Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Chapter 344 A Weak Nation Has No Diplomacy "Prime Minister Cai, how can this be left unresolved? As you have seen, this rifle is incredibly powerful and easy to operate. Once it is equipped on the Song army, the Jurchen cavalry will no longer have an advantage."

"Your Majesty, please think it over carefully. If we miss out on such a powerful military weapon, we will surely regret it. Please consider it carefully."

Zhou Xianwu went to great lengths to persuade Cai Yuanchang while also explaining the seriousness of the situation to Zhao Ji.

However, the emperor and his minister completely ignored Zhou Xianwu's words.

Emperor Huizong, however, looked the rifle back and forth and suddenly asked, "How much does one of these rifles cost?"

Zhou Xianwu thought things had taken a turn for the better and immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the Chu Kingdom has offered a price: twelve taels of gold per rifle, plus twenty rounds of ammunition..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cai Yuanchang interrupted him: "A rifle worth twelve taels of gold? That's equivalent to the price of a dozen crossbows!"

Since the same amount of money can buy a dozen bows, why waste it on those ephemeral crossbows?

Zhao Ji also agreed: "Indeed, what Chancellor Cai said is very true. Xianwu, I know you are doing this for the good of our Great Song Dynasty."

However, the treasury of my Great Song Dynasty is currently empty, and we simply cannot afford to spend so much money to purchase military supplies. In my opinion, let's just forget about it.

Besides, the shipment of rare stones and ornamental plants that I purchased from the islands of Southeast Asia last year is almost here, and we need the money.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianwu's lips twitched involuntarily for a moment, and he hurriedly said, "If Your Majesty is worried that the national treasury is empty and unable to purchase military supplies, then there is no need to worry."

The State of Chu is willing to provide our Great Song with a low-interest loan for the sale of arms…

"Oh? A loan?"

Upon hearing the word "loan," Cai Yuanchang's eyes lit up, as it meant he could once again embezzle funds.

"Lord Zhou, what's this about the loan you mentioned earlier?"

"Reporting to Prime Minister Cai, the State of Chu is willing to provide the State of Song with a sum of money to purchase military equipment, but this money can only be used to purchase military equipment and cannot be used for other purposes."

Upon hearing this, Cai Yuanchang sneered inwardly: "Once the money is in my hands, I can just pretend to buy a few firearms to make a show of it."

What can your Chu state do to me? Do you intend to watch over this money for twelve hours a day?

Thinking of this, he immediately said to Zhao Ji, "Your Majesty, since the State of Chu is so sincere in conducting arms trade with our Great Song, then our Great Song should also give a certain response."

Zhao Ji: "Then what does Chancellor Cai suggest?"

Cai Yuanchang: "Why don't we agree? I've thought about it carefully, and it's true that the military preparedness of our Great Song Dynasty has fallen into disrepair in recent years."

If we could equip ourselves with a firearms unit, it would deter the Jurchens and show them that the people and soldiers of our Great Song Dynasty are not as weak as they appear.

Zhao Ji looked troubled: "That's true, but if the Jin people knew that our Song army had such a powerful weapon, wouldn't they have other ideas?"

Moreover, with peace talks currently underway between the Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, wouldn't purchasing arms from the Chu Kingdom at this time make the Song Dynasty appear untrustworthy?

When facing enemies they could not defeat, the State of Song always won them over with virtue and was very trustworthy.

They were afraid that a careless action might lead people to misunderstand their sincerity.

What if the Song Dynasty's procurement of military supplies angered the Jin people?

This is the issue that Zhao Ji is most concerned about right now.

Whether the Song Dynasty would achieve a qualitative leap after being equipped with Chu's military equipment was not within Zhao Ji's consideration.

All he wanted was a comfortable and extravagant royal life, a peaceful and prosperous scene, free from external disturbances.

Cai Yuanchang replied, "Your Majesty need not worry. Even if the Jurchens discover that our Great Song Dynasty has purchased weapons from the Chu Kingdom,

All you need to do is explain to them that these weapons are purely for suppressing rebels within Song territory and assure them that they will not be targeted at the Jin people.

