Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

Chapter 362 Then you should go back and have a proper discussion.

After a period of waiting, Wu Ming finally received news from the Great Wu court and his father's imperial edict.

However, to Wu Ming's surprise, the Great Wu court did not discuss the amount of reparations. The lack of discussion meant that the amount of reparations depended entirely on the treaty reached between the Great Wu delegation and the Northern Kingdom.

This seems to give the Great Wu delegation a lot of power, allowing Wu Ming to make his own decisions. However, in other words, if the compensation is too high, all the responsibility will fall on Wu Ming alone when he returns to Great Wu.

Seeing that the imperial edict sent from Da Wu made no mention of the amount of reparations, or even that, Wu Ming was furious. His father was shifting all the pressure onto him.

They should at least give me a hint about their bottom line on the compensation. If they don't say anything and leave me to negotiate entirely, it's fine if the compensation they negotiate is lower than the Empress's expectations. But if it exceeds her expectations by a lot, I'm afraid I'll lose my chance at becoming the Crown Prince.

Although he was very frustrated, Wu Ming eventually initiated negotiations again. The Northern army was now showing signs of continuing its southward advance, and the war had to be ended as soon as possible. His father's imperial edict also conveyed this message.

Wu Ming originally intended to continue delaying, but now that his father's imperial edict had arrived, he had no choice but to keep putting it off.

North.

The Hall of State Affairs.

At the start of today's negotiations, members of the Da Wu delegation proposed reducing the compensation. Upon hearing this, the officials of the Northern Kingdom immediately rejected their proposal, arguing that since Da Wu had attacked the Northern Kingdom's military camp, the compensation should only be increased, not decreased.

After a noisy commotion resembling a marketplace, Lu Chen finally spoke up, saying, "The amount of thirty million taels of silver and five million taels of gold will not be changed. If Da Wu is unwilling to pay such a large sum, then the Northern Kingdom's army will have no choice but to go to Da Wu in person to demand the money."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly, and the members of the Great Wu delegation also wilted. The Northern Kingdom's army was already showing signs of advancing south. If they angered the Northern King at this time, the Northern King might actually send troops to continue south, which could cause even more losses to Great Wu.

Wu Ming said with a dark face, "Alright, then let's do as the Northern King says. Great Wu will compensate the Northern Kingdom with 30 million taels of silver plus 5 million taels of gold, but this money will not be sent to the Northern Kingdom all at once."

Lu Chen had anticipated that Da Wu would propose installment payments. He then said, "The first installment for Da Wu will be 20 million taels of silver, plus 3 million taels of gold. Da Wu must pay off the remaining amount within two years, or the Northern Army will personally march south to demand payment from Emperor Wu."

Wu Ming clenched his fist and said, "Thank you, King of the North."

Lu Chen continued, "Now that we've finished discussing the money, let's talk about the land."

"To prevent the Great Wu from attacking the Northern Kingdom again, I have decided to incorporate Youping County and Lingdu County into the territory of the Northern Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming immediately said, "King of the North, the Northern Kingdom has already occupied Youping County, why does it also want Lingdu County? Doesn't the King of the North think his appetite is a bit too big?"

Lu Chen said calmly, "At first, I didn't really have any ideas about Lingdu County, but your Great Wu soldiers launched a surprise attack on the Northern Kingdom's camp under the cover of night, causing heavy casualties among the Northern Kingdom's soldiers and inflicting huge losses on the Northern Kingdom. I have already shown you all the mercy by not making you pay compensation."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming cursed the heavy cavalry of Da Wu in his heart once again, for insisting on launching a sneak attack on the Northern Kingdom's military camp during the peace talks. Now, they had lost another prefecture.

The important cities of Lingdu County have now been occupied by the soldiers of the Northern Kingdom. Even if they do not agree to cede Lingdu County, the Northern Kingdom will soon occupy the entire Lingdu County. This is not something they can control.

