My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 363 Black Earth

Huyan Qiedang's reaction was slightly beyond Liu Rong's expectations, but it was also reasonable.

——In the Hetao Battle, the Xiongnu were certainly defeated completely.

But to say that a brutal and intense hand-to-hand combat broke out between the two sides, or that one side suffered heavy losses, was not the case.

From the beginning of the battle until the end of the war, neither the main battlefield of Hetao nor the "pseudo main battlefield" of Mayi caused too much casualties to the Huns.

In Mayi, the Huns suffered the normal casualties that were inevitable in a siege.

As for Hetao, there was no chance of a proper battle, and Hetao was quickly controlled by the Han army.

When Junchen led the main force of Chanyu Ting to turn back for reinforcement, the Xiongnu army was blocked at Gaoque, north of the river. They wanted to look south but were unable to cross the river.

By this calculation, the main losses of the Huns in the Hetao Battle were the fertile land outside the Great Wall and the tribes that remained in the Hetao area.

As for the Huns' foundation: the various tribes of barbarians on the grasslands, they did not suffer any serious trauma.

In other words, the military strength of the Huns was not affected.

As powerful as the Huns were in the past, they are still as powerful today.

If we must say that there have been some changes, it is that the weapons and equipment of the Han family have been upgraded, and the combat effectiveness has been slightly improved;
And after gaining Hetao, the Han Dynasty will soon have a considerable number of cavalry units, and will no longer be restrained by the Xiongnu cavalry at the military level.

In summary, the Han army has had a small boost at present, and there will be a big boost in the next few years.
However, the Hun army did not suffer any weakening and still maintained its past combat effectiveness.

——A lean camel is bigger than a horse.

Whether in the history of China or the history of other races, no regime or civilization that can be called an "empire" has ever been easy to deal with.

Although the Xiongnu Empire has reached a historical turning point and is about to enter a period of decline, this also means that the Xiongnu people are now at the peak of their entire civilization and regime.

A Hetao campaign would certainly boost the morale of the Han emperor, his subjects, the military and civilians, and make the people of the grasslands panic;
But it was definitely not to the point where the Han Dynasty became invincible in the world and the Huns were defeated and collapsed at the first touch.

Right now, the Huns want to shift their strategic focus westwards, which means that in the next few years the Huns will need a stable southeast.

In order to meet this strategic need, the Huns might be able to make concessions to a certain extent in exchange for the Han people's promise of "I will live in peace for a few years and will not provoke you."

But this does not mean that the Xiongnu people today have really fallen to the point in the past where the Han Dynasty would rather compromise and accept a humiliating marriage in order to achieve peace.

——Whether a war will break out between Han and Huns in the next few years, the Han family certainly doesn’t care. It is okay to fight or not to fight.

However, the Xiongnu's attitude towards whether a war would break out between the Han and Xiongnu in the next few years was by no means "absolutely no war, ask the Han people not to fight at all costs", but was limited to: try to negotiate with the Han people, and try not to fight if possible;

But if we can't come to a conclusion and we really have to fight, then we can fight.

Under such circumstances, it was obviously unrealistic to ask the Huns to make such an incredible move as "ceding Hexi".

However, as Liu Rong said before: At certain times, diplomacy and business are similar.

One party asks for a sky-high price, the other party pays back the money on the spot, the two parties greet each other's ancestors politely, and then reach a result that neither side is satisfied with but both can barely accept - this is the common norm in diplomatic negotiations between countries, especially between major powers.

In this case, the Xiongnu used the Hetao area, which was already occupied by the Han Dynasty, and the Beihai area, which the Han Dynasty could never truly control, as bargaining chips. This was no different from getting something for nothing.
When Liu Rong opened his mouth, he mentioned Hexi, and when he closed his mouth, he added the East China Sea, which is the connection between the grassland and the Korean Peninsula. It was obvious that he was asking for too much.

Although in the end, neither side will be able to achieve their goals, it does not mean that there is really no room for discussion on this matter.

At least the Xiongnu people have this demand, and Liu Rong has never revealed the intention of "no negotiation, must fight", under the premise that both sides are open to negotiation, this matter is actually still negotiable...

"Ceding land, especially the land west of the Yellow River, is absolutely impossible."

