Based on the total population, villages needed six hundred signatures, cities required three thousand people to express their position, and large cities like Wuseier needed at least thirty thousand people to state their stance!

Taking Mituo City as an example, on the first day after the announcement was posted, the government office entrance was empty, with countless people waiting to see what would happen.

By the second morning, people began to look around nervously before taking quick steps into the office to sign, then hurriedly slipping away, as if they had done something wrong.

But once one person came to sign, two would follow; after two signed, then three, four, five would come…

People have a herd mentality. Some who originally had no intention of signing began to waver when they saw their neighbors going, especially as rumors spread that those who didn’t sign would be heavily taxed in the future.

When it came to paying taxes, people generally “worried not about poverty but about inequality.” It would be fine if everyone paid the same heavy tax, but it was unacceptable if one paid less while another paid more.

Therefore, as time passed, more and more citizens came to sign the petition. Of course, many people remained steadfast, harboring national grudges and personal hatred, refusing to turn enemies into friends with the Wei Kingdom. But no matter how they cursed loudly or even self-immolated in front of government offices to show their resolve, people around them still participated in the petition.

Before money, integrity belonged only to a minority.

This petition movement thus gained tremendous momentum.

The same happened in all seven cities. In other areas controlled by powerful families, even though the rulers were unwilling, residents soon received the news and began to protest.

Not opening for petitions meant they didn’t plan to reduce taxes. This was outrageous!

After several failed attempts at suppression by local officials, the citizens’ petitions escalated into riots, resulting in bloody conflicts.

With no alternative, regions controlled by western and northwestern aristocratic families also had to begin accepting petitions from commoners.

As petition activities blazed across the country, verbal battles raged equally in the royal court. Xu Linghai first submitted a proposal to accept the Wei Kingdom’s request for peace talks but was attacked from all sides. Seven or eight senior officials expressed their bitter anguish, declaring that New Xia absolutely could not betray the former dynasty and side with old enemies. Someone even spat directly in Xu Linghai’s face.

He calmly wiped it away, understanding that the Queen had placed him in the royal court to serve exactly this purpose.

His voice rang out clearly: “I only ask you all, the Wei Kingdom occupied An Xia for nearly ten years—how much of the people’s wealth did they plunder? How many An Xia people were buried in sunless mines? How many An Xia families were torn apart, going hungry day after day? Should not the people of Wei pay for this?”

Someone retorted: “This is a blood feud! We should…”

“We should just watch as the Wei Kingdom takes the blood and sweat money of An Xia’s people and grows stronger day by day?” Xu Linghai sneered. “New Xia has just risen, with all industries waiting to develop, and has no surplus strength to counterattack and seek revenge. Clinging stubbornly to the past may show great backbone, but what use is that to the millions of living people in New Xia!”

As time passed, more and more officials supported Xu Linghai. The Queen sat high on her throne, patiently listening to the debates from both sides, but never expressing her position.

Yet clever people understood that all signs indicated Fu Lingchuan was the hidden hand behind this matter. His attitude represented the Queen’s attitude.

Marquis Qinyuan, Liang Shudong, lightly coughed: “If it’s compensation, New Xia should take it.” Which could better provide for the people of New Xia—several tens of millions of silver taels or hatred? Even a three-year-old child knew the answer. However, from officials to commoners, everyone had an unresolvable knot in their hearts. “But the alliance matter needs further deliberation. It would be best not to ally with the Wei Kingdom; otherwise, not only would we fail to win over our citizens, but Jin would also condemn us.”

His meaning was clear: take the compensation but don’t sign the alliance.

Wanting all the benefits without any of the trouble. In her previous life, Feng Miaojun despised such people, always leaving them speechless when encountered. But now her identity and position were different; though her teeth itched with irritation, she still had to say: “Minister Liang makes sense. With so many concerns, we should not ally with Wei, lest we lose the people’s hearts. However, New Xia should not miss any opportunity that could bring national prosperity and benefit the people.”

What did that mean?

After the court session ended, many people secretly pondered this in their hearts.

Soon after, reports of citizen petitions came in from all regions. The sheer number of signatures in support made even Feng Miaojun draw in a sharp breath.

Petitioners exceeded four hundred thousand people!

What did this mean? One in every fifteen people nationwide had signed the petition, including elderly seniors and infants who knew nothing of worldly affairs.

With such concentrated public opinion behind it, voices supporting peace talks with Wei Kingdom suddenly exceeded those opposing, even in the royal court.

The will of the people—no one was willing or able to go against it.

Under these circumstances, the New Xia royal court “invited” the Wei envoy back to Wuseier for renewed negotiations.

Soon, news spread widely that both sides had reached an agreement:

Wei Kingdom and New Xia would establish diplomatic relations, henceforth neither invading nor interfering in each other’s internal affairs, not supporting or encouraging rebellion in each other’s countries, and not supporting military actions of each other’s enemies.

The Wei Kingdom would pay New Xia sixty million taels of silver in compensation, to be paid in full within three years.

This news created waves of reaction, with interpretations of the agreement from various countries and social classes becoming the new focus.

Compared to the previously circulated alliance version, this agreement made no mention of standing together through adversity or mutual assistance, but instead clearly drew boundaries between the two countries, presenting an approach of non-interference.

For the people of New Xia, this agreement was undoubtedly more emotionally acceptable, and the compensation had increased by ten million taels.

Another clause from the alliance had disappeared—that the Wei Kingdom would send troops to help New Xia resolve its southwestern border troubles. This was understandable; since they were no longer allying but living separate lives, why should Wei provide money, troops, and effort to help resolve New Xia’s border issues?

Merchants were more concerned about one question:

Could they now do business between Wei and New Xia?

Originally, with the two countries as sworn enemies, transporting goods between them was considered smuggling and extremely risky. Now? With relations seemingly eased between the two countries, could they open markets and conduct trade?

There was no official statement.

But the royal court soon announced that the previously implemented new taxes would be canceled before autumn, reinstating policies to allow recovery, with tax rates returning to the original “thirty to one.”

The purpose of taxation had been to raise money for war. Now that military funds were not only sufficient but overflowing, tax rates would naturally be adjusted downward to reduce the burden on citizens.

Simultaneously, a large batch of detailed regulations for road and bridge construction encouraging agriculture, industry, and commerce were issued, quickly shifting people’s attention.

As soon as the news was announced, Xu Guangxiang sought out Yun, saying in disbelief: “Such an agreement could be signed?” No matter how one calculated, the Wei Kingdom seemed to be at a disadvantage, unable to form an alliance yet still having to pay sixty million in silver.