The Crown Princess is busy fishing

Along the way, both of them fell into deep thought, yet they tacitly sketched out similar plans in their minds at the same time.

As soon as Lin Yuge stepped into the room, she couldn't wait to speak:

"Yunqing, the warships we brought this time are equipped with excellent weapons and we also have a well-trained navy."

"Annihilating these pirates is not difficult. Why not volunteer to the Star Luo Kingdom and lend them a hand? This would help resolve the current stalemate."

Xiao Yunqing nodded in agreement, her eyes revealing a resolute determination:

"That's exactly what I was thinking. As long as the pirates are not eliminated, the King of Xingluo will have no reason to be worried, and trade will be difficult to make progress."

The navy we brought is highly skilled in naval warfare, and those warships equipped with ballistae are incredibly powerful, enough to deter pirates.

The two immediately gathered around the table and spread out a map of the sea area surrounding Xingluo Kingdom.

Lin Yuge lightly tapped the map with her slender fingers, deducing the pirates' possible hiding places and frequent routes based on the information she had gathered at the market during the day:

"Look, there are many islands here, the terrain is complex and easy to hide in, pirates may very well use this as a base."

We can send a few fast ships to scout ahead and get a clear picture of the situation before launching a full-scale attack.

Xiao Yunqing nodded slightly, sketching with his pen, outlining the warship formation and attack strategy:

"Use our main warships to launch a frontal assault and draw the pirates' attention."

Then, use small, agile boats to flank them from the side, cut off their retreat, and use ballistae to deter them; we can surely wipe them out in one fell swoop.

However, this favor cannot be done for free; conditions must be negotiated with the Star Luo Kingdom.

It wasn't until the first light of dawn that a comprehensive strategy for suppressing bandits and a proposal for safeguarding trade were finally drafted.

The plan not only details the operational plan.

It also carefully considered the post-war trade escort deployment, port expansion, and tariff reciprocity details.

By ensuring that every step is conducted in a structured manner, the trade route can remain stable and sustainable.

When the sun was high in the sky, after a short rest, Xiao Yunqing went to the palace to meet the King of Xingluo Kingdom.

The atmosphere in the hall remained solemn, and the emperor and his ministers still showed a hint of wariness when they saw them.

Xiao Yunqing presented the proposal, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Your Majesty, last night I took my wife for a night stroll in the market, but we were unexpectedly attacked by pirates. The scene was truly heartbreaking."

Therefore, my husband and I stayed up all night to devise this strategy.

"I am willing to lead my warships to share Your Majesty's burdens and help Xingluo eliminate its calamities."

The King of Xingluo Kingdom accepted the proposal.

His brows furrowed slightly at first, and his gaze quickly swept across the paper, as if he were weighing the weight of the proposal.

The court was silent for a moment, with only the occasional soft sound of papers turning.

After a moment, the king raised his head, his guardedness not entirely gone, but now tinged with scrutiny.

“Envoy Xiao, Xingluo is naturally grateful for your kindness.”

Last night's chaos in the market deeply saddened me. The pirates' scourge has been a long-standing problem, like a deeply ingrained festering sore that it urgently needs to be eradicated.

The king spoke in a deep voice, which echoed throughout the hall.

"However, this strategy mentions post-war trade matters, which are far-reaching and concern the foundation of the nation, so it is difficult to draw a conclusion immediately."

Xiao Yunqing bowed slightly, his expression respectful but not humble, and said in a clear voice:

"Your Majesty is wise, and I am well aware of the gravity of this matter. However, as long as the pirates are not eradicated, the coastal areas of Xingluo will remain unsettled, and trade will be difficult to prosper."

Our Great Qian Dynasty has mobilized all its elite forces for this campaign, and the deployment of warships, the depletion of military equipment, and the salaries of soldiers have all come at a considerable cost.

This escort deployment aims to ensure the safety of merchant ships traveling between the two countries, so that year after year, no matter how rough the seas, goods can safely cross the two borders.

For the expansion of the wharf, Daqian is willing to provide skilled craftsmen to help, all to make Xingluo Port more efficient in its throughput and to bring in a flood of wealth.

