"What about resource extraction?" You ask, moving the topic forward and resolving to linger in thought at a later point.
Nunnally gives a minute shrug. "The Empress largely referred back to her statements regarding her wish to see her people prosper. As long as the treatment of workers and the land around such enterprises is kept above-board, she has no real issue with developing such businesses." Nunnally paused again. "Paying taxes on such things was a minor point of contention that I deferred to your judgment."
"The Empress would like to be consulted on anything we're intending to sell abroad that could have potential applications in national defense," Nunnally added belatedly. "Anything we'd use 'in-house' so to speak would be exempt, but she would like first right of refusal otherwise."
You chuckled in realization. "She thinks we're fishing for sakuradite deposits."
Nunnally nods. "That was my take on it, too."
It wasn't a bad guess on Lihua's part and an entirely reasonable stipulation to add in. If you found any, you could use all of it you wanted for yourself, but the Chinese Federation would be able to purchase excess off your before Britannia could bid. You were inclined to agree, even. Such a term would neatly tie your hands and free you from a potential conflict of interests should you find any.
