Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 179 Bet

Chapter 179: Chapter 179 Bet

"Mutual market and border passage..." Lin Hongyuan thought to himself. Sannan and Yanyang also have mutual market passages; the path is already laid, making it easier to agree to Slate’s proposal.

Ningzhou will open mutual markets, and if Beiman faces difficulties, the border will dispatch troops to assist.

Xie Xun and Xie Jue exchanged glances but remained silent. Today was the smoothest day since the peace talks began, with all the terms gradually confirmed and implemented. Despite the conflicts, progress had been made.

Zhou Yu had detailed clauses from Yanyang and Sannan’s mutual markets, sending someone to deliver them to Dugu Jing. Slate and Jin Tu reviewed them, while Xie Jue picked up his teacup and took a sip of fragrant tea.

Mutual market and border passage!

Beiman and Beiman are divided by the natural barrier of Sha Ling Snow Mountain. Establishing mutual market passage is not as simple as it was with Sannan and Yanyang; constructing a passage road is imperative. Would Beiman agree?

Xie Xun asked, "After establishing the passage, a road needs to be constructed from Ningzhou to Beiman. Who will undertake this construction?"

"We will!" Priest Jin Tu replied slowly.

Xie Xun shook his head. "If this is a mutual passage, both sides should construct it together."

Jin Tu and Slate exchanged a glance. Slate responded, "Fine, Beiman lacks manpower—this is welcome news."

Millions of silver and gold could solve countless disputes. Lin Hongyuan didn’t believe constructing a road was worth disputing, as the peace talks progressed more smoothly than he had imagined.

As long as Beiman didn’t demand the second young master’s life, negotiations were relatively effortless.

Lin Hongyuan’s eyes landed on the final term of the clauses: Red sand ore!

This was the red sand ore specifically requested by the Marquis Zhenbei. Xie Xun and Xie Jue would undoubtedly strive at all costs to obtain it. What other bargaining chips did they have? Xie Jue finished his fragrant tea, and a Shadow Guard approached to refill his cup.

Dugu Jing glanced at Xie Jue and curled his lips into a faint smile. "During winter, Beiman Royal Court faces harsh conditions and survival challenges. Thus, we hope that every year from October to March, Beiman citizens can take temporary refuge inside Ningzhou City to escape the cold winds and snow."

"No!" Xie Jue and Xie Xun rejected in unison.

Marquis An Yuan frowned as well.

"Beiman is willing to exchange for twenty thousand sets of red armor!" Dugu Jing disregarded their refusal, offering the most enticing condition.

"No!" Xie Jue flatly refused.

The border fortress cannot allow foreign threats to linger.

Lin Hongyuan noticed Xie Jue’s tone was overly rigid, his expression dark. Among the Marquis Zhenbei’s three sons, Xie Jue appeared the most inconspicuous, but his authority was unparalleled. His decisions were almost never challenged, whether by the marquis or the younger masters.

With peace talks proceeding so smoothly that only one condition remained, Lin Hongyuan avoided unnecessary debates with Beiman, asking, "How many Beiman citizens will take refuge in the city?"

"Sixty thousand," Priest Jin Tu replied. "All elderly, weak, sick, women, and children. Ningzhou City is garrisoned by iron cavalry—are you really afraid of sixty thousand ordinary Beiman citizens?"

Lin Hongyuan and Zhou Yu exchanged glances. If it was elderly, weak, sick, women, and children, it might be acceptable.

Xie Xun sneered, "Ningzhou is a border fortress, a military stronghold. Even in times of truce, Beiman cannot be allowed entry. Claiming they are elderly, weak, sick—who knows what kind of people will actually come in?"

Sha Ling Tian Mountain serves as Beiman’s natural shield, while Ningzhou is Yanyang’s strategic defensive fortress. The city is flanked by cliffs, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. After decades of warfare, the city has been fortified to an impregnable state, equipped with various siege engines and defensive mechanisms. Beiman has launched several strong offensives against Ningzhou, suffering significant losses without ever capturing it.

A military stronghold—every inch of land is worth fighting for!

