No matter what happens, as long as it involves cooperation among the five countries, it must be approved by the king. Not every representative is qualified to make decisions for the king.
Ding Kui did not reject his country's representatives and announced that the talks would be postponed until early next month.
The rest of the matter will be followed up by a dedicated department, so he doesn't have to worry about it.
Next came the Guyuan Empire, the Tongbei Empire and the Lu State, who were also willing to purchase the railway property rights. Ji Chan came to Zhenjing as the second representative.
"Brother, in fact, your country has a vast territory and is rich in fine horses. It doesn't make much difference whether you buy a railway or not, right?" Ding Kui had to receive it in person.
Ji Chan replied: "Brother, I don't know. The teacher is very interested in your rocket rail car. In fact, he has developed several models. However, due to our relationship, we are embarrassed to apply them in China.
It is precisely because our country's terrain is flat, rocket railcars have a wide range of applications, and magic is always more important than my father, that I am urged to talk to you, hoping to purchase the railway property rights at a suitable price."
"You can just bring me a letter for this kind of thing, why bother coming here in person."
"I heard that you are in retreat, and I miss you too. I just happened to come to see what you are missing, but what's going on with your Southern Railway Corporation?" Ji Chan wasn't lying, but he just reversed the true order.
The five southern countries sat together and talked secretly, and the northern countries naturally murmured in their hearts that it didn't look like a good thing for them.
"Oh, the railway network can connect to the Southern Continent. It is for the interests of the five countries that we have to discuss it seriously behind closed doors. You also know that after all, our relationship is complicated and disputes are inevitable. It is not convenient to invite you to watch." Ding Kui
Can't say much more.
"Can't the railway network connect the entire continent?" Ji Chan represents the two empires.
"No! The Hengduan Mountains are a natural chasm that completely separates the northern and southern continents. There is really no way for the railway to cross it. And with the Tongyuan River nearby, the fleet is the best option."
Shaodian State and Qi State did not dare to connect the two empires. There was no binding force due to the huge disparity in strength.
Warcraft is also a problem. Humans will not let humans use magic to open the Hengduan Mountains. They will harass them from time to time. It is difficult for the railway lines not to be paralyzed.
The two brothers spoke to the point, and they understood each other tacitly without saying anything. They expressed their respective positions and completed the task.
The purpose of the Tongbei Empire representative's visit is similar to that of Ji Chan, but the Lu State representative is the most special. The Southern Railway Corporation poses a major potential threat to Lu's Trading Company.
Lu's Trading Company's biggest advantage is its sales network. Once the railway network is completed, supply channels for various commodities will increase, and Lu's Trading Company's position in the industry will plummet.
Today's Ding Kui is not a figure that Lu Guo can manipulate at will. In addition to not having a Martial God ancestor, his power is no less than that of Lu Jue. If Lu Chao makes small moves, he may provoke a counterattack from state-level forces.
Lu Guoshan is densely forested and the land is divided into two parts by the Tongyuan River. It is not suitable for rail cars to operate. It is an excuse to send representatives to buy the railway property rights in order to understand and stop the Southern Railway Corporation.
Ding Kui asked Shao Dianfeng to come forward to deal with the representative of the Lu State, and he was given enough face but no dignity. As for the representative of the Lu State who wanted to find him privately, I'm sorry, but the Protector of the State is in seclusion.
"What? The first-grade Protector of the Country was promoted to the second-grade Protector of the Country!" Gongsunda did not expect that the Senate would discuss this in an emergency meeting.
"The Protector has made significant contributions to the kingdom. His cash donation alone exceeds the two-year revenue of the treasury, and the future profits from the railway bureau are immeasurable. After the counter-insurgency war is over, he will be fully qualified." Long Dang came forward to convene this time.
Meeting.
"How can you be granted the title of Duke lightly! Even if Ding Kui's contribution is great, it is not as good as the ancestors of everyone here. How can he be qualified!" Gongsunda strongly objected.
"Establishing the Southern Railway Corporation, giving free authorization to build railways across the country, and suppressing the rebellion that swept half the kingdom, such achievements are comparable to those of our ancestors." Kong Ci stood up.
"How can the suppression of the rebellion be regarded as his personal credit? Which one of the General Office and the Government Council did not do their best? Doesn't the Southern Railway Company make money? The second-grade Duke wants to enclose the county and city as his territory, Elder Zi, do you think that is right?
"
In desperation, Gongsunda enlisted Zisi to form an alliance.
"Well, this matter." Zisi said slowly, "In terms of qualifications alone, there is no problem."
Bang, give Gongsunda a blow on the head.
"The Lord Protector has a special status in our country. Logically speaking, his title changes are managed by the clan, but if it is up to the Senate to decide, I support Elder Long."
The latter sentence may seem like a shirk of responsibility, but in essence there is still no objection.
Zisi was wiping Zipi's butt. Zipi and Shaodian asked Ding Kui to hand over the Wan Guo Jin Hui together, which was considered as offending Ding Kui to death. By the time he knew it, it was already too late.
Ding Kui's series of actions since the New Year have made him feel the crisis. This meeting can be regarded as an opportunity to ease the relationship between the two parties.
Among the ten elders, Jiang Li and Long Dang are Ding Kui's guardians. Kong Ci and Bao Lan still owe Ding Kui a favor. Zi Si's attitude has shown that the other elders are unwilling to offend Ding Kui. Only Gongsunda is left with an objection.
.
In the final meeting, Longdang's proposal was approved by a score of nine to one.
"Where should we give the fiefdom?" Great Elder Jiang Li asked everyone hypocritically.
"Where else could it be besides Nanqiu County? Xiao Jiang, you are so pretentious." Gongsunda looked very uncomfortable.
Jiang Li took the opportunity and said: "Haha, then according to Elder Gongsun, Nanqiu County and the area to the east will be designated as the territory of the Protector."
This is a hereditary fiefdom!
"Border counties cannot become fiefdoms for hereditary titles." Bao Lan disagreed.
In the eyes of the Bao family, human kindness cannot outweigh the law. We can help with things that have nothing to do with the law, but not with things that violate the law.
"If it were another border county, I might object, but Nanqiu County is closely connected with other places and is still the main link between Cao and Meng. It has no possibility of forming its own country. It is appropriate to grant it to Ding Kui." Kong
Ci actually agreed to change the tradition.
Border counties were granted to nobles for fear of leaving the kingdom. The lords had many means to isolate the kingdom's influence and make the people ignore the existence of the kingdom. Over time, it would be gone.
It is impossible for the noble territories in the interior to cut off contact with the outside world. Like the Ruan family who was hiding in the mountains before, they will eventually return to the kingdom one day.
Ding Kui has the right to speak in the Southern Railway Corporation and will inevitably open tunnels to Meng and Cao in Juyang City. Nanqiu County is an important transfer station and has become the transportation hub of Nanma Prefecture.
It is unlikely that such a city existed independently of the kingdom.
Even though Gongsun Da had an extra ally, the meeting still passed the resolution by a vote of eight to two.
Ding Kui didn't know the latest good news, but he learned the skills to become a master knight of the Great Perfection and was one step closer to becoming a legendary knight.