Chapter 523

A joint delegation from the seven nations of the Western Continent is coming to visit?

The ministers looked at one another in dismay.

In the twenty-seventh year of Hongguang, the allied forces of the seven nations invaded the Great Lan Dynasty.

Since then, there have been no diplomatic relations between the Great Lan Dynasty and the seven Western nations.

Although trade between the two sides has actually been more frequent in private than in the past, on the surface, the Great Lan Dynasty has never lowered its guard against the Western nations.

And the infiltration of the Great Lan Dynasty by the seven Western nations, along with various espionage activities, has never ceased.

Back when Li Fei was in a small place like Xingcheng, spies from the Meijia Kingdom were able to support local gangs with ulterior motives. (See Chapter 129, Volume 1 for details.)

This shows that the Western Continent's covetous heart toward the Great Lan Dynasty has never been extinguished!

Now that the Great Lan Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles and its national strength is severely damaged, the seven Western nations suddenly wanting to send a delegation is clearly a case of ill intent.

No one would be naive enough to think they are really here to congratulate the new Emperor.

"Gentlemen, let us discuss this matter first. Should we let their delegation come? Or should we refuse?"

The new Emperor, Qin Ziheng, spoke up.

"Your Majesty."

A cabinet minister immediately stepped out and said in a clear voice:

"I believe that the West sees our dynasty is currently in a period of exhaustion and still has internal troubles to resolve, so they have specifically sent people to test us. Therefore, not only should we not refuse, but we should also welcome them with the demeanor of a great power, and then use military force to intimidate them, so as to dispel their ulterior motives!"

This remark immediately won the approval of many ministers, but there were also those who opposed it.

"Your Majesty!"

A member of the Supervisory Cabinet stood out and said, "I believe we should directly refuse the Western delegation and immediately put the Western border army into a state of combat readiness, as a warning to the Western Continent!"

"Absurd! Wouldn't that be clearly telling them that we are feeling guilty?"

"Heh, do you think the Western Continent doesn't know enough about our situation? Do you know how many Western spies my Supervisory Cabinet has captured over the years? They aren't here to test us at all this time, nor do they need to. I fear they are taking this opportunity to send a delegation to collude with other forces and work from within and without!"

"Even if the West really wants to fight, it is not impossible to ease tensions. There are always ways to use both coercion and inducement. Since they have sent a delegation, we can just take this opportunity to talk. How can we shut them out?"

"Talk? Talk about what? If they threaten us and take the opportunity to demand benefits, are we to talk about that too?!"

"."

In the great hall, the ministers began to argue.

Li Fei listened to the arguments in silence, roughly understanding the current situation.

This sudden dispatch of a delegation by the Western Continent, regardless of their purpose, has at least caused internal friction within the Great Lan Dynasty.

The member of the Supervisory Cabinet just now made it very clear: the Western Continent has been constantly sending spies to the Great Lan Dynasty for years. How could they not be clear about the situation in the Great Lan Dynasty now?

Therefore, this delegation coming to the Great Lan Dynasty is certainly not here to test our strength.

The weakness of the Great Lan Dynasty is already an obvious fact; there is no need to test it at all!

So, in this court, the ministers who agree to let the Western delegation come and want to talk to them probably feel that they can give some benefits appropriately in exchange for the West not jumping out to cause trouble for the Great Lan Dynasty at this time.

As for the ministers who refuse the delegation's visit, their attitude is very firm—this precedent must not be set!

Rather than letting the Western delegation come and having everyone argue over terms, quarreling even more fiercely than now and triggering internal chaos,

it is better to completely refuse negotiations from the start!

In the end, this is a typical dispute between the "peace faction" and the "war faction."

Of course, even among the "war faction," some feel that we can talk to the West first.

Therefore, in the court, there are more voices supporting the delegation's visit.

The two sides argued fiercely, and Qin Ziheng on the dragon throne also felt a headache.

He turned his gaze to Ye Zean, who was sitting upright in his seat, and said:

"What does the Grand Secretary think?"

