8mi Chapter 12: Feigned Negotiation
Chapter 12: Feigned Negotiation
After hearing Tester's analysis, Leonton was filled with rage!
When alien creatures are trampled by the monster tide, they want to plunder humans to replenish their tribal resources.
This is clearly bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
Tester thought Leon was too frightened to speak, so he immediately offered a "helpful" explanation: "Your Majesty, the eight alien races have declared war on us solely to plunder resources and alleviate the losses caused by the rampaging monsters."
"I have already ordered officials from the Foreign Affairs Office to negotiate with the envoys of the eight alien races. If our kingdom cede more than forty towns in the eastern border, plus 300,000 human civilians or slaves, five million gold coins, and ten million shi of rice, I can persuade the eight alien races to withdraw their troops!"
Li Ang immediately slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily, "More than forty towns? Three hundred thousand people? Five million gold coins? Ten million shi of grain? Tester, do you think the kingdom's current reserves are sufficient to pay such exorbitant reparations?"
Tester's eyes darted around, and he came up with another plan: "Towns, population, gold coins, and provisions are all negotiable. I can sign a treaty with the eight alien races to make an exchange. If Your Majesty doesn't want to cede more than forty towns, I'll step in and exchange them for six or seven hundred thousand people. Anyway, the lives of those commoners and slaves are worthless."
Li Ang's attitude was firm, and he directly ordered, "Tester, pass on my order to immediately have the Foreign Affairs Office respond to the declaration of war by the eight alien races! Since they want war, then my Kingdom of Grant will gladly oblige!"
Upon hearing this, Tester was greatly alarmed and immediately advised, "Your Majesty, be careful what you say! Even the weakest of these eight alien races, the Slime Monster tribe, would be difficult for our kingdom to defeat if they were to invade! Let alone an allied army of eight alien races attacking together?"
Leon glanced at Tester: "So, what's your plan?"
Tester remained a staunch advocate of surrender, and his suggestions were nothing more than: admit defeat, cede territory, pay reparations, send people and supplies, and thus reconcile with the alien race.
A plan suddenly formed in Li Ang's mind. He sneered at Tester, "Since you want to negotiate, then I'll state my bottom line: twenty towns in the Eastern Territory, 300,000 people, four million gold coins, and six million shi of grain!"
Testton was deeply troubled: "Your Majesty, this time it involves eight major alien races. I need to balance the interests of all eight. Could you perhaps offer a little more leverage?"
"Hmph! Tester, you're the Minister of Foreign Affairs, not the most skilled at verbal sparring. When negotiating with other races, you'll negotiate according to my bottom line! If you fail to do so, it will be dereliction of duty, and according to the kingdom's laws, you will be severely punished!"
Li Ang's words caused Tester's expression to change several times. After pondering for a long time, he finally agreed: "Your Majesty, I will try my best!"
After Tester left, Leon summoned Steward Mike.
Steward Mike is over fifty years old, meticulous and good at planning. He is also at the level of a Grand Warrior in the Upper Realm, and his loyalty is 90 points. He is a good advisor and capable assistant to Li Ang.
Butler Mike heard everything Tester said from behind the curtain.
"Your Majesty, the combined forces of the eight alien races are almost impossible for our kingdom to contend with given its current strength. Although Foreign Minister Tester's peace talks and reparations are an insult to national prestige, they are a last resort."
"It was a serious matter," said Manager Mike.
Li Ang waved his hand: "Mike, my attitude is firm: I want war! I will not negotiate peace with the alien races. This time, promising Tester our bottom line is only to have him buy time with the alien races."
Seeing that Li Ang had made up his mind, Mike, as a loyal subordinate, immediately changed his approach and advised:
"The western border of the kingdom has a prime minister and rebels, making it difficult to mobilize! The southern border has Duke Kaloch, who is also difficult to command. The northern and eastern borders are the areas where Your Majesty can truly wield power and exert influence."
"The eight foreign tribes border the eastern border, and if they were to invade, the eastern border would bear the brunt. I suggest that an immediate order be issued to all provinces in the east to expand their armies and prepare for war, with the northern border following suit. Recruited troops should be quickly deployed to the east for defense. Simultaneously, troop deployment orders should also be issued to the western and southern borders. If the Prime Minister and Duke Kaloch delay and evade, court officials can be instructed to impeach them on the grounds of 'delaying military operations and disregarding national crisis'!"
Li Ang nodded: "Recruiting soldiers in the Eastern and Northern borders is imperative! However, I have two more matters to attend to, Mike, please take care of them!"
"First, you need to expedite the delivery of all kinds of advanced biological organs from the Ratman Merchant Guild! Make sure they send a batch as soon as possible!"
"Secondly, select skilled warriors from the court to secretly keep a close watch on Tester and his core followers! I need to know their every move."
Upon receiving the order, Mike dared not delay and immediately set to work.
...................
Since the declaration of war by the eight alien races had a significant impact, it naturally could not be kept secret!
The news quickly spread throughout the capital, and many commoners and nobles were terrified.
Unlike the previous "War of Warriors" waged by the Greenskins, this time it is a direct joint declaration of war by eight alien races. If the kingdom does not handle this well, not only will the eastern border suffer devastation, but the entire Kingdom of Grant will also be plunged into utter ruin.
At the Southern Duke's mansion, Duke Kalocci released a carrier pigeon he kept, carrying a secret letter: "Inform Tester that Leon must reach a peace treaty with the eight alien races. Once war breaks out, the Kingdom of Grant will cease to exist; how can I then become king?"
In the Western Prime Minister's residence, the silver-haired Prime Minister Tobias fell into deep thought. After a long while, he ordered Finance Minister Sancher: "Suspend the requisition of money and grain from the grain and provisions branches of the Eastern and Northern Territories and the national treasury! This time, the eight alien races suffered losses due to the monster tide, and they will definitely make exorbitant demands. If His Majesty Leon cannot raise the compensation, the entire kingdom will be doomed!"
.............
In the Foreign Affairs Office of the capital, Tester is engaged in a difficult "negotiation" with envoys from eight different races.
The goblin messenger roared, "Our tribe needs people! And we need women! Young women who can bear children!"
Goblins are a peculiar race that can disregard reproductive barriers and consists only of males, with no females. To reproduce, they can only plunder the mothers of other races.
Human women are suitable in many ways, and this time, the goblin messenger has directly targeted the [population] aspect of the declaration of war!
The succubus messenger, however, said the complete opposite: "We also need people, but we need strong men!"
A snake-man messenger flicked his tongue: "Many of our tribe's farmlands have been destroyed by monsters. We need winter provisions, the more the better!"
The Night Elf Messenger demanded, "We need towns! Monsters have taken over our territory; we need land!"
The slime messenger's viscous body wriggled, emitting grunts, and it spoke with equal arrogance: "Many of our lairs have also been destroyed by monsters! We need gold coins to repair them!"
The remaining gray dwarf messengers, rust monster messengers, and ghoul messengers each made their own requests.
These alien envoys had seemingly justified and shifted all the losses they had suffered in the monster tide onto the Kingdom of Grant.