I’m the Farmgirl You Can’t Mess With
Chapter 996 - Chapter 996 Offending

Chapter 996: Offending Chapter 996: Offending Editor: Atlas Studios The envoys of the four countries parted on bad terms, but everyone’s attitudes towards Fan Zijin became much blander.

They began to think of ways to please Qi Haoran and his family.

As Qi Haoran was stationed in the military camp, they couldn’t accost him.

But they could always accost his family and give them expensive gifts when Mu Yangling brought the children out to play.

At first, Mu Yangling refused to accept the gifts.

Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin both gestured for her to accept as much as she dared and let the gifts enter the national treasury.

When Mu Yangling accepted the gifts this time, she did so without reservations and unapologetically.

Busy currying favor with Prince Rong’s family, the envoys of the four countries abandoned Fan Zijin, who was receiving them seriously.

Seeing this change in attitude, Little Treasure and Little Bear looked at him with sympathy.

Fan Zijin smiled at them with a cold glint in his eyes.

“In the future, they will pay the price for their foolish actions today.

The imperial edict that states His Majesty’s appointing me to receive the envoys should arrive in Guangzhou in two days.” So in the future, would Fan Zijin be in charge of handling the negotiations with the four countries?

From then on, the two of them looked at the envoys of the four countries with sympathy.

This time, the envoys of the four countries had severely offended Fan Zijin, who had never been a magnanimous person.

The imperial edict arrived in Guangzhou faster than Fan Zijin had expected.

Almost the second day after Fan Zijin told the two kids about this, the imperial edict guard entered the Guangzhou government office.

The envoys of the four countries who were busy currying favor with Prince’s Rong’s estate suddenly received the order to enter the capital.

Although they were a little surprised, they quickly accepted it.

After all, a few days ago, they had already confirmed the number of people who were to enter the capital.

When they heard that Fan Zijin would accompany them to the capital, they did not think too much about it.

It was not until they met the Emperor of Great Qi in the capital that they found out that Fan Zijin was fully in charge of their matters.

The envoys of the four countries: “aEUR|” Was it too late to please Fan Zijin now?

Fan Zijin was still smiling when facing them, but he became even harder to talk to than before.

Almost every request they made, he would either reject them or ask them to reciprocate equally.

For example, since the envoys requested tax exemption on their goods when entering Great Qi, Great Qi’s goods entering their countries should receive the same tax treatment.

This was simply impossible.

Great Qi’s trade with Europe was already in a deficit.

While Great Qi’s goods were very popular in those European countries, the only European goods that sold well in Great Qi were spices and gems.

What was even worse was that Great Qi’s glass products and clocks were even more exquisite and advanced than theirs.

The envoys of the four countries could already see ships of gold and silver being shipped to Great Qi.

If they were to give tax exemption to Great Qi’s goods on top of that, how much wealth would they lose?

The envoys of the four countries firmly disagreed, and in the end, the two sides were in a stalemate.

As the cost of living in the capital was too high, they could not stay in the capital for long.

Furthermore, they had given away many treasures this time.

Initially, they had hoped that someone would support them and put in a good word for them in front of the Emperor.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor clearly did not take this matter seriously and handed everything to Fan Zijin to handle.

Since those officials had already done something for them, it was not appropriate for them to take the things back.

They could only bid farewell to the officials in the capital regretfully and plan to return to Guangzhou.

Thinking that Fan Zijin was also the magistrate of Guangzhou, it was the same if they went back to Guangzhou to talk.

The envoys of the four countries did not know that the moment they sent the boxes of jewelry into the residences of those officials, guards from the palace came to carry them away.

Those officials did not even know what was in the boxes.

Qi Xiuyuan picked up a gem necklace and said in a low voice, “Seems like the European countries are very rich.” Fan Zijin nodded.

“It’s a pity that it’s a long journey.

It takes more than three months to travel there by sea.” “But they would come all the way to us to seize our territory.

How’s Haoran’s investigation going?” “There’s already some lead.

When the English landed in India, they were doing business.

Later on, they bought the small village where they landed and then the small town.

After they gradually expanded their influence, they used cannons and firearms to occupy the four nearby towns and are currently still expanding.” Fan Zijin said, “Haoran heard that there were people in India who opposed it, but before the English could do anything, the local government office sent troops to suppress it.

It was probably because the English bribed the local officials.” Qi Xiuyuan pointed at the box on the ground.

“Like with this?” Fan Zijin lowered his head.

“The Indian officials are really muddle-headed to have led a wolf into the house.

Great Qi will definitely not allow such a thing to happen.” Fan Zijin lowered his head and said, “As for Spain and Portugal, they raised their flags and seized the land as soon as they landed in Luzon, claiming that it was now their empire’s territory.

Although the two sides did not speak the same language, the locals could tell from their gestures that they did not come with good intentions.

Hence, the local chieftain brought people and fought with them.

However, Spain and Portugal had sharp swords and firearms, while the Luzon tribe used sticks and iron hoeing.

That was why the war dragged on until now.

Spain and Portugal now occupy a lot of places.

Ah Ling said that whether it was England or Spain and Portugal, their action was called colonization.

The land that was occupied was called colonies, and that was used to provide their own countries with labor, resources, and products.” Qi Xiuyuan snorted.

“From the looks of it, they must have ill intentions towards Great Qi.” Fan Zijin nodded in agreement.

“Ask Haoran to send another batch of weapons to Luzon.

Since it’s our Great Qi’s vassal state, we have no reason to let it perish.” Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes flashed.

“Didn’t you say that there are gold and silver mines in Luzon?

Let Haoran handle it appropriately.

If the Portuguese and Western countries are aggressive, we can send some soldiers over to reinforce them.” Fan Zijin understood and agreed with a smile.

“I know you won’t let our country suffer a loss.

I’ll leave the discussion with the envoys of the four countries to you.” Fan Zijin agreed.

Although the officials of the six ministries felt that it was a little inappropriate, they did not take the matter seriously.

To them, it was more important to focus on the current autumn harvest and autumn taxes, as well as the impending water conservancy construction.

Therefore, everyone turned a blind eye and let Fan Zijin represent the Ministry of Rites to head back to Guangzhou to deal with this matter.

Upon receiving Fan Zijin’s message, Qi Haoran immediately called Zhou Zhou over and handed him 1,000 men to go to Luzon to lend reinforcement to their vassal state.

Zhou Zhou opened his mouth wide and said, “Your Highness, I’m afraid the soldiers won’t want to fight.” They had no objections to following Prince Rong to fight the pirates.

After all, those pirates had robbed the citizens of their Great Qi and deserved to be killed.

Even if they died fighting for such a cause, they’d feel that their deaths were worth it.

However, how many people would be willing to go all the way to Luzon to fight for Luzon?

At the very least, he was not very happy about it.

“Do you think I’m really sending you guys there to die?” Qi Haoran glanced at him indifferently and pointed at the sea map.

“If you can avoid interfering after you go, don’t interfere.

If the foreigners go overboard or take the initiative to provoke you, strike back ruthlessly and treat it as training the troops.

Also, I’ll get two officials from the Ministry of Works to follow you.

You have to protect these two people.” Qi Haoran looked into his eyes and said, “They’re talents, talents who have the ability to scout gold and silver mines.”