The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

Dignity resides only on the edge of the sword!

Similarly, only when you are strong enough can you gain the respect and support of others.

Although Goryeo was not as powerful as Daqi, it was still a country, while Bukning City, no matter how prosperous, was still just a city.

The difference in status is evident from the comparison.

But now, Yelü Dongze has taken the initiative to form an alliance, which greatly excites Zhao Luoying.

As expected, their own prince is the chosen one, and even foreign countries praise him. If it weren't for that annoying Yelü Huanxi, everything would be too perfect.

Zhao Luoying felt awkward thinking to herself.

Qin Xuan was also somewhat excited, after all, this was the first country to formally ally with Beining City, a feat worthy of being recorded in history.

As for the Jurchen Kingdom, they have not yet reached the point of formally forming an alliance.

That evening, Qin Xuan arranged a top-level banquet to personally welcome Yelü Dongze and his entourage.

The banquet lasted for more than two hours before it finally ended.

"You may all leave. I will bathe the prince."

Inside the room, Zhao Luoying dismissed the two maids, then rolled up her long sleeves and personally rubbed Qin Xuan's back.

Looking at the hideous knife and arrow wounds on Qin Xuan's back, she couldn't help but feel heartache.

"Your Highness, now that Goryeo has formed an alliance, there will inevitably be other countries such as the Jurchen, Liaodong, and Khitan in the future. You must never get so drunk again."

As Zhao Luoying washed Qin Xuan's body, she softly murmured to herself.

"If I don't get drunk, how could the princess bear to bathe me?"

Suddenly, Qin Xuan's sly voice rang out. Zhao Luoying was startled and immediately said angrily, "Your Highness, you are so wicked, you've tricked me again."

Qin Xuan laughed, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the bathtub without saying a word.

Fortunately, the bathtub was big enough that the two of them were not crowded in the water.

But Zhao Luoying was already blushing with embarrassment and annoyance, and struggled to get up.

"My dear Luo Ying, you promised to take a bath together last time, how long has it been? You still haven't kept your promise!"

"On such a joyous day as today, you won't even grant me this one wish?"

Qin Xuan sighed, feigning disappointment, "Sigh, if you really don't want to, then forget it. I'll have a maid come over!"

"Don't!"

Zhao Luoying couldn't bear to see Qin Xuan looking so aggrieved, so she blushed, bit her lip, and whispered, "Just this once, okay? Turn your head away first."

That night, the water rippled and the sound of waves was continuous. In the latter half of the night, the bed shook and the curtains fluttered, and the echoes lingered until dawn.

The following morning, Yelü Dongze and Yelü Huanxi came to the Chu King's residence to discuss trade between the two countries.

This kind of bilateral trade is not a one-off purchase, but a policy-driven purchase for one year, or even three to five years into the future.

The two sides initially agreed that Bukning City would provide Goryeo with ten acres of land in Wanhae City, the trading city, to serve as Goryeo's trading post in Bukning City.

This ten mu of land is equivalent to more than 6,660 square meters, which includes warehouses, dormitories and shops. The rent is 200,000 taels per year and must be paid in one lump sum.

Secondly, all transactions between Goryeo and Wanhai City must be conducted through Beining City, a third party, which is the most important part of Qin Xuan's development of Wanhai City.

All transactions within the city must have their money deposited into the Wan Hai City Money Exchange. This is to ensure fairness and impartiality for both parties and to prevent discrepancies between the goods and the description or non-payment after receipt of goods.

Of course, Wan Hai Cheng Money Exchange will take a 0.01% handling fee during this process.

Yelü Dongze had no objection to this.

"Your Highness, this is the list of goods I need for this trip. Please make preparations as soon as possible."

Yelü Dongze was eager to return to China to report, as the amount of supplies purchased each year was enormous and beyond his control. However, since he had come, he could take a batch of supplies back with him first.

Qin Xuan opened the list and nodded: "50,000 catties of refined salt, 300,000 catties of honeycomb briquettes, 10,000 bars of soap, 10,000 coal stoves, and 500,000 catties of cement, is that all?"

