175: Chapter 85 The Emperor Does Business

April in Jinling, spring was in full swing.

Peach blossoms along the Qinhuai River were in full bloom; pink petals drifted in the breeze, landing on the shimmering water surface, floating away like tiny pink boats.

Shops in the city were filled with newly arrived spring tea and silk, pedestrians bustled between them, hawking voices rose and fell, and the sounds of bargaining echoed through the alleys.

The whole city was immersed in peace and busyness, as if the threats of war and foreign powers had faded away.

But Li Ling knew that peace was only an appearance, and the undercurrents had never stopped surging.

In the Imperial Study, representatives from various countries for arms procurement visited one after another. Sometimes he had to receive three or four groups a day, not even having time to drink a sip of water.

Although Li Ling enjoyed it—after all, these were gods of wealth delivering money to his door—the continuous days of negotiations had exhausted him, his voice was hoarse, and his eye sockets were sunken.

"System, I feel like I'm not being an emperor, but a sales manager." Li Ling slumped on the dragon throne, rubbing his temples, and said weakly, "The kind of sales manager with no days off and no commission. The British ambassador left this morning, Meijian Country is coming this afternoon, and there are France and Russia tomorrow. I don't even have time to eat lunch properly."

"Host, every time you sell a Battleship, the silver you earn is enough to renovate the imperial palace ten times over. You call that having no commission?" The System retorted ruthlessly, "And the money you earn goes into the national treasury. Although it's not yours personally in name, the warships you build with this money, don't they end up under your command?"

"That's called national treasury revenue, not my personal commission!" Li Ling argued based on reason, "I can't use this money to buy a private yacht!"

"Host, you transferred a speedboat from the Production Base to the Qinhuai River for a joyride last time. Don't think the System doesn't know. You also brought the princess and Empress Su Wanqing; the three of you had a fish feast on the river and even packed up the leftovers."

"... That was official business! I was inspecting the river channel and checking flood control facilities! By the way, I was testing the seaworthiness of the new speedboat!"

"So you also happened to catch two fish? Those two fish were later sent to the Imperial Kitchen by you and served on the table as steamed fish. The System remembers it all."

Li Ling coughed dryly and decisively changed the subject: "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this. Who is coming this afternoon? I remember there is another schedule—"

"Ambassador Smith of Meijian Country, at 3:00 PM." The System reminded, "Ambassador Smith has come three times in a row, bringing different procurement plans each time. The plan he proposed last time to exchange resources for warships was rejected by the Host. It is said that he has brought a new plan this time. The White House has given him greater authorization, and it is said that he can make decisions on any terms on the spot."

"Again?" Li Ling rubbed his temples, "Why are the people of Meijian Country so persistent? Didn't I make it very clear—priority supply to the German Empire, Meijian Country has to queue! Can't they wait?"

"Host, Meijian Country is not short of money, but short of time." The System analyzed, "Although their navy is expanding, their technical reserves are insufficient. If they can buy a weakened version of the Longjiang-class from the Host, they can save at least three to five years of research and development time. Moreover, after Ambassador Smith went back last time, the White House clearly gave him greater authorization—he should be well-prepared this time. According to diplomatic telegrams monitored by the System, the President of Meijian Country has personally inquired about this transaction."

Li Ling thought for a moment and sat up straight: "Fine, then let's see what new plan he can come up with. However, my principle remains unchanged—Tang Country's technology will never be sold cheaply. No matter how high the price they offer, core technology must never be transferred."

At 3:00 PM, Ambassador Smith of Meijian Country arrived on time.

He was wearing a dark gray suit today, his hair was combed meticulously, his leather shoes were polished brightly, he was carrying a black briefcase in his hand, and his expression was more solemn than the previous two times.

After entering the room, he bowed respectfully to Li Ling and then sat down in the guest seat, sitting upright.

"Ambassador Smith, this is your third visit." Li Ling leaned on the back of the chair, picked up the teacup, and took a slow sip, "I thought I made myself very clear last time. Priority supply to the German Empire is a strategic decision, not directed at your country."

"Respected Your Majesty," Ambassador Smith said in Chinese with a heavy accent, enunciating every word very carefully, "I have brought the personal authorization of our President this time, as well as a brand new procurement plan. Please take a look. This plan was formulated under the personal direction of the President, and it fully considers your country's concerns."

He took a document out of his briefcase and handed it over with both hands.

The document was bound with a dark blue hard paper cover, with the national emblem of Meijian Country printed on the cover. When opened, it was full of English and Chinese comparative terms.

Li Ling took the document, opened it, and his eyebrows arched slightly.

This new plan was indeed different from the previous two—Meijian Country was not only willing to pay a higher price to purchase the weakened version of the Longjiang-class, but also proposed that it could use a large amount of strategic materials such as oil, rubber, and steel as a means of payment.

What moved Li Ling even more was that Ambassador Smith wrote in the plan: "If Your Majesty is willing to prioritize supplying two weakened versions of the Longjiang-class to Meijian Country, our country is willing to establish a strategic cooperative relationship with Tang Country in Pacific Ocean affairs, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the Pacific Ocean region. Specific content includes: sharing Pacific Ocean meteorological intelligence, opening some port supplies, coordinating maritime patrols, etc."

"Strategic cooperation?" Li Ling's gaze stopped on the last sentence, and he didn't move it for a long time.

His fingers tapped lightly on the paper, and he was quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Pacific Ocean affairs... Is Meijian Country trying to win him over to deal with Japan together, or does it want to tie him to the chariot of Meijian Country in the name of cooperation?

