Liu Zhizhong said, "Thank you for your broad mind and grand vision; this will surely beco an important cornerstone for deepening our economic exchanges. As far as we know, your West Guang Province has, at present, been too shaken up by political factors over the past year or two!"
"Political turmoil is bound to have a serious impact on economic operations. I believe Mr. Gu has a deep understanding of that, right? So, on our side, we hope West Guang Province can put a stop to political upheavals. Whether it's purges, anti‑corruption campaigns, or conflicts of interest involving your local Powerful People and political aristocratic families, we hope it can all quiet down."
"Maintaining the status quo may be the best frawork for cooperation. After all, I'm Huazhong as well, and I also know that the Southern Xiang Family's old Family Head, the founding Family Head, made trendous contributions when the Great East Pot was established. Of the eight marshals under heaven, the Xiang family held two of the seats alone, isn't that right?"
"All these years, the Xiang descendants have neither scrambled for fa nor profit. Once the ancestors achieved功名, they retreated to the Southern region, laying a solid foundation for the stability of your nation. And now, West Guang Province also happens to fall within the Xiang family's economic and comrcial sphere. Too much political turbulence will dampen their enthusiasm, don't you agree?"
"Strictly speaking, I shouldn't interfere in your internal affairs and such, but from a personal standpoint, seeing Mr. Gu as a role model to learn from and an important partner to cooperate with, I just wanted to say a few heartfelt words. If there's anything inappropriate, please do point it out, Mr. Gu!"
Listening to this, Gu Changsha's balls were practically on fire, but once he thought about that massive cooperation project, and rembered the big talk he'd just been bragging about his broad mind and big vision, he couldn't exactly slap himself in the face, could he?
Falling out with Valle as a country would be very unfavorable; that he knew all too well.
He certainly had no idea that Liu Zhizhong was speaking on behalf of the Xiang family; he simply assud Liu was talking business, laying out conditions in the preliminary negotiations.
So, Gu Changsha chuckled and said, "President Chi, what you've said makes a lot of sense. Politics and economics complent each other, influencing and driving one another. Without political direction, the economy will lose its way; without economic developnt, politics becos nothing but empty slogans…"
Good grief!
With that, Gu Changsha launched straight into a long lecture, showing off his theoretical chops.
Of course, this kind of theory didn't work on Liu Zhizhong at all; even Zheng Xitong and Xiang Wenhua were listening with open disdain on their faces.
After blah‑blah‑blah‑ing for ages, Gu Changsha finally made a promise: "I'll likely be able to give President Chi an answer tonight. Please feel free to push ahead with economic cooperation with West Guang Province. We will exclude all political factors. The political events in West Guang Province will be halted and the status quo maintained. The Xiang family's original economic and comrcial interests must be fully guaranteed; West Guang Province will remain their economic base. How's that?"
"Good, thank you for your sincerity, Mr. Gu. I'm moved by your decisiveness in the face of major issues—trendous boldness and personal charisma…"
Liu Zhizhong, of course, just laid it on as thick as he could; he didn't care anymore. For his friends, for his woman, for the Xiang family—haha...
Gu Changsha was very pleased with what he was hearing, and he was indeed a bit light‑headed, but deep down he was still sowhat disgruntled. In tonight's exchange, he'd put a cap on his own head, dug his own pit, and let Chi Zhongshui, whether intentionally or not, nail him right in it—he was on the back foot!
Gu Changsha even felt that the Xiang family's luck was pretty good—by so twist of fate, they'd had a flank of their territory protected by the Wale Republic, hehe… Later on, they'd better not make mistakes; otherwise, once the cooperation was concluded and the project officially launched, there'd still be no discussion when it ca ti for him to deal with them.
Gu Changsha was, after all, soone well‑versed in the Emperor's Skill; he knew that if local forces beca too powerful, they would pose a huge threat to Tiandu, so he had to eradicate and weaken local strength!
Over the past two years, in terms of appointnts, many people had already noticed that the Southern Faction, Northern Faction, and Southwest Faction were not only not being heavily used, they were in fact gradually flipping over and falling from their horses.
In key posts across the regions, most of the people were parachuted in from Tiandu, and they were overwhelmingly aristocratic family offspring and people with connections.
Gu Changsha was cracking down on dissidents, strengthening Tiandu's centralized power, and laying the personnel groundwork for his own one‑man rule.
This man did, indeed, have so sches.
You could also say that this father‑in‑law of Liu Zhizhong's really did have a certain imperial domineering streak.
Alas… would Liu Zhizhong's father‑in‑law end up being the one to keep this Gu Changsha in check?
Right now, isn't Liu Zhizhong demanding benefits from his official father‑in‑law on behalf of his younger father‑in‑law? And didn't he even succeed in the negotiations?
In the end, after Liu Zhizhong praised Gu Changsha again, he extended a sincere invitation: "I hope I can return to the Wale Republic as soon as possible and invite you, Mr. Gu, along with your wife and daughter, to visit the Wale Republic. The Wale Republic will warmly and sincerely welco your arrival! Let's join hands and stride forward together, discuss affairs of state, and open a new chapter in political, economic, and cultural exchange!"
Of course, Gu Changsha cheerfully agreed, but said, "My wife is frail and chronically ill; I'm afraid she won't be able to travel. My young daughter is a filial child and must attend to her mother, so I fear she won't be able to make the trip either!"
Liu Zhizhong was sowhat depressed—couldn't the man even give him the courtesy of a spousal reunion?
Was it really this hard nowadays for a legal husband to see his wife? Even the diplomatic route wouldn't work?
In reality, Gu Changsha had always been very focused on keeping his family situation confidential. That was the truth!
In the more than two years since he'd taken office, he had never been seen taking his wife and child on a foreign visit or even down to any local areas.
And of course, when Zhao Yan was appointed to teach at the Wale National Art Academy, Gu Changsha was even more opposed to it. So wasn't Princess Zhao Yan basically forced to return ho?
Liu Zhizhong said, "In any case, I hope your wife stays safe and healthy, and your daughter remains youthful and beautiful, and that your family stays united and harmonious! I look forward to the day when I can enjoy a private family gathering with you and your loved ones."
"Yes, yes, if there's a chance, definitely, definitely…"
Once the call ended, both Zheng Xitong and Xiang Wenhua felt as if a weight had been lifted. They raised their glasses together and gave Liu Zhizhong a fierce toast of approval.
After clinking glasses with them, Liu Zhizhong still couldn't help sighing, "This man, Gu Changsha, really has so depth. It looks like, now that the Great East Pot has entered his era, the ti ahead will be Manman's era. This ti we've kept West Guang Province; as for when he'll stir up the next storm, who knows."
Hearing this, both Zheng Xitong and Xiang Wenhua felt a heaviness in their hearts.
Zheng Xitong's brows even knit together. "Zhizhong is right! From the looks of it, my agreeing to Yang Bingbing's resignation, allowing her to take the Zheng Family's assets to Valle to develop, really is a pretty good escape route! Mr. Xiang, the Xiang family will probably have to plan ahead as well! We may end up losing the rivers and mountains in the end, but we can't lose our wealth empire along with them, can we?"
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