Chu Anping's remarks didn't seem to attract the attention of everyone present. They seemed to have overlooked that what Chu Anping emphasized was not the protection of the people of Japan, but the protection of the land of Japan. Chu Anping always remembered the rich gold and silver mines on the land of Japan that Chu Fan had mentioned.
However, the imperial censor questioned Chu Anping's remarks. Standing in the center of the hall, he righteously expressed his views: "Although Wei is a country of etiquette, we cannot ignore the actual situation of our country. If Wei sends troops to Wa, its domestic forces will be depleted. If the Xiongnu and the Gan Kingdom take advantage of this opportunity, the consequences will be disastrous. The people of Wei need a stable life. Your Majesty must make a decision after careful consideration."
Chu Fan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Censor Zhang is absolutely right. Then, my dear Lord Chu, what good plan do you have to ensure the safety of Wei while also aiding Japan? We cannot put our own country in danger just to help others."
Chu Anping pretended to ponder for a moment, then slowly replied, "Your Majesty, I suggest selling some of Wei's grain and weapons to Japan. This way, the people of Japan will have the power to protect themselves, and we, Wei, won't have to send a large army to rescue them."
Because the Ministry of Works had done a very good job of keeping the new weapons secret, many court officials were still unaware that the Wei army was about to upgrade to new weapons. Therefore, when they heard Chu Anping's proposal to sell food and weapons to the Japanese, many of them showed surprise, and they could not understand why Chu Anping would make such a suggestion.
Censor Zhang pressed the issue, "Prince Chu, your suggestion sounds good, but wouldn't selling food and weapons weaken our national defense? Food and weapons are the foundation of our nation. If we sell these supplies to Japan, how will we respond if we encounter an enemy? Does Prince Chu want our soldiers to fight the enemy with branches?"
Chu Fan had not expected that such a fool would appear in the morning court today. In fact, many ministers in the court have begun to suspect whether Chu Anping is playing a double act with His Majesty. After all, if doing so would really endanger the national security of Wei, His Majesty would have scolded Chu Anping long ago. How could he be here listening to the debate between Chu Anping and Censor Zhang at ease?
As the Emperor of Wei, Chu Fan always prioritized national security and was always concerned about the safety of his people. How could he not know the risks of selling food and weapons?
However, few ministers understood this. Most ministers were concerned with whether Wei should intervene in Wa's affairs. A few days ago, when everyone heard about the vast wealth in Wa, they were very tempted, so they went to the Royal Affairs Office to request that Wei also send troops to Wa to plunder its wealth.
But what Censor Zhang said today did make sense. It also served as a warning to them. If Wei really sent troops to Wa, leaving the country empty, the Xiongnu and Gan Kingdom would take advantage and invade, and the consequences would be disastrous. After all, relations between Wei, the Xiongnu, and Gan Kingdom were already tense, and the slightest carelessness could lead to war.
If we disregard national security for temporary wealth, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? At this point, many ministers stepped forward and pleaded with Chu Fan, saying, "Your Majesty, we implore you to reconsider. Food and weapons are the most important assets of a nation. Many people in Wei are still hungry, and many of our soldiers are still using outdated weapons. If we sell food and weapons now, won't it plunge Wei into even deeper trouble? We should first ensure domestic stability before considering foreign aid. Otherwise, if we are beset by internal and external difficulties, Wei will find it difficult to protect itself."
The Japanese, upon hearing the Wei court's objections, felt deeply uneasy. They no longer expected Wei to send troops to aid them. They only hoped to purchase food and weapons so they could build an army capable of resisting foreign enemies upon their return. Furthermore, if they could purchase food and weapons from Wei, the troops they would recruit would be their own, allowing them to become local emperors.
The Japanese exiles pleaded in a low voice, "Your Majesty, although our nation is small, we understand the principle of the lips and teeth being cold. If we can receive even a little assistance from Wei, we will remember this favor and pledge to repay it with friendship for generations to come. I beg Your Majesty to sympathize with the suffering of our people and lend a helping hand so that we can overcome this difficult time together."
Censor Zhang also took the lead and knelt in the hall, saying earnestly: "Your Majesty, you must not put the State of Wei in danger for the sake of so-called reputation. The safety of the people of Wei is the foundation of Wei. For what happened in Wa, Wei cannot bear too much responsibility. For the people of Wa, we can only express our deepest sympathy."
Chu Fan looked at the group of people kneeling in the hall. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "I understand your advice, but Japan's current predicament is truly sympathetic. If other nations had assisted Wei when it was invaded, we wouldn't have been in such dire straits. Therefore, I will not make a decision today. My dear ministers, please return home today and carefully consider this matter. We will discuss this matter again at court tomorrow morning."
After Chu Fan finished speaking, he left the throne and walked towards the harem. As he left the Haotