the afternoon, Aya took the initiative to come to Li Mao's tent.
"Your Highness Prince Shou, have the peace talks made any progress today?" Aya asked happily.
"It's unlikely that this matter will make much progress. After all, there are many precedents to learn from," Li Mao said with a polite smile.
Aya was so embarrassed that she didn't dare to look Li Mao in the eye.