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Chapter 610: Chapter 358 Negotiations Begin_3

As the discussion ended, an official from the North Country's Ministry of War stood up and said, "We have not disclosed how many soldiers the North Country has lost, so how could Great Wu possibly know the extent of our casualties?"

As the official finished, an envoy from Great Wu countered, "With such terrifying weapons at the North Country's disposal, our soldiers were defeated before they even got close to the North Country's army. How could the North Country have sustained significant losses?"

Although it was a humiliating admission, in order to minimize compensation, the members of the Great Wu delegation had no choice but to bring up these points.

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After the Great Wu envoy finished speaking, the officials from the North Country began to retort, and the whole hall turned into a bargaining scene between the North Country delegation and Great Wu's ministers, as noisy as a marketplace.

Lu Chen sat on the throne, watching as if the whole affair had nothing to do with him.

After what seemed like an eternity, Wu Ming finally took the initiative to say, "25 million taels of silver, that's Great Wu's final bottom line!"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent. Both the members of Great Wu's delegation and the officials from the North Country turned their heads to look at Lu Chen on the throne.

With a slight upturn of his mouth, Lu Chen responded, "25 million taels of silver? It seems that Great Wu does not want to take back those 200,000 surrendering Great Wu soldiers."

Hearing this, Wu Ming and the members of the delegation felt a jolt in their hearts.

They definitely needed to get those 200,000 Great Wu soldiers back. They were the elite of Great Wu, and even though they were defeated by the North Country, it was simply because the North Country's weapons were too advanced. It had nothing to do with the soldiers themselves.

If those 200,000 soldiers were not taken back, the power of the Great Wu dynasty would be greatly weakened.

Wu Ming asked directly, "North Prince, just name your price in silver."

Lu Chen immediately said, "30 million taels of silver, without beating around the bush."

Hearing this, Wu Ming and the members of the Great Wu delegation breathed a sigh of relief. It was an increase of just 5 million taels, and although 30 million taels was a lot, paying an extra 5 million taels of silver to bring back 200,000 soldiers was a very worthwhile deal.

Just as Wu Ming was about to say something, Lu Chen continued, "Plus 5 million taels of gold!"

Upon hearing this, the delegation from Great Wu exploded in uproar.

5 million taels of gold?

What a joke!

In that era, 5 million taels of gold was worth 50 million taels of silver. Adding to the previous 30 million taels of silver, the total cost would now be 80 million taels of silver.

And gold was a scarce currency. If the Great Wu dynasty compensated the North Country with 5 million taels of gold, there wouldn't be much gold left in the Great Wu national treasury.

The annual tax revenue of the Great Wu dynasty was how much? If they compensated nearly 80 million taels of silver at once, Great Wu would have some tough years ahead.

With a dark expression, Wu Ming said, "North Prince, don't you think the North Country is being a bit too greedy?"

As Lu Chen was about to say something, a Jinyiwei Guard suddenly entered from the main entrance of the hall, circled around to his side, and bent down to whisper something in Lu Chen's ear.

Lu Chen smiled slightly.

Seeing this, Wu Ming and the members of the Great Wu delegation grew even more somber, anticipating that something must have happened.

At that moment, an outside soldier announced, "Prince, members from the Great Wu delegation request to enter the hall."

Many people had accompanied the Great Wu delegation, but not everyone had entered the hall to negotiate with the officials from the North Country. Some stayed outside, awaiting any news that might come from Great Wu at any moment.

When Wu Ming heard that it was his delegation requesting entry, he knew that something must have happened in Great Wu; otherwise, the members of his delegation would not be asking to enter at this time.

Lu Chen said with a smile, "Let them in!"

The next moment, a member of the Great Wu delegation entered the hall, first bowing to Lu Chen on the throne, then quickly walked over to Wu Ming and handed him an envelope.

Wu Ming hastily took the envelope and looked it over. Upon reading it, his face turned ashen.

A few days earlier, the North Country had dispatched 200,000 troops to camp on the border between Lingtu County and Youping County, occasionally creating thunderous noises.

Opposite the North Country's camp was the North Country's Heavy Cavalry camp. Although the North Country had no intentions of attacking, a certain general from Great Wu lost his senses, thinking the North Country had let down its guard—and with a flatland ahead, he led his Heavy Cavalry to launch a night raid on the North Country camp.

However, not only did the raid fail, but the 20,000 Great Wu Heavy Cavalry were defeated instead. The North Country's army seized the opportunity to move south, capturing several cities in Lingtu County.

After reading the contents of the letter, Wu Ming couldn't help but crush the entire envelope into a ball.

He cursed inwardly, fools, such fools!

20,000 heavy cavalry against 200,000, what gave them the courage!

Didn't they know about the North Country's terrifying weapons?

This turn of events once again put their negotiations at a disadvantage.

Lu Chen then said with a smile, "Your Highness Wu Ming, you seem to be looking a bit pale?"

Wu Ming quickly replied, "North Prince, I am feeling somewhat unwell today. May we discuss the peace terms further tomorrow?"

Without hesitation, Lu Chen agreed, "Since Your Highness Wu Ming is not feeling well, let's end it here for today. You must get some good rest."

With an act of thanks, Wu Ming said, "I thank the North Prince!"

Afterward, Wu Ming and the members of the Great Wu delegation turned and left the hall.

Watching their receding figures, Lu Chen stood up with a chuckle, "The people of Great Wu are indeed 'rich in martial virtue'."

I guess they think it's still the olden days.

If it were the previous era of cold weapons, 20,000 Heavy Cavalry launching a night raid on a 200,000-strong infantry camp indeed had a chance of success, given the advantage of their armor.

But sadly, times have changed.

Moreover, there was another reason for the failure of the Great Wu Heavy Cavalry's night raid: the caution of Main General Mu Changtian. If the North Country soldiers had truly become complacent, the night raid of Great Wu's 20,000 Heavy Cavalry might have had a chance to throw the North Country soldiers into disarray.

But Mu Changtian, considering the crucial moment of peace talks, anticipated that Great Wu would attempt something to increase their bargaining power, so he remained vigilant. As a result, when Great Wu did indeed send troops to raid the camp, they were thwarted.