In the armistice terms drawn up by the Executive Committee, there was actually no calculation of additional military expenditures on a daily basis. It was entirely a temporary addition made by Chen Yixin in order to urge Ming Dynasty to speed up the negotiation process.
Chen Yixin didn't really have high hopes of getting the money from Daming in the end, but as long as this request could disrupt Daming's negotiation plan, it would be considered as achieving his goal.
The actual situation is exactly the same. In the last negotiation, Haihan did not make such a request, so Wang Chengen was not mentally prepared for this.
Two hundred thousand taels per day, this is by no means a small amount.
The Ming Dynasty spent a third of its annual treasury revenue on military expenditures. Even so, the annual military expenditures were only about one million taels of silver. Chen Yixin's offer was 200,000 taels a day. If the negotiations lasted for a few more days, Ming would have to spend several more years of military expenses.
Wang Chengen immediately expressed his objection: "Mr. Chen, this is unreasonable! When the two armies are fighting, your country is not the only one who needs to spend military expenses!"
Chen Yixin said: "Mr. Wang, it is pointless for you to argue with me about whether it is reasonable or not. It should be based on victory or defeat on the battlefield. If your country wins, then everything is easy to say. Of course, if your country wins, we should also There is no need to sit here and negotiate.”
Wang Chengen's face turned red with anger, but he was unable to refute Chen Yixin.
Chen Yixin was indeed right. If the Ming Dynasty could have an advantage on the battlefield, then why would it bother to bargain here?
The other party's arrogance made Wang Chengen want to walk away, but he knew very well that he had traveled thousands of miles to get this opportunity to negotiate an armistice and begged his grandfather to sue his grandmother. Once the negotiations are suspended, the war will immediately rekindle, and the capital may not be able to withstand Haihan's next wave of offensive.
After the first day of negotiations, both parties went back and forth, but in the end no substantial results were achieved.
Haihan already took the initiative, and Chen Yixin naturally refused to give in an inch of ground. After reading these conditions, Wang Chengen felt uneasy and did not dare to make the decision without authorization. He had to go back and report to Emperor Chongzhen first and wait for his superiors to make decisions.
After the negotiations ended that afternoon, Wang Chengen did not stay any longer and immediately said goodbye and returned to the city by car.
Soon after, the truce clauses brought back by Wang Chengen were placed in front of Chongzhen in the imperial study.
Chongzhen looked livid after reading the contents of the agreement and said angrily: "The Haihan people are really bullying me! If I agree to these conditions, where is the dignity of my Ming Dynasty! How can I have the dignity to sit in this position!"
In addition to Wang Chengen, there were several ministers in the imperial study room, but at this time everyone was silent and did not dare to answer.
It was Chongzhen's final decision to conduct armistice negotiations with Haihan. For this reason, the imperial court had already arrested a group of officials from the main war faction. It is said that these unfortunate ghosts were secretly handed over to the Haihan people, which shows how determined he was.
At this time, if someone jumped out of nowhere and said, "Stop talking about the emperor, let's continue fighting," the slap would not be on Haihan's face, but on Chongzhen's face.
The people who can stand here are all extremely shrewd people, and no one will get into trouble at this time. Everyone watched with eyes, nose, nose, and mind, all waiting for Chongzhen to make up his mind after he had finished venting his anger.
Among these people, the one who knows Chongzhen's thoughts best is of course Wang Chengen, who managed the whole process. Doesn't Chongzhen know what kind of conditions Haihan will put forward? Of course he knew.
There is news that he brought back from Hangzhou, and recently there is the surrender document that Chen Yixin sent to the city a few days ago. Many of the conditions proposed by Haihan are actually foreshadowing. When Chongzhen scolded him, he actually wanted others to set up a ladder for him to come down, and at the same time create an image of enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens.
And besides Wang Chengen, there is no more suitable person to build the ladder.
Wang Chengen coughed dryly and said: "Your Majesty, the conditions proposed by the Haihan people are really harsh, but listening to the other party's tone, I should still have room for bargaining. In my opinion, this negotiation must continue, otherwise the Haihan people will continue to attack the city. Our Ming Dynasty’s losses cannot be calculated clearly with money.”
Chongzhen said angrily: "I entrust you with this important task, but you only talk about it like this. You are ineffective in doing things. What crime should you do!"
Wang Chengen fell to his knees with a bang, his forehead directly pressed to the floor, and responded with a trembling voice: "I am incompetent, I hope the emperor will forgive me!"
Chongzhen snorted and said: "If we continue to talk in this direction, I am afraid that both the government and the public will think this result is unacceptable. Otherwise, let's talk to someone else! My dear friends, what do you think?"
Several cabinet ministers looked at me and I looked at you, and suddenly they all started to defend Wang Chengen.
"Your Majesty, the prince went to Hangzhou first, and then rushed back to the capital. It was thousands of miles back and forth. There was no credit, but there was also hard work!"
"Your Majesty, the prince is absolutely loyal, and no one in the government or the public will doubt it. Although the conditions proposed by the Haihan people are harsh, the prince will definitely try his best to fight for the interests of the Ming Dynasty."
"Your Majesty, if the other party doesn't accept our last-minute substitution, then the loss outweighs the gain. Besides, Eunuch Wang has talked with the Haihan Executive Committee in Hangzhou. The person who knows the other party's thoughts best is none other than Eunuch Wang! ”
"Your Majesty, we are willing to jointly recommend the prince to continue to shoulder the important task of negotiation!"
Of course, Wang Chengen did not have such a high prestige that he could make all the cabinet ministers say good things in unison, and he also spoke to the princes and father-in-law, and his attitude was extremely respectful.
The reason why such an abnormal scene occurs is that, to put it bluntly, everyone does not want to take the blame for Wang Chengen.
Although this was an opportunity to stand out, the risk was extremely high, and they thought it would be difficult to do better than Wang Chengen. When the time comes, the outcome of the negotiation will be pretty much the same, and the person in charge will be the one to bear the blame.
Wang Chengen was kneeling on the ground and couldn't see the expressions of these people, but he could imagine the flattering faces in his mind.
Although he complained secretly in his heart, he also knew that it was Chongzhen's intention that things developed to this point. And all the ministers in the imperial study, including himself, were just cooperating with Chongzhen in acting.
When the time comes to investigate the responsibility, Wang Chengen is the candidate recommended by all the ministers. Whatever the outcome of the negotiations, it cannot be attributed to Chongzhen.
With the stairs to go down, Chongzhen's tone softened a little: "I also know that whether it is your dear friends or Wang Chengen, their loyalty to me is unquestionable. I am not willing to act arbitrarily on such a big matter, but since Everyone thinks Wang Chengen is suitable, so I will obey your opinions! Wang Chengen, why don’t you thank you all?”
Wang Chengen didn't even raise his head, he knelt on the ground and responded: "I would like to thank the Emperor for your grace! Thank you all for your recommendation!"