NOVEL WEB Chapter 3
Lin Beifan furrowed his brow, “And why not?”
A minister spoke up loudly, “Your Majesty, this is our land. Our territory cannot be ceded!”
“Minister Liu, you’re right; the homeland, indeed, must not be conceded! However, the Mo Kingdom is offering too much!”
Lin Beifan grandly gestured with a wave of his hand: “A mere 300 square miles of land, let them have it if they want it!”
Another senior official stood up and said, “But Your Majesty, that place is an iron mine! If the Mo Kingdom gets hold of the iron mine, they will be able to continuously produce weapons, posing a threat to our Xia Kingdom. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
Lin Beifan chuckled and said, “Minister Huang, no need to worry! Even if they get the iron mine, it will take them years to manufacture weapons! Meanwhile, we now have the money to buy directly, saving both time and effort. Isn’t that better?”
A third minister stood up, pointed at Lin Beifan’s nose, and said, “Your Majesty, are you not afraid of bearing an eternal infamy for giving up your territory for a woman?”
Lin Beifan laughed it off, “Let them curse as they please, they’re just being sour! If it comes to it, I’ll just have them all beheaded and see who dares to gossip and speak ill of me behind my back?”
“Your Majesty, you must not do this…”
……The officials continued to plead with him, but Lin Beifan became enraged: “Whoever dares to oppose, I will strip him of his office!”
For a moment, the court fell silent as if chilled by frost, and all the officials closed their mouths.
They had already fulfilled their duty as subjects and played their part. If you remain obstinate, it is not their fault, but rather him, the foolish monarch, who is acting willfully alone, and it is him, not them, who will suffer the loss.
“Your Majesty, I have something to say!” a loud voice echoed through the court.
Lin Beifan turned his head and, with a torrent of anger, said: “Prime Minister, what do you have to say?”
Prime Minister Xiao Guoliang, unafraid, met Lin Beifan’s gaze and, bowing, said: “Your Majesty, the Huazhou iron mine is not only part of our country’s territory, but it is also a crucial strategic location for our military. It was fiercely fought for by countless young people of the Xia Kingdom, involving the foundation of our nation, and cannot be traded! I implore Your Majesty to reconsider your command!”
Lin Beifan erupted in fury, “Prime Minister, do my words carry no weight anymore? The very first matter I attended to after my ascension, and you dare to contradict me? Relying on your age and presuming on past favors, do you think I dare not deal with you?”
The Prime Minister spoke loudly, “Your servant is loyal to the Xia Kingdom, loyal to Your Majesty, and harbors no ulterior motives. I beseech Your Majesty for clear discernment!”
Lin Beifan trembled with rage, “Very well, I shall honor your loyalty! From this day forth, you are relieved of your duties as Prime Minister! My dear uncle, you have toiled for half your life; it is time for you to take a rest!”
Prime Minister Xiao Guoliang’s face turned pale; the Emperor had actually dismissed him from his position!
He was the sworn brother of the Emperor’s father; he was, in a way, his nominal uncle, who had watched over him as he grew up, and yet he had…
A bitter and indescribable sorrow welled up in his heart.
The entire court was shocked; the Emperor had actually dismissed the Prime Minister!
You must understand that Prime Minister Xiao is the Emperor’s right-hand man, indispensable in the administration of the court!
Isn’t the Emperor effectively cutting off his own arm by doing this?
“Your Majesty, this…”
“No jesting in matters of state!” Lin Beifan said furiously, “Anyone who dares to contradict me will be stripped of their office!”
The officials once again fell silent. The dismissal of the Prime Minister was actually a good thing for them.
Grand General Chai Yulang wanted to speak, but seeing Xiao Guoliang shaking his head and gesturing to him, he could only swallow his frustration and step back.
Lin Beifan declared loudly, “Envoys of the Mo Kingdom, once you deliver the promised gold, silver, jewels, grain, and per capita tribute to the Capital City, I will, as agreed, cede the iron mine to you!”
“Yes, Your Majesty of the Xia Kingdom!”
The court assembly concluded, but the events that transpired within quickly spread outside.
“His Majesty is actually ceding the Huazhou iron ore mine for the sake of a beauty?”
“This is a classic case of favoring beauty over the realm!”
“Without the iron mine, our military strength will surely be weakened considerably! And with the iron mine, the Mo Kingdom’s power will inevitably grow rapidly, posing a greater threat… Such simple logic, how can His Majesty not understand?”
“He must be blinded by lust, unable to resist temptation at such a young age!”
“For this reason, even the loyal Prime Minister was dismissed, it’s like he doesn’t recognize his own kin!”
“What a foolish ruler, the Xia Kingdom is doomed!”
The citizens were deeply worried, some already considering fleeing.
After all, what future could there be under the rule of a foolish ruler?
The monarchs, officials, and common people of the neighboring kingdom quickly learned of this matter and ridiculed Lin Beifan as a foolish ruler who loved beauty more than his state, saying that the Xia Kingdom would perish at the hands of such a ruler.
……
Inside the imperial palace of the Mo Kingdom.
Mo Kingdom Emperor was overjoyed: “Has the Xia Kingdom really agreed to cede the iron mine to us?”
“Your Majesty, it is indeed so. Here is the diplomatic letter from the Xia Kingdom for your perusal!” The Mo Kingdom envoy presented the letter with both hands respectfully.
The Mo Kingdom Emperor opened it and looked very satisfied: “It seems to be true! However, I have my doubts. My loyal subject, recount to me exactly what happened at that time!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The Mo Kingdom envoy immediately recounted the events in detail.
The Mo Kingdom Emperor listened intently.
After the envoy finished speaking, he smiled and said: “Your Majesty, at first, the Xia Kingdom Emperor did not agree! But when this humble servant offered to present Wang Xiangjun, the most beautiful woman of the Mo Kingdom, he immediately nodded in agreement! Even though all the civil and military officials opposed it, he went ahead with his decision! Because of this, he even dismissed Prime Minister Xiao Guoliang!”
“It seems that this young Emperor is quite the lecher!” the Emperor of Mo Kingdom said with disdain.
“To forsake his own territory for a woman, he will not achieve greatness!”
“Your Majesty speaks the absolute truth!” the envoy of Mo Kingdom bowed in agreement.
The Emperor of Mo Kingdom stood with his hands behind his back, arrogantly proclaiming, “Since he desires it, let’s give it all to him! The day we acquire the iron mine will mark the rise of our Mo Kingdom! To avoid any complications, as soon as the deal is concluded, our 200,000-strong army at the border will take immediate possession of the iron ore mine! By then, even if they wish to take it back, they will not be able to!”
“Your Majesty is wise indeed!” the envoy of Mo Kingdom bowed again in admiration.
Thus, Mo Kingdom immediately began to gather gold, silver, jewels, grain, and other supplies, transporting them to the Capital City of Xia Kingdom.
……
Lin Beifan only needed a glance to confirm that everything was correct.
After all, he had an Empire Sandbox in his brain, which made all domestic materials and resources crystal clear to him.
What intrigued him more was the veiled beauty before his eyes.
Although he couldn’t see her face, her skin was as white and smooth as jade, her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her figure was graceful and alluring. She was undoubtedly a woman of stunning beauty.
Moreover, she exuded a strange fragrance that was refreshing and full of temptation.
Lin Beifan said with interest, “Are you the renowned number one beauty of the Mo Kingdom, Wang Xiangjun?”
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