Chapter 684

First Volume, Chapter 684: This Debt Is Not Small

The verbal battle at the negotiation table continued without any sign of abating.

By Mingyue Lake, Qin Feng and the Liang Emperor, disguised, sat at the lakeside, each holding a fishing rod.

Qin Xiaofu and Zhang Xiuye, along with several Imperial Guards in civilian attire, stood guard nearby.

So far, Qin Feng had not caught a single fish.

Fish had bitten the bait.

Either Qin Feng was too impatient and reeled in too early.

Or he missed the perfect moment and reeled in too late.

Once again, the facts proved that fishing—a pursuit demanding extreme patience—was simply unsuited to Qin Feng.

In contrast, the Liang Emperor had caught three fish in just fifteen minutes.

Though none were large, they were at least far more reliable than Qin Feng's "air force."

"Qin Feng, when was the last time you and I, sovereign and minister, sat together so calmly?"

The Liang Emperor gazed at the floating bobber, speaking as if idly, yet his words carried quiet reflection.

Qin Feng shrugged, responding just as casually.

"Your Majesty, I fear it was before the National War began."

"Back then, I was solely focused on making money, while Your Majesty worried over military expenditure."

"Your Majesty granted me convenience, and I relieved Your Majesty's burdens—we complemented each other, and our cooperation was most pleasant."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor sighed softly.

"Cooperation… pleasant."

"I wonder if such opportunities will ever come again."

Qin Feng let out a light laugh.

"Of course they will—and many more."

"For instance, right now: our Shedynasty is negotiating peace with the Di. Your Majesty sits in the Imperial Study, barely a stone's throw from the negotiation table."

"Yet you pretend not to hear a thing outside."

"That too is granting me convenience—I am deeply grateful."

In state peace talks, the greatest taboo is too many advisors.

Any diplomatic envoy must stand united, channeling all effort toward one goal.

Only then can the foreign envoys' momentum be crushed, and the greatest benefit secured for our nation.

If the Liang Emperor suddenly interfered, he would disrupt the existing plan—and then, seize the chance to crown Qin Feng with the title of "failure in peace talks."

The Liang Emperor was far too astute to miss the subtext in Qin Feng's words.

"Heh, Qin Feng, are you worried I'll ruin your plans?"

"Relax—I'm not like those useless creatures in the Hou Gong."

"I will never gamble the future of Shedynasty."

Though it's true: nothing is worse than the unforeseen.

Yet on the other hand, Qin Feng could not deny that the Liang Emperor, master of hedging art, possessed more imperial principles than those princes who would stop at nothing for the Crown Prince position.

For the Liang Emperor, the River and Mountains of Shedynasty and the Authority in his hands were equally important.

That is why Qin Feng and the Liang Emperor could fight to the death yet still sit together calmly.

At least neither wished to see Shedynasty's people slaughtered and its great River and Mountains destroyed.

At that moment, the Liang Emperor caught another fish.

Qin Feng broke into a cold sweat, convinced the fish in the lake had conspired together just to spite him.

Same bait, same rod—why could the Liang Emperor catch four in one-strike victory while Qin Feng caught not even a hair?

There had to be something fishy here!

Frustrated, Qin Feng grabbed the bait and hurled a handful deep into the water.

Seeing this, the Liang Emperor couldn't help but look smug.

Young men were still young—utterly unable to keep their composure!

"Qin Feng, how confident are you in this peace negotiation?"

"Use today's opportunity to give me your true assessment."

Since the Liang Emperor had brought it up, Qin Feng could not refuse.

But he did not rush to answer.

Instead, he asked a question in return.

"Your Majesty's words are a bit unclear to me."

"What do you mean by 'how much confidence'?"

"Doesn't everything require a premise?"

"If both nations remain at peace and everyone is happy, then I don't even need to show up—any commoner pulled from the streets of Jingdu would have a hundred percent confidence."

"If you want the Di to feel some discomfort, then at least ninety percent confidence."

"If you want the Di to be furious, then only sixty percent confidence."

Qin Feng's meaning was clear: on the negotiation table, if a scene of mutual satisfaction arises, it means neither side achieved its psychological goal.

And such a situation would harm Shedynasty more than the Di.

After all, Shedynasty is the Victorious Nation—how could it be "mutually happy" with the Defeated Nation?

After all, Liang is the Victorious Nation—how could it share equal joy with the Defeated Nation?

The more furious and resentful the Di are, the more benefits Shedynasty has gained.

Hearing Qin Feng's words, the Liang Emperor fell into thought, his voice growing deep.

"I naturally hope that all losses our Shedynasty has suffered in this National War may be fully compensated."

Qin Feng shrugged.

"If so, then Shedynasty and the Di can never reconcile."

The Liang Emperor raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean by that?"

Qin Feng did not beat around the bush; he explained directly.

"This great battle's losses to Shedynasty are far more complex than they appear on the surface."

"I don't know whether the Ministry of Revenue has submitted the compiled loss list for His Majesty's review."

"Regardless, I did my own calculations."

"Leaving aside other matters, just the Item: Military Expenditure alone has consumed at least twenty million Tael of Silver."

"Then there are the damages and repair costs for Weapons and Armor, and the loss of Warhorses—altogether, another five to six million Tael of Silver."

"The real bulk is still ahead."

"Are the destroyed Cities to be repaired or not?"

"Are the Compensation payments for fallen soldiers to be issued or not?"

"Are the depleted troop numbers to be replenished or not?"

At this point, Qin Feng quietly observed the Liang Emperor's expression.

Seeing the Liang Emperor still held his composure, Qin Feng had no further reservations.

He laid out all his accounted figures before the Liang Emperor at once.

"This is only the visible loss."

"As the saying goes: before troops move, grain and forage must come first."

"Where does this Grain and Forage come from? Isn't it conscripted from every province and region?"

"Although the purchase price for Military Rations was fixed during the reign of the former emperor, and no one dares alter it."

"And yet, this is precisely why Shedynasty dares to fight the Di to the death."

"But the massive procurement of Military Rations has had a tremendous impact on local Grain Prices."

"When the court buys grain at low prices, Grain Merchants must recoup their losses elsewhere—the simplest way is to raise prices!"

"The cost falls on the sheep themselves."

"When grain prices rise, it is ultimately the common people who suffer."

"When the people can no longer afford grain, they must find ways to fill their stomachs—and Local Governance plummets across the land."

"So, Your Majesty, this ledger is no small matter…"