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Zhu Xiao stood up and said, "Since no one has opposed, I will arrange the recent Battle. General Stone, you will continue to guard the entrance strictly. However, do not act recklessly; the goal is to defeat the enemy without seeking unnecessary glory."
"I will obey your orders."
"Mr. Cai, you will accompany me to see His Majesty. I need to discuss the armor situation with him. General Stone, send ten soldiers wearing Chinese Chamber of Commerce armor to follow me, along with these two individuals."
"Understood."
"Everyone else should continue with their duties to resist the enemy, but we must minimize our losses. Next year, we will show them the true strength of Luo Heng Island."
"I will comply."
After a while, the ten soldiers sent by General Stone had arrived outside Zhu Xiao's tent, ready for action. Zhu Xiao and Mr. Cai stepped out of the tent, mounted their horses, and called for their guards before hastily heading towards Spring City to report on the Battle to Severe Winter.
The group traveled quickly and soon reached the capital city of Luo Heng Island, Spring City. Upon arriving at the palace gates, Zhu Xiao and Mr. Cai dismounted their horses and, accompanied by a group of guards, approached the main hall. A messenger entered and soon returned to Zhu Xiao, saying, "Zhu Yuan Shuai, His Majesty requests your presence."
Led by this messenger, they entered the palace. At the back of the palace was a small door leading to Severe Winter's study.
At the entrance of the study, the messenger announced, "Your Majesty, Zhu Yuan Shuai and Mr. Cai have arrived."
"Let them in," came the reply.
Zhu Yuan Shuai and Mr. Cai entered Severe Winter's study. They approached the table and knelt down on one knee, saying, "We humbly greet Your Majesty."
A voice from behind the table said, "You may rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhu Yuan Shuai and Mr. Cai stood up.
Severe Winter, the king of Luo Heng Island, was nearly seventy years old but appeared as a middle-aged man in his forties. Dressed in a Dragon Robe, he looked at the two men before him and asked, "Zhu Yuan Shuai, shouldn't you be at Iron Blood Fortress? Why have you returned? Has the Battle already concluded?"
"Your Majesty, the battle is still ongoing, but I have returned specifically to report some matters."
"Oh? What is it that you wish to say, my dear minister?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. During this year's war, I discovered something unusual. There is a batch of armor of exceptionally high quality, with only two thousand sets available. Each piece is engraved with the word 'Chinese.' I wonder if Your Majesty is aware of this matter?"
Severe Winter recalled for a moment and then said with realization, "I remember now. When the battle was about to begin, Chen Si from the Military Supply Office informed me that a new Weapon Guild had appeared in Winter City, named the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. They even sent thirty thousand gold coins as a token of goodwill at the start of the battle. At that time, Chen Si mentioned that although the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was newly established, their blacksmithing skills and quantity had already surpassed those of the New Home Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, I ordered them to donate two thousand sets of weapons and equipment. You must be referring to those two thousand sets."
Zhu Xiao nodded, "That should be correct."
"Then, Zhu Yuan Shuai, are those two thousand sets of armor really that good?"
"Your Majesty, it would be useless for me to describe the quality of those two thousand sets of armor. I will have the soldiers come in right away."
Severe Winter nodded, and Zhu Yuan Shuai called out to the outside, "Come in! Let my ten soldiers enter."
After a while, the sound of clanking armor came from outside. "Your Majesty, Zhu Yuan Shuai's soldiers are waiting at the door."
"Let them all come in," Severe Winter's voice rang out again.
Following this, ten soldiers entered the study one after another and knelt down to pay their respects. After completing their formalities, the ten soldiers stood up.
Looking at these ten soldiers, Severe Winter nodded in praise, "Truly impressive; they are indeed soldiers of the Old Marshal."
"Your Majesty flatters us. The armor they wear and the weapons they wield are crafted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce," Zhu Xiao said as he took a Steel Blade from one soldier's hand and gently placed it on Severe Winter's table.
"Your Majesty, this Steel Blade has already endured more than ten battles like the others, yet there is not a single flaw on its blade. Moreover, these Steel Blades and their wearers always charge at the front lines during battles. Please take a look," Zhu Xiao pointed to two soldiers who had been struck by Liao Shunyu.
"These two soldiers were hit in the heart shield by an Advanced Knight officer during the last battle; however, they only felt slight chest discomfort and suffered no significant injuries."
Two soldiers also stepped forward consciously to allow Severe Winter to see more clearly.
Severe Winter glanced at the Steel Blade in front of him, then looked up at the two soldiers opposite him, nodded, and said, "I didn't expect that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is indeed quite capable; the weapons and armor they produce are remarkably excellent."
Then Severe Winter raised his eyes to Zhu Xiao in front of him and asked, "My dear minister, besides showing me these armors and equipment, do you have any other matters to discuss today?"
Zhu Xiao knelt down on both knees: "Your Majesty, I dare to implore you to halt all military actions this year."
Severe Winter frowned: "What do you mean by this, Grand Marshal?"
"Your Majesty, what I mean is that let's conclude our battles for this year. I hope Your Majesty can quickly purchase a large number of weapons and equipment from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Only in this way can we arm ourselves swiftly. When our soldiers are fully equipped with such gear, I am confident that when the gates open next year, we can take Said Island in one fell swoop."
