Chapter 746 Suzerain

The conditions put forward by [Yanhuangmeng] are indeed not simple, but in summary, there are three core ones.

First, [Yanhuang League]'s military expenditures for the expedition were paid by [Yunnan City-State].

The military expenditures referred to here include but are not limited to the cost of transporting the army back and forth, the consumption of food supplies, equipment wear and tear, and war pensions, etc.

In addition, after the war, [Yanhuang League] has the right to select soldiers from the prisoners of war first, and add them to their troops, so as to avoid the loss of soldiers as much as possible.

Dichen and the others had a lot of calculations. They just wanted to snipe Shanhai City without taking any damage. Their appetites were unusually large.

Of course, this is only the simplest of the three conditions.

Second, [Yunnan City-State] must pay an additional employment fee.

According to Mr. Chunshen, "Now even the hired mercenary group still costs money, let alone a regular army like ours, there is no reason for it to be free."

This time, Di Chen and the others surprisingly unanimously agreed with Chun Shenjun's statement.

Specifically, [Yunnan City-State] needs to pay 300,000 gold coins in one go. After the war is over, a considerable fee must be paid every year, the minimum being no less than 200,000 gold coins.

How should I put it, the price is not expensive, and it is still "payment in installments".

[Yanhuang League] This move is also to comfort [Yunnan City-state], implying the lords, [Yanhuang League] is not doing a one-shot deal, they are willing to provide [Yunnan City-state] with long-term military protection.

Third, [Yunnan City-State] recognized the "Suzerainty" status of [Yanhuang League].

To put it simply, [Yanhuang League] is grabbing suzerainty.

Suzerainty is a concept of Western colonial countries, which means that the "sovereign country" has certain powers in the internal affairs and foreign affairs of its "slave countries". The country that enjoys suzerainty over the slave state is the suzerain state. The suzerain state usually has the diplomatic power of the slave state to a certain extent, but the slave state still retains independent autonomy.

Strictly speaking, both the [Yanhuang League] and [Yunnan City-State] are still a loose alliance and do not have a sole "legal representative".

Talking about suzerainty seems a bit child's play.

But the purpose of Dichen and others is very clear, that is to completely tie the [Yunnan City-State] to the chariot of the [Yanhuang League] for them to drive, so as to check and balance their mortal enemy, Shanhai City.

This is the most difficult thing for the lords of [Yunnan City-State] to accept.

No matter how you look at it, the so-called suzerainty is a form of colonization in disguise, or a vassal relationship, which puts the two parties in an extremely unequal position, which is a bit like "losing power and humiliating the country".

Qin Feng was also unhappy, but he was more rational, and said bitterly: "But we have no choice, do we?" Being a vassal of the [Yanhuang League] is better than being uprooted by Shanhai City.

After hearing this, all the lords were silent and looked lonely.

In the wilderness, it is the basic law that the weak submit to the strong. As Qin Feng said, there is no choice, either surrender or perish.

"Talk to them and try to get a good result."

The lords finally authorized Qin Feng to conduct more detailed negotiations with the [Yanhuang League] on behalf of [Yunnan City-State]. The three items just listed are just a framework, and there are still many details to be discussed.

"Don't worry, the interests of the city-state are above all else. If I actively harm the interests of the city-state during the negotiation, you can expel me from the city-state." Qin Feng felt heavy in his heart.

Since the establishment of the city-state, each of them has feelings.

Anyway, they are all comrades on the same boat, and they are different from Dichen and others.

*************

Southern Shonan Province, Caiyun City.

The defeat in the Battle of Lingnan made Caiyun Zhinan very depressed. As the war ended, Shanhai City was like a mountain pressing down on Cai Yunzhinan's head, suffocating him.

At the just-concluded city-state joint meeting, Caiyunzhinan's proposal "on a large-scale expansion of the allied forces to deal with the expansion of Shanhai City" was unanimously approved.

Even so, Caiyun Zhinan is not easy at all. Because even if the allied army is expanded to 250,000, it still can't stop a tiger army in Shanhai City.

"Zifang, what should we do next?" After returning, Caiyun Zhinan asked Ji Yu Zhang Liang, his eyes full of hope. The only person who can teach him at this time is Zhang Liang, the holy man.

Zhang Liang was also very shocked by Shanhai City's tactical level on the Lingnan battlefield. These days, Zhang Liang has been studying relevant materials, trying to come up with a solution.

Now, Zhang Liang has a general idea.

"My lord, for the present plan, only by cooperating with the inside and outside, and at the same time strengthening the construction of internal affairs and diplomacy, can we win the opportunity." Zhang Liang did not hide anything, and expressed his thoughts one by one.

The so-called internal affairs do not simply refer to strengthening the construction of Caiyun City. After all, given the size of Caiyun City, no matter how it is built, it cannot play a decisive role.

And in terms of construction speed, Caiyun City is not as good as Shanhai City. You know, Shanhai City is a textbook and a standard template for global territory construction.

Therefore, the gap between the two sides will only increase.

