However, the Grand Commandant's impassioned speech completely blocked his escape route to peace talks.
In the imperial court, the pro-war faction was gaining momentum, and the ministers were in high spirits.
If he backs down at this critical juncture, wouldn't the world laugh at him for being cowardly and incompetent?
Where is the dignity and face of the emperor?
He clenched his teeth, struggling internally.
The Grand Commandant's overconfidence led him to a dead end.
He secretly resented the Grand Commandant's recklessness, but he had to admit that the Grand Commandant's words were not entirely unreasonable.
Perhaps Lu Yan was just bluffing, all bark and no bite.
If he truly has the strength to breach Tianjun City, why has he hesitated to take action?
This thought lingered in his mind like a lifeline.
He began to waver and started to comfort himself.
Perhaps, this is a high-stakes gamble.
If he wins the gamble, he will continue to retain the supreme glory of the Northern Xiang Kingdom;
He lost the bet... He dared not think about it anymore.
His tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly as he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
In the end, he placed all his hopes on the Grand Commandant.
We hope he can create a miracle and turn the tide.
After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke:
"Very well! Since the Grand Commandant has such lofty ambitions, I certainly cannot let you down! I grant your permission!"
His voice echoed in the hall, resounding and leaving no room for doubt.
The Grand Commandant was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude for the Emperor's grace, his excitement evident in his words.
Chu Wen stood aside, quietly watching all of this.
The Northern Xiang Kingdom has embarked on a path of no return.
He shook his head helplessly and sighed silently in his heart:
The Northern Xiang Kingdom is in grave danger!
This Grand Commandant is clearly a good-for-nothing who only knows how to talk the talk.
If we really let him lead troops to attack Shannan Prefecture, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.
But Chu Wen still advised the King of Beixiang.
"Your Majesty, you may send troops. But the capital of Datong must not be massacred."
"The act of massacring the city will have endless consequences, and may provoke Lu Yan to take desperate measures, endangering Princess Mingyue's safety."
Chu Wen paused, observing the expression on the face of the King of Beixiang.
Seeing that he showed no displeasure, she continued.
"I believe that we should join forces with Java to divide up the Datong Dynasty and expand our territory."
"Then the tripartite balance of power can be resolved, and a struggle for hegemony between two countries can be expected."
Upon hearing this, the King of Beixiang immediately thought it was a brilliant idea.
He was initially worried that Lu Yan would fight to the death for Da Tong.
If Java could be persuaded to send troops, Lu Yan would be attacked from both sides and would inevitably be unable to cope.
At that time, he will not only be able to win back Princess Mingyue, but also take the opportunity to expand his territory. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
"Yes, that makes sense. Issue the order to send envoys to Java to negotiate peace."
"Furthermore, I order all generals to seek an opportunity to capture Datongyu City, and to increase military pressure on Lu Yan."
The King of Beixiang made the final decision.
"Chu Wen, you're in charge of this!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Chu Wen accepted the order and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Now we'll see what Java's attitude is.
King Hassan of Java was an ambitious man.
They had always coveted the rich lands of the Datong Dynasty.
Upon receiving the message from the envoy of the Northern Xiang Kingdom, he immediately summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.
"My esteemed ministers, the Northern Xiang Kingdom has proposed to join forces with our country to divide up the Great Tong Kingdom. What are your thoughts on this?"
Hassan sat on his jewel-encrusted throne and asked slowly.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a short, stout minister with an oily face eagerly stepped forward.
He bowed deeply and said obsequiously:
"Your Majesty, I believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"The Great Tong Dynasty is currently embroiled in internal strife and its people are demoralized. This is the perfect opportunity for us to seize the moment and annex it in one fell swoop!"
Another minister quickly echoed:
"Yes, Your Majesty! Our Java Kingdom has always been suppressed by Da Tong."
"We've paid tribute every year and submitted to the emperor every year. Now that we have the chance to avenge our humiliation and reclaim our glory, how can we let it slip by!"
He spoke passionately, spittle flying everywhere.
"I second that opinion! The Great Tong Dynasty is vast and rich in resources."
If we could divide it up, our national strength would surely increase greatly!
As Hassan listened to the ministers' conversation, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
He had always coveted the rich lands of the Datong Dynasty.
Now that the opportunity has finally arrived, how could he not be excited?
"good!"
Hassan slammed his hand on the table, causing the gemstones embedded in it to shine brightly.
"Then it's settled! Send down the order to immediately muster the troops and prepare for battle!"
He stood up excitedly, his eyes gleaming with ambition to conquer.
...
Meanwhile, Chen Qingwan returned to Jingzhou with the five thousand explosives she had purchased from Lu Yan.
She was still exhausted from her journey when Li Mu came to greet her.
"Your Majesty, you're finally back! How are things in the capital?"
Li Mu asked with concern, his tone filled with anxiety.
Chen Qingwan rubbed her slightly sore temples and said casually:
"There was no direct attack on the capital. Lu Yan decided to attack Bei Xiang Kingdom first to put pressure on them before releasing the people of the capital."
Upon hearing this, Li Mu couldn't help but nod in approval:
"Lord Lu's strategy is indeed brilliant! If we launch a direct attack on the capital, it will definitely affect the people in the city."
Chen Qingwan waved her hand, steer the conversation back to the current battle:
"Alright, the most important thing right now is to capture Jingzhou City as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, we have already built quite a few siege weapons, and we have also recruited five thousand new soldiers."
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