svetikya Page 65
Page 65
Fortunately, the Great Qin Empire has now changed masters. After all, Qin Feng's generation has long forgotten those past events. In particular, his coronation ceremony invited dignitaries from all over the continent to attend the ceremony in the Great Qin Empire. This made the Emperor of the Xi Empire feel that it might be a great opportunity for reconciliation, and he was even more eager to promote his Xi Empire's products to Qin Feng...
Do you want any of these resources?
There are also some advanced production technologies, in addition to our warship manufacturing technology, and various weapons...
Oh, and let's make sure the Xi Empire is also famous for its beautiful women!
Qin Feng stared intently as King Slin III spoke for over an hour, essentially promoting his Xi Empire and repeatedly explaining the benefits of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries…
Perhaps it was the grand welcoming ceremony Qin Feng had given Slin III confidence, or perhaps he felt that Qin Feng, this young emperor, was still inexperienced, that made Slin III think he had a high chance of persuading him!
However, Qin Feng was quite dismissive of all his arguments. Resources were certainly good things, and the Great Qin Empire did indeed need them.
The problem is that this continent is still in the age of cold weapons!
If this were on Earth, every country would probably fight tooth and nail to compete with the Greek Empire for ownership of these resources, because resources are everything, especially for the Earth's superpower, the United States, which has waged countless wars for resources.
But in this still relatively 'backward' era of cold weapons, the truly important resource was... people.
Of course, since Qin Feng has decided that the Great Qin Empire will focus on developing its economy, the more resources it accumulates, the better. Obtaining a large amount of resources from the Xi Empire would also be a good thing. However, Qin Feng is not so foolish as to believe whatever you say.
Business deals are all negotiated!
So even if I really want something from you, I'll definitely show it to you, right?
Besides, given the current situation of the Great Qin Empire, it has the territory of the Minghan Empire that needs to be appeased and developed, and the Daozaki Empire that needs investment to save. It would be difficult for it to continue to help the Xi Empire. That's why Qin Feng has always been lukewarm. After Slin III finished speaking, he immediately changed the subject to other aspects. In short, now that you've come to the Great Qin Empire, you can eat, drink, and have fun. I'll take care of everything!
As for other things... we'll talk about that later!
Unsurprisingly, Qin Feng completely bewildered His Majesty the Emperor of the Greek Empire...
The day before, you welcomed us with such enthusiasm, and during your speech you said that the Qin Empire and the Ranghika Empire were neighbors that could not be moved, and that the two countries had a long history of friendly relations. But the next day you turned your back on us?
This is ridiculous!
What frustrated him most was that Qin Feng didn't give him any excuses, and his schedule was packed from then on, with him going here and there to visit various places. In short, he simply couldn't meet with Qin Feng again to continue explaining his views...
It was at this moment that Srin III realized that Qin Feng, the new emperor, was not as easy to deal with as he had thought before he arrived. At least this "baptism of fire" was quite effective. However, he had nothing to say, so on the third night, he simply stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the Qin Palace to ask to meet Qin Feng.
Qin Feng received him in the Qian Yuan Hall.
This time, King Slin III had learned his lesson and refrained from those high-sounding words. Seeing Qin Feng's ambiguous smile, he gritted his teeth but could only say, "Your Majesty, please state your requirements. I will try my best to meet them..."
"The first condition..." Qin Feng chuckled softly, "The territory taken from my Great Qin must be returned intact!"
"No!" Slin III's expression changed instantly, because this territory was no small matter. Not only was it vast in area, but more importantly, it was currently the largest source of grain for the Greek Empire. If it were lost, the Greek Empire's agriculture would inevitably suffer another major blow! "Can we change the conditions? This condition... is absolutely impossible!"
“Then there’s nothing to talk about.” Qin Feng wasn’t angry; he just tilted his head. “Because this condition is the basis for all the negotiations to come. And I can tell you that I will definitely take back this land. As for how I will do it, that depends on how Your Majesty cooperates!”
