Hidden Dragon in Qing Dynasty

Chapter 96 - Giving the Prime Minister his edict

The imperial guards led by Cai Mao dared to stop the commoners and low-level officials, but when they met with a senior official like the Minister of Rites, they could do nothing, because whether it was in terms of age, qualifications or rank, Jin Changsen was superior to them.

At the outer perimeter of the picnic, Jin Changsen saw his family's butler. Taking advantage that no one was looking, he whispered a few words into the butler's ear, and very quickly, Jin Changsen brought the palace attendant back to the banquet.

"Your Majesty, this is the twenty years old red wine I bought from a merchant of Qing Kingdom. All these years, when the southern regions were at war, these high-grade goods from Jiangnan are becoming more and more expensive, and the quantity is not that great. This subject is able to sell this jar with great difficulty …"

Just as Jin Changsen was bragging about the wine that he brought with him, his butler had already left the cordon, and sneakily approached the direction of the Hidden Fog Kid.

"Hurry and report to Lord Hua Shan, this banquet is very strange, Shang Tai is extremely abnormal. Right now, all of you should go and find out where the group of people you invited are. If you cannot find Xiao Letian, then there is a high chance that you will meet with Shang Tai at the banquet. This Qing Nation is extremely dangerous, and might very likely cause great harm to the Japan … "

Hearing that, Hidden Fog Kid's heart dropped to the bottom because ever since Xiao Letian left home this morning, all of the ninjas in Naha Harbor had lost track of him. Xiang Shaolong and the martial artists in the Central Plains were simply too powerful, even the Hidden Fog Kid could not get close to them.

Right now, the Japanese could only make a rough estimate and knew that Xiao Letian should be in the business district that was very close to the Shouli City.

"There's no other way. I'll go meet Lord Hua Shan. Right now, we can only rely on Sir to forcefully pass the trial. With our identities, we won't even be able to break through the barrier …" Maybe it was to prove Hidden Fog Kid's judgement, at this time, a Ninja disguised as a docker staggered over from the distance, clutching his chest.

"As soon as this Ninja stood in front of everyone, he started spitting out large mouthfuls of blood. The color of the blood was black and there were many congealed pieces inside." The Qing people had sealed off the whole business district... "It was that person surnamed Xiang who personally led them. Their attacks were really ruthless …" After speaking, he spat out another mouthful of blood.

"Hidden Fog Kid tore the clothes on his chest, and saw a purplish black palm print protruding from his skin. "Hiss …" "Such tyrannical Chinese martial arts …"

Without further ado, the Hidden Fog Kid made some arrangements for the mission, and then madly rushed towards Hua Shan Manor.

Time passed minute by minute, the sun was already high in the sky, the banquet at the edge of the cliff was at its warmest, after the twelve singers finished dancing, Shang Tai could not help but stand up to show his respect. Just as a few officials from the pro-Japanese faction wanted to support His Majesty, the pro-Chinese school, represented by the Minister of Revenue, Lin Yuanmiao, hurried forward to toasts to the Emperor, their conversation had steadied them.

It was only now that Minister of Rites' Assistant, Jin Changsen, finally understood that his guess was ninety percent correct. The hidden intelligence that leaked out from the inside of the palace earlier could finally be ascertained, that the person who came to offer treasures in the early summer was Xiao Letian's envoy. Today must be the day of the secret meeting between Xiao Letian and Shang Tai.

Jin Changsen's palm was now full of sweat. He was the most powerful spy the Shimadzu Family had planted in the imperial court, if the Shimadzu Family found out about his dereliction of duty this time? Jin Changsen didn't dare to think further, he had not only felt a cold shiver down his spine.

"Your Majesty, this old subject has drunk too much wine. May I serve Your Majesty …" Just as Jin Changsen stood up and was about to follow along, the general of the imperial guards Cai Mao reached out to stop him, "Lord Jin is joking, who doesn't know that you are a big shot. Come, let's drink three cups …"

How could a civil servant be a match for a military general? gently pulled him back to his seat. Just at this time, Shang Tai had already gone around the corner and disappeared.

After getting out of the crowd's sight, Shang Tai's drunkenness disappeared from his face, and he went around the place where the people were most loyal, and rushed straight to the warehouse of the goods station where Xiao Letian was.

At this time, underneath the Shouli City, in a warehouse filled with rice, Xiao Letian was quietly waiting for Shang Tai to arrive with the protection of the Musketeers. Xiao Letian was not anxious at all, he was just quietly tasting the island's delicious dried little seafood, with a big bottle of Japanese rice wine beside him, he had only drank a little in an hour.

Aeolian Crab Foot, Small Ink Fish, Bamboo Shrimp... All kinds of small snacks were extremely delicious, but Xiao Letian who was deep in thought did not have the mood to pay attention to these dishes, so he casually chewed them just to keep up with his thoughts.

Just then, Xiao Hexin suddenly walked in. "Advisor, King Shang Tai is here." Not long later, a young man with a cloak over his head walked into the goods station under the protection of two attendants.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xiao Letian bowed respectfully, but Shang Tai did not return the bow. When Xiao Letian raised his head and looked up, he realized that the young Shang Tai was already tearing up.

"Sir, I beg of you, Sir …" Shang Tai bowed in return, her waist bending much more than Xiao Letian's.

It seemed that two hundred and fifty years of suppression had made Shang Tai very clear about his position. This rational youth knew how to lower his head, how to be humble, and this way, the negotiations would be much smoother.

