Zheng Yi couldn’t be bothered to say anything to this group of emissaries from Wu Country.

Some people are just miserable.

If you don’t make them feel pain, they won’t understand what power is.

Great Yu has been embroiled in wars for years, disasters frequently occur within the country, compounded by the fact that the arsenal’s output cannot offset the war costs, and the supply line is stretched too far.

Both Yongzhou and Shuzhou have rebellious people, and Nanzhao Country is invading again.

All indications are that this war indeed cannot go on any longer.

However, even if the war can’t continue, it mustn’t be let known to Wu Country.

He must still appear as though he’s ready to continue fighting to gain more benefits at the negotiation table.

After three to five years, when the national strength gradually recovers, he will press on and capture Wu Country in one go!

Zheng Yi indifferently said, “Kong Aiqing.”

“I am here.”

Kong Xiangsi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“I am handing over all matters regarding negotiations with Wu Country to you.”

Zheng Yi instructed, “I have only three demands.”

“Please, Your Majesty, speak.”

“Firstly, Wu Country must cede the Mangzhou and Huangzhou two states.”

Kong Xiangsi replied, “This is inevitable; would our Great Yu lion let go of the land it occupies so easily?”

“Secondly, Wu Country must compensate with one hundred thousand warhorses, and they must be warhorses!”

“Understood!”

“Thirdly…”

Zheng Yi enunciated each word, “Wu Country, hand over the offspring of the cultivator who ambushed Grand General Xu that day, alive!”

“If they refuse, I will exhaust all of Great Yu’s resources to continue the fight!”

Kong Xiangsi hesitated but eventually bowed and said, “I shall obey Your Majesty’s order!”

The negotiations between Great Yu and Wu Country proceeded smoothly, and Zheng Yi had completely entrusted these matters to the Ministry of Rites.

As long as they can agree to his demands, the peace talks will naturally succeed.

Baihua Palace.

Zhuu Wanwan, Lin Qing’er, and Rong Miao’er sat opposite each other, their charming faces full of puzzlement.

“Are you pregnant?”

“Aren’t you too?”

“You’re all pregnant?”

“What’s going on?”

The three women looked at each other, and finally Zhuu Wanwan said, “Did you two not use the contraceptive medicine distributed by the sect?”

“We are entrusted with the master’s benevolence; we may not get pregnant without the sect’s orders…”

Lin Qing’er raised her eyebrow and said, “Anyway, I used it; I really don’t know if you used it, Senior Sister.”

“I used it too!”

Rong Miao’er raised her hand and said, “If you don’t believe me, you can check; there is still the residual potency of the holy medicine in my body…”

“Then what is the reason for this?”

Zhuu Wanwan instinctively caressed her belly, a hint of a smile appearing on her tender face.

“A child, I, Zhuu Wanwan, actually have a child?”

“Hehehe…”

“Senior Sister?”

“What Senior Sister?”

Zhuu Wanwan retorted, “You should call me Consort Wan!”

“You…”

“Hehehe… Who would have thought I could also be pregnant?”

Zhuu Wanwan giggled and said, “If I give birth to a prince, doesn’t that mean my child even has a chance at the throne?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Qing’er and Rong Miao’er’s eyes lit up, and they instinctively looked at their own bellies.

“Your Majesty has only five princesses; if we can really give birth to a prince…”

“If my son takes the throne, what about the master’s orders?”

“Indeed, that would be the throne of Great Yu!”

“I heard Xu Mujun has captured two states of Wu Country, the national power of Great Yu is strong, far exceeding other countries!”

“If Baihua Sect can receive the support of Your Majesty…”

The three women whispered, their eyes gradually filled with excitement.

Rong Miao’er then said, “The Sect Leader sent a message saying she has arrived in the Capital City; should we arrange for her to meet with Your Majesty?”

“Of course!”

Zhuu Wanwan said, “The reason Your Majesty favors the three of us, aside from our appearances and figures, is mainly because of the Baihua Sect behind us!”

“Or rather, the brothel organization controlled by our Baihua Sect, spread throughout the world.”

“Hehehe… Your Majesty’s Embroidered Uniform Guard needs intelligence, and we need Great Yu’s support; isn’t this mutually beneficial?”

Zhuu Wanwan added, “Anyway, whoever among us three can give birth to a prince, these might be theirs~”

“What do you two think?”

Lin Qing’er and Rong Miao’er’s eyes lit up as well, immediately saying, “We follow Senior Sister’s lead in all matters!”

“Hehehe…”

“Then let’s go meet the Sect Leader and arrange for her to meet with Your Majesty.”