"Are you threatening me?" King Slin III, being a member of the Ranghi people and possessing the blood of a warrior race, was provoked by Qin Feng and became somewhat fierce. "I came to the Great Qin Empire this time with the sincere desire to establish relations with your country and create a peaceful future for the Eastern Continent. However, if Your Majesty attempts to threaten my Ranghi Empire with an old case that ended decades ago, then..."
"This is not a threat." Qin Feng chuckled again. "It's just a notification... Threats are a strategy used against opponents of similar strength. If the two sides are too far apart in strength, there is no need for threats at all. His Majesty should be well aware of this."
"What makes you think that Great Qin is much stronger than my Xi Empire?" Slin III was still unconvinced. "Although my Xi Empire's military is not as strong as before, it is definitely not something that any country on the continent can easily shake!"
“Indeed, I agree with that statement.” Qin Feng nodded. “But I never said I would deal with the Rangxi Empire alone… If necessary, I think the major countries of the Western Continent would be very interested in taking revenge on the Rangxi Empire! I wonder how the Rangxi Empire will face three fronts simultaneously, one in the southwest and one in the east…”
"..." Mei, what about you? I miss you. Lin, what about you...
The western front is definitely the Western Continent, the southern front is naturally the Qin Empire, and the eastern front... is the Inazuma Empire?
Well, the Inazuma people have always wanted to acquire territory on the continent, but the Ranghi Empire's reputation is too great, and most of its territory is located in extremely cold regions, so its value is not very high. Therefore, the Inazuma Empire did not take action against the Ranghi Empire before. What they valued was the rich Central Plains occupied by the Qin Empire. However, if there was an opportunity to take a piece of the Ranghi Empire, the Inazuma Empire would be willing to do so. Moreover, given the current relationship between the Inazuma Empire and the Qin Empire, it would be normal for them to send troops to assist.
Instantly, Slin III's face turned deathly pale. He even began to regret coming to the Great Qin Empire because he did not expect that the new emperor, Qin Feng, would be so difficult to deal with. Most importantly, he did not know what means he had used to make the Pope of Light of the Western Continent completely change his attitude towards him. However, no matter how nice you are, do you think the countries of the Western Continent will send troops just because you ask them to?
You're not Pope Randolph the Light King!
What? Randolph is in the capital of the Qin Empire right now? And he's here too?
Seeing Pope Randolph and Saintess Regina emerge from the back hall of the Qian Yuan Hall, King Slin III was completely dumbfounded... What's going on?
Shouldn't you be in the Western Continent? How did you get to the Qin Empire so quickly? And why are you being so friendly with your nemesis, Qin Feng?
But one thing is certain: if Pope Randolph of Light orders an attack on the Ranghi Empire, then the countries of the Western Continent may indeed take action!
No, no, no, it's not just possible, it's certain!!
In particular, Qin Feng went on to say bluntly that after he ascended the throne, he would need to do something big to show the whole continent, especially since the Great Qin Empire had been plagued by various disturbances. He was preparing to find a target to warn everyone... Otherwise, what about your Rangxi Empire?
It was also a justifiable cause, after all, it was to reclaim the old territory that Qin had left behind!
Upon hearing this, King Slin III was truly disheartened!
Because he was well aware of his own situation, if he were to fight the Qin Empire at this time, the "tiger" image that the Xi Empire had maintained for decades would likely be torn to shreds in an instant!
Chapter 169: The art of "wool-gathering" requires careful consideration.
It's important to understand that the reason the Greek Empire maintained the illusion of being a military superpower was to buy time to develop its economy and completely reverse its dire situation. This is also the reason for its urgent visit to the Qin Empire. If a comprehensive resource exchange could be conducted with the Qin Empire, especially in terms of food, then the Greek Empire could recover somewhat.
However, if we were to go to war with the Qin Empire at this time, the Western Continent would not need to intervene, nor would the Inazuma Empire need to help from the east. The Xi Empire would simply collapse on its own!
As I said before, food...
Without food, how can you expect an army to fight bravely?
