118: Chapter 28 The Great Powers' "Concerns"

Yongan Year 1, the second day of the second lunar month, Longtaitou.

Li Ling was in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials when a eunuch hurried in: "Your Majesty, the envoys from various countries have requested an audience jointly, saying they have important matters to discuss."

"Jointly?" Li Ling put down his brush, "How many of them?"

"The envoys from Britain, France, America, Russia, and Japan have all arrived. The German Empire envoy did not come."

Li Ling sneered: "Are they here to hold me accountable? Let them wait in the Qinzheng Hall, I will be there shortly."

The five envoys sat in the Qinzheng Hall, each with a grave expression. They had come today under orders from their respective governments to pressure the Tang Country and stop Li Ling from further expanding his influence.

Ever since the United Fleet was destroyed, the influence of the Great Powers in the Far East had plummeted. The Tang Country had taken the opportunity to unify more than half the country, and the remaining warlords were in precarious positions. If they did not intervene now, it would not be long before the entire former territory of Qingxia fell into Li Ling's hands. By then, the interests of the Great Powers in the Far East would suffer a fatal blow.

Li Ling changed into casual attire and strolled into the Qinzheng Hall. He sat at the head of the table, looking at the five envoys with a smile: "Gentlemen, what brings you to visit me today? Do you miss my tea?"

Ambassador Johnson of Britain stood up and said coldly: "Your Majesty, we are here today on behalf of our respective governments to lodge a serious protest with your country."

"A serious protest?" Li Ling feigned surprise, "Have I done something that has angered the heavens and the people?"

Ambassador Mathieu of France stood up: "Your Majesty, your country has recently been massing troops in border areas, seriously threatening the security of surrounding countries. Our government expresses grave concern over this."

Li Ling laughed: "Mr. Mathieu, I am massing troops on my own territory, what does that have to do with you? When you French were massing troops in Vietnam, I didn't say anything."

Mathieu's expression changed: "Your Majesty, Vietnam is a protectorate of France —"

"A protectorate?" Li Ling interrupted him, "Vietnam has been a vassal state of Qingxia since ancient times. You snatched it away, and I haven't even settled that account with you yet. Now, you come here to hold me accountable?"

Ambassador Smith of America hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, we are not here to argue today. We hope your country can promise not to take the initiative to attack surrounding countries and not to change the existing border landscape."

Li Ling leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs: "Ambassador Smith, I can promise not to take the initiative to attack surrounding countries, but there is one condition."

"What condition?"

"Surrounding countries must not take the initiative to attack the Tang Country either." Li Ling's gaze swept across the five envoys, "If anyone supports the remaining forces within the Tang Country or secretly supports the enemies of the Tang Country, then do not blame me for being impolite."

Ambassador Koizumi Ichiro of Japan stood up and said indignantly: "Your Majesty, are you threatening us?"

Li Ling looked at him and smiled: "Mr. Koizumi, I am not threatening you; I am stating facts. After the United Fleet was destroyed, instead of reflecting, you Japan people are secretly funding those remnants. I have solid evidence in my hands; would you like to see it?"

Ambassador Koizumi Ichiro went pale and was unable to speak.

British Ambassador Johnson said coldly: "Your Majesty, you are playing with fire. Although the Tang Country is powerful, it is not enough to be an enemy of the whole world."

"An enemy of the whole world?" Li Ling stood up, walked to Ambassador Johnson, and looked down at him, "Ambassador Johnson, I do not wish to be an enemy of anyone. But if someone treats me as an enemy, I do not mind being that enemy. You British have the Royal Navy, I have the Dreadnought fleet. You have colonies, I have an army of five hundred thousand. You have allies, I have the German Empire. If we really fight, it is not certain who will win."

Ambassador Johnson's face turned livid, but he dared not act out.

He knew that what Li Ling said was the truth. After the United Fleet was destroyed, the navies of the Great Powers were severely damaged, while Li Ling's fleet was unscathed. If war broke out now, the Great Powers would have almost no chance of winning.

Ambassador Smith tried to smooth things over again: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, let us not make things awkward. We are all civilized people; we can sit down and talk properly."

Li Ling returned to his seat and took a sip of tea: "Ambassador Smith is right; we are all civilized people, why be at daggers drawn? I can promise not to take the initiative to attack surrounding countries. But you must also promise not to interfere in the internal affairs of the Tang Country and not to support the enemies of the Tang Country. If anyone violates this promise, do not blame me for turning hostile."

The five envoys looked at each other and finally had no choice but to accept the condition.

After sending off the five envoys, Li Ling returned to the Imperial Study with a gloomy face.

"A bunch of clowns." He sneered, "Thinking they can scare me by joining forces? In their dreams."

[Host, your performance just now was very domineering.] The system suddenly popped up.

"You're back?" Li Ling asked in his heart, "How was the chat with that singing and dancing system?"

[It was okay, she taught me a dance. Do you want to learn?]

"Get lost."

[Fine, I'll go back then.] The system said and went silent again.

Li Ling shook his head, too lazy to argue with it.

He walked to the window and looked at Jinling City outside, but his mind was on what the five envoys had said. They came today not just to pressure him, but to test him. They wanted to see where the Tang Country's bottom line was and how determined Li Ling was.

Li Ling gave them a clear answer: The Tang Country does not look for trouble, but it is not afraid of it either. Whoever dares to invade will be fought back.

"Your Majesty." The eunuch said softly outside the door, "Ambassador Hermann of the German Empire requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Ambassador Hermann walked into the Imperial Study and bowed: "Your Majesty, I represent the German Empire in extending my congratulations to you. I had something to attend to on the day of the enthronement ceremony, and I am truly sorry."

