Chapter 2449
The three major powers have put forward their own terms for reconciliation, and finally it was North Korea's Kim Sang-heon's turn to speak. Although North Korea's national power is the weakest, from a certain perspective, it actually has its own unique advantage, that is, it has the least enemies among the four countries.
The most powerful Ming Dynasty is the former suzerain state of North Korea. Although it has offended Ming Dynasty because it switched to Haihan's sect, but with the military protection provided by Haihan, Ming Dynasty is unable to do anything to North Korea. The only real enemy that threatens North Korea's security is the Manchu and Qing Dynasties.
Shang Kexi's previous reconciliation request to North Korea was a big deal. Of course Kim Sang-hyun would not agree. Not only that, he also had to adopt a tougher attitude to prevent the other three countries from looking down on North Korea.
"I require the Qing Dynasty to compensate for the war losses of two million taels of silver caused by the invasion of our country. In addition, all nationals kidnapped during the war must be released and allowed to return to North Korea as soon as possible." Kim Sangxian said to Shang Kexi with a cold face: "If If your country can meet these two conditions, then our country will consider a truce and peace negotiation.”
The conditions offered by Kim Sang-hyun were obviously tit-for-tat with Shang Kexi and they would not give in even an inch. But it is not difficult for a discerning person to make a judgment. Whether it is the Manchus or North Korea, it is obviously unlikely that they will meet the conditions set by the other party. Shang Kexi just sneered repeatedly, but he did not break the rules set by Tao Donglai and immediately refute Kim Sangxian.
The conditions of the four families have been put forward. In summary, only the reconciliation conditions proposed by Haihan are more realistic. They only require the Manchu and Qing Dynasties to retreat a hundred miles of defense and leave a buffer zone where troops cannot be stationed. As for other conditions such as the exchange of prisoners of war and the opening of commerce, those are just trivial matters. But Haihan also has a prerequisite for the four countries to sign a peace agreement together. This is the real difficulty.
Judging from the current situation, there are huge differences in the conditions proposed by other companies, and it may be difficult to reach an agreement in a short period of time. The actual situation is exactly the same. After Kim Sang-hyun's speech, the parties once again fell into endless disputes. Until the end of the afternoon meeting, the parties still failed to reach a consensus on the terms of reconciliation.
"It's getting late. I think today's discussion will end here. Everyone go back to camp and have a good rest. We will continue tomorrow." Tao Donglai saw that no results would be released today, so he decisively stopped the meeting.
The representatives of the other three parties had been arguing here for a day, and they were already dry and dizzy. However, the meeting was not over, so they could only force themselves up to continue arguing. At this time, Tao Dong came to announce a break, which was just the right time for them to He breathed a sigh of relief, as no one objected, and all parties finally reached an agreement for the first time at the end of the day.
"This negotiation is really not easy! I heard them arguing for a whole day, but there was no outcome." Qian Tiandun was not satisfied with the negotiation process on the first day. So far, all parties have just insisted on their own opinions. There is no way to convince the opponent to accept the conditions he proposed.
Tao Donglai said: "My opinion is a little different from yours."
"Oh? What do you say?"
Tao Donglai explained: "Countries have different interest demands. It is normal to have differences on the terms of peace talks, but it is a good thing that they are willing to sit down and talk now. The more fierce the quarrel, the more it shows that they are serious about this matter. Heart. Negotiation is a process of seeking compromise, so we don’t need to rush.”
Wang Tom said: "We have this place in Jinzhou. We can advance, attack, retreat or defend. There is really no need to worry. Although North Korea is weak, under our protection, the Manchu Qing Dynasty will probably not attack it easily again. If we finally negotiate No, the only real danger is the Ming Dynasty. They have no effective means to deal with the Manchu offensive, and they are unwilling to put down their face and ask for our support. They will not be able to survive for a few years."
Tao Donglai said: "I think Yang Sichang may make concessions in the end. He was originally a faction that advocated peace in the Ming Dynasty, and he must have high expectations for this meeting. Before coming to Jinzhou this time, he may have already I have issued a military order to Chongzhen and will use this opportunity to win peace for the Ming Dynasty. If we can't negotiate a decent result, I think it will be difficult for him to do business after he returns."
Qian Tiandun said: "There is some truth in saying this, but Ming Dynasty actually has no bargaining capital. I'm afraid Yang Sichang's concession is not easy to grasp."
