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The 50,000 dragon coins to aid North Korea in running schools have arrived in Seoul. Lee Hyang, the Korean ambassador to Daqin, took King Lee Jun's letter of thanks to the emperor and read it at the morning court in Xuanzheng Hall. His words were sincere and he expressed his gratitude profusely.
Even the ministers who had initially opposed aiding North Korea could not help but stroke their beards, smile, and feel quite proud after hearing this.
There was also the King of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Shang Zhi. After arriving in Nanjing, he was attracted by the prosperity of Nanjing and lingered there for more than half a year, with no intention of returning to his country. Shang Zhi's followers even hinted that Shang Zhi intended to annex the country and submit to the Qin Dynasty.
In the Jianjia Palace, Li Xiangjun smiled sweetly and said, "Your Majesty, if Shang Zhi really takes the initiative to surrender, will Your Majesty allow it?"
"What do you think?" Qin Mu smiled happily as he smelled the faint fragrance on her body.
Dong Xiaowan, who was standing by, brewed some tea and said softly, "Your Majesty, I think even if Shang Zhi really surrendered, I'm afraid no one would be willing to serve as an official in Ryukyu."
Dong Xiaowan is a woman made of water, and her voice is as soft and pleasant as water. Listening to her speak is like listening to a clear stream flowing slowly in the woods, and the voice will flow into people's hearts, making people feel as if their whole body is wrapped in the clear water.
In contrast, Li Xiangjun's voice is as clear and bright as a thrush. Listening to the two beauties talking is like listening to the ensemble of spring water and thrush in the mountains and forests - very beautiful.
Li Xiangjun held a light silk fan and gently fanned him with cool air, echoing: "Sister Dong is right. The territory of the Great Qin is now extremely vast. I heard that a wild island like Ryukyu was almost submerged by a storm at sea. I'm afraid no one would be willing to go there."
"Hahaha..." Qin Mu patted her perky buttocks, leaned against the window and laughed, "Xiangjun, who told you this?"
"I know everything about astronomy and geography..." Li Xiangjun said playfully. Suddenly, a sensitive part of her body was attacked, and she couldn't help but cry out, "Oh, Your Majesty..."
The weather in early August was still very hot. Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan were both wearing light-colored shirts and thin silk, which outlined their graceful figures incomparably charming. They exuded a faint fragrance, like orchid and musk, which made Qin Mu feel a little distracted.
"I have made up my mind. If Shang Zhi really submits his request to surrender, regardless of whether anyone is willing to govern Ryukyu, I will change its name to..." Qin Mu paused, took a piece of white paper, tore it in half, and then rolled it into a small roll. "Xiangjun, Xiaowan, come here. Each of you draw a cigarette."
"Your Majesty, what does this mean?"
"Don't ask, just smoke."
Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan followed the instructions and each took a small paper roll. They usually didn't touch water. But her slender jade fingers were like freshly peeled spring onions, soft and smooth like jade. It was really a wonderful feeling to have such jade fingers stroking the body.
Qin Mu grabbed the two delicate hands and kissed each one. Then he smiled and said, "Open them quickly. The elder one wins."
The two beauties smiled and spread out their fingers. The paper roll that Li Xiangjun pulled was obviously longer.
Qin Mu hugged Dong Xiaowan in his arms and laughed, "Xiaowan, I'm sorry, you lost. If Shang Zhi takes the initiative to submit, I will change the name of the Ryukyu Islands to Xiangjun Island, hahaha..."
Li Xiangjun blinked her bright eyes, looking pleased, but she deliberately said: "Your Majesty, the little one on Ryukyu Island..."
Qin Mu laughed loudly and hugged her, kissing her cherry-like lips. "You are also petite, so you fit me perfectly!"
With two beauties in his arms, with slim and graceful figures, the tyrant emperor would naturally not sit idle. He would inevitably take action, making the two beauties look intoxicated and extremely beautiful.
Dong Xiaowan panted slightly and said, "Your Majesty, what if Shang Zhi doesn't submit to the emperor?"
"That's a good question. If he doesn't take the initiative to submit, I will have to find a way to rent a port in Ryukyu and station a squadron there.
Xiangjun, don't underestimate this small island that was almost submerged by the storm... ....hahahaha... ...The Japanese Archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan Island, and Luzon Island, these islands are like a long chain;
If it is controlled by our Great Qin, it will be the best barrier. If it is controlled by other countries, it will be the shackles of our Great Qin, which can lock us up tightly.
Moreover, the Ryukyu Islands are close to Japan, and are the best outpost for our Great Qin to control Japan. Japan is a country that appears to be submissive, but in reality is a jackal country that must be guarded against. To guard against Japan, the Ryukyu Islands are indispensable. "
Li Xiangjun suddenly understood why Qin Mu had met Shang Zhi many times in the past six months, granted him a house in Nanjing, and selected two beautiful concubines from Jiaozhi and Dongwu to give to Shang Zhi. His favor was almost the same as that of Korea.
"Hehe, Your Majesty has already set his eyes on Ryukyu, right?"
"Who said that? Xiangjun, please don't say bad things about me. If Shang Zhi doesn't take the initiative to submit, I won't seize his throne. Am I the kind of person who is greedy?"
"Your Majesty is certainly not that kind of person." Dong Xiaowan flattered with a smile.
"Xiao Wan is still considerate of me." Qin Mu was very happy.
Li Xiangjun saw him put one hand into Dong Xiaowan's disheveled collar, a touch of snow light leaked out, a ball of jade changed, and she couldn't help but feel a little numb. She leaned close to Qin Mu's ear and whispered sweetly: "Your Majesty is so greedy. Hena and Katerina are still sleeping and haven't gotten up yet. Your Majesty is...ah..."
"Hahaha, let's see if you dare to say bad things about me."
"Your Majesty, I won't dare to do that again. I won't dare to do that again..."
A light shadow passed outside the Jianjia Hall in the afternoon, dimming the light inside the hall slightly. The orchids under the window were dark green and charming, swaying in the wind.
Qin Mu spent some time tenderly with the two beauties, then he reclined on the jade mat under the window and asked Dong Xiaowan to read the rest of the memorial to him.
The two beauties, with their faces flushed like drunk imperial concubines, straightened their messy silk clothes. Li Xiangjun picked up a light silk fan to fan him. Dong Xiaowan picked up one of the remaining ten or so memorials and read it to Qin Mu in her voice as soft as water:
"Your Majesty, I, Hai Rufeng, report that thanks to Your Majesty's great blessing, the rebellion of the natives of Sishui has been successfully suppressed by Deputy Admiral Ke Chenshu, and the bandit leader Basha has been captured. A total of more than 70,000 enemies have been killed and more than 160,000 prisoners have been captured. Although there are still a small number of remnants hiding in the mountains and forests, they are no longer a threat. Jinghai Province has basically returned to peace. Two thousand army troops have crossed the sea to Baiqi City. The unfinished business of Jinghai Province has been handed over to Army Lieutenant General Wu Sen.
I would like to report to Your Majesty that the Temasek Port has been built, but the 30 defensive cannons needed for the port have not yet arrived. Temasek Port is located at the throat of Malacca. I implore the court to transport the cannons as soon as possible to strengthen the defense.
Yesterday, I led the ocean-going fleet to Temasek Port. The Portuguese on the Malay Peninsula sent envoys to seek peace. I did not dare to make a decision without your Majesty's will. Whether to drive all the Portuguese away from the Malay Peninsula and lease some land for them to trade, please let your Majesty know.
I have received news that the Dutch have more than 20 warships arriving in India, but I don't know where they came from. They had a fierce battle with the Ottoman navy in northern India, and the Ottoman navy was defeated. I have heard this from hearsay and have not yet confirmed it.
But I learned from the merchant ships heading to India that the warships of Western countries seem to be increasing. I will make some preparations and lead the main force of the ocean-going fleet to India in ten days..."
Hai Rufeng's memorial was quite long. Dong Xiaowan read it carefully, and Qin Mu couldn't help but have a lot of thoughts after listening to it.
According to reports, the Ottoman Empire had already controlled large tracts of territory on both sides of the Red Sea and the entire Persian Gulf, and its territory was probably no smaller than that of the Qin Dynasty.
It is said that it was because the Ottoman Empire blocked the trade between the East and the West that the King of Spain sent Columbus on a long-distance ship to find a route to the East, which led to the great geographical discoveries.
The Ottoman Empire was still in its heyday and had a long history of conflicts with Western countries, so it is not surprising that their navy had a fierce battle with the Dutch in northern India.
This time Hai Rufeng led the main force of the ocean-going fleet to India. I am afraid that there will be another war with Western countries, and even with the Ottoman Empire.
Qin Mu was considering whether to make enemies with both Western countries and the Ottoman Empire at the same time. To be honest, the Qin navy was still a little immature. Making enemies with these two major forces at the same time would inevitably increase the difficulty of the Qin navy's expansion.
Qin Mu thought of the British again. Should they retain their existing interests in India? After all, India is not a small country, and Daqin has no intention of incorporating India into its territory.
The interests of the British in India are far less than those of the Dutch, which means that the British now only occupy a small part of the big pie of India. If they leave this part of the interests untouched, Qin Mu believes that the British will be happy to be on good terms with Daqin, which will be of great help in maintaining smooth trade between the East and the West... ... .
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ps: There are only two or three days left before February ends. The critical moment has come, but I still don’t have a single vote today. I’m so anxious. Brothers and sisters, I kowtow again and again, urgently begging for monthly votes! (To be continued..)
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