Seeing her frowning and distressed, unable to conceal her emotions and completely disregarding the wrath of the emperor, Si Xitong noticed that she was completely oblivious to the danger.
Kyōshō, who was standing nearby, had long been dissatisfied. He felt that the Anrō people were uncouth and lacked manners.
Si Xitong, however, took the initiative to show concern for her: "Miss Marilyn, what's troubling you?"
Marilyn then began to recount how she had been deceived in the Central Plains and was still heartbroken. She hoped Si Xitong would introduce her to a gentleman for a romantic relationship. Of course, the more the better. She could choose.
Jingchen, standing nearby, stared wide-eyed. This woman actually wanted to have multiple husbands.
Si Xitong said, "Men in the Central Plains are mostly reserved, and their views on marriage are different from those in Anluo. Miss Marilyn, you must understand that to find a lover in the Central Plains, you must go through an arranged marriage and then get married."
"Marriage? No way!" Marilyn immediately covered her face. "Are there any handsome men who only want to date and not get married?"
Upon hearing this, Jing Chen couldn't help but want to speak up and refute Marilyn. However, Jing Chen was immediately dismissed by Si Xitong.
Si Xitong said, "Then Miss Marilyn needs to carefully select the person herself."
That means they've agreed.
Marilyn was very happy, as this way she wouldn't feel lonely staying in the Central Plains.
"By the way, where is Marshal Xie?" Marilyn looked around. "I heard she has returned from the battlefield."
Si Xitong said, "She has other matters to attend to. Let's first discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between Anluo and the new Tianjing."
Marilyn nodded immediately. After Si Xitong offered her a seat, she explained to Marilyn her plans for establishing diplomatic relations with Anluo.
Si Xitong is unfamiliar with Anluo Kingdom and needs a minister to visit Anluo Kingdom to inquire about the situation there. However, he is willing to keep Marilyn as a translator for the Southern Central Plains.
Marilyn, as a translator from the Central Plains, spoke better Chinese than the envoy sent by Anluo.
When the Anluo envoy learned that the bank's left clerk had been given an important position, he was both pleased and regretful that he wasn't an expert on the Central Plains. He could only manage a few words of Chinese.
The two talked for a long time in Jianzhang Palace. During this time, Marilyn probed Si Xitong several times whether he would allow An Luo to set up a bank in the Central Plains, which was a kind of exchange shop.
Si Xitong knew exactly what Marilyn was planning. She didn't give a direct answer, but subtly reminded Marilyn that the Central Plains would have its own state-owned bank.
Marilyn was very disappointed. She had thought there were no banks in the Central Plains, but she hadn't expected that this progressive and enlightened ruler already had a plan.
She then changed her strategy, hoping that Anlu merchants would one day receive preferential treatment from the Central Plains and sell their own country's goods.
Si Xitong also reminded her that as long as import taxes were paid in Weidu and the quality was guaranteed, it was possible to estimate the price. Because the Central Plains had a large market, Anluo's pricing had to be negotiated with the Central Plains. The Central Plains would also offer discounts depending on the situation and would provide preferential treatment to Anluo residents purchasing goods from the Central Plains.
Marilyn then brought up the possibility of allowing the Anlu people to set up factories in the Central Plains.
Si Xitong agreed.
Marilyn finally smiled happily: "Your Highness, you are smarter and more insightful than I imagined. It's a pity the Marshal is not here."
"I'd really like to know what the Marshal thinks?"
Si Xitong smiled and said, "Lanzhi shares the same view as me."
Having received the answer, Marilyn wisely stopped mentioning Xie Lanzhi.
She suddenly brought up another matter, finally getting to the point, and said some things that Si Xitong wanted to hear.
Marilyn said, "To be honest, Your Highness, my motherland is currently facing a crisis in choosing an heir. My old King Johnny and Venice have their eyes on the young Prince George, hoping that Prince George will rule the Kingdom of Anro."
"But the eldest prince, Joseph, did not agree and challenged the youngest prince, George, that whoever obtained more diplomatic rights overseas would inherit the throne."
"It has been five years since the bet between Prince Johnson and Prince George. Currently, Prince Johnson has the most diplomatic rights and is the most welcomed by the foreign powers."
Si Xitong asked, "May I ask which side Miss Marilyn supports?"
Marilyn then kept everyone in suspense, winking playfully, "Guess what, it's my all-powerful princess."
Si Xitong quickly replied: "I believe you do not belong to either side."
"Your Highness is indeed incredibly resourceful." Marilyn snapped her fingers, causing Si Xitong to frown. It seemed Marilyn was a special envoy sent by the old king.
