96: Baihuamen Intelligence

Chapter 96 Baihua Sect Intelligence

Zheng Yi couldn't even be bothered to say anything to this group of special envoys from Wu Country.

Some people were simply despicable.

If they weren't beaten until it hurt, they wouldn't know what true power was.

The Great Yu Dynasty had been fighting wars year after year, and domestic disasters occurred frequently. Coupled with the fact that the arsenals' production could not make up for the consumption of war, and the supply lines were stretched too thin.

There were rebels in Yong Province and Shuzhou, and the Nanzhao Kingdom was invading once again.

All signs indicated that this war truly could not continue any longer.

However, even if they couldn't fight, they couldn't let Wu Country find out.

He still had to put on an act of continuing to fight in order to gain more benefits at the negotiating table.

After three to five years, when national strength gradually recovered, they would take down Wu Country in one go!

Zheng Yi said indifferently, "Kong Aiqing."

"This subject is here."

Minister of Rites Kong Xiangsi quickly stepped out and bowed respectfully.

"All matters regarding the negotiations with Wu Country are handed over to you to handle."

Zheng Yi instructed, "I have only three demands."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

"First, Wu Country must cede the Mang Huang Two Prefectures."

Kong Xiangsi said, "This is inevitable. How could we easily let go of the territory occupied by the majestic lions of the Great Yu?"

"Second, Wu Country must compensate one hundred thousand warhorses. They must be warhorses!"

"Understood!"

"Third..."

Zheng Yi said word by word, "Wu Country must hand over the descendants of the Cultivator who ambushed General Xu that day. I want them alive!"

"If they do not agree, even if I must exhaust the entire strength of the Great Yu, I will fight on!"

Kong Xiangsi hesitated, but finally bowed and said, "This subject obeys the decree!"

The negotiations between the Great Yu and Wu Country proceeded smoothly, and Zheng Yi had already completely left these matters to the Ministry of Rites to handle.

As long as his demands were met, peace talks would naturally fall into place.

Hundred Flowers Palace.

Zhu Wanwan, Lin Qinger, and Rong Miaoer sat facing each other, their delicate faces filled with strangeness.

"You are pregnant?"

"Aren't you as well?"

"You are all pregnant?"

"What is going on?"

The three women looked at each other in dismay, and finally Zhu Wanwan said, "Two Junior Sisters, didn't you use the contraception medicine issued by the Sect?"

"We bear the grace of our Revered Master, and we are not allowed to get pregnant without the Sect's command..."

Lin Qinger raised an eyebrow and said, "Anyway, I used it. I really don't know whether you used it or not, Senior Sister."

"I used it too!"

Rong Miaoer raised her hand and said, "If you don't believe me, you can check. There is still residual medicinal power of the holy medicine in my body..."

"Then what is the reason for this?"

Zhu Wanwan subconsciously stroked her belly, and a trace of a smile actually appeared on her tender face.

"A child... I, Zhu Wanwan, actually have a child?"

"Giggle giggle..."

"Senior Sister?"

"What Senior Sister?"

Zhu Wanwan retorted, "You should call me Consort Wan!"

"You..."

"Giggle giggle... I didn't expect this palace to be pregnant as well?"

Zhu Wanwan giggled and said, "If this palace gives birth to an imperial prince, doesn't that mean even that imperial throne could possibly be sat upon by my son?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the eyes of Lin Qinger and Rong Miaoer also lit up, subconsciously looking towards their own bellies.

"His Majesty only has five princesses. If we can truly give birth to an imperial prince..."

"If my son sits on the imperial throne, what does the Revered Master's order matter?"

"That's right, that is the imperial throne of the Great Yu!"

"I heard that Xu Mujun captured two prefectures of Wu Country. The national strength of the Great Yu is prosperous, far surpassing other nations!"

"If our Baihua Sect can gain Your Majesty's support..."

The three women discussed in low voices, their eyes gradually becoming excited.

Afterwards, Rong Miaoer said again, "Revered Master sent a letter saying that she has arrived in the capital. Should we arrange for her honored self to meet with Your Majesty?"

"Of course we must!"

Zhu Wanwan said, "The reason why Your Majesty values the three of us, besides our appearances and figures, is most importantly the Baihua Sect behind us!"

"Or rather, the brothel organization controlled under our Baihua Sect that spreads throughout the entire world."

"Giggle giggle... His Majesty's Jinyi Guard needs intelligence, and we need the support of the Great Yu. Isn't this all a matter of mutual consent~"

Zhu Wanwan said again, "Anyway, no matter what, whichever of the three of us can give birth to an imperial prince, these might just belong to them~"

"Two Junior Sisters, what do you think?"

The eyes of Lin Qinger and Rong Miaoer also lit up, and they immediately said, "We will follow Senior Sister's lead in everything!"

"Giggle giggle..."

"Then let us go meet Revered Master, so we can also arrange a meeting between her and Your Majesty."

"Understood!"

