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

The following day, Ban Dingyuan's delegation boarded a carriage to return to Zhongdu, accompanied by Tian Ying and two other foreign dignitaries.

The scene on the training ground that day, in which the State of Chu defeated the Wu Zhao Iron Cavalry with their sharp firearms, left a very deep impression on them, and they took the opportunity to develop the desire to curry favor with them.

He Yong saw them off all the way, and after witnessing them leave Shengjing, he rushed to the Forbidden City to meet Li Hong.

"Everyone left?"

"Your Majesty, I personally saw them off and they left the gates of Shengjing City two hours ago."

"Okay, good riddance."

Inside the imperial study, Li Hong was copying an ancient calligraphic work when he responded.

"Go back and inform all the officials along the way to keep a close eye on the Chu delegation's every move, and to report to me immediately if anything happens."

He Yong bowed and replied, "This servant obeys the decree."

He then asked, "Your Majesty, there is something I still don't understand."

With a stroke of his pen, Li Hong created a magnificent and elegant calligraphy on the pristine white paper.

He tossed his pen aside and laughed, "I know what you want to ask. You want to know why I refused to associate with the State of Chu, right?"

He Yong: "Your Majesty has exceptional insight; nothing I do can be hidden from you."

Li Hong asked, "He Yong, what is your opinion of the State of Chu?"

He Yong lowered his posture: "Your Majesty, if I may speak frankly, this envoy from Chu is indeed different from those from other foreign states."

Moreover, their skills and ingenuity are exceptionally sharp and ingenious; just the other day, that servant was thinking...

"If my Wu Zhao Kingdom could import these firearms, wouldn't my Wu Zhao Kingdom's strength increase even further?"

Li Hong narrowed his eyes: "You think so too?"

He Yong bowed his head and replied, "This servant is short-sighted and certainly cannot see as far as His Majesty. This is all I can see."

Li Hong shook his head: "He Yong, if you think like that, you're making a big mistake. Actually, what's the state of Chu like?"

Although I have never met him, Muli Chen has returned to Chu more than once or twice over the years, so I am somewhat aware of the current situation in Chu.

The State of Chu is currently experiencing its most prosperous period in its eight-hundred-year history. This is not only due to the achievements of their Empress, but also because she has a good husband who assists her.

Therefore, the Chu state was able to govern the eastern continent so well, and the fact that tribes from various parts of Liaodong traveled thousands of miles to join our dynasty also proves this point.

The State of Chu continued its northward expansion, deploying its military forces even to the grasslands and deserts, severely restricting the living space of local tribes.

This is a very different country, no less than my Wu Zhao. A country like this will never willingly become a vassal.

Upon hearing this, He Yong immediately understood: "Your Majesty's meaning is clear to this servant. As the saying goes, 'Two tigers cannot share one mountain,' it is impossible for Wu Zhao and Chu to become vassal states."

Li Hong nodded: "Yes, that's why I refused to have any dealings with them and also refused their requests for trade, because if I agreed,..."

In the future, more foreign lands will learn that on the other side of the sea there is a nation that is comparable to my Wu Zhao.

They have turned to align themselves with the State of Chu, thus jeopardizing the carefully constructed alliance I have built. Therefore, I have no choice but to sever all ties with them.

He Yong: "But Your Majesty, this servant still doesn't understand. Even if Wu Zhao and Chu are not related by blood, their trade should not have been severed."

I personally visited Haizhou Harbor and was truly impressed by the ships of the Chu Kingdom.

In the entire Haizhou harbor, only the Chu state's ships were the largest, and they were made of iron.

If I, Wu Zhao, cooperate with them to purchase ships and firearms, and even acquire manufacturing techniques,

This is entirely beneficial to me, Wu Zhao.

Li Hong shook his head: "So you, my servant, still have a narrow vision. You only see these superficial things, but you haven't thought about the deeper levels. I ask you, what was the purpose of the founding emperor in establishing the imperial examination system?"

He Yong replied, "Naturally, it is to cultivate pillars of talent for my Wuzhao."

