Chapter 855 — The Grand Project
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
Looking at the calm, composed Emperor Cecil before him, a trace of surprise rose in Sir Golosh's heart.
He found this empire's ruler far calmer than he had imagined—as though he had long since foreseen the dragonspawn's answer today, or rather, no matter what answer the dragonspawn gave, he seemed fully prepared for it.
"Sir, though Cecil and the Holy Dragon Duchy are neighbors, our two nations have had rather limited exchange over the past centuries. It is inevitable that we understand each other insufficiently, and may even harbor misunderstandings," Gao Yang noticed Golosh's brief astonishment and merely smiled faintly. "On that basis, encountering a few problems and overturning a few proposals during our contact is entirely normal. We should be fully prepared for such things, and always hold fast to our mutual will for peace—should we not?"
Golosh lowered his head. "...I agree with that."
Afterward, the dragonspawn laid out their views on exchange between the two nations and gave specific responses to the many proposals Gao Yang had made. One after another, bills concerning commercial corridors, study-abroad programs, technological exchange, and resident ambassadors were put forward, then either agreed upon, tabled for the time being, or revised into concrete amendments... Time slipped away unnoticed.
In the end, Gao Yang withdrew all proposals relating to resource development, controlling shares in basic infrastructure, and educational export, while the Holy Dragon Duchy agreed to most ordinary commercial and routine diplomatic items—and, most importantly, they were willing to accept Cecil's new currency within a certain scope as the settlement currency for commercial activity between the two nations.
At first, this settlement arrangement would be merely a trial and an observation, but so long as this step was taken, Gao Yang was satisfied.
He could already declare that the Holy Dragon Duchy was now a member of the Cecil settlement zone.
Of course, today's meeting between Gao Yang and Golosh was a closed-door one; they would personally draft a broad framework, and within its details countless items remained to be refined and drawn up—these would be thoroughly discussed in a series of larger meetings over the following days, with Cecil's diplomats, the chancellery's brain trust, and the dragonspawn's advisory council as the principal players.
But by then Gao Yang would no longer be personally overseeing every detail—Hetty, as Chief Consul stationed at the imperial capital, would take over subsequent affairs.
This long and especially draining meeting gradually drew to its close.
The proposals prepared in advance had all been thoroughly discussed; the clerks' desks were piled high with thick documents and stenographic records; the crystal in the magic-net terminal used to record images and sound had been replaced twice; and both the dragonspawn and the Cecil contingent had obtained relatively satisfactory answers.
Having directly canceled a portion of the proposals, and with both sides demonstrating the utmost patience and sincerity, everything had progressed faster than Gao Yang had anticipated.
At last, as that enormous sun drew near the horizon, Sir Golosh exhaled softly; then he looked at Gao Yang and raised the day's final topic—
"Your Majesty," the dragonspawn ambassador said gravely, his expression serious, "I wish to speak with you... about the Steel Wings."
"Ah, I was just about to bring that up myself," Gao Yang was briefly taken aback, then smiled. "So, what is your view on this product of Cecil's cutting-edge engineering?"