Chapter 1074: 1068: A Meeting Without an Alliance

Chapter 1074: Chapter 1068: A Meeting Without an Alliance

“Could it be that you are afraid that the Zhou and Yan… might embark on a long expedition, to attack the Tianfeng Kingdom without success?” Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup, smiling as she spoke, “If there’s a need to launch a long expedition to Tianfeng Kingdom, the Zhou would have to borrow a route from Xiliang, traversing long distances… This trade would not be worthwhile, and since Tianfeng Kingdom is allied with Xiliang, Xiliang most likely wouldn’t allow passage through its territory for the Zhou and Yan Kingdoms.”

Xiao Rongyan followed, “Setting aside the matter of borrowing a route for a long expedition, speaking of the area around the Tianfeng Kingdom, it is all desert, and the desert swallows Tianfeng Kingdom’s territory every day. The Zhou has no interest, and my Yan Kingdom… is also not interested. The Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom can rest assured.”

When Sal Khan heard these words, he was secretly shocked. He hadn’t expected that the Zhou would be so informed about the situation in Tianfeng Kingdom. He thought of… the Zhou merchant Cui Fengnian, who had recently arrived at Tianfeng Kingdom; could it be that Cui Fengnian had gathered this information?

If it was Cui Fengnian who obtained this information, then how did Yan also know? Did the Empress of Zhou tell Yan?

However, this was not news that must be kept secret and was not that important.

As they were speaking, Shen Jingzhong had already signed the alliance agreement with Yan, personally delivered by Liu Rushi to the table in front of Emperor Yan and Ninth Prince Murong Yan. Xiao Rongyan glanced at it and then handed it to his envoy for stamping and signing.

Sal Khan did not want this alliance to merely serve as a wedding garment for the Yan Kingdom and the Zhou, so he clenched his fists and let out a low laughter, “Since the Zhou and Yan Kingdoms are already aware of the current situation of Tianfeng Kingdom, I’ll speak frankly then…”

“The fertile lands of Tianfeng Kingdom are gradually being consumed by the desert. If this continues, one day, Tianfeng Kingdom might be unable to feed its people due to insufficient arable land. To avoid such a situation, Tianfeng Kingdom is willing to lease lands and cities from Yan, the Zhou, and Xiliang at a high price, paying a ten-year rent up front, and after each annual harvest, delivering twenty percent of the yield to the Zhou, Yan, and Xiliang.” Sal Khan smiled and said, “This is what Tianfeng Kingdom seeks to gain from this alliance.”

What a clever strategy…

Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup, casually glancing at Murong Yan, a more evident smile appearing at the corners of her lips.

The Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom is using such a grand justification to slowly devour the Zhou and Yan!

“Tianfeng Kingdom plans to lease lands and cities from the convergence point of the Zhou, Yan, and Xiliang, occupying parts of all three countries, just seeking a foothold, to cultivate enough food to support the people of Tianfeng Kingdom.” Sal Khan said, rising and bowing to Bai Qingyan, Murong Yan, and Murong Li, “As the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom, I just want to seek a way for my people to survive. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to hold this Four-Nation Alliance. Please take a look at the alliance document… If the rent is unsatisfactory, we can further negotiate!”

The ministers accompanying Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li from Yan Kingdom to the alliance began discussing, and the Zhou’s Minister Shen Jingzhong, Liu Rushi, and Shen Tianzhi also leaned in to exchange a few words.

Upon seeing this, Sal Khan bowed again, “Now that Xiliang has already agreed, we ask Emperor of Zhou and Emperor Yan… Ninth Prince, to assist us, to ensure that this Four-Nation Alliance… doesn’t end up being an alliance just in name, so that I won’t have to face the people of Tianfeng Kingdom in shame!”

“If Tianfeng Kingdom wants to lease lands and cities, does it require the relocation of the Zhou and Yan’s people?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“And would there be military presence within the cities?” Xiao Rongyan followed up with a question.

