Laifeng Kingdom, the fourth year of Baofeng, the sixth day of the fifth month, the morning was fine.
Situ Wanqing returned to the capital with a series of secret agreements signed by Lengyue Emperor Gongyang Jiezhen. Unable to wait to return home to rest, she rushed to the palace to meet Emperor Nalan Qingcheng.
Although Situ Wanqing was not a Beijing official and her current official rank was not high enough to attend court, Hua Qingcheng, who was still presiding over the morning court, directly asked Situ Wanqing to go to the Golden Palace to discuss matters after receiving the report.
Although the court officials had their own opinions about this, they also knew that Situ Wanqing had already been selected for the cabinet and was the emperor's advisor. Her appointment to Yuheng County was merely a training exercise. Therefore, the officials did not dare to say anything openly.
"My dear young Minister Si Tu, I wonder why you have returned to the capital this time?" Hua Qingcheng, who was sitting on the golden throne, already knew the inside story, but still asked in front of all the civil and military officials.
She was wearing a golden phoenix robe and a pearl crown on her head, showing the majesty and dominance of a king.
Upon hearing this, Situ Wanqing hurried to the center of the court, bowed to Hua Qingcheng, and said, "Your Majesty, the monarch of Lengyue, Gongyang Jiezhen, requests that we follow the example of Zhaoyang and incorporate Lengyue into the territory of the Laifeng Empire, becoming a vassal state of the Laifeng Empire and paying homage to Your Majesty from now on."
As Situ Wanqing finished speaking, the court erupted in an uproar. Attitudes were divided. Some believed this was a golden opportunity for Laifeng to demonstrate its might and unite the four seas; others believed this would divert some of their own resources; and still others believed Lengyue might have ulterior motives.
Looking at the chattering ministers below, Hua Qingcheng directly called out Prime Minister Situ Luoyun's name, "Lord Situ, what do you think about this matter?"
Situ Luoyun stepped out from the first row of civil officials and replied, "Your Majesty, I believe that opportunities and challenges coexist. Although there are certain risks in merging Lengyue Kingdom with our Laifeng Empire, there are still many benefits. Although Lengyue Kingdom has a cold climate, their animal husbandry is extremely developed, especially their horses, which are very strong. We can introduce their cattle, horses, and sheep. On the one hand, it will strengthen our military strength, and on the other hand, the cattle can be used for farming, which is also beneficial to the development of agriculture."
"Furthermore, the people of Lengyue are adept at riding horses, and their horsemanship is superb. Our army can learn from them and improve our combat effectiveness. Furthermore, Lengyue is rich in mineral resources. If they can be properly developed and utilized, they will bring enormous wealth to the country. Therefore, I believe that we should seize this opportunity to take Lengyue into our fold and strengthen our Laifeng Empire."
Hua Qingcheng nodded slightly, agreeing with Situ Luoyun's point of view. She turned to look at Feng Cailan, the leader of the generals, and asked, "Lord Feng, what do you think?"
Feng Cailan walked from the ranks of military officers to the center of the hall, bowed to Hua Qingcheng, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe what the Prime Minister and the Yuheng County Magistrate say is not without reason. With proper control, we can maximize the benefits. As for the drawbacks, there are solutions. Furthermore, we are not a charity. Since we are claiming the title of a vassal state of the Laifeng Empire, we must make them pay tribute on time."
As Feng Cailan finished speaking, the generals echoed their support. After all, the fact that the four directions came to pay tribute was a testament to the growing strength of the Laifeng Empire and a manifestation of the power of a great nation.
As for the civil officials, there were still several different opinions. Some believed that the country should be governed with benevolence and righteousness, and that more tolerance should be shown to other countries; others believed that other countries could be admitted, but the number and conditions must be strictly controlled; and some remained neutral and did not express a clear opinion.
Just as everyone was chattering and discussing, Hua Qingcheng turned her gaze to the only male minister in the Golden Palace - Su Mulige.
He was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe, with an elegant demeanor and a handsome and calm face. Hua Qingcheng looked at him and asked seriously, "Prince Zhaoyang, what do you think about this matter?"
Su Mulige stepped out, bowed, and slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, I agree with what General Feng said. Accepting Lengyue Country will not only strengthen our country's strength, but also promote cultural exchange. However, we need to send someone to Lengyue Country to conduct an on-site inspection to ensure that everything goes smoothly."
Hua Qingcheng smiled and nodded in approval.
"Since that's the case, do you have any objections, my dear ministers?" Hua Qingcheng looked around at His Highness and the others.
All the ministers remained silent, which was considered as their tacit agreement to the matter.
"Okay, then I'll let little Situ Aiqing take charge of this matter." Hua Qingcheng looked at Situ Wanqing, a glimmer of trust in her eyes.
"Your humble servant obeys your command." Situ Wanqing knelt down to express his gratitude.
Seeing that the matter had been accomplished, Hua Qingcheng was in a good mood. She looked at Situ Wanqing, who was standing in the center of the hall below, with a smile in her eyes. She spoke again, "This time, the territory of our Laifeng Empire has expanded significantly. This is of great significance for the development and strengthening of our country's economy, military, and agriculture, as well as promoting communication and trade among the people. All of this is due to the hard work and wisdom of young Situ Aiqing. You have made an invaluable contribution! I wonder... what kind of reward do you want?"
As Hua Qingcheng finished her words, the entire court fell silent, with everyone's attention focused on Situ Wanqing. They were all filled with curiosity about this promising young woman, wondering what kind of reward she would request.
Some suggested that Situ Wanqing might request a large amount of gold, silver, and treasure as a reward, given her immense contributions to the state. However, others quickly refuted this view, pointing out that Situ Wanqing came from a prominent and wealthy family and had no need for such wealth. They suggested that Situ Wanqing would more likely request a promotion and a higher rank to elevate her status within the court.
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