Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1594 Gu Jinxiao's Negotiation

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the room fell silent.

Gu Jinxiao got straight to the point: "...His Majesty has decreed that I should discuss matters concerning the establishment of friendly relations between the two countries with the esteemed envoy of the Xiongnu."

"Please speak frankly about your terms, Your Excellency. Great Zhou is sincere and willing to hear your details."

Helian Ze glanced at Luan Di Yi Tu, cleared his throat, and said, "Minister Gu, esteemed officials, the Xiongnu sincerely wish to cease hostilities with the Great Zhou and forge a lasting alliance."

"To show our sincerity, we propose three points: First, the five border cities can be reopened, with the location and time following the old practice, but the transaction ratio needs to be renegotiated."

"We will exchange fine horses, furs, cattle, and sheep from the Xiongnu for tea, salt, ironware, cloth, and grain from the Great Zhou. The specific price comparison should be fair."

A senior official from the Ministry of Revenue immediately chimed in: "Mr. Helian, what is the basis for your claim of fairness? Is it a price comparison before the war, or a market price after the war? Market conditions vary from place to place."

When it comes to money, grain, and supplies, the people in the Ministry of Revenue are the most astute.

Helian Ze was well-prepared and calmly reported several figures, all of which were pre-war prices, but with slight fluctuations.

Officials from both sides then began their first exchange.

They went back and forth, citing numerous sources and engaging in endless debate.

Gu Jinxiao glanced at the list of goods presented by the other party and said slowly, "...The old price comparison mentioned by Mr. Helian was set in the first year of Jingtai."

"However, times have changed. The war in the northern frontier has lasted for more than a year. In order to protect the borders and the people, the Great Zhou has lost countless supplies of grain and military equipment. Border residents have been displaced and trade routes have been cut off. How can the losses during this period be described lightly according to the old precedent?"

"If we're talking about fairness..."

At this point, Gu Jinxiao gestured to the Ministry of Revenue official beside him to unfold a ledger and lightly touched the place marked in red ink: "This is the post-war Maritime Trade Office statistics for furs and horses in Suzhou and Yunzhou, which is 30% higher than before the war."

"The cost of tea, salt, and ironware transported by the Great Zhou to the border towns also increased by 20% due to losses during transportation and the Ministry of Works' innovation in forging methods."

"Therefore, if we follow the old practice as Your Excellency suggests, the ratio of warhorses to tea should be based on one medium-sized warhorse for eighty catties of tea bricks, and then fluctuate according to the annual harvest."

"As for ironware... the Ministry of War's newly forged wrought iron swords can be exchanged for five fine horses, and there is absolutely no room for negotiation on this price."

Helianze attempted to argue that the loss of livestock was due to diseases affecting cattle and sheep on the grasslands.

Gu Jinxiao, however, broke from his usual demeanor and interrupted him with a stern face and a firm attitude: "...The loss of your country's livestock is a natural disaster, but the bloodshed of the Great Zhou soldiers on the battlefield is a man-made disaster."

"If we're talking about fairness, let's compromise. Warhorses and furs can be priced according to post-war market rates, while grain, tea, and cloth can be priced slightly higher based on pre-war rates."

"However, the amount of ironware transactions must be jointly approved by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. This is the bottom line!"

Luan Di Yi Tu kept his eyes half-closed, seemingly not particularly concerned with the specific numbers. But his ears clearly didn't miss a single word.

With the debate over the proportion of border cities temporarily put to rest, Helian Ze raised a second point: "...Secondly, regarding the annual tribute."

"Both sides have suffered losses in the war in the northern frontier. In order to demonstrate the benevolence of His Majesty the Great Zhou and to appease the various tribes of the grasslands, we request that the annual tribute be reduced by 50% and that a one-year deferral be granted."

The Ministry of War official's brows furrowed immediately: "A 50% reduction, and a one-year delay?"

“Mr. Helian, the outcome of the great war has been decided. The annual tribute is an obligation that the defeated party should fulfill. How can we allow the victorious country to reduce or postpone it?”

"If this precedent is set, what will become of the prestige of the Great Zhou Dynasty?!"

Those in the Ministry of War valued practical benefits and military prestige more.

