Ying Zheng sat upright on his throne, and seeing the eagerness of the foreign guests in the hall to buy things, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Just then, he overheard the wicked man's words. He glanced at the wicked man without changing his expression, a hint of greed in his eyes: "Grand Commandant, today is a day of great joy for me. Our brothers from friendly nations have come from afar to offer their congratulations. How can we let them down?"
The wicked man understood, first bowing slightly to Ying Zheng with clasped hands, and was just about to turn around to continue to bewitch the envoys when he heard Ying Zheng speak again.
"Grand Commandant, these are merely wine and spirits; how can they compare to the friendship between Qin and all other nations?!"
At this point, Ying Zheng stood up, his face full of righteous indignation, and said, "Since our friendly nation likes it, what can Qin do even if it doesn't drink it... We'll sell it all to... uh... we'll give it all to our friendly nation as a priority."
The wicked man gasped in shock. He was so young; he had forgotten that his good brother was no less greedy than himself!
"This...this...Your Majesty wants our lives?!" Meng Ao and the others were on the verge of tears, staring at Ying Zheng with pleading eyes, but were completely ignored by him.
"good!"
A barbarian envoy stepped forward, imitating the Qin officials, and bowed with clasped hands, saying, "Your Majesty is righteous, and we cannot take advantage of you for nothing."
"Gentlemen, how about we increase the Grand Commandant's price by ten percent?"
The man's words caused everyone present to hesitate, but also made the wicked man's eyes light up. He wished he could hug the bearded barbarian and kiss him a few times.
At this moment, Wu Shi Luo could no longer sit still. Disregarding etiquette, she moved closer to the wicked man and whispered, "Grand Commandant, this man's territory is located outside the Western Regions. He has plenty of money... According to your words, he is a top-three client!"
The wicked man's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said directly, "I'm a seasoned veteran of many battles, and it's been a long time since I've inquired about this distribution market. My subordinates just informed me that you are a major client of our market..."
"so...!"
"This Grand Commandant promises that in the future... if any powerful enemy dares to invade, the Qin state will certainly lend a helping hand to preserve the friendship between your tribe and my Qin state."
Upon hearing this, the man's face immediately lit up with a broad smile, and he thanked the wicked husband repeatedly.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng's smile remained unchanged. He then turned his gaze to the other envoys in the prince's presence, seemingly waiting for more people to express their opinions.
The envoys, who had initially been somewhat hesitant, couldn't help but secretly lament when they saw that their own side had taken the lead: if they didn't seize the opportunity, the other side might take away most of their share.
So some people gritted their teeth and stood up, imitating the barbarian, clasped their hands and said loudly, "We are willing to agree to add another ten percent, hoping to make good relations with the Qin state."
Upon hearing this, the other envoys who had been observing could no longer remain still and followed suit. Some exchanged glances with the wicked man, while others addressed him by his full title, all expressing their willingness to raise the price.
Ying Zheng stood with his sleeves tucked in, calmly watching the group of foreign dignitaries making a ruckus over the strong liquor, feeling extremely pleased. High on his throne, he slightly raised his hand, and the hall immediately quieted down.
Then, he said with great pride, "In that case, you may discuss this with the Grand Commandant after the wedding ceremony. In addition, I will regard anyone who is truly friendly with my Great Qin as a partner. In the future, even if the border is in trouble, I will not hesitate to send troops to its aid. This is no exaggeration."
These words elicited varying reactions from the different factions within the hall. Some envoys were overjoyed, repeatedly expressing their gratitude; others, however, were more astute, their eyes gleaming as if trying to discern whether this "reinforcement" would truly materialize.
Seeing the crowd's high spirits, the wicked man seized the opportunity to bow and say to everyone present, "Gentlemen, don't panic. Let's enjoy our wine first. In the future, we can discuss in detail how much to order, how to transport it back, and when to deliver it at my Grand Commandant's residence. Our Great Qin keeps its promises, and every contract signed will be backed by military orders."
