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

"I have heard that the Empress of Great Chu is renowned for her great fame and exceptional beauty, and thus I admire her greatly and desire a harmonious union between us."

I never imagined that the Empress had already found her ideal husband and married. Therefore, I feel deeply ashamed of my previous actions and hope that the Empress will forgive my rudeness.

"I, Li Hong, now offer my deepest apologies to the Empress. I hope the Empress will consider my unintentional actions and forgive my arrogance."

After reading the official letter that Li Hong had personally drafted for Jiang Mengxuan, He Yong carefully observed Shen Lang's behavior.

"Duke Zhenguo, this is His Majesty's sincerity. Are you satisfied?"

Shen Lang remained silent, holding the pointer and rhythmically tapping the shaft with his knuckles.

Pei Ju stepped forward, took the letter from Shu from He Yong, and handed it to Shen Lang.

Shen Lang glanced at the official letter, and after seeing the seal of the Wu Zhao Kingdom at the end, he silently put it away.

"Do you have any further objections to the contents of the treaty?"

He Yong: "Reporting to the Duke of Zhenguo, His Majesty has no objection to the contents of the treaty, but the amount of reparations is simply too enormous, and our Wuzhao Kingdom cannot possibly pay it all at once."

His Majesty's intention is to pay your country 300 million taels of silver in a lump sum, with the remaining 500 million to be paid in installments.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang closed his eyes.

Unable to fathom Shen Lang's attitude, He Yong hurriedly said, "Duke Zhenguo, to tell you the truth, it's about these three hundred million taels of silver..."

It was only after the Emperor had to dig three feet into the ground in the capital region that the amount was raised. If they were to hand over eight hundred million taels at once, Wu Zhao Kingdom simply couldn't do it right now.

Shen Lang then opened his eyes and said with a half-smile, "Installment payment is fine, but the salt tax from the Lianghuai region in your country must be used as collateral."

"This is impossible!"

Upon hearing this, He Yong immediately refused.

"Duke Zhenguo, the Emperor has already shown great sincerity. Please have pity on him and save him some face."

Shen Lang chuckled lightly: "He lost face on his own, it's not my fault. Don't you think it's too late to say these things now?"

He Yong: "Duke Zhenguo, we have done as you instructed. Please compromise. What if the salt tax of Lianghuai is lost?"

"The finances of Wu Zhao Kingdom are on the verge of collapse. How can an out-of-control Wu Zhao Kingdom fulfill the terms agreed upon with your country then?"

Shen Lang: "That makes sense. Alright, I can forgo the salt tax of Lianghuai, but you must agree to one condition. If you agree, you can repay the remaining 500 million taels of silver in installments over ten years."

He Yong breathed a sigh of relief: "Please speak, Duke Zhenguo."

Shen Lang: "Send me the heads of the leaders of the Qiang, Xia, Liaodong tribes, and the remaining tribes of Yan who have submitted to Wu Zhao. Also, expel all these tribesmen from your Wu Zhao territory. Can you do that?"

He Yong frowned. How could he make such a decision?

These vassal tribes that have submitted to the Wu Zhao Kingdom are an important source of mobile troops, especially now that the Wu Ying has collapsed, and they are the only ones who can maintain national defense.

If we do that, wouldn't it discourage the other tribes that have submitted to us?

After all, everyone came to Wu Zhao Kingdom because they couldn't make a living on their own ranches due to the suppression by the powerful settled dynasties. They joined the Wu Zhao Kingdom's upper class in exploiting hundreds of millions of people within the pass, and they were still able to live a relatively good life.

But if Wu Zhao Kingdom doesn't take them in, wouldn't that mean Wu Zhao Kingdom is untrustworthy, and would nomadic tribes still want to join them in the future...?

"What, you can't do it?"

“Duke Zhenguo, I must go back and report this matter to the Emperor so that he can make a decision.”

"can."

Shen Lang looked completely indifferent.

"But we must hurry. I can wait, but His Majesty cannot."

"Yes, Duke Zhenguo, I'll take my leave now."

He Yong immediately left the military camp and returned to the Forbidden City to report.

Upon seeing this, Pei Ju immediately smiled: "Commander is mighty! You've obtained three hundred million taels of silver in one go, plus the annual net profit of fifty million taels. This expedition of my Wu Zhao Kingdom can be considered a great success."

Shen Lang said, "Actually, I don't have any particular interest in the amount of silver. Currently, the amount of silver circulating within my Wu Zhao territory is no less than six hundred million taels."

The value of silver is no longer what it was ten years ago. To hedge against inflation, a portion of the silver acquired this time was kept in the bank.

A portion was used as foreign exchange to engage in trade with other Western countries.

"We should try our best to exchange them for industrial resources that are useful for economic and military development before the gold standard is fully implemented."

Pei Ju: "Understood, Commander. I will submit the proposal to the Cabinet when I return."

Shen Lang nodded and looked up at the sky.

This trip to Wuzhao is now coming to a successful conclusion.

……

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City, Li Hong lay on a rocking chair, quietly watching the portrait of the Empress of Great Chu hanging on the screen opposite him.

This was a gift brought by the Qiang people when they came to seek refuge.

Li Hong was deeply attracted by the empress's aura in the painting after just one glance.

After learning about the situation in the State of Chu, Li Hong developed an even stronger interest in the Empress.

From that time on, he hoped to meet the empress, discuss military and political matters, and ask how the next woman would govern such a large country.

As for women, although the empress in the portrait was absolutely beautiful and dignified, Li Hong really had no thoughts about romantic relationships.

As the ruler of a country, he had slept with countless women in his life. Even if the empress was beautiful, he would not be infatuated with her like a lustful ghost.

He was simply attracted by the empress's aura in the painting and felt that she was a person with a story.

It is worth mentioning that the empress in the portrait was only fifteen years old, and had not yet ascended the throne at that time.

"Tell me, all I wanted was to see you and discuss the ways of governing the country. How did it turn out like this? You little brat, you've really humiliated me."

While he was quietly admiring the portrait of the Empress, he and Yong entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your Majesty, your servant has returned."

Upon hearing He Yong's words, Li Hong calmly asked, "What did Shen Lang say?"

"He accepted Your Majesty's letter of credence. As for the peace talks, the only point of contention is the payment of reparations."

Li Hong: "Why can't we reach an agreement? Is it because you're unwilling to pay in installments?"

He Yong: "No, that's not it. Shen Lang is willing to pay in installments, and the timeframe he's given is ten years. However, he wants the salt tax from the Lianghuai region in the south of my Wuzhao Kingdom as collateral."

Or they might only agree if those tribes from the east were expelled and their tribal chiefs' heads were sent to them.

Li Hong chuckled lightly: "What a clever scheme, how vicious! No matter which one you choose, it will be a disastrous blow to my Wu Zhao Kingdom."

However, as the butcher, we have no other choice but to select the one most advantageous to us and save it.

He Yong: "Your Majesty, which one are you planning to choose?"

Li Hong: "If you were me, which one do you think should be protected?"

He Yong hurriedly knelt down: "Your Majesty, please don't frighten this servant, how dare this servant..."

"Alright, I pardon you. Tell me, which one should I choose? Speak up bravely."

He Yong then replied, "Your Majesty, this servant naturally wants to protect the salt tax. This battle with the State of Chu has proven that the outer vassal tribes are useless; the truly useful ones are the hundreds of millions of people within the Great Wall!"