Three months pass, the trade war escalates.
"The subjects are rallying to cause riot, your majesty."
A bored dragon looks on, isolating the emissary from the eastern border.
"Send the lotus cavalry to the eastern border."
"Your highness, the border cannot accommodate a battle."
"Fei Hong, provide provisions for the war. Also any able bodied civilians can apply for the war, comb out the details amongst yourselves and get the plans approved by me before the emissary takes his leave."
Multiple thoughts crossed multiple people's minds.
The frightened emissary bows, walking back to his place dejected.
"Offer us some solutions to the upset at the eastern border."
This was an imperial decree.
"Drafting the commoners was a marvelous suggestion, your majesty."
The brows wrinkled.
"Might I suggest sending a diplomat."
Crack! A tea cup breaks hitting the ministers forehead.
"Majesty wishes to develop the economy near the eastern border."
Finally a smile.
"Your majesty, perhaps prolong the preparations for the battle."
"More soldiers living there will mean more business for the locals."
"This could interest those savy merchants to set shop there."
"We could allow forgein merchants to trade there freely with the rest of the empire."
"Non-mitigated trade would influence more traders to frequent the eastern border."
"Though landlocked with the Shim, the eastern border would still become the main center of foreign trade."
One after another the ministers pieced together the plan after Hong Mien utter the first sentence.
"The Emperor truly has the broadest foresight."
In unison, they cheered. Unbeknownst to all The emissary had tensed expression under his bowed head.
"Feed us, else we shall not eat."
Zi Xin looked at the emperor. Surprisingly he did come up with a substantial counter for the Shim during the morning hall today, yet here he was not more than two hours afterwards acting like his usual careless self.
Shu Gonggong helplessly looked to her.
Zi Xin sat on the floor, picking up chopsticks tasting all the food for poison. By now she knew all the food had already been tested before.
"No trace of poison your majesty."
That man kept swinging on the swing giving her a disapproving look. He waved his hand. All but Zi Xin left.
He pulled her to sitting beside him.
"What do you think of our counter measure?"
"..."
"Had this been Lu Cang, what would you have done."
"...the people at the border are demotivated."
"More like overly motivated against the empire."
Feng Mien stood at the entrance of the garden.
"Death row inmates. Release some higher up nobels. Let them cause a ruckus at the Eastern border."
YOU ARE READING
The Emperor's Feisty Bride
Historical FictionA vicious conniving cunning man of an emperor falls for the fierce bandit of the west. One has a profound love for the other while the other despises the mere idea of it. The country has traitors, while a great war is about to take place. They escap...