"If it is something else, even if the foreign envoy has no right to decide, he can still send someone back to ask my lord for instructions."

"But in Hexi, there is no need to ask for instructions. You can be sure that there is no room for negotiation."

"If your Majesty is truly interested in promoting peace, please change the conditions."

Not long after, Huyan Qiedang made his first concession.

——There is absolutely no room for negotiation on Hexi!

——In principle, there is no room for negotiation regarding the division of land.

If possible, make other demands that have nothing to do with ceding land;
If we really have to cede land, don't mention sensitive places like Hexi. And even if we really do cede a piece of land, it cannot be in the name of "ceding land" at the official level.

The other party made concessions, and Liu Rongzi did not insist on it anymore.

He pretended to be thoughtful, rubbed his lips with his fingertips, and after a long pause, he murmured, "Since there is no room for negotiation in Hexi, let's wait a few years and send troops to conquer it."

"It's the East China Sea..."

"It's not a good place, is it?"

"Such a cold and remote place, our Han family only used it to exile prisoners."

"Is it really impossible to cut it?"

It seems that both sides are stating their positions and bottom lines, but they both know in their hearts that the result of this matter has basically been discussed.

——The Xiongnu originally intended to cede the Hetao and Beihai areas, while Liu Rong originally wanted Hexi and Donghai, which are the three northeastern provinces in later generations;
Both sides took a step back: the Huns no longer mentioned Hetao and Beihai, and Liu Rong no longer mentioned Hexi.

What remained was to find a decent excuse to keep the Huns in power and cede the East China Sea to the Han Dynasty.

This is not a problem that Liu Rong needs to worry about.

Let the Huns think about it;
Anyway, no matter what the name is - gift or dowry, Liu Rong doesn't care.

As long as he can get that piece of frozen black soil into his possession, Liu Rong doesn't care about the title.

"Since there is nothing to discuss, please go down and think about it carefully."

"——Peace, I naturally hope to promote it."

"But since the founding of the Han Dynasty, our Han family has gone through four generations of emperors and more than fifty years. The most profound truth we have learned is that peace can never be achieved for no reason."

“Peace can only be gained at a price.” “Whoever needs peace should pay the price.”

“The greater the price, the more peace will be cherished.”

With these words, it seemed that Liu Rong had issued an order to expel the guests, but in fact, an agreement had basically been reached in the first negotiation.

——Liu Rong wants the East China Sea!

Liu Rong never mentioned anything about Hexi or oxen - he wanted the East China Sea!
If it can be given, then go down and find a way to cede the North Sea to the Han family in a reasonable, legal, and dignified way;
If I can’t give it to you, then there’s nothing more to talk about.

——There is a limit to concessions!
Hexi can’t be given to us, we can’t afford the oxen and oxen, and finally we are reluctant to give us even the most insignificant East China Sea?
Are you really just licking AC's face and getting something for nothing?

Is it that you, the general, have water in your brain, or is it that the water in my brain is overflowing?
As an envoy, Huyan Qiedang also understood Liu Rong's subtext, so he did not dwell on it any further. He immediately bowed and left the hall.

Before leaving, Hu Yanqie Dang, who heard Liu Rong's last words as a reminder to himself "Don't think of getting something for nothing", also did not forget to remind Liu Rong in a subtle way: It's hard to say whether the East China Sea can be negotiated, but I will try my best;
But even if we can reach an agreement, the East China Sea is already the limit and the bottom line of our Great Xiongnu.

Apart from the East China Sea, our Great Xiongnu will not give you even a cow hair or a sheep dung ball more!
Liu Rong simply waved his hand, thus ending the first formal meeting between the Han and the Xiongnu since the Hetao Campaign.

The withdrawal of the Hun delegation did not mean that the meeting was really over.

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Or it should be said: the meeting is over, but there is still a summary and conclusion meeting about this meeting inside the Han court.

——The delegation withdrew, but the Han emperor and his ministers did not feel at all relieved that their work was done and they could leave.

On the contrary, a considerable number of people perked up and really got into work mode only after the delegation left.

Then, there was a long, anxious, and quite intense discussion.

As for the core of the tense issue, it was nothing more than the Hexi area that Liu Rong mentioned casually.

