Capítulo 2050: Chapter 183: I, Too, Cling to Life
The reason why the ministers looked at each other in disbelief was not because this strategy was so clever, but rather because Chi ngfu seed to have lost his mind!
Between Huaijingfu and the Noble City of Xiadu lies just a single Sangfu,
To cede all the land south of Huaijingfu is nearly equivalent to handing over half of Sumr Country, exposing our heart to the Chu people!
What kind of person is Chi ngfu, how frightened must he be by the Qi Country to co up with such a “clever strategy”?
“Everyone, listen closely to my explanation.”
Amidst the looks of disbelief from the civil and military ministers in the grand hall, Chi ngfu confidently explained: “Chuguo refuses to co to our aid. There are rely a few reasons for this: Firstly, historically we have had many conflicts with Chuguo, accumulating deep resentnt over the years. Secondly, the environnt in the Southern Territory is complex; with Book Mountain as a barrier, and complicated networks between forces. Whether the Chu people co, or we go, it is hard to gain without loss. The forr emperor chose to advance eastward back then, also for this reason. Thirdly, the Qin-Chu war was not long ago, and the Valley Plains have turned desolate; Qing Country’s pressure cannot be ignored by Chuguo. If they send few people, it is like sending sheep into a tiger’s mouth. If they send many, they fear the People of Qin might make a move…”
“The only thing that can alleviate these reasons is — interest!”
“If the interest is sufficient, resentnt is not an issue. If the interest is sufficient, it is worth the risk. If we voluntarily cede territory, even Book Mountain has no reason to interfere. Thus, with past grievances resolved, and the future promising, reality is unhindered. Why would the Chu Army refuse to co?”
Chi ngfu twisted and turned his argunt, sohow making it sound sowhat reasonable.
“This is a strategy of drinking poison to quench thirst! Chi ngfu, what are your intentions?!”
The Marquis of An Country, Jin Ling, who had gone on a mission to Chuguo, now flushed with rage and extre agitation. He didn’t even want to address him as State Preceptor, directly calling Chi ngfu by na with his God Descending Realm cultivation.
“Marquis of An Country, do not be agitated, reason does not depend on loudness.” Chi ngfu responded calmly, bowing to him: “May I ask how this strategy is drinking poison to quench thirst?”
Jin Ling angrily retorted: “The People of Qi are greedy, do you think the Chu people are saints? Now we cede half the country to offer to Chuguo, not to ntion whether Qi Chu might secretly collude, simply dividing our Great Xia. Even if they truly fought, helping us repel the Qi, would Chuguo have no intentions towards us? Wouldn’t Emperor Chu want to unify the Southern Territory? While the blade of Qi is still outside our borders, you welco Chu’s blade into our heart?!”
Chi ngfu enthusiastically said: “We can let the Chu people fight Qi, we control the situation, let them both suffer. Then when the People of Qi retreat, we can then drive out the Chu, isn’t that perfect?”
“You are treating others as fools!” Jin Ling stated: “Two tigers fighting, and you, a lone sheep, decide the intensity of their conflict?”
Chi ngfu pondered: “Marquis of An Country just returned from a mission in Chuguo, though it was unsuccessful… yet I trust your familiarity with Chuguo. In your opinion, is it indeed unlikely for Chuguo to send troops?”
Jin Ling was disinclined to argue further, turning towards the Cinnabar Steps: “I am incompetent and failed to persuade the Chu people. However, in my observations during this trip, although they appear ambiguous on the surface, they are quite resolute in reality. The wounds from the Valley battle need ti to heal. They have no intention of engaging with another Overlord Country in the near term.”
This was indeed just the personal opinion of Marquis of An Country, Jin Ling.
But it undoubtedly convinced many.
“Very well then!” Chi ngfu waved his hand: “If the Chu people do not co, so be it, we do not seek them!”
He continued: “I have another plan!”
The State Minister of Great Xia, Liu Xiyi, had been holding back for a long ti, finally unable to restrain himself: “Let’s not have another plan, today you spout nonsense, I just think you’re senile, take a rest! Matters of national defense are no place for your antics!”
But a voice from behind the beaded curtain said: “State Preceptor, please speak.”
Empress Dowager Xia evidently still held expectations for Chi ngfu’s intelligence, suppressing the voice of State Minister Liu Xiyi.
Chi ngfu spoke with an air of dutifulness: “This plan is to ‘suppress the Hundred Schools of Thought, and promote Confucianism exclusively!’ From now on, we consider Book Mountain as the holy land and the Confucianist Gate as the national gate. With our 21 provinces, we fully support the Confucian cultural lineage, seeking the support of Book Mountain. Since Book Mountain has formidable powers, they can certainly help us stop the Qi Country’s armies!”
“Good! Good! Good!”
Even the elder ancestor of the Chu family, the True Man of the Age, Chu Gongyi could not help himself.
He had usually been in closed-door cultivation, indifferent to worldly matters. Only when the country was in peril, did he break his seclusion to attend this court eting with the Family Head of the Chu family, Chu Rang. Unexpectedly, he heard such absurd argunts.
“A fine ‘suppress the Hundred Schools of Thought, and promote Confucianism exclusively!'” Chu Gongyi was furious to the point of laughter: “I, Chu Gongyi, am right here, and you an to suppress us?”
Xuanping Marquis Fan Ao, a cultivator from the Triple Punishnt Palace, previously had no ill words against Chi ngfu during the uproar. But now he could not withstand: “True Man Chi, you are not even a legitimate disciple of the Confucianist Gate yourself, you’re still wearing a Daoist robe, are you to be suppressed as well?”
Feng Guogong Zhou Ying, Guangping Marquis Li Fu, and Yangling Marquis Xue Chang all joined the uproar, the whole Baohua Palace was in an uproar, akin to a marketplace.
Chi ngfu had already incurred the wrath of many, with so even wishing to kill him to make an example.
On the throne, Yu Liyang finally knocked on the armrest of his seat, sowhat headache-inducing: “True Man Chi, what are you thinking? Our Sumr Country embraces the Hundred Schools of Thought and includes various sects, thus having the foundation to contend with the powerful Qi. With your actions, the people of Book Mountain may not arrive, and even more may leave Sumr Country! In the face of great war, are we to disable our martial prowess?”
User Comments
0 comments from readers