The internal affairs Zhang Liang refers to is to learn the lessons of [Lingnan city-state] and avoid the disadvantages of the city-state system as much as possible. One of the most core ones is to break the collective decision-making mechanism of the city-state.

"My lord, you must gain a greater right to speak in the city-state. At critical moments, you must be able to make decisions." Zhang Liang said.

"How to do it?" Caiyun Zhinan's eyes flashed.

Qiankun is arbitrary, isn't that what he has been pursuing all along? !

Zhang Liang said: "I suggest referring to the model of Shanhai City's merger with Lingxi City, and carry out appropriate merger operations within the city-state. First, start with the territories around Caiyun City, and gradually integrate the internal resources of the city-state."

"Well, will doing so destroy the unity of the city-state, and be counterproductive?" Although Caiyun Zhinan also wanted to grow bigger, he was a little wary of the reaction of his allies, and he was a bit wary.

Zhang Liang shook his head, "My lord, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. [Shunan city-state] has reached a critical point of life and death. At this time, it is both a crisis and an opportunity. As long as it can survive, some territories will not die to the end."

"Besides, annexation is a win-win situation. Even an overlord like Lingxi City can accept being annexed by Shanhai City, let alone the general territory of a city-state?" Zhang Liang said earnestly.

After Caiyun Zhinan heard this, he settled down a bit, gritted his teeth, and said cruelly, "Okay, just follow what Mr. said. I need to trouble Mr. to finalize the specific merger plan."

"It's my duty." Zhang Liang nodded.

In Zhang Liang's view, whether it is for Caiyun City or the entire [Shunan City-State], the merger is a win-win situation. Caiyun City can take this opportunity to grow bigger, and the crumpled Caiyun City will in turn enhance the overall strength and decision-making power of the city-state in a disguised form.

The only thing that needs to be dealt with carefully is not to arouse the resentment of allies. Annexation is not an annexation, and it cannot cause anger and resentment. If there is any internal disturbance, it will be a joke.

At the same time, we must also grasp the proportion.

It can be predicted that once Caiyun City takes the lead, the other great lords of the city-state will probably follow suit and launch corresponding annexation actions.

The final result is that the city-state has evolved from fifty or sixty lords to a joint governance of several oligarchs.

For the city-state, that is actually a kind of progress.

The whole process involves significant interests and is intricate, and a crisis may break out at any time. This will test the concentration and overall control of the lords.

If this move is successful, [Shonan City-State] will be reborn from the ashes, complete the adjustment of the internal mechanism, reach a new level of strength, and have the chips and foundation to fight against Shanhai City.

And once it fails, the city-state will collapse completely and fall into a situation beyond redemption.

Zhang Liang believed that he could control the situation, and he was a confident person himself.

…………

To fight against Shanhai City, it is not enough to strengthen internal affairs, but also to actively carry out diplomatic activities.

[Yunnan City-State] is targeting the entire [Yanhuang League], but Zhang Liang is aiming at Danyang City in the north and the Shu land in the northwest.

Needless to say, the Shu region already had a grudge against Shanhai City, so it was a very suitable target to fight for. It's just that the mountain roads in Shu are rugged and it's difficult to get in and out. It's hard to say how much support there will be.

As for Danyang City, it was out of strategic considerations.

Just as Xiongba didn't want Shanhai City to pierce the southern province of Fujian, and dig out his thoughts to instigate rebellion and seek dragon acupuncture points, Chunshen Jun also didn't want Shanhai City to win [Shunan city-state], so that Danyang City lost its outer barrier.

Regardless of how ferocious the [Yanhuang League] is screaming every day, in fact none of them would want to have a direct contact with Shanhai City in the wilderness.

In particular, it cannot border Shanhai City on the territory.

If that's the case, it will be the turn of Jun Shen and Xiong Ba to lose sleep.

Whether Chunshen Jun and the others are willing to admit it or not, Shanhai City is already the well-deserved overlord of China, its status is unshakable, and it is a mighty lion.

Nobody wants to be neighbors with a lion, right?

Therefore, Danyang City has enough reasons to support [Shunan Province] and jointly fight against Shanhai City.

"I heard that the lord of Danyang City is very wealthy, and he also controls the Huitong Bank. My lord, you might as well get in touch with him, and you should be able to get a considerable loan." Zhang Liang said with a smile.

As expected of a holy man, after appearing in the wilderness, he played with some modern vocabulary surreptitiously.

Caiyun Zhinan heard this, his eyes became brighter and brighter, he patted his body up, and said with a smile: "It's still Zifang who is wise, why didn't I think of this. The territory is worried that there is no funds, now it's settled."

Seeing this, Caiyun Zhinan is going to fight the autumn wind in Danyang City.

Caiyun Zhinan is not really a fool, and he has a clear understanding of the characteristics of the lords of the [Yanhuang League]. Chun Shenjun is a pure businessman with money, but the army under his command is not strong.

Based on this weakness, Caiyun Zhinan has the confidence to bite off a bite of fat from Danyang City.