Realm of Power

"Your Majesty, do you need me to go down and negotiate now?" Varisien couldn't wait.

"No, the fat man turned the wine glass in his hand and glanced at Tang Ruyue on the stage. Tang Ruyue stood proudly and independently among the petals in the sky, with wide and long cloud sleeves hanging down from her jade arms, like butterfly wings spread out, and her jade sword Beauty, that is a peerless style, she said to Varisien in a solemn voice.

"I have arranged that today, Varisien's performance will be spread throughout Lisbon tomorrow. This is a signal to the other party.

The other party wants to attract the attention of the empire's high-level officials, and the empire has also said that it has sent people here. The other party will know that if they do not take the initiative, they will be further and further away from the mineral trading rights they want to obtain, and naturally they will no longer be able to stabilize the situation. sat down,

"You know, in the negotiation between the two parties, the initiative to come to the door and the other party to come to the door in a hurry mean completely different things! Only when the other party comes to the door in a hurry will all the trump cards be revealed!" The fat man paused and looked at The wine in the wine glass was rippling like waves. He took a sip and then smiled at the corner of his mouth.

"We must let the other party know what they want to do. We are very clear. We can talk, when to talk, how to talk, everything is up to us! Since we want to change the business seller, we can't blame us for pursuing maximization of interests! Here Everyone is tacitly aware of this matter!”

"Yes, I understand!"

Varisien nodded understandingly,

Your Majesty, this is obviously killing two birds with one stone. On the one hand, you can take this opportunity to establish relations with the Tang people in Central and South-Bia, and on the other hand, you can also gain more guarantees for the imperial merchants on the Sino-Biya trade line. To open up more business routes, I believe the documents containing the terms of these agreements are ready!

I just don't know that the Tang beauties below are still working hard to attract the attention of the empire's top officials. Knowing that everything had been revealed to the empire for a long time and that a big hole had been dug, Varisien looked at his expression. In fact, this beautiful girl from China and Libya was also tall. It has charm, and although it doesn't quite fit Oubaluo's aesthetics, such a very beautiful sword dance can also add a lot of points, since the other party has chosen the seductive approach. It is not impossible for Your Majesty to kill three birds with one stone.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Just as the two of them were talking in low voices, the rapid drumming accompanying the sword light gradually weakened, and finally stopped, and the sword light dispersed.

Tang Ruyue stood proudly like a fairy, with the tip of her sword facing down. Her tall and straight chest rose and fell with slight panting, which was particularly attractive. Sword dance is a ritual for men before going to war in the Tang people. Moreover, the sword used in the Tang people's sword dance is not the light sword in her hand now, but a real battle formation. Even if it is a long-handled broad sword used in fighting. For Tang Ruyue, it was also a very physically demanding thing. A flood of cheers sounded from below. As a break, another beautiful dancer appeared on the stage. The dancer who took over seemed to be a master and did not show up at first. Just a huge sheet of white sand falling from the top of the stage,

Just when everyone was impatient for this, the music started playing, the white sand curtain lay in the middle, and a graceful beauty walked out vaguely,

A pair of slender and well-proportioned calves were slowly exposed as the gauze curtain was pulled up, and their fair skin was looming under the white sand. Although it was not as thrilling as Tang Ruyue's sword dance, the surroundings were already silent, and many people were Holding my breath, I saw a pair of slender and extremely perfect legs. The dancer was a woman with a face covered with white sand, with willow eyebrows, eyes like autumn water, and an enchanting figure, with graceful and charming arcs up and down. The dazzling snow-white color is dizzying. As the thin veil of the Central Asian style lifts up, the exposed pair of bare feet jump quickly.

Slender and snow-white, revealing another charming charm

"This woman is really a monster that is killed by both young and old. It's a pity that she can't see her face!" Varisien saw his eyes shining and loosened his collar. He couldn't help but feel his mouth dry. If Tang Ruyue was a fairy dancing with swords, , right now this Baisha woman is like a witch playing with her feet. This kind of dance has little effect on the fat man who is determined.

He withdrew his eyes from the white-sand-masked woman without much interest. According to his eyesight, the layer of white sand on the other side was in vain. He smiled and said, "This is the clever thing about the other side. If you can't see the face, you can be the one in everyone's heart." Various appearances, if it is a very ordinary face, I am afraid that the charm of this foot dance will be greatly reduced! "

The private room he booked was on the second floor. It was not a particularly conspicuous location. It was to the left, and the best location was naturally in the middle. The fat man didn't want to attract other people's attention. The guards were standing at the door. This was nothing. It is a rare thing to be able to enter the second floor with the best viewing position. Although they are not necessarily all powerful people and wealthy businessmen, they at least have some wealth. Now during the war, tens of thousands of foreign sailors crowded in Lisbon, a mixture of fish and dragons, and conflicts between the various forces occasionally occurred. It's very normal to have a few guards around.

At this time, in the most conspicuous position of the box on the second floor, a handsome young noble from China and Biya and a young noble with a business alliance logo were talking about something.

With the establishment of trade links between China and Libya, it is not uncommon to see businessmen from China and Libya in the Putao area. However, this young nobleman from China and Libya clearly has a different identity. Behind him stands a guard who looks to have extraordinary skills. The person he was talking to was not an ordinary businessman, but Sidney Picasso, the son of one of the twelve deacons of the Commercial Alliance. Sitting opposite him was a handsome-looking young nobleman from Central Asia, wearing a white robe of Central Asian style, with a complexion as pure as a feather, revealing the delicacy and beauty that Central Asian nobles like to use to describe themselves.

What the two were talking about was exactly about the iron ore trade.

"It's difficult, Mr. Zhang Tian. Although your reputation is very high and the price you offer is very fair, what you want is really hot!" Sidney Picasso looked at the masked man on the stage. The woman said in an ugly tone, "You also know that the empire is still fighting the Gauls. All iron ore flowing to the Gaul route is strictly controlled. If you want to transport it out of the empire, even our commercial alliance needs at least a double signature and seal from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Military Affairs of the empire, otherwise it will be regarded as collaboration with the enemy and treason! The border guards along the way caught him and killed him directly!"

"Since it can't be shipped out openly, why can't we use smuggling?"

The young nobleman from Zhongbia glanced at Sidney Biga and smiled. He said with a calm expression, "I heard that the Business Alliance has a good relationship with the Border Guards. Can't we use our brains on the Border Guards? I know that your Sidney family also has some connections in the Border Guards."

"Your Excellency Zhang Tian, ​​don't say such nonsense."

Sidney Biga was startled when he heard this, and quickly interrupted him. He seemed a little angry, and said, "I know that your Zhang family is a big family in the Central Asian Empire, and even controls a section of the country's border." , it can be said that the power is overwhelming. But in the Falcon Empire, the imperial military and the business alliance are completely different! Collusion between businessmen and the military is a taboo in the empire!

Sidney Biggar is twenty-four years old this year. He has flaxen hair, bright eyes, and a rather heroic appearance. He has a military aura in his movements. The Sidney family is originally a knight family of the Kingdom of Ruidian. His father Sidney can enter the position of twelve deacons of the Business Alliance, which represents the interests of the Ruidian business district.

This Sino-Biya businessman named Zhang Tian found him through the introduction of a Ruidian businessman, according to this Ruidian businessman who traveled on the Sino-Biya trade line. This Zhang Tian comes from the Zhang family, one of the four major wealthy families in the Zhongbia Empire. The Zhang family is quite powerful in Zhongbia. It is said that it is equivalent to the status of a prince in a principality. The Sidney family is also trying every means to expand to Zhongbia. Asia's trade routes, so this Zhang Tian has special significance. Moreover, the price proposed by the other party to purchase iron ore was three to four times the market price, and the quantity was an astonishing fifteen thousand kilograms. The only requirement is to transport the goods to the border with China and deliver the goods. Of course, the transportation costs are entirely the responsibility of the Zhang family.

After listening to Sidney Picasso's words, Zhang Tian, ​​who was sitting opposite, flashed his eyes and affirmatively said, "As long as you cross the Gaul border, there will be our people to meet you. I can guarantee with my reputation that you will get enough reward." "

“It’s useless to make money but spend it without your life!”

Sidney Biga shrugged his shoulders and said, "We have iron ore and the quantity is sufficient. As for the Empire's Ministry of Internal Affairs, our Sidney family has some connections. It is not difficult to handle it. But with the Empire's military, we don't have this." Solution, in fact, the empire values ​​​​Chinese and Bian merchants, and it will not be difficult for ordinary goods, but what you want is iron ore.

