After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

According to the treaty, once they ceded Chuzhou City, the Southern Dynasty would send troops to garrison it and deliver a certain amount of grain, military equipment, and other supplies.

Apart from Yangzhou and Huai'an, they ceded the rest of the cities in turn, and the other side subsequently sent troops to garrison them.

As for Yangzhou and Huaizhou, they need to continue to station troops there to collect salt taxes until the Southern Dynasty sends troops north to jointly attack the Rakshasa, at which point they will relinquish the two cities.

However, for the next fifteen years, the Southern Dynasty still had to pay the salt tax to the Northern Dynasty.

Land is of course of paramount importance, but when even the birthplace of the emperor was under life-or-death threat, the fact that he dared to use the lands of Huainan for trade would earn him praise from anyone as a brave man cutting off his own arm, and one could only feel that the emperor of the Northern Dynasty had amazing courage.

In the past few months, many people in the capital have praised it, saying:

"Our dynasty fears a repeat of the past glories of the Southern Zhao; wouldn't the Northern dynasty also fear a repeat of the past glories of the Jin dynasty?!"

Back then, the Jin Dynasty and the Southern Zhao Dynasty were in a state of conflict. The Jin Dynasty was threatened by the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in the north. Instead of taking advantage of the situation, the Southern Zhao Dynasty took the initiative to seek peace and form an alliance with the Jin Dynasty and offered to help them.

As a result, the Jin state suffered a defeat in the north, but "repaid Zhao with compensation." Not only did it refuse to form an alliance, it also launched a large-scale invasion southward, demonstrating its extreme caution.

It is not surprising that his southward campaign ultimately failed, he died, his country was destroyed, and he became a laughingstock to the world.

How are the Northern Dynasties and the Rakshasa any different from the Jin Dynasty and the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in the past?

However, the other side made a move to cede the entire Huainan region in exchange for an alliance, which was quite different from the Jin dynasty. This can truly be described as a display of great wisdom and courage.

Dachun, Nilong, and the officials, staff, and scholars of the Northern Dynasty's embassy received even more courteous treatment in the past six months than before, and more and more people called for a North-South alliance.

On March 25th, the expectations of more than half a year finally came true.

Upon learning that the Southern Dynasty delegation had returned to Nanjing from Beijing with the oath of alliance, the city was filled with jubilation. People of all ages were overjoyed, and officials and gentry clinked glasses in celebration. It felt as if the dark clouds that had been hanging over their heads for many years had finally been dispelled in a single day.

Especially after hearing that the Eight Banners army in Chuzhou had withdrawn and the Pingnan Camp had also broken camp and headed north, the people in the city were so eager to drink and celebrate for three days straight. The people of the capital, who had been anxiously waiting for the Northern Dynasty to march south for many years, finally put their minds at ease on this day.

but……

Just like the continuous spring rain that suddenly fell in Nanjing these past few days, things never go as planned.

The atmosphere of jubilation in the imperial court and among the common people suddenly turned sour from that day onward...

When Da Chun righteously demanded in the Golden Hall that the Jiangpu Army take over Chuzhou and supply a certain amount of military equipment and provisions according to the alliance, it was unexpected by Da Chun and most of the court officials.

The Empress, who was ill and appeared indifferent, did not readily agree.

It is said that the Northern Dynasty's Pingnan Camp did not retreat enough, the Huainan Vanguard Camp stationed west of Chuzhou City did not retreat enough, and the Shiqiao Camp stationed in Shiqiao Town had not even begun to break camp.

Minister of War Luan Zongyuan stepped forward, solemnly stating:

"Your army must retreat to Huai'an and cross the Huai River to the north before our dynasty will take over the cities and hand over all provisions and supplies."

Da Chun raised his eyebrows, anger flashing across his face:

"May I ask what Your Excellency's intentions are? If our entire army were to break camp and march north, and your dynasty were to refuse to supply provisions and weapons, instead seizing all the cities directly, how could our dynasty possibly retaliate?"

Wearing a black gauze hat, a scarlet robe, and sporting a long beard, Luan Zongyuan spoke in a cold tone:

"Your Excellency flatters me. Our dynasty has always been a man of its word, always keeping its promises. To break faith and betray trust is the act of beasts, despised by our ancestors and abhorred by our people. How could our dynasty dare to defy the world and go against such a principle?!"

