nashuaworldcup Chapter 151 Xu Fenghua's Advice!
Chapter 151 Xu Fenghua's Advice!
After a while,
Jiang Qingxue broke the deathly silence with a soft, trembling voice, barely audible:
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... dare not speak presumptuously... such matters of state and military importance... Your Majesty is foolish... truly... truly ignorant..."
Xu Fenghua followed suit, echoing in a voice that was as steady as possible but still revealed a hint of tension:
"Your Majesty, Consort Xue is absolutely right. This matter is of utmost importance, concerning the relations between our two nations and even the safety of the world. We, your humble servants, have long resided in the inner palace and are of limited knowledge; how dare we presume to speculate on Your Majesty's intentions? We beseech Your Majesty to make your decision."
She politely deflected the question, adopting an extremely humble posture, attempting to blur the focus and temporarily avoid this fatal issue.
However, Qin Mu clearly did not intend to let them get away with it so easily.
His gaze moved slowly, almost tangible, and finally settled on Xu Fenghua.
"My beloved consort, you have always been intelligent and insightful. Having spent six years in the Zhao family of Jiangnan, you must have gained considerable understanding of the political situation and the complexities of international relations."
He paused, his tone still calm, yet each word carried immense weight:
"You go first."
Xu Fenghua's heart skipped a beat.
In a flash, countless thoughts raced through Xu Fenghua's mind.
She took a deep breath.
Then, she slowly raised her head.
"His Majesty……"
She spoke, her voice slightly calmer than before, "In my humble opinion, this matter... is absolutely unacceptable."
She stated her conclusion first, making her stance clear.
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, but remained silent, simply watching her and waiting for her to continue.
That gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it made Xu Fenghua feel an invisible pressure, as if all her pretense and scheming were laid bare under the watchful eyes of those eyes.
Xu Fenghua forced herself to calm down, her brain rapidly organizing her thoughts, carefully weighing each word:
"Empress Zhao Qingxue of Liyang is no ordinary ruler."
She began her analysis, speaking as objectively as possible, as if stating a well-known fact.
"She ascended the throne as a woman, and within five years she purged the eight princes, consolidated military power, ensured smooth governance, and led to the growing strength of the nation. Within Liyang, her prestige is soaring, and she is by no means someone who can be easily replaced."
She paused, observing Qin Mu's reaction. Qin Mu remained expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"If His Majesty were to kill her in the capital at this moment..."
Xu Fenghua's tone became more serious, and her speaking speed slowed slightly, as if emphasizing the weight of each word.
"The entire Li Yang court and people will be enraged, regarding this as a great disgrace. Although the Empress has no children, the Li Yang royal family still exists, and there are many powerful ministers and fierce generals. At that time, with old and new grudges combined, the people of Li Yang will be united in their hatred of the enemy. To avenge this national humiliation, they will surely spare no effort and pay any price to wage war against our Great Qin."
She looked up, her eyes revealing genuine worry.
"Once this battle begins..."
Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a sense of foresight and melancholy.
"This is far beyond the scope of small-scale border conflicts. Although the Lancang River remains a natural barrier, the Liyang navy is powerful. If we attempt to cross it regardless of the cost, the eastern defense line... may not be able to hold out for long."
"At that time, war will spread, and lives will be lost. Although our Great Qin is strong, the Western Liang in the west is not yet pacified, and the Northern Barbarians in the north are eyeing us covetously. If we are drawn into a full-scale war with Li Yang, we will be attacked from all sides, and our national strength will be depleted. This will not be a blessing for the country."
She spoke clearly and logically, and her analysis of the pros and cons seemed to be entirely from the perspective of the Qin Dynasty.
The character of the concubine is vividly portrayed as "deeply understanding of righteousness" and "concerned about the country and its people".
But only she knew that behind every word she spoke was a fight for the survival of Xu Longxiang and the Northern Border.
Empress Liyang must not be allowed to die, otherwise the Dragon Elephant's external support will be cut off, and the Northern Territory will fall into an even more dangerous state of isolation.
