Chapter 1288 - Capítulo 1288: 1283: Gambling Instinct
Capítulo 1288: Chapter 1283: Gambling Instinct
I never expected that the precautionary measures initially discussed with my sister—taking advantage of the campaign against Xiliang to weaken Zhou’s military, and exploiting the weaknesses of the Emperor of Zhou to support Yan’s strategy—would result in such a complete defeat.
“I have pondered deeply on how to preserve the state of Yan. After much deliberation, I have decided… to send an envoy to the Zhou, to negotiate with the Emperor of Zhou on which country’s policies can make the people more prosperous and powerful, determining the winner, and merging the two countries into one!”
Murong Li had not finished speaking when shock rippled through the Yan royal court.
Murong Li observed the ministers’ expressions, eyes wide in astonishment, his hands clenching tightly in his sleeves. The path laid by the Bai family sister for the merger of the two countries was almost at his feet. He could not afford to fear or retreat at this moment.
He forced himself to calm down and finished his speech: “This is not just a gamble for our Yan, but also a struggle for survival and life! Otherwise… once Zhou advances westward, and our main forces cannot return to aid, Yan will be the next country to perish after Xiliang.”
“Your Majesty!” Xiao Rongyan looked up at Murong Li, his tone stern and reprimanding, “Your Majesty has been reckless!”
“Uncle Nine…” Murong Li solemnly bowed deeply toward Xiao Rongyan on the chair, “Please give Ah Li a chance to finish speaking!”
“Your Majesty, no! Your Majesty!” Zhong Xingxiao was the first to kneel, crying and bowing to Murong Li, “Your Majesty, think thrice!”
Following Zhong Xingxiao’s cries, all the ministers, whether from the Empress Dowager’s faction or the Regent Prince’s, knelt down and bowed, shouting loudly, “Your Majesty, think thrice!”
“I… have not only thought thrice but even five or six times…” Murong Li slowly paced on the jade high platform, his voice resolute, “If not for this, who among you has a method to make Zhou withdraw their troops? Determining victory or defeat by state policies and merging the two countries is our only chance to turn the tables for Yan!”
Seeing the court officials still discussing fervently, their voices growing louder, Murong Li loudly declared again, “Or is it that you court officials truly have no confidence in our Yan’s governance, fearing that our strategies which have been implemented for decades, capable of rapidly enriching and strengthening the people, will lose to Zhou, a country whose new policies are still in the exploratory phase with a newly ascended Emperor?”
“But what if… what if we send envoys to Zhou, and the Emperor and court of Zhou do not agree? Even if they do agree, when the appointed time arrives and our Yan wins, what if Zhou refuses to submit to Yan?” A court official raised an objection.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let us not discuss whether the Emperor of Zhou and the Zhou court will keep their word, the immediate crisis is upon Yan, not Zhou!” Murong Li debated as if he were alone against the entire Yan Court, “Only this way can we delay the impending threat of national extinction, using three, even five years to recuperate and live. I believe Yan’s governance can definitely make the people rich and powerful! This way, even if Zhou loses in three years but refuses to surrender to Yan, we would still have room to fight Zhou!”
“His Majesty is still a child, these words are too childish!” Xiao Rongyan sat steadily in his chair, looking up at Murong Li, his eyes cold as everyone could hear the suppressed anger in his voice, “Our Yan has come this far through the perseverance of its people and the efforts of the late Emperor. It’s no small feat to have accumulated such wealth, and now Your Majesty wants to gamble it all with Zhou, Your Majesty’s love of gambling is truly astonishing!”
“Indeed, Your Majesty! The Ninth Prince speaks rightly!” Zhong Xingxiao repeatedly agreed with Xiao Rongyan, “This is gambling with our entire nation. If we truly lose, Yan will be lost, we will be the sinners of Yan!”
“Since Uncle Nine and Uncle think this method is inappropriate, then what methods do you two propose to address Zhou?” Murong Li’s eyes were calm as he aligned Xiao Rongyan and Zhong Xingxiao on the same front, loudly questioned, “Or is there anyone among the entire Yan court who can devise a better plan than what I have proposed?”
“Gentlemen!” Murong Li walked to the very front of the high steps, his gaze sweeping across the court ministers of Yan, “Our Yan is already a chunk of meat at the mouth of Zhou, either let them take a bite now, or use this method to buy us several years to recuperate, and in the future, either unify the world without bloodshed or have a legitimate excuse to struggle hard against Zhou to fulfill our successive Emperors’ desire to unify the world! Though a gamble, it is a path of no choice for Yan!”
Murong Li, though young, proposed this plan, and after the ministers carefully thought it over, indeed, as he said, considering the current situation of Zhou and Yan, Yan was at a disadvantage. If a conflict broke out, and the main forces were trapped in Xiliang, Yan would be at others’ mercy.
Moreover, since Yan betrayed Zhou first, Zhou sending troops to attack Yan is justifiable, not to mention that before Zhou always took extra care to allocate more battle spoils to Yan, they have the moral high ground in attacking Yan.
If they don’t wish to resolve it according to the Emperor of Yan’s proposal, handing over Yan’s Empress Dowager to Zhou would likely be the cost. That would be Yan’s utmost shame.
“But Your Majesty, even if our Yan’s policies and laws are more mature than Zhou’s, the fact remains that Zhou is indeed stronger than Yan. If we ultimately lose, does it mean we have to hand over our Yan to Zhou?”
“If Zhou’s policies and laws weren’t mature or if their national power wasn’t stronger than Yan, would Zhou agree to determine the winner by policy, merging the two countries? If so, there would be no need for Yan to propose this strategy to buy time today.” Murong Li frowned, “Ladies and gentlemen… I still maintain that point, remember, it is Yan who faces imminent danger, not Zhou! When I proposed this strategy, it does not mean Zhou will agree. Now we must find a way to make Zhou agree!”
The ministers of Yan Court remained silent.
They understood the young Emperor’s words were true, but no one could bring themselves to first step forward and agree with the young Emperor’s idea.
“This cannot be! I absolutely disagree with such ridiculous actions by the Emperor!”
The Empress Dowager Yan, who had been listening from outside for quite some time, felt so alarmed her legs nearly gave way.
She never expected that her cooperation with Xiliang to betray Zhou would bring such a great trouble to Yan.
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