nycdaug Chapter 104 The First Stage of Peace Talks
Chapter 104 The First Stage of Peace Talks
Tang army camp.
Afu came in quietly and said, "Your Highness, the special envoy sent by the Wolf Lord has arrived."
Li Mao drew the final line on the map, then looked up and said casually, "Let him in."
Before long, a composed-looking envoy was led into the tent. He bowed respectfully to Li Mao and said, "Your Highness Prince Shou, my Wolf Lord is willing to engage in sincere peace talks with your army."
Li Mao nodded slightly. "The special envoy has come a long way and must be tired. Please tell the Wolf Lord that the Tang army is willing to pursue peace. However, the conditions for peace talks have been clearly stated in the previous letter, and we hope that your army can fulfill them."
The envoy's expression remained unchanged, but he took a deep breath. "I have conveyed the conditions proposed by His Highness Prince Shou. The Wolf Lord understands the principles of a nation and has ordered me to bring sincerity. The prisoners can return, and we will even withdraw within a certain area."
Li Mao breathed a slight sigh of relief, which meant that the Wolf Army had temporarily abandoned its hardline confrontation and was willing to coexist peacefully.
Afu added from the side, "However, how to implement it will probably need to be carried out step by step."
“Exactly,” the envoy replied immediately. “The Wolf Army knows that it is the people who suffer in war, but the Wolf Lord still needs time to coordinate the retreat.”
After a moment's thought, Li Mao said calmly, "Retreating is indeed not easy. We can discuss the conditions, but I hope the Wolf Army can improve its efficiency in fulfilling the agreement."
The envoy nodded respectfully, "This is the Wolf Lord's wish."
Li Jingqing stepped forward and said in a more conciliatory tone, "It requires joint efforts from both sides, not just one-sided demands. We can gradually refine the details of further negotiations."
Upon hearing this, the special envoy breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Li Mao, saying, "As long as His Highness Prince Shou grants us some transition time, the Wolf Army will certainly live up to your expectations."
Li Mao nodded in agreement, "Then we'll start by releasing the hostages and proceed step by step."
The envoy breathed a sigh of relief and showed a hint of gratitude. "Thank you for Prince Shou's understanding."
Afterwards, the special envoy took his leave, and the camp became somewhat quiet.
Afu said happily, "Your Highness, the Wolf Army has finally shown signs of yielding."
Li Mao nodded. "However, we still need to be cautious. This is just the beginning."
Li Jingqing chimed in, "Indeed, we need to keep a record of the subsequent negotiations between the two parties, and we must be cautious at every step."
“Your Highness has truly considered this matter carefully,” Afu interjected.
Li Mao also smiled slightly, "There may be other hidden motives behind this peace talk, so we need to adapt to the situation."
Li Jingqing nodded in understanding: "Your Highness, the other party's attitude has changed. Could it be that Princess Aya played a role in this?"
Li Mao replied softly, "Very likely, but she may also face a lot of pressure."
The next day, Aya was invited to Li Mao's tent to discuss the matter.
She smiled with relief when she learned that the peace talks had yielded initial results.
"Your Highness, progress is going smoothly," Aya said naturally.
Li Mao nodded, "Thanks to your timely mediation. Although it's only the first step, it has given both sides a good start."
"I hope this will lead to a lasting peace," Aya remarked.
"Your sincerity in seeking cooperation is commendable, but further negotiations are needed to solidify it," Li Mao replied softly.
Aya smiled upon hearing this, saying, "As long as both sides realize the importance of peace, it can definitely be achieved."
Li Jingqing joined the conversation, "Even so, but..."
Aya immediately interrupted, saying, "I am willing to do my best to promote stable cooperation, and I hope Your Highness will give me your support."
Li Mao nodded in agreement, "Of course. But I also hope that the princess will continue to work hard to ease the misunderstandings between us."
That evening, Afu whispered to Li Mao, "Your Highness, it seems there is hope for a truce."
Li Mao smiled and said, "I hope this can continue, so we can avoid the pain of fighting again."
Li Jingqing chimed in, "Although a preliminary reconciliation has been reached, we still need to be cautious. In particular, we should quickly verify the truth of the rumors that have surfaced today."
Afu couldn't help but ask, "General, what rumor is this?"
Li Mao merely smiled, his tone subtle, "Could it be that the Wolf Lord is considering a marriage alliance—"
"A marriage alliance?" Afu was clearly stunned, his face filled with surprise.
Although such things were not uncommon in ancient times, it still surprised him to see them happening right before his eyes.
Li Jingqing asked with a hint of doubt, "Your Highness, do you think this is possible? Would the Wolf Army exchange a princess's marriage for lasting peace?"
Li Mao shook his head with a subtle expression. "For the Wolf Army, marriage alliances are already quite common."
He paused for a moment, then looked at Aya. "Your Highness, what are your thoughts on this news?"
Aya remained silent for a moment, clearly considering how to respond. She slowly spoke, "If they truly intend to do so, Father will certainly communicate directly with His Highness. However, I have not yet received any definite news."
Li Mao nodded. "Perhaps it's just rumors, but at this critical moment, we can't ignore any possibilities. Afu, strengthen intelligence gathering and keep an eye on developments."
Afu immediately replied, "I will arrange for my men to intensify their investigation and try to confirm the authenticity of this news as soon as possible."
The next day at noon, Li Mao inspected the camp as usual.
Afu brought back some new intelligence: "Your Highness, regarding the rumors about the marriage alliance, there is now intelligence indicating that it is a proposal within the Wolf Army, but there has been no concrete action. Everything is still just in the verbal discussion stage."
After listening, Li Mao pondered for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "It seems that the Wolf Army does indeed have this idea, but it may not have become a final decision. This buys us some time."
Aya then came out of her tent and sat down in front of Li Mao, smiling gently. "Your Highness, although it's just a rumor, I'd like to know, what is your opinion on the marriage alliance?"
Li Mao looked at her, chuckled, and said, "The Tang Dynasty has always valued peace. If a marriage alliance can ensure lasting peace between the two countries, it is certainly worth considering. But the premise is that both sides must act in good faith and not go back on their word."
Feeling Li Mao's gaze, Aya nodded gently, "I understand."
“There are too many variables involved,” Li Jingqing cautioned, “but it would be very difficult to solve the problem through a marriage alliance.”
Soon after, new news arrived: the Wolf Lord was willing to personally go to the Tang army camp to negotiate directly with Li Mao.
Li Mao waved his hand and said, "Pass on my order to prepare to welcome the Wolf Lord."
Afu then asked softly, "Your Highness, the Wolf Lord has arrived in person. Should we capture him alive?"
"We must not act rashly. The Wolf Lord is merely a commander-in-chief, and also a pawn. His life or death is of little significance to the Northern Frontier," Li Mao said thoughtfully.
That evening, the Wolf Lord arrived at the Tang army camp with several trusted subordinates.
After entering the tent, he slightly cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Your Highness Prince Shou, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Li Mao returned the greeting with a smile, saying, "It is truly unexpected that the Wolf Lord has come in person. Please have a seat."
The two took their seats, one as host and one as guest.
The wolf lord got straight to the point, stating his purpose: "If a marriage alliance can stop the war and bring peace to the people, I am willing to discuss this further."