Zhao Hao found it funny and couldn't help but said, "Then why are you talking to me about this? I can't help you."

Shang Henshui rolled his eyes at him and said, "Don't play dumb with me, kid. The negotiations have really reached a deadlock now."

"So, I was thinking, aren't you smart enough? You can be clever just by blinking your eyes."

"I want you to come up with some ideas for me."

Zhao Hao was speechless and asked, "Are you praising me or scolding me?"

Shang Henshui said quickly: "Of course I am praising you. Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense and listen to what I have to say..."

Without giving Zhao Hao a chance to speak, he started talking about the negotiations.

It turned out that the problem lay with the tariffs between the two countries.

Da Gan proposed that all goods from the State of Wu, no matter what they were, would be subject to a tariff of at least 20%.

Moreover, after the goods arrive at Dagan, they must be sold by Dagan in a unified manner.

This request is relatively normal.

What is abnormal is the request made by the State of Wu.

All the goods from Dagan, after entering the State of Wu, were sold by the Wu court.

Not allowed to sell privately.

After the sale, the Wu court would take 50% of the net profit.

This was really unacceptable to Da Gan.

However, the Wu State also had its own explanation.

They say this is using their entire market in exchange for half of the profits.

It is necessary and reasonable.

Otherwise, Dagan would have a lot of goods but no place to sell them.

The things produced can only be kept there, but they cannot be turned into money.

Moreover, the people of Wu were richer than those of Dagan.

As long as they open up the State of Wu and start trade, Da Gan will make a lot of profits.

This statement cannot be said to be wrong.

It can't even be said to be unreasonable.

However, faced with such conditions, Dagan simply could not accept them.

Isn't this a bad thing? Isn't this allowing the State of Wu to take our things for free?

Therefore, the negotiations reached a deadlock.

For several days, there had been no progress at all, and the Wu delegation refused to give in on this condition.

Then, it got stuck.

After hearing this, Zhao Hao couldn't help but look at Shang Henshui and asked, "Is that it?"

Shang Henshui rolled his eyes and said, "What else? Those people from Wu State acted as if they had made a promise and would not back down even a step."

"With such a lack of sincerity, many ministers have advised Your Majesty that they do not want to continue negotiations with the State of Wu."

"But His Majesty did not agree. I don't know what His Majesty is thinking."

Zhao Hao said calmly: "What else can I think? I'll do my best. After a series of wars, our country is now weak."

"The State of Wu has come to us to seek trade, so Your Majesty will certainly not let them go."

Shang Henshui nodded slightly and said, "That's true, but we're stuck now. Can you help me think of a solution?"

Zhao Hao said, "Isn't this simple? You can first separate the types of goods, and use different methods of cooperation for different types. Isn't that enough?"

"For example, if we sell dry wine or grain, do we have to let them take 50% of the profit?"

"Dry wine is fine, but if 50% of the profit is taken from grain, how can they sell it?"

"This is simply impossible!"

"Different goods, different standards, can't we just discuss them separately?"

Hearing Zhao Hao's words, Shang Henshui's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "I told you, you are the one with the most cunning ideas."

“It is indeed so!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

Zhao Hao said, "The idea of Wu is actually very simple. After the last war, their national strength was greatly depleted and they are in urgent need of recovery."

"So, they set their sights on our Dagan."

"We work hard, and we have many workshops. The things produced in the workshops are also in short supply."

“They take half of the profits, just to get a piece of the pie.”

"It's not like we can't agree to it. After all, they are recovering and so are we."

"And once our Dagan recovers, not to mention that we have Shu as a friend, the barbarians will be dead."

"As long as they are not barbaric, even if the rest of the countries are added together, it won't be a big problem for us."

Shang Henshui nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, you are right."

"If we compare the fighting power of the army, my only rival is the barbarians in the north."

"None of the Central Plains countries can rival us."

As he said that, he stood up and said, "Well, you kid go to the backyard to look at Yuchan. I have to go to the Neishi Yamen to look for your father."

"Hey, what kind of thing is this? I'm a chief academician at the Imperial College, and I'm being dragged into this mess!"

Listening to the old man's complaints, Zhao Hao burst into laughter.

After the two men came out of the main room, Zhao Hao went to the back hall with ease.

When Zhao Hao came over, Shang Yuchan was in the yard with a sunflower in her hand.

She kept picking the yellow leaves off the sunflower, and the whole plant was bald due to all the picking.

Seeing Zhao Hao coming, Shang Yuchan immediately stood up from the stool.

"Brother, come and sit here. I'll make you some tea."

"Thank you, sister. But don't bother me. I've already drunk a lot at Mr. Shang's place."

Zhao Hao walked over, gently grasped Shang Yuchan's hand, sat down on the stool, and let Shang Yuchan sit on his lap.

Shang Yuchan is a woman with a relatively plump figure, a sweet and royal young woman with a slightly plump appearance.

Her butt sat on Zhao Hao's legs, soft and very comfortable.

It doesn't seem awkward at all.

Zhao Hao held her little hand with one hand and put his arm around her waist.

Smelling her body fragrance, I felt a little excited.

Feeling the change in Zhao Hao, Shang Yuchan's cheeks suddenly turned red with embarrassment.

But he still pretended not to know and spoke softly to Zhao Hao.

"Brother, is there anything good to come out today?"

Zhao Hao smiled softly and deliberately poked her with the prickly ash wood. In an instant, the blush on Shang Yuchan's face climbed up to her ears.

"The day before yesterday, after the news of a great victory came from Mubei City, I wrote a poem about virtue and victory."

“But I’m not very satisfied with what I wrote.”

"If you want, why don't you give me a topic and I'll write it for you now?"

Hearing him say this, Shang Yuchan's beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly said in surprise: "Is this... okay?"

Zhao Hao nodded slightly and said, "For others, it's not allowed, but for my sister, you can have whatever you want."

Shang Yuchan heard this and said shyly, "Brother, you only know how to make your sister happy!"

Zhao Hao gently stroked the soft flesh on her waist and said, "If I don't comfort my sister, who else can I comfort?"