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ambassador Smith saw Li Ling's hesitation and quickly struck while the iron was hot, "Our country has extensive interests in the Pacific Ocean region, and Tang Country also has important concerns in the Pacific Ocean region. If we can establish a cooperative relationship in military and economic terms, we can not only promote each other but also effectively curb the expansion of other countries in the Pacific Ocean region. For example, Japan's recent activities in Nanyang are worth our joint attention."

Li Ling stared at Ambassador Smith for a few seconds and then smiled: "Ambassador Smith, you are quite a talker. However, I want to ask a question—who do you mean by 'other countries'? Japan? Or the German Empire? Or... some other country?"

Ambassador Smith's smile stiffened slightly: "Your Majesty, our country has no intention of targeting any specific country. We just hope to establish a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperative relationship with Tang Country. As for who specifically, we can talk about it slowly later."

Li Ling put down the document, leaned on the back of the chair, and crossed his legs: "Ambassador Smith, I don't like beating around the bush. I can prioritize supplying two weakened versions of the Longjiang-class to Meijian Country, and even provide a delivery time that is more prioritized than the German Empire. But I have one condition."

"Please speak, Your Majesty."

"Your warships in the Pacific Ocean cannot approach within three hundred nautical miles of Tang Country's territorial waters. If you want to engage in any 'freedom of navigation' off the coast of Tang Country, my fleet will not be polite. In addition, if you want to conduct military exercises in the Pacific Ocean, you must notify the Tang Country Navy thirty days in advance, and the exercise area must not approach Tang Country's exclusive economic zone."

Ambassador Smith's expression changed for a moment, but he quickly returned to calm: "Your Majesty, our country's actions in the Pacific Ocean have always complied with international law and will not infringe on any country's territorial sovereignty. Please rest assured about this. As for the notification of military exercises, we can negotiate the specific schedule."

"That's good." Li Ling smiled, "Then let's sign the contract. Two weakened versions of the Longjiang-class, fourteen million taels of silver each, 50% paid in oil and rubber, and the balance settled in silver. Pay 40% as a deposit first, and the balance will be paid off in two years. Includes a fire control system and technical training, we teach until you learn. In addition, if there are any changes in your country's actions in the Pacific Ocean region, I reserve the right to adjust the terms of the contract."

"Deal!" Ambassador Smith agreed without hesitation and reached out his hand.

Li Ling held his hand: "Happy cooperation. But Ambassador Smith, I'll say the ugly words first—if your country engages in any small actions in the Pacific Ocean region, I can terminate the contract at any time. At that time, the deposit will not be refunded, the order will be void, don't blame me for not making it clear in advance."

The smile on Ambassador Smith's face remained unchanged, but a glimmer of vigilance flashed in his eyes: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, our government has always adhered to the spirit of contract. This is also the cornerstone of our Meijian Country gaining trust in international affairs."

After sending off Ambassador Smith, Li Ling returned to the Imperial Study and let out a long breath.

He walked to the window, looked at the naval port that was being expanded in the distance, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

In the distance, the steel frame of the new dry dock had already been erected, casting long shadows in the sunset, like a row of growing steel forests.

"System, do you think I am right in taking this step? Selling the Longjiang-class to Meijian Country, will it be raising a tiger that will cause trouble later?"

"Host, what you are selling is still the weakened version. Even if Meijian Country obtains these technologies, it will take at least five years to digest and absorb them. And in these five years, the Host's technological advantage will continue to expand. Longxun-class, Longhuang-class, Longdi-class... more advanced warships will be launched one after another. By then, Meijian Country's weakened Longjiang-class will be a group of targets in front of the Host. Moreover, through this contract, you have actually put shackles on Meijian Country's Pacific Ocean actions. They have to consider your reaction with every step they take."

"You are right." Li Ling nodded, "Technological advantage is the real advantage. As long as I can keep the lead, the more they buy, the more favors they owe me."

He turned around, walked back to the table, picked up a pen, and drew a circle on the map at the location of Meijian Country. The tip of the pen brushed across the paper, making a faint rustling sound.

"Then let them buy. Let them spend money to buy my second-hand technology, and then use their money to build better warships. By the time their warships are built, my Longhuang-class will have already been launched. At that time, they will realize that what they bought was just a ticket that couldn't catch up."

Outside the window, the spring breeze blew, and peach petals drifted into the window with the wind, landing on the spread-out map, just falling on the area of Meijian Country circled with a red pen.

Li Ling gently picked up the petal, looked at it, and casually tucked it into the notebook on his desk. That notebook already had quite a few petals tucked in, each marked with a date and event, like his unique historical bookmark.

"The next step... should consider the Longhuang-class." He whispered to himself, "The Longjiang-class is already powerful enough, if the Longhuang-class is launched, that will be the real maritime hegemon."

On the distant sea, the sunset was slowly sinking into the horizon, dyeing the whole sky golden red.

On the pier of the naval port, workers were finishing work, and the shouts and laughter drifted with the evening wind.

Welding sparks flickered in the twilight, like the last star struggling in the daylight, refusing to go out.

And the outlines of the giant ships docked by the pier became clearer and larger in the twilight, like floating mountain ranges, quietly waiting for the next expedition.

Li Ling stood by the window, his eyes passing through the twilight and falling on those giant ships, not moving for a long time.

A smile slowly appeared on the corners of his mouth—that was the smile of a winner, calm and determined.

And in the corner of the Imperial Study, the System was quietly recording all this.

In its data stream, a line of small characters was slowly emerging: "Host's mentality is stable, strategic judgment is accurate. The next stage of challenges is coming, it is recommended that the Host make preparations in advance."

Outside the window, the night was getting thicker, and the lights in the naval port were turned on one after another, connecting into a piece, like a starry sky on the earth.

And the outlines of those three Longjiang-class ships were becoming clearer in the twilight, like three silent monuments, standing between the sea and the sky, witnessing the rise of Tang Country's maritime power.