The Demon Lords

Chapter 488 12 Losing the Game_3

"General Zheng, do you understand this logic?"

"We eat to live, not live to eat."

At these words, Emperor Jin's eyes suddenly lit up. He felt as if he had found a kindred spirit and couldn't help feeling some regret. If only he had made General Zheng's acquaintance earlier, he wouldn't have felt so lonely on this journey.

However, a layer of doubt remained in Emperor Jin's mind. The Yan general's demeanor on the city wall and his current behavior were so different, it felt like he was dealing with two entirely different people.

In fact, at this moment, both Zheng Fan and Emperor Jin felt perplexed when they looked at each other.

Their initial impressions of each other had been that of foolishness, but they slowly realized there was more to the other than met the eye.

"Given the situation, Your Majesty, please speak plainly. After all, blades and spears on the battlefield have no eyes, and I must be responsible for my men."

You can play your political games and use whatever cunning tactics you wish. I don't care if you bring disaster upon the commoners of your Jin State. But if you want my soldiers to be your cannon fodder, then I'm sorry, I'm not playing that game.

"General Zheng, you should be aware of what I've sought since opening the South Gate: nothing more than to 'live.' I originally thought that with the Yan people's support, although my reputation in history would be tarnished, I could probably live with dignity. That wouldn't be a major issue. As long as you Yan people wish to maintain stable rule over the Jin State, you must prop me up as a figurehead. As long as your Emperor still harbors ambitions to conquer the East, you must treat me well."

"Indeed."

"But the Situ Family has ascended the throne and established their own state."

"And so?"

"In the lands of the Three Jin, my role serves three purposes. First, to show other monarchs that surrendering to the Yan State means they can be assured of a life of luxury and comfort. Second, to pacify the hearts of the people in the Three Jin. Third, to deter and suppress the Situ Family. With me, the legitimate Emperor Jin, present, the Situ Family, as vassals, would always be suppressed in terms of legitimate authority. Your Yan people's recent campaign even involved deploying the Earl of North Border's army. Now is a time for recuperation, and you do not wish to engage in open war with the Situ Family, who are the most powerful and deeply rooted faction within the Three Jin at this moment. However, the old head of the Situ Family suddenly passed away, and Situ Lei ascended the throne and established a state. This seemed like an aggressive move, but it has essentially erased much of the necessity for my existence."

Zheng Fan frowned slightly.

"You Yan people once promised the Situ Family that if they were willing to surrender and submit to the Yan State, they could retain their fiefdom, and the Yan State would recognize their status as rulers of that state. The old head of the Situ Family rejected this outright. He said he was a Jin person and would not be a running dog for the Yan people. Then, he died."

"So the deal was made with Situ Lei?"

Emperor Jin nodded. "Indeed. What you Yan people want is a stable Three Jin. Allowing the Situ Family to ascend the throne and establish their own state, thereby completely dividing the lands of the Three Jin, aligns perfectly with your intentions. But after this, how am I to manage my own position? I originally believed your Yan State possessed the rapacious heart of a tiger or wolf, determined to swallow the Three Jin whole before stopping. Yet now, it seems you've merely taken a small bite and stopped."

Originally, as the Emperor of Jin State, no matter the circumstances, you represented the legitimate rule over Jin. Although the capital city and its surrounding region are not large—merely the size of a single prefecture—you could at least still maintain a certain degree of influence. Now that the Situ Family has ascended the throne, they clearly no longer recognize you as Emperor. If the Yan State still wished to seize the opportunity to launch another swift campaign, annihilate the Situ Family, and unify the Jin State, they could very well continue to use your banner to legitimize their suppression of the 'rebellion.' The problem, however, is that this recent great war, with the deployment of hundreds of thousands of cavalry, has already exhausted the Yan State's resources. They are preparing to rest and recuperate for a period. Haven't you noticed that the Earl of North Border has already led a portion of the Zhenbei Army back to Beifeng Prefecture? This means they don't want to fight again in the short term, intending instead to first digest the fruits of this stage of victory. Consequently, the Yan imperial court has even reached an agreement with the Situ Family: 'Go ahead and establish your state; we'll just divide the Jin land between us.' Under this tacitly accepted arrangement, Emperor Jin's existence becomes extremely awkward.

"Your Majesty, by acting this way, are you trying to provoke a major war between my Yan State and the Situ Family?"

Emperor Jin nodded and said with a sigh, "It is merely for self-preservation."

A peaceful Jin State is an extremely disadvantageous situation for this Emperor. Only if the Jin State continues to be embroiled in war and turmoil will there be a continued need for his existence. There would even be a chance to fish in troubled waters.

Zheng Fan suddenly felt that this Emperor Jin before him and Li Fusheng were quite similar; it was as if there was something wrong with their minds. For the sake of their own obsessions, they were capable of any extreme actions. Or perhaps this Emperor, ever since he opened the South Gate, had become addicted to such high-stakes gambles.

"So, does that mean the troops outside are Your Majesty's forces?"

"After the Helian Family and Wenren Family were annihilated, I did indeed take in many knights from the Three Jin to bolster my Imperial Guard."

This was tantamount to an admission.

Zheng Fan reached up to rub his temples and said, "Your Majesty, I still don't understand the true purpose behind your actions."

To provoke war? To create a tense situation? These grand yet vacuous goals seem rather impractical when it comes to concrete matters.

"It is precisely because I have no goal that I wish to muddy these waters. Otherwise, a goal might never emerge."

This was Emperor Jin's answer: first stir up the situation, then see what happens.

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Zheng Fan stood up.

Emperor Jin, however, picked up his bowl of congee again, preparing to continue eating.

"Your Majesty, by telling me all of this, aren't you afraid that I might report it to my Emperor?"