Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

At the foot of the barren cliff, inside Qin Ming's main tent.

Ying Qi, with a strange look on his face, walked quickly into the imperial tent from outside and reported Duan Siming's recent situation to Qin Ming in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, Duan Siming did not agree to the conditions we offered. Instead, he has been blocking the way outside to collect money."

"Cash?"

Qin Ming raised his eyebrows, feeling a little surprised.

At first, he thought that this matter was not as difficult as he had imagined. Giving the other party some huge opportunities to make money would be enough for them to earn enough to produce the entire country's output in several years.

Logically speaking, the other party will not refuse, and there is no reason to refuse.

For the sake of his kingdom, Duan Siming should agree to them.

But the reality is that they were wrong.

"Your Majesty, I have arranged a trade with them for a batch of supplies along the Huainan trade route. We have agreed that as long as their troops are willing to withdraw and clear the route, we can obtain this business."

"Duan Siming told me that their troops have already announced their arrival here. If they retreat like this, they will probably be criticized."

"Isn't this a rejection?"

Qin Ming's brows furrowed, and his tone was already filled with dissatisfaction.

Ying Qi curled his lips and said in deep agreement:

"Indeed it is."

"He finally gave me an ambiguous response, saying that he would definitely not help the Shenmu Kingdom, so please rest assured."

"We still have to sit on the fence and see which side is more powerful."

Nanzhao King Duan Siming sat in his somewhat deserted tent, his fingertips drumming unconsciously on the sandalwood desk, a copy of the latest tax revenue report spread out on it. The figures were still staggering, but his gaunt face lost its yesterday's smugness, instead shrouded in a lingering gloom. Outside, the autumn wind whistled fallen leaves, bringing a chill that penetrated deep into the bones.

The news of Tuoba Hong's death was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a turbulent wave within him. The King of Northern Mang... had been beheaded in such a brutal manner by Qin Ming! The ambush at Yehu Ridge, the merciless crushing of the Black Armored Cavalry, Meng Zhi's blood-stained axe... these images flashed through his mind like ghosts.

"A common man's courage... after all, it's just a common man's courage..." Duan Siming muttered softly, trying to mask his inner fear with contempt, but the slight trembling of his fingertips betrayed him. He had originally thought that taking advantage of the fierce conflict between the two powerful nations, he could play both sides and reap huge profits, making him the most brilliant chess player. But now, Qin Ming used Tuoba Hong's head to teach him that in the face of absolute power, all calculations are futile! The cold butcher's knife could fall at any time, regardless of whether the country is big or small, only whether it is in the way!

"Report!" Yang Qi, a trusted confidant, hurried into the tent, his face tinged with uneasiness. "Your Majesty, Daqian has sent someone again."

Duan Siming's brows furrowed sharply. "Ying Qi again? Still asking about giving way?"

"It's... it's that Master Ying Qi again." Yang Qi whispered, "This time... he didn't bring any conditions, but a sentence."

"What?" Duan Siming felt an ominous premonition in his heart.

"He said..." Yang Qi swallowed his saliva, his voice dry, "'The road in Beimang is narrow, and it can no longer accommodate Tuoba Hong's head. Do you want the road in Nanzhao to be wide or narrow?'"

boom!

Duan Siming slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table! Tea splashed everywhere! The color drained from his gaunt face in an instant!

threaten! A naked threat!

Qin Ming was telling him clearly: Tuoba Hong's head was an example! If Nanzhao didn't give way and continued to exploit merchants and travelers by "borrowing the power of the tiger," the next one to be trampled by the black-armored cavalry and have his head hung on the beacon tower... would be him, Duan Siming!

A bone-chilling fear instantly shot up from his tailbone to the top of his head! Duan Siming seemed to be able to see Meng Zhi's bloody axe swinging towards his neck!

"What else did he say?" Duan Siming's voice trembled slightly.

"Master Ying Qi left after making his promise," Yang Qi whispered. "But...but our checkpoint at 'Black Rock Pass'...has just been 'rectified' by a passing 'patrol' of the Daqian Border Army...The tax collectors guarding the checkpoint...were...charged with 'extorting merchants and delaying military operations', and were given fifty lashes and dismissed from their posts for investigation. The checkpoint...is temporarily 'managed' by the Daqian Army."

Duan Siming stood up abruptly, his chest heaving violently! Qin Ming! This was courtesy before force! No! This was outright rudeness, a direct knife display! Not only verbal threats, but also direct physical force to pull out a nail! This was killing the chicken to scare the monkey!

"Your Majesty...we..." Yang Qi looked at Duan Siming's uncertain expression and asked cautiously.

Duan Siming slowly sat back in his chair, his narrow eyes flickering rapidly. Fear, resentment, anger, humiliation... a myriad of emotions mingled within him. Continue to resist? Qin Ming's black-armored cavalry were not far away, easily crushing Nanzhao's limited forces! Retreat? The millions of dollars in monthly tax revenue would be cut short! Nanzhao's dream of expanding its military might would be shattered!

The tent was dead silent, with only the occasional crackling of lamplight.

After a long moment, Duan Siming let out a long breath, as if all his strength had been drained away. He waved his withered fingers feebly.

"Order..." His voice was a little tired and hoarse, "All checkpoints... retreat."

"Your Majesty!" Yang Qi exclaimed, his eyes full of reluctance.

"Retreat!" Duan Siming suddenly raised his voice, a hint of suppressed anger in his voice, "Immediately! Immediately! All taxes and fees...according to...according to the usual amounts! No more difficulties will be made! Those who disobey the order...will be executed!"

"Yes... yes!" Yang Qi didn't dare to say anything more and quickly bowed and retreated.

Duan Siming sat alone in his tent, looking at the still-tempting tax revenue briefing, a bitter, twisted smile forming at the corners of his mouth. A chess player? He was, after all, just a pawn. Caught between those two giants, Qin Ming and Hua Yunhong, even scraping by was a rare achievement. Trying to snatch food from their mouths... Tuoba Hong's fate was a testament to this.

"Qin Ming... Hua Yunhong..." He whispered these two names. In the depths of his narrow eyes, a trace of resentment and unwillingness quietly grew like a poisonous snake, but was suppressed by a deeper fear.

Nanzhao King Duan Siming's farce of attempting to exploit the power of another to gain advantage in the situation was hastily brought to an end by Qin Ming's relentless military intimidation and bloody warnings. Several major trade routes leading to the war zone were quickly restored. Although Nanzhao still collected basic taxes and fees, the suffocating exploitation and harassment had finally ceased.

The news soon spread to the Bone Burial Cliff.

Upon hearing the news of Duan Siming's retreat, Hua Yunhong merely scoffed coldly, without further comment. A frightened fox was no longer relevant to the overall situation. His entire mind was focused on the last three jars of the "Erosion Willow Miasma" mother seed and the dark golden poisonous marks on the black iron gate.

His final move is about to take place.

Qin Ming's response is also in place.