Priest Jin Tu said, "Yanyang and Beiman are brotherly nations; mutual assistance and peaceful development should be expected. Beiman’s lands are bitterly cold, its citizens endure hardships, and we merely seek a place of refuge for the elderly and vulnerable. For Yanyang to refuse this is deeply disheartening."

Xie Xun sneered; this tone reminded him somewhat of the Third Miss.

Zhou Yu whispered, "Young Marquis, if women and children seek refuge inside the city, it might not be entirely inconceivable."

After all, twenty thousand sets of red armor signify a clear intent from Beiman to avoid further warfare. On equal footing militarily, the Northern Iron Cavalry would grow even more formidable, and Beiman would have no choice but to avert conflict.

Xie Xun’s face darkened, nearing the verge of fury. Marquis An Yuan mocked, "Beiman has played its cards well. Sixty thousand women and children enter Ningzhou to escape the cold. If some women marry into Yanyang, what then? Should they return with Beiman or stay here? For six months of residence, how will their daily needs be handled? If anyone commits crimes, should we intervene? Are we expected to designate a special residential area inside Ningzhou for Beiman? Ningzhou, as a military stronghold, does not permit unrestricted movement. If conflicts or violent incidents occur, it could strain relations between the two nations. The complications are endless; this is not merely about sixty thousand seeking refuge. Even if your motives are genuinely for women and children, cultural and customary differences between the two peoples will inevitably lead to clashes. Long-term cohabitation is unrealistic."

Marquis An Yuan concluded bluntly, "Once invited in, hard to dismiss—an unwelcome risk. This city holds treasures, which inevitably attract thieves. Who dares guarantee they will stay in line?"

"You..." Dugu Jing’s face darkened with rage. "We’ve offered gold and red armor, yet this small request is denied. This negotiation is nothing but a farce!"

"Prince Ninth, calm yourself. Let us deliberate on this matter," Lin Hongyuan said, alarmed at Dugu Jing’s outburst, fearing disruptions to the agreed terms. "Ting Feng, what do you propose?"

Xie Jue pressed his slender, pale fingers against the document, tapping lightly before offering a solution. "Ningzhou is a military stronghold—foreigners cannot be allowed entry. Instead, we will construct a city at the disputed territory along the Shaling River. This will serve as the hub for mutual passage, allowing Beiman residents to settle permanently. The city will be jointly managed by representatives from both sides, becoming a shared dwelling place for the two peoples."

The fertile lands along the Shaling River, abundant with water and grass, are well-suited for Beiman’s habitation. Moreover, Ningzhou City’s outskirts already house nomadic tribes originally displaced due to decades of war.

Zhou Yu rejoiced, "Exactly, we can build a city to serve as the mutual market—a bridge between the two peoples."

"Then would this city belong to Yanyang or Beiman?" Slate asked.

Xie Xun restrained his urge to curse at their audacity—were they truly trying to seize its ownership? Xie Jue responded coldly, "The city will remain Yanyang territory, with Beiman enjoying residency rights. Representatives from both sides will manage the city, but Yanyang holds primary authority. Policies will be developed based on cultural and customary considerations of both peoples."

Dugu Jing, Slate, and others exchanged knowing glances.

Xie Xun mused silently; such a lengthy statement from his second brother was rare—don’t overstep your bounds and push your luck.

"Deal!" Dugu Jing declared definitively. "Then it’s agreed: when the city is complete, ten thousand sets of red armor will be delivered to Ningzhou City."

"No!" Xie Jue enunciated each word firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. "Within two months of your return to Beiman, three thousand sets of red armor must be delivered to the disputed territory as a down payment."

"You’re exploiting the situation!" Dugu Jing raged. "Scheming and manipulative!"

"Compete with me openly—if you win, I’ll give you the three thousand sets of red armor!" Dugu Jing, tempered by Slate and Jin Tu, suppressed his fury before offering his challenge.

Xie Jue pondered momentarily as Dugu Jing provoked him. "Second Young Master, do you dare?"

"What kind of competition?"

"I’ll decide!"

"Agreed!"