The Ming Dynasty has always been defeated by the Manchu Qing in the past few years. This will indeed put Yang Sichang in a very passive position during negotiations. Even if he wants to negotiate peace, if the conditions are too outrageous, it may still be difficult to operate. After all, the Ming Dynasty was not Yang Sichang's alone. Nowadays, the opinions of leading the war inside and outside the court still have the upper hand. If he makes too many concessions, he will inevitably be liquidated in the future.
The three of them had dinner together and returned to the office. They were about to continue studying the negotiation strategy when a subordinate came to report that it was Kim Sang-hyun who requested to meet with Tao Dong-lai.
"It seems that he is here to ask for instructions on the next strategy." Tao Donglai joked: "Invite him in."
Tao Donglai's prediction was indeed good. After Kim Sangxian sat down, he took the initiative to inform the three of them of his intention. He hoped that Haihan could make clear the direction of the next negotiation.
"Master Tao, General Qian, General Wang, no matter what your country's resolution is, our country will fully cooperate with it." Kim Sang-hyun made North Korea's attitude very clear to them.
"Our two countries have always advanced and retreated together, and the next strategy should be discussed and formulated together. If Mr. Kim has any thoughts on today's negotiations, you might as well tell us directly and let's discuss it together." Tao Donglai was very polite to Kim Sang-hyun and did not Because the other person is humble, let him go as he pleases. Jin Shangxian said: "I think that peace talks between the Manchu Qing Dynasty and our two countries are actually not difficult. The conditions proposed by your country are extremely generous. Shang Kexi does not even mean to object. He has obviously recognized these conditions. Although he asked our country However, I believe that this is actually for Ming Dynasty and is not a condition that must be met. As long as I don't let go, I believe that the real trouble is with Ming Dynasty. They would send troops to attack, and Ming Dynasty was unable to resist. It could only watch the Manchu Qing plundering the population and wealth belonging to Ming Dynasty... One goes and the other goes, it’s hard to say how long Ming Dynasty can last. If we can’t reach an agreement this time, next time When we talk again, the conditions proposed by the Manchu Qing will only be more stringent.”
Tao Donglai did not expect that Jin Shangxian had such a thorough understanding of the current situation. He nodded slightly and said: "What Mr. Jin said is absolutely true, but if the Ming Dynasty gives in too quickly, I'm afraid the Manchus will see through it. I think that Yang Although your Excellency intends to negotiate, we should persist for a few more days. Anyway, we are not the ones who are anxious in this situation, so we just need to be patient and wait and see what happens.”
Jin Sangxian responded: "I understand what Mr. Tao means, so I can sleep well in the next few days."
Kim Sang-hyun has received reassurance from Haihan, so he can naturally sleep well, but Shang Kexi and Yang Sichang may not be able to sleep peacefully. It is not easy for them to take the initiative in such negotiations, and it is also difficult to convince their opponents to accept their own conditions. Both parties are unwilling to compromise on the first day of negotiations, so they are bound to be at the negotiating table. showed a relatively tough attitude.
Yang Sichang made up his mind at the beginning and was not in a hurry to express his attitude, but Shang Kexi left no room for it and pressed him step by step, claiming that if the peace talks failed, the war would inevitably restart within the year, and the northern part of the Ming Dynasty would be full of wars. , when the Ming Dynasty wants to negotiate peace with the Manchu Qing again, it will definitely not be the conditions proposed now.
As the current Minister of War, Yang Sichang is naturally very aware of the gap in military strength between the two countries. If he had the power to fight the Manchus, he wouldn't have to worry about these problems. However, except for the direction of Shanhaiguan, the northern border defense of the Ming Dynasty was relatively stable, and other places seemed to be broken by a poke. The Qing army could easily break into the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty's capital. , directly threatening the capital. If the Manchus cannot be persuaded to cease the war, they will probably be severely looted by the Qing army every year. In a few more years, nine out of ten houses in the north will be empty, and the foundation of Ming Dynasty's rule will be loosened.
Yang Sichang's idea was to stop the war and negotiate peace first, recuperate and accumulate strength, and then send troops to deal with the Qing Dynasty when the time is right when the civil strife is calmed down. However, the current armistice conditions proposed by the Manchu and Qing Dynasties are really outrageous in Yang Sichang's opinion. The war compensation of two million taels of silver is still second. If even Shanhaiwei is ceded to the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, it will really be equivalent to the north of the Ming Dynasty. The border gate is wide open, and the Qing army can pass through Shanhaiguan at any time and move south to threaten the capital. If he agrees to such peace negotiation conditions, it will be equivalent to asking Ming Dynasty to completely abandon border defense.
