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The atmosphere in the government’s council hall seemed permeated with the scent of gunpowder.
Wang Xi’s angry accusations made Cui Zhang and Zheng Hao’s faces turn ashen, looking as if they were about to burst into curses.
However, a trace of sobriety remained in Cui Zhang’s mind. In the face of the larger situation, he calmly said to Wang Xi, “Assistant Minister Wang, don’t forget what we are here in Qingzhou for today?”
Wang Xi suddenly jolted awake, realizing at this moment that he had fallen for Xiao Ming’s provocation. Now that Prince Zhao had entered the capital and commanded the world, the fact that their two families had each taken the opportunity to seize imperial prefectures was the direct source of conflict among the three families, because Prince Zhao had once issued an edict reprimanding the two for rebellion and demanding they hand over the cities.
Their two families naturally refused. Prince Zhao had gained so much, and they too did not want to suffer losses.
The three calmed down, then simultaneously looked at Xiao Ming. In fact, their purpose in containing Xiao Ming was only one: Xiao Ming the imperial family. If Prince Wei had occupied Qi, they would have likewise sent troops.
Now, Xiao Ming’s words had pushed them into a corner. Cui Zhang completely dropped his pretense. He said, “Your Highness, our three families came to Qingzhou today not to negotiate with Your Highness, but to inform Your Highness that if Your Highness does not hand over the thirteen prefectures of Wei, we will surely combine our forces to attack Your Highness.”
“In that case, I will await you under the walls of Yunzhou City!” Xiao Ming’s tone was also very firm. He clearly knew that he and the three families would ultimately end in a fight to the death. The princes of different surnames would eventually completely exterminate the imperial family.
Cui Zhang and Zheng Hao’s hearts trembled. Xiao Ming’s face at this moment was resolute, and his eyes revealed an undeniable determination. For Cui Zhang, the ideal situation would of course be for Xiao Ming to voluntarily hand over the thirteen prefectures, but now it seemed impossible.
Pang Yukun and Zhan Xingchang exchanged glances. Today, these three families were truly too arrogant. They were no longer negotiating, but directly forcing them to abandon the captured Wei territory.
Not to mention that Xiao Ming would not agree to this matter, even the soldiers who fought with their lives would not agree. How could the territory they had shed blood and tears to win be handed over to others?
Xiao Ming’s firm stance plunged the three into silence.
Before meeting Xiao Ming, they were confident that they could make Xiao Ming back down, but now it seemed impossible.
If that were the case, they only had one last option.
“Your Highness, in that case, we shall take our leave.” Cui Zhang was the first to stand up and walk out.
Then Wang Xi and Zheng Hao also stood up and left.
After all three had departed, Zhan Xingchang said, “Your Highness, there’s nothing more to discuss on this matter. When we tore up the truce agreement, we knew this day would come. Moreover, even without this truce agreement, the three families would still raise an army to attack us. Now, the only thing we need to worry about is whether the barbarians will get involved.”
Xiao Ming frowned. He slowly said, “Now, the situation in the north can only be resolved through a war. Whether the three princes act first or we act first, the outcome is actually the same.”
“Your Highness is absolutely right, so more talk is useless. Now we can only face this crisis,” Zhan Xingchang said.
Xiao Ming still held a sliver of hope when he came today, but Cui Zhang’s words completely woke him up. His focus was not the truce agreement, but the thirteen prefectures of Wei; that was his purpose.
Pang Yukun nodded. Yesterday, when he mentioned this matter to Xiao Ming, he had no hope for this discussion. Today, sitting together, Cui Zhang and the other two spoke in an unyielding tone.
Now he finally understood why Xiao Ming wanted him to drag out the time as much as possible. However, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be able to use normal means to delay the three’s return to their respective countries.
So he said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, the three will surely return to their countries at this time, but the weapons we are sending to Shu still need time. I plan to prohibit outsiders from leaving the city under the pretext of apprehending bandits. What does Your Highness think?”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea. The three will certainly jump with anger,” Xiao Ming said with a smile upon hearing this. Pang Yukun was becoming more and more cunning.
Zhan Xingchang smiled bitterly and shook his head. When two countries are at war, envoys are not executed. This was the only way to deal with these three.
However, remembering something, he said, “Your Highness, the King of Shu is the Thirteenth Prince’s full brother, and the King of Shu has already pledged loyalty to the King of Chu. At this time, with the King of Shu in trouble, the King of Chu will surely be equally anxious. Your Highness should inform the King of Chu. In this way, as long as the King of Chu helps the King of Shu to hold back Prince Zhao, dealing with Prince Yan and Prince Liang will be effortless.”
“I have exactly that intention. You will have to make this trip. When the King of Chu learns that the three families are raising an army to attack me, he will surely send troops to Shu. After all, in the King of Chu’s view, the entire south is his backyard, and he will not allow Prince Zhao to have a share.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Zhan Xingchang nodded.
Having settled this matter, Zhan Xingchang went back to prepare for his mission to Chu to get the King of Chu to send troops to Shu. He also had Pang Yukun continue preparing aid for the King of Shu.
After relaying these two matters, Xiao Ming headed towards the princely estate.
This time, he resolutely rejected Cui Zhang’s demand. A war in the north was inevitable.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the art of compromise, but he too had been pushed to the wall. Even if he handed over Wei, within three years, they would still jointly attack him. As the saying goes, there are no righteous wars in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the current situation in the Great Yu Empire would likewise see no righteous wars. Follow current novᴇls on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝔫𝔢𝔱
Strength would ultimately decide everything.
It was precisely with this in mind that he had taken the thirteen prefectures of Wei. Now, he had provisions and a population, and he controlled firearms. The human wave tactic was no longer so terrifying to him. Now, with Wei, the state’s population basically reached six to seven million people.
Wei Family Restaurant.
Cui Zhang and the other two had returned here after leaving the government office. This time, all three looked grim, devoid of their initial arrogance.
Going upstairs, the three tacitly entered Cui Zhang’s room. After a moment of hesitation, Cui Zhang said, “When I mentioned combining forces to attack, Xiao Ming showed no fear. This is truly surprising.”
“Perhaps you thought Xiao Ming was too simple. When Xiao Ming only had 20,000 men under him, he dared to fight tens of thousands of barbarians in Cangzhou and Jizhou. How could he fear us today?” Wang Xi said blandly.
Zheng Hao had the same worry. Before Xiao Ming’s firm stance, they firmly believed Xiao Ming would be afraid, because the first time, Xiao Ming signed the truce agreement under their threat. They never thought that Xiao Ming was merely playing along then.
“Xiao Ming will die at our hands sooner or later. It’s better to destroy him while his wings are still undeveloped than to wait until he completely incorporates Wei into his state. This time, we must work together and definitely kill Xiao Ming. In this way, there will be no imperial family members left in the Great Yu Empire who can contend with us.”