Negotiations to halt the escalating violence quickly began, with Chiang and Fukuda agreeing to a truce. Chiang, who was not interested in conflict with the Japanese, and wanted to continue the Northern Expedition, agreed to withdraw his troops from city, leaving only a small number to keep order.[22][27] On 4 May, however, the Japanese reported that their chief negotiator, Colonel Sasaki Tōichi [ja], was robbed and nearly beaten to death, and only saved by intervention of one of Chiang's officers.