Chapter 926: The Breakdown of Negotiations
After several days of arduous negotiations, the representatives of the Daoist Order and the Tenmon Sect conducted substantial consultations, drafting the final revised version of the Fenglin Peace Agreement. Both parties agreed to sign it formally on March 3rd.
Whether the Tenmon Sect could accept the Daoist Order’s nine conditions hinged on two fundamental issues: the punishment of war criminals and the royal family, and the transfer and reorganization of power and military forces.
Zhang Qihan made some concessions to accommodate the sentiments of the Tenmon Sect, dividing war criminals into two categories. The incorrigible would be strictly punished, but those who could repent sincerely and demonstrate actions conducive to resolving the Fenglin issue through peaceful means would be pardoned and granted leniency.
For example, if the Saio agreed to sign the peace agreement and give up on resistance, sparing Fenglin from devastation and benefitting the people, she would be granted amnesty for her meritorious service.
If the royal family ceded power, they could retain the title of emperor, as it was just an empty name of little importance.
However, since the Daoist Order had already compromised on the issues of war criminals and the royal family, it refused to concede on matters of authority and the military. Most of the Sonno-joi faction’s powers had to be handed over to the Toyotomi government, and all their armies were required to undergo reorganization. This reorganization was to be centralized and unified under the Chancellor’s Office, not carried out separately in different regions or batches.
Finally, Zhang Qihan declared, “The Tenmon Sect must declare whether they will sign by the 3rd of March. If the deadline passes, the Daoist Order will regard it as a rejection.”
On the Daoist side, Zhang Qihan, as the Great Sage of the Fenglin Daoist Mansion, had full authority to decide without consulting others. The Tenmon Sect representatives, however, needed to seek instructions from the Saio in the Ise-jingu. Thus, they departed from Tsu Castle and returned to Mie District for further consultation with their higher-ups.
With the departure of the Tenmon Sect delegates, the Sonno-joi forces had fully withdrawn from Tsu Castle via sea routes.
To prevent the Tenmon Sect from accusing them of sabotaging the peace talks, the Donghai Navy did not obstruct their withdrawal.