Li Ling waved his hand: "No worries, no worries. Ambassador Hermann, you are not here just to congratulate me, are you?"

Ambassador Hermann smiled: "Your Majesty is wise. I am here today to discuss a big deal with Your Majesty."

"What deal?"

"Warships." Ambassador Hermann took a document out of his briefcase, "Our Navy Department wishes to order two Longjiang-class Battleships and four Longxun-class Cruisers. Of course, the weakened versions."

Li Ling took the document, glanced through it quickly, and was secretly pleased. The Longjiang-class and Longxun-class were the main warships of the Tang Country Navy, and their performance was world-class. Although the ones sold to the German Empire were weakened versions, with the main gun caliber reduced by twenty millimeters each, they were still more advanced than the vast majority of Battleships currently in service by the Great Powers.

"Two Longjiang-class, four Longxun-class..." Li Ling pretended to ponder, "Ambassador Hermann, this is a big order. What about the money?"

"Our country is willing to pay in gold." Ambassador Hermann said, "And we can pay a thirty percent deposit first, with the rest paid in installments."

Li Ling nodded: "That works. However, I have one condition."

"Please state it, Your Majesty."

"This batch of warships must be built in the Tang Country's shipyards, and technology cannot be transferred. After they are built, they will be delivered to the German Empire by Tang Country Navy officers and soldiers."

Ambassador Hermann hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, this condition..."

"No room for negotiation." Li Ling interrupted him, "Core technology is the lifeblood of the Tang Country, and I cannot easily hand it over to outsiders. You are buying warships, not technology. If you want technology, the price will not be this amount."

Ambassador Hermann gritted his teeth: "Fine, I agree."

Li Ling smiled: "Happy doing business with you."

After Ambassador Hermann left, Li Ling paced around the study in excitement.

"Two Longjiang-class, four Longxun-class, how much money is that!" He calculated in his heart, "The cost of one Longjiang-class is about two million taels of silver; selling it to the German Empire will be at least ten million taels. The cost of one Longxun-class is 1.5 million taels; selling it to the German Empire will be at least eight million taels. Two is twenty million, four is thirty-two million, adding up to fifty-two million taels of silver! I'm rich, I'm rich!"

[Host, calm down.] The system suddenly popped up.

"Why are you back again?"

[I'm afraid you'll get too excited and your blood pressure will skyrocket.] The system said lazily, [Isn't it just over fifty million taels of silver? Is it worth it?]

"It is worth it!" Li Ling said excitedly, "Over fifty million taels, enough for me to build a dozen Dreadnoughts!"

[Why build so many Dreadnoughts? To fight aliens?]

"None of your business?" Li Ling rolled his eyes, "Anyway, not making money when you can is a jerk move. If the German Empire wants to buy, I will sell. The more, the better."

[Aren't you afraid the German Empire will use these warships against you?]

"Why be afraid?" Li Ling didn't care, "I am selling the weakened versions, the main gun caliber is reduced by twenty millimeters, and the armor is a layer thinner. If we really fight, one of my own warships can beat two of theirs. Besides, the German Empire's current enemy is Britain, not the Tang Country. They are buying warships to compete for hegemony with Britain, not to deal with me."

[You certainly have a way of rationalizing things.] The system finished speaking and went silent again.

Li Ling shook his head; this system really comes and goes without a trace.

A few days after the five envoys left, Li Ling received a report from the intelligence department: Japan was secretly contacting the remaining southern forces and the Northeast Warlords, attempting to form a new anti-Tang alliance.

"Just as I expected." Li Ling sneered, "Let them jump around. The higher they jump, the harder they will fall. Wait until I stand firm, then I will come to deal with these clowns."

He ordered the intelligence department to closely monitor the movements of Japan, while secretly preparing military deployments to deal with intervention from the Great Powers.

The first Five-Year Plan had already started, and the Tang Country was at a critical stage of development. At this juncture, he could not afford to be distracted by a major war. But if the enemy took the initiative to invade, he would not mind fighting a war.

After fighting, there would be an excuse to demand reparations from the Great Powers to fill the funding gap for the first Five-Year Plan.

"Your Majesty, Empress Su Wanqing is here." The eunuch announced outside the door.

Li Ling put down the documents in his hand, and Empress Su Wanqing walked in with a bowl of hot soup.

"Brother Ling, drink some soup. You've been busy all day."

Li Ling took the bowl and took a sip; it was chicken soup, stewed very thickly.

"Empress Su Wanqing, do you think I am too weak?" He asked suddenly.

Empress Su Wanqing was stunned: "Brother Ling, why do you say that?"

"The five envoys came to apply pressure, and I did not turn hostile on the spot; I just pushed back neither softly nor hard. After they went back, they will surely think I am easy to bully."

Empress Su Wanqing shook her head: "Brother Ling, you are not weak; you are wise. The Tang Country has just been established, and everything is waiting to be done; it is not suitable to fall out with the Great Powers. But when the first Five-Year Plan is completed and the Tang Country's strength increases greatly, it will not be too late to settle accounts with them then."

Li Ling looked at her and smiled: "Empress Su Wanqing, you are becoming more and more like an Empress."

Empress Su Wanqing blushed: "Brother Ling is teasing me again."

"I am telling the truth." Li Ling held her hand, "Empress Su Wanqing, with you by my side, I am not afraid of anything."

Empress Su Wanqing leaned on his shoulder and said softly: "Brother Ling, I will always be with you."

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

A new day was about to begin.