Chapter 1422: 1423 I won’t leave
"Many nobles from Qin have contacted us secretly, asking us to be more lenient to ensure their safety." The staff officer handed a report to Strauss, who was writing a post-war summary. This young man from the empire General, there is a lot of work to do at this moment.
Although Datang's troops did not encounter large-scale resistance in Qin, sporadic sneak attacks still caused a lot of casualties to the Tang army.
Especially when the Tang Empire exercised restraint and tried its best to maintain friendly relations with the local people, the anger caused by such losses often remained unvented, which was indeed very depressing.
In a few days, the Tang Empire had lost 52 people. This number may not seem large, but it has indeed made generals like Strauss very angry.
The topic the staff officer talked about aroused Strauss's interest. He raised his head and took the report and read the contents carefully.
The defeat of the Qin State has made the great nobles and landowners and gentry in the Qin State despair. They themselves are the targets of the Tang State's national policy liquidation, so these people must also think carefully about their future.
On the one hand, they secretly sent people to contact the Tang Empire, hoping that the Tang Empire would give them a chance to continue to be rich men in Qin. On the other hand, they are also desperately raising funds for Qin to recruit troops, preparing to continue Wankang to the end.
In short, they made two-pronged preparations, hedging their bets in order to maintain their status and preserve their wealth after the war.
The staff officer briefly introduced the report and pointed out the conditions offered by the other party: "They promised that if we can allow them to continue to maintain their privileges and ensure the safety of their lives and property, then they are willing to cooperate with us...even, in Provide us with some convenience when necessary.”
The nobles of the Qin State promised that as long as the Tang Empire let them go and kept their property and land, they would be willing to open the city gates and let the troops of the Tang Empire enter. Even resistance in many places would cease immediately, and Qin would collapse under their erosion within a few months.
Strauss touched his nose and sighed: "You are really willing to sell your own country for your own interests."
He didn't like these **** old nobles, and even had a grudge against them, so when he said this, his tone was full of disdain and ridicule.
The staff officer actually knew that the Tang Empire would not easily agree to such conditions, so he also gloated and asked with a smile: "Do we need to agree to their conditions? I heard that as long as we agree, they are even willing to open the city Let us surrender most of Qin without any effort."
Strauss threw the document on the table like a pile of waste paper: "Of course it is impossible to agree. If we agree to them, then we will spend ten or even twenty years paying for today's compromise. . This is stupid behavior, only a fool would choose this."
"You are right, we should not only focus on the immediate interests. If we are willing to compromise, the Western Continent may be completely unified by now." The staff officer nodded in agreement, but he still felt that this document could be used.
"It is precisely because we are unwilling to compromise that we have delayed it until now. Today, we have the capital to not compromise, so we should no longer pay attention to those stupid conditions." Of course Strauss knew what Tang Mo was thinking. It was impossible for the emperor to compromise with the old aristocracy and the old landlord class.
The foundation of the Tang Empire, or the source of its strength, lies here. If Tang Mo was willing to compromise, he would have been the master of the world long ago.
The unwilling staff officer gave his own suggestion: "But I personally think that Qin's surrender faction should still be used. At least, they can be given a way to survive within the tolerance range." Strauss nodded, He also felt that he could take advantage of the rebellious psychology of these people to reduce the difficulty of attacking Qin.
So he said: "Well, what you said makes sense. Let's tell them that we can give them two choices. The first way is to stay and accept the judgment of the local people. If the local people give them a chance to live, If there is a chance, then we can be more generous.”
The staff officer also nodded and praised in a wicked way: "You are really kind. Is there a second way?"
"The second way is also simple. Let them divide half of the family property immediately, and then they can leave with the other half safely and without threat... to the Eastern Continent, to a place that is not the Tang Empire. In this way, they can continue to be Their nobles just lack a little money." Strauss gave the second way.
He felt that he was much better than the bandits, and at least he left half of his property to the other party. This was really the kindest condition in the world.
The staff officer also felt that this condition was very generous, and continued to nod in agreement: "Half of the money to buy the road is not expensive, at least my life is saved, I think it is very reasonable."
"Well, I think so too." Strauss grabbed the document and handed it back to the staff officer: "Go and do it, let those people give up. If they are unwilling to surrender, then when we kill them, there will be no Any conditions can be negotiated!”
…
"This is too much! Are you going to give us a way to survive? Ah? They are preparing to hang us!" A Qin noble slapped Tang's conditions on the table and roared angrily.
The old nobles sitting on the other side did not speak, as if they were asleep. They waited for the young nobles to finish venting, and then slowly opened their eyes.
"The situation is stronger than the people. We have already won, so naturally we will not compromise. Our good days are finally over." The old nobleman spoke very slowly, but the people in the room surprisingly did not interrupt him in a hurry, but instead Just listen to what he said.
"Then what do you think...what should we do?" Several nobles knew that the old noble leader had many tricks, so they naturally followed his advice.
"Those who don't want to leave, wipe their butts clean, and become a rich man here in the future. Those who want to leave... keep their money and continue to enjoy happiness in the Eastern Continent. In short, follow the conditions set by the Tang Dynasty!" The noble thought for a while and gave a compromise option.
After he finished speaking, he stood up and did not want to stay any longer: "I don't care what you choose. Anyway, I am prepared to die here... Even if it is Guangmian in the Tang Dynasty, I will not leave."
As he spoke, he walked to the door and left without looking back.