Hearing this news, Cui Shaoting had nothing much to lament about. He casually instructed someone to drag the corpse out and bury it together with the soldiers who had died in battle, then turned his head to look at Marquis Dingyuan who had just entered. “Is there a reply? If there’s a reply, we can also make our move.”
After all, the Tartars had essentially come out in full force. One hundred thousand cavalry—if this were during Emperor Chenghua’s reign, taking advantage of the court’s power struggles, they could probably repeat the tragedy of those years and let the Tartars rampage across the nation’s territory. Even now, though Ye had been captured and his twenty thousand troops had been mostly dealt with, those remaining eighty thousand troops were equally terrifying. The Tartar people had grown up on horseback to begin with, and their physiques were also more robust than Great Zhou’s soldiers. To say they could fight ten to one was no exaggeration. When these eighty thousand troops unleashed their might, even if Zijing Pass now had reinforcements, they probably couldn’t hold out for long.
But right now they were tied down by other matters and had no way to completely focus their energy on Zijing Pass. Moreover, if they truly waited until they got there, Zijing Pass would probably long since be finished. At this point, it was better to find another path and think of other methods.
Marquis Dingyuan sat down across from him. Having drunk a bit too much alcohol, he had something of a headache. He covered his head and pondered for a while, not answering his question first, but instead asking about Han Zhi’s matter from before. “I heard this person died?”
Cui Shaoting made an affirmative sound. “He lasted nine days—truly somewhat hard to believe.”
Prince Gong’s hunting ground had never been the sort of place used for amusement. The wild beasts were all genuinely wild-grown. That Han Zhi could stay in such a place for so long could truly be called exceptionally gifted.
Marquis Dingyuan laughed once and told him: “I must also inform you that the one called Guan Shan beside him also died together with him. It’s rather a pity—seeing his skills were extremely good, and he could even speak Tartar language, I’d wanted to take him into service.”
If Han Zhi’s methods of training people had been slightly inferior, he couldn’t have been so arrogant in the capital back then. Cui Shaoting nodded toward Marquis Dingyuan to indicate he understood, then said: “No need to feel too regretful either. No matter how good a person is, if you can’t keep them, it’s all empty. Better to think about the matter at hand. Still haven’t received news?”
“News has been sent back.” Marquis Dingyuan, speaking of serious matters, naturally forgot about Guan Shan and put away the smile on his face. “On the Tartar royal court’s side, it seems they’re still somewhat hesitant. Word came out saying they want to negotiate conditions with us.”
The relationship between Tuomu and Ye was notoriously bad. For any supreme ruler, it was intolerable to be suppressed by a subject, yet Ye was precisely that kind of domineering and unreasonable Grand Preceptor. Others found him insufferable and detestable, yet he still took himself very seriously, feeling that only he was worthy of reviving their Tartars.
Since they had to find methods from elsewhere, naturally they would directly reach an understanding with the Tartar royal court. Although Tuomu might not be unwilling to borrow Ye’s attack on Great Zhou to share in some benefits, when the benefits Great Zhou could give him were far, far more than what Ye could give, Tuomu would certainly be very clear about how to choose—no need for anyone to waste words.
Marquis Dingyuan had originally wanted to personally take the risk and make this trip himself, to personally meet Tuomu, but he’d been stopped no matter what. Cui Shaoting and Prince Zhennan both said it wasn’t necessarily required for someone of high position and great authority to go before Tuomu would accept this arrangement. The Tartar royal court was no longer the royal court of the past. Some matters simply didn’t need to give so much face. Sending someone eloquent would equally accomplish the task. Marquis Dingyuan had thus agreed and had been waiting for news.
Now when Marquis Dingyuan mentioned this matter to Cui Shaoting, he was somewhat worried. “This person Tuomu, even though he has enmity with Ye, it doesn’t prevent him from wanting to extract some benefits from Ye. His conditions…”
Cui Shaoting, seeing him like this, had already guessed roughly what conditions Tuomu had proposed. His face turned cold as he asked: “What, he wants marriage alliance, border trade, and also Ye?”
Cui Shaoting never fought battles without certainty. He had already investigated the Tartar relationship network very clearly, knew what sort of person Tuomu was, and had begun preparations very early on.
Back when Ye had been trapped in Qingzhou Prefecture, Tuomu’s attitude had always been extremely clear, obviously displaying a desire to cooperate with the court. But now he’d suddenly become hesitant again—nothing more than seeing that although Ye had fallen, the pressure at Zijing Pass had multiplied, and wanting to use this as leverage to extract as many benefits from Great Zhou as possible.
Marquis Dingyuan nodded, also somewhat indignant. “This is clearly extorting exorbitant prices.”
“Tell him it’s impossible—nothing difficult about that.” Cui Shaoting spoke without hesitation. “Marriage alliance isn’t impossible. To Goryeo, our Great Zhou similarly sent noble women to become consorts of princes and marquises. But to the Tartars, no.”
Marquis Dingyuan knew why Cui Shaoting said it was absolutely impossible with the Tartars. The Tartar people’s customs were barbaric, even somewhat like uncivilized savages. Great Zhou had once formed a marriage alliance with the Tartars, but the princess had just arrived when the Tartar king died, and the princess was forced to marry the current king. After that, she was actually bestowed upon the Tartar Grand Preceptor. Such customs could be said to be unavoidable, but to bestow her to a subject was truly too contemptuous of Great Zhou’s court. Therefore, Great Zhou had long since decreed a prohibition—absolutely no marriage alliances with the Tartars.
This rule had never been broken for several hundred years. To have a marriage alliance again would be pure fantasy.
“Also, incidentally tell Tuomu this as well.” Cui Shaoting’s expression was gloomy, his voice cold and hard. “If he’s still dreaming of being a fence-sitter, then what a pity—perhaps we’ll just give Ye to his younger brother instead.”
The Tartar royal court had never been harmonious either. There was plenty of power-grabbing. Tuomu’s younger brother equally eyed the throne covetously. If they gave Ye to Tuomu’s younger brother, Tuomu would equally have his share of troubles.
“Opening border trade is already the limit, and even that will have to wait until our Great Zhou formulates regulations—following our rules for conduct, with the court establishing offices to oversee this matter. If he continues extorting exorbitant prices, then don’t blame us for finding another buyer.”
Cui Shaoting had never had the habit of indulging the Tartar people. The Tartar people had so many problems—breaking faith and abandoning righteousness, and so on—simply too numerous to count. He had long since made preparations.
If this transaction couldn’t be concluded, they could always find a buyer willing to pay an appropriate price.
Marquis Dingyuan understood Cui Shaoting’s meaning and smiled at him. Thinking it over, he felt Cui Shaoting’s statement was extremely correct. Tuomu was the type who, given three parts color, would dare to open a dye shop. Give him a bit of sweetness, and he’d want to directly poke the hornet’s nest. For such a person, using both soft and hard approaches was necessary. If soft didn’t work, then start trying hard methods.
If he was sensible and tactful, that would naturally save trouble. But if he hardened his heart and insisted on going to the end, there were plenty of methods to deal with him. There had originally been no need to place their own side too low, making him think they absolutely had to beg him. Right now the Tartar royal court had no advantages either.