No one had originally thought of Hexi;

No one dared to think of such a fantastic condition as "the Huns cede Hexi"!
But once Liu Rong mentioned it, everyone's greed was aroused, and it was difficult to suppress the urge to try again.

Fortunately, the final result is still under Liu Rong's control.

After this long discussion, the Han court finally reached a consensus: they wanted a thousand miles of land to the north and northeast of Yan State, centered on the Xianbei and Wuheng Mountains, as the price for the Xiongnu to pay for "peace."

As to whether this price can really bring back peace, it depends on the mood of the Han family.

The Han family's unremitting efforts in marriage alliances over the past few decades are very telling.

——If marriage alliances were useful, if agreements were useful, then the Han people in the past few decades should have fought only one battle with the Xiongnu and then only had one marriage alliance;
However, the fact is that China was repeatedly invaded by the Huns, and after the wars, it had to marry marriages to other countries over and over again.

It seemed that each marriage could bring three or two years of peace, but in fact, the dowry sent as a gift was just enough for the Huns to eat comfortably for two or three years.

After they finished eating, the Huns naturally came again.

Now that the roles have been reversed, the same principle applies.

Of course, we have to form alliances;
Maybe they would even go the other way around and ask the Huns to send a Princess Luandi over to have a marriage alliance with the Han family!

Regardless of whether the marriage was peaceful or not, the Huns would definitely give the required dowry.

As for whether the Han family will keep their promise after forming an alliance, accepting the dowry, and promising "not to take the initiative to provoke trouble", it all depends on the Han family's own interests and practical considerations.

If one day, Liu Rong feels that it is time to fight a battle, then let’s fight, no doubt about it!

——Anyway, the thing called the covenant came into being in this world because there was not enough toilet paper.

If Liu Rong thinks that it is better and more profitable not to fight, then he won't fight, and he will just say to the outside world: Oh my!
Signed a treaty with the Huns
We have to keep our promise.
The main point is to be able to advance and retreat freely, and the Han people are always right no matter what.

Of course, the Huns were aware of this.

After all, the Huns were experts in using marriage alliances as toilet paper.

But sometimes, that's just how national affairs work.

——Choose a: Don’t do it, it will never succeed;
——Option b: Do it, more or less, there is a slight chance of success.

In this situation, for an individual, A is obviously more correct - B is not certain to succeed anyway, and whether it succeeds or not depends on whether the other party will make a fool of himself.
But at the national level, the correct answer is always: b, give it a try!
Just try to make the other person an idiot!
In the past few years, the Han family has also been fighting.

But it was not about trying to make the Huns stupid, but about trying to save their face.

Obviously, for nomadic people, the word "face" is meaningless if it cannot be eaten or drunk.

Now, it is the Huns who are trying to save the Han Dynasty's face.

In this regard, Liu Rong can only say: Oh~
The face is this thing~
You can take it or not, when it is within your reach, I will naturally take it~
But if I save face, I will hurt my inner self. In that case, what's wrong with me shouting "I am a barbarian"?
"Um……"

"East China Sea……"

...

"The black soil of Northeast China~"

"After acquiring this piece of land, the Korean Peninsula, we must also make careful plans..."

In fact, for the Han Dynasty today, the real internal problem is not the scarcity of arable land caused by land annexation, or the inability of the land to support the population.

——In fact, with the development of Chinese civilization to this day, nearly half of the territory of the Han Dynasty is still undeveloped.

In the northeast, not to mention the three northeastern provinces of later generations, even the Yan area of ​​Hebei and Tianjin in later generations had not been fully developed into an area suitable for living;
Not to mention the south - the two lakes, Guangdong and Guangxi in later generations with Changsha as the base point, and even the Jingwu area further north and closer to the Central Plains, are still known as barren lands with "swamps and swamps everywhere".

And this barren land was called Jiangnan by the Chinese civilization about 1,800 years later.

If this area could be developed, let alone the current population of 30 million of the Han Dynasty - even if the population doubled or even tripled, reaching tens of millions or even over 100 million, the Han Dynasty could definitely afford it!
In this case - when the internal development is insufficient, it does not seem to be a wise choice to seek external expansion.

But Liu Rong also has his own long-term considerations for the future Greater Northeast and the Korean Peninsula bordering that area...

(End of this chapter)