Chapter 2398: Negotiation

He would not treat them unfairly, cast them aside when they were no longer useful, or deliberately find fault with them. However, if he wished to submit to the Imperial Court, he could not do so in the current manner.

General Feng and the others soon understood what Shao Yunduan meant and decided to accept it. They recognized that this was the only way to protect the Northwest Army. Yet, while they could come to terms with the reasoning, the actual acceptance of it still left them feeling somewhat disheartened.

“Lord Shao, you’re right. I may be taking advantage of my seniority, but the Northwest Army has indeed made significant contributions to the imperial court. If the court treats the Northwest Army well, it will naturally foster gratitude and loyalty. In the future, I will serve the monarch and protect the country.”

Shao Yunduan replied, “General, you are not taking advantage of your seniority. That is the truth. The contributions of the Northwest Army cannot be ignored or erased. It is the court’s fortune to have the Northwest Army guarding the north!”

“Thank you for your kind words, Lord Shao! The Northwest Army will work even harder!”

“Old General, your words carry great weight. Under your leadership, the Northwest Army will undoubtedly make unparalleled contributions!”

The two of them exchanged smiles, and soon everyone joined in the laughter. The atmosphere lightened, and there was a collective sigh of relief. It seemed that there was still room for discussion.

Reaching an agreement today had been a smooth process. After a series of tense moments and negotiations, both sides were a bit exhausted. With minds clearer, no one wanted to say anything that might be difficult to reverse later. Once something was said, it could be challenging to change it without damaging trust.

Even if changes were eventually made, it might give the impression of unreliability or dishonesty, which could negatively impact future cooperation.

Doubts and misgivings could easily lead to uncontrollable actions.

Shao Yunduan exchanged a few polite words before leaving, with plans to continue the discussion the following day. General Feng had similar intentions.

Having agreed on the general direction of the negotiations, the next step was to refine the details. Both sides understood that compromises would be necessary regarding specifics; the key was determining how and to what extent each side would concede.

The negotiation process continued for several days. Eventually, both parties reached a mutually satisfactory conclusion.

Shao Yunduan agreed to supply them with food provisions.

In return, General Feng committed to elevating Qi as the new leader of the Northwest Army. Going forward, Qi would assume the highest leadership position within the Northwest Army.

Shao Yunduan was very pleased with this arrangement, as he trusted Qi. With Qi in charge, he believed that changes could be implemented gradually and effectively.

General Feng also mentioned that Shao Yunduan would be allowed to transfer at least one-third of the intermediate generals from the Northwest Army, effectively enabling him to place one-third of his own men. However, it was stipulated that he could not treat the Northwest generals differently.

With these key points confirmed, discussing the remaining minor details became much easier. Regardless of minor concessions, they would not impact the overall agreement.

General Feng and the others were very satisfied as they left Jiangnan.

Xie Jingrong did not return with them directly. Instead, he planned to first visit his home in Yuzhang before heading to the northwest.

His reasons were twofold: he was concerned about the Grand Tutor and felt that only General Feng and a few others in the Northwest Army had a clear-headed approach. The rest of the troops lacked a comprehensive view and long-term vision, often acting impulsively. Xie Jingrong believed he could still assist General Feng and his team in managing these issues.

Upon seeing Qiao Xuan, Xie Jingrong’s suppressed emotions resurfaced, and he felt compelled to take action.

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