“Yes!”

“Are you the Sect Leader of Baihua Sect?”

Baiyu City.

“This humble one, Hua Jingyuan, Sect Leader of Baihua Sect, pays respects to Your Majesty!”

Zheng Yi looked at the veiled woman in front of him and immediately said, “Remove the veil.”

Hua Jingyuan hesitated for a moment but eventually took off the veil covering her head.

Looking at Hua Jingyuan, she appeared to be in her thirties, but it couldn’t be ruled out she was older.

Moreover, with Zheng Yi’s eyesight, he noticed the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, covered by rouge, clearly indicating her age is not young.

Even if she was a peerless beauty in her youth, in Zheng Yi’s eyes, she was merely an elderly woman nearing her end.

“I am aware of your request. From now on, Baihua Sect will be incorporated into the Great Yu Imperial Court, and I grant your Baihua Sect autonomy.”

Zheng Yi said, “A new department will be established, named ‘Public Relations Department,’ independent of the Six Ministries, similar to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s responsibilities, but with additional privileges.”

“Public Relations Department?”

Hua Jingyuan’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Independent of the Six Ministries? Does that mean it’s on the same level as the Six Ministries?”

She originally thought that being incorporated into the Sacrificial Institute or Embroidered Uniform Guard was enough, but she never imagined obtaining privileges akin to the Six Ministries!

“Equal level but not equal rights.”

Zheng Yi said, “After all, the Public Relations Department is newly established, with no political achievements, and also your Public Relations Department cannot appear in the Imperial Court, it is merely a covert organization.”

“Its primary task is to gather intelligence for me, monitor the world, and send spies abroad to benefit Great Yu!”

“This humble one understands.”

Hua Jingyuan said, “My Baihua Sect will surely serve Your Majesty with all our efforts.”

“Very well. I will have Consort Wan and others discuss all matters with you.”

Zheng Yi said, “If there’s nothing else…”

“Your Majesty!”

Hua Jingyuan suddenly said, “Since this is our first meeting, I, as your humble subject, wish to offer a secret piece of information for Your Majesty’s discernment.”

“Oh? What information is that?”

“Your Majesty, be wary of Nanyue County.”

After speaking, Hua Jingyuan gave a slight bow and retreated slowly.

Be wary of Nanyue County?

What does that mean?

Zheng Yi stared intently at Hua Jingyuan’s retreating figure. Since the other party didn’t explain, it indicated that this information was very secretive, and she couldn’t be certain.

Or perhaps, is this a test for me, a test for the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

“Nanyue County? Who is in Nanyue County?”

“The Baiyue Tribe?”

“The Heiyue Tribe?”

Zheng Yi’s mind was racing: “Nanyue County is currently at war. Nanzhao Country, along with the Heiyue Tribe, has invaded, and Xu Xuanwu, leading the Dragon-soaring Army, is organizing the Nanyue Military Region to resist by imperial command…”

“Nanyue Military Region?”

“Xu Xuanwu?”

“Hmm? Something seems amiss.”

Zheng Yi’s tone was somewhat suspicious, and after calculating the time carefully, he said, “Why hasn’t there been a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Nanyue County for several months? According to regulations, the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s spies must report their reconnaissance every month to the Capital City.”

“Yet the information from Nanyue County is reported every two months, sometimes even every three months?”

“Does this mean there have been changes in Nanyue County?”

“Xu Xuanwu?”

Zheng Yi furrowed his brow slightly.

This person is the brother of Consort Duann, Xu Qingluan, and the son of Grand General Xu Mujun, which is why I entrusted the entire Nanyue County to him with confidence.

The entire Nanyue County, although politically just a ‘county,’

is vast in area and population, predominantly of the Nanyue Race, and not smaller than some states in the Central Plains.

Letting him establish the Nanyue Military Region.

The sheer area of the entire Nanyue County ranks among the top three of all states in the Great Yu.

If Nanyue County loses control, the entire south of Great Yu will be exposed to ambitious individuals.

Could it be that this person cannot resolve the issues of Nanyue County and is trapped by the Heiyue Tribe and Nanzhao Country?

Or does… this person also harbor rebellious intentions!

If Xu Xuanwu rebels, then I must pay even more attention to Xu Mujun, who is currently seizing cities and lands in Wu Country’s Mangzhou and Huangzhou Two States!

After pondering for a few moments, he said in a deep voice, “Elder Chen.”

“Your Majesty, this old servant is here.”

“You personally… no, send a few from the Shadow Guard to Nanyue County to investigate and see what happened with the Embroidered Uniform Guard there.”

