Free Web NovelChapter 322: Chapter 319: Peace Treaty Negotiation and the Surrender of the Spirit Control Sect
The Ghostly Flood Dragon.
The Captain’s Quarters.
"First, let’s confirm one thing."
"This war began because your side, for fabricated and baseless reasons, illegally detained 125 of our employees. Furthermore, you seized 16 spirit ships, along with seven shops and warehouses."
"Your actions caused our side significant financial losses... As a result, we were left with no choice but to initiate this war."
"Fellow Daoist Ziyuan, do you agree with this account?"
Su Ye interlocked his fingers, his elbows resting on the table as he spoke in a low voice.
"I agree."
Ziyuan nodded listlessly. The luster in her magnificent, deep-violet eyes had dimmed, and she looked haggard.
Today, Ziyuan wore a simple, pure white dress. The garment did not detract from her beauty; instead, it lent her the air of a fallen goddess, tempered and refined by tribulation.
She was like a wintersweet blossom, blooming after a bitter cold, its rich fragrance lingering subtly in the air.
"Therefore... in light of this," Su Ye continued.
"To maintain long-term peace and promote mutual development, our side has the following demands..."
"First, to compensate for the losses our side has suffered due to the war, we have the right to demand reparations."
"Furthermore, given your improper actions during this incident—namely, the forcible detention of our expatriates and the seizure of our property—and to prevent such events from recurring..."
"Our side has the right to establish special commercial zones in six of your market cities, to permit our personnel to reside there, to appoint consuls to exclusively manage commercial affairs, and to negotiate tariffs to ensure unhindered trade..."
"Furthermore, within these special commercial zones, our personnel shall be granted extraterritoriality, including but not limited to independent rights in legal, judicial, and administrative matters..."
"The specific scope, conditions, and implementation of this extraterritoriality will be formulated through the joint efforts of both parties and will be periodically reviewed to ensure its reasonableness and fairness..."
To summarize the rights Su Ye demanded in those few statements:
They could be roughly divided into four points: reparations, concessions, negotiated tariffs, and extraterritoriality.
Reparations were easy to understand.
The property losses of the Nanyaoguang Corporation and its expatriates had to be compensated.
The United Fleet had crossed nearly ten thousand nautical miles to descend upon Spider Demon Island and launch an expedition into the Outer Sea. The Spirit Stones spent on this war also had to be paid for by the Spirit Control Sect!
Tsk tsk.
How arrogant!
To march an army to war and then demand the enemy cover the military expenses!
However, this was the prerogative of the victor!
The victor is beyond reproach!
As for the other terms—the concessions, negotiated tariffs, and extraterritoriality—these three treaty clauses, so reminiscent of the British, were privileges Su Ye had seized to expand the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s operations within the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!
’That’s just how it is. It can’t be helped.’
’In this era, if you want to pioneer new markets and open up sales channels in the Outer Sea, these kinds of unequal treaties are a necessity.’
Su Ye shrugged, a look of mock resignation on his face.
In this era, trade between the various cultivation regions was rather conservative.
Even compared to the inland of the Xuan Continent, the commercial traditions of the Yaoguang Islands were already considered quite robust.
After all, in the island-based Cultivation Realm, each island had limited output. To sustain development, they had to trade with other islands to exchange resources.
This environment made the trade atmosphere in the islands relatively open.
However, this openness was, in most cases, limited to the sphere of influence of a single sect.
For example, the Cyan Profound Sea Region, the Spirit Realm Sea Region...
A commerce association from the Cyan Profound Sea Region trading in the Spirit Realm Sea Region would face various obstacles.
And vice versa.
Overlord Level powers both needed and were wary of the Outer Sea commerce associations.
They needed the exotic goods these associations brought from overseas.
But at the same time, they were on guard against these associations... and a power like the Nanyaoguang Corporation, with the backing of the Cyan Profound Sect, was especially feared!
Thus, they faced all sorts of obstructions, both overt and covert!
This forced the Outer Sea commerce associations to spend a hefty portion of their profits on bribing Spirit Control Sect cultivators just to smooth things over.
This undoubtedly affected the development of the Nanyaoguang Corporation.
’But once the treaty is signed, these obstructions will become a thing of the past... The Spirit Realm Sea Region, a territory whose vastness is in no way inferior to the Cyan Profound Sea Region, will be completely open to the Nanyaoguang Corporation!’
’And our personnel will even enjoy special privileges...’ Su Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of a smile touching his lips.
It was foreseeable that this treaty would bring him massive profits!
Moreover, Su Ye could use this treaty as a starting point to exert his influence in the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region and transform the sect into a vassal force under his command!
...
’Of course, to achieve this, I need Ziyuan’s cooperation...’
"Fellow Daoist Ziyuan, I hope we can reach a consensus on the main points before formally signing the treaty... Of course, you are free to voice your opinions."
Su Ye said softly, his tone consultative.
Ziyuan had that much value.
As the Sun-Eating Demon Spider Emperor, she was revered within the Spirit Control Sect as the Supreme Elder. Her seniority and status far surpassed those of the so-called "Four Shadows" and the Sect Leader.
If Ziyuan cooperated, Su Ye’s plan to control the Spirit Control Sect would be practically a sure thing!
Furthermore, as a Fourth-Rank Great Demon, Ziyuan’s resistance was formidable.
Su Ye had confirmed that even against the restriction formed by the Blood Light Soul Splitting technique, she had the ability to resist, thus retaining a certain degree of autonomy.
Of course, Su Ye had a last resort: detonate the compressed device implanted in her cerebral cortex, blow up her brain, and kill her.