"You're wrong. Let me tell you, the primary purpose of the Taizu Emperor in establishing the imperial examination system was not to cultivate talent, but to confine all scholars in the land to the cage of the eight-legged essay."

If we have them delve into ancient and modern classics, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each word and phrase, then these scholars will no longer have any other unrealistic ideas.

Once the scholars are settled, the world will be settled. Even if some dare to rebel, they will only be bandits like the Heavenly Principle Sect, and will not amount to anything.

In this way, my empire will be secure. Moreover, after my ascension to the throne, I deliberately elevated the status of scholars, completely distinguishing them from commoners.

What is the purpose? Is it to make them good local officials and benefit the people? No! I am not that shallow. What are the people? I don't care about them at all.

Just imagine what would happen if a scholar were a commoner. Naturally, he would say whatever he wanted without any scruples, daring to utter even the most treasonous words.

Even if I were to kill ten thousand or a hundred thousand, I still couldn't kill them all. But I will treat them differently from commoners.

What would happen if we tied them to the interests of the imperial power? Naturally, they would only be able to think of the emperor's interests wholeheartedly.

As long as I can keep these scholars in my hands, even if all the people in the world rebel, I will not be afraid at all. What kind of trouble do you think a group of ignorant people can achieve?

They can't even read a few characters and they want to rebel? That's laughable! Therefore, by controlling the educated, I control the lives of hundreds of millions of people in Wuzhao.

The common people are the easiest to deal with. If they become unruly, just kill some, intimidate others, and then give them a little something extra so they'll be willing to go back to struggling to make a living.

As long as the people remain ignorant and toil day and night for a living, raising the bar for education to prevent them from having new ideas is the greatest help to the nation.

However, if the conditions of the State of Chu were agreed to and large-scale trade were established between the two countries, the common people would inevitably come into contact with new affairs.

When people are exposed to new things, they inevitably begin to yearn for change. What people fear most is comparison. If they were to learn how miserable their situation is, and how vastly different it is from that of the State of Chu, they would be deeply disturbed.

What do you think will happen? If the ignorant masses realized they were living worse than pigs and dogs, the backlash would be devastating.

So, He Yong, do you now understand my good intentions?

In fact, Li Hong was well aware of how miserable the lives of the people under his rule were.

He had considered improving the lives of the people, but Wu Zhao had five or six hundred million people. If he made any changes, the first thing to be impacted would inevitably be his own throne.

Therefore, he chose the lowest-cost policy of humiliating and keeping the people ignorant. As long as he controlled the scholar class, his throne would be as stable as Mount Tai.

The reign of Li Hong was also the most oppressive period for the people since the founding of Wu Zhao.

The so-called prosperous era was nothing more than a facade created by Li Hong at the cost of countless lives lost at the bottom of society.

He Yong was stunned and speechless for a long time before he said, "Your Majesty is truly wise and insightful. Even if I were to flatter you, I could not possibly match your wisdom."

Li Hong smiled and said, "This is the art of rulership. It's normal that you don't understand it. In any case, you should write down for me which foreign countries have been getting close to the Chu envoys this time."

"The slave obeys the order."

……

April 18th, Haizhou City.

After a bumpy journey, Ban Dingyuan and his group returned to Haizhou.

Compared to the route there, the return journey was completed ten days earlier because it followed the river downstream.

Looking at the cruise ship docked in the harbor, Ban Dingyuan was filled with emotion. He hugged Ban Zhao and said, "Little sister, we're going home soon. When we get to Chu, I'll arrange for you to go to school, okay?"

"Can I really study?"

"Of course you can. In the State of Chu, everyone is entitled to study, even women. From now on, the State of Chu will be your home."

Upon hearing this, Ban Zhao looked at the large ship, her eyes filled with hope.

Pei Ju: "When I return to Chu, I will definitely propose to the cabinet that we take military action against Wu Zhao."

Ban Dingyuan: "Let's first greet the Commander and see what his opinion is on this."

The blue waves rippled gently, the sea breeze caressed our faces, and the cruise ship moored in the distance stood like a stabilizing rock, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding sailboats that were rocking erratically.