I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 436 I'm the head of the family now, I don't care what you do! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The reason why King Baifan dared to sell military equipment was because he had consulted with relevant personnel of the Tian Ce Empire.

After all, even if the Baifan Kingdom had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to buy or sell the Tiance Empire's standard equipment without authorization.

Are you going to become a middleman? Taking kickbacks from others will make them unhappy.

The Ministry of War of the Tian Ce Empire didn't have much of an opinion on this; if you want to sell, then sell.

Without a second thought, Dai Xiaoyao emptied his savings and bought 20,000 sets. The price was only the same as the price Dai Wuchang paid for 10,000 sets. He was so happy he could hardly stop smiling.

King Baifan also felt that boosting the combat power of his allies was indeed a good choice. He used Dai Xiaoyao's money to buy a batch of brand-new equipment, replacing all the old and obsolete equipment and giving it to the Xingluo Empire. Not only that, he also made a considerable profit for himself.
King Baifan continued the fine tradition of the Tian Ce Empire, not only sending the equipment on the same day, but also personally dispatching a squad of one thousand men to give special training to Dai Xiaoyao's army.

In just one day, Dai Xiaoyao's army became familiar with and used these equipment.

Both small countries felt they had made a fortune, unaware that the Tian Ce Empire had unexpectedly gained an extra 20%.

Outside the imperial city of the Starfall Empire.

A manor called Drunken Dreamland stands atop the mountain, where young maids, draped in thin gauze and wearing high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), carry delicacies from land and sea to and fro.

Elegantly dressed guests drank and chatted at tables made of yew wood.

"Brother Zhang, I heard you've taken on the materials project for Merlin City, which was just conquered by the Baifan Kingdom? Could you take me with you?"

"Sure, but I heard that the prince and emperor of the Starfall Empire are going to have a decisive battle outside the city today. Is it really okay for us to drink and make merry here?"

"Brother Zhang, just enjoy your drink and have fun. The owner behind this Drunken Dreamland is said to be a merchant from a great nation with royal connections. Even if the people of the Starfall Empire had a hundred lives, they wouldn't dare to approach this place."

At this moment, the people in the dreamland are a mixed bag, and from their conversations, it can be inferred that many of them are powerful and influential in the local area.

There were even some mysterious figures who, even without speaking, exuded an air of nobility.

When Li Chen arrived here, there was another important figure present.

Of course, it wasn't the emperor of the Starfall Empire who was traveling incognito and about to start recruiting, as Li Chen had imagined. Instead, it was Charles Stan, the current emperor of the Eternal Day Empire.

He sat with two attendants in front of the tower, gazing down at the two armies of the Starfall Empire stationed less than a mile apart, and shook the wine jug in his hand.

When he caught a glimpse of Dai Wuchang's forces, many of whom were wearing armor belonging to his Yongzhou Empire, he couldn't help but nod slightly, satisfied with the efficiency of his generals.

"Your Majesty, we have been in the northern kingdoms for nearly half a month. I'm afraid the news has already leaked out, and the prince is in trouble."

A masked man in white robes stood behind him, holding a long sword. His expression was calm, but his eyes were constantly scanning the passing guests with vigilance.

“Your Majesty, George is right,” another guard in black nodded in agreement.

“Okay, I’ll go back after I finish watching this war.” Charles Stan waved his hand slightly.

Similar to Li Chen, Charles Stan was also traveling incognito. However, unlike Li Chen, his purpose in leaving the palace was not primarily to investigate the customs and conditions of the southern countries, but rather to broaden his experience. Seeing more is always a good thing.

Besides that, he just wants to relax; he's been really upset lately.

In the past, the Eternal Day Empire was a coexistence of the papacy and the monarchy. The emperor claimed to be a descendant of God, while the papacy used its doctrines to win over the hearts and minds of the people for the royal family.

Therefore, when the emperors of the Eternal Day Empire ascended the throne, they had to kneel to receive the crown bestowed by the Pope.

Charles Stan was no exception; only with the Pope's approval could one be emperor, a belief deeply ingrained in the public.

But ever since Charles Stan ascended the throne and knelt before the Pope to have the ceremony performed for him, he had been somewhat displeased. "I am the head of a nation," he thought, "why should you acknowledge me? I am the emperor!"

In the past, the royal family and the Papacy complemented each other, but over the years, the people have come to believe in the Papacy, causing the royal power to gradually fade away.

To put it bluntly, if the Pope and the Emperor issued the same order at the same time, the vast majority of people in the Eternal Day Empire would listen to the Pope, not the Emperor.

This has been a knot in his heart since he ascended the throne. It is a common problem for emperors to want to be above everyone else.

Therefore, Charles Stan has been suppressing the Papacy both openly and covertly for many years, and the royal family and the Papacy have begun to have some unpleasantness.

However, the two sides are as intertwined as the roots of a tree, and it is unlikely that they will completely break off relations in the short term.

As Charles Stan was deep in thought, a beautiful woman with fair skin like white jade, wearing a long black dress that accentuated her ample figure, and with flowing black hair and a stunningly beautiful face, escorted a handsome young man of similar age, exuding an air of nobility, into the floor.

"Gentlemen, please move to another room. This floor is reserved by my young master." George, who was originally standing behind Charles Stan with his longsword in his arms, immediately gestured for the two to enter, though the aura of the Heavenly Realm he subtly displayed indicated a threat.

But the moment Li Chen appeared, Charles Stan sensed something unusual. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he had a feeling that the other side was not simple.

When traveling, it's important to be friendly. The purpose of this incognito visit is to get to know some people from the 'lower class' and understand their thoughts. This person is different from those he has met before.

While Charles Stan expressed his curiosity, he waved to the guard and said, "George, step back."

Then he said to Li Chen, "Brother, please sit down. My men are a bit ignorant, please don't take offense."

"It's nothing." Li Chen glanced at Charles Stan, then slowly sat down by the window.

He remained calm, after all, the master on the other end of the line was speaking politely.

Charles Stan smiled and continued, "Brother, what brings you to the Starfall Empire, which is on the verge of war?"

"A traveling merchant." Li Chen picked up the tea that Zhu Zhuying had brewed and took a sip.

"Seeing your distinguished attire, you must be quite successful. May I ask if you could teach me some business acumen?"

"The way of doing business, whether it is selling tea from the south to the north or exporting silk, is based on two reasons: the goods are scarce and expensive or they fill the gaps in the market."

Conversations between men can be quite disjointed. The two talked about everything from business to military and political affairs, and even cultivation. Charles Stan discovered that this 'businessman' in front of him had many similarities with him, and even their styles of doing things were extremely similar.

Li Chen talked with Charles Stan, but when he talked about his home, Charles Stan looked somewhat worried.

Li Chen asked, "What's wrong at home that's causing you so much distress?"

Charles Stan smiled wryly and said, "The family business is quite large, and the family has grown a lot. Although I am the nominal head of the family, some people in the family have made great contributions and are disobedient. But they have also made contributions. If you were me, what would you do?"

Li Chen smiled and shrugged, saying, "Just kill him. I'm the head of the family now, I don't care what you say."

“Yes, just kill him,” Charles Stan echoed with a wry smile.

He wanted to, but the problem was that the Papacy had many experts, and the Pope was unfathomable. It wasn't something he could kill just because he wanted to.

During that time, Zhu Zhuying secretly glanced at Charles Stan countless times.

I also felt that he didn't seem like an ordinary person. Could he be the emperor of some small country?
As Li Chen and his companion were talking, no fewer than ten masked men in black, all of them swaggering and carrying sharp weapons, poured into the manor.

(End of this chapter)