I imagine the Jin Kingdom would understand.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Ji said, "Very well, then the procurement of weapons will be handled by you, Prime Minister Cai. I have only one request."

"Don't anger the Jurchens. If all else fails, just say it's tribute prepared for them."

Cai Yuanchang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."

Just then, a commotion arose outside the back garden.

"Where is your emperor? I want to see your emperor, all of you get out of my way!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

At the entrance to the Imperial Garden, a burly Jurchen man rudely pushed aside the eunuchs and guards blocking his way and barged into the garden as if no one else was there.

Upon seeing the visitors, officials, including Emperor Huizong of Song, immediately adopted a respectful demeanor.

"Do not be rude to the Fourth Prince, and get out of the way immediately."

At Zhao Ji's command, all the eunuchs and guards immediately stepped aside to make way for the newcomer.

This Jurchen man was none other than Wanyan Wo, who had come to negotiate peace.

"Humph!"

He glanced around, gave a disdainful snort to the eunuchs and guards, and strode up to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji and the others forced a smile and were about to bow to him when they saw Wanyan Wo sit down on the stone bench, grab the fruit on the stone table, and take a big bite.

His behavior was unusually rude, causing some of the civil officials present to shake their heads, but they dared not express it openly.

Zhou Xianwu was about to reprimand him when a civil official behind him held his hand down and gave him a look that told him not to be impulsive.

Zhao Ji glanced at Cai Yuanchang.

Cai Yuanchang immediately understood and stepped forward to Wanyan Wo, saying, "Your Highness, what brings you to His Majesty's court? Is there something wrong with our Great Song's hospitality?"

Wanyan Wo threw away the grapes he had left, glared at Cai Yuanchang with his wolf-like eyes, and said, "I just came to ask when the Song emperor plans to send her daughter to me."

After saying this, he glared fiercely at Zhao Ji.

Emperor Huizong was terrified and dared not meet Wanyan Wo's gaze, immediately avoiding his sharp eyes.

"Hmph, the emperor of Song is so weak and incompetent. With such a ruler, it's no wonder that Song has become so sickly!"

Wanyan Wo showed no mercy to Zhao Ji, and his words made the emperor and his ministers blush, yet they dared not lash out.

Cai Yuanchang quickly smoothed things over: "Your Highness, the princess's marriage is a major event, especially since Princess Fujin is His Majesty's beloved daughter. The preparations for the wedding must not be shabby."

"You Song people have so many rules. If you had put even a little effort into military equipment, how could you have been beaten so badly by my Great Jin?"

Wanyan Wo then mocked the Song emperor and his ministers for a while, before waving his hand dismissively.

"Forget it, I won't reason with you sheep. I'm just here to tell you that the princess's dowry must be doubled."

"What? Double the price?"

Cai Yuanchang immediately looked troubled.

"Fourth Prince, this..."

Wanyan Wo interrupted him directly, saying, "What's with that expression? What, isn't your Great Song Dynasty the richest in the world?"

"You can't afford such a small dowry? Or are you Song people just empty talkers trying to deceive us Jin people into believing you're honest?"

"No, these material possessions are naturally insignificant to our Great Song Dynasty. As long as the Fourth Prince and the Princess have a harmonious marriage, and the two countries can forge a bond of brotherhood,..."

These dowries..."

Cai Yuanzhang paused, then turned to look at Zhao Ji.

Seeing Zhao Ji close his eyes and nod, he smiled and continued, "Of course, it will be taken care of."

"Hahaha, as expected of the Great Song Dynasty, it is indeed rich and prosperous. Very good, very good indeed."

Wanyan Wo smiled and stood up after hearing this.

"Alright, now that you, my lord and your subjects, have given your consent, I won't spoil your fun any longer, hahaha..."

After saying this, Wanyan Wo smiled and left the Imperial Garden.

As Zhou Xianwu watched Wanyan Wo's arrogant face as he left, his fists clenched tightly.