Wei Dongling watched as the beacon fires blazed in the distance. The iron cavalry and the Xiliang soldiers were engaged in a fierce battle, with gongs and drums resounding through the air. The Xiliang camps were ablaze one after another, and the fire illuminated half the sky.
Behind Wei Dongling, the Tianchao soldiers were raring to go, waiting for just a single order from the Ninth Prince. Once they received it, they would charge forward without hesitation. However, the Ninth Prince stood there with his hands behind his back, saying nothing. Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Finally, a young soldier couldn't hold back and asked, "Your Highness, when shall we make our move?"
Pin Hao glanced at the young man and scoffed, "Isn't it more enjoyable to watch the fire from the other side of the river? Why do you have to be so eager to throw yourself into the fray and shed your blood?"
The young man was left speechless and silently retreated.
Jingzhe swooped in from afar and bowed respectfully to Wei Dongling. "My lord, it's almost time. The Xiliang Prince has raised the white flag!" At this moment, Wei Dongling was dressed in men's clothing, so Jingzhe didn't address her as Miss Wei in front of everyone.
Wei Dongling nodded. Cuihuan helped her into the carriage, then put on a ghost - face mask for her and wrapped her in a cloak.
By now, the Xiliang camp was in ruins, shrouded in smoke and chaos under the onslaught of the iron cavalry. Many Xiliang soldiers had been accidentally injured and looked extremely disheveled.
Li Mingyang had long lost his former arrogance. He knelt on one knee with the defeated Xiliang troops, shivering. As soon as he saw the tall masked black - clad man beside the triumphant General Cui, Li Mingyang shouted without hesitation, "My lord! Please put in a good word for me with General Fei! I'm willing to pay back everything on the list you just presented!"
Luo Xunlong burst into laughter. "I said, Prince of Xiliang, if you had said this earlier, there wouldn't have been any problems! You had to wait until the two armies clashed. You really put me in a difficult position!"
Li Mingyang was on the verge of tears. He pleaded, "I really have no other choice. Please find a way to help me, my lord!"
Luo Xunlong spread his hands. "You know, General Fei actually has his eye on those thirteen cities. Why don't you, Prince Mingyang, consider ceding the land as compensation?"
Li Mingyang exclaimed in a trembling voice, "My lord! This is absolutely out of the question. Please think of another way for me!"
Luo Xunlong waved his hand. "I suggest you either cede those thirteen cities or become a vassal state and pay tribute. You have to choose one! Prince Mingyang is always a sensible man. You can decide for yourself!"
Upon hearing this, Li Mingyang's face turned deathly pale, and he couldn't say a word.
At this time, the masked Jingzhe came over to invite the Xiliang Prince to have a talk with General Fei.
Li Mingyang took a look at the menacing Northwest Iron Cavalry and followed Jingzhe shakily. Luo Xunlong saw this and slowly followed suit.
Watching as Jingzhe, Luo Xunlong, and Li Mingyang entered the forest one after another, Li Mingyang looked around in confusion. Wasn't he supposed to meet General Fei? Why were they in the small forest instead of the carriage?
Hearing a soft cough from the tree, Li Mingyang looked up and saw General Fei standing on the tree branch, looking down at him.
Although he was puzzled as to why General Fei always liked to climb trees, Li Mingyang suppressed his confusion and knelt down with a thud. He cried out, "General Fei! It's all my fault. Please be magnanimous and spare me! I will surely make up for all the compensation requirements on that list!"
Luo Xunlong frowned. "Is that all?"
Li Mingyang kowtowed repeatedly. "General Fei! Xiliang can never part with those thirteen cities. If we cede them, Xiliang, which is already not very large, will become even more vulnerable and be bullied by neighboring countries!"
Wei Dongling originally thought that Li Mingyang was a bit cunning but still had some masculinity. Now, seeing him kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy and crying pitifully, she couldn't help but feel more and more disgusted.
Seeing that General Fei remained silent, Li Mingyang became even more anxious. He cried and pleaded, "As for becoming a vassal state and paying tribute, I can't do it! I'm just the legitimate son, not the King of Xiliang this time. I definitely don't have the authority to agree to such a major matter!" If his father knew that he wanted to become a vassal to another country, he would probably be so angry that he would die on the spot!
Wei Dongling let out a cold snort.
Luo Xunlong immediately understood and stepped forward with a sigh. "You're not willing to do this or that. Do you want to see our two armies join forces and march straight into your Xiliang capital?"
Li Mingyang was terrified. Was General Fei trying to destroy the Xiliang Kingdom?
Li Mingyang trembled. "Please think twice, General Fei! I know you resent me for forcibly marrying the Fifth Princess of Tianchao and for not controlling my subordinates well, which led to her untimely death in Xiliang. I'm willing to make up for it!"
Jingzhe snorted unhappily. "If you want to talk about compensation, you should probably compensate the Fifth Princess's relatives, right?"
Seeing that General Fei on the tree branch didn't refute, Li Mingyang quickly said to Jingzhe, "This hero is absolutely right! I'm willing to do my best to make up for the Fifth Princess's relatives in the civilian world!"
Wei Dongling said coldly, "How much?"
Seeing that General Fei was willing to negotiate, Li Mingyang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "I will offer five million taels of silver to console her relatives and ask them to mourn with restraint!"
Wei Dongling asked disdainfully, "Every year?"
Li Mingyang's eyes widened instantly, and his pupils trembled.
Every year? How could this be possible? General Fei's blatant blackmail was simply killing him!
Seeing his hesitation, Wei Dongling angrily flung her sleeve and turned away, not looking at him.
Afraid that General Fei would turn around and leave without reaching a peace agreement, Li Mingyang gritted his teeth and quickly shouted, "Every year! I'm willing to offer five million taels of silver to her relatives every year for the rest of my life!"
Only then did Wei Dongling wave to Luo Xunlong and turn to leap away.
Li Mingyang felt like crying out loud. Was General Fei still human? The compensation list alone would drain the entire Xiliang treasury and all of his personal savings. And now, they had negotiated this unequal treaty, where he had to offer five million taels of silver to the Fifth Princess's relatives every year! This was simply squeezing out all his future savings!
However, Luo Xunlong still patted Li Mingyang on the shoulder and said proudly, "Congratulations, Prince Mingyang. This way, you don't have to cede land or become a vassal state. Peace will reign in the world!"
Congratulations?
Li Mingyang felt like swearing. But thinking about the terrifying strength of this black - clad man, who could almost crush his shoulder in an instant, he had to suppress his anger and swallow his humiliation.
Jingzhe came over and bowed with his hands clasped. "Since that's the case, please move over, Prince Mingyang, to sign the contract. By the way, when will the compensation silver on the list be in place? We can't let our two armies wait here indefinitely, right?" If we get impatient, you know, General Fei has never been a very patient person!
Li Mingyang immediately understood what Jingzhe meant. He replied nervously, "Don't worry! I've already sent a message by carrier pigeon regarding the compensation silver and asked someone to deliver it immediately!"