Confuse and angry

In the grand palace currently emperor along with his trusted subordinates and favored heir were discussing through major issues.

"The late actions of all three nations are very confusing and dangerous for us.. emperor this minister had send for few to learn of the matter and reports have come.. all three nations have consented to erect their so called merchant association on no mans land that they share... not only both parties have equally funded the place but also have placed their soldiers in equal numbers... more than a simple trading point it has turned to a small town..."reports the current prime minister of huajin Gu Yong.

Following him minister of trade also reports "emperor.. this minister has been informed that they are trading iron for snake wood..and jade for medicinal wine.. there security for the goods and merchants have increased by three fold along with their trading... they are also attracting many scholars from their so called scholar tower where each party are currently learning from each other.."

Minister of finance with a bitter face inserts "emperor.. if this minister's guess is correct then from next year both Qing and Khan will be stable with their treasury... with the available resource they have saved huge amount of money.."

Emperor and crown prince Shiyou's face was getting darker with each report but it was not over as minister of war also step forwards to report "emperor.. it is now not just about trade... Qing being provided sufficient iron seems to have began mass producing weapons and armors for their soldiers.. while khan kingdom with jade flowing seems to have stabled their financial crisis.. they have began to focus large constructions in their border and most poor areas...

but the most worrying is none other than Nanling... who has started to fortify their fortress in Caimin, Green wind and Xuzhou... though yet to know still they seemed to have placed quite a number of people in barracks... it seems Nanling has also appointed a new general who is now overlooking these three cities and worse for us the person is none other than the second son of great general yan.. Yan Hong"

Emperor finally unable to hold his anger flips the entire table with all the stuffs. Shiyou too was very angry but didn't flip out like his father. He eyes his fathers attendant who then have servants place new table and cup of tea.

"Fuhuang...angering till effecting your own health is not wise... have some tea... while the news are not pleasing to ears but also isn't of immediate threat to us.. their actions are confusing and so open.. as if they wanted for us to see and learn of this matter... Nanling by far are no saints... they also must know that providing iron and jade to them is giving them a chance to rise back...

But still having chosen these two things for trade means..there is something with Nanling to have both nations in check when needed... thus their current progress doesn't faze Nanling at all... so we need to find what that is... though each nations preach of peace benwang doesn't believe that it is what they truly desire...

About Nanling's fortification.. with Pei Jin on top it is natural that he realizes the importance of those places and has now seemed to work on it.. clearly showing they are scared of us invading through that point.. though it was bit early than benwang had hoped for but it is also not bad ...

Though they might have fortified and place more soldiers but we all know that these are the most disaster stricken cities... even when we had the two cities countless headaches and trouble surfaced each season.. and just some months ago Nanling also had formed major rescue team for these three cities..

Not only these places are often met with disaster... there is nothing of value in them..each cities aren't even able to produce suffient food for themselves resulting in need of help every time.. now with all these grand constructions and coming winter.. benwang believes Nanalings treasury must have received quite a blow..

Pei Jin has landed himself in pinch from this move.. even with preparation procuring enough provision for all three cities and the soldiers are not child's play... without well fed soldiers however big their fortress still will topple.. while under fed citizens will soon resort to internal conflict.."