As the new Emperor spoke, the great hall gradually quieted down.

Ye Zean stood up and was about to speak when he suddenly began to cough violently.

This fit of coughing made Qin Ziheng show a look of concern.

After successive great battles and the turmoil of national fortune, Ye Zean, as Grand Secretary, helped sort out the national fortune and would also bear a share of the backlash, though not as severely.

But Ye Zean is only an ordinary person and is advanced in years, so his health has also deteriorated.

Now that Qin Ziheng has just ascended the throne, if this Grand Secretary were to collapse, half of the central cabinet would be paralyzed!

So Qin Ziheng hurriedly asked with concern: "Is the Grand Secretary's health alright? I will have the imperial physician check on you later."

Ye Zean bowed: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine."

"I believe we can allow the Western delegation to visit. No matter what schemes they have, we can at least meet their moves as they come."

This Grand Secretary feels that we can talk to the West.

After he finished expressing his opinion, Qin Ziheng let him sit down first, then looked at Wen Ren Zheng opposite him:

"What is the Grand Marshal's view?"

Wen Ren Zheng stood up decisively and bowed with cupped hands:

"Your Majesty, I believe we should directly refuse! The seven Western nations are wolves with wild ambitions; they are merely trying to kick us while we are down. There is nothing to talk about!"

He opposed Ye Zean's proposal.

One Grand Secretary, one Grand Marshal of the Military Council—the two of them are the heads of the civil and military officials respectively.

Their conflicting opinions made Qin Ziheng's headache even worse.

He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Li Fei, who was standing there:

"Marquis of Jing'an."

"I am here."

"What do you think?"

All the ministers turned their eyes to Li Fei.

The late Emperor had personally appointed four regents; now that the Imperial Preceptor Xiang Du has died, only three remain.

With Ye Zean and Wen Ren Zheng in opposition, Li Fei's opinion became particularly important.

Li Fei deliberated for a moment and said:

"I believe we can allow the Western delegation to visit."

Deep down, he is undoubtedly a member of the "war faction," but he had previously made a "three-year agreement" with the new Emperor, asking him to endure and give himself some time to "develop."

Naturally, he did not want to go to war with the Western Continent at this time.

So, as Ye Zean said, we can at least talk first and see what the situation is with them.

Qin Ziheng's gaze lingered on Li Fei for a while, and then he asked several cabinet heads of the central cabinet.

The head of the Zhengfa Cabinet was the late Xiang Du; after his death, the position of head of the Zhengfa Cabinet was temporarily vacant.

Logically, someone should be selected to fill it, and the most suitable candidate would be Xiang Du's disciple, Deputy Head of the Zhengfa Cabinet Ji Yiheng, known as "the number one sword-wielder under the True Person."

This time, when the Buddha Jingheng led people to invade the capital, Ji Yiheng led the True Persons of the Zhengfa Cabinet to sit in the "Twelve-Layered Zhou Tian Lie Que Sword Tower" to meet the enemy, and he also made contributions.

Coupled with his status as Xiang Du's disciple, Ji Yiheng's promotion to head of the Zhengfa Cabinet should have been a matter of course.

But in the previous rewards, Ji Yiheng was not promoted.

At this time, when Qin Ziheng asked for the opinions of several cabinet heads, when he reached the Zhengfa Cabinet, he did not ask Ji Yiheng first, but asked the newly promoted Deputy Head, True Person Xuan Chen.

Thus, many people knew it in their hearts.

This position of head of the Zhengfa Cabinet is likely intended by the new Emperor to "hook" the Shangqing Sect.

"I believe we can allow the Western delegation to visit."

True Person Xuan Chen said.

He represents not only himself, but also the Shangqing Sect behind him, and that True Lord Xuan Xin!

Therefore, his opinion also carries great weight.

After he expressed his stance, Qin Ziheng had already made a decision in his heart:

"Grand Secretary."

"I am here."

