mtl008 Chapter 190: Harsh Rules Ahead, Difficulties to Face
Chapter 190: Harsh Rules Ahead, Difficulties to Face
The Golden Lion King paused, his gaze sweeping across Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin before finally resting on Ren Xiaoyao's face. He slowly said, "Mr. Xiaoyao, you should understand that our country is remote and resource-poor, while yours is vast and rich in products. For this alliance, I hope your country can provide us with strong support in terms of supplies, such as..."
He began to list the supplies he needed, from food and minerals to cloth and medicinal herbs—the variety and quantity were staggering. With each item mentioned, the Imperial Preceptor behind the Golden Lion King twirled his beard and nodded slightly, while General Black Tiger stood with his arms folded, silent.
The more Ren Xiaoyao listened, the tighter his brow furrowed. The Golden Lion King's demands were more than just demanding; they could be described as exorbitant. If all these supplies were provided, it would be a considerable burden for their side, which was already in a state of war readiness.
"Your Majesty," Ren Xiaoyao suppressed his displeasure and spoke in a calm tone, "It's not that we can't meet your request, but the amount is so huge that it will probably take some time to raise it all."
"Mr. Xiaoyao, I understand your difficulties," the Golden Lion King said sincerely, "but you should also understand our situation. We are isolated overseas. If a war breaks out, we will face the enemy directly. Without sufficient supplies, the consequences will be disastrous."
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent. He knew that what the Golden Lion King said was true, but these conditions were too harsh for him to agree easily.
"Besides that," the Golden Lion King continued when Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, "I also hope that your country can send an elite force to assist us in defending the border to deal with enemy raids."
Hearing this, General Black Tiger, who had been silent all this time, had a gleam in his eyes, and his folded arms involuntarily clenched a little tighter.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath. He knew the Golden Lion King was testing their limits. Sending troops meant greater risk and investment. If not handled properly, they could even be dragged into the quagmire of war.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I need to discuss it with the country before I can give you an answer." Ren Xiaoyao said in a firm tone.
The Golden Lion King nodded and stopped pressing. Instead, he turned his gaze to Xia Lin standing beside him and said, "Miss Xia Lin, what do you think?"
Charlene listened quietly to their conversation, her beautiful eyes gleaming with wisdom. She smiled faintly and said, "Your Majesty, we can discuss the terms of the alliance slowly..."
Her tone was gentle, yet held an undeniable firmness. Charlene gracefully rose and walked to the long table in the center of the conference room, covered with a map. Her delicate fingers gently traced the border marking the two countries. "Your Majesty, it's not that we can't meet your request for supplies. However, the quantity and type of supplies may require further discussion."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the crowd before finally resting on the Golden Lion King. "For example, we can provide food in batches to address your immediate needs. As for mineral resources, your country is vast and rich in resources, so it's not impossible to be self-sufficient. We can send experienced craftsmen to assist with mining, which will be mutually beneficial."
The Golden Lion King listened to Xia Lin's clear and well-reasoned analysis, his tense expression gradually softening as he nodded in agreement. The Imperial Preceptor beside him stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
"As for sending troops," Xia Lin paused, turning her gaze to General Black Tiger. "General, you are a brave warrior, and I'm sure you've already made preparations to defend our country. Our army has come from afar, and we're not familiar with the terrain or the battle situation. If we rashly send troops, they might not be as effective as we should be."
General Black Tiger's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, but he couldn't refute it. Although he longed to achieve great things, he also understood the dangers of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly. He could only groan and remain silent.
The princess, who had been silent all this time, had a strange look in her eyes at this moment. She looked at Xia Lin deeply, then turned her gaze to Ren Xiaoyao, as if she wanted to see something from his face.
"Miss Xia Lin's words make sense," the Golden Lion King pondered for a moment before speaking. "Alliances should be mutually beneficial and should advance and retreat together. How about this? We'll discuss the specific details of the alliance tomorrow."
