Chapter 42: The Allied Legion, Attitudes of Various Nations

Chapter 42: The Allied Legion and the Attitudes of Various Nations

The events must be traced back to two days prior. Following First Emperor Qin Shi Huang's banquet for the envoys of various nations, Yang Zimo entered the imperial palace the very next day carrying a thick and detailed proposal.

Qin Shi Huang had only glanced briefly at the proposal before summoning the key figures of the Military Affairs Bureau and the Administrative Bureau to deliberate for a full ten hours in the Qilin Hall.

Written across Yang Zimo's proposal was the significance of establishing the Pan-Asian Continental Alliance and its subsequent far-reaching impacts.

Yang Zimo had entirely modeled this on the modern concept of the United Nations' permanent members, summarizing and adapting it to fit the era. Given Great Qin's overwhelming strength, establishing the Pan-Asian Continental Alliance would absorb all the tribes of the Asian continent. Through economic and cultural exportation, Great Qin would gradually control the lifeblood of these other tribes.

Once they joined the alliance, the people of those tribes would inevitably fall in love with Great Qin's cuisine and potent liquor, and grow fond of Great Qin's attire. The nomadic tribes did not engage in production; they would sell their cattle, sheep, and horses in exchange for Great Qin's grain, salt, copper, iron, and other vital supplies.

Just like romance, it reaches its conclusion not because the love is too profound, but simply because one has grown accustomed to the other's presence, and vice versa. An attachment is thus formed. If you doubt this, try throwing away an item you have used for many years and feel the sorrow in your heart at that moment.

Once the tribes grew accustomed to everything about Great Qin, they would unconsciously become a part of the Qin Empire. When that time came, what difference would it make whether the alliance officially existed or not?

With the inclusion of these nomadic tribes, Great Qin would possess professional herdsmen capable of supplying the empire with meat and fur, as well as exceptional warriors to form formidable cavalry legions.

Armed with these born cavalrymen, Great Qin could sweep across the surrounding disobedient nations and tribes, and assemble massive armies to advance upon the European and American continents. This would not only consume the vibrant strength of those tribes but also expand the borders, annexing the realm and conquering the entire world.

Upon reading Yang Zimo's proposal, the heavyweight officials from both the military and civilian branches, alongside Qin Shi Huang, all wore expressions as if they had seen ghosts. They cast entirely new looks at Yang Zimo. Fortunately, he was one of their own; otherwise...

Everyone drew a sharp breath. Although the National Master was young, he harbored truly ruthless methods when it came to destroying nations and subjugating races.

Witnessing everyone's expressions, Yang Zimo awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. These were merely the viewpoints of internet users from later generations; he had simply borrowed and adapted them.

Subsequently, the assembly plugged the gaps and made various modifications suited to the conditions of the Qin Dynasty, leading to the very scene currently unfolding in the conference hall.

"The detailed introduction to the alliance is contained within these pages. Esteemed envoys and chieftains may examine them closely." Yang Zimo instructed the eunuchs to distribute the manuals at hand to everyone present.

"This, this, this!..."

"Hiss!"

"Splendid! Truly splendid!"

Diverse sounds echoed throughout the grand hall, and every face was etched with a myriad of varying expressions.

"Great Qin is going much too far in bullying others!" declared Shahar, the envoy of Parthia, in a rage.

"Oh! How may I address the esteemed envoy?" Yang Zimo asked, stepping forward upon hearing the outburst.

"I am Shahar, Ambassador of the Parthian Empire."

"Esteemed envoy, why are you so furious?" Yang Zimo inquired with a genial smile.

"The alliance proposed by Great Qin is nothing short of an insult and oppression. It is called an alliance, but who knows what it will truly become by then? Hmph!" Shahar was unwilling to elaborate further.

"Pray tell, esteemed envoy, has Great Qin forced your esteemed nation to join? This is solely intended to secure peace and harmony across this land. It is entirely voluntary; Great Qin will never use coercion," Yang Zimo explained.

"Then why are many commodities completely unavailable to those who are not members of the alliance? You people of Great Qin are engaging in naked threats!" Shahar retorted sharply.