In fact, it is not impossible for Yang Sichang to strive for a more favorable situation. As long as he puts down his arrogance and cooperates with Haihan, imitating North Korea and letting Haihan troops stationed at the border of the Ming Dynasty, and the three countries work together to deal with it, then the Manchu Qing Dynasty will definitely still be under military pressure. Make some level of compromise. However, Emperor Chongzhen and the court had always had great doubts about military cooperation with Haihan. If it was necessary to allow the Haihan army to formally enter the Ming Dynasty in exchange for concessions from the Qing Dynasty, such an exchange might not be recognized domestically.
On the second day of negotiations, the disputes between countries gradually concentrated on the Ming, Qing, and North Korea. At the end of the day's talks, Haihan quickly reached a preliminary consensus with the Manchu and Qing Dynasties on the terms of reconciliation in the direction of Jinzhou.
Shang Kexi promised that the Qing army would retreat to a hundred miles north of the Jinzhou Isthmus within two months after the agreement was reached, and would only maintain intermittent activities of small patrols within the military buffer zone. All Haihan prisoners of war currently in custody will also be released through personnel exchange, allowing them to return to Jinzhou safely.
Tao Donglai, on behalf of the Haihan side, promised that after the agreement was officially signed, the Haihan Army would stop all military operations against the Manchu Qing in the Liaodong region and would also release Qing prisoners in custody. However, if the Qing army launches military operations against North Korea and the Ming Dynasty after this, it will be regarded as actively tearing up the agreement. At that time, Haihan will also take corresponding measures depending on the situation, and does not rule out the possibility of sending troops to attack the Qing Dynasty.
Of course, the current consensus reached by the two parties is not a formal agreement, just an intention. However, Tao Donglai still took the initiative to suggest that Shang Kexi initial the memorandum together, so that if the four-nation peace agreement is reached later, the content of this memorandum will also appear in the official document. In the agreement, there is no need to waste time re-negotiating.
With such speed of negotiation, it is not an exaggeration to say that they hit it off immediately. This is mainly because Haihan made huge concessions compared to the initial conditions, which far exceeded Shang Kexi's expectations before the negotiations began. It can be said that he took advantage of it. He almost acted in a way that he was afraid that Haihan would regret it. mentality signed the memorandum. But Shang Kexi also understands that this does not mean that these agreements will be well implemented. If he cannot handle North Korea and Ming Dynasty, the current agreements with Haihan will be invalidated immediately.
If the military generals were in charge of this negotiation, they would not make such big concessions. However, Tao Donglai believes that Haihan's investment and output in Liaodong are no longer proportional, and the executive committee has no plans to increase investment in the north in the short term, so reaching a settlement with the Manchus is the most beneficial thing for Haihan at this stage. choose.
Kim Sang-hyun had already understood Hae-han's attitude before, so he was not surprised that the two parties could reach an agreement so quickly. Now that Haihan has set an example, North Korea will follow suit and reconcile with the Manchus as soon as possible.
Yang Sichang's feelings were somewhat complicated. Haihan's military operations against the Manchus in the Liaodong region indeed took a lot of pressure off the Ming Dynasty. But if Haihan chooses to be neutral from now on, or even establish diplomatic relations with the Manchus, then all the pressure will be gone. Return to Daming again. But if Haihan did not reconcile with the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, then the peace talks between the Ming Dynasty and the Manchu Qing Dynasty would be almost hopeless. The Ming Dynasty wanted to sit on the sidelines and let the Haihan and Manchu snipe and clam fight, but it was ultimately difficult to do so.
What Ming could not do, Haihan has achieved. As far as the current progress of negotiations is concerned, Haihan can already sit back and watch the excitement of these three companies.
After the negotiations continued for two more days, North Korea and the Manchu Qing Dynasty also reached a preliminary agreement. The two countries still used the Yalu River as their national border and stopped all hostile military operations. Both sides gave up their demands for war reparations from the other side. North Korea did not need to cede Yiju to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty did not need to repatriate the people taken from North Korea. North Korea also has an additional condition. Once the Manchus and Haihan go to war, they will be regarded as actively breaking the agreement to ensure that their position is in sync with Haihan.
Of course, Shang Kexi was not afraid of the military threat posed by North Korea. If Haihan hadn't intervened, the Manchu Qing would have easily dispatched tens of thousands of troops to destroy North Korea. But this peace agreement must be reconciled with North Korea before Haihan will recognize its validity and he will have to make compromises. However, in the near future, we will not gnaw on the bones of North Korea, which has not much meat left, and the temporary reconciliation will not harm the interests of the Qing Dynasty.
(End of chapter)