Moreover, because the Greek Empire had to exchange everything for food, their military equipment only looked impressive on the surface. In many cases, it was just for show, and in reality, it had not been maintained for a long time. Many military facilities had even been shut down. In the event of a large-scale war, these facilities would inevitably have to be restarted, but what about the people? What about the materials? What about the food?
Not to mention that the Greek Empire has a vast territory. If it goes to war with the Qin Empire, it will inevitably have to transfer its main forces stationed on the western front to the east. This will not only be a huge drain on its resources, but more importantly, once the war breaks out, the whole continent will find that the Greek Empire is just a paper tiger bluffing...
In this world, there are always few people who offer help in times of need, many who like to add flowers to brocade, but even more who like to kick someone when they're down!
Especially those who take advantage of your illness to kill you—they are absolutely countless!
Therefore, once the Xi Empire goes to war with the Qin Dynasty, and as long as it shows signs of weakness in the war, the various countries of the Western Continent will definitely not mind taking the opportunity to strike back against the Xi Empire. But that is not the point. The point is those small countries that were forcibly annexed into the Xi Empire's territory decades ago. Because these countries have never stopped wanting to regain their independence, they will definitely stand up and fight back as soon as the Xi Empire is preoccupied with its own problems!
Outsiders might not know these things, but King Slin III was well aware of them. So even if he was strong-willed and couldn't withstand coercion, he had no choice but to back down at this point. Otherwise, if Qin Feng and Pope Randolph joined forces, his Ranghi Empire might truly become a thing of the past! (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
And most importantly, the vast Hitler Empire could very well come to a complete end in his hands...
In response, Slin III could only console himself, "Once I recover and the Greek Empire weathers this crucial period, I will surely seek revenge against you, the Emperor of Qin, for today's humiliation and loss!"
Of course, since Slin III had already backed down, Qin Feng didn't press him any further. Instead, he seriously discussed with him the circumstances and pretext for returning the territory. These were the key points to be discussed, and reaching a consensus would not be easy. It would probably take some time to reach a compromise that satisfied both sides. But as long as Slin III agreed to return it, everything else would be fine. Qin Feng stopped pressuring him and directly presented his second condition!
Although the Ranghi Empire has abundant resources, it's a pity that your population is severely insufficient, and the current extraction rate is somewhat slow, making it difficult to meet the needs of my Great Qin Empire. Since you are sincere in wanting to exchange resources for food with our Great Qin Empire, then please open up a bit more and allow the Ministry of Works of my Great Qin Empire to enter the Ranghi Empire...
Simply put, we'll handle the mining ourselves, provide the manpower, and the equipment. We'll also be responsible for transportation and refining the minerals. All you need to do is count the minerals and wait to receive your supplies... And the price will definitely not be unfair to you; I guarantee it will be 20% higher than the market price!
Huh? Such a good thing?
Srin III was pondering whether there was something fishy about this matter when Qin Feng chuckled, immediately dispelling his doubts. "Consider this a reward for your prompt agreement to my first condition. Anyway, my Great Qin Empire has a large population, so finding some work for our subjects will prevent them from idling around all day... By the way, if a man from our Great Qin Empire happens to flirt with a girl from your Rangxi Empire while working there, you won't break them up, will you?"
of course not!
The Xi Empire is now in a situation where there are more women than men, and King Slin III is also worried about this. Qin Feng's suggestion is simply perfect, and it kills two birds with one stone. He probably has to agree quickly!
As for the third and fourth points, they are even easier to explain, since they all involve asking the Greek Empire to open some markets and allow goods from the Qin Empire to enter...
For example, agricultural products?
Please, this is exactly what the Greek Empire lacks most, so of course they'd love to have it!
The final result was naturally a happy ending for both sides. Even Srin III completely forgot about the previous unpleasantness and, with a radiant face, said that Qin Feng was indeed a very charismatic emperor, and completely different from what he had imagined!
Why do I say that? Because Qin Feng hasn't ascended the throne yet, has he?
