People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 407 Pulling
After the translator explained all the contents of the covenant one by one, Himiko's expression had become solemn and deep. When she looked at Ma Yan again, the look in her eyes changed from her previous gentleness and friendliness to a bit of fear and alienation.

As the ruler of such an uncivilized small country, Himiko may not have much knowledge and foresight, but she is at least a very smart person.

She felt danger in the content of this covenant. Although the surface of the covenant was covered with interests, she was still keenly aware of the other party's strength and ambition.

"Do you want to rent a port in my Yamatai?" Himiko asked in a colder voice.

Ma Yan keenly sensed the change in Himiko's attitude, but he remained calm and unmoved. In fact, Xuan Xia didn't have to care about the other party's attitude. It was just a matter of whether the process would be easier or more difficult.

Even though he was alone at the moment, he was not afraid of the other party turning against him. As long as he made a mistake, the eight hundred Yellow Turbans below would naturally know what to do. Even if these eight hundred Yellow Turbans were gone, there was still Xuan Xia's will behind the fleet.

It's just a small barbarian country, even if it gets angry, it will only make people feel ridiculous.

"That's right. After the port is built, it will be more convenient for you and me to travel. This is something that benefits both parties, so we can do it." Ma Yan answered in a calm tone.

Himiko's eyes were even colder: "Your merchants still want to develop mineral deposits and grow crops on our land?"

Ma Yan said again: "It is natural to make the best use of things. Your Majesty should also understand that this is also beneficial to your country."

Himiko asked: "We still need to pay tribute to the country?"

Ma Yan nodded: "This is the order of the country. Only when there is order from top to bottom can there be stability. There are already dozens of tributary alliances. It would be wise for your country to follow the trend."

The room suddenly fell into silence. Himiko's eyes moved and her thoughts kept turning.

Just by asking about the contents of a few treaties, Himiko already felt uncomfortable. Although she saw the benefits these treaties might bring to the Yamatai Kingdom, she also saw the risks.

A smart person will never regard others' excessive intrusion into his territory as a good thing.

The port and the access for merchants may create a lot of wealth for Yamatai, but these riches are also controlled by the other party. Once the lifeline falls into the hands of the other party, the future will no longer be controlled by itself.

Although the alliance included things that were absolutely beneficial, such as overseas students and tribute trade, Himiko still couldn't feel at ease.

She could feel that this was an unequal treaty. Even with just a cursory glance, she could see Xuan Xia's strength and dominance.

What the other party wanted, such as ports and commercial interests, were not guaranteed by a treaty, but would be defended by military means. When such naked intentions appeared in the treaty, Himiko could not help but be frightened.

If he agreed to this, he would be fine with some humiliation, but the shake of his power would be difficult to accept.

Yes, what Himiko cared about was not whether these treaties would bring benefits or harm to the people of the country. All she wanted was her own ruling position.

The so-called people are just donors who are fooled by me. They are the ones who support me, the queen, instead of me seeking happiness for them.

Himiko did not seek to have the people wear cotton sweaters, nor did she seek to have the people use soap, glassware and all those good things. They just needed to be good cattle and horses and accept her rule.

Even if the benefits brought by the covenant benefit the people, they have nothing to do with oneself.

But the threat posed by the covenant was a real threat to himself.

Himiko didn't care that the people here would continue to be ignorant and miserable for generations. There was nothing wrong with the island, which was isolated from the outside world, remaining closed off. She didn't want it to be disturbed too much.

Fortunately, this dangerous and overbearing covenant did not make Himiko lose her mind. She did not forget what kind of existence the person in front of her represented. The huge fleet of black ships frightened her, and the exquisite goods in front of her made her even more alert.

So she didn't express her thoughts herself, but looked at the translator beside her.

The translator was her own brother. They had the same idea and soon understood what Himiko meant. He spoke up to test the waters: "Let the general know that although we are willing to cooperate, the land here is barren and the people are ignorant. I am afraid we are not fit to be used by the country."

After saying that, the translator pushed the covenant forward, but returned to Ma Yan.

Ma Yan naturally understood what the other party meant. He narrowed his eyes but did not persist in persuading him.

The so-called being useless is just an excuse for refusal, and continuing to persuade is just asking for humiliation, which will not make the other party change their mind.

Ma Yan was not surprised by this result. This alliance was different from the previous tribute alliance. It was an attempt by Xuanxia to pursue a new route overseas. The content of the treaty was more proactive and overbearing.

But of course, it is not up to the other party to decide whether to accept or not.

Ma Yan stretched out his hand to press down the covenant, smiled faintly and pushed it forward again, but the covenant came in front of Himiko again.

Himiko and the translator's faces changed, and their expressions became visibly solemn.

"General, what do you mean? Is there any such thing as coercion in an alliance?" Himiko asked in a deep voice.

Ma Yan sat with his hands folded, looking even more casual and arrogant: "Why are you so eager to refuse, my Lord? I believe that the alliance will be successful, and no one can refuse it."

Himiko was silent, and the translator was even quieter. They all sensed the danger in Ma Yan's words.

Could it be that Xuan Xia would really use force to force such an alliance?
At this moment, both of them felt tremendous pressure in their hearts. It took courage to reject such a powerful existence. If it were not for the geographical conditions of Fuso that isolated it from overseas, Himiko would not have had any confidence at all.

She was just betting that Xuan Xia would not risk a huge cost to launch an overseas expedition for such a thing.

But looking at Ma Yan's calm eyes, her confidence slowly disappeared.

Ma Yan saw through Himiko's little thoughts, but he just thought it was ridiculous. Although the risk of an ocean expedition was extremely high, the prerequisite was that the Yamatai Kingdom had enough resistance. But now the Yamatai was just an uncivilized small country. In Xuan Xia's eyes, it was so weak and ridiculous, so naturally there was nothing to worry about.

Even now the eight hundred Yellow Turbans in his hands are enough to give the other party a hard time.

Of course, Ma Yan was not going to do anything extreme right away, so he said: "The reason why the king is unwilling to sign an alliance is probably because the two sides lack understanding and mutual trust. The matter of signing a treaty is of great importance and it is not easy to make a hasty decision. Why don't you send an envoy to accompany my fleet and learn more about it after the fleet returns to Xuanxia? It won't be too late to consider it then!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Himiko and the translator looked at each other and were both moved.

Compared to turning against each other directly and bearing the uncontrollable consequences, it may not be a bad choice to go along with the other party. At least it can be used to find out Xuan Xia's strength. If Xuan Xia is really powerful and invincible, it will not be too late to make a choice then.

After a moment's silence, Himiko nodded: "As the general said, I will send an envoy from Yamatai to accompany your fleet to explore the way forward for the alliance!"

Ma Yan nodded and smiled: "That's great, my lord, please arrange this as soon as possible. After our fleet has rested and replenished, we will set off soon!"

(End of this chapter)