The playboy county magistrate

The envoy from the southern border immediately followed, stepping forward with a smile. His tone was gentle, yet every word held a hidden meaning.

"The Southern Frontier presents pearls, agates, spices, jade, and rare medicinal herbs, relying on the might of the Great Yong Dynasty to ensure the stability of the Southern Frontier and the peace of its people. Your Majesty, I agree with the Khan of the Northern Frontier's statement that border trade is a beneficial act for the country and its people. I earnestly request Your Majesty to relax regulations, benefit vassal states, and promote mutually beneficial trade."

Southern Xinjiang has always been tactful and unwilling to antagonize any country.

By agreeing with the situation at this moment, they are secretly forming an alliance. By leveraging the power of other states, they can put pressure on Dayong in order to gain more commercial benefits in the future.

The Japanese envoy's narrow eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips. He stepped forward slowly, his voice cool and strangely tone.

"Japan has crossed the seas to trade, presenting Japanese swords, pearls, and seafood. I believe that mountains and seas have no boundaries, and trade should be without distinction. Since the Great Yong Dynasty has welcomed all nations to pay tribute, it should broaden its benevolent channels to benefit all nations. It should unify the regulations for maritime and border trade, without imposing additional restrictions on foreign countries."

The envoys from the three kingdoms of the Western Regions exchanged glances and stepped forward to echo their sentiments.

Every word they uttered was exactly the same, even more synchronized than a grand chorus. Li Xuanzhi didn't believe they hadn't discussed and rehearsed privately.

"We, the kingdoms of the Western Regions, earnestly request that the Great Yong Dynasty relax its checkpoints and simplify trade procedures, so that we may exchange goods and resources and achieve mutual prosperity."

In the blink of an eye, the foreign powers, who were originally wary of each other and at odds, reached a tacit understanding because of a demand for "relaxed trade regulations".

While all parties appear to be petitioning for trade and the well-being of the people, they are in reality pressing forward step by step, testing the bottom line of Dayong.

They intended to infiltrate the territory under the guise of trade, secretly undermining Dayong's border control.

The envoys lined up in front of the palace, each with their own expression and hidden agenda.

On the surface, they appear to be living in harmony, jointly requesting favors. But beneath the surface, it's all about power struggles, calculations, and the fight for interests.

A tense atmosphere lurked beneath Wen Gong's words, ready to erupt at any moment.

The officials in the court frowned slightly, and many senior ministers had their brows furrowed and looked hesitant.

This matter is extremely thorny. If we grant the requests of these countries to relax trade restrictions, exempt them from taxes, and delegate authority, it will inevitably lead to lax border control. This would allow foreign powers to infiltrate and invade, causing endless troubles in the future.

If we were to refuse outright, we would be accused of being petty and narrow-minded, unable to tolerate the coexistence of vassal states. This would demonstrate a loss of magnanimity and breed resentment among other nations, leading to border disputes.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression unchanged, but a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

His gaze swept over the envoys from various countries who were huddled together in front of the palace, exerting pressure. He understood immediately. The countries appeared to be obedient and paying tribute, but in reality, they had long been plotting something. This joint petition was a carefully orchestrated power struggle within the court.

A brief stalemate ensued in the hall, with no one among the civil and military officials daring to speak, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Just then, a clear and steady voice rang out in the hall, breaking the deadlock.

"Trade between nations is a noble and elegant pursuit in prosperous times and a way of coexistence. Your vassal lords have come from afar with the intention of coexistence in mind, which is commendable."

Li Xuanzhi stepped forward slowly, facing the envoys from several countries with a calm and composed demeanor, neither arrogant nor servile. There was not a trace of haughtiness or disdain, nor a hint of retreat or cowardice.

The opening sentence, though brief, first agrees with the various countries' arguments without damaging the dignity of the major powers, demonstrating a perfect balance.

The gazes of the envoys from various countries instantly focused on him, their expressions varied, each hinting at scrutiny.

The Khan of the Northern Desert looked at Li Xuanzhi, who was too young and had a lot of tricks up his sleeve, with wary eyes. He was extremely annoyed.

The envoy from the southern border maintained his smile, but a hint of caution appeared in his eyes. Knowing that the affairs of the Dayong court were now largely decided by this person, he dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

The Japanese envoy's eyes narrowed slightly, knowing full well that Li Xuanzhi was renowned for his governance, anti-corruption efforts, and ruthless methods of consolidating power. He had long harbored a sense of apprehension towards Li Xuanzhi.