So Slin III and the others thought that Qin Feng was not in a position to make any decisions at present, and that he would consult and discuss all issues with his ministers or elders before making a decision. However, they did not expect that Qin Feng did not allow any ministers to appear from beginning to end. Not only did he make all the decisions himself, but more importantly, he made a clear understanding of the order of many things. Seeing his ease and composure, how could anyone who did not know him tell that he was a new emperor who had not yet officially taken office?
He's clearly a seasoned veteran who's been in charge of the empire for decades!
But this view really overestimates Qin Feng. He really doesn't understand many things. The reason he doesn't have the habit of asking others for help to make decisions is because he developed that habit back on Earth... With his abilities, who could get close to him on Earth? Who could help him?
Besides, although Qin Feng had never been a national leader, he at least watched television news and often saw examples of financial warfare, which he could then apply on the spot...
The first point, returning the territory, is definitely non-negotiable. Qin Feng will not compromise on this point. Even if he can't get it back now, he will definitely get it back in the future. However, since Slin III is now asking for his help, Qin Feng will try to force him. In fact, he also wants to test Slin III's bottom line. If he agrees, it means that the Xi Empire really needs the help of the Great Qin Empire this time. Then, naturally, he can ask for an exorbitant amount.
So, as expected, he immediately revealed his fangs in the second point...
What? You all think Qin Feng is stupid too? Going to another country to mine, providing his own equipment and manpower, and transporting it back himself?
I'll just say this: to transport my equipment there, I need to build roads first, right? If I want to mine, my resource support needs to keep up, right? The mined resources need to be processed, so I need to build factories to process them, right? And with so many people overseas, I need to send people to protect them, right?
Okay, that's all I can say. You can figure out the rest for yourselves...
As for the men who go out to do their jobs and occasionally bring back a few girls, those are just extra spoils of war!
As for the third and fourth points, this is simply blatant plunder, and can even be called robbery!
What does it mean for a country to completely open its market? People on the mainland may not have this understanding or experience at all. After all, everything in this world is still too backward compared to the information technology on Earth. And countless experiences on Earth have told Qin Feng that completely opening up a market in a certain field to another country is almost equivalent to handing that field over to someone else to control!
Why is it that the United States, on Earth, can always so easily fleece people all over the world?
This is, of course, because he raised a flock of sheep and forced them to open the market to him from the very beginning. He then decided how to sell the wool from the flock of sheep!
Why can't he cut the fur of Chinese rabbits? Is it because my rabbits have very sharp front teeth?
Of course not. Our market isn't open to him, so how can he profit from it?
Chapter 170: I am the Emperor, I Decide
So what Qin Feng is doing to the Xi Empire now is actually pretty much the same thing, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Great Qin Empire, so he still needs to discuss it with others.
I am the emperor, so of course I have the final say!
But what's most terrifying is that King Slin III of the Greek Empire was completely unaware of just how terrifying Qin Feng's conditions were. He even genuinely believed that Qin Feng was repaying him for agreeing to the first condition... that is, returning the territory previously seized from the Qin Empire to the Qin Empire!
However, this is quite normal, because for any emperor, expanding territory is a great achievement. However, the current situation on the continent is relatively stable, so it is generally difficult to achieve such a thing. If Qin Feng, as a new emperor, can recover the territory that the empire lost before taking office, it will not only greatly enhance his prestige, but also greatly consolidate his position and even strengthen his control over the empire and the court!
Therefore, if Qin Feng could reclaim the territory that had been ceded to the Ranghi Empire, he would have already made a fortune. So it would be normal for him to stop while he was ahead and make up for it in other ways. After all, the two countries would be neighbors in the future and might have very close relations. It would be bad for both sides to strain their relationship!
Even Srin III was secretly laughing to himself, thinking, "You naive little brat, you dare to use the 'slap first, then reward' strategy on me? You're just showing off your skills in front of an expert!"
But let's leave it at that for now. I'll teach you how to be a good person properly when I've calmed down!
It wasn't just Srin III who thought this way. The next morning, when Qin Feng presented the agreement he had reached with the Emperor of the Ranghi Empire to the court officials during the morning court session, and also entrusted them to work with the Ranghi Empire's team to draft the detailed terms, the entire court was in an uproar. Even the Prime Minister Xu Zibo was completely baffled...