"Your Majesty is wise." Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin responded in unison.
As night fell, the magnificent palace gradually fell into silence. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin returned to the inn, not even bothering to eat dinner, and began to discuss tomorrow's negotiation strategy.
"Xia Lin, thanks to you today, otherwise I really don't know how to deal with the conditions of the Golden Lion King." Ren Xiaoyao said gratefully.
"Xiaoyao, you don't have to underestimate yourself. You performed very well today. The Golden Lion King has been in power for a long time and is very majestic. It is very rare that you can face him with dignity and argue with him based on reason." Xia Lin comforted him.
"I'm just worried that if we can't reach an alliance as soon as possible, we'll miss the opportunity to fight." Ren Xiaoyao sighed, his eyes full of worry.
"Don't worry. Although the Golden Lion King has put forward harsh conditions, it can be seen that he is still sincere in wanting to form an alliance. He is just worried about damage to his own interests. As long as we show enough sincerity and find conditions acceptable to both parties, I believe that the alliance will be just around the corner." Xia Lin said confidently.
"I hope so." Ren Xiaoyao nodded, feeling a little more at ease.
At this time, deep in the palace, the Golden Lion King and the Imperial Master sat opposite each other, and the chess game was in full swing on the chessboard in front of them.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of Mr. Xiaoyao?" The Imperial Master put down a chess piece and asked casually.
"He is young and promising, neither humble nor arrogant, and is a promising talent." The Golden Lion King answered without hesitation.
"What about Miss Xia Lin?" the imperial master asked again.
"She is meticulous and knows when to advance and retreat. She is as capable as any man." The Golden Lion King praised.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of the conditions they proposed..." The Imperial Master wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by the Golden Lion King with a wave of his hand.
"Let's talk about it tomorrow." The Golden Lion King looked at the chessboard with deep eyes, wondering what he was thinking...
Golden morning light filtered through the window lattices, illuminating the rooms of the inn with a warm glow. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, sleepless all night, had a hint of fatigue in their eyes, but their spirits were lifted. A crucial day was approaching; achieving a breakthrough in today's negotiations would determine the future of both countries.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn and serious. The Golden Lion King sat upright on his throne, his gaze fixed on the ground below. The Imperial Preceptor whispered beside him, occasionally making corrections on a scroll in his hands. General Black Tiger stood tall and proud nearby. Although he had a favorable impression of Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, his face was devoid of any smile, revealing only a serious and cautious attitude towards state affairs.
"Mr. Xiaoyao, Miss Xia Lin, we have already carefully discussed the terms of the alliance." The Golden Lion King's voice was deep and powerful, carrying unquestionable authority. "State Master, please explain."
The Imperial Preceptor stepped forward and unfolded the scroll in his hand, densely packed with clauses regarding various supplies, personnel, and technology. "We've taken your difficulties into consideration and made some adjustments to the original requirements. For example..." He explained the revised terms one by one, his tone unhurried but each word clear, revealing the caution and determination of careful consideration.
Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin listened intently, sometimes discussing in low voices, sometimes writing something down on the documents they carried with them. They knew that these seemingly minor adjustments were related to complex conflicts of interest and long-term strategic considerations, and they could not be taken lightly.
Time ticked by in the tense negotiations, with both sides trading blows and refusing to give in. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, with their eloquence and flexible strategies, strove to secure favorable terms. However, the foreign land's demands remained unyielding, and some key terms remained unresolved.
"It seems that there are still huge differences between us." Ren Xiaoyao put down the document in his hand, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Xiaoyao, don't be discouraged, we still have the last bargaining chip..." Xia Lin whispered in his ear, with a determined light flashing in her eyes.
"You mean..." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and looked at the Golden Lion King with a firm gaze, "Your Majesty, in order to express our sincerity, we are willing to..." He deliberately paused, took out an exquisite wooden box from his arms, and slowly opened it.