kvmb Chapter 214 The Three Parties of Qi, Chu and Wei Discuss
Chapter 214 The Three Parties of Qi, Chu and Wei Discuss
The city of Xianyang was bustling with activity, its streets teeming with carriages and pedestrians, a truly prosperous scene! King Qi, King Wei, and King Chu all stepped into the renowned First Building of the Great Qin Dynasty, filled with curiosity.
Upon entering, one is immediately greeted by waiters in uniform. Their smiling faces and warm, courteous manners welcome each guest, creating a pleasant surprise. Ascending the stairs to the second floor, the décor is exceptionally elegant; the antique furnishings and exquisite decorations complement each other perfectly, transporting visitors to a poetic world.
However, this wasn't the most surprising part. As they continued up to the third floor, they were truly awestruck by the sight before them: rooms of various styles were scattered throughout. Some rooms adopted the design of the Jiangnan water towns, with sheer curtains fluttering in the wind; others evoked the desolate beauty of the northern deserts, their rugged grandeur revealing a unique charm; still others were predominantly palatial, resplendent and luxuriously opulent… Such a diverse array of unique styles greatly pleased the kings.
Inside the post station, envoys from various countries gathered. Dressed in magnificent attire, they sat solemnly together, discussing important matters concerning the economic zone. Surprisingly, however, no envoys from Qin were among those discussing the matter. Instead, envoys from the three powerful states of Qi, Wei, and Chu were closely huddled together, exchanging opinions and views.
At this moment, the Qi envoy sitting to the side lowered his head in deep thought. He secretly calculated: "Our Qi state has a vast territory and abundant resources, especially its silk and ceramics, which are already renowned far and wide. If this economic zone can be successfully established, then trade routes will undoubtedly become much smoother, and a continuous stream of wealth will flow into Qi like a tidal wave."
However, Qin has always been ambitious, and the fact that it has established an economic zone within its territory and put it under its management is truly unsettling. What if they use this opportunity to expand their sphere of influence and pose a serious threat to Qi? Furthermore, Qi and Wei have long been competitors in the iron trade. If Wei's ironware gains a significant advantage after the economic zone is established, it will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to Qi's related industries. Thinking of this, the Qi envoy frowned, a look of worry on his face.
The Wei envoy stood in the main hall, his brows furrowed so deeply that they seemed to be etched into his forehead. Anxiety surged within him like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm him.
[The State of Wei, located in the Central Plains, should have become a leader among the states thanks to its abundant resources and advantageous geographical location. Especially its exquisite ironware and valiant horses; if these could be sold to various countries through the soon-to-be-established economic zone, it would undoubtedly bring enormous benefits to Wei.] He pondered this to himself, unconsciously shaking his head, his worry evident in his expression.
However, the strength of Qin is simply too great. Their army is strong and their country wealthy and prosperous. If they were to dominate this economic zone, it would undoubtedly severely suppress the development of Wei. At that point, Wei would likely become a vassal state of Qin, subject to their control at every turn. Thinking of this, the Wei envoy couldn't help but sigh deeply, his face filled with worry.
Meanwhile, the Chu envoy also looked deeply worried. He gazed into the distance, his eyes revealing a profound unease.
The Chu envoy murmured to himself, “The Chu state is vast and rich in resources. However, for a long time, due to the lack of smooth trade channels, these advantages have not been fully utilized. Now, hearing about the establishment of an economic zone, this should be an excellent opportunity to reverse Chu’s current predicament.”
But then his expression turned grave. [However, Chu and Qin have a history of fierce conflicts, and their relationship has always been tense. With the construction of this economic zone, it's hard to guarantee that Qin won't use it as an opportunity to suppress Chu. Moreover, Chu and Qi still have territorial disputes along their border. If the economic zone makes Qi stronger, Chu is likely to find itself in a more passive position in future territorial disputes, and may even lose more land.] Thinking of this, the Chu envoy's mood grew even heavier.
The envoys sat together in a lively yet tense atmosphere, each eager to express their views and opinions on the economic zone. Their voices rose and fell in a cacophony, as if a heated debate were unfolding.
The envoy from Qi was the first to stand up. His face was filled with worry, and he spoke earnestly: “Gentlemen, Qi has always attached great importance to the development of this economic zone, but now we have deep concerns. On the one hand, we see Qin continuously expanding its influence and sphere of influence within the economic zone. If left unchecked, this could put considerable pressure on other states. On the other hand, Wei's ironware has a significant competitive advantage within the economic zone, which will undoubtedly impact Qi's trade. Therefore, in my opinion, a special agency composed of representatives from each state should be established within the economic zone to jointly oversee its daily management. At the same time, scientific and reasonable regulation of trade between states should be implemented to ensure the fair and just operation of the entire economic zone.”
As soon as the Qi envoy finished speaking, the Wei envoy nodded repeatedly, indicating his agreement with his point of view. He then added, "Indeed, I fully agree with the Qi envoy's suggestion. In addition, there is another crucial point: during the construction of roads and other infrastructure, all countries should send professionals to supervise the use of funds throughout the process, ensuring that the funds are used rationally and effectively. Furthermore, our Wei state must consider a practical issue—as the Chu state gradually grows stronger in the economic zone, it may pose a threat to our country in the competition for water resources. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly stipulate the code of conduct and restrictions for each country in the competition for resources in the relevant agreements of the economic zone, in order to avoid unnecessary disputes and conflicts."
The Chu envoy narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought. After a short while, he slowly spoke, "In my opinion, it would be advisable to further specify in detail the rights and obligations that merchants from all countries should enjoy and bear within the economic zone. This would ensure that merchants from all countries have a fair chance to compete. Furthermore, Chu has another concern: that if Qi becomes stronger through the development of the economic zone, it might exert pressure on Qi regarding territorial disputes. Therefore, this agreement should clearly define the mechanisms for peaceful resolution of territorial disputes among the various countries to avoid unnecessary disputes and conflicts in the future."
Upon hearing this, the other envoys present began whispering among themselves, launching into a heated discussion about the proposal. The meeting room quickly filled with a cacophony of voices, as various viewpoints clashed and intertwined. However, due to differing interests, the discussion dragged on for a considerable time, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and intense.
Finally, after a long and difficult debate, the envoys reached some preliminary consensus. They exchanged glances, each seemingly seeing a hint of weariness in the other's eyes, but even more so, an expectation for future cooperation.