Xiao Letian held's hand and invited him to sit on the straw bag, then went straight to the point, "The Ryukyu Kingdom's population is no more than a million, the land is less than a thousand miles. Furthermore, the ocean resources are scarce, this place is not a good place to begin with. "His Majesty is proficient in Chinese studies. Knowing that the Central Plains is a million miles long, not only are its wealth incomparable to that of the Ryukyu s, it is even a hundred times greater than that of Japan …"

Xiao Letian first compared the Ryukyu and China's strength, and it looked like he was not giving Shang Tai face, but when he turned around, he saw that Shang Tai was overjoyed.

"It is precisely because of the great wealth of China that we would never covet the wealth and power of the Ryukyu Kingdom. You must know that the rules of a county in China has already far surpassed those of the Ryukyu …" Xiao Letian was not bragging, he was controlling a high level county in the plains below him. It was packed as densely as Jiangnan, with a population of over a million, and the amount of wealth that was created was not something a Ryukyu could imagine.

"It's not that I, Xiao, am boasting, but even though I am only creating foreign banks in the Great Qing Province this year, my wealth might already surpass the national treasury of the Ryukyu … That is why I ask your majesty to remember that you don't need to worry about me, Xiao, having any ulterior motives towards Ryukyu Kingdom … "

It would be better to say that it was better to say it in the front. They would have a knot in their hearts before cooperating, so they might as well solve it ahead of time. When Shang Tai heard this, he stood up and bowed deeply with a flushed face.

"Sir, what do you mean? If Mister can save the Little Wang Yu Shui Huo, you can save the million people of Ryukyu. I... "I, Mister Yu, am in this country together …"

Xiao Letian was on the verge of choking to death from the alcohol. This young man was simply too impatient. Although Ryukyu was considered a country, but he was still too small. Even if it was placed in the continent, he would only be a county away, and King Shang Tai's authority would not even be comparable to a high ranking county official in the continent.

Xiao Letian supported King Shang Tai up with sincerity, "His Majesty has lost his life. My Ryukyu only wants a single identity, I do not want a salary of a tael of silver from His Majesty. On the contrary, I would like to pour out a million dollars to His Majesty every year …"

Xiao Letian explained his plans to one by one, making use of his superior position in the Naha Harbor and the thought of doing business with the entire kingdom. It was extremely attractive, to the point that even Shang Tai was dumbstruck by it.

In Xiao Letian's plan, he wanted to use the land, policy preferences and taxes as the capital and use them as the investment. When the time comes, Letian Firm would become a merchant fleet in the sea just like the foreigners.

"Your Majesty, think about it. When the time comes, the foreign banks will give you a bonus every year, but can the Japanese split this bonus? If they dare to make a move, I'll chop off their hands! "When we have the money, we can build the latest navy and army, and every soldier of His Majesty's army can carry a world-famous gun like Spencer..."

Xiao Letian was like a bewitching demon, he slowly pried open the psychological barrier that Shang Tai had in his mind. Originally, young foreign countries had a strong sense of worship towards China, how could they withstand Xiao Letian's coaxing.

Shang Tai clenched his teeth, undid his bright yellow belt, and handed it over: "Mr. Xiao, this is a personal edict written with my blood. From today onwards, you will be the Prime Minister of Ryukyu …"

What? Clothes with an edict! Prime Minister? Xiao Letian was stunned, he had watched the show a few times and thought that the trick was real. One must know that the Ryukyu's imperial government used the official system of the Ming dynasty, and there had never been a position of Prime Minister, but Zhu Yuanzhang had personally abolished that position, and now, to emphasize the importance of Xiao Letian, Shang Tai had actually changed the official system.

"Your Majesty … This, this, this... "With such an important position, how could the imperial government possibly pass?"

Shang Tai said with a face full of grief and indignation. Was there still a court in Ryukyu Kingdom? Half of them are the lackeys of Shimadzu Family, so all this duke can do is to give my beloved one a name, and I can't even protect my beloved one in the army … " As he said that, Shang Tai turned his head to cover his face and cried.

These were the tears that the Shang Dynasty had held back for two hundred and fifty years. Just then, Sima Yun, who was leading the green-forest people to guard the outskirts of the palace, suddenly rushed in. "Mr. Xiao, His Majesty must return to the palace immediately, Huashan Liyuan is already here, looks like he wants to barge into the Shouli City …"

At this time, on the official road leading to Shouli City, Huashan Liyuan, dressed in luxurious clothing, brought along his two subordinates.

One of the palace attendants kneeled on the ground in fear, sweating profusely. "Lord Hua Shan, please wait a moment. Please allow us to report to you …" Before he could finish, Kiyoshi Yamamoto's large hand grabbed him and pushed him to the side.

"What else do you want to report?" Our Japan and the Ryukyu have been friends for hundreds of years, are we not qualified to participate in this gathering? "Look back, we have brought gifts. Don't you want our goodwill …"

Kiyoshi Yamamoto looked around, his gaze full of contempt landing on every single Ryukyu soldier. These soldiers of the Ryukyu were all pale in fright. Their fear of the Japanese had existed for hundreds of years and had long been seared into their bones.

Just as Kiyoshi Yamamoto was about to rush in, a big sized man suddenly rushed in and grabbed his wrist to suppress him.

"Kiyoshi Yamamoto! This is the Shouli City, the imperial city of our Ryukyu, not you Japan! "If you dare to continue being so impudent, I'll fight you …" The one who rushed over was Cai Mao, the general with the same name as the commander of the water army in Jing Zhou in the Three Kingdoms, but he was completely different from the Cai Mao in the novels.

When Huashan Liyuan saw that Cai Mao had actually jumped out, he scolded in his heart, "Eighty! Another pro-Chinese school has been exposed. Once this matter has been resolved, the first one I will kill will be you … "