"For the sake of a favorable environment across this land, Great Qin is more than willing to sell all kinds of supplies to every tribe and nation. Alas, Great Qin suffers from a shortage of population, and our production output cannot keep pace, leaving us no choice but to supply members of the alliance. I trust the esteemed envoy will understand. Once Great Qin's population increases and production rises, we will surely supply other nations as well," Yang Zimo said with a gentle curl of his lips and a smile.

"You—hmph!" Refusing to speak further, Shahar flicked his sleeve and stomped back to his seat.

"Do any other esteemed guests harbor questions? Feel free to voice them, and this Marquis shall answer everything to the best of his knowledge!" To this, Yang Zimo silently added a clause in his heart: "...though not necessarily keeping my word."

"May I ask the National Master, will Great Qin truly sell salt, iron, and weaponry?" another person asked, breaking the silence.

"Indeed. Great Qin will trade a certain quantity of strategic supplies with members of the Allied Nations, and we guarantee they will by no means be defective goods. Furthermore, Great Qin will not interfere in the internal affairs of member states. Everyone can rest completely assured," Yang Zimo said, scanning the gathering.

"National Master, I am still somewhat unclear about the peacekeeping legion of this continental alliance," a minor tribal envoy asked in a soft voice.

"As the name implies, the peacekeeping legion is an army dedicated to maintaining peace across the continent. It will be a mixed force formed by troops contributed by member states, provisionally established at a strength of thirty thousand men, maintained and funded by member states in proportion to their share.

"The peacekeeping legion exists primarily to safeguard the security of each member state, ensure the peaceful development of the Pan-Asian continent, and prevent bandits, assassins, rebel armies, and other undesirable elements from posing hazards to member states.

"The peacekeeping legion shall be led by the alliance. All matters concerning the alliance shall be decided through joint votes by the Alliance Leader and representatives of the member states, with Great Qin retaining veto power. The position of Alliance Leader shall operate on a rotational system, changing every five years, elected through a joint vote of the member states." Having said this much, stopping short, he believed many would now harbor their own ambitions.

Indeed, many already possessed ambitions. If one could ascend to the position of Alliance Leader, the benefits would be self-evident!

"Now, I ask all envoys and chieftains to ponder this carefully. Great Qin by no means forces any of you to join! By the way, tomorrow Great Qin will hold a grand military parade, and I cordially invite all of you to attend and review our forces!"

"We shall contemplate this thoroughly. Such a monumental matter must be transmitted back to our tribes for our chieftains (kings) to decide!" the assembly chimed in one after another, indicating that the issue was of grave importance and required consultation with their respective tribes.

Regardless of what others were thinking, Yang Zimo had laid out the matter of the alliance; it now depended entirely on how many were willing to join.

Under Yang Zimo's chairmanship, this Pan-Asian Continental Sustainable Development Conference concluded successfully.

Under the arrangement of Yao Jia from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the envoy delegations returned to their quarters. They spent a restless night tossing and turning, only to be jolted awake at dawn by immense and clamorous noises.

That night had been a frantic one, steeped in slaughter.

Within the dungeons of the Black Ice台 (Black Ice Terrace), endless shrieks echoed incessantly without pause. Suddenly, the heavy iron gates swung open, and a group of Shadow Secret Guards escorted a crowd of fair-haired, blue-eyed foreigners. This instantly captured the gazes of everyone in the dungeon, subduing even the agonizing screams to a murmur. Leading the procession at the very front was actually a foreign woman, a sight that left the prisoners confined in the dungeons even more bewildered.

Domestic intelligence operations within the Great Qin Empire were generally handled by the Inspection Guards of the Supervisory Department. Anyone capable of being locked away within the Black Ice Terrace was a notable figure already registered in its dossiers. Those imprisoned here were invariably enemy spies, scouts, and traitors who had colluded with foreign states.

Without a certain level of capability—without having accomplished some earth-shattering deeds—one lacked the credentials to enter the dungeons of the Black Ice Terrace.

Viewed in this light, this foreign woman must also be a kindred spirit in their trade! They simply had to engage in some profound communication!