Chapter 304: Great Shame and Humiliation

Three days in a row.

Cheng Cheng was about to go mad.

At this moment he finally understood: the once so obedient and well-behaved Princess, it turned out, could be so domineering, so sharp, even so shameless...

In three days, the two sides had been slamming tables, glaring, spittle flying—just short of shouting abuse.

However...

The conditions Xie Chan proposed simply would not budge an inch.

Exactly like this!

Negotiate or not! If not, my lord Ling is still sharpening his knife, you Western Regions' strongest Qiuci have fallen into internal chaos—how dare you play games with our Western Regions Construction Corps?

Cheng Cheng was nearly in tears.

What evil have I brought upon myself, coming here to negotiate? This is not the Princess of Dayuan Kingdom—this is simply a bandit chief of the Western Regions Construction Corps!

He almost blurted out several times, "Princess, please show mercy..."

However...

He was again told by Xie Chan that he must not reveal her identity.

How difficult!

Negotiations.

Had reached an impasse.

"Miss, are we being too excessive?"

Returning to the mansion, Xiao Tao asked cautiously.

Xie Chan glared at her: "Excessive? To hold office is to administer its duties—such is the way of man! This Princess... I am now the Great General of the Western Regions Construction Corps, not the Princess of Dayuan Kingdom!"

Xiao Tao opened her mouth a few times, wanting to speak but daring not to.

Xie Chan sighed, "Oh dear," and patted her head: "No need to overthink—I ask you, did Lord Ling Chen send me to negotiate because he trusts me?"

Xiao Tao looked bewildered, nodding slightly.

Xie Chan gave a cold smile: "This isn't trust—it's probing!"

"What?"

Xiao Tao gasped.

Xie Chan wore a look of seasoned scheming, nodding: "Think—we are originally Western Region people; if in this negotiation our hearts lean toward Dayuan Kingdom, wouldn't that raise suspicion of treason and collusion with the enemy?"

Xiao Tao suddenly understood, drawing a deep breath: "This Lord Ling Chen certainly has a lot on his mind!"

Xie Chan chuckled: "Who playing politics is simple? He wants it this way—we won't let him have his wish! Rest assured, the Princess's name and taboo are unknown to ordinary folk; as long as we pressure Dayuan Kingdom from within, they won't detect our identity!"

"Miss, how wise!"

Xiao Tao admired Xie Chan more and more.

But...

She still felt these conditions were truly too harsh! It was nothing short of squeezing Dayuan Kingdom dry for over a decade...

Looking again at Cheng Cheng, who had rushed back to the Post House at night, his face anxious: "Has His Majesty replied? Has His Majesty replied?"

"Sir, His Majesty's oral decree: let Cheng Cheng act at his discretion!"

Hearing this, Cheng Cheng's face turned bitter.

Act at his discretion?

This...

To say it so lightly—but once I decide the negotiation terms, once I sign the treaty, I will become a eternal sinner of Dayuan Kingdom!

Your Majesty pities your daughter...

Then what about me?

Then what about my reputation?

For a moment, his mind was a mush of confusion.

No!

Does His Majesty know the Princess is serving as Great General in the Western Regions Construction Corps, yet issue no other orders?

This means he already knew?

He couldn't help but draw a deep breath.

Could His Majesty's intention be that he has some design?

Suddenly his eyes lit up: yes, if this Princess could fully command the Western Regions Construction Corps, then all this would be perfectly resolved!

Deep foresight!

Far-sighted vision!

It seems, this time I am destined to bear the infamy of a traitor!

But!

It doesn't matter!

As long as it benefits Dayuan Kingdom, what does it matter if I bear a lifetime of curses?

Thus.

The next day.

Dayuan Kingdom and the Western Regions Protectorate signed the most humiliating treaty in Dayuan Kingdom's history: ceding territory, paying indemnities, annual tribute, and in name, Dayuan Kingdom became a vassal of the Longyan Dynasty. Once the treaty was signed, both nations erupted in uproar.

Dayuan Kingdom plunged into turmoil and chaos, all sectors of society cursing and condemning, emotions running high.

While the Longyan Dynasty rejoiced, celebrating universally.

From then on.

The Longyan Dynasty had finally truly conquered the Dayuan Kingdom! Upon receiving this news, the old emperor Xie Tianyao announced nationwide celebrations and a general amnesty.

He pardoned two hundred thousand slaves once more and supported the Western Regions Construction Corps.