Marilyn said, "Although my old king favors the young prince, the counts in the country all support Prince Johnson, believing that Prince Johnson is more capable."
“But Prince Johnson has a fiery temper and is ruthless, and the citizens of our country are afraid of him. On the contrary, the citizens prefer the more approachable Prince George.”
As a result, a huge rift developed between the counts and the citizens of Anro Kingdom, and Prince Johnson, who was originally expected to win, lost to the people-friendly prince.
Two years ago, Prince George even considered withdrawing from the race for the throne, but Prince Johnson attempted to assassinate him. If he withdrew, his knights would be transferred, and no one would protect him. Therefore, Prince George dared not withdraw from the race.
Even though Prince Johnson knew Prince George wanted to withdraw, he still wouldn't let him go. This forced Prince George to find ways to compete for the throne.
King Johnnisene was heartbroken that his two sons had killed each other. Just as Johnson was about to win, he proposed that whoever crossed the ocean to the east at this moment and opened up the trade route to the Eastern Kingdom and Jin would be the final winner.
Prince Qiaosen quickly made contact with the Northern Hu and Xiongnu people in Jin. Prince Qiaosen was unaware that Jin had already split. He only knew that the Easterners had black hair and white skin, were very intelligent, possessed a million-strong army and a million-acre territory, and that they had the most powerful army.
When Prince Qiaosen's men encountered the large treasure ships of the Northern Hu and Xiongnu, and saw that the Northern Hu and Xiongnu's large treasure ships were crushing their large ships, they immediately concluded that the Northern Hu and Xiongnu were people of the Jin state.
The Northern Hun people sent abroad tacitly identified themselves as citizens of Jin and took the initiative to sign a trade treaty with Prince Qiaosen.
Before the Northern Xiongnu moved south, they had already traded with Anluo several times. However, they were still in contact and had not yet reached a complete agreement. Suddenly, the Northern Xiongnu's logistics were cut off, forcing the large treasure ships to go to Luerqu to make purchases. Unexpectedly, they were immediately drawn into war.
At this time, Xieji sent people to attack the small islands around Luerqu, controlling the outer sea in that area and cutting off trade between the Northern Hu and Xiongnu and the Anluo people.
There were also Anluo people who came with the treasure ships of the Northern Hu and Xiongnu at Luerqu. When the Anluo people landed at Luerqu, they discovered that the Jin state was no longer a country.
They encountered only the Northern Hu and Xiongnu, one of the forces that emerged after the split of the Jin state. And they were none other than the strongest state in the north.
The Anluo people had never seen the Southern Central Plains, so they naturally believed that the Northern Central Plains were the strongest.
Until the Northern Hu and Xiongnu were defeated, and Luerqu was driven back by the army of the northern desert. When the Anluo people saw that the powerful Northern Hu and Xiongnu had been defeated by the nomads, they thought that the northern region was stronger than the Northern Hu and Xiongnu. Unexpectedly, they were captured by a group of powerful soldiers who called themselves the Southern Central Plains.
The Anluo people were bewildered when the surrendered Northern Hu and Xiongnu soldiers were captured. They realized that the Northern Regions were merely a vassal state of the Southern Central Plains and were not powerful at all.
But why did the powerful Northern Hu and Xiongnu lose? So the Anluo people saw people from the Southern Central Plains among the surrendered soldiers.
However, the Anluo people saw Xie Bing, and believed that this was the most powerful military force in the Southern Central Plains.
It wasn't until he saw the Imperial Guards pushing cannons almost as long as boats, killing fleeing surrendered soldiers, that he realized how powerful they were.
The Anluo people were once again stunned by the powerful military force for three days and three nights.
Finally, this group of Anlu people discovered that the State of Jin had split into three states that they could not afford to offend.
Finally, the Anluo people found an opportunity to contact the Anluo envoy in Tianjing, hoping that the Anluo envoy could rescue them.
In fact, Xie Bing was a worldly man, and they would separate and lock up anyone who recognized An Luo's face.
A few days later, as expected, the new Tianjing sent people to pick up this group of Anluo people.
Thus, the first piece of overseas maritime power that should have belonged to the Northern Hu and Xiongnu has now fallen into the hands of the new Tianjing by a twist of fate.
Si Xitong had already received intelligence and ordered someone to receive her. The reason for summoning Marilyn now is twofold: first, to establish diplomatic relations with the merchants, and second, to return these Anro people.
Marilyn gave a brief account of the situation in her country and expressed her hope that Si Xitong would set a date for establishing diplomatic relations as soon as possible.
Si Xitong felt that there was no rush, but she gave Marilyn a rough timeframe: the day of the Spring Festival.
It's September now, so there are still three months left.