Did I ask for too little?

Yelü Dongze was taken aback. He had discussed this procurement list with the members of the Chamber of Commerce overnight, and his biggest worry was that Beining City would not be able to provide so many goods at once.

Judging from Qin Xuan's expression, this amount of goods was nothing to him!

"If possible, we can add another 50,000 catties of refined salt, and at the same time, we can add up to one million catties of cement. What do you think?"

Yelü Dongze looked at Qin Xuan with anticipation.

"As long as you can afford the price, there will be no problem with the supply to Beining City."

Qin Xuan smiled. With Beining City's current production capacity, this amount of supply was indeed not a problem; a little overtime work would be enough to get it all out.

"Also, Lord Fuyuzawa, are you not considering Kitanagashi paper?"

"That's right, I almost forgot about such an important thing. We also need Beining paper. I wonder how much Your Highness can provide?"

Yelü Dongze slapped his forehead, feeling ashamed of his oversight.

“A three-foot cut will cost three coins per cut, a four-foot cut will cost four coins per cut, a six-foot cut will cost eight coins, and an eight-foot cut will cost two taels. It’s up to Lord Dongze to choose.”

The dimensions Qin Xuan reported were one hundred sheets per cut.

Upon hearing this price, Yelü Dongze frowned slightly: "Your Highness, this price is a bit too high. As far as I know, three feet of rice only cost about one coin within the Great Qi territory."

“You said it yourself, it’s within the territory of Daqi, and those are the people of Daqi, so naturally it’s cheaper.”

"But Goryeo is not the Great Qi, and I have deliberately left you some room for maneuver. Even if those caravans transport the goods to Goryeo themselves, three feet will already sell for one tael, while I only charge you three coins. In the end, isn't it your Loulan Merchant Guild that profits?"

Beining paper is unique, and Qin Xuan is not afraid that Yelü Dongze will not buy it.

Sure enough, after a slight hesitation, Yelü Dongze said, "Alright, I will report the specific quantity to Mr. Qiu later."

"In addition, I have another request."

"You said."

"The merchant corps came in a hurry this time, so they did not purchase any silver. Would Your Highness allow me to take the goods back first, and then send silver or supplies over?"

Yelü Dongze said with some difficulty.

He came to Beining City for two reasons: first, because Yelü Huanxi kept urging him to come; and second, because in the past three months, refined salt, soap, honeycomb briquettes, and other such products had become popular throughout Goryeo, so he had to come on behalf of the Loulan Chamber of Commerce to investigate.

What Yelü Dongze didn't expect was that Beining City was far wealthier than rumored, and its goods were of high quality and low price, so he wished he could take them all back to the country.

"One of the rules of Beining City is that we do not extend credit. Mr. Dongze can send someone back to raise the silver and supplies first, and we can trade when they arrive."

You think you can get your hands on Beining City for free? Don't even think about taking anything from mere Yelü Dongze, or even the King of Goryeo. You won't get anything without seeing the silver.

Yelü Dongze smiled wryly and said, "In that case, we can only do as Your Highness says! However, if we send warhorses and copper ore, could the transaction price be reduced?"

"I'm afraid this will disappoint Mr. Dongze. Everything in Beining City is unique, so there is another rule in Beining City, which is that the price is fixed."

The meaning of "fixed price" can also be interpreted as "take it or leave it."

This would naturally not work for ordinary merchants, but what can you do when refined salt is something that is unique in the world?

You can choose not to buy, but your competitors will. In the end, who will suffer the loss is clear to everyone.

"The prince is truly as domineering as a battlefield!"

Yelü Dongze was somewhat annoyed, and his tone revealed a hint of dissatisfaction.

“Mr. Dongze has just arrived in Beining City and may not know everything yet, but that’s alright. Since you need to wait for the caravan to return and raise the silver anyway, how about I take you to see another place?”

Qin Xuan had long guessed that Yelü Dongze would be angry, but he didn't care, after all, Beining City was just a city.

But Qin Xuan believed that once Yelü Dongze had visited the places he had taken him, he would surely become more respectful.