You know that the Gauls are crazy for lack of iron. The quantity you require is so large. Smuggling is the most uneconomical method. The risk is high and it is easy to lose both men and goods. The cavalry of the Imperial Border Guard are all The prairie cavalry are the best at tracking. It is too difficult to get rid of them. Even if they enter Gaul, the bandits from Gaul will take action.

Carrying such a large amount of iron ore across the Gallic line is simply asking for death, so even smugglers never take the Gallic line."

"I don't believe there's nothing that can be done about this!" Zhang Tian frowned slightly, held the wine glass tightly with his fingers, and took a sip of strong drink. He looked unwillingly and glanced at the performance stage below, his eyes cold and refreshing. Could it be that Is it really like what the Tang woman said, that the only way to do this is to open a gap in the upper echelons of the Falcon Empire?

Thinking of this impossible method in a short period of time, Zhang Tian was so annoyed that he took a dozen sips in a row.

"You bastard, if I, Zhang Tian, ​​can't do anything, you Tang people can't even think about it!" Zhang Tian's face turned red with aggrievedness, and he stood up unsteadily with the strength of his drink. Just before Sidney Picasso on the opposite side could do it. When he had time to react, Zhang Tian suddenly opened his mouth and shouted in Obaro Common Tongue to the performance stage below.

"Tang Ruyue, do you think you can seize trade rights by killing the Li clan, and do you think that selling dances here can save your Tang clan? In your dream, when the Dongting Iron Cavalry goes south, the first one who will be trampled to death will be your Tang clan! Even if you dance to death here, the Vekia Falcon will not give you a piece of iron ore!"

Zhang Tian shouted in Obaro language, and the following people immediately started talking in low voices.

"Who is this!"

"You're going crazy after drinking, but what about the iron ore he mentioned?" There was a lot of discussion below.

"Come here, please help Mr. Zhang Tian to go back to rest immediately." Sidney Biga stood up in a panic and shouted quickly. He did not expect that Zhang Tian, ​​who was also considered a noble, would do this. Several guards from the Sidney family hurriedly He came over and grabbed Zhang Tian, ​​who was looking crazy. Zhang Tian cursed for a while before he was pulled back.

"It's that bastard from the Zhang family!" In the background, a beautiful and playful little maid looked towards the private room on the second floor with a cold face. She turned to Tang Ruyue, who was putting a red crescent moon between her eyebrows, and said angrily, "It must be because of the Li clan's incident that we got into trouble in the Southwest District. Like us, we thought of smuggling, but when we arrived, we found out that there was no one there at all." Dare! I want to mess up the whole thing now! . . . I guarantee that the guy will be dead!

"Don't mess around!"

Tang Ruyue stood up, her pretty face was slightly cold, and she glared at the little maid with a murderous look on her face: "You forgot that in the Southwest District, if you hadn't attacked the Li people, the agreement would have been signed long ago. We will be here Was the Southwest District forced to run away by that lunatic Li Yuehua?

"But if he scolds the lady like this, I will kill him!" the little maid said angrily.

"Our time is very tight and we can no longer waste energy on this kind of thing." Tang Ruyue said coldly, "I received a letter a few days ago. The Dongting Cavalry in the north has already gathered spring troops, and will soon move south in large numbers. The trend is that due to the loss of the northern mines, the Central Asian Empire is now facing the dilemma of insufficient troops and equipment. It is no longer possible to use the ice iron wall to block the Dongting cavalry like it was used in winter. It’s only a matter of time before Li Changting is defeated.”

"Miss, if that Falcon King really wants to see you, what will you do?" The little maid gently twirled the sleeve line with her fingers. He looked aggrieved and said, "I heard that the Falcon King has a ferocious look and is also very lustful. If he meets a beauty like the lady, wouldn't it be like a wolf entering a tiger's mouth!"

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Even if the wolf is caught in the tiger's mouth, as long as it can be exchanged for iron ore, it is still worth it!" Tang Ruyue sighed. He tore off a red flower with his hand and placed it on the little maid's eyebrows impartially. He said with a wry smile, "The Empire State Building is about to collapse. The royal family with the surname Wu is already discussing moving south to avoid disaster. People in the country are panicked, and various wealthy families have begun to fight their own wars." Thoughts, as a member of the Tang clan, one always needs to sacrifice for the family. The current situation The potential is that whoever has iron ore in his hands can rise up in the future chaos! For us who have been subordinate to the royal family for five hundred years, this is a once-in-five-hundred-year opportunity. The family letter mentioned that no matter what No matter what the price, we must collect enough iron ore as soon as possible and transport it to China and Libya."

"But until now, those words have made such a fuss, and the Falcon Empire's reaction is too abnormal. Is the news false? The Vekia Falcon is not in Lisbon at all?" Tang Ruyue lowered his right hand, looking worried. Heavy, dark pupils like light spots were full of confusion, and he whispered to himself

"What about the performance..." the little maid asked

"Stop it, just say I'm not feeling well! Maybe Zhang Tian is right, all this is a waste of effort, it would be better to go directly and ask for an interview!" Tang Ruyue waved her hand and said with a depressed look, on the second floor In another box, the fat man patted his clothes and stood up from his seat, passing by With such a commotion, it is estimated that Tang Ruyue will not appear again, and he is no longer in the mood to watch. Varisien followed closely, and the guard opened the door of the box. The fat man took the cloak from the guard's hand. As he was about to tie it on, a drunken figure rushed over from the opposite side, along with several guards from the Sidney family.

"Who!"

The guard in charge of the alert immediately rushed forward to stop him, his sword unsheathed.

"This is it!" The cold curved blade of the sword made the faces of the Sidney guards around the drunkard change. One of the young men came out and waved his hand and said, "Don't get me wrong, I am a member of the Sidney family. This friend is just drunk, please forgive me if I am offended!”

"He's a drunkard, sir!" The guard who blocked him hesitated for a moment, withdrew his sword and reported to the back with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Forget it, go back!"

The fat man waved his hand. The Zhongbian clothes on the drunken man made his eyes pause for a moment. Isn't this the Zhongbian man who just cursed?

Forget it, the fat man didn’t want to deal with such a person. At this moment, Zhang Tian, ​​who was half drunk, looked forward with hazy drunken eyes. He saw the black-haired fat man at a glance and thought that he was a Chinese Bian. The businessman came to the end immediately Angry, he pointed his finger at the fat man, put his hands on his hips and cursed sternly, "As a Central Bian, you dare to contradict me? Do you know who I am? Longchuan Jiedu Commander Zhang Fengqun is my father! If you don't come over and kneel down, I will let you go." My father will kill your whole family!”

Zhang Tian's voice was very loud, especially the words "kill your whole family", which echoed in the corridor for more than ten seconds. He did not feel that the air around him suddenly stopped, and the fat black-haired man in front stopped. Came over,

"What are you going to do? I am Zhang Tian, ​​and my father is Longchuan Jiedu...!" Zhang Tian's arrogant shout suddenly came,

Not much movement was seen, and everyone felt as if their eyes were blurred.

Zhang Tian's head, which was still talking with its mouth open, had already flown into the sky, and the hot blood spurted from Zhang Tian's headless chest to the top of the corridor, like a rain of blood.

"I remember the name Zhang Fengqun!" the fat man said to himself, took the handkerchief from a guard behind him, and gently wiped the soft sword in his hand

"Go, are you crazy! How did you kill him!" Sidney Biga was completely dumbfounded. He also thought that the other party was a Central Asian businessman.

"Come here, take them all!"

A bald head on the opposite side has jumped out, and at the same time, there is a sound of a sharp blade being unsheathed, and a cold light flashes from the guard over there.

"Wait, don't do anything, we are from the Sidney family! My master will be here soon!"

The guards of Sidney's family also drew their knives and shivered.

They felt that the guards of the other party were definitely real soldiers who had hidden their identities. The smell of killing and drinking blood on those weapons could be smelled even from more than ten meters away.

Although we don't know what they are, but the fact that they just stood there with a few people made people feel an irresistible chill.

This is a real warrior who has fought a hundred battles.

The guard leader who felt that he had caused trouble smiled bitterly, but he could only hold on, hoping to hold on until the master arrived. After all, the master was one of the twelve deacons of the business alliance, and the other party should also have some concerns.