Chapter 577: Political intrigue and mediation, alliance reached!

Chapter 577: Political intrigue and mediation, alliance reached!

At the same time, this was also a warning to Xiang Tuo that Wang Li was done with it. The most likely thing at that time was that he would see that things were hopeless and go directly to Gao Yao. After all, Wang Ben and his son were protecting members of the Qin royal family, and whether Gao Yao was in power or not, the southern border was supported by the word Qin. If Xiang Tuo was forced to go to Gao Yao's side, there would be no fight.

"General Wang Li, I was a little impatient. I hope you won't blame me."

When Xiang Tuo clasped his fists in salute, his knuckles turned white due to the force, and the bronze wristband shone coldly under the candlelight. His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, and every word was trembling with unwillingness. The arrogant commander of the Chu army lowered his head at this moment, but people could clearly see the blue veins on his neck.

Wang Li did not respond immediately, but tapped the tiger talisman on the table with his fingertips. The "thump thump" sound of bronze and hardwood colliding was like a life-threatening clock in the silent tent. It was not until Xiang Tuo's arm armor, which was used to maintain the salute posture, began to tremble slightly that he snorted and sneered: "General Xiang, this salute is unacceptable to me."

The air in the tent froze instantly. Wu Yan's Adam's apple rolled violently. He wanted to persuade them but didn't know how to start. He could only look in the direction of Wei Bao. After all, this was Wei Bao's territory, so naturally Wei Bao had to speak.

Xiang Tuo maintained his saluting posture, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. Only then did he truly realize that his aggressiveness had angered Wei Bao, Wu Yan, and the King of Hengshan at the same time. The warnings hidden in the polite words now turned into the three-inch unsheathed Qin sword on Wang Li's desk - the cold light reflected on his throat.

Wei Bao's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a perfect smile, as if everything was under his control. The gilded wine spoon in his hand gently stirred the bronze urn, making a clear and pleasant ripple sound.

"Why do you two generals have to do this?"

Wei Bao slowly stood up, and the jade pendant on his waist made a crisp ding-dong sound as he moved, adding a touch of relaxation to the tense atmosphere. He personally stepped forward and stretched out his hand to help Xiang Tuo up. Although his movements were gentle, they carried an irresistible force.

"General Xiang is worried about military affairs, so his words are naturally anxious, which is human nature. And General Wang is strict with himself, which is really the style of a famous general!" Wei Bao's words were like a spring breeze, which made people feel good about him. "We are all here to deal with the Southern Border Army together, so why should we hurt the harmony here?"

His words not only gave Xiang Tuo a way out, but also praised Wang Li. It was a very comprehensive statement. After all, everyone was reluctant to continue arguing. After all, they all had to give Wei Bao some face. Moreover, they all knew that the bottom line of cooperation could not be violated.

Wang Li saw this and slowly sat down. His black iron armor collided with the sandalwood table, making a frightening sound, as if his inner dissatisfaction was released at this moment. The attendants came forward tremblingly and quickly replaced the wine vessels, fearing that they would accidentally anger these dignitaries.

Xiang Tuo returned to his seat with a gloomy face, his fingers unconsciously stroking the red rope on the hilt that had long been untied. The originally neatly wound rope was now in a mess, just like his chaotic thoughts at the moment - he regretted his impulsiveness and resented the humiliation of being forced to bow his head. When he caught a glimpse of the fleeting sneer on Wang Li's mouth, he almost couldn't resist the urge to draw his sword again.

"How about this," Wei Bao suddenly raised his voice, and his voice echoed in the tent, as if it could penetrate everyone's eardrums.

"The 20,000 horses will all be given to the Chu army." Wei Bao's words were loud and clear, without any hesitation. He paused for a moment, letting the words echo in everyone's ears, and then continued: "In addition, another 30,000 grain and fodder will be provided."

His eyes slowly swept over the crowd, and when he saw their shocked expressions, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted up, revealing a barely perceptible smile. Obviously, he was very satisfied with his decision.

"The remaining food and grass gap..." Wei Bao's voice was a little lower, but still clearly audible. He gently pointed his finger at his chest and said, "Leave it to me to fill it all."

There were gasps in the tent, like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing waves. This proposal meant that Wei would be responsible for more than 70% of the food and grass supply for the King of Hengshan, which was undoubtedly a huge burden for Wei.

For Wang Li's forces, who were originally targeted by Xiang Tuo, this plan meant that they could completely withdraw from the resource game. They no longer had to worry about food and grass, nor did they have to worry that Xiang Tuo would take this opportunity to attack them.

"Are you serious, King Wei?" Wu Yan's voice was so excited that it changed. He widened his eyes and looked at Wei Bao in disbelief. He knew very well what this plan meant: it would save Wang Li's face and prevent Xiang Tuo from taking advantage of the situation.

Xiang Tuo's Adam's apple rolled slightly, as if something was moving up and down in his throat. He certainly knew Wei Bao's intention - to exchange food for Wang Li's favor. This kind of transaction seemed a bit mean and boring to Xiang Tuo, but he did not show any dissatisfaction or disdain on the surface.

After all, this is already a relatively good result. Xiang Tuo knew that this alliance was crucial to the current situation, and he could not easily destroy it because of his personal emotions. So, despite some disapproval in his heart, he chose to remain silent.

At this moment, Wei Bao suddenly clapped his hands, and the crisp applause echoed in the tent. With these three claps, the tent door curtain was suddenly opened, and a group of counselors and clerks filed in. Some of them held maps in their hands, and some held a stack of counting sticks, which were obviously prepared long ago.

Seeing this, Wei Bao showed a satisfied smile on his face. He looked around at the three representatives present and said slowly, "Since everyone has no objection, why don't we draft the covenant now?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone. Everyone looked at each other, and after a moment of silence, they all nodded in agreement. Wei Bao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that as long as the covenant could be successfully drafted, the alliance would be officially established.

Only after the covenant was finalized could they further discuss military operations against the Southern Border Army. How to send troops, marching routes, defense points, and attack targets, etc., all needed to be planned and deployed in detail within the framework of the covenant.