"You are the Sect Leader of the Baihua Sect?"

White Jade Capital.

"This humble commoner, Hua Jingyuan, Sect Leader of the Baihua Sect, greets Your Majesty!"

Looking at the masked woman before him, Zheng Yi immediately said, "Take off your facial veil."

Hua Jingyuan hesitated for a moment, but finally removed the veil covering her head.

Zheng Yi cast his gaze over and saw that Hua Jingyuan looked to be in her thirties, though an older age could not be ruled out.

Moreover, with Zheng Yi's eyesight, he could detect that the corners of this woman's eyes already had crow's feet covered by rouge; her age was clearly quite advanced.

Even if she had been an absolute beauty in her youth, in Zheng Yi's view, she was merely an old woman with one foot in the grave.

"I am already aware of what you seek. From now on, the Baihua Sect shall be incorporated into the Great Yu Dynasty, and I grant your Baihua Sect the right of autonomy."

Zheng Yi said, "The newly established department will be named the Public Relations Department, independent of the Six Ministries, with responsibilities similar to the Jinyi Guard, but with several additional privileges."

"Public Relations Department?"

Hua Jingyuan's eyes suddenly lit up: "Independent of the Six Ministries? Doesn't that mean it is of equal rank with the Six Ministries?"

She originally thought that being able to be incorporated into the Hall of Offerings or the Jinyi Guard would be enough, but she never expected to obtain the privilege of being equal in rank to the Six Ministries!

"Equal rank, but not equal power."

Zheng Yi said, "After all, the Public Relations Department has just been established and has no political achievements to speak of. Furthermore, your Public Relations Department cannot appear in the imperial court; it is merely a covert organization."

"Its main task is to investigate intelligence and monitor the world for me, while simultaneously dispatching spies to foreign countries to seek profits for our Great Yu!"

"This humble commoner understands."

Hua Jingyuan said, "My Baihua Sect will definitely spare no effort for Your Majesty."

"Very well, I will naturally let Consort Wan and the others discuss all matters with you."

Zheng Yi said, "If there are no other matters..."

"Your Majesty!"

Hua Jingyuan suddenly said, "Upon our first meeting, this humble... this subject is willing to offer a piece of covert intelligence for Your Majesty to evaluate."

"Oh? What intelligence is it?"

"Your Majesty, you must be careful of South Yue County."

After speaking, Hua Jingyuan slightly bowed and retreated in small steps.

Be careful of South Yue County?

What does that mean?

Zheng Yi stared fixedly at Hua Jingyuan's retreating figure. Since the other party did not explain, it meant that this intelligence was extremely covert, and even she could not be certain.

Or could this be a test for me and the Jinyi Guard?

"South Yue County? Who is in South Yue County?"

"The Baiyue Clan?"

"The Black Yue Tribe?"

Zheng Yi's thoughts spun frantically: "South Yue County is currently at war. The Nanzhao Kingdom, together with the Black Yue Tribe, has invaded, and Xu Xuanwu of the Longxiang Army is acting under imperial orders to establish the South Yue Military Region to resist..."

"South Yue Military Region?"

"Xu Xuanwu?"

"Hmm? Something is not quite right."

Zheng Yi's tone was somewhat suspicious. After carefully calculating the time, he said, "Why hasn't there been a secret letter from the Jinyi Guard in South Yue County for several months? According to regulations, Jinyi Guard scouts must report reconnaissance conditions to the capital every month."

"Yet the intelligence from South Yue County was reported once every two months, and sometimes even once every three months?"

"Could it be that there has been a change in South Yue County?"

"Xu Xuanwu?"

Zheng Yi frowned slightly.

This person was the younger brother of Consort Duan Xu Qingluan and the son of General Xu Mujun, which was why he had been so at ease entrusting the entire South Yue County to him.

Although the entire South Yue County was only a county on the political level,

because its main ethnic group consisted primarily of the Nanyue Tribe, its area was extremely vast and its population was numerous, not a bit smaller than some prefectures in the Central Plains.

Even allowing him to establish the South Yue Military Region,

the pure area of the entire South Yue County could rank among the top three of all prefectures in the Great Yu.

If South Yue County went out of control, then the entire southern part of the Great Yu would be exposed to ambitious individuals.

Could it be that this person could not resolve the matter of South Yue County and was trapped by the Black Yue Tribe and the Nanzhao Kingdom?

Or could it be... that this person also had rebellious intentions!

If Xu Xuanwu rebelled, he needed to pay even more attention to Xu Mujun, who was capturing territory in the Mang Huang Two Prefectures of Wu Country!

Pondering for a few breaths, he said in a deep voice, "Old Chen."

"Your Majesty, this old servant is here."

"You personally... No, send a few Shadow Guards to South Yue County to investigate and see what happened to the Jinyi Guard there."

"If there is any other intelligence, report it immediately!"

"Understood!"

Old Chen said in a low voice, and his entire figure once again vanished into the darkness.

