The Demon Lords

Chapter 446 53 Assassin_2

The Qian Emperor continued, "One poor, one wealthy. Their foundations differ. Qian has more capital. Ji Runhao, by crushing the powerful families and staking everything, was able to launch this war. I don't like to gamble, nor do I usually play card games. But I understand one principle: the more you want to win, the greater your chance of losing.

I have a strong foundation and can afford to lose one round, two rounds, three rounds—many rounds even. But Ji Runhao cannot bear a single loss, not one!"

Zheng Fan found that, in terms of aura and style, he was completely overwhelmed by the Qian Emperor.

However, Zheng Fan still stood up, bowed deeply to the Qian Emperor, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, if we cannot devour this 'flesh' that is the Qian State, then my Yan State will not let it remain intact for your Qian State to simply pick it up again."

"What do you mean?" A glint of severity flickered in the Qian Emperor's eyes.

But Zheng Fan was not afraid and said directly, "Your Majesty should be aware that since moving south, my Yan Army has exercised great restraint."

Li Fusheng was practically seething with suppressed frustration, yet he still held himself back.

"That's because my Yan Army believes this land will become Yan's territory, and the people on this land will become Yan's citizens.

If it truly comes to the situation Your Majesty described, my Yan State's over two hundred thousand iron cavalry will no longer sheathe their blades. Starting from the capital city, we will pillage and slaughter all the way back. Your Majesty, you can let the armies from the three frontiers continue to hold their ground; my Yan State's blades will carve a bloody path home!

To say that not a chicken or dog will be left in the northern Qian State is perhaps an exaggeration, but rendering nine out of ten homes empty wouldn't be difficult! Even if the Qian State possesses the wealth of Jiangnan, facing a completely devastated north would surely be a heavy burden, would it not?"

The Qian Emperor's voice deepened as he said, "I can accept that."

Such is the heart of an emperor. One moment they can proclaim 'These are all my people,' and the next, they can see funeral rites performed for those same subjects.

"Then what about the Chu State? Faced with a gravely weakened Qian State, would the Chu State continue to remain indifferent?"

"Alright, that sounds a bit more like an envoy. But do you know what your problem is?"

"The external minister is not aware."

"You take too much for granted."

The Qian Emperor walked to the table, picked up a bunch of grapes, and popped one into his mouth. Chewing, he continued, "The King of Chu is old and has been bedridden for a year. His four princes each have their own fiefdoms and command their own troops. Do you think the Chu State, in its current condition, still has the capability to send forces abroad?"

Zheng Fan was silent.

"Of course, if you Yan people truly slaughter your way back, devastating several northern prefectures of my Qian State, I would indeed be heartbroken. However, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Sometimes, it's very difficult to make everyone, from court officials down to the common people, hate a common enemy.

Now, it's fine. You Yan people can go ahead and do your worst. I can then calmly consolidate popular support from behind and raise the call for a Northern Expedition once more. Perhaps it would be detrimental to the state, but it would be beneficial to the throne."

Zheng Fan stepped back two paces and bowed. "The external minister has learned a valuable lesson."

"It's strange. Perhaps it's because I rarely meet someone so compatible, someone who can be relaxed and speak freely in my presence, that I've spoken a bit more today. Zheng, my dear subject, how about this: you can stay in my Qian State. I will grant you a great future!"

Zheng Fan immediately knelt.

A smile spread across the Qian Emperor's face as he said, "Does this mean my dear Zheng agrees?"

Zheng Fan shook his head and replied, "The external minister feels a bit dizzy."

"Why?"

"The external minister almost thought it was the Qian State's grand army at the gates of Yanjing, rather than my Yan State's army at the gates of your Imperial Capital."

Having said that, Zheng Fan stood up again, showing no sign of the fear one might expect after he had just led the Qian Emperor on.

"Was there anything incorrect in what I told you earlier? Tomorrow, your Yan Army can try attacking the city. See if this Imperial Capital is something you can actually take! Then wait and see! When the Barbarians and the Jin State army invade the heartland of your Yan State, what will your Yan State have to counter them?! Heaven's Mandate is not with Yan!"

Zheng Fan sighed and said to the Qian Emperor, "Your Majesty, the external minister would like to ask you a question."

"Feel free to ask."

"Your Majesty, have you ever fought in a war?"

"What?"

"Have you personally wielded a blade and led a charge on the front lines?"

"Never."

"Oh, that explains it. Your Majesty, although I am an external minister, in consideration of the feast Your Majesty has so generously provided, this external minister wishes to offer some admonishment."

"Speak."

"Your Majesty, wars are won through bitter fighting, blade by blade, not by holding forth eloquently while sitting in this warm room, reclining on soft cushions. No matter how much Your Majesty says, it cannot change the fact that my Yan State's army is currently outside your Imperial Capital. To say nothing else, if someone were to collude with my Yan Army outside the city at this very moment, the Imperial Capital could fall just like that. There has never been such a thing as an impregnable city in this world. If that were truly the case, Your Majesty, what meaning would there be in all that you have said to this external minister?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"The external minister would not dare. This external minister is also unsure how to resolve the situation Your Majesty just described. But one thing is very clear to me: no matter how fine the words, they cannot stop a sharp saber. This external minister has also only recently learned to wage war and has been on quite a few battlefields, so this external minister understands a certain truth even better. Court politics are court politics, and schemes are schemes, but they are entirely different matters from the life-and-death struggles on a battlefield."