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

The messenger sent by Seng Qinlin, Duolong, had been waiting for half an hour at the Haizhou Governor's Office to persuade the surrender of the enemy.

Ban Dingyuan arrived late, just as Duolong was falling asleep.

Upon seeing Ban Dingyuan, Duolong immediately launched into a tirade: "As expected of a small foreign country, you have no manners at all. You've left the envoy from the Celestial Empire standing here for a full half hour. Is this how your Chu Kingdom treats its guests?"

Ban Dingyuan was shocked. After hearing what Duolong said, he immediately went back to the door to make sure he hadn't gone to the wrong place before he sat down at the table with a serious face.

"What are you here for? Just state your purpose."

Since the other party was so arrogant and couldn't even tell the situation from the top, giving you a sour look, Ban Dingyuan naturally didn't have any attitude either.

Duolong snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "You tiny little country dare to invade the borders of my Wuzhao Kingdom. Do you really think that my dynasty is helpless against you?"

I urge you to withdraw your troops immediately, return Haizhou City, and let your Empress voluntarily board the prison cart and come with me to the capital to be handed over to the Emperor for judgment.

Otherwise, the heavens will be enraged, and my million iron cavalry of Wuzhao will march forth, leaving you nothing but dust and bones. Do you understand?

Ban Dingyuan was completely stunned. Was Duolong an idiot?

It's unbelievable that someone would say something so insane.

So, Ban Dingyuan patiently asked, "Wait a minute, let me confirm first."

"You mean, we should voluntarily withdraw from Haizhou City, and then have our Empress accompany you to the capital to apologize to Li Hong?"

"How dare you!" Duolong roared, clasping his hands in a fist and gesturing towards the north. "How dare you address the Emperor by his name? For this alone, I would gladly exterminate your entire clan!"

However, considering your barbarian ways and lack of manners, I could pretend I didn't hear this. Now, hand over your Empress immediately.

"Send your entire fleet away from Haizhou Port, or my Wu Zhaotian Army will surely raze you barbarians to the ground and reduce you all to ashes."

"Pfft-"

Upon hearing this, Ban Dingyuan remained expressionless.

But the two military diplomatic trainees behind him couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.

Ban Dingyuan glanced at the two of them with a stern face.

The two quickly regained their diplomatic composure, trying hard not to laugh.

What are you laughing at!

Doron felt mocked and couldn't help but ask loudly.

Ban Dingyuan sat down at the negotiating table and asked Duolong a question: "I have a question for you, Your Excellency."

"what is the problem?"

"How much alcohol did you drink when you came here?"

Upon hearing this, Duolong's expression changed: "What do you mean by that?"

Ban Dingyuan: "If you had drunk even a sip less, you wouldn't have uttered such outrageous words, Your Excellency. I advise you to recognize the situation."

Haizhou City is currently in the hands of my Chu Kingdom. If your Wuzhao Kingdom could truly take it back, would you, a piece of trash, need to send someone like you to negotiate with me?

"You, you... how dare you, you brat..."

Duolong was trembling with anger, but he couldn't utter a single word while pointing at Ban Dingyuan's hand.

Ban Dingyuan ignored him and said directly, "Since you're here, it's a good time to talk to you about the conditions of my Chu Kingdom."

Doron was taken aback: "What are the conditions?"

"Ceasement conditions".

Ban Dingyuan poured himself a glass of water and continued, "From this day forward, Haizhou is officially part of the overseas territory of our Great Chu."

"They are no longer under the jurisdiction of your Wu Zhao Kingdom. All people within the territory of Haizhou are protected by the laws of my Chu Kingdom, and the Wu Zhao Kingdom has no right to interfere."

Duolong's eyes widened immediately, and he was about to burst out in anger when he heard Ban Dingyuan continue speaking.

"Secondly, we will open more trading ports along the coast, allow our Chu state to set up offices there, and employ local people as laborers. Your country shall not interfere with this."

"Third, standardize tariffs, using the tariffs set by the State of Chu as the benchmark, and officials at each trading post shall not arbitrarily charge additional fees."

"Fourth, allow my Chu armed fleet to sail in the Wu Zhao sea area to protect the interests of our merchants from harm."

"Fifth, apart from Haizhou, Huizhou, Quanzhou and Bozhou are also included in the influence zone of our Chu State. The people in this area are not bound by the laws of Wu Zhao, and the appointment of officials is carried out unilaterally by the Chu State. The Wu Zhao State shall not interfere."

"Sixth, compensate my Chu Kingdom with 65 million taels of silver for military expenses."

"If your country agrees to all the above conditions, then the State of Chu will immediately cease its military operations against the State of Wuzhao."

Your Excellency may return and convey your country's message to the Governor-General, and promptly inform your Emperor of His Majesty's intentions.

Duolong never expected that his opponent would not only show no fear or respect but also demand a large amount of benefits.

Thinking of this, Duolong slammed his hand on the table and angrily replied, "You petty country are extremely rude. Every point you have made is a provocation against the might of my dynasty. I will never agree to this."

Ban Dingyuan shrugged: "Since we can't reach an agreement, then please leave. What we can't get at the negotiating table, we can only try to get ourselves through extreme means."

Duolong: "Are you really not afraid of the infamous reputation of my Wuzhao Iron Cavalry?"

Ban Dingyuan smiled and shook his head: "Your Excellency, please return. The initiative in the war is now in our hands."

You have no right to threaten me. As for the iron cavalry of Wu Zhao Kingdom, I can only say we'll wait and see.

Seeing that threats were useless, Duolong could only leave in anger.

Because the two sides had completely opposite demands, the negotiations ended in discord.

After hearing Ban Dingyuan's report, Jiang Mengxuan couldn't help but chuckle: "It seems that the rulers and ministers of Wu Zhao Kingdom have truly become accustomed to arrogance."

They lack even basic understanding; since that's the case, then I don't need to be polite with them.

Ban Dingyuan: "Your Majesty, should we send a telegram to the Emperor, ordering him to return?"

"unnecessary."

Jiang Mengxuan shook her head and refused.

"My husband has already reached the Jiankang sea area, controlling half of Wuzhao's territory. Now more than ever, we must not disrupt the established plan."

Inform Meng Gong to launch a preemptive strike and begin a general offensive against Seng Qinlin's forces, so as not to give them a head-on defeat.

These arrogant Wuzhao people are completely unaware of how naive and childish their behavior truly is.

Ban Dingyuan: "Then I shall take my leave."

"Well, let's go."

As soon as Ban Dingyuan left, Qingwen immediately slipped into the Governor's Mansion and said to Jiang Mengxuan, "Your Majesty, there is a woman outside the mansion who claims to be the Prince of Qi and wishes to pay her respects."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan smiled slightly and said, "Please invite her in."

"Yes, the slaves retire."

Not long after Qingwen left, Tianying timidly entered the Governor's Mansion.

Upon seeing Jiang Mengxuan, he immediately knelt down and bowed, saying, "I did not know you were Her Majesty the Empress. I was extremely disrespectful at the teahouse today. Please forgive me, Her Majesty the Empress."

Jiang Mengxuan stood up and helped her up: "Your Highness, what are you doing? You have done nothing wrong, so why ask for forgiveness? Come, please sit down and let's talk."