The explosion resounded in the silent hall, startling the ministers who all lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.
"Haixia Pass... Haixia Pass actually... actually..."
The king's voice was low and hoarse, each word sounding as if squeezed out from between his teeth.
He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth, his wide dragon robe fluttering in the air with each step.
Inside the main hall, the ministers were all silent, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground.
They were terrified of inadvertently angering the emperor.
They all knew that the news brought by this battle report was like a bolt from the blue for the Northern Xiang Kingdom.
It is enough to shake the very foundation of the country.
The strategically important Haixia Pass in Java was actually breached by Lu Yan!
The news spread like wildfire, casting a shadow over everyone's hearts.
"My esteemed ministers,"
The king abruptly stopped, turned to face his ministers, and his voice echoed like thunder in the palace.
"Speak up, everyone! Lu Yan is so arrogant these days, how should our Northern Xiang Kingdom deal with him?"
His gaze swept over each minister.
The ministers looked at each other, none daring to speak first.
Those military generals who had previously clamored to attack Shannan Prefecture.
At this moment, it shrank its neck like a quail, afraid of being called out by the king.
Their once bold pronouncements have now become ironic echoes.
The sound was particularly jarring in the empty hall.
Silence, a suffocating silence, enveloped the entire Golden Palace.
Finally, Chu Wen stepped forward. He took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. In my humble opinion, the only solution now is..."
He paused deliberately, looked around, and seeing that everyone was listening intently, before continuing:
"The only solution is to restore friendly relations with Shannan Prefecture."
These words caused an uproar throughout the court.
The ministers whispered amongst themselves, discussing the matter animatedly, as if a pot had been boiled over.
"Reconcile? Lord Chu, are you out of your mind?!"
A military officer suddenly jumped out and pointed at Chu Wen's nose, cursing.
"Lu Yan has repeatedly violated our borders and killed our soldiers. Now he has even annexed Haixia Pass in Java. With such wolfish ambitions, how can we negotiate with him!"
Chu Wen was not afraid at all and sneered:
"General, you are mistaken. The troops of Shannan Prefecture are strong and well-equipped, and their morale is high. If our Beixiang Kingdom rashly sends troops, wouldn't that be like throwing an egg against a rock?"
He paused, then said:
"Moreover, Lu Yan is a cunning man. Who can guarantee that he won't join forces with other countries to deal with my Northern Xiang Kingdom?"
His words left everyone speechless.
The King of Beixiang Kingdom nodded slowly and pondered for a moment:
"What Minister Chu says is not without reason. However, if we just let it go like this, what will become of the reputation of my Northern Xiang Kingdom?"
Chu Wen glanced around and lowered his voice to say:
"Your Majesty, I have a plan that can not only preserve the dignity of my Northern Xiang Kingdom, but also make Lu Yan obediently return Jianmen Pass."
The King of Beixiang Kingdom relaxed, the dark clouds dispersed, and the long-awaited sunshine appeared.
"Court adjourned! The civil prime minister and the military prime minister, please remain. The rest of you, disperse."
His voice was relaxed, a stark contrast to his previous furious demeanor.
The courtiers, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly bowed and took their leave, fearing that the king might change his mind.
The Golden Palace was soon empty, leaving only the King of Beixiang, Chu Wen, and the Grand Commandant.
The king rose, put his hands behind his back, and strolled to the royal study, with Chu Wen and the Grand Commandant following closely behind.
Inside the Imperial Study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, yet the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
"Alright, now you can tell me, what's your brilliant plan?"
The king sat back on his throne and asked the question directly.
Chu Wen stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, Lu Yan is a brilliant strategist and even more adept at winning people's hearts. I believe that rather than confronting him head-on, it would be better to..."
"Disintegrate from within."
Upon hearing this, the Grand Commandant's body trembled.
"What Minister Wen means is..."
Chu Wen nodded slightly and said in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, I suspect that there is a spy named Lu Yan within the court!"
Upon hearing this, both the King and Xiong Ying gasped in shock.
A spy? That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!
The king's face darkened, and a sharp killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"Minister Chu, do you have any evidence?"
Chu Wen shook his head.
"This is just speculation at the moment, but we must be on guard! Lu Yan's actions are too strange; they don't seem like something an ordinary general would do." "In my opinion, the most urgent task is to thoroughly investigate all officials in the court and eliminate the spies!"
The king pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration. Minister Chu, do you have any other plans?"
Knowing that the king was worried about alerting the enemy, Chu Wen did not pursue the matter of the spy further.
Instead, she changed the subject and said:
"Your Majesty, Princess Mingyue is currently in Shannan Prefecture. I believe that we could... send her to Shannan Prefecture for marriage!"
"A wedding procession?"
The king and the Grand Commandant were both stunned; this was something they had never imagined.
“Exactly!” Chu Wen said confidently.
“We will marry Princess Mingyue to Lu Yan, and give Yunyang City as her dowry, making it her fiefdom.”
"In this way, we can legitimately plant spies in Shannan Prefecture, support the princess's power, and undermine Shannan Prefecture from within. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
A glint of light flashed in the king's eyes; this was indeed a bold plan!
Sending Princess Mingyue into the tiger's den is extremely risky, but it may also bring unexpected rewards.
"Grand Commandant, what do you think?"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