Your Majesty, you're being a bit too generous!
While it's certainly encouraging to reclaim a large territory in the north and boost the morale of the empire, the subsequent preferential conditions didn't need to be so generous. A little something would have sufficed!
Especially the second point: we have to let the Greek Empire mine resources, and we also have to provide our own manpower, invest in equipment and industry to build infrastructure, and even build roads!
We do all the work, while they just sit on the sidelines and reap the rewards for nothing, and at 20% more than the market price! That's way too good for them!
It's practically getting something for nothing!
Well, we can understand His Majesty's feelings. After all, reclaiming the imperial territory is of utmost importance, and theoretically, paying any price is not excessive. But is this really the right thing to do?
Also, for such an important matter, you didn't even consult us... No, no, no, what we meant was, since His Majesty has already agreed, let's continue this discussion for now, but does His Majesty really not need us to try to persuade him further?
To Xu Zibo and his group's surprise, Qin Feng, sitting on the dragon throne, laughed heartily upon hearing this. "You lot... you simply don't understand economics! Alright, this matter is settled. Now, everyone, split up and work together to form a negotiation team as soon as possible and get the Xi Empire to finalize these terms. Otherwise, if the Xi Empire's emperor realizes what's happening, or if some clever people around him see through my plan, then the losses will be truly enormous!"
"Yes... Your Majesty!" Although they agreed readily, no one in the court could understand Qin Feng's thoughts. Not only them, but even Xia Lin didn't understand, let alone Bai Zhiwei and Qin Lan!
After all, when Qin Feng was discussing these terms with Emperor Slin III of the Rhine Empire, Saintess Regina was also present. However, Qin Feng was probably in a good mood last night, and even on the way back to Qianqing Palace, he started to touch Regina inappropriately. Before they even returned to Qianqing Palace, Regina was completely naked, which was practically the same as running around naked.
Most importantly, Qin Feng was carrying Regina around and having sex with her all the way back to the palace, right in front of countless palace maids. Naturally, she was so ashamed that she couldn't say a word. She was even nearly killed by Qin Feng several times later. It wasn't until she woke up today that she came to her senses and told Xia Lin and the others about the agreements Qin Feng and King Srin III had reached yesterday.
Then Xia Lin and Qin Lan were all puzzled. Wasn't the Xi Empire always a major threat to the Qin Empire?
Why did Slin III so readily agree to return the territory he had previously seized to the Qin Dynasty?
Is it just because of the benefits Qin Feng offered in the second clause?
If we compare them this way, Qin Feng's deal wasn't a loss. The problem is, what are the third and fourth items?
You want the Greek Empire to fully open up the market for some products, but aren't these exactly the products they lack?
In other words, it will be just as convenient for people to buy these things as it is for people in our Great Qin Empire. This is exactly what we want, and it will be more beneficial to the Xi Empire, isn't it?
So when Qin Feng returned, Xia Lin and the others couldn't help but ask him what he was planning... Mei, are you sure you don't know? Lin, are you sure you don't know...?
Well, this one?
Charlene and the others, of course, did not know that on Earth, it took the United States fourteen years to barely allow China to partially open its beef market. However, the markets for chicken, pork, and many other agricultural products remained closed to foreign investment. As a result, the United States always refused to acknowledge that China had an open market economy, and even frequently threatened to use its laws to 'sanction' China and wage trade wars. Why?
The reason is too simple: the US is an open market, and all of China's goods can be sold there. But China is not open, and most of the US products cannot enter. So how can China sell them?
Then, with this inflow and outflow, a trade deficit naturally arises...
But trade deficits and such are not really that important. What's important is the market. Take chicken for example, why doesn't China open its market to it?
Because once the market is opened up, a large influx of American products will seize the market, which will deal a fatal blow to the chicken production process in our country. Since you can buy a lot of cheaper chicken, no one will raise chickens locally. If no one raises chickens, then the price of chicken will be determined by the United States.