Chapter 167 - With Enough Benefits, I Can Do Anything
Chapter 167 – With Enough Benefits, I Can Do Anything
Chapter 167 With Enough Benefits, I Can Do Anything
Even after Mi Ziwen had left, Zhou Shu hadn’t agreed to become the official envoy of the Great Xia diplomatic mission.
But whether he agreed or not didn’t seem to matter.
Unless he wanted to fall out with Emperor Yuan Feng, he had to obey the imperial decree.
To Zhou Shu, what was important was not whether or not he wanted to fall out with Emperor Yuan Feng or whether he wanted to become the official envoy of this diplomatic mission.
What he was considering was whether it would be good for him to be the official envoy.
I won’t do anything without benefits!
Even when facing Emperor Yuan Feng, Zhou Shu had the confidence to say this.
He had worked so hard to forge weapons and tried so hard to find workers to help him improve his strength. Wasn’t it so he could have the ability to make decisions?
Wasn’t it so that he could say no when faced with certain situations?
Great Qin! Earlier, Yin Chengshan said that the demonic beasts of Great Qin were rampant and that there would definitely be many chances to kill them. I never expected that the opportunity to distribute my weapons there would arrive so quickly. He tapped his fingers on the table.
Distributing weapons to the experts of Great Qin was undoubtedly funding the enemy. But Great Qin and Great Xia weren’t close, so there was no need to worry about Great Qin invading Great Xia.
Furthermore, a few ranked weapons were not enough to affect the general situation of a country…
It’s not bad to go to Great Qin to find a few workers to earn benefits for me, but this diplomatic mission isn’t a good job. Wasn’t that fellow Xiao Shunzhi the official envoy of a diplomatic mission before? In the end, he lost his head.
Although if there was a war between two countries, there was a rule that envoys would not be harmed. But one could only hope that the other party would abide by the rules. If the other party really fought, all the rules would be useless.
But then again, Xiao Shunzhi’s death was an accident, not a deliberate move by Great Xia.
The strange thing was that even though he was dead, there was no news from Great Wei…
Even though Great Qin is slightly stronger than Great Xia, unless they send out eight or so first-rank martial artists to kill me, I don’t have to worry about my safety. Zhou Shu was calculating what benefits and disadvantages he would receive if he led the diplomatic mission to Great Qin. Only then would he be able to decide whether he should accept this mission or not.
With his strength, he wasn’t too worried about danger.
After all, this diplomatic mission was for the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament. Other than Great Xia, countries like Great Wei would also send diplomatic missions to Great Qin.
Unless Great Qin was crazy, they wouldn’t attack the diplomatic missions.
Even if Great Qin was crazy, Zhou Shu reckoned that it was impossible for them to gather eight first-rank martial artists to deal with him.
Without at least eight first-rank martial artists, even if Zhou Shu couldn’t defeat them, escaping wouldn’t be a problem.
With the twelfth level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and the eleventh level of the Golden Bell Shield Technique, he was confident that he could escape unscathed even if Great Qin mobilized its army.
I’m invulnerable. What can you do?
Zhou Shu was not a good-for-nothing like Xiao Shunzhi!
If there’s no danger, then a trip to Grand Qin isn’t bad.
Zhou Shu rubbed his chin. If Great Qin really is like what Yin Chengshan said, where demonic beasts run rampant and their Demon Executing Army fights every day, they are the right people to be my workers.
Within the imperial palace of Great Xia, Yin Wuyou glared angrily at Emperor Yuan Feng.
“Fatuous ruler! You’re a fatuous ruler!” Yin Wuyou shouted. Emperor Yuan Feng’s expression darkened. He increasingly felt that his decision was correct!
It was just that he had a good temper. If it was any other emperor, if anyone pointed at them and called them a fatuous ruler, even if that person was their own daughter, they would be demoted to a commoner, driven out of the palace, and left to fend for themselves.
It had to be said that Emperor Yuan Feng was not cut out to be an emperor. His personality was too soft. After succeeding the throne for so many years, besides dealing with a rebellion, he had never even killed a single official. This was very rare among emperors.
“Are you done?” Emperor Yuan Feng snorted coldly. “If you’ve had enough, then get out!”
“Don’t you know how important Zhou Shu is to Great Xia? Why did you send him to Great Qin? If anything happens to him, do you know how great the losses of Great Xia will be?” Yin Wuyou was practically shouting.
“Are you teaching me how to do things?” Emperor Yuan Feng said coldly. “I’ve spoiled you too much! Great Xia won’t collapse no matter what! Even without me, it will still be the same! What more without Zhou Shu!”
“Father!” After her red face faded, Yin Wuyou began to plead with him again. “I’ve said the wrong thing. Father, you’re a wise ruler, a benevolent one. You should know that Zhou Shu is a Forging Master. Forging weapons is what he’s best at. Father, think about it. How much has the strength of our Great Xia’s army increased with the Horse Slaying Saber and Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Saber?
