The seven Western Countries are sending a diplomatic mission to visit?
The ministers exchanged glances.
In the twenty-seventh year of Hong Guang, the Seven Nations Alliance Army invaded the Da Lan Dynasty.
Since then, there have been no diplomatic relations between the Da Lan Dynasty and the Seven Western Countries.
Although trade between both sides has beco more frequent in private, openly, the Da Lan Dynasty has never let down its guard against Western countries.
And the infiltration of the Da Lan Dynasty by the Seven Western Countries, as well as espionage activities, have never stopped.
Back then, even in a small place like Xing City, i Jia Country's spies could support local gangs with ulterior motives. (See Volu 1, Chapter 129 for details)
This shows that the desire of the Western Continent for the Da Lan Dynasty has never ceased!
Now, with the Da Lan Dynasty facing internal strife and external threats, with severely damaged national power, the sudden arrival of the Seven Western Countries' diplomatic mission clearly doesn't bode well.
"Everyone, let's discuss this matter first, should we allow their mission to co? Or should we refuse?"
The new Emperor Qin Ziheng spoke.
"Your Majesty."
A cabinet minister imdiately stepped forward and said loudly:
"I believe this is the West noticing our dynasty is in a period of exhaustion, with unresolved internal strife, and they send people to test the waters. Therefore, our dynasty should not only not refuse but should welco them with the grandeur of a great nation and use military might to deter any inappropriate intentions!"
These words imdiately gained the agreent of many ministers, but so were opposed.
"Your Majesty!"
A mber of the Monitoring Pavilion stood up and said, "I think we should directly refuse the Western mission and imdiately put the Western Border Army in a state of readiness to warn the Western Continent!"
"Absurd, wouldn't that only plainly show them our lack of confidence?"
"Ha, do you think the Western Continent isn't already well aware of our situation? Do you know how many Western spies have been caught by our pavilion over the years? Their purpose this ti is not to test us; they don't need to test. This ti they might be using the opportunity to send a mission and collude with other forces, working inside and out!"
"Even if the West really intends to attack, there are still ways to ease the tension. Coercion and inducent, there are always thods. Since they've sent a mission this ti, we might as well talk, why shut them out?"
"Talk? About what? If they threaten us and take the opportunity to demand benefits, should we still talk?!"
"..."
In the Great Hall, the officials started arguing.
Li Fei listened to the quarrel silently, roughly understanding the current situation.
This sudden dispatch of a mission by the Western Continent, regardless of the intent, has at least caused internal strife within the Da Lan Dynasty.
The earlier mber of the Monitoring Pavilion had made it clear that over the years, the Western Continent has continuously sent spies into the Da Lan Dynasty; the situation here couldn't be clearer to them.
So this mission to the Da Lan Dynasty is certainly not here to test the waters.
The weakness of the Da Lan Dynasty is an obvious fact now!
Thus, the ministers who support allowing the Western mission to visit and wish to negotiate likely believe in offering so concessions to prevent the West from causing trouble for the Da Lan Dynasty at this ti.
While those ministers who oppose the visit are firm in their stance — this door should not be opened!
Better to refuse negotiations from the start, rather than having the Western mission visit, causing more disputes and potentially leading to internal chaos.
At the end of the day, this is a typical dispute between 'pro-negotiation' and 'pro-war' factions.
Of course, even among the 'pro-war' faction, so believe it wouldn't hurt to talk to the West first.
So in the court, there were more voices supporting the visit of the mission.
The fierce argunt gave Qin Ziheng a headache as he listened from the Dragon Chair.
He turned his gaze to Ye Ze'an, who was sitting calmly, and said:
"Grand Secretary, what do you think?"
With the new Emperor speaking, the Great Hall gradually quieted down.
Ye Ze'an stood up, just about to speak, when he started coughing violently.
This bout of coughing made Qin Ziheng show a worried expression.
Amidst consecutive wars and the turbulent national fortune, Ye Ze'an, being the Grand Secretary and assisting in managing the national affairs, is also bearing so backlash, though not too severely.
But Ye Ze'an is rely human, already advanced in age, and his health has deteriorated.
Now, with Qin Ziheng's recent ascension to the throne, if this Grand Secretary collapses, half of the Central Cabinet would be paralyzed!
So Qin Ziheng promptly and concernedly asked, "Grand Secretary, are you alright? I will have the Imperial Physician see you later."
Ye Ze'an bowed, "Thank Your Majesty for your concern, I am alright."
"I believe we can allow the Western mission to visit, no matter what their intentions might be, we can at least respond accordingly to whatever cos."
This Grand Secretary seed to favor negotiation with the West.
After expressing his opinion, Qin Ziheng first let him sit down, then turned to look at Wenren Zheng across from him:
"What is the Grand Marshal's view?"
Wenren Zheng stood up straightforwardly and saluted:
"Your Majesty, I believe we should refuse outright! The Seven Western Countries have ambitious intentions, now rely looking to add insult to injury!"
He opposed Ye Ze'an's proposal.
One a Grand Secretary, the other a Military Affairs Grand Marshal, each leading the civil and military officials.
The differing opinions of these two made Qin Ziheng even more troubled.
He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Li Fei who was standing:
"Marquis Jing'an."
"At your service."
"What do you think?"
The ministers all turned their eyes to Li Fei.
The late Emperor appointed four Guardian Ministers; now with the State Preceptor Yun Shu deceased, only three remain.
With opposing views from Ye Ze'an and Wenren Zheng, Li Fei's opinion beca particularly important.
Li Fei deliberated and spoke:
"I think we can allow the Western mission to visit."
In his heart, he was undoubtedly aligned with the 'pro-war' faction, but he had just made a 'three-year promise' to the new Emperor, asking him to hold on and give himself so 'developnt' ti.
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