Chapter 335: It is human nature to be cautious

The Wu family was once a powerful family and is now a monarch. Even if they defect to Northern Yan in the future, they cannot be underestimated. However, the Cui family is not a small family either, and the Wu family certainly does not want to offend the Cui family.

There is no benefit, so why make enemies?

Are you bored because you've eaten too much?

Of course, it wasn't that his Wu family had broken their promise and turned Shen Sui in. It was just that his son and niece had been missing for a few days, and he was really afraid that Cui Jing would throw them among the beggars in a rage.

If that happens, his son will be finished.

The Wu family lost three lives first.

Cui Jing nodded, but asked, "What benefits did General Shen give to the Wu family?"

Prince Wu looked embarrassed and didn't know how to start for a moment.

Shangguan Tong said, "Mr. Cui, let's discuss this matter when we get back. We have more important things to do right now."

Cui Jing smiled and said, "Military Advisor, I was being reckless. I just couldn't control my anger when I thought about how some people were using their power for personal gain and were trying to harm my daughter from the Cui family under the pretext of protecting Northern Yan. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me."

What else could Shangguan Tong say?

After all, it was Chen Sui who disregarded the overall situation and teamed up with outsiders to harm the Cui family and Cui Si first. It was normal for Cui Jing to feel resentful.

Moreover, at this time, important matters are at stake, so it is not a good idea to continue to dwell on it.

In fact, he probably understood Cui Jing's thoughts.

Cui Jing did not trust Chen Sui, did not trust Nan Huai, and did not trust Shangguan Tong.

He first made a harsh statement and made his attitude clear. No matter how the negotiations went today, if the condition was not changed, Cui Jing would overturn the table and kill someone named Wu as a burial companion.

No one can expect an easy life.

As for the failure of the peace talks, the rift between Northern Yan and Southern Huai, and the subsequent fighting, if the matter is brought to a head, then it will be Shen Sui's responsibility. Even if Cui Jing was at fault, it was only to protect himself.

Even if the Lord punishes us, if we want to take action against the Cui family, we must first offer Shen Sui's head as a sacrifice to heaven.

Otherwise, the people of Northern Yan would be unstable.

Shangguan Tong had no choice but to say, "Forget it, let's go back and talk about it. Prince Wu, let's go see the King of Nanhuai."

Prince Wu glanced at Cui Jing and asked Shangguan Tong, "What about my son?"

Cui Jing said: "If my family is safe, he will be safe. If my family is in trouble, he will repay them a thousand times over. After today, if my family is safe, I will send someone to send them back."

Prince Wu felt aggrieved: "Bei Yan is so insincere."

Cui Jing said, "I think you Nan Huai are forcing people to do what they want. You're asking a young girl to be a concubine for an old man. Can you really think of that as sincerity?"

Prince Wu said: "This is General Shen..."

"Then go find General Shen, why are you looking for me?" Cui Jing said angrily.

Prince Wu: “…”

Prince Wu was filled with anger, but he didn't know how to reason.

There was no other way but to hold back for the time being and invite the person to the Taoist temple halfway up the mountain.

When they arrived at the Taoist temple, Prince Wu raised his hand and said, "Mr. Shangguan, General Shen, Mr. Cui, my father is inside the temple, please—"

"Prince Wu, please."

When the group entered the temple, they looked up and saw soldiers holding spears and swords on their waists standing guard all around, while a man in royal blue clothes was sitting in a dilapidated wooden pavilion playing chess.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around and put on a friendly smile.

"Mr. Shangguan, thank you for your visit."

"Greetings, King Nanhuai." Everyone bowed to show respect.

"No need to be so polite. We may have to work together in the future. Please take good care of me, Mr. Shangguan."

Prince Ming of Nanhuai is already fifty-four years old this year. His temple hair and beard are all dyed with silver frost, but he does not look old. The royal blue robe makes him look noble and elegant, and his eyes are bright and lively.

He doesn't look like a local overlord, but rather like a scholar, with a gentleness and open-mindedness that comes from years of immersion.

"Please come to the pavilion, Mr. Shangguan, how about we have a chat?"

"Very good." Shangguan Tong agreed naturally.

Then the two of them sat opposite each other in the pavilion and played chess, while Shen Sui, Cui Jing, Prince Wu and others watched the game from the side.

Neither of them seemed to be in a hurry. They played slowly and did not talk about anything. It was as if they were just reuniting with old friends and wanted to play the next game to see if the other had improved over the years.

It was already a little hot in April, and the breeze blowing through the mountain mist brought a gentle coolness and blew away the heat.

Cui Jing sat aside, holding a cup of tea, drinking it slowly and in no hurry.

Chen Sui sat there with a cold face like ice, his emotions undetectable, and he looked as if it had nothing to do with him.

Only Prince Wu was worried about his son and felt a little anxious.

After one game, half an hour had passed. Shangguan Tong won half a piece, and King Nanhuai lost.

Prince Nan Huai smiled and shook his head: "In the end, I lost because of my hesitation."

Shangguan Tong said, "It's human nature to look ahead and behind. In the front, you have to risk everything and fight your way out. In the back, you have the land and the people to take care of. Even if you lose, it's not a loss. As long as you keep what you want, that's enough."

Prince Nan Huai laughed and said, "Isn't it because you lack the ability? You can't guarantee victory by giving it your all, and you don't have the energy to worry about anything else afterwards."

Shangguan Tong said, "Human abilities are ultimately limited. They are not omnipotent. And sometimes, winning or losing isn't important. As long as you can protect yourself and what you want to protect, that's all that matters."

"Not omnipotent, including the King of Northern Yan?" King Nanhuai asked him.

"Of course, if the Lord is truly omnipotent, he should rush to the Imperial City and kill the tyrant king with his own hands." Shangguan Tong smiled.

"There is no one in this world who is omnipotent. I am like this, you are like this, and so is the Lord. You have done your best to protect this land. Now that disaster is ahead, you are simply looking for a way out for yourself and the people."

The King of Nanhuai chose Northern Yan because he actually had no better choice.

In the past year or so of fighting with Xiling, we have lost a state and more than half of our soldiers. In this world where kings are fighting for supremacy, it is impossible to become the ultimate winner.

As for Nanhuai, facing such a vicious enemy as King Xiling, King Nanhuai really couldn't continue fighting.

To put it bluntly, the current struggle for supremacy among the kings is actually just a fight between brothers to see who will win in the end and overthrow the old dynasty to establish a new one. The armies have not occupied any cities, and their main focus is to appease the people.

But King Xiling refused to do that. He was bloodthirsty and could even massacre a city.

In the state of Nanhuai that fell into the hands of Xiling, two cities were massacred by the Xiling army.

The cruelty of their methods is chilling.

Moreover, even if the fight continues, Nanhuai is probably no match for Xiling.

So after much deliberation, King Nanhuai decided to seek out Northern Yan, which was the closest to him, had the largest territory, and the most powerful army.

In this way, at least we can protect our own family and the people.