The Prime Minister Seduced Me to have Babies!-Chapter 703: Losing Business

Yun Jiao retracted her head, and only after the Da Jin delegation had left did she instruct the driver to head towards Renxin Hall.

In the evening, Jiang Youzhi returned home and also spoke about the Da Jin delegation, "This time, the visitors are Da Jin’s Second Prince Wanyan Zhang and Da Jin’s Prime Minister Wulinda Hai."

"Besides the matter of the Youyun Sixteen States, the Emperor seems to have intentions of betrothing a princess for marital alliance."

While embroidering her pouch, Yun Jiao asked: "A close alliance? Isn’t Princess Shoukang, born to Lady Chen, the only one still unmarried?"

Last time, she almost took Jiang Youzhi away.

Jiang Youzhi shook his head, "Princess Shoukang—the Emperor may not be willing, possibly selecting a girl from the Imperial Family to be named princess and sent for marriage there."

Yun Jiao admired the pattern she had embroidered, "Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with us."

Jiang Youzhi smiled helplessly, indeed.

However, as a man with aspirations and as a subject of Great Chu, he naturally hopes for Great Chu to be strong, rather than the current situation of being bullied.

In the following period, wherever Yun Jiao goes, she hears people discussing these matters.

Whether it’s the workers in the workshops or the patrons of Renxin Hall, everyone loves to talk about who the princess for the alliance might be, and how much silver it would cost to buy back the Youyun Sixteen States.

This past month, Da Jin and Great Chu have already held two rounds of negotiations, but Da Jin refuses to sell all of the Youyun Sixteen States to Great Chu.

Da Jin plans to only offer six states, leaving the remaining ten under their control, meaning that as long as Da Jin wishes, their cavalry can still easily reach Great Chu’s Capital City in no time.

There are no natural barriers or defenses to hold.

Returning home one day, Jiang Youzhi embraced Yun Jiao and sighed, "The day after tomorrow is the last negotiation. Now the price Da Jin is asking is for Great Chu to pay them an annual tribute of one million taels of silver."

Yun Jiao was shocked by this figure, the Yan Family father and son had embezzled for over ten years, amassing merely one or two million taels of silver.

Great Chu paying Da Jin one million every year is clearly unaffordable for Great Chu’s finances, which means taxes will rise, making life harder for the common folk.

Yun Jiao couldn’t help but say: "A million every year? Just to redeem six states? When will such silver payments end?"

Jiang Youzhi shook his head: "As long as Great Chu exists for another day, this silver must be paid annually; for now, raising the silver isn’t a problem, since they’ve just confiscated assets from the Su Family and the Yan Family, and there’s still money in the National Treasury."

"But what happens in a few years?"

"Moreover, those six states have been completely plundered by Da Jin, even the population has been forcibly relocated."

"What Great Chu is buying back at such a price is six empty cities!"

"And with only six states, a complete defensive line cannot be formed, so the significance for military defense is minimal!"

Yun Jiao sighed as well, then asked: "Why did Da Jin relocate the population?"

"Da Jin already has very fertile black soil, just lacking people to cultivate it, and having annexed Greater Liao, their land is now vast."

"Of course, they need a population, with people the land produces, bringing in tax revenue, otherwise, what use is having all that land?" Jiang Youzhi said.

Yun Jiao thought for a moment and understood, after all, she has attended history and political classes.

However, perhaps because her modern self occupies the dominant personality, her sense of belonging to Great Chu isn’t very strong.

In her heart, her homeland remains the country from her past life.