may be worried that the situation is too embarrassing, and the perennial peacemaker feels that something is wrong, so he takes the initiative to propose that everyone hurry up and discuss the right thing.

The Queen Mother looked at Lady Elena, and the latter nodded and said, "We have already considered Guo Gongzi's suggestion before. ”

"We support your plan, but we want you to do us a favor. If we can come to an agreement, then my husband and I will step in and try to help you lobby for everyone. She said to Guo Kang.

Guo Kang has no opinion on this. General Cao's seniority and qualifications give him a natural advantage in lobbying. Guo Kang is very confident in his plan, and the biggest problem at the moment is that people may not be willing to listen to him. With the old man coming forward and letting everyone listen to his explanation quietly, his plan is half successful.

Of course, such a major event related to the strategic direction of the khanate, and the exchange of demands from the other side was also expected. It's better to say that this is why they really value this matter and put it in a position that their family should seriously weigh. Dealing with such a straightforward person is much easier.

He nodded, then turned to look at Theodora, and then saw that Tuohuan was also glancing at her.

The perceptive Joanna saw their movements at a glance and laughed again.

"I thought it was Guo Gongzi's plan, but it turned out to be decided by Her Royal Highness the Princess?" She magically threw out a fan in her hand, covering half of her face, and looked at several people with interest.

Guo Kang didn't know how to answer for a while, and looked at each other with Tuohuan.

In fact, it is also a normal choice for them to do this: Guo Kang has been pondering his own things all year round, and he is very used to dejoying. She still knows the number of ways to negotiate, compromise, and conspire inside and outside the court.

And Theodora also said before that important matters should be discussed with her. So Guo Kang doesn't want to be arbitrary, let's see if she has any other opinions.

But this kind of thing, if you say it publicly, I don't know if it's good or not.

Joanna is an outsider after all, if everyone knows that the strategy of the new generation of Rome depends on women to make decisions, will it make everyone doubt that the noble lady will appear again?

So, he quickly explained: "Although this plan was my idea, they helped from beginning to end. Therefore, it is my habit to ask the two of them for their opinions first. ”

"Actually, you don't have to care. When we talk about this step, we have reached a consensus on the general direction. Next, it's really just a matter of exchanging views and coordinating with each other in terms of details. Right? ”

As he spoke, he looked at Lady Elena, who nodded in agreement.

"I see." Joanna showed a relieved expression, put away the fan, and explained to everyone: "I appreciate Guo Gongzi's vision, so I have been sponsoring him before. If it's a project led by him, I can rest assured that I can continue to support it. ”

"Is it important that he takes the lead?" Tuohuan asked curiously.

"Of course." Joanna replied, "We merchants can accumulate wealth, but we are very vulnerable compared to kings and lords. ”

"In the cities of Italy, there is a story of 'Lena Fox', which is very popular with the citizens. We are actually similar to the fox in the story, when facing the lion and the wolf, it seems to have wisdom to rely on, but no one knows when it will be eaten in one bite. So, it's not okay if you're not careful. ”

"That's right." Tuhuan didn't understand, but continued: "What about the other businessmen, can you convince them to rest assured to fund this project?" ”

"We have always been very concerned about the transportation and trade routes in Egypt. If the program can be carried out smoothly, not only our family will invest, but also other interested businessmen will join in. Joanna assured: "I've contacted several city councillors and their delegations will come and visit when the time is right." I have already reported the progress of this matter to the Queen Mother just now. ”

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded, looking very satisfied with this. There are no other problems with dehuan.

"So, Lady Elena, do you need any help?" Joanna asked again.

The eyes of the others turned to Yelena again, and only Theodora pouted in dissatisfaction.

- Originally, Guo Kang and Tuhuan had already made this gesture, and she should take advantage of the situation to make the final statement and agree to this plan. However, before she could speak, Joanna snatched the lead of the topic in the name of Guo Kang in a few words.

Theodora, who had grown up at the court, was very sensitive to such encounters, so naturally he would not be happy. It's just that everyone else, including the Queen Mother who gathered everyone, was unaware.

In this case, she can't dig deeper, otherwise she will look like she has a small belly, and even makes everyone feel that she is robbing Guo Kang of the credit.

"Oh, our request shouldn't be difficult." Over there, Mrs. Elena had already said straight to the point: "Guo Gongzi remembers the 'Petrovich' regiment in Novgorod, right? ”

"Yes." Guo Kang nodded.

The "Petrovich" was the first regiment established outside the traditional direct jurisdiction of the Khanate in the Rus' region. At that time, "Old Peter" Guo Tu built a fortress at the mouth of the Neva River and recruited locals to join the army to defend it, and this army was born.

Within the Novgorod Republic, it is not always united. There is a clear hierarchy between city citizens and free people in villages and affiliated towns.

The townspeople have a lot of wealth and a higher status, and they have always looked down on other hillbillies; But surrounded by powerful enemies, there is a great need to organize these people to protect their property.

Adequate armament had to be built for security, but parliaments often let them do their jobs and were reluctant to give more political power to the freedmen. In this case, the armed freedmen are more dangerous.

As a result, the policies formulated by the city councils often found themselves in an awkward position: the vassal towns were not loyal, and in the past they had declared their independence or defected to other powers. And within the control zone, the quarrels caused by this division have never stopped.

Therefore, the big businessmen in Parliament have always been inclined to contract out the thorny and cumbersome defense affairs. In doing so, they threw the defenses of the remote areas, along with the annoying country freedmen, to the provincial apparatus of the Purple Horde.

While this different approach to governance from other principalities surprised the Purple Horde, it also produced a strange number of scattered but indeed managed by Khanate officials.

At the beginning, Guo Li led people to the mouth of the Neva River. Locals told him that this was the place where Batu Khan's best buddy, Alexander Nevsky Anda, defeated the Swedes and became famous. Guo then surveyed the surrounding terrain and built forts at key points to prevent the enemy from attacking again.

After that, the local soldiers he gathered gradually settled there. Seeing this familiar situation, the officials sent a report to the Khan's court, suggesting that it should be managed in the same way as a direct domain. As a result, administrative divisions were also established here, and war regiments were organized.

Since it was directly recognized by the Khan's court, the locals rejoiced with a backer. They called the fortress "Petersburg", and the warband members were nicknamed "Petrovich", which means "Peter's son". This is also where its name comes from.

(End of chapter)