You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

In the past few days, the light in Yu Manli's eyes has grown brighter and brighter, almost overflowing.

She watched as those "foreign masters" who she once looked up to and even feared became like students who had made mistakes in front of her teacher, cautious and at a loss for what to do.

A single impatient rebuke from the master could silence them; a cold glance could choke them on their prepared long-winded speech.

This absolute, overwhelming psychological advantage captivated her.

High and mighty foreigners?

does not exist!

In my husband's eyes, he was like a grandson who could be scolded at will!

Moreover, judging from their expressions, it seems... they're gradually getting used to it?

They eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables every day, get scolded, and still shamelessly come back the next day.

To Yu Manli, this was simply unbelievable!

However, the representatives of the four countries did not think so at all.

The representatives of the four countries believed that if enduring a few insults and eating only steamed buns for a few days could save the empire a large amount of defense spending, then it was entirely worthwhile!

However, Shen Wang had no intention of playing this slow game with them anymore.

Judging by the time, that set of jade jewelry should be up for auction soon, and he still has a lot to do.

On the morning of the sixth day, when the representatives of the four countries gathered in the conference room again, ready to continue today's "squeezing toothpaste" approach, Shen Wang did not let them go one by one as usual.

Instead, the cold-faced communications officer came directly to the conference room and conveyed Shen Wang's message to everyone in a clear and unquestionable voice:

"Mr. Shen asked me to inform you all: this is the last chance he's giving you! This afternoon, he hopes to hear a truly sincere and final, decisive proposal."

The staff officer paused, his gaze sweeping over the representatives whose expressions had instantly changed, and added, "Mr. Shen said that if today's offer still doesn't satisfy him, then all contact and negotiations will be terminated immediately!!"

"You may all pack your bags and leave! Mr. Shen believes that you and the countries you represent lack the most basic sincerity for cooperation, and there is no need to waste each other's time in the future."

Final ultimatum!

The air in the conference room seemed to have been sucked out.

The representatives from the four countries turned pale and looked at each other, each seeing immense panic in the other's eyes.

Why does this guy surnamed Shen always do things the wrong way?

Such a large transaction, shouldn't we take our time to savor it?

Why did it turn into an ultimatum?

If someone else said these words, they might think it was a tactic to exert pressure, or the ultimate strategy to raise prices.

But these words came from that man surnamed Shen… Considering his previous unconventional and uncompromising style of doing things…

Representatives from various countries felt that he was truly capable of doing it!

That guy surnamed Shen has every right to unilaterally terminate the negotiations!

Moreover, if he were to turn to a deep cooperation with one of the countries alone, it would be a disastrous strategic imbalance for the other three countries!

"How...how dare he?" The English representative was speechless, but his voice was filled with more fear than anger.

"We must contact the nation immediately! This is the last time!" The American representative stood up abruptly, no longer caring about decorum.

"We can't hesitate any longer! We must give them a real bottom line! No, we must satisfy them!" The German representative said urgently.

They dare not gamble! Nor can they afford to gamble!

Throughout the morning, the temporary secure communication lines set up in Zhicheng were almost completely burned.

The representatives of the four countries used the most urgent secret telegram to send Shen Wang's ultimatum and the grim situation back to their respective countries, their words filled with an unprecedented sense of urgency.

You must present something compelling and substantial to impress the other party; otherwise, all your previous efforts will be in vain, and you might even push the other party into the arms of your competitors!

The pressure was passed down through the ranks, eventually reaching the highest decision-making circles in each country.

After a brief period of heated debate and difficult deliberation, new, more costly authorizations were gradually passed back to the representatives before the afternoon negotiations began.

When the representatives of the four countries sat down opposite Shen Wang again, everyone's expression was heavy and dejected, as if they had just signed a humiliating treaty that ceded their sovereignty.

They knew that what they were about to propose was a plan that would make the hearts of domestic finance departments and museum officials bleed.

The American representative, acting as the initiator, spoke in a dry voice, abandoning all flowery language and complex clauses, getting straight to the point:

"Mr. Shen, please believe me, this is the utmost sincerity we can offer!"

"Regarding cultural relics, we can return 100 national treasures!"

"The list is negotiable, but we can guarantee that every single item is a national treasure."

"Of course, this may not be quite what you expect, but we can compensate you in cash!"

"One billion US dollars! In addition to the 100 national treasures, we'll pay you another one billion US dollars!"

After the American representative said that, he felt like his spine was about to break!

The other representatives also submitted their bids, and their prices were surprisingly consistent.

100 national treasures, plus $10 billion in compensation.

After he finished speaking, the representatives of the four countries stared intently at Shen Wang's face, their hearts pounding in their chests.

One billion US dollars! One hundred top national treasures!

This would be an astronomical price to pay in any era or in any negotiation!

Shen Wang finally raised an eyebrow slightly, leaned forward slightly, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if he was thinking.

This reaction gave the delegates a glimmer of hope!

He didn't refuse outright!

Shen Wang, of course, would not refuse.

He knew in his heart that it was unrealistic to expect the other party to return all the looted cultural relics; that was just a tactic of "demanding exorbitant prices" in negotiations.

One hundred top national treasures is already a victory with great symbolic significance and practical value.

A billion dollars... In an era when the annual defense budgets of various countries are only a few billion or tens of billions of dollars, this is definitely a huge sum of money that can support a massive strategic plan!

Even for the great powers, taking out such a large sum of cash at once would be extremely painful.

Only then can one be said to have touched the threshold of "sincerity".

After a long pause, Shen Wang slowly spoke, his voice steady: "This foundation... is somewhat sincere."

The representatives from the four countries breathed a sigh of relief, almost collapsing from exhaustion.

But Shen Wang immediately added, "However, I have two additional conditions."

The delegates were on tenterhooks again.

"First, convert all one billion US dollars into gold, based on the current international gold price. You are responsible for the transportation and delivery."

In barter, gold is a hard currency, far more reliable than paper money that may depreciate.

This condition was within the delegates' expectations; although it would be somewhat troublesome to implement, it was not unacceptable.

The representatives from the four countries exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

"second,"

Shen Wang's gaze swept over the four people, and he slowly spoke.

He mentioned a condition that no one had expected:

"I want each of you four countries to open a designated major trading port, allowing our ships to freely dock, conduct compliant trade, and guaranteeing their safety and legitimate rights..."