Just as Zheng Yi was dispatching the Shadow Guards to secretly reconnoiter South Yue County, time had already stepped into the sixth year of zhengyong.

At the New Year's banquet, Consort Wan, Consort Qing, and Miao Consort of the Hundred Flowers Palace were pregnant and unable to present a dance.

And the person presenting the dance today was unexpectedly Consort Qin of the Cihang Nunnery!

Consort Qin's dance was pure, beautiful, and dignified, almost like a fairy presenting a dance. Her dance posture was exquisite, graceful like a startled swan, and the Emperor's heart was greatly pleased.

That night, the Emperor stayed overnight at the Qingxia Palace and danced together with Consort Qin.

[Absorbed Pure Yin Qi, lifespan +16.]

[Absorbed Pure Yin Qi, learned Cihang Sword Canon.]

[Absorbed Yin Qi, Cihang Sword Canon Internal Energy +10.]

[Absorbed Yin Qi, Cihang Sword Canon swordsmanship +10.]

[Absorbed Yin Qi, bone structure enhanced.]

As the strongest person of this generation in the Cihang Nunnery, Qin Qingxuan's practiced Cihang Sword Canon was not only an Internal Skill Mind-Cultivation Technique, but also swordsmanship.

Her Physique was also very special, providing a huge boost to the path of swordsmanship.

Of course, she also possessed one of the famous treasures, the Flounder's Kiss, which made Zheng Yi utterly obsessed, leaving fragrance on his lips and tongue.

Unfortunately, she also lacked a Spiritual Root and could not practice cultivation!

Zheng Yi's marital bond with her would only last for thirty to fifty years.

January 15th of the sixth year of zhengyong.

The negotiations between the Ministry of Rites and Wu Country finally reached their conclusion.

Under the constant urging from home and the approach of Xu Mujun's massive army, Wu Country had no choice but to hold their noses and sign the Black Mountain Treaty!

The Black Mountain Treaty stated that for the three-year-long war between Great Yu and Wu that had occurred from the third year of zhengyong up to the present, all faults were to be borne by Wu Country.

Wu Country was the ultimate culprit of this major war.

In addition to unconditional surrender, Wu Country also needed to pay the following defeat reparations.

First: Acknowledge the actual rule of the Great Yu over the Mang Huang Two Prefectures, and cede the Mang Huang Two Prefectures.

Second: Designate Nanshun County, Julian County, and Nanmeng County at the border of the Mang Huang Two Prefectures and Meng Prefecture as commercial trading markets. Wu Country must guarantee the safety of Great Yu merchants and must not collect taxes!

Third: Pay fifty million liang of silver in compensation.

Fourth: Compensate with one hundred thousand warhorses and two hundred thousand cattle and sheep, to be paid in full to the garrison troops of the Great Yu over three years.

Fifth: Escort an orthodox imperial prince of Wu Country into the Great Yu as a hostage.

Sixth: Wu Country must offer one hundred palace maidens to serve as slaves in the Great Yu imperial palace. Among the candidates for these palace maidens, there must be ten princesses of Wu Country, and the remaining individuals must also be daughters of important officials and generals of Wu Country.

Seventh: Wu Country must hand over the person who ambushed and severely injured General Xu Mujun that day along with their family members, without harming or persecuting them by any means, and guarantee their personal safety.

Eighth: ...

A total of fifteen requirements in all, which the Emperor of Wu Country held his nose to acknowledge and signed the treaty.

Spies discovered that upon learning of the fifteen treaty articles, the old Emperor of Wu Country was directly so enraged that he collapsed in illness.

His dozen or so sons immediately sharpened their weapons and fed their horses, surrounding the imperial court of Wu Country, just waiting for the old Emperor to breathe his last so they could contend for the imperial throne.

On the other hand, the Great Yu was jubilant throughout the entire nation.

Not only did they acquire the territory of two prefectures, winning the hearts and minds of the people of Great Yu, but they also gained a massive amount of reparations.

With the warhorses in hand, another one hundred thousand cavalrymen could be formed in a very short time.

Countless cattle and sheep would serve as provisions and pay, which could greatly enhance the strength of the Great Yu border troops.

As for the fifty million in reparations, they were injected by Zheng Yi into the Yong Province Grand Canal, the Jing'an Grand Canal, and several light industry factories.

The Jing'an Grand Canal was a major project newly established by Zheng Yi.

It was an artificial canal connecting the capital and Lin'an, longer and larger than the Yong Province Grand Canal project!

The remaining portion of the reparations began to be used to repair Black Mountain Pass, with the intention of rebuilding Black Mountain Pass so that it would once again become the greatest strategic pass under heaven!

Just as the entire Great Yu was vigorously engaging in infrastructure construction in full swing, Shen Xing and Yang Shaoyong, far away in South Yue County, looked strangely at the eunuch.

"Father-in-law's meaning is... to investigate Xu Xuanwu?"