The Prime Minister Seduced Me to have Babies!-Chapter 737: Terms

Although Du Wei had no desire to negotiate, the tide had turned, and negotiations were now imperative.

He stepped forward and said, "I am willing to go to the Jin Country’s military camp for negotiations."

The Emperor was overjoyed, "Du Aiqing, you are truly a pillar of the state."

"In that case, Du Aiqing, proceed quickly."

Du Wei sighed, "I need two Forbidden Army soldiers and a secretary to accompany me."

The Emperor quickly assigned people to Du Wei.

Du Wei led his men out of the city.

The soldiers on the city walls watched as Minister Du walked step by step into the enemy camp.

Du Wei entered Wanyan Zhang’s main tent and found that the Taishang Emperor was also present.

Du Wei knelt silently to pay his respects, then stood up.

Wanyan Zhang’s attitude towards Du Wei was still polite, but the terms he proposed were far from courteous.

The Jin Country demanded that the Emperor of Great Chu honor the Emperor of the Jin Country as an uncle. Besides, they required ten million taels of gold, ten million taels of silver, ten million bolts of silk, ten thousand horses, donkeys, and mules each, and the cession of the towns of Taiyuan, Zhongshan, and Jian. In exchange for the Taishang Emperor, a prince and the Prime Minister were to be sent as hostages.

Du Wei was so numb that he couldn’t even muster an expression and just said flatly, "The Second Crown Prince should know that no matter what, Great Chu cannot provide the gold, silver, silk, and horses you demand. Thus, I see no need for negotiations."

The Taishang Emperor urgently said from the side, "Minister Du, the National Treasury certainly cannot produce so much gold, silver, and silk, but it can be collected from the people."

Du Wei raised his eyelids, his gaze cold as he looked at the Taishang Emperor.

The negotiations had just begun and were being thwarted by their own people, so what was the point of negotiating?

Damn, really felt like strangling him.

Du Wei said coldly, "Even if it were collected from the people, it wouldn’t reach that amount."

"Moreover, the matter of ceding land is absolutely impossible."

"As for sending a prince and the Prime Minister as hostages, that one is indeed possible."

The Taishang Emperor was anxious to speak again, but Du Wei turned to him, "If the Taishang Emperor intends to interfere in the negotiations, then I shall take my leave and let the Taishang Emperor discuss it personally with the Jin people."

The Taishang Emperor glared fiercely at Du Wei.

He hadn’t expected that after abdicating, even a Minister of Rites wouldn’t take him seriously.

When he returned to court, he would definitely strip him of his office!

Wanyan Zhang almost burst out laughing. It’s strange that Great Chu, with such a foolish emperor, had not yet perished.

Is the Taishang Emperor foolish?

He was skilled in all the arts: music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and anything entertainment-related.

He wasn’t unaware of how outrageous Wanyan Zhang’s terms were, but in his view, the world belonged to the Wei Family.

Even draining the nation’s resources to ransom himself as the Taishang Emperor seemed right to him.

As for the people’s suffering, how could it compare to him, the Taishang Emperor?

Wanyan Zhang said with a smile, "I will not alter the terms. Minister Du, convey to your emperor that I give him half a month to prepare what I demand."

"If after half a month it is still not ready, then I will attack the city again."

Du Wei didn’t want to say anything more and got up to take his leave.

Returning to the city, he hurried into the palace.

The court session hadn’t ended, and everyone was waiting for news from Du Wei.

Du Wei relayed Wanyan Zhang’s demands, and Prime Minister Mr. Zhou immediately said, "In that case, we should hasten to gather the silver taels."

Du Wei was stunned, "Mr. Zhou, are you serious?"

"The conditions set by the Jin Country were obviously to humiliate Great Chu, not to mention that raising millions of taels of gold and silver is simply impossible."

Prime Minister Zhou said, "We must try our best to gather it. In the end, even if it’s slightly less, we can plead with the Second Crown Prince."

The court ministers began speaking all at once, most echoing Prime Minister Zhou’s sentiments, with some even suggesting they obtain gold and silver from the common people.