The Minister of War's words were rather harsh.

A rustling sound suddenly filled the golden hall.

Many court officials looked around, their eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

They originally thought that as long as the Jiangpu army advanced and occupied Chuzhou City, everything would be fine.

But things seem... to have suddenly taken a turn for the worse.

Some people who were not on good terms with the Ministry of War, such as some officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, instinctively wanted to refute Luan Zongyuan. However, when they looked up and saw that their superiors did not seem to respond, they all shut their mouths and waited to see what would happen.

Da Chun snorted and said:

"Knowing that betrayal is the act of beasts, why does your country not accept the cities according to the alliance?"

Minister of Rites Gongsun Yuliu stood at the right end of the court, holding his official tablet in both hands, his demeanor elegant. At this moment, he slightly furrowed his long, gray eyebrows.

Standing behind him, Zhao Silang, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, frowned slightly, feeling that the people in the Ministry of War were once again trying to bewitch the Empress and sabotage the North-South alliance.

Zhao, the Vice Minister who had orchestrated the alliance between the North and the South, turned his head and found Cui Xianghai, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, among the officials, and gave him a wink.

Cui Xianghai understood immediately and nodded slightly.

At this moment, facing Da Chun's questioning, he heard Luan Zongyuan say:

"According to the alliance, our dynasty was supposed to take over Chuzhou City before delivering the grain and military supplies. Now that our dynasty has not taken over, how can it be considered a breach of the alliance?"

Da Chun flew into a rage, stiffening his neck as he stepped forward: "You!"

He tried to say the word "you," but then got stuck.

The alliance agreement was reached step by step to prevent the Southern Dynasty from accepting cities without delivering supplies.

They ceded Chuzhou City, and the other side provided some grain and fodder; then they ceded another city, and the other side provided another portion of grain and fodder.

However, the Southern Dynasty has now changed its mind. Instead of accepting the cities one by one, they will only begin to accept them after the Southern Dynasty has made them cede all the cities in Huainan. Upon closer examination, this does not really constitute a breach of the alliance.

Cui Xianghai stepped forward, holding a tablet, and bowed to Her Majesty the Empress.

"Lord Luan, you are mistaken."

He refuted Luan Zongyuan in a stiff tone:

"As the saying goes, a gentleman treats others with sincerity, and a country of gentlemen should treat others with even more sincerity."

"In early spring, His Highness Prince Jing was ordered by His Majesty to travel north and meet with the Northern Emperor."

"After a month, the alliance between the North and the South was established, with jade and silk written in gold, and the fighting was stopped. This is an unprecedented event in sixty years! It is what the people of the North and the South have been hoping for!"

"Instead of hastily transferring Jiangpu Army northward, Lord Luan is nitpicking over words here, making a laughing stock of others' sincerity. I wonder if Lord Luan—"

Cui Xianghai lowered his eyebrows and bowed.

"Where does this place our dynasty's credibility?"

Upon hearing this, a low murmur arose in the court, all expressing agreement with "That's right" and "Exactly."

Da Chun bowed deeply to Cui Xianghai with sincere respect:

"Thank you for speaking up for me, sir."

then.

He then bowed to the Empress, who sat regally on the dragon throne, and said:

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you not be misled by petty men and delay the important matter of the alliance between our two dynasties for a few meager gains."

The empress at the head of the table wore a twelve-tassel crown, her posture upright, and the beaded curtain hanging from the crown remained perfectly still.

After Da Chun finished speaking, Luan Zongyuan wanted to refute her, but the Empress gently raised her wrist, indicating that Luan Zongyuan did not need to say anything more.

"According to Minister Luan's suggestion."

The Empress said:

"At the same time, I would like to trouble your esteemed envoy to inform your king that you request that our delegation be allowed to return to Nanjing as soon as possible."

Da Chun's pupils contracted slightly.

Today's court session ended after the Empress finished speaking.

It was late afternoon, around 3 PM.

An astonishing piece of news spread throughout the capital.

Cui Xianghai, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, has been imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard along with his three sons for allegedly colluding with unscrupulous merchants to sell military equipment to the Northern Dynasty. They are awaiting trial.

As early summer approaches, the wind direction in Nanjing begins to shift slightly.