kvmb Chapter 141 Qin and Wei Sign Agreement
Chapter 141 Qin and Wei Sign Agreement
King Wei once again discussed the matter of Qin's road construction with his court officials in his study.
King Wei frowned and said, "Wei Ziyuan, although Qin's road construction seems advantageous, I still have doubts. What if Qin takes advantage of this road construction to do something underhanded?"
After pondering for a moment, Wei Ziyuan said, "Your Majesty, I believe we should send our country's experts in road construction to supervise the project together with Qin's craftsmen. Furthermore, during the road construction process, we should closely monitor Qin's movements and respond promptly if anything unusual occurs."
King Jia of Wei nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes, and slowly said, "This plan is feasible. But where will we obtain the funds needed to build the road?"
Wei Ziyuan, standing beside him, bowed solemnly and replied, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Princess Jiayang of the Great Qin Dynasty funded the construction of the road by relying on donations from numerous merchants. Could we also follow this example and use the power of merchants to solve the problem of road construction?"
King Wei nodded slightly, a hint of worry showing between his brows, and said, "I also have concerns. I'm afraid these merchants will be unwilling to donate money easily. After all, they are all driven by profit. Without sufficient incentive, it will be difficult to get them to willingly part with their money."
Wei Ziyuan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes shining with determination, and said, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, Princess Jiayang was able to raise money from merchants by granting them the right to name roads and the special privilege of a merit monument. I suggest that we adopt the same method, using the naming rights and merit monument as an incentive to attract merchants to donate generously."
“In this way, we can satisfy the merchants’ vanity and raise funds for road construction at the same time, which is a win-win situation. Furthermore, Your Majesty can personally meet with these merchants to demonstrate the sincerity of Great Wei and explain to them the potential impact of road construction on their own interests. I believe that at that time, these merchants will be moved by Your Majesty’s magnanimity and determination, and will be willing to open their wallets and contribute to the road construction,” Wei Ziyuan said.
Upon hearing this, King Jia of Wei sighed deeply, a look of helplessness on his face. He said, "Alas, my great Wei has fallen to such a state that we must rely on pleasing merchants to raise funds. It is truly lamentable. Although I am a regional lord, I have no choice but to humble myself and deal with these merchants. Well, things have come to this, so I can only give it a try. I hope it will succeed." With that, King Jia shook his head slightly, a trace of weariness and helplessness in his eyes.
Wei Ziyuan thought for a moment and said, "I have another plan, which concerns the establishment of an economic zone. Once this measure is implemented, it will inevitably attract a large number of merchants to Qin. The merchants of our great Wei will certainly be eager to go to that economic zone. However, how many merchants will actually be able to go? And who will be able to go? The key to this is entirely up to Your Majesty!"
King Wei nodded, and Wei Ziyuan continued, "In my humble opinion, we might as well adopt a policy of allowing those who offer the highest price to go. This road construction project can determine which merchants will be able to go to Qin based on the amount of money they donate. If those merchants are unwilling to pay a high price or cannot afford the corresponding expenses, then we should simply not issue them travel permits. In this way, they will naturally be unable to go."
King Wei nodded, a thoughtful look in his eyes, seemingly approving of Wei Ziyuan's plan. Seeing this, Wei Ziyuan was delighted and continued eloquently, "Furthermore, once these merchants go to the economic zone, we can openly collect taxes. Merchants are inherently profit-driven; how could any merchant remain unmoved by the enormous profits inherent in this economic zone? We only need to increase the tax rate to make it more attractive. In this way, our great Wei Kingdom can gradually recover and regain its former glory and vitality thanks to the tax revenue from this economic zone."
King Jia of Wei nodded again, and Wei Ziyuan continued, "Moreover, in this way, we can replenish the national treasury."
Upon hearing this, the King of Wei's eyes flashed with a shrewd light, and he nodded repeatedly in praise, saying, "Your plan is excellent, my dear minister. Let's proceed accordingly!"
Wei Ziyuan said, "Your Majesty, we can discuss with Qin the allocation of resources and manpower according to the proportion of benefits each side receives in the economic zone. At the same time, we must clarify the responsibilities and obligations of both parties to prevent future disputes."
King Wei pondered for a moment and said, "Hmm. These things need to be discussed one by one when the agreement is signed. Go and draft a detailed plan."
Wei Ziyuan clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in my mission."
After in-depth communication, King Jia of Wei's doubts gradually dissipated. He knew that in this chaotic world, if the State of Wei wanted to survive and develop, it had to assess the situation and seize opportunities. Although cooperating with the State of Qin was risky, it also had many benefits.
Ultimately, the signing ceremony was scheduled for two days later.
On the day the signing took place, the sun shone brightly, illuminating the earth. Banners fluttered atop the city walls of Daliang, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Chunyu Yue, the Qin Dynasty envoy, dressed in solemn official robes, appeared calm and confident. He represented the powerful Qin state and bore the heavy responsibility entrusted to him by the King of Qin. This signing of the economic zone plan with the King of Wei was crucial to the future direction of both countries.
Chunyu Yue looked at King Jia of Wei and his ministers opposite him, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Once, the states of Qin and Wei were constantly at odds, their conflicts raging. But now, on this bright and sunny day, they had come together for a common good.
King Jia of Wei also wore a solemn expression, fully aware of the importance of this signing. Although the State of Wei had once enjoyed great glory, it was now forced to seek a new path for development under the immense pressure from the State of Qin. This economic zone plan might offer Wei a glimmer of hope.
As the ceremony began, Chunyu Yue and King Jia of Wei stepped forward and, amidst solemn music, solemnly signed their names on the alliance treaty. The ink was barely dry, yet it seemed to foreshadow the beginning of a new chapter for the two nations.
Sunlight shone brightly on the golden covenant. Chunyu Yue understood that this covenant was more than just a piece of paper; from now on, the Qin and Wei states would cooperate economically and develop together.
As the ceremony concluded, Chunyu Yue gazed into the distance, his heart filled with anticipation. He knew this was just the beginning, and there was still a long road ahead.
The morning after the economic zone plan was officially signed, just as the sun rose, Chunyu Yue embarked on his journey away from Daliang without hesitation. Sitting in the carriage, he was excited, wanting only to return to Qin as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, King Jia of Wei stood on the city wall of Daliang, gazing in the direction Chunyu Yue had departed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Although funding Qin's road construction was a significant sum for Wei, King Jia knew the remarkable properties of Qin's cement roads; they were resistant to rain erosion and maintained their excellent condition for a long time. This would play a crucial role in Wei's transportation and economic development. He believed that through cooperation with Qin, Wei would surely usher in a new era of prosperity and development.