"Draft a state letter agreeing to the seven Western nations sending a delegation."

"As you command!"

Thus, this matter was also settled.

Next, they continued to discuss how to deal with the Buddhist sect.

On this matter, the new Emperor had already made a decision, and the three regents—Ye Zean, Li Fei, and Wen Ren Zheng—had also reached a consensus.

Coupled with the fact that True Lord Xuan Xin was also unwilling to rashly kill into the Xiji Province without much certainty, the final decision of the imperial court was to temporarily surround the Xiji Province without attacking.

Cut off its connection with the outside world.

Besides this, all temples in the twenty-three provinces of the country were to be sealed!

All Buddhist martial artists and sorcerers were to be arrested!

On this matter, it was not just the imperial court taking action; the Lan Xun Cabinets in various places would also participate.

The imperial court would issue a bounty, allowing the various Jianghu forces in various places to participate in the suppression of the Buddhist sect!

"Your Majesty, the Pudu Temple invaded the imperial capital and killed the late Emperor, insulting our Great Lan Dynasty to the extreme! If this hatred is not avenged, how can the hearts of the people of the world be calmed?"

With all matters settled, an old minister suddenly stepped out, knelt on the ground, his face full of grief, tears streaming down his face:

"I know that state affairs are difficult now, but I implore Your Majesty to recover the Xiji Province as soon as possible, eradicate the Pudu Temple, and comfort the spirit of the late Emperor!"

After speaking, this three-dynasty cabinet elder knocked his head heavily on the floor!

Qin Ziheng's face was a bit ugly.

He had long known that this matter would definitely affect the perception of some ministers and even the people of the world toward him, and he had already prepared himself mentally.

But when he actually faced it, he still felt uncomfortable.

It is entirely imaginable how the people of the world will discuss him, the new Emperor, after this three-dynasty cabinet elder's performance today spreads.

The other party almost explicitly said: Your throne was left to you by your father; now that you have ascended the throne, you must hurry to avenge your father, otherwise how can you have the face to continue sitting on the dragon throne?!

And this was still under the circumstance that Qin Ziheng had not publicly explained Li Fei's "three-year agreement."

Once he publicly stated that he would have to wait three years before formally taking action against the Buddhist sect, I fear the court would be completely in an uproar today, and at least half of the ministers would not agree!

It is not that these ministers are all fools who cannot see the situation clearly.

For one thing, they don't have to risk their own lives anyway.

For another, avenging the late Emperor and recovering the national territory is a political stance that is correct beyond doubt!

Anyway, it is not necessarily a sure loss, so why can't we fight?

On the contrary, Li Fei let Qin Ziheng endure temporarily, but he had to bear tremendous pressure and even bear a huge reputation for infamy!

"Regarding the late Emperor's matter, there is not a day that I do not feel heartbroken."

Qin Ziheng's voice came from above the imperial dais:

"Today, in front of all the civil and military officials, I swear here: if I cannot destroy the Pudu Temple in this life, may I have no desire to live and no complete corpse when I die!"

Once these words were spoken, the ministers in the great hall all changed color, and the three-dynasty cabinet elder who was kneeling on the ground and kowtowing showed a look of panic, hurriedly saying:

"Your Majesty, you speak too seriously!"

Then he hurriedly got up, not daring to mention this matter again.

Li Fei, standing in the first row, looked up at the new Emperor on the dragon throne and couldn't help but feel some emotion.

He had originally thought that the other party would choose a more moderate way to delay, or push himself out to block things.

After all, the "three-year agreement" was proposed by Li Fei himself.

He did not expect the other party to make such a poisonous oath in public!

The former Crown Prince, now the new Emperor, is indeed somewhat different.

Relying on the Son of Heaven's "poisonous oath," the hearts of the people were finally temporarily stabilized.

"Dismiss the court—"

Amidst the loud shouts of the eunuch before the throne, the first great court meeting of the new dynasty ended.

After the court was dismissed, Li Fei did not immediately return to his Marquis mansion, but was invited to the Yangxin Hall.