The detailed rules on tariff reciprocity, after careful consideration, are by no means biased, but rather a wonderful method to promote long-term trade prosperity.

If this continues, the national treasury of Xingluo will surely be filled with the prosperity of trade routes, and the people will have no worries about making a living.

"I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully, weigh the pros and cons, and not let this golden opportunity slip away."

The king remained silent, his gaze falling upon the ministers below, as if seeking silent advice from his strategists.

The ministers whispered among themselves, and a buzz of discussion arose.

After a long silence, the king slowly spoke:

"Envoy Xiao, please allow me and my ministers to discuss this in detail. I will give you both a reply in court three days from now."

Xiao Yunqing understood that the Xingluo Kingdom would not make a hasty decision on such an important matter, so he bowed and took his leave.

Back at the building, Lin Yuge was already pacing anxiously in the hall.

Upon seeing Xiao Yunqing return, he hurried forward to greet her, his eyes filled with eagerness:

"Well? Has the king agreed?"

Xiao Yunqing shook his head slightly, but his expression remained calm:

"As expected, this matter concerns the foundation of the Xingluo Kingdom, so he naturally wanted to discuss it in detail with his ministers and gave them three days."

Lin Yuge breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Xiao Yunqing to sit down on a chair, poured a cup of tea and handed it to him:

"It's alright. We can make thorough preparations in these three days to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."

Xiao Yunqing took the teacup, took a small sip, and slowly said:

"Although there was hesitation in the eyes of the King of Xingluo, one could also see his eagerness to eliminate the pirates."

Our bandit suppression strategy will surely hit their weak points.

However, they still need time to digest the terms of trade.

For the next two days, the couple stayed indoors.

Xiao Yunqing summoned the other officials of the delegation, and the group repeatedly rehearsed the plans and schemes.

He envisioned various possible scenarios and meticulously compiled a book outlining the old practices of domestic merchant ships and the regulations of prosperous commercial ports during the Great Qian Dynasty.

They were prepared to provide a detailed explanation immediately should any further questions arise in the Xingluo court.

The three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye, and Xiao Yunqing and Lin Yuge went to the palace early in the morning dressed in their finest attire.

The atmosphere in the court was even more somber than before, with the King of Xingluo sitting high above.

After his gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment, he slowly spoke:

"Envoy Xiao, after discussions with my ministers, I generally approve of the strategies you two have presented for suppressing the bandits. The Great Qian Navy is skilled in battle and certainly has a chance of winning."

However, there are still a few details regarding these trade matters that need further consideration.

Having said that, he beckoned to a close advisor beside him to present a document.

"I also have my own thoughts and requests regarding the Star Luo, and I hope that the Great Qian can grant them."

The suppression of pirates and matters concerning trade can be carried out immediately in accordance with the agreement.

Xiao Yunqing took it with both hands, her gaze quickly sweeping over it.

Several new clauses concerning the jurisdiction of the dock and the priority of wartime material procurement were added to the paper.

He secretly pondered to himself, and exchanged a glance with Lin Yuge, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

Xiao Yunqing stepped forward and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting:

"Your Majesty, I understand Xingluo's concerns."

Regarding the jurisdiction over the docks, Daqian is willing to jointly establish a co-management office with Xingluo, with both sides sending personnel to take turns supervising.

All scheduling is open and transparent, which both protects the sovereignty of Singapore and prevents merchant ships from being delayed.

In wartime procurement, the Daqian Navy can stockpile two months' worth of supplies in advance. If Xingluo is in urgent need, it will prioritize supplying the local military and civilians without any objection.

We only hope that Your Majesty will consider the overall picture of cooperation and not let minor details hinder our joint efforts to eliminate threats and promote trade.

Lin Yuge smiled gently and said:

"Your Majesty, my husband and I have been working day and night to expedite this matter."

The rules and regulations of Daqian Fushuo Commercial Port can serve as a reference for Xingluo. In the future, the market will surely be bustling and prosperous due to the flourishing commerce, and the people's pockets will be bulging.

"I hope Your Majesty will grant this kind offer."

King Xingluo frowned and pondered for a moment, while his ministers whispered among themselves.