Marilyn was overjoyed; "Your Highness, it is my great honor to be able to trade with your country."
Si Xitong said, "Miss Marilyn, you are too kind. Trade is beneficial to both sides, and I hope to maintain long-term relations with your country."
The two had a pleasant conversation. Afterwards, Marilyn was escorted out of the palace, and the Anro envoy immediately approached her to tell her that he had found the group of Anro people sent by Prince Johnson. They were now almost at Tianjing.
Marilyn immediately sized up the envoy: "Jack, send these Anro people back to Anro as soon as possible. I heard from His Highness that they had contacted His Highness's enemies in a place called Luerqu."
"To avoid Your Highness misunderstanding and delaying the time for establishing diplomatic relations and trade with Anluo, please do not let them come to Tianjing and let Your Highness know."
Upon hearing this, Anluo's envoy Jack was immediately at a loss, knowing the consequences. Jack immediately shook hands with Marilyn: "Chief Secretary Marilyn, none of us expected that the Jin Kingdom still existed. It was only because of its temporary decline that we thought the Northern Hu and Xiongnu would be the next masters of the Jin Kingdom."
"Please keep this relationship a secret, otherwise the king will not forgive me and will sentence me to death."
Marilyn squeezed his hand back: "Please act quickly; the success of establishing diplomatic relations depends on you."
Jack nodded immediately, then hurriedly turned and led his men toward the gates of Tianjing.
Marilyn waited until he left. She took out a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and then casually threw it into the trash can.
She smiled faintly: "Foolish man, how could I possibly give my credit to you bunch of Johnson followers?"
Jianzhang Palace.
As Si Xitong was finishing up the last few memorials, a secret agent appeared, said a few words, and then disappeared again.
Si Xitong put down his pen, thinking to himself, "Just as I thought, Marilyn is a follower who supports Prince George."
While Marilyn outwardly appeared to be supporting the old king, from the moment she came into contact with the new Tianjing, and considering the group of Anro people captured by the capital's guards, Si Xitong had already deduced whose follower Marilyn was.
At this moment, Xie Lanzhi strolled around and entered Jianzhang Palace.
Seeing the woman on the throne deep in thought, she knew she was thinking about Marilyn.
Xie Lanzhi said, "Little Phoenix, Marilyn is a cunning woman; you can't completely trust what she says."
"You reminded me." Si Xitong looked up and saw her coming, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes.
Xie Lanzhi originally didn't intend to get involved. Whenever she interfered, the Xie family would claim credit for her work and demand a share of the profits. Besides, Little Phoenix was capable of handling it; it would just take some time.
Now, she plans to offer advice and strategies to Little Phoenix from behind the scenes.
She continued, "The fact that Marilyn was able to get a group of unscrupulous businessmen on Twin Islands to behave and obediently pay ten thousand in rent is enough to prove that she has considerable diplomatic skills."
"Especially that Twin Island owner, Little Phoenix, do you know him?"
Si Xitong might as well tell her: "Twin Islands is my person. When they deposited one million, I didn't actually pay the money; it was his money."
"What's his name?" Xie Lanzhi had never met the owner of Twin Islands, but she knew how important he was.
Si Xitong didn't tell her, but said, "His name and code name don't matter. What matters is that he won't betray the Great Jin. He has already gone to where he wants to go to continue his undercover work."
Xie Lanzhi really didn't ask any more questions.
"Marilyn's methods are not worth mentioning, but she is very clear about where her interests lie."
Today's friendly gesture is nothing more than a ploy to find a more powerful partner. To help her settle in Da Jin. She was initially targeted by Marilyn, and because she desperately needed to resolve Anshan's situation, she willingly fell into her trap. To bring her here.
She wouldn't let that woman continue to use her ulterior motives.
Xie Lanzhi walked to the throne and placed her hand on Si Xitong's shoulder to remind her: "Little Phoenix, since you know everything, you must seize the initiative in establishing diplomatic relations, otherwise a single misstep will destroy this century-old plan."
Si Xitong's eyes instantly fixed on him: "Leave it to me."
Soon, Jack, the Anluo envoy outside the city, accepted the Anluo people. He counted eighteen people in total and immediately led them to hire a carriage to go to Weidu to transfer to a ship to the four Southeast Asian countries. Then he would return to his motherland.
When the people of Anluo saw the messenger hurriedly leading them back, they asked, "Messenger, is someone chasing us? Is that why you're taking us away?"
Jack said, "Miss Marilyn was summoned by His Highness of the Great Jin Dynasty today, and the date for establishing diplomatic relations has been agreed upon. It will be on the day of the Spring Festival in the Central Plains."