Chapter 2172: From Strength and Status

A few days later, the agreement signed by Wang Xingyi on behalf of Mou State and Cangyan was placed on Emperor Mou’s desk.

In the future, Bailie would impose extremely low taxes on goods imported from and exported to neighboring countries. Furthermore, Mou State would enjoy even greater tax exemptions and credits in Bailie.

This meant that goods from Mou State would incur virtually no tax when entering or leaving Bailie.

A very long list was attached to the document.

Emperor Mou couldn’t help but smile upon seeing this.

Previously, Bailie had been a dependency of Mou State, and goods from Mou State had always entered and exited Bailie tax-free. After Emperor Jiuyou took control of Bailie, the tax rates should have been redefined, but he continued the former policy to mitigate any potential conflict between the two nations.

Emperor Mou noted that Emperor Jiuyou’s reference to "Bailie" actually encompassed Blade Port, as the document explicitly stated that the new regulations would commence upon Blade Port’s return.

Through this agreement, Emperor Jiuyou indirectly conveyed his unwavering resolve to seize Blade Port.

Concurrently, Cangyan State agreed to export rare raw materials such as silver-manganese and white steel to Mou State, committing to an average of two thousand *jin* annually for the first five years. After this period, as production increased, the quantity could rise to five thousand *jin* per year.

Silver-manganese and white steel were crucial raw materials for forging specialized weaponry. However, their production in surrounding countries, including Mou State, was meager. Only the Shining Gold Plain boasted exceptionally abundant reserves.

In the past, the Shining Gold Plain was like holding a golden rice bowl but begging for food.

Now that the world’s spiritual energy was gradually growing denser, specialized weaponry had once again found its purpose. The Dragon God Army’s decisive victory at Baiqiuyuan, the sacred site in Ya State, had allowed these weapons to debut spectacularly, undoubtedly drawing the attention of many nations.

A new era was dawning; those who failed to keep pace would fall behind and face misfortune.

Consequently, Mou State had a significant demand for specialized weapons and several crucial raw materials. They had previously offered to purchase them from Cangyan, but Cangyan had consistently declined.

By including this in the agreement, Emperor Jiuyou signaled goodwill and expressed his sincerity for cooperation.

The document concluded with over a dozen articles outlining expanded cooperation and bilateral trade. Were one to disregard Emperor Jiuyou’s past actions, the agreement would appear brimming with sincerity and enthusiasm.

Emperor Mou placed the agreement on his desk and once again summoned You Huan:

"In your opinion, how should we approach our future relationship with Cangyan?"

The agreement’s content was concise. You Huan read it twice before responding:

"From an external perspective, Bailie and Blade Port are minor territories. For Emperor Jiuyou to annex them, he needs a justifiable reason, and that 'reason' serves as an explanation to Mou State. Internally, Emperor Jiuyou’s subjects firmly believe him to be a virtuous ruler who honors his commitments and whose word is law. I’ve heard that years ago, he promised the Bai people their return to their ancestral lands, and indeed, thousands of Bailong people have now resettled in Afohai."

Emperor Mou nodded, "Indeed, he is true to his word."

"It’s evident that Emperor Jiuyou strives for consistency in his conduct, both domestically and internationally. His adherence to 'virtue, trustworthiness, and propriety' acts as both a tool against others and a restraint upon himself. Under normal circumstances, Great Mou need not fear him reneging on his commitments," You Huan stated gravely. "Moreover, Cangyan has raised the banner of resistance against the Sky Demons, making it fundamentally incompatible with Beijia. This naturally aligns them more closely with our position."

"I believe that moving forward, we can maintain normal relations with Cangyan, temporarily acting as if the incidents involving Bailie and Blade Port never transpired." He specifically stressed the word "temporarily" to ensure the Emperor understood his nuanced meaning. "This approach not only suits the current geopolitical climate but also showcases the magnanimous spirit of our Great Mou."

What was the current geopolitical climate? It was that Mou State’s geographical security was now threatened by Cangyan’s emergence.

Emperor Jiuyou, leading the Dragon God Army, had forcefully asserted his and Cangyan’s standing, compelling all powers, including Beijia and Mou State, to acknowledge Cangyan’s military prowess.

Emperor Jiuyou had meticulously orchestrated events to this point, thus earning his right to a seat at the negotiating table.

At this juncture, Mou State was compelled to be "magnanimous" and cultivate good relations with Cangyan State.

This was a strategy born of acknowledging strength and status.

Meanwhile, in Bailie, Du Shan and the assembled ministers also offered their congratulations to the Emperor on the successful conclusion of the agreement and the establishment of harmonious relations between the two nations.

This single agreement set the tone for the Bailie and Blade Port incidents, articulated Mou State’s stance and attitude, and laid the foundation for cooperation between Mou State and Cangyan.

As He Lingchuan had previously stated, once this agreement was signed, Cangyan’s peaceful era would truly begin.

Furthermore, this agreement signified Mou State’s respect for He Lingchuan personally.

Previously, Ling Shan had held a position of dominance over He Lingchuan, even assigning him tasks. Consequently, Mou State had inevitably viewed He Lingchuan with a degree of disdain, extending this indifference to the Cangyan he had founded.

This stemmed from a natural, psychological sense of hierarchical superiority.

Unless Mou State’s sense of superiority was dismantled, Cangyan would not receive the respect it deserved in its interactions with them.

So, what was to be done?

Let Mou State feel true pain, just once.

Pain would bring clarity.

Before the end of late summer, the situation to the east of Mou State had dramatically shifted.

The Dragon God Army was deployed at Bailie’s southernmost tip; just three *li* further lay Blade Port!

Some military encampments were even pitched directly beside the trade route, allowing passing merchants and travelers to observe the banners fluttering within the camps.

Rumors abounded, with some individuals assertively claiming that the Dragon God Army intended to annex Qing State.

King Qing had indeed received Emperor Jiuyou’s ultimatum.

Though the phrasing remained courteous, it was undeniably an ultimatum, not a mere diplomatic document.

Emperor Jiuyou was no Lu Zhensheng. As a creditor, how could he be amiable towards Qing State, which had seized ancestral property and failed to return it by the deadline?

The ultimatum’s message could be summarized simply:

If you do not return Blade Port, I will seize all of Qing State!

This was an undisguised threat. What made it most terrifying was that, given Emperor Jiuyou’s past military successes, this threat was highly likely to become reality.

He declared his intent to unify the Shining Gold Plain, and so it was unified.

He desired to take Bailie, and Bailie recognized him as its patriarch.

Now, he stated he would annihilate Qing State.

Who would dare question his capacity for action?

King Qing was well aware that without assistance from Mou State, ten Qing States combined would be insufficient to withstand him.

Those two days and two nights stretched longer than any he had ever endured.

King Qing suffered from sleeplessness and loss of appetite, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. He had indeed endured to receive momentous news from Mou State.

However, the news was that Mou State had committed significant forces to a full-scale assault on Ya State, with no mention of any actions by Mou State regarding Cangyan.

King Qing’s urgent pleas sent to Mou Capital vanished without a trace, yielding not a single response.

Could the state letter have been lost? Impossible.

The only explanation was that Mou State wished to avoid this quagmire.

Yet, Qing State had no higher leverage to offer.

Day after day, the ultimatum’s deadline arrived. The final news King Qing received was that Mou State and Cangyan had reached a series of cooperation agreements!

This devastating news struck like a bolt from the blue, utterly dumbfounding the monarch and ministers of Qing State.

King Qing immediately smashed all the furnishings in his bedchamber, roaring, "Why!"