Capítulo 2176: Chapter 231: Regrets in a Lifeti (2)
In this way, they overco Mugu by force, outshine Qi Country, and without incurring additional cost, they can effortlessly win everything on the Qi Xia battlefield.
The next best scenario is if Qi Country is determined to destroy Sumr Country, while Sumr Country resists desperately, holding out until Jinguo’s army moves south, attacking from both sides and crushing the Qi Army.
Thus, Jinguo first defeats Mugu, then defeats Qi Country. Although it may inevitably suffer from internal damage, it remains the unrivaled hegemon, the greatest empire in current tis.
The worst scenario is Sumr Country can’t hold on, and even as Jinguo moves south, they fail to break the Qi Army…
By that ti, everything Jinguo gained on the Sheng Country battlefield might have to be relinquished!
Because in Jinguo’s current status, which great power in the world isn’t eyeing it covetously? Given Jinguo’s domineering rule with a knife over the land, which great power isn’t secretly gritting its teeth? Once the myth of invincibility is broken, those rulers who have been eyeing the Central Region for years might find it hard to restrain their blades.
In the confrontation with the world’s hegemon, Jinguo cannot afford to lose a single battle.
Therefore, Jinguo absolutely hopes not to go to war with Qi Country in the current situation. This gives them great discretion in the degree of support for Sumr, which is linked to the performance of both Qi and Sumr Countries.
Now consider from Qi Country’s perspective.
Qi Country also absolutely does not wish to go to war with Jinguo at this ti, otherwise there would’ve been no need to painstakingly send Cao Jie to Li Yuan City. They tried every possible way just to keep the People of Qi occupied to the south.
The Battle of Star Moon Plain was the result of mutual fear and compromise between Qi and Jinguo.
Ultimately, Qi Country won the opportunity to attack Sumr, and Jinguo decided to concentrate their forces on facing Mugu.
Now that Jinguo has ended the war first… Qi Country certainly faces an even tougher choice.
For Qi Country,
The best result of this war is to swiftly destroy the Sumr Country’s foundation before Jinguo can get involved—although this is now destined to be impossible.
The defensive line at Tong Yang City is still as solid as a rock, at least for now. It seems conceivable to hold out for another ten days to a few weeks. Jinguo sweeping away the remnants of Mugu within Sheng Country doesn’t need that much ti.
To retreat now would replay the story from thirty-three years ago. Are the people of Qi willing to accept this?
But if they don’t retreat… is Qi Country truly ready for a war with Jinguo? By the ti Jinguo’s army moves south, there’s no guarantee that Qi Country’s million-strong force marching on Da Xia can retreat safely.
The tragedy of Sumr Country today lies here—even though they have resisted to the death and have persevered until now, enduring the change in the world’s situation, they still have to wait for the will of other countries!
What should Sumr Country do?
Chi ngfu believes—
No matter what Jinguo and Qi Country think, Sumr Country still needs to demonstrate its strength. They need to show Jinguo that when Jinguo’s army moves south, it can secure victory with fewer costs. They need to show Qi Country that, should they wish to eradicate Sumr Country, they need to incur greater costs, and there’s increased uncertainty, requiring them to take on more risks.
On the strategic scales of both Qi and Jinguo, they need to add their own weights: making the scale of the forr tilt towards “retreating the troops,” while the latter’s scale tilts towards “moving southward.”
This is what Sumr Country should do.
And at least on this point, he should be aligned with King Wu.
Chi ngfu silently thought of all this and then said nothing more.
Thus, Si Jiao knew he truly understood his aning. He casually picked up a cup of wine, handed it to the State Preceptor, signaling full relish and joy.
“Dear Prince, the situation has shifted. Should the powerful ones who have already set off for the northern front be recalled?” a minister asked at this mont.
It’s too late. Chi ngfu thought to himself.
“The arrow has already left the bowstring, how can it possibly be retrieved?” Si Jiao said, “Besides, although Jinguo has now freed their hands, the Qi Army is just like a post-autumn locust, it won’t hop far. But our Da Xia has stood for a millennium, how can we rely on powerful Jinguo for everything? The reason why we can maintain an independent ruling legality, unlike Sheng Country, where even the Son of Heaven needs to go to Daluo Mountain to be sealed… Isn’t it the result of our bloody struggle?”
He waved his broad sleeve and stood up: “Of course Jinguo will co. However, whenever Jinguo arrives, it won’t affect our resolve to teach the people of Qi a profound lesson! Fellow colleagues, prepare for war!”
…
…
Chi ngfu walked out of the conference hall and, of course, took the door with him.
The atmosphere behind the door soon ca alive again.
