knife

Chapter 561 Let’s talk about it later
It's called a business transaction, but it's practically the same as forced buying and selling.

Because Jiang Qian had no choice.

Of course, she could also be stubborn and refuse to agree.

That means they'll break up completely.

Did Li Dachui suffer a significant loss?
not at all.

Because internal strife in the State of Chu is still likely to break out.

He Jiong and Han Zheng were both outstanding talents of their time, and they were well aware that they were heavily marked by the Empress Dowager's faction. Even if Xiang Ying and Xiong Yi recruited them and offered them extremely generous terms, the two of them would never dare to make peace with Xiong and Xiang.

Who doesn't know how to settle scores later?

Therefore, civil war will still break out.

If Han Zheng and He Jiong were to form an alliance, and if Wang Pu and his son Wang Dao were to join them there, their forces would be quite formidable.

However, his enemies were more powerful.

Moreover, they will inevitably be attacked from both sides.

How could He Zudao, that troublemaker, let such an opportunity pass by?
As a result of the breakdown in negotiations, Li Dachui's gains were less than expected, but he still achieved his basic goal: to prevent the State of Chu from interfering in the internal wars of the State of Qin.

And what about yourself?

He would truly lose everything, and his loyal subordinates would also lose everything as a result.

Moreover, I have never been one to settle for mediocrity.

It was precisely because Li Dachui had seen through all of this that he was so confident in negotiating the deal with him.

"You got all the benefits, what did I get?" Jiang Qian said, looking at Li Dachui.

"Isn't that enough?" Li Dachui shook his head and said, "Empress Dowager, you know your own physical condition very well. I drained you dry, but I also opened that door for you to rebuild the Phoenix Flame. All you need now is time. If we're really talking about it, isn't this a case of us helping each other out?"

Upon hearing Li Dachui's words, Jiang Qian was instantly furious, her face turning bright red: "You're shameless! How could you say such a thing?"

Li Dachui chuckled, realizing his wording was inappropriate, and didn't bother arguing about it. Instead, he continued, "Besides, without cooperating with me, your men won't last long."

“That’s not necessarily true,” Jiang Qian said angrily. “They certainly won’t compromise with Xiang Ying, but they have another option: to cooperate with He Zudao.”

"You said He Zudao is just a troublemaker, can he really get anything done?" Li Dachui asked with a smile. "Besides, even without your intervention, He Jiong, Han Zheng, Wang Pu and the like might be able to cooperate for survival in the short term, but as time goes on, I'm afraid conflicts will arise. Who will be in charge and who will be subordinate? Will their interests always be aligned? When they resort to divisive tactics, sowing discord, and instigation, they will suffer a terrible fate."

“I know!” Jiang Qian said, “But if we follow your plan exactly, you will get too much and I will get too little. Besides having the opportunity to push open that door, what else can I get? Maybe I will always be looking at that door without being able to enter. And in the future, Yong’an and Ruyin will all be yours, and Han Zheng, He Jiong, Wang Pu and all those people will also be yours.”

Li Dachui laughed loudly: "I understand, you want to be an official! That's no problem at all! What position do you want? Just name it. Our Beiting Protectorate allows women to be officials. The Empress Dowager has no shortage of talent, skill, and vision. I, Li Dachui, have never refused such a person."

"Who wants to be an official?" Jiang Qian looked at Li Dachui and said, "Since I lost this game to you, and I have no chance to turn things around, I'll accept the loss. But if you want to talk about other things, that's a different game altogether, and I'll naturally set conditions, otherwise we'll part ways! That's just my personality; I won't let others benefit unless there's a good price. Li Dachui, you've already completed your plan for the world, and Shu County is finished, but in Jiangnan, your plan is only half complete. If you can take Xiangfan, Yong'an, and Ruyin, the plan will be almost perfect, which will greatly help you unify the world, won't it?"

“That’s right!” Li Dachui nodded. “Then name your price!”

Jiang Qian has the insight and the overall perspective; it's impossible to hide it from her.

If Jiang Qian could submit to him, and then he could unite Han Zheng, He Jiong, Wang Pu, and others, and then take Xiangfan City, then the place he had planted in the south would not be a nail, but a huge cleaver. Heading south, he could repel Xiang Ying and Xiong Yi of Chu; heading north, he could deal with He Zudao and threaten Linghu Ye—how perfect that would be!

Moreover, Jiang Qian has been in power in Chu for so many years and has quite a few confidants and followers. When the news gets out, whether they openly come to surrender or secretly support her, it will cause Chu a headache.

With so many benefits, Li Dachui could certainly agree to any conditions Jiang Qian offered.

"You really want me to name a price?" Jiang Qian looked at Li Dachui and suddenly laughed. "Of course, you name a price!" Li Dachui said.