“He should be forging weapons in the Forging Division, not going out on a diplomatic mission. Isn’t that using the wrong person for the wrong job?”
Emperor Yuan Feng glanced at Yin Wuyou expressionlessly.
“I’ve already said that you should just do your job as the grand minister of the Forging Division. As for the other matters, you don’t need to concern yourself with them.” Emperor Yuan Feng’s voice was a bit cold.
There was something that Emperor Yuan Feng didn’t say. Do you think that with the Three Swords of Yin Tianzi, you are Tianzi?
He knew how lethal these words were, so he didn’t say anything.
Actually, he wasn’t worried that his daughter would overstep her boundaries.
As Yin Wuyou’s father, he was well aware of her character. She wasn’t an ambitious child to begin with, let alone that there was no precedent of a woman succeeding the throne in Great Xia.
This girl doesn’t look like she’s ambitious at all.
She even dared to call her father a fatuous ruler because of a man!
I’m so angry. That Zhou brat must leave Great Xia for some time! Otherwise, my little daughter will become worse!
“If you must do this, then I will also go with the diplomatic mission!” Yin Wuyou said. “I can’t let Great Xia’s talent take the risk. I want to protect him personally!”
“No need.” Emperor Yuan Feng sneered in his heart. I knew you would think this way.
“I have already made arrangements. I have already instructed Lu Wenshuang to enter the capital. She will be the deputy envoy of this diplomatic mission.
“In addition, the great general will personally select a guard team for the diplomatic mission.”
It was true that Emperor Yuan Feng had a soft personality, but he was no fool.
Although he was fighting with Zhou Shu, he would never really put Zhou Shu in danger.
Even Yin Wuyou knew the importance of Zhou Shu, so how could Emperor Yuan Feng not know?
Leaving aside the fact that this trip to Great Qin wasn’t very risky, in order to ensure his safety, Emperor Yuan Feng was even prepared to provide the diplomatic mission with more guards than usual. “Lu Wenshuang? Why her?” Yin Wuyou blurted out with a frown.
Qingzhou’s Lu Wenshuang was known as the number one Martial Dao genius of Great Xia. Although Yin Wuyou was a bit unconvinced, she still had to acknowledge her strength.
Her strength was not inferior to hers.
Although Yin Wuyou was already a second-rank martial artist, if they really fought, she might not be much stronger than Lu Wenshuang, a third-rank martial artist.
Yin Wuyou knew her own limits. She didn’t have much combat experience, and Lu Wenshuang had joined the Demon Executing Army several years ago and had illustrious battle accomplishments.
“Why can’t it be her?” Emperor Yuan Feng said. “One is the Great Xia’s number one forging genius, while the other is the number one Martial Dao genius of Great Xia. If the two of them join forces, the chances of them returning from this diplomatic mission victoriously will be even greater.”
“Lu Wenshuang is not the number one Martial Dao genius of Great Xia! I am!” Yin Wuyou said indignantly. If not for the fact that Emperor Yuan Feng was afraid of Yin Wuyou attracting too much attention, she would be the youngest grandmaster in Great Xia! Besides, she was already a second-rank martial artist!
Lu Wenshuang had yet to break through to the second rank!
“Nonsense! When have you heard of a princess going to another country as part of a diplomatic mission?” Emperor Yuan Feng slapped the table. “I have already decided on this matter. I will not change my mind. You may leave!”
Just as Yin Wuyou was causing a ruckus in the imperial palace, Great General Meng Bai once again visited the You Marquis’s mansion. “Great General, if you have any orders, you can just send someone to inform me. Why do you need to personally make a trip?” Zhou Shu looked at the old Meng Bai and sighed with emotion.
Even the God of War can’t beat time.
No matter how much power you have, can you live forever?
“It’s fine. It was along the way. There are some things I need to explain to you.” Meng Bai smiled gracefully.
“You should already know that you will be leading the diplomatic mission to Great Qin as the envoy, right?” Meng Bai went straight to the point. “I came here to discuss with you about the guards of the diplomatic mission.”
“Why do you have to do something so trivial, Great General?” Zhou Shu asked curiously. Doesn’t Meng Bai want to retire and return to civilian life?
Even if he doesn’t retire, as the commander-in-chief of the three armies of Great Xia, he doesn’t need to worry about a mere diplomatic mission.
“This isn’t a small matter.” Meng Bai shook his head. “Marquis, you are the pillar of the country, and it isn’t child’s play to send a diplomatic mission to Great Qin. We can’t allow any accidents to occur.”
Emperor Yuan Feng attached great importance to Zhou Shu’s safety. What he didn’t tell Yin Wuyou was that this time, not only did he send Lu Wenshuang to protect Zhou Shu, but the Great Xia diplomatic mission also had a first-rank martial artist following them.
