Peace Order

Chapter 1710 - 58: Double Down!

"Arriving at this moment, one must retire bravely amidst rapid currents and lie dormant to ensure self-preservation."

"This advance and retreat is the essence of what I have gained in my century of experience. Ultimately, it is simply about maintaining a steady, unwavering heart."

Li Guanyi said: "Elder Xue..."

Xue Daoyong raised a hand and waved it, saying: "Just discussing the matter as it stands."

"The old man believes that he has managed his sons fairly well over the years, but human desire cannot be relaxed even slightly. Any oversight might provide an opportunity for them, and coincidentally, I particularly do not trust those people."

"Though we have captured the capital of Chen Country now, Chen Country’s Jiangzhou City is one of the top three heroic cities in the world. Its vastness is likely the largest among all the territories and cities under your control."

"Combined with population, forces, and order, and having just been seized in battle, maintaining such a great city will likely require substantial manpower and resources."

"On the other side, the advancement displayed by Yue Pengwu and the others is extremely challenging."

"Requires logistical support."

"The Turkic in the north are still eyeing the Central Plains, though Ying Country’s Jiang Wanxiang may be old but not dead. After several consecutive years of war, Ying Country remains the most deeply rooted great nation. When facing him, do you have any strategies?"

Li Guanyi said: "It’s nothing more than warfare."

Xue Daoyong plucked a chess piece, tapping it on the table, when suddenly two items arrived, both documents, placed to his sides. Elder Xue smiled lightly and said:

"Not hiding from you, as Yue Pengwu wars with various regions, various city lords and noble families within this vast territory, whether they have tangled with Yue Pengwu or not, find ways to send secret notes from the front lines to Guan Yi City, to the old man’s hands."

"Well, since you’re here, I might as well show these to you."

"Hahaha, regardless, it’s up to you."

Xue Daoyong swept his sleeve, accompanied by a low tiger roar, Jin Qi surged like a tide, and the stack of letters on the elder’s left flew toward Li Guanyi. None of these letters had been opened.

Judging by their material, each was highly crafted.

Some were ordinary papers, and others more costly, rumored to be the Pine Pattern Frost only produced by Miao Bi Manor and the more refined Songye Snow with an elegant name. Under the sleeve’s energy, these letters floated like frost and snow.

Inside the Wind Listening Pavilion were two people, and outside, ripples spread on the pond as the pavilion curtains swayed. The letters from the most distinguished figures in the land fluttered like butterflies, and Prince Qin extended his hand, fingers slightly bent.

Pressing downwards.

The Long Wind was grasped in his hand, pressed down, and the letters fell. Li Guanyi, holding one, casually extended it to the side, where there was a long-burning lamp fueled by North Sea Kunpeng oil.

As Li Guanyi handed over these letters, they were instantly ignited.

In a moment, ashes dyed the letters, as the ink characters within briefly shimmered as though with golden brilliance, before being completely turned to ashes by the licking flames.

Prince Qin’s sleeve billowed, and the noble family letters turned to flying ash, leaving a slight mark in his eye before disappearing completely.

Seeing Li Guanyi incinerate all the letters completely, Xue Daoyong said:

"Without even looking, you burned them all?"

Li Guanyi said: "What they want to say in their letters, I already know, whether it’s stiff resistance or aiming to occupy a land and forge their own hegemony; or they intend to sell themselves at the best price for surrender, with conditions we must meet."

"They demand we retain their status, rights, and even after surrender, the city must remain under their control, merely nominally respectful to the Heavenly Strategy Mansion."

"If they truly want to surrender, their letters would not come to you, Elder Xue."

With heartfelt sigh, Xue Daoyong said:

"After all, it’s a way to capture many of Chen Country’s cities without bloodshed, thus reducing logistical losses. In this manner, once Chen Country is unified, facing Ying Country won’t be overwhelmingly passive."

Li Guanyi released his fingers, letting the letter in his hand be completely swept away by the flame’s hot wind, retracting his palm, he answered: "But it will lay hidden dangers."

"Hidden dangers will erupt in future generations, shattering the foundations of a peaceful era; I won’t say I’ll complete all battles and wars in my lifetime. Every generation has its own ’wars’."

"But I won’t leave these hidden dangers for future generations."

Prince Qin sat down again, his brow carrying a determination and audacity that even moved Xue Daoyong:

"Fight!"

"No compromise needed!"

"No ambiguity allowed."

"A Unification of the World not achieved through negotiations and treaties, nor through surrender and interest exchange, but with swords and blood, confronting all opponents outright."

"Defeat every opponent, crush every enemy; and from the ruins of past generations, only then can build a new era and new atmosphere. Such a grand endeavor cannot have the slightest compromise?"