The Western Regions Protectorate instantly gained great fame, its prestige unmatched.

Governor Liu's reputation also reached its peak once again.

Ling Chen and Xie Chan's names began to spread back home, becoming the talk of the town.

……

And in Liangzhou.

Since these bigwigs of Liangzhou's privileged class had brought him heads, Liu Zheng naturally accepted them all with a smile.

That very day, taking advantage of this bustling scene, he issued the Liangzhou Prefecture Cabinet Management Platform and the Liangzhou People's Representative Congress Management Method.

This move.

Liangzhou became lively.

These tens of thousands of people, after going through the motions that day, passed Liu Zheng's simple voting system, bit by bit, submitting ten suggestions from each industry.

They had gained the right to propose and deliberate, but naturally had no decision-making power. According to the Cabinet Platform's provisions, these ten suggestions would be sent to the Liangzhou Prefecture Cabinet for denunciation, then finally passed into three resolutions, which would be issued as decrees.

And now...

Since the cabinet had not yet been formed, naturally some waiting was required.

So when they left excitedly, a sudden thought popped into their minds.

"You say this Governor Liu, won't he be putting on a show for us?"

Others also changed expression: "You mean he's just trying to placate us?"

"Exactly!"

"Very likely!"

"Good!"

"So Governor Liu is just painting a big pie for them! Trying to find a way to drive away these troublemaking petitioners, then this so-called resolution can be postponed indefinitely?"

A group of people immediately flared up in anger, almost turning back to go to the Liangzhou Prefecture again.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

At this moment, a white-haired old man in a long robe stepped forward, chuckling: "Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down."

"It's Elder Dong!"

"Elder Dong!"

This person turned out to be Liangzhou City's renowned teacher, with students everywhere, his reputation not low.

Elder Dong laughed: "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this Platform and Method are extremely detailed, rich in content, without loopholes. One can see they were only formed after long consideration and refinement. They certainly were not the work of Governor Liu on a whim. One can see that Liangzhou Prefecture's reform is indeed like this!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt it made sense.

It seems among these troublemakers, there are still reasonable people.

"If this system is promoted, for us white-clothed commoners, it would indeed be a great blessing! Moreover, Liangzhou's troops have always been fierce; if Governor Liu wanted to deal with us today, why go through all this? Violent suppression would be easy enough. One can see Governor Liu's sincerity is complete."

"If so, why not wait another seven days? After seven days, if Governor Liu gives us no explanation, we'll cause trouble again then!"

"Good!"

"Elder Dong speaks reasonably!"

"Then let's wait him seven more days!"

A group of people thus felt reassured and left.

Ying Rong and others also received news from their household servants at this time.

"The Cabinet Platform?"

"The People's Representative Congress?"

Many could not sit still, their faces turning ashen: "Isn't this just nonsense!"

"A bunch of lowly commoners, what qualifications do they have to participate in governance! They probably can't even recognize a few characters!"

"If this continues, the country will not be the country, the prefecture will not be the prefecture!"

Some even beat their chests and stamped their feet in anguish: "I thought we had gotten a wise ruler, who would have thought he's not even as good as the previous Chen Ping!"

"Lord Ying, what should we do about this?"

"Lord Ying?"

A group of people anxiously looked at Ying Rong.

Ying Rong also fell into deep thought.

People's deliberators?

This is absolutely the greatest challenge to imperial supremacy and the feudal system... no, not just a challenge, but a provocation!

He had just carefully read through this Platform and Method!

Simply put.

Governor Liu, this is challenging the establishment, cutting off the source!

In the social structure of a feudal dynasty, lowly commoners should be at the very bottom. Educating the ignorant and ruling the ignorant are the strongest magic tools for maintaining a feudal dynasty's continuation.

Whether letting them read or letting them participate in governance, this is extremely dangerous!

Liangzhou's social resources had long been allocated... yet Liu Zheng's arrival sought to challenge these structures.

Using a bunch of lowly commoners?

Ying Rong gave a cold smile: "Rest assured, these lowly commoners are not worth worrying about!"

"What we need to do now is, first, think of every way to seize the cabinet's nine seats!"

Liu Zheng's Cabinet is set to have nine Cabinet Members. This is to avoid the situation of a tie when voting.

Everyone nodded.

Ying Rong continued to sneer: "Second, according to our plan, it is necessary to let Liu Zheng know that without these officials, Liangzhou will fall into paralysis!"

Everyone excitedly accepted the order.

"Yes!"