After sitting down, Sal Khan said, “After leasing the cities, we would need to relocate the people of Tianfeng Kingdom to settle in and cultivate the lands! Naturally, if the rent could be a bit lower, Tianfeng Kingdom could also hire the people of the Zhou and Yan to cultivate, which would mean there would be no need for any of the Zhou or Yan’s people to be relocated.”

“Regarding stationing troops, if we employ the people of the Zhou and Yan to cultivate, then only a portion of the Elephant Army would remain to maintain order, supervise, and transport the grains back to Tianfeng Kingdom.” Sal Khan paused before continuing, “If relocating citizens of Tianfeng Kingdom, the Elephant Army would stay to ensure the safety of Tianfeng Kingdom’s people and protect our interests during the lease term, and also carry the responsibility for transporting grains.”

Fearing that such words might arouse the Zhou and Yan’s caution, Sal Khan continued, “Naturally, although we lease these cities and lands, the territory remains that of the Zhou and Yan. The Zhou and Yan can completely dispatch garrisons, during the lease term… Tianfeng Kingdom’s army would manage the cities and lands, while the Zhou and Yan armies could serve a supervisory role, ensuring Tianfeng Kingdom has no ulterior motives.”

Obvious as it was that they hadn’t gained an inch yet aimed for a mile, yet they still put on an act of knowing when to advance and retreat…

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes to look at the alliance document sent by the Tianfeng Kingdom that hadn’t been unfurled yet. If her guess was right, the rent offered by Tianfeng Kingdom should be compelling enough.

The situation in which the territory of Tianfeng Kingdom is being increasingly devoured by the desert is quite severe, at this point… The proposal of leasing cities and lands by Tianfeng Kingdom is indeed not deliberate, and especially with the offer of high rent, it is quite tempting.

It seems the Monarch of the Tianfeng Kingdom indeed made an effort for the sake of the Zhou and Yan and is willing to pay the cost…

The more this situation is so, the more Bai Qingyan can perceive the significant ambitions of the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom.

She raised her hand to spread out the alliance document sent by Tianfeng Kingdom, at which point Sal Khan showed a smile, lifting the teacup… He believed that even those as noble as the Emperor of Zhou and Emperor Yan would be moved upon seeing the rent.

“Paying ten years’ rent at once, isn’t Tianfeng Kingdom afraid that within these ten years something might change?” an envoy from the Yan Kingdom couldn’t help but ask after expressing his surprise.

“The gentleman has indeed got to the point, hence… Tianfeng Kingdom intends to leave some Elephant Army as a security measure, to avoid being expelled before the term is up. I believe… Emperor of Zhou and Emperor Yan, as well as the Ninth Prince of Yan, can understand this!” Sal Khan smiled, “Moreover, Tianfeng Kingdom leases cities and farmlands on the lands of the Zhou, Yan, and Xiliang, and the area isn’t large. Should Tianfeng Kingdom harbor any ill intentions… the signed alliance with the Zhou and Yan serves to deter Tianfeng Kingdom as well.”

“Just as the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom said, Tianfeng Kingdom is on Yan and Zhou’s territory, aren’t you afraid that after we accept the ten-year rent, we’ll drive you out?” Murong Yan’s voice from behind the mask was low, carrying a hint of a teasing tone.

“Yan Kingdom and the Zhou are both major powers. As long as the alliance is signed today, Tianfeng Kingdom, from top to bottom, would be willing to believe!” Sal Khan said.

“Why make it so complicated, Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom! Isn’t it just about needing grains?” Liu Rushi looked up in the direction of the Monarch of Tianfeng Kingdom, “If Tianfeng Kingdom lacks grains, then just purchase grains. Transform the ten years’ rent into a ten-year grain deposit, which our two countries will accept, and within these ten years, eighty percent of the harvest from these parts will be sent to Tianfeng Kingdom. If Tianfeng Kingdom is worried, you can appoint four or five officials to be permanently stationed for inspection!”