The entire process, from deploying troops to the conclusion, took less than half a month.
Facing the vast grasslands of the Axi tribe, the current question was how to divide this territory.
Leng Han and Wu Yi represented different nations, while Fan Zehao was lost in thought.
No forceful conclusions were reached by noon, and during lunch, Fan Zehao sought his wife's opinion.
"If you ask me, we shouldn't fight over this territory. Let Zong Han and Huangfu Xi split it half and half. We should just focus on protecting our own little piece of land!"
Fan Zehao would never question or find fault with the solution proposed by his wife. However, Yu Meng felt regretful about giving up such a good opportunity to expand their territory.
Yu Meng put down the corn pancake she was enjoying, stretched her voice, and pouted as she called out to her mother, "Mother, don't you think we're losing a lot this way? Even if we don't split it equally among the three of us, we should still get some!"
Zhao Jiaqi asked her, "Even if you were given half of this tribe, what would that achieve?"
Yu Meng paused for a moment, then came to her senses and began to boast, "Of course, we would utilize this place well."
"That's a good idea, but don't forget, it's remote and sparsely populated. Are you planning to migrate some of our inner city people here to develop it?"
This question immediately silenced Yu Meng.
If she really thought about her mother's words, this was clearly impossible. The living conditions in the inner city were already very good. Who would endure hardship to come to this place and build things under the sun and wind?
While her daughter was lost in thought, Zhao Jiaqi brought up another point, "Even if people come to develop this place, can you guarantee that the local inhabitants who remain will sincerely support you?"
Yu Meng shook her head. How could she be sure!
Let alone her being unsure about the people here, it was hard to say if there were spies from other countries even among the inner city residents.
Zhao Jiaqi spread her hands and smiled, "Since you can't guarantee it, why waste time on this land? It's better to think about how we can gain some benefits from this land. That would be truly valuable."
The father and daughter were both bewildered by Zhao Jiaqi's few words. They had initially thought this vast territory was something to be happy about, but now it felt like a chicken's rib – neither good to eat nor worth throwing away.
Yu Meng was not interested in doing business, but she felt it was a loss to give up just like that. So she asked, "Mother, then tell us, how can we gain benefits here?"
Fan Zehao also couldn't figure it out and looked at his wife with wide eyes, like a devoted admirer.
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't bear to see her husband and daughter so confused. She put down her chopsticks this time and explained to them.
"Look, the cattle, horses, and sheep raised here are all plump and renowned in the vassal states. If we give up on claiming this land and instead secure the trading rights for the cattle, horses, and sheep here, tell me, would we be making a profit or a loss!"
Trading rights?
The father and daughter heard a unique term again and asked her in confusion, "What does that mean? I don't understand."
Zhao Jiaqi patted her forehead, annoyed for a moment, and explained, "These trading rights mean that any livestock raised in this land can only be sold by us. No one else, including those two countries, has the right to sell them. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The father and daughter exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Now they understood what "trading rights" meant.
Fan Zehao was a bit worried, "I'm afraid Zong Han and Huangfu Xi won't agree to this."
With that, he gave his wife a look, seeking her help, "How about you go talk to Zong Han about this, and I'll talk to Huangfu Xi?"
Upon hearing this suggestion, she directly shook her head and refused readily, "I'm not going, and you can't go either. Let Yu Meng go. She's the commander in charge of this matter, and she needs to learn how to negotiate."
"Ah? Mother, you can't treat your daughter like this." Yu Meng wore a long face, "I've only spent my years in the military camp. If you ask me about punching and kicking, I can explain a thing or two, but asking me to negotiate... Aren't you afraid I'll mess things up, and everything will be lost, and you won't get a single copper coin."
Her mother was truly something. She was so confident in letting a naive person like her negotiate with those foxes. This was clearly throwing a little white rabbit into a wolf pack; she'd be lucky not to be eaten.
Zhao Jiaqi was not worried at all and waved her away briskly, "Mother trusts you!"
She had given birth to her child. Besides the genes from her father, she must have inherited some of her own business acumen, right? She couldn't possibly not resemble her at all.
Negotiations began in the afternoon. The entire military tent was filled with generals and vice-generals from the three factions. However, only Yu Meng and Shi Haoming appeared from the inner city's side, accompanied by a masked chief executive.
This completely baffled Wu Yi and Leng Han, who both looked at her.
Wu Yi frowned, his face full of displeasure, "County Princess, I acknowledge you as a competent commander, but this is not about discussing a battle, nor is it about discussing who will be the commander. It's about discussing how to divide the territory of this tribe."
Yu Meng was very displeased and pouted as she sat in the main seat, radiating calm confidence.
She let out a cold snort from her nostrils towards Wu Yi and said, "What? I conquered this place, and I don't have the right to participate in dividing the territory?"
Leng Han, seeing the rising tempers on both sides, crossed his arms and stood by, observing the spectacle like he was watching a fire across the table, making no move to intervene or speak.
The Yun Kingdom and the inner city were essentially one family. He wouldn't help, but he certainly wouldn't hinder.
And so, the tent became the scene of a verbal spar between a man and a woman.
Wu Yi's head seemed to emit smoke upon hearing her words, "You are indeed the commander, but the matters being discussed here require an official higher than the commander to preside!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Meng scoffed and immediately retorted, "If I, as commander, am not the highest official, then what are you, a mere general, worth? How dare you bark at me here? Believe it or not, I can send you to the heavens with a single bomb."
How dare he act so superior, didn't he fear being struck by lightning!
Shi Haoming stifled a laugh, struggling to contain himself. If it weren't for the fear of delaying the proceedings, he would have loved to continue listening.
Alas, time did not permit!
"General Wu, please calm down. The Regent has entrusted this entire matter entirely to the commander. His Highness will not interfere. Regardless of the outcome, His Highness will accept it!"
Now, even if Wu Yi wanted to find more fault, he didn't know where to start.
Looking at the smug Fan Yumeng, Wu Yi sneered, his lips curving into a malicious smile, his eyes filled with calculation.