The envoys from several small kingdoms in the Western Regions, seeing his young age and gentle appearance, secretly harbored some contempt for him. They regarded him as a civil official with a mere reputation, incapable of great use.

Li Xuanzhi completely ignored the gazes of all sides, his expression calm and composed. His voice was steady and powerful, his reasoning clear and logical, progressing step by step. Every word and sentence contained the grand strategy and calculated tactics of a great power.

"Promoting trade and mutual exchange benefits the vassal states, secures the borders, and improves the lives of the people. This is the benevolent policy of the Great Yong Dynasty, which embraces the four seas and treats distant lands with kindness."

"Your requests to relax trade restrictions and simplify regulations are intended to ensure the well-being of the people and the prosperity of commerce. The court will naturally understand and appreciate this."

He first fully accepted the countries' original intention of "mutual benefit and coexistence," thus eliminating all pretexts for criticism. This left the envoys of various countries with no way to refute him or find fault.

"However, trade has its limits and regulations have their boundaries; without rules, there can be no order. The Great Yong Dynasty has existed for hundreds of years, and its border checkpoints, tax regulations, and trade rules were all determined by successive emperors and ministers after careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages and weighing the risks and dangers. The purpose was to maintain border order, protect the stability of vassal states, and ensure fair trade among all nations. It was by no means an intentional attempt to restrict other countries or make things difficult for distant visitors."

"The grasslands north of the Gobi Desert are bitterly cold, and the people's livelihood is difficult. The imperial court allocates grain and seeds every year to relieve the border people. It has opened up designated trade routes and has never ignored your suffering."

"Seeking prosperity in trade in the southern border regions, the Great Yong opened land routes for trade every year, protecting the trade routes in the southern border regions. This helped our nation accumulate wealth and enrich the people."

"When people from the East and the Western Regions crossed the sea and mountains to come, the Dayong specially set up post stations to treat them with courtesy and ensure the stability of trade. They have been extremely kind to all these countries."

He spoke at a measured pace, recounting, one by one, the protection and favors that the Great Yong Dynasty had bestowed upon its vassal states over the years. Each and every point was true and well-documented. In an instant, he transformed the passive pressure exerted by the various states into the Great Yong Dynasty's proactive appeasement and benevolent rule.

The envoys from various countries' expressions changed slightly. Their originally confident and assertive stance of petitioning instantly lost some of its gravitas and became more hesitant.

Li Xuanzhi's gaze swept over the envoys of various countries one by one. The warmth in his eyes faded, leaving only a cold and clear look. He pierced through the hidden selfish calculations of each party with a single sentence.

"Your joint petition today appears to be a united effort to improve people's lives, but in reality, you each have your own agenda."

The Khan of the Northern Desert suddenly darkened his face, a hint of anger flashing in his arrogant eyes, but he had no way to vent it.

The Japanese envoy's narrow eyes suddenly tightened, his fingers clenched slightly, his scheming had been exposed in public, and his panic was fleeting.

The envoys from the three kingdoms of the Western Regions looked at each other, their expressions awkward and uneasy.

"The northern desert seeks to relax border regulations in order to expand its nomadic territory under the guise of trade, to spy on the strength of its border military, and to take the opportunity to strengthen its tribal power."

"Southern Xinjiang followed suit, not seeking expansion but only to play both sides and avoid offending powerful neighbors in order to preserve itself."

"Japan's request for unified maritime trade regulations is actually an attempt to break the maritime defense control of the Dayong Dynasty, freely navigate near-shore routes, spy on maritime defense deployments, and seize maritime trade rights."

"The three kingdoms of the Western Regions joined forces to second the agreement, simply to leverage the power of other kingdoms to enhance their own voice and seek more benefits from border trade."

His words laid bare and dissected the subtle checks and balances between nations, which appeared to coexist on the surface but were actually based on internal calculations, and exposed them to the public.

The obsequious smiles on the faces of the envoys from various countries froze completely, and no one dared to assert their right to exert pressure.

The tense atmosphere of their initial collaboration and confrontation instantly crumbled.

Suspicion and estrangement resurfaced among the parties, with each feeling that the other had betrayed them. They became secretly wary of each other, and a rift developed between them.