Chapter 666: First Volume_Chapter 666: The Secret War Begins

First Volume_Chapter 666: The Secret War Begins

Decent women from good families—don't even think about it!

Qin Feng would never stoop to such a shameless act of "trafficking in people."

But if Han Yuming is willing to spend silver and sweeten his tongue a bit, he might just win the favor of a courtesan.

After all, that would count as marrying into the imperial clan—a step straight up to the heavens.

After Han Yuming left.

Liu Hongyan walked out from the Hou Tang and immediately spat.

"You men—how can you all be so shameless?"

"Just now during the negotiations you were at daggers drawn, the moment that tension wears off, the very first thing on your mind is women."

Qin Feng shrugged, watching Han Yuming's retreating back, his face full of sympathy.

"Can't really blame him."

"Didn't you hear him? The women of Gaoshan Country are all burly as men."

"Lay eyes on a beauty of our Shedynasty, and naturally he can't move his feet."

Hearing this, Liu Hongyan still wore a look of contempt and immediately shot back.

"Han Yuming is a Prince of Gaoshan Country. Since you mean to cultivate this relationship, why not simply send him some beauties?"

"A mere few women—surely that's no hardship for you?"

Qin Feng's eyes went wide, he hastily stepped back a few paces, face full of shock.

"No hardship? How is it no hardship!"

"Besides all of you, what other women do I have by my side?"

"Besides, I've always sneered at this current policy of 'the state selling women.'"

"Women are living, breathing people, not goods—how can they be sold off at will?"

"Han Yuming goes to the brothel, redeems the courtesans there. And the courtesans, to escape that den of demons, go to Gaoshan Country to enjoy the good life. Each takes what they need—isn't that a win-win?"

Liu Hongyan was quite gratified by Qin Feng's words.

After all, in this day and age, those who loudly proclaim respect for women are too many to count, but those who can truly act as Qin Feng does are few and far between.

Still, she sighed.

"I still don't understand. Your relations with everyone in Gaoshan Country, high and low, are so harmonious."

"Why then, in this round of negotiations, did you offer so many overbearing terms?"

"Aren't you afraid Gaoshan Country will bear a grudge against you?"

Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"Bear a grudge? Then let them bear one!"

"Between nation and nation, what sentiment is there to speak of? Only interests!"

"Besides, to open up this trade route, what a price I have to pay. A losing deal just for the shouting—I wouldn't do it!"

"Supporting Gaoshan Country is fine in itself, but once Gaoshan Country grows fat, we can't let it turn around and bite us back."

Liu Hongyan, for all her cleverness and wisdom.

Was limited to the open and covert struggles of commerce and personal dealings.

Once it rose to the level of statecraft, she felt her own head wasn't enough.

Qin Feng wasn't idle either.

He instructed Liu Ming to dispatch the Jinyi Anwu Guard to keep Han Yuming safe and sound.

Not just in Jingdu, but to escort him safely all the way back to Gaoshan Country.

If by some chance the Night Owls snatched him away.

All the spit he'd worked up negotiating this deal—wouldn't it all be for nothing?

The next morning, just as the sky was growing light, the craftsmen came running to inform Qin Feng.

The stove was completely dried out.

Qin Feng rolled out of bed, rushed to the Back Courtyard, threw himself at the stove, reached out to touch it, and simply couldn't bear to let go.

"This is the money tree!"

"Quick—put all the grain I prepared earlier on to steam!"

Qin Feng had built a total of three stoves.

Stack ten tiers of steamers on each stove, and in one go you can steam nearly three thousand jin of grain!

The stoves were running at full blast.

Watching the steam seeping out continuously from the steamers.

Qin Feng felt as though he could already hear the clinking of bright white silver.

Just as Qin Feng squatted before the stove, personally overseeing the Temperament Control, the news of Han Yuming's arrival in Beijing had also reached the palace.

"Your Majesty, Han Yuming, as a Prince of Gaoshan Country, has come to Beijing for an audience, yet he saw only Qin Feng, with not the slightest intention of entering the palace for an Imperial Audience."

"These crimes must never be let slide!"

"Crime the first: Gaoshan Country disregards the might of our Central Plains Shangbang—it should be severely punished!"

"Crime the second: Qin Feng, a mere Baron, privately reached an agreement with a Foreign Country Diplomatic Envoy—clearly overstepping his bounds before the sage!"

"Crime the third…"

Before Hei Wei could finish reading through the litany of crimes, the Liang Emperor had already raised his hand to cut him off.

The matter left the Liang Emperor quite displeased.

But in his heart he knew perfectly well that there was nothing he could do about it.

Qin Feng's current role is far too important—so important that no one could replace him.

The Liang Emperor could only swallow this grievance and, despite his reluctance, defend Qin Feng: "Qin Feng occupies the Northern Border, and is relatively close to Gaoshan Country."

"The Prince of Gaoshan Country discussing various matters with Qin Feng is not entirely improper."

"Moreover, with Shedynasty's State Peace Talks with the Northern Di approaching, the trivial affairs of a small, narrow country like Gaoshan Country are indeed unfit for the Negotiation Table."

"Besides, for such a minor Gaoshan Country, if I were to receive them personally, or send a Hugudachen, it would be somewhat excessive."

"Yet if I were to send an Official below Fourth Rank to receive them, it would breach propriety."

"Handling the foreign envoy of such a small country is indeed difficult. Since Qin Feng and the Prince of Gaoshan Country have already reached an agreement, it does save me a trouble."

How could Shadow Guard not know that this line of reasoning was the Liang Emperor's reluctant compromise?

But…

With things said to this extent, Shadow Guard could only nod in agreement.

At the same time, shifting the topic: "Your Majesty, the Northern Di Night Owls have been acting frequently of late. It seems they have also been provoked by the Prince of Gaoshan Country's arrival in Beijing."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor could not help but raise an eyebrow, his tone unfriendly.

"What? Has this capital Wang Du of mine become a vegetable market, where anyone can come and go as they please? What is your Heiwei Office even good for?"

Heiwei understood perfectly well.

The Liang Emperor was now bottling up a foul temper, with nowhere to vent it.

He immediately dropped to his knees and replied cautiously: "Your Majesty sees clearly."

"Since the National War until today, every month the Heiwei Office has had to organize a large-scale sweep, specifically targeting the Night Owls."

"The manpower and resources expended for this are beyond count."

"But… the Northern Di Night Owls seem impossible to fully cut down and exterminate."

"Moreover… the Heiwei Office has had to divert energy this month to deal with another force."

"According to reliable Military Intelligence, this force is called the Jinyiwei—an espionage organization personally fostered by Qin Feng."

Hearing Heiwei's report, the Liang Emperor's reaction was flat.

He had long heard of the famous Jinyiwei.

At the same time, regarding Qin Feng's act of fostering an espionage organization, he had always pretended to know nothing.

After all, as one of the Northern Border Noble Clans, Qin Feng cultivating his own eyes and ears was inevitable.

"How far has this Jinyiwei grown?"

At these words, Heiwei knew the Liang Emperor had long been fully aware, and hastened to reply: "That Jinyiwei is extremely fierce; to this day we have never captured a single one alive.

"Military Intelligence already shows that the Jinyiwei governs three subordinate divisions.

"The Jinyiwei itself is solely responsible for Military Intelligence gathering.

"The Jinyiwei Messengers are solely responsible for communications.

"The Jinyi Anwu Guard is solely responsible for assassination and covert protection."