Chapter 152 Strategic Personality

“Eh…” Yu Wang Mu Ji raised his hand to refuse, “Your Highness, please don’t be in a hurry. I specifically asked you to come tonight, not to ask you to leave Mo Yang. After all, my brother is currently seriously ill and in a coma, and you are also weak and sickly. The environment in the Western Region is harsh and not conducive to recuperating.”

"Then is there anything else I can do for you?" Mu Xi had no idea what the King of Yu was up to.

Mu Ji's usually cold eyes flickered slightly: "The Southern Border has fallen, and Dai Rong's troops are nowhere to be found. The Western Border is adjacent to the Southern Border, so we could borrow troops from the Western Border to reinforce the Southern Border. I wonder what the Crown Prince thinks?"

The real intention behind the drunkard's actions was not the wine; it turned out that King Yu had this in mind.

Why is he not using his own troops, but instead borrowing those from the western border?

Mu Xi was completely ignorant of military matters, but he knew that even a fool wouldn't agree to such a thing.

But if I want to refuse, what can I do?

At that moment, a voice popped into his head: "It's all bullshit. These people are completely ignorant and yet they're arguing illogically. You must not agree to lend them troops."

Mu Xi took a while to process what she was saying before she finally realized, "You're that person who claims to understand military strategy? Ah... no... I mean, the essence of tactics?"

"It's me." The strategist's tone was inherently arrogant. "Borrowing troops is like borrowing lives. He's taking advantage of Jin Fangjun's illness to try and kill the entire Jin Fangjun's mansion."

Mu Xi couldn't care less at this moment: "I want to refuse, but he is, after all, a king. How can I refuse?"

His strategic and personal character succinctly replied with three words: "Get out of my way."

Mu Xi had no choice but to retreat.

The next second, the strategist's personality came online, and he clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "If Your Majesty has such intentions, your humble servant is willing to personally lead troops to relieve the crisis in the southern border."

It's impossible to give troops away for free, but if we can gain control of them first, it's worth a try.

Mu Xi understood this principle as well.

However, this statement immediately drew opposition:

"How can this be? Hasn't the young master always been frail and sickly?"

"The young master has never been on a battlefield, how can he lead troops?"

"That's about clearing out the pirates...it's no joke..."

Gao Quan sneered, "Your Highness, did I hear that right? Your Highness has always been frail. Leading troops into battle, amidst the clash of swords and the carnage, is not something you can simply do while reciting poetry. Could it be that you can't wait any longer... to seize your father's military power as soon as possible? But military power is not child's play, nor can it be obtained with a tiger tally or a single order."

Mu Ji's usually gloomy face revealed no further emotion: "Your Highness's loyalty and courage are admirable, but... this is no joke. The situation in the Southern Border has not been resolved in a day, nor can it be easily taken back."

"If that's the case, I'm afraid even the troops in the Western Border can't save us. We'll need Your Majesty to send a capable general to provide assistance from afar." With these words from the strategist, Mu Xi's path to the Western Border was effectively cut off.

This clearly offended King Yu Muji, as they refused to allow him to mobilize troops.

Mu Xi refused to give him face, but someone else wanted to give King Yu a way out.

Grand Minister Tao Jin, always adept at feigning poverty, said: "Alas... Your Highness is unaware of the true state of the national treasury these past few years. The Ministry of Revenue knows the state of the treasury. Year after year, natural disasters, the reconstruction of Pingcheng, the military pay for the border troops... every single one of these has cost a fortune. Last year's floods cost so much military funds and provisions, yet it has had no effect. Now the granaries are empty, and the imperial treasury is stretched thin. Suddenly raising tens of thousands of troops would be like water from afar, unable to quench a fire in the present. Moreover, the court has no money left and cannot send out any troops."

The strategist spoke eloquently: "What's the point of talking about money when life and death are at stake? The main force of the pirates is still in the northwest, and the defense of the western border cannot be compromised. Borrowing troops from the west is tantamount to opening our own gates. The southern border has suffered a crushing defeat. Even if we send border troops to take over, they will be useless due to their unfamiliarity with the environment. On the other hand, we should admire General Pang Yi, who commands the navy. Where are his warships? Why not use our navy to control our navy, wipe them out at sea, and cut off the pirates' retreat?"

Pang Yi hadn't expected there to be a matter of a naval force involved. He usually just talked about it, but when it came to a real fight, he knew he couldn't do it, so he looked at his father.

The elderly Pang Ming, trembling, said: "In this critical situation, to rashly start a war that would deplete the nation's resources and manpower is the worst possible strategy. Since the pirates only want food, wealth, and women... and we can't afford to fight them, we might as well give up some wealth and resources to save trouble."

Upon hearing that he was to donate money and valuables, Grand Minister Tao Jin was heartbroken: "No, I have no money or valuables, and I certainly don't have 100,000 shi of grain."

Pang Ming, with his many wrinkles and thick skin, said, "This is a great achievement with a small investment. It can solve the urgent problem in the southern border without harming the foundation of my Yu Kingdom. Why be stingy, Minister Tao? No one else has 100,000 shi of grain. You can easily get enough by letting a little slip through your fingers."

Taolue was more strategic than Muxi, and with just a few words, he turned the tables on Muxi.

However, Mu Xi observed Yu Wang Mu Ji from the sidelines.

The Mu family was founded on military strength and had never considered surrendering to pirates.

As the King of Yu, Mu Ji was unwilling to compromise.

As for why he didn't send troops himself, but instead borrowed troops from the western border?

This is obvious; of course, we must be wary of both sides and have backup plans.

If that's the case, then the fall of the southern border would be a huge problem.

Isn't a big problem a big achievement?

If that's the case, and if she can accomplish such a great feat, then it might be feasible to ask for a reward for her meritorious service.

As Mu Xi was pondering this, the strategist said, "Your plan is dangerous; you might lose both your wife and your army, unless..."

"Unless what?" This was Mu Xi's first time participating in government affairs, and he was already at a loss for what to do.

His strategic personality is exceptionally positive: "Unless you hand it over to me for negotiation, I guarantee it will work."

"Ah...it's not impossible, but..." Mu Xi muttered to herself, her consciousness suddenly shifting backward.

The next second, the strategist directly bowed to King Yu on the throne: "Your Majesty, if Your Majesty grants your permission, I am willing to go to the southern border alone without losing a single soldier to wipe out the pirates."

"What did you say?" King Yu thought he was hallucinating.

His strategic acumen and unwavering character were evident in his words: "I am willing to sign a military pledge that I will only bring my personal troops on this mission. If I fail to eliminate the pirates from the southern border, I will swear to die rather than return."

The Tianjun Hall was completely silent.

After a long pause, it suddenly erupted:

"Does Prince Jinfang know what a military order is?"

"I've never heard of the Crown Prince riding a horse to practice martial arts, let alone leading troops into battle. Isn't this ridiculous?"

"How can we fight a war without losing a single soldier?"

...

He went alone without losing a single soldier.

Mu Xi was startled: "Are you crazy? Or are you sure about this?"

His strategic thinking and self-confidence are off the charts: "Listen to me, you can't go wrong."

“You… are just all talk and no action…” Mu Xi hesitated, about to regain control of her body.

His arrogant and confident tone was undisguised: "Otherwise, do you have a better idea?"