Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 113 Negotiation Su Zhengyang's Attitude

Duan Jinshu could only sigh helplessly. No matter how you look at it, it was the Han faction that was at fault first. They were greedy and demanded a sky-high ransom for the territory that originally belonged to the Northwest Revolutionary Army, which angered Su Zhengyang.

But from the perspective of the Northern Frontier Central Government, Han Jingting had to be protected, and this matter was ultimately somewhat difficult to handle.

Prime Minister Duan Jinshu was caught in the middle and had the most difficult time handling this matter.

Half an hour later, when Su Zhengyang was getting impatient, Han Jiwang tidied his clothes and calmed down. He walked out of the ward with a calm expression and said to Su Zhengyang directly, "Let's find a place to talk."

In the meeting room of the Governor's Mansion, three people sat at the negotiation table. Secretary-General Zhang Luanyu personally served tea and snacks to ease the solemn atmosphere.

Su Zhengyang took his time and enthusiastically invited Duan Jinshu to have tea, completely ignoring Han Jiwang. This made Han Jiwang furious but helpless.

At present, the initiative is completely in Su Zhengyang's hands, and I can only be led by the nose passively.

Finally, Han Xiwang, who could no longer hold back, spoke up: "Twenty-five million dollars is too outrageous. We in the Han group cannot afford this price. You must reduce the current sky-high ransom price, and then we can have a chance to continue the discussion."

Su Zhengyang glanced at Han Xiwang calmly and said, "Whether you Han Xiwang can afford it is not within my consideration. Now your son is in my hands. I have the final say on how much the ransom is. You have no right to bargain."

Duan Jinshu observed Su Zhengyang's expression and couldn't help but sigh in his heart, what a little fox, with a calm personality and meticulous mind. It seems that the rumors in the past that Su Zhengyang was a playboy addicted to wine and sex were all his disguises, and also a way for Su Yuting to protect his son.

Otherwise, the Pang family would have eradicated the problem completely and avoided future troubles long ago, so how could they have allowed the brother and sister to leave Jiangbei safely?

Han Xiwang stared at Su Zhengyang with a gloomy look. After a moment of stalemate, he looked at Duan Jinshu and said, "Prime Minister, please judge this matter. Under the order of the Northern Frontier Government, our Han faction sent troops to assist the Northwest Revolutionary Army to attack the Guo faction, which put a lot of pressure on them. Even if we have no merits, we have worked hard. The Northwest Revolutionary Army did not consider our human feelings and gave us corresponding rewards. In addition, they repaid kindness with ingratitude and sent troops to wipe out our Han faction's Sixth Army. They detained my son in Yong'an City and demanded a huge ransom. Isn't this a bit too much?"

Before Duan Jinshu opened his mouth, Su Zhengyang sneered, "It would be better if you didn't mention this matter. Since you mentioned it, I will have a good talk with you today. Originally, your Fifth Army occupied the territory of Linzhou, and you dared to use the territory in your hands to threaten me. Speaking of asking for too much, I am nothing compared to you, young master."

"If you, the Korean faction, had honestly returned the territory, I would have willingly given you some travel expenses, considering that you had also mobilized a large army. But you, the Korean faction, treated me as a sucker and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune. You also directly controlled me on the battlefield. Now you still have the nerve to say that our Northwest Revolutionary Army went too far? I tell you, if it weren't for Prime Minister Duan's face, I would never have negotiated with you!"

Duan Jinshu waved his hand, signaling Han Jiwang, who was about to speak with an angry look on his face, to shut up.

Then he said to Su Zhengyang in a friendly manner: "Zhengyang, after all, the Han faction and your Northwest Revolutionary Army are of the same lineage, and are both part of the Northern Frontier Government. We will meet each other sooner or later. Old Han is also an old man of the Northern Frontier Government. He has fought for many years and made countless contributions to our Northern Frontier Government. For the sake of the central government, regardless of whether we are right or wrong, this ransom is indeed a bit unbearable for the Han faction. Can it be reduced?"

Su Zhengyang took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, looked at Duan Jinshu and nodded, saying, "Since Prime Minister Duan has asked for mercy on behalf of the Northern Frontier Central Government, I will give him a favor and reduce the ransom by three million dollars. This is my final bottom price."

Duan Jinshu frowned. In his opinion, if he lowered his posture and begged for mercy, Su Zhengyang would at least waive a small portion of the ransom, even if it meant giving him a half-price discount. However, Su Zhengyang was only willing to reduce the ransom by three million oceans. Compared to the sky-high ransom of twenty-five million oceans, three million was just a drop in the bucket.

Han Jiwang laughed in anger and said, "Prime Minister, look at this brat! He didn't even give you the slightest bit of face when you asked him in person! The Northern Frontier government entrusted him with a number, organization, and the position of governor. They are simply raising an ungrateful person!"

Su Zhengyang glanced at Han Jiwang and said, "You old fool are trying to sow discord here. If it weren't for Prime Minister Duan coming in person, even if the king of heaven came, the ransom would not be reduced by a penny!"

The pressure was once again on Duan Jinshu. Duan Jinshu frowned and took a sip of tea. There was almost no room for further discussion on this matter. Su Zhengyang was obviously going to make the Han family pay a heavy price. Even if he came forward, the other party would not give in, or in other words, give in an insignificant small step.

It seems that in Su Zhengyang's eyes, his identity as the Prime Minister of the Northern Frontier Government is not important enough.

After thinking for a moment, Duan Jinshu gritted his teeth and said again: "Zhengyang, can you please give in for your uncle Duan's sake and reduce the ransom to 15 million yuan?"

Han Xiwang's heart moved, and he was about to speak again. In his opinion, the price of 15 million oceans was still too high. The highest ransom he could accept was 8 million oceans.

As if he saw what Han Jiwang was thinking, Duan Jinshu glanced at him sternly and signaled him not to speak.

Being able to help the Han family reduce the ransom of 10 million oceans is already the best result. If Han Xiwang is still not satisfied, Duan Jinshu can only give up.

Han pinned his hopes on this old man, and also hoped that under the oppression of the Northern Xinjiang government, Su Zhengyang would release his son and Chen Jiahu without asking for a penny.

Who knew that Premier Duan obviously thought highly of Su Zhengyang, and discussed the matter with a conciliatory attitude, with a very humble attitude, which completely extinguished Han Xi's hope.

Su Zhengyang looked at Duan Jinshu sincerely and said, "Uncle Duan, logically speaking, you have already asked for 15 million dollars, let alone 15 million dollars. Even if you don't take a penny, as a junior, I should give you this face because I am well taken care of by the Northern Frontier Government. But in this matter, Han Xi really went too far. Under the circumstances at that time, knowing that Linzhou was in ruins and the Northwest Revolutionary Army was poor, he still threatened us with such a huge demand. I can't swallow this anger no matter what. 15 million dollars is my last concession. After this matter is resolved, I am willing to donate 5 million dollars to the central government personally."

Su Zhengyang had already said this, and Duan Jinshu lost his temper. He couldn't really use his status as prime minister to pressure Su Zhengyang with a tough attitude.

After half a day's observation, Duan Jinshu also figured out Su Zhengyang's temper. If he really dared to use his identity as the Prime Minister of the Northern Frontier Government to oppress him, Su Zhengyang might really get angry and directly break away from the Northern Frontier Government and declare himself king. The current Northwest Revolutionary Army is not without the confidence to do so.