Most importantly, Meng Bai, Great General Meng, would also accompany the diplomatic mission to Great Qin!
Logically speaking, Great General Meng was the most suitable person to serve as the diplomatic envoy.
But Great General Meng was not in good condition, so he couldn’t work too hard. Furthermore, in name, he had been dispatched with the diplomatic mission to seek medical treatment in Great Qin.
When Zhou Shu heard that Meng Bai was also going on the diplomatic mission, he couldn’t help blurting out, “Isn’t His Majesty going too far? Great General, you’re already like this, yet he still wants you to go on the diplomatic mission?”
As soon as he said this, Zhou Shu knew that something was wrong. He couldn’t say such things carelessly…
Meng Bai didn’t really mind. He shook his head. “It wasn’t His Majesty’s idea. It was my own idea.
“Have you forgotten that I am an advisor of the Huaxia Pavilion?”
“The Huaxia Pavilion’s master is going to Great Qin. As an advisor, wouldn’t it be normal for me to accompany you?” “Great General, stop joking.” Zhou Shu smiled bitterly.
What advisor? Wasn’t it just a casual chat? Could I really treat Meng Bai as my subordinate?
“Back to business.” Meng Bai put away his smile and said seriously, “I will accompany the diplomatic mission. You don’t need to worry about this point, Marquis Zhou. My duty is to ensure the diplomatic mission’s safety. Everything else within the diplomatic mission will be decided by you, the official envoy. I will not interfere.”
“But Great General, your body’s condition…” With Meng Bai’s current state, could he withstand hardships?
The journey from Great Xia to Great Qin was quite far.
“It’s okay.” Meng Bai shook his head. “I won’t die anytime soon. Nominally, I’m going to Great Qin to seek treatment.” “As long as you’re okay. Great General, with you accompanying us, I don’t have to worry about the safety of the diplomatic mission,” Zhou Shu said.
He never expected that Meng Bai would actually travel with him!
Although Meng Bai looked as though a gust of wind could blow him away at any time, he was the God of War of Great Xia. Anyone who looked down on him would pay an unimaginable price.
With Meng Bai around, Zhou Shu no longer needed to worry about the safety of the diplomatic mission.
“Other than me, there are two other deputy envoys in this diplomatic mission. You should be quite familiar with one of them. It’s Shi Songtao. The other one is Lu Wenshuang from Qingzhou.”
“Shi Songtao? Lu Wenshuang?” Zhou Shu was a little surprised. The standards of this diplomatic mission are very high.
Needless to say, Zhou Shu had long heard of Shi Songtao’s and Lu Wenshuang’s names.
Back then, on the assassination list, these two were at the top…
He didn’t expect them to be his assistants.
“As for the accompanying guards, there will be a team from the Country Protector Army and the Demon Executing Army,” Meng Bai said.
“Marquis Zhou, if you have any followers, they can be part of the mission.”
“Followers? I don’t have any.” Zhou Shu shook his head, but he suddenly thought of something. “Great General, can I recommend a few people?”
“Please speak.”
“Won’t there be people transferred from the Demon Executing Army to become the guards of the diplomatic mission? Can you transfer Yin Chengshan and his team in as well?” Zhou Shu said.
“Yin Chengshan?” Meng Bai had never heard of this name before. A Demon Executing Army lieutenant usually wouldn’t come into contact with someone at Meng Bai’s level.
But Meng Bai didn’t refuse. He nodded and said, “I’ll inform the Demon Executing Army later.”
Meng Bai was once the commander-in-chief of the three armies of Great Xia. In name, he had also been the highest-ranking commander of the Demon Executing Army. Although he had already resigned, transferring some people over was still a piece of cake. “What other requests do you have? Just tell me,” Meng Bai continued. “His Majesty has said that the Imperial Court will do their best to satisfy your requests.”
Emperor Yuan Feng had asked Zhou Shu to go to Great Qin, but he didn’t want Zhou Shu to bear any grudges, so he was going all out.
“I see.” Zhou Shu rubbed his chin. “Great General, although it isn’t too risky to travel to Great Qin, there are still risks involved. I want to forge some weapons to protect myself, but I don’t have enough materials to forge any…”
“That’s easy. If you need any forging materials, just make a list. If the Forging Division can’t supply them, I’ll think of a way.” Meng Bai said indifferently. This was a small matter.
“Do I have to pay for them?” Zhou Shu asked.
Meng Bai laughed. “This is to prepare for the diplomatic mission. It’s official business. Didn’t I say so just now? The Imperial Court will take care of it.”
“Really?” Zhou Shu’s eyes lit up. This was a good thing. Since Emperor Yuan Feng is so generous, I will be the official envoy for once. It’s no big deal.
The Imperial Court will be paying for me to get workers to earn benefits for me. Why would I reject such a good deal?