The hope of victory is enough to comfort the hearts of n.
It felt as though the pains of war had already been wiped away now, as civil servants and military commanders began to dream about life after defeating the Qi Army.
Deliberating on how to teach Li Country a lesson, or how to deal with Liang Country for daring to deploy troops as intimidation…
And those small nations along the path of Qi Army that opened convenient doors, they must be slapped harshly wherever a palm can reach…
It’s indeed quite satisfying to think about.
Chi ngfu’s mood was not heavy.
The war had indeed turned for the better, and the world’s situation favored Sumr, so what was there for him to feel heavy about?
He just suddenly missed the previous emperor very much, in this chilly spring.
Sumr Country during the late emperor’s ti, and the current Sumr Country, are already vastly different…
In the past thirty-plus years, everyone has worked so hard, including the Empress Dowager, King Wu, King Min, himself, and even that ill-tempered old fellow…
But for the first ti today, he realized they can’t go back.
Not that he was disappointed with anyone, nor that he was dissatisfied with any particular matter.
It’s just that so people are irreplaceable.
It is the sun in mid-sky that illuminates the world.
No matter how hard stars and the moon try, and how bright the lamps are… it is ultimately the night of the Da Xia Empire.
Will there be another dawn?
Chi ngfu once firmly believed… now he’s uncertain of the answer.
Unknowingly, he had wandered the city for a long ti, like a lonely wandering soul.
Chi ngfu shook his head as he prepared to return, but from the corner of his eye, he saw the lotus pavilion in the lotus pond ahead.
A slender pavilion by the water, with a lone reflection.
The gorgeously dressed King Min was sitting alone in the pavilion, watching the water patterns—he hadn’t participated in military councils for many days to avoid suspicion and basically wouldn’t go to the city nad “Noble City” there anymore.
Just a trivial idle poem could force King Min to avoid suspicion, which is truly absurd.
The intelligence system in that city is seriously flawed, too self-absorbed under the present emperor. Self-absorption without enough strength to match often spells disaster.
Chi ngfu and King Min hadn’t had any interactions, but sohow… he walked over.
“Does Your Highness have sothing weighing on your mind?” he asked.
Yu Liyang lifted his eyes and looked over plainly. For the Chi ngfu, whom everyone avoided, he didn’t show any special reaction. He simply said: “Worried about national affairs, just like the State Preceptor.”
Truly a handso appearance with red lips and white teeth, blending with the half-blooming lotus flowers around, as if a painting.
Chi ngfu walked slowly on the stone bridge: “Jinguo will soon be free to act, Your Highness can slightly put down so worry.”
Yu Liyang looked at him: “Then why is the State Preceptor still so uneasy?”
Chi ngfu stopped midway on the bridge, and no longer walked into the pavilion. He quietly gazed at the reflection in the water for a mont, then asked: “What does Your Highness think Emperor Qi will choose? Will he withdraw Cao Jie’s troops?”
Yu Liyang, appearing to care but not overly concerned, said, “He would, wouldn’t he? The defeat of Mugu is imminent. How much stronger can Qi be than Mugu? On what grounds can he fight on two fronts and challenge Jinguo?”
“Let’s hope so,” Chi ngfu said.
He paused for a mont and then said, “Soone of Your Highness’s stature truly doesn’t need to mind so rumors and gossip.”
Yu Liyang paused for a second, looked at the green lotus leaves and red lotus flowers beside him, and smiled: “I’ve been free-spirited all my life, what would I care about?”
He, Yu Liyang, doesn’t care; however, there are people who must care.
So people only seek to please their own hearts, while others live their whole lives for a na.
He doesn’t care about his reputation, but he can’t ignore the reputation of that person.
This ti, Chi ngfu was silent for a long ti.
Then he said, “The blooming season of lotus isn’t in the spring. I once lanted over this but stopped caring once I left the boat. Your Highness can alter the flowering periods and change the seasons; with such divine power, yet still, regrets are unavoidable. Thus, it’s known that while landscapes change easily, human hearts are difficult to sway…”
“Please take care, Your Highness.”
He only said this final sentence before turning and leaving.
Watching Chi ngfu’s steadily receding figure on the stone bridge, Yu Liyang sensed a feeling of settling affairs afterward.
He clearly understood what decision Chi ngfu had made, and what burden he took on.
He naturally also understood what path Chi ngfu chose for himself.
Even if they were not familiar before, had no connection.
At this mont, he couldn’t help but feel.
In this spring, to just start understanding Chi ngfu, that indeed qualifies as a regret.
But life’s regrets are not limited to lotus flowers.
Nor limited to the color red.
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