Walking into the hall, not long after sitting down, Ye Zean also walked in.

"Grand Secretary."

"Marquis of Jing'an, no need for formalities."

The two greeted each other and sat down one after another.

After another while, the new Emperor Qin Ziheng walked in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"You two, no need for formalities. Sit."

After Qin Ziheng greeted the two to sit down, he went straight to the point:

"I called you here to discuss the Western delegation. I intend for the Grand Secretary to be responsible for the relevant etiquette and negotiation matters. As for contacting the delegation, I want the Marquis of Jing'an to lead the team. You two, one civil and one military, must handle the visiting Western delegation well this time."

"I obey the decree."

Li Fei and Ye Zean both stood up to receive the decree.

Qin Ziheng waved his hand to signal them to sit down, and he looked at Li Fei:

"You are the number one genius of my Great Lan Dynasty, and also the number one genius in history. With you personally contacting the Western delegation, it will certainly not disgrace the dignity of our Heavenly Dynasty. If there is an opportunity, I hope you can fiercely intimidate that bunch of Westerners!"

The reason why Wen Ren Zheng was not asked to intimidate the Western delegation was that he was the Grand Marshal of the Military Council, a dignified Martial Saint, and doing such things personally not only seemed beneath his status but also made it seem like the Great Lan Dynasty had no one else to use.

Arranging for Li Fei to go was just right, and there was simply no better candidate than him!

He has fought all the way to the present, and any one of his various heaven-defying battle records could scare people.

Wen Ren Zheng is the "God of War" of the Great Lan Dynasty, and Li Fei is the future God of War of the Great Lan Dynasty!

"I understand, I will certainly not fail the trust!"

Li Fei said in a deep voice.

Afterwards, the three discussed some detailed issues and chatted in the Yangxin Hall for nearly an hour before dispersing.

After leaving the palace, Li Fei first went to the headquarters of the Supervisory Cabinet.

"Head Lou, I want to consult classified intelligence related to the Western Continent."

Li Fei went directly to find Lou Hongtao.

Since he was about to contact the delegation of the seven Western nations, he naturally had to understand the enemy situation first.

Lou Hongtao understood Li Fei's thoughts and said:

"My Supervisory Cabinet is mainly responsible for internal intelligence investigation, and the intelligence we have on the Western Continent is mostly related to spies. If the Marquis of Jing'an wants to understand the situation on the Western Continent itself, he still needs to go to the Military Council; they have had secret agents lurking in the Western Continent to gather intelligence for years."

Li Fei: "Good, but I also want the intelligence held by the Supervisory Cabinet. I will have to trouble Head Lou to have someone organize a copy for me."

Lou Hongtao: "No problem."

"Thank you, Head Lou."

After thanking him, Li Fei went directly to the headquarters of the Military Council.

After he explained his purpose, a military officer soon came to see him holding a token:

"Marquis, this is the token the Grand Marshal gave you. With this token, you can read all classified intelligence related to the Western Continent at will."

Although his opinion was contrary to that of Li Fei and others, on this matter, Wen Ren Zheng did not make things difficult for Li Fei, but gave his full support.

"Thank the Grand Marshal for me."

Li Fei took the token and said softly.

Afterwards, he passed through layers of checkpoints with the token and walked into a secret room protected by a great array.

This secret room was about thirty meters long and wide, with more than a dozen bookshelves over three meters high.

On the bookshelves, various files, notes, and wooden boxes were densely placed.

At a glance, there were thousands of them!

Twenty-two years have passed since the twenty-seventh year of Hongguang.

Over these years, the seven Western nations have been constantly sending spies to the Great Lan Dynasty, and the Military Council, under the command of Wen Ren Zheng, has not been idle either.

For twenty-two years, countless secret agents have spent untold efforts, and even their lives, to gather intelligence on the Western Continent—

It is all here!

PS: I need to rethink the detailed outline, so the updates are a bit fewer.

(End of chapter)