Empire Conquest
Chapter 275 - 271: Outrageous Incident

Chapter 275: Chapter 271: Outrageous Incident

The Grand Secretary had given instructions, everything was negotiable.

Following Wang Kaiyuan’s intentions, the next step was to sign a basic agreement containing detailed terms as soon as possible, and then negotiate on specific content to transform the agreement into a treaty. Because the negotiations would focus on details and be handled by professional negotiators, high-level representatives like Bai Zhizhan did not need to stay in Baku. Unless there were other arrangements, everyone could head home after the draft agreement was settled.

After Wang Kaiyuan had made the arrangements, everyone bid farewell and left.

"General Bai."

As he walked out of the room, Bai Zhizhan was stopped by Zhang Xiaoqing.

"Is there something wrong?" Though he felt slightly uneasy, thinking about earlier matters, Bai Zhizhan still stopped, maintaining ample politeness.

"Weren’t you going to thank me?"

"This..."

Bai Zhizhan was at a loss for words because his "thank you" had merely been a polite gesture, not one that necessitated repayment through actions or other means.

"Are you afraid I’ll extort you?" Zhang Xiaoqing laughed, then suggested, "It’s still early, walk with me outside. I spent Chinese New Year in Puzhou and then came here afterward. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen snow this winter. Don’t tell me you’re not interested in playing with snow."

He really wasn’t interested!

Bai Zhizhan felt like responding exactly that. However, since Zhang Xiaoqing had mentioned it, and it was just a matter of playing in the snow outside, not charging through a battlefield riddled with gunfire.

They returned to their rooms to put on coats and then went out to the yard outside.

Nature favored them by providing a continuous heavy snow that had started falling at night and was getting heavier, piling up to almost half a meter thick in the yard.

No one came to disturb them.

It wasn’t that others disliked playing in the snow; they were simply busy.

Bai Zhizhan found tools, and they physically strained to build a massive snowman and dug many pits in the snow-covered ground.

Zhang Xiaoqing had a great time, while Bai Zhizhan mainly contributed the muscle.

Engrossed in the activity, Bai Zhizhan thought to himself that Zhang Xiaoqing was not as annoying as expected, entirely different from so-called fine ladies he had met through introductions.

In the following days, Bai Zhizhan met a few times with Dengzi from the Tiaoman Empire and Major General Kunev from the Luosha Federation.

Since all three parties agreed to leave the discussion of post-war benefits for later, the negotiations proceeded very smoothly, and a few minor issues were amicably settled.

During this period, the Liangxia Empire and the Tiaoman Empire completed their first technical exchange.

The Liangxia Empire exchanged design drawings for a 50-caliber 400mm naval gun and 400mm heavy artillery shells for the latest Type IX submarine designs of the Tiaoman Empire.

According to the related agreements, both sides would also send technical personnel to provide support to each other.

This was also Bai Zhizhan’s main achievement in Baku.

On the morning of February 27, Bai Zhizhan and other senior negotiators from the Liangxia Empire departed for their homeland.

They would still travel by airplane, the same transport planes that had brought them to Baku.

Upon returning to the Imperial Capital, it was already the evening of the 28th.

The main delay was during a refueling stop when they discovered a leaking fuel tank, which was later found to be due to a damaged pipe, and it took several hours to fix.

Bai Zhizhan was not much affected; he had simply slept on the plane.

Before he even got off the plane, he spotted Zheng Jiangming and several Imperial Guards who had come to meet him, and Bai Zhizhan immediately realized that something was definitely wrong.

If it had not been for some serious matter, there wouldn’t have been such a grand reception.

Zheng Jiangming, without much premise, ushered Bai Zhizhan into the car but did not drive away.

"Speak, what has happened?"

"Fifth Bureau reported that your absence in recent times has raised suspicions among the Saiyi and Newland Intelligence Agency, and they might have grasped some information." Zheng Jiangming paused briefly and then added, "If not handled well, it could lead to the exposure of the secret talks."

"Is it that serious?"

Bai Zhizhan was quite surprised, although he did not show it.

In fact, upon seeing Zheng Jiangming, he had already grown worried, having not made public appearances for nearly ten days.

Obviously, this was abnormal.

The top figure in the Liangxia Navy was definitely a prime target for surveillance by foreign intelligence agencies. If Bai Zhizhan suddenly disappeared, it certainly wouldn’t be good news.

Strictly speaking, this implied that the Liangxia Navy was about to launch a significant military operation soon.

Given the current situation, there were only two possibilities.

One was preparing for a military operation against the Saiyi homeland, and the other was planning to target the Newland Federation.

In either case, they could not afford to be careless.

If it were just speculation, it wouldn’t matter much.

However, if foreign intelligence agencies got wind that Bai Zhizhan had been in Baku for secret tripartite talks these past few days, the consequences would be unpredictable.

"It’s all just worry, but such a possibility indeed exists."

"He’s back now, and..."

"You haven’t shown up for about ten days straight; there has to be a reasonable explanation."

"Visiting the grassroots units?"

Zheng Jiangming glanced at Bai Zhizhan and said, "Do you have any units? The First Special Mixed Fleet is still at Nagiu Port, also under close watch by foreign agents. The Domestic Fleet is active in the Xu Sea with Gui Boyong in command and without a carrier. It’s not your turn to inspect. Not to mention the Southern Fleet."

Bai Zhizhan was speechless, but Zheng Jiangming’s points were indeed valid.

What should he do?

While thinking, Bai Zhizhan saw the car parked beside open its door, and an Imperial Guard got out and walked this way.

Crucially, Zhang Xiaoqing was sitting in that car!

Initially, Bai Zhizhan saw Zhang Xiaoqing getting into the car but didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just a formality to send her away from the airport.

Why hasn’t she left?

"Luckily, the Fifth Bureau spotted this hidden danger in time and made preparations in advance."

"What preparations?"

Zheng Jiangming glanced at Bai Zhizhan and said, "The Bureau’s plan was for you to go back to your hometown to host an engagement party under the guise of visiting family, so you weren’t at the Imperial Capital."

"Going back home, wait, what engagement party?"

"Of course, it’s your engagement party."

"What!?"

Bai Zhizhan nearly jumped up.

"During wartime, you’re still a Navy General; simply going back home to visit family obviously won’t hold up, but hosting an engagement party fits perfectly."

"Whose idea was this?" Bai Zhizhan was frustrated, but he knew that the Navy rules allowed generals only five days of leave for family visits during wartime.

"They say it was Li’s idea."

"Li Yunxiang?"

Zheng Jiangming nodded but didn’t continue.

What was Li Yunxiang up to? Bai Zhizhan suddenly shivered and looked back at the car parked beside, then his gaze returned to Zheng Jiangming.

Zheng Jiangming still didn’t speak, simply nodding his head.

"Are you kidding?" Bai Zhizhan hadn’t given in, or rather, was grasping at the last straw, thinking it was all a prank.

Maybe it was a hallucination caused by sitting on a plane for over thirty hours.

"Boss Bai, as a brother, first of all, congratulations. Also, I must tell you from the bottom of my heart, that is extremely enviable, even a bit jealous."

"Why don’t you take my place then?" Bai Zhizhan was on the verge of tears.

"That would require the other party’s agreement."

"Exactly, she agreed to something this significant?" Bai Zhizhan saw hope once again, but it was mercilessly extinguished once more.

Zheng Jiangming didn’t elaborate further because the Imperial Guard had already reached the car outside.