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After some time spent waiting, Wu Ming finally received a message from the court of Great Wu, as well as the imperial edict from his own father, the Emperor.

However, to Wu Ming's surprise, the court of Great Wu hadn't really discussed the issue of how much the reparations should be. Without discussion, it meant that the amount of reparations was entirely based on whatever treaty the Great Wu delegation could reach with North Country.

It seemed like the Great Wu delegation was given a lot of authority, allowing Wu Ming to make his own decisions, but on the other hand, if the reparations were too hefty, once Wu Ming returned to Great Wu, all the responsibility would fall solely on him.

Seeing that the imperial edict sent from Great Wu didn't mention anything about the amount of reparations, not even a mention, Wu Ming was furious on the inside. His father, the Emperor, had shifted all the pressure onto him.

At the very least, he should have been given an idea of the bottom line for the reparations. To say nothing at all, leaving him completely on his own in the negotiations, if the reparations negotiated were below the Martial Emperor's expectations, that would be one thing. But if they exceeded his expectations, and by a large amount, he might very well lose his chance at the Crown Prince title.

Although agitated, Wu Ming nevertheless started the negotiations again. The North Country army already showed signs of continuing their push south. The war needed to end as soon as possible, which was also the intent of his father, the Emperor's edict.

Wu Ming had originally planned to keep stalling, but now with his father, the Emperor's edict arriving, there was no way he could keep dragging his feet.

North Country.

Hall of Political Affairs.

At the start of today's negotiations, the members of the Great Wu delegation proposed to reduce the indemnity. Upon hearing their suggestion, the officials of North Country immediately vetoed the proposal, believing that since Great Wu ambushed the North Country camp, the indemnity could only increase, not decrease.

After a bout of commotion in the Hall of Political Affairs akin to that of a marketplace, Lu Chen finally spoke, "Thirty million taels of silver and five million taels of gold are non-negotiable. If Great Wu is unwilling to pay such an amount, then the North Country army will have to personally make a trip to Great Wu for the money."

Upon hearing this, the grand hall instantly fell silent, and the members of the Great Wu delegation instantly lost their spirits. With the North Country army already intending to move south, aggravating the North Prince now could really lead to him sending troops southward, potentially causing even greater losses for Great Wu.

Wu Ming, with a dark expression, said, "Fine, we will adhere to the North Prince's terms. Great Wu will pay North Country the thirty million taels of silver plus five million taels of gold, but this money will not be delivered in one single payment."

Lu Chen had anticipated that Great Wu would propose to pay in installments, and responded, "The first installment will be twenty million taels of silver plus three million taels of gold. The rest must be paid off by Great Wu within two years; otherwise, the North Country army will personally head south to seek the Martial Emperor for payment."

Wu Ming clenched his fists and said, "Thank you, North Prince."

Lu Chen continued, "Since the matter of money is settled, let's now discuss the matter of land."

"To prevent Great Wu from attacking the North Country again, I have decided to include Youping County and Lingtu County within the territory of North Country."

Hearing this, Wu Ming immediately protested, "North Prince, North Country has already occupied Youping County. Why claim Lingtu County as well? Do you not think your appetite is a bit too large?"

Lu Chen replied indifferently, "At the beginning, I indeed had no designs on Lingtu County. However, Great Wu soldiers took advantage of the night to ambush the North Country camp, resulting in heavy casualties for our soldiers and causing huge losses to North Country. That I have not demanded reparations is already the extent of my leniency."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming cursed the Great Wu Heavy Cavalry once again in his heart. They just had to ambush the North Country camp during the peace talks, and now another county had been lost.

All the important cities of Lingtu County were already occupied by the North Country soldiers, and even if they didn't agree to cede Lingtu County, it would only be a matter of time before North Country took over the entire county. It was not up to them at all.

In order to end the negotiations as quickly as possible, Wu Ming conceded, "Alright, Great Wu agrees to cede Youping County and Lingtu County."

Seeing Wu Ming agree so quickly this time, Lu Chen gave a faint smile and then asked, "Prince Wu Ming agrees so readily? Don't you need to consult the Martial Emperor before making a decision?"

Wu Ming responded, "My father, the Emperor has entrusted the entire negotiation to me; I have the authority to decide."

Lu Chen remarked, "Since Prince Wu Ming has the authority to decide, I won't belabor the point."

Immediately, Lu Chen said to the Jinyiwei Guard beside the throne, "Pass the trade port treaty to Prince Wu Ming for his perusal."

Since the conditions of trade were numerous, Lu Chen had already written them down on paper from the start.

When the trade treaty reached Wu Ming's hands, he began to read it earnestly, and his expression became extremely solemn upon seeing the clauses.

To be honest, he was not particularly clear about the potential consequences of these clauses, such as settling trade transactions with North Country currency, or allowing North Country merchant caravans into Great Wu. He could only surmise that the North Country might send spies into Great Wu, but he was unable to fathom their deeper intentions.

Although Wu Ming did not understand the potential outcomes these clauses might bring forth, he was no fool. He promptly passed the trade treaty in his hands to the members of his entourage to review.

The members of his entourage were all high-ranking ministers from Great Wu's imperial court, and they would surely know what consequences these clauses could lead to.

After the members of Great Wu's entourage read the trade treaty, their expressions grew serious. At that moment, a member of the entourage whispered something into Wu Ming's ear.

Then Wu Ming said to Lu Chen, "The trade treaty is too impactful, I must consult with my father, the Martial Emperor."

In his mind, Lu Chen thought that there were indeed smart people in the Great Wu delegation; they probably had already discerned that the North Country intended to control Great Wu economically.

Lu Chen then said, "Very well, we will skip over this clause for now. Let us discuss the matter of the hostage."

"I believe Prince Wu Ming has already heard that I intend for Great Wu to send a hostage to the North Country."

Wu Ming feigned ignorance, asking, "I wonder which prince does the North Prince intend to take as hostage?"

Lu Chen said with a smile, "I have heard that Prince Wu Ming has been frequenting the Flower Moon Building lately and is quite fond of the girls from the North Country. Since Prince Wu Ming likes the girls from the North Country so much, why doesn't Prince Wu Ming consider staying as a hostage in the North Country?"

Hearing this, Wu Ming's face instantly turned pale.

He did not want to be a hostage in the North Country; if he stayed as a hostage in the North Country, he would forever lose his chance at becoming the Crown Prince.

Wu Ming immediately responded, "North Prince, my status in Great Wu is not high, and if you make me a hostage in the North Country, I'm afraid I won't serve the intended purpose of a hostage. Perhaps the North Prince should reconsider?"

Seeing Wu Ming's apparent panic, the corners of Lu Chen's mouth curved slightly upward.

Seeing Wu Ming flustered and speaking without reserve, a member of the Great Wu entourage quickly stepped forward and said, "North Prince, the foreign minister requests that today's negotiation end here, so that we may return and report the matter of the hostage to His Majesty the Martial Emperor."

Lu Chen said with a laugh, "Prince Wu Ming just said earlier that he has autonomy over this negotiation. It seems now that Prince Wu Ming cannot make decisions on his own."

Hearing this, Wu Ming said, "The trade treaty proposed by the North Prince is too complicated, we need to discuss it before making a decision."

Lu Chen said indifferently, "Very well, then go back and have a good discussion."

"Two days from now, I expect a definitive response, the families of my fallen soldiers are still waiting for the compensation from Great Wu."

Wu Ming and the members of the Great Wu delegation subsequently left the Hall of Political Affairs. Watching their departing figures, Lu Chen smiled lightly.

He believed that Wu Ming would soon seek him out, to make a deal in private.