"Alright!" Jiang Qian looked at Li Dachui and said, word by word, "If you are willing to marry me, then I am willing to carry out everything you have planned!"

Li Dachui couldn't catch his breath and choked, coughing loudly.

This is extremely rare for a master of innate talent, mainly because the conditions proposed by the other party were far beyond Li Dachui's expectations, causing him to feel somewhat disoriented.

If Jiang Qian were still a master of innate level, she could have killed Li Dachui instantly if she had made a move at that moment.

Unfortunately, Jiang Qian still has the vision, but not the power to achieve it.

"What did you say?" After finally managing to catch his breath, Li Dachui still couldn't believe his ears.

"I said, unless you marry me!" Jiang Qian said, emphasizing each word. "Did you hear me?"

"I never expected the Empress Dowager to have such a sense of humor!" Li Dachui chuckled dryly. "You really know how to joke!"

"Who's joking with you?" Jiang Qian said calmly, "I've never been one to be subservient to anyone. I accept that I lost to you, but it's impossible for me to bow down to anyone else. If I help you, your chances of ruling the world will naturally increase. At that time, you will be the emperor and I will be the empress, so I will only bow to you. There's nothing to say about that."

“I remember telling you that I have a wife named Xiao Changche, and she’s about to give birth to my son!” Li Dachui said, “She has a very fiery temper.”

Jiang Qian sneered: "Since you're going to be the emperor in the future, you'll naturally have a harem. So what if you have Xiao Changche? So what if she has a fiery temper? In a few years, will she be able to beat me?"

Li Dachui was furious. Jiang Qian would only need a few years to recover her status as a Xiantian master, and she might even be able to advance further. Xiao Changche, on the other hand, was only at the ninth level of Xuanyuan and was pregnant. It was even less likely that he would advance to the Xiantian level in the short term. Just look at the fact that his mother's pregnancy with him caused her to fall in cultivation level, and that would prove it.

"Even if I were willing to marry you, there's a proper order to things. It's not your turn to be the empress, is it?"

Jiang Qian laughed and said, "I can compete with her. I don't think that Xiao Changche, that female warrior, can be my match."

Li Dachui was dumbfounded. "Jiang Qian, are you addicted to doing this kind of thing, Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect? I know very well that Emperor Xiaowen of Chu was killed by you, the Empress. What, are you going to repeat the same trick? Do you think that's possible?"

"Are you scared? You just made me name my terms, and I did." Jiang Qian said, "Whether you agree or not is up to you."

“Jiang Qian, these things require mutual consent!” Li Dachui pleaded earnestly. “We were scheming against each other not long ago, each of us wanting to squeeze the other dry. And now you’re saying this right away? Do you think that’s possible? We don’t have any emotional foundation! How about I leave the position of Prime Minister to you in the future?”

"No way!" Jiang Qian refused decisively. "So what if he's the Grand Secretary? He's still a subject, and I don't want to be one. As for the feelings you mentioned, can they be cultivated later in life? Did you and Xiao Changche hit it off the moment you met?"

"No, that's not it!" Li Dachui said sullenly, "At first I thought she was a man! It's just that we developed feelings for each other over time!"

“Look, didn’t the two of you develop feelings for each other over time?” Jiang Qian said. “Then we can do it too. Li Dachui, if you can’t bring yourself to do it, I can pursue you.”

Li Dachui felt like he couldn't catch his breath again.

“Li Dachui, I have both talent and looks, no less than Xiao Changche, right? And I’ve brought a lot of dowry with me!” Jiang Qian said, “I think my dowry is much more generous than Xiao Changche’s! And in your future process of unifying the world, I can definitely help you more than Xiao Changche.”

“How can this be discussed like a business deal? Jiang Qian, let’s take this time and think it over,” Li Dachui decided to stall for time. “Let’s finalize the cooperation first, and we can talk about the rest later!”

Seeing Li Dachui's embarrassment, Jiang Qiange laughed: "Li Dachui, you come from a royal family, so these kinds of things are always discussed like business. But since you've put it that way, I agree to discuss it later. After we leave, you and your ministers can discuss it properly and see what they have to say."

"Sure, sure!" Li Dachui nodded.

“I’ll go with you to the Northeast then!” Jiang Qian said with a smile. “Everyone says the scenery there is unique. I thought I’d never get to see it in my life. It’ll be a good opportunity to go and see it for myself, and also to visit your godfather. Of course, I’ll also meet your Xiao Changche!”

The sweat on Li Dachui's back immediately began to pour down.

"There's no rush!"

"Of course there's no rush, because after we get out, shouldn't we finish this game of chess first?" Jiang Qian said.
(End of this chapter)