Helian Ze sighed, “My lord, it’s not that the Xiongnu are unwilling to pay tribute, but the grasslands are barren, and last year’s war made things even worse, making it difficult for all the tribes to make a living.”

"If the annual tribute remains unchanged, it may cause a popular uprising, which would damage the harmony between the two countries."

"The Great Zhou is a vast and resource-rich land, and His Majesty is benevolent; he would surely not bear to see the people of the grasslands suffer from cold and hunger. Reduction and delay are truly strategies for consolidating the foundation and securing the borders!"

What followed was another round of heated debate.

Gu Jinxiao took out a beautifully bound silk scroll from her sleeve and slowly unfurled it: "...This is a copy of the 'Northern Frontier War Treaty.' Article 7 of Section 3 clearly states that 'the defeated party must pay tribute annually: 3,000 bolts of silk, 50,000 taels of silver, and 800 warhorses, for ten consecutive years without delay.'"

"This treaty was personally stamped with the seal of your Chanyu, and the Left Wise King was also present on the battlefield at that time."

At this point, Gu Jinxiao turned the silk scroll toward Luan Di Yi Tu and continued, "Left Wise King, once the contract is established, it is a promise that both countries will uphold."

"Your Majesty is benevolent and considers the hardships of life on the grasslands. Perhaps you may reduce the amount of silver and silk you have to pay. However, the number of warhorses is crucial to the border defense, and not a single one can be missing."

"As for delays..."

He closed the silk book and looked directly at Luan Di Yi Tu: "If your country is indeed in difficulty, you may change the payment to quarterly payments, and use the three-year grazing rights of the southern grasslands as collateral."

"If so, I may petition His Majesty to exempt 30% of the silk tribute from next year. This is the greatest sincerity that the Great Zhou can show."

"However, the prerequisite is that your country must first fulfill 70% of the annual tribute in the first year to show your commitment."

Luan Di Yi Tu neither said yes nor no, but looked at He Lian Ze.

Helian Ze understood and slowly stated the third point: "...Lord Gu, the Xiongnu have three requests. In order to ensure that the alliance between the two countries lasts for generations and that they are as close as flesh and blood, the Xiongnu Chanyu and the leaders of the various tribes earnestly request His Majesty of the Great Zhou to grant a marriage, to marry a princess to him, so as to forever solidify the kinship!"

"To show our respect and sincerity, the Xiongnu are willing to provide an additional three thousand warhorses each year as a continuation of the betrothal gifts, for a period of...ten years!"

Three thousand horses a year, that's thirty thousand warhorses in ten years!

This number caused the expressions of several officials from the Great Zhou Dynasty to change.

The Ministry of War official's breathing quickened slightly.

Gu Jinxiao's expression remained calm: "His Majesty has already issued an imperial edict regarding the marriage alliance; it requires careful consideration."

"I will convey your country's sincerity."

"However, the princess is of noble birth, of royal blood. Her marriage, treatment, suitable husband, post-marital residence, rights and responsibilities, etc., are all governed by ancestral rites and court regulations. They cannot be determined by the number of warhorses."

Helian Ze narrowed his eyes: "Oh?"

"I don't understand what you mean by that?"

Gu Jinxiao said, "The marriage of the Great Zhou princess is not a matter of ordinary buying and selling."

"Warhorses, though precious, are but objects. The bloodline of the imperial family, however, carries the responsibility of maintaining an alliance between the two nations and the hopes of the people."

As he said this, he picked up a pen and wrote down the three words "ceremonial system," "residence," and "power and responsibility" on a piece of paper, and then pushed it in front of the Xiongnu envoy.

"If we really want to discuss this, we need to clarify three things first."

"First: When the princess of the Great Zhou marries into the Xiongnu, is her rank equal to that of the Empress Dowager or a secondary consort? What regulations govern her ceremonial regalia, officials, and salary?"

"Second: Will the bride reside in the royal court or a separate tent after marriage? If she is accompanied by artisans, doctors, or nannies, can your country guarantee their safety and freedom?"

"Third: If the princess gives birth to a child, what will be the order of succession? If there are further disputes between the two countries in the future, how will the princess's situation be guaranteed?"