In order to end the peace talks as soon as possible, Wu Ming had no choice but to say, "Alright, Great Wu is willing to cede Youping County and Lingdu County."

Seeing that Wu Ming agreed so readily this time, Lu Chen smiled slightly and then asked, "Your Highness Wu Ming agreed so readily? Don't you need to consult with Emperor Wu before making a decision?"

Wu Ming said, "My father has entrusted me with the entire authority to make the peace talks, and I have the right to decide."

Lu Chen said, "Since His Highness Wu Ming has the right to decide, then I will not hesitate to make a decision."

Lu Chen then said to the Jinyiwei soldier beside the throne, "Hand over the treaty on the treaty of the trading ports to His Highness Wu Ming for a look."

There were many conditions for trade, so Lu Chen had already written them down on paper from the beginning.

When the trade treaty was handed to Wu Ming, he read it carefully. Upon seeing the treaty on the paper, Wu Ming's expression became extremely solemn.

To be honest, he wasn't particularly clear about the potential consequences of these treaties. For example, the use of Northern Kingdom currency to settle trade transactions, or the permission for Northern Kingdom caravans to enter Da Wu. He could only imagine that the Northern Kingdom would send spies to infiltrate Da Wu, but he couldn't fathom the deeper motives.

Although Wu Ming did not understand the potential consequences of these treaties, he was not stupid. He directly handed the trade treaties in his hand to the members of the delegation behind him.

The members of the delegation behind him were all ministers of the Great Wu court, and they certainly knew what kind of consequences these treaties would have.

When the members of the Da Wu delegation saw the trade treaty, their expressions turned solemn. At that moment, one of the delegation members whispered something in Wu Ming's ear.

Wu Ming then said to Lu Chen, "The trade treaty has too great an impact, and I need to consult my father, the Emperor."

Lu Chen thought to himself, it seems there are still some smart people in the Great Wu delegation. They have probably already seen through the Northern Kingdom's intention to control Great Wu through economic means.

Lu Chen then said, "Alright, let's skip this treaty for now and talk about the hostage issue."

"I believe His Highness Wu Ming has already heard that I intend to have the Great Wu send a hostage to the Northern Kingdom."

Wu Ming feigned ignorance and asked, "I wonder which prince the Northern King intends to send as a hostage?"

Lu Chen smiled and said, "I've heard that Prince Wu Ming has been frequently visiting the Flower Moon Pavilion lately and is quite fond of the girls from the Northern Kingdom. Since Prince Wu Ming likes the girls from the Northern Kingdom so much, why don't you stay in the Northern Kingdom as a hostage?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming's face turned deathly pale.

He didn't want to be a hostage in the Northern Kingdom. If he stayed there as a hostage, the position of crown prince would be completely out of his reach.

Wu Ming immediately said, "Your Majesty of the North, my status in the Great Wu is not high. If I were to serve as a hostage in the North, I fear I would not fulfill my purpose. Would Your Majesty like to reconsider?"

Seeing that Wu Ming seemed a little flustered, Lu Chen's lips curled up slightly.

Seeing that Wu Ming was somewhat flustered and speaking incoherently, a member of the Great Wu delegation immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this foreign subject requests that today's negotiations end here, and that we return first to report the matter of the hostage to His Majesty the Emperor."

Lu Chen said with a smile, "His Highness Wu Ming just said that he had autonomy over this peace negotiation, but now it seems that His Highness Wu Ming can't make the decision."

Upon hearing this, Wu Ming said, "The trade treaty proposed by the Northern King is too complicated. We need to discuss it before making a decision."

Lu Chen said calmly, "Alright, then you can go back and discuss it properly."

"Two days from now, I hope to receive a definite answer. The families of my fallen soldiers are still waiting for the compensation from Da Wu."

Wu Ming and the members of the Great Wu delegation then left the council hall. Seeing their departing figures, Lu Chen smiled faintly.

He believed that Wu Ming would soon find him and make a deal with him privately.

(End of this chapter)