Jiang Qingxue listened from the side, still shaken, but her eyes involuntarily revealed agreement and a deeper fear.
Sister Xu is right. Once war breaks out, even the deep palace may not be safe. The fate of these concubines who depend on the emperor is even more unpredictable.
Qin Mu listened quietly, his fingers still tapping lightly on the low table, making a rhythmic "tap, tap" sound.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his tone unreadable, neither agreeing nor disagreeing:
"Is my beloved concubine worried... that our Great Qin cannot win?"
"That's absolutely not the case!"
Xu Fenghua immediately denied it, her posture respectful but her tone firm.
"Your Majesty is mighty, and the might of the Qin army is unparalleled in the nine provinces. However, military strategy states: the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to disrupt their alliances, the next best is to attack their army, and the worst is to besiege their cities. To wage a full-scale war against Liyang is a strategy of attacking the army and besieging the city, which is the worst possible strategy. Even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory, which will only deplete our national strength and give Western Liang and Northern Mang an opportunity to take advantage of us."
"not to mention,"
She hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether she should speak, but finally spoke, her voice softer yet more sincere.
"The Empress's arrival this time is at His Majesty's invitation, as all the world knows. If she were to meet with misfortune within the borders of our Great Qin, while His Majesty is hosting a welcoming banquet for her... how would the people of the world view His Majesty? How would they view our Great Qin?"
"If the reputation of betraying faith and harming envoys is confirmed, the nation will be tarnished, and future interactions with other countries or campaigns against disloyal subjects will likely be difficult to maintain. This... would damage Your Majesty's holy name and the nation's honor, and is truly unwise."
She finally pointed out that "reputation" and "righteousness" are equally important vulnerabilities for emperors.
After saying this, Xu Fenghua lowered her eyes slightly, assuming a posture of waiting for instructions, but her back was already soaked with cold sweat.
She had done her best, analyzing the pros and cons, praising Qin Mu, and also considering her reputation.
Now, let's see what Qin Mu's intentions are.
Silence fell upon the hall once more.
Qin Mu stopped tapping his fingers on the table.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze returning to the window, looking at the somewhat desolate autumn courtyard scenery. After a long while, he chuckled softly.
The laughter was soft, carrying an indescribable meaning.
"My beloved concubine..." he spoke slowly, his voice regaining its previous languidness, "You've thought things through quite thoroughly."
He paused, finally turning his gaze back to Xu Fenghua and Jiang Qingxue, the ambiguous smile still playing on his lips.
"I was just saying it casually, look how scared you all are."
He spoke as if he were genuinely making a harmless joke, his tone relaxed and casual.
"Empress Li Yang is a guest; how could I possibly do such a disrespectful thing?"
Xu Fenghua and Jiang Qingxue both felt a sense of relief, but the tension did not completely dissipate.
"but,"
Qin Mu abruptly changed the subject, his gaze lingering on Xu Fenghua's face for a moment, his eyes so deep they seemed to absorb all the light.
"I have taken note of what my beloved consort said today."
He stood up, the hem of his dark robe brushing against the polished ground.
"As for Empress Li Yang, I know what I'm doing. You all..."
His gaze swept over the two of them, finally settling on Xu Fenghua's slightly pale face. His tone was calm but unquestionable:
"Just do your job well."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." Xu Fenghua and Jiang Qingxue quickly stood up and bowed in response.
Qin Mu said no more and strode out of the hall.
Only after his figure completely disappeared outside the palace gate did the suffocating, invisible pressure seem to slowly dissipate.
Xu Fenghua slowly straightened up, feeling her legs go weak. She subtly grabbed the back of the chair for support.
Only now did she realize how cold the sweat on her palms and back was. The conversation she'd just had, seemingly a successful persuasion, had actually been incredibly dangerous; every step she took was like walking on thin ice.
Jiang Qingxue was almost completely exhausted. She slumped back into her chair, clutching her chest and panting heavily, her eyes still filled with shock.
The two sisters looked at each other again.
next moment,
They both realized that Qin Mu had left alone.
For them, this is a perfect opportunity to exchange ideas!