These words made the envoys feel even more at ease.
After all, the phrase "military orders are the basis" is equivalent to official endorsement, meaning that once a friendly alliance is formed with the Qin state, the military might of the Qin can be relied upon at crucial moments.
Not only that, but by acquiring strong liquor, they could also make a fortune in their own country, truly achieving the best of both worlds. Thinking of this, everyone rose to their feet, clasped their hands in greeting to the wicked man, and shouted, "Grand Commandant, you are so righteous!" and "Your Majesty, you are so benevolent!" The sounds of praise were endless.
Meng Ao, Meng Can, and the others watched in stunned silence, never expecting that the emperor and his minister would turn this joyous wedding ceremony into a business transaction.
"The Grand Commandant truly lives up to his reputation. With just a few simple words, he has stirred them up to the point where they are willing to add another ten percent..." Meng Can thought to himself with admiration.
He genuinely admired the wicked husband's clever scheme; he had subtly tricked these fools into believing he could amass a fortune.
Thinking of this, the displeasure of being cut off from the alcohol supply to the foreign tribes instantly faded away. Whether or not to drink the alcohol didn't matter; having money in one's pocket was what really mattered!
Amidst the sounds of drums and music, the maids entered the hall again to pour wine, and the atmosphere became even more lively than before.
Foreign envoys temporarily suppressed their shopping urges, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, discussing their respective interests in spirits and sugar; Qin officials also took the opportunity to talk about Qin's sea salt, pottery, and other industries, seemingly wanting to expand their business in these areas.
Ying Zheng sat on the magnificent throne, watching his capable advisors handle foreign guests with ease in the hall. He became more and more confident: with such a united civil and military leader, and such clever and resourceful planning, how could the Great Qin not one day dominate the world?
The wicked husband had become the center of attention, with people coming to toast him one after another. As he drank, he revealed a smile he had never shown before.
All of this is just the beginning. The Qin Dynasty will surely become even stronger in the future, and the one who will lay the foundation for all of this is him!
Having transmigrated from the modern era, he had finally accomplished something, and the sense of satisfaction made him feel incredibly refreshed. In his excellent mood, he would even occasionally exchange a few jokes with the barbarians he had once despised.
Just as the wicked man was enjoying himself and chatting away, a sudden burst of enthusiastic drumming came from outside the hall. The guests and officials who had been quietly reciting and laughing inside the hall all involuntarily turned their ears to listen.
Several musicians and attendants quickly entered the hall and announced loudly, "The time has come, the wedding ceremony continues—begin the dance to present the gifts!"
As soon as the words were spoken, a group of dancers in colorful costumes rushed into the hall, some carrying feather fans and others holding ribbons, and lined up on both sides. They moved lightly and gracefully, dancing in the center of the hall to the accompaniment of string music and chime bells.
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, the drums and music in the hall suddenly rose again, and the bells and chimes rang out.
"Crossing the cup—"
Several officials stood on the side of the hall, respectfully announcing the ceremony. At the head of the hall, Ying Zheng and Mi Ji each held a jade cup and drank from each other.
The perfect couple completed their solemn and romantic wedding ceremony amidst the attention of thousands, marking another climax to the grand event.
"May the King and Queen live in harmony and happiness for a hundred years!" Someone shouted this first, and it was immediately echoed by everyone in the hall.
The sound echoed throughout the main hall, making the golden roof and jade pillars reverberate.
The music gradually softened, and night fell. Palace lanterns rose one after another, their lights creating a sea of brilliance that enveloped the entire city of Xianyang in a golden, magnificent glow.
"This prosperous age, this world, ultimately belongs to us to build," the wicked man murmured softly, facing the flickering firelight. Then, he turned his gaze away, picked up a glass of strong liquor, and slowly drank it down. The fiery liquid flowed from his lips and teeth into his lungs, reigniting the boundless pride within him.
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