“If there is any other information, report it promptly!”

“Understood!”

Elder Chen said in a low voice, and his figure faded back into the darkness.

Just as Zheng Yi dispatched the Shadow Guard to secretly investigate Nanyue County, time had already entered the 6th Year of Zhengyong.

At the New Year Banquet, Baihua Palace’s Consort Wan, Concubine Qing, and Consort Miao were all pregnant and unable to dance.

And today’s dancer turned out to be Consort Qin from Compassion Temple!

Consort Qin’s dance was pure and graceful, almost like a fairy dancing; her movements were exquisite and as sudden as a startled swan, which greatly pleased the emperor.

That night, the emperor stayed in Qingxia Palace and danced with Consort Qin.

[Absorb Pure Yin Qi, Lifespan +16.]

[Absorb Pure Yin Qi, learned “Compassion Sword Manual.”]

[Absorb Yin Qi, “Compassion Sword Manual” Inner Strength +10.]

[Absorb Yin Qi, “Compassion Sword Manual” Swordsmanship +10.]

[Absorb Yin Qi, Root Bone enhanced.]

Qin Qingxuan, being the strongest of this generation in Compassion Temple, considered “Compassion Sword Manual” not only as an Inner Power Heart Method but also as swordsmanship.

Her constitution is also very special, providing great benefits on the path of Sword Dao.

Of course, she also possesses one of the famed attributes, the “Dual Fish Lips,” which immensely captivates Zheng Yi and made each kiss fragrant.

Unfortunately, she also lacks a Spirit Root and cannot cultivate!

Zheng Yi’s husband-wife relationship with her only lasts three to fifty years.

On January 15th in the 6th Year of Zhengyong.

The Ministry of Rites’ negotiations with Wu Country finally reached their conclusion.

Under continuous urging domestically, and with Xu Mujun’s army approaching, Wu Country had no choice but to hold their nose and sign the Black Mountain Treaty!

The Black Mountain Treaty argues that from the 3rd Year of Zhengyong up till now, the three-year-long war between the Yu and Wu Countries was entirely the fault of Wu Country.

Wu Country was the real culprit of this great war.

Besides surrendering unconditionally, Wu Country must fulfill the following war reparations.

First: Acknowledge Great Yu’s actual rule over Mangzhou and Huangzhou Two States, ceding those areas.

Second: Use the bordering counties of Nanshun, Juliang, and Nanmeng as commercial exchange territories between Mangzhou and Mengzhou, guaranteeing the safety of Great Yu’s merchants, with no taxes imposed!

Third: Compensate fifty million taels of silver.

Fourth: Compensate with one hundred thousand warhorses, and two hundred thousand cattle and sheep, to be delivered over three years to the Great Yu’s border army.

Fifth: Send a direct lineage prince of Wu Country to Great Yu as a hostage.

Sixth: Wu Country must send a hundred concubine candidates to serve as slaves in the Great Yu Imperial Palace. Among these, there must be ten princesses of Wu Country, while the rest must be daughters of Wu Country’s ministers and military generals.

Seventh: Wu Country must hand over the person who ambushed and severely injured Grand General Xu Mujun and their family, ensuring their safety against any harm or persecution.

Eighth: …

A total of fifteen demands, all of which the Emperor of Wu Country was forced to acknowledge and sign under duress.

Spies report that upon learning of the fifteen terms, the old Emperor of Wu Country became so enraged that he fell ill on the spot.

His dozen or so sons immediately prepared for battle, surrounding the Wu Country Imperial Court, waiting for the old emperor to breathe his last so they could fight for the throne.

In contrast, Great Yu was in national celebration.

Having not only secured two states but also being favored by public opinion and acquiring massive compensations.

With horses in hand, they could quickly assemble ten thousand cavalry units in no time.

The many cattle and sheep served as supplies, significantly enhancing the strength of the Great Yu Border Army.

And the fifty million indemnity was invested by Zheng Yi into the Yongzhou Grand Canal, Jing’an Grand Canal, and several light industrial factories.

Jing’an Grand Canal was a major new project established by Zheng Yi.

Connecting the Capital City and Lin’an, this artificial canal is longer and bigger than the Yongzhou Grand Canal!

The remainder of the indemnity began to be used for the renovation of Black Mountain Pass, with the intent to rebuild it as the world’s most formidable pass!

Amidst the fervent infrastructure construction throughout Great Yu, Shen Xing and Yang Shaoyong in distant Nanyue County were curiously looking at the eunuch before them.

“The intention of your presence, your grace… is it to investigate Xu Xuanwu?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep