novelraw Chapter 1152 - 1154:
Chapter 1152 - 1154:
Prime Minister Wen was startled and said, "Princess, do you mean they might use the strategy of ’attacking the east while striking the west’?"
Mo Shu nodded slightly and said calmly, "Yes."
Mo Shu looked down and said in a low voice, "Not only might they employ this strategy, but it’s very likely they will start by creating civil unrest among the populace. Therefore, the local government must be attentive to pacifying the people. If anyone spreads rumors or causes trouble, they must be severely punished, or the consequences could be dire."
Prime Minister Wen was taken aback by Mo Shu’s words.
The other officials also frowned.
Of course, some did not take Mo Shu’s words seriously at all.
Finally, Han Taiwei, who had remained quiet, spoke up and said, "What the Princess said, I believe, is overly cautious."
Mo Shu looked over, trying to recall who this person was, and finally remembered.
She turned to face Han Taiwei.
Han Taiwei continued, "Hulong Country and Southern Border Country have always had sparse populations, especially the Southern Border Country. Because they develop poisons, they often test these on people, which results in a very low survival rate. As for those from Hulong Country," Han Taiwei sneered, "could their wisdom really conceive of such tactics as ’attacking the east while striking the west’ or ’undermining the base of the cauldron’?"
"People of Hulong Country may be dull-witted, but each one is immensely strong and they are known for their savage unity," Mo Shu said calmly. "As for Southern Border Country, although their population is small, every survivor is skilled in poisons and sly of mind. Each one possesses a delicate and perceptive nature. If Hulong and Southern Border Countries were to collaborate, why couldn’t they conceive of such a plan?"
Upon hearing this, Han Taiwei frowned and said, "The Princess overestimates them. If Southern Border Country were to invade, they would certainly attack with poisons first, and as of now, there are no poisons entering the Northern region!"
Speaking thus, he looked towards the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I believe the Princess is overly cautious. It’s likely that the invaders in the North are all of their elite forces. I fear that the Princess’s intelligence might be her undoing. Should the enemy indeed concentrate their military strength on our weakest defended West, where the people are primarily farmers, by then it would be too late to regret!"
After Han Taiwei finished speaking, Minister Zhong of the Ministry of War also spoke, saying, "I agree with Han Taiwei. I implore Your Majesty to deliberate carefully!"
Mo Shu looked at them, suddenly reminded of modern dramas where there are always a few who love to oppose to showcase their own cleverness.
Suddenly finding it somewhat amusing, she said, "When was the last time Southern Border Country dispatched troops to invade?"
Han Taiwei glanced at her but said nothing.
On the side, General Song said, "Princess, that was thirty years ago. Since the defeat in the Battle of Yellow Sand, Southern Border Country has offered annual tributes to our country for peace."
"If that’s the case, then Han Taiwei’s understanding of Southern Border Country remains stuck thirty years in the past," Mo Shu said calmly. "A span of thirty years is enough for multiple generations of elite soldiers to rise, enough for their bloodlines to have refreshed countless times. Does Han Taiwei believe that the strength of Mo Yan Country thirty years ago equals that of Mo Yan Country now?"
"Of course not," Han Taiwei replied. "The Emperor and the former Emperor have been wise, expanding the territories over these thirty years. The climate has been favorable, the country prosperous, and the military powerful, surely much stronger than thirty years ago!"
"Then if we can progress, why can’t Southern Border Country and Hulong Country? Furthermore, in recent years, our country has constantly welcomed foreign envoys, exchanging culture and industry. Those two countries have especially absorbed the strengths of our nation and developed rapidly."