Severe Winter closed his eyes, contemplating Zhu Xiao's words.
Seeing that Severe Winter remained silent, Zhu Xiao continued with his reasoning: "Your Majesty, we have been engaged in continuous warfare for six years now. Our country's treasury is already quite depleted. Pausing now will not only allow our soldiers some rest but also help replenish our empty treasury. This way, if we truly go across the sea next year, we will have sufficient backup support."
Severe Winter opened his eyes and nodded: "Then let it be as Grand Marshal suggests. Come here."
The messenger who had guided Zhu Xiao earlier approached Severe Winter and knelt down: "What does Your Majesty command?"
"Go summon Quartermaster Chen Si for me immediately."
"Yes." The messenger quickly left the study, and Severe Winter carefully examined the weapons and armor worn by the soldiers.
After about half an hour, the messenger's voice came again from outside: "Your Majesty, Lord Chen is waiting at the door."
"Let him in."
At this moment, a man around forty years old walked in and knelt down before Severe Winter: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chen Si stood up and asked, "May I inquire why Your Majesty summoned me today?"
Severe Winter gestured with his chin towards the two soldiers behind Chen Si. "Take a look at the two soldiers behind you."
Chen Si turned around and saw that the chest plates of the two soldiers had already caved in, and the dented part was engraved with the words "Chinese."
Seeing this, Chen Si felt a surge of joy. These armors were manufactured by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which meant they must be of poor quality and had been exposed by the king. I can exaggerate this to have them punished by Your Majesty, and in doing so, I can take revenge on the New Home Chamber of Commerce.
Chen Si was the Quartermaster of Luo Heng Island, responsible for purchasing weapons and armor every year. He had been in dealings with the New Home Chamber of Commerce for six or seven years. Each time they traded or during annual festivals, he would receive substantial financial benefits from the New Home Chamber of Commerce.
It could be said that Chen Si and the New Home Chamber of Commerce were already in cahoots. The reason Severe Winter had ordered the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to provide two thousand sets of equipment was a joint scheme between Guo Leigang and Chen Si to strike against the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. What surprised them was that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce could produce two thousand sets of equipment in such a short time.
Now, seeing the two soldiers behind him, Chen Si realized that their equipment quality must be subpar due to their rush to complete it, which prompted Old Marshal to personally report back. Why not add fuel to the fire?
With this thought in mind, Chen Si immediately turned around and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, I have examined these armors, and they were sent by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. They must have used inferior products disguised as quality goods because Your Majesty gave them too little time. I implore Your Majesty to punish them."
In truth, Chen Si was too anxious; if he had just looked at the eight soldiers behind those two, he would have noticed something unusual because the armor on those eight soldiers appeared brand new. However, he was too eager to save the New Home Chamber of Commerce; only if it remained strong could he reap more benefits.
Chen Si's words left Zhu Xiao momentarily stunned, thinking: Inferior products? If you have the ability, find me a hundred thousand sets of such inferior products, and I could easily take Said Island.
Zhu Xiao wanted to retort but dared not speak lightly in front of Severe Winter, even as a favored minister.
"Inferior products? Are you saying that what you saw were all inferior?" Severe Winter's cold voice reached Chen Si's ears. Chen Si's heart sank: Did I say something wrong? No way; those two soldiers' armors were indeed damaged.
"Your Majesty, I just checked; those armors worn by the two soldiers are definitely defective products made by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce."
Zhu Xiao watched Chen Si with a bitter smile, thinking: Chen Si, I'm afraid I can't help you now.
"Call in an Imperial Forest Guard."
"Yes." A guard dressed in silver armor immediately entered from outside the door and approached Severe Winter. "Your Majesty."
"Remove your sword and hand it over to Lord Chen Si."
The guard quickly unsheathed his sword and handed it to Chen Si, then picked up the Steel Blade from the table and threw it to the guard.
"You will compare this inferior Steel Blade made by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce with the exquisite sword crafted by Lord Chen Si from the New Home Chamber of Commerce. Let's see just how inferior this product from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce really is."
Chen Si was very confident about the Imperial Forest Guard's sword. The equipment he purchased was the best among the Imperial Forest Guards because they had to appear before Severe Winter every day. If they used subpar weapons, it would surely be exposed. The weapons provided to all soldiers were mostly the worst goods from the New Home Chamber of Commerce, but their prices were definitely not the lowest.
Now Severe Winter wanted him to compare this exquisite sword made by the New Home Chamber of Commerce with these inferior products from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which was fine; he was sure he could break that Steel Blade.
The guard took the Steel Blade thrown by Severe Winter and raised it with both arms extended.
Chen Si looked at the guard and then turned back to Severe Winter. "Your Majesty, shall I proceed?"
Severe Winter nodded. "Go ahead, remember to use all your strength."
With Severe Winter's approval, Chen Si immediately unleashed his Intermediate Knight strength, gripping the hilt tightly. He aimed for the blade of the Steel Blade in the guard's hand and swung down, wanting to demonstrate that the weapons and armor he purchased were undoubtedly the best before Severe Winter.
There was a series of sounds: "ding, crack, clatter," and when everyone looked again, only half of the blade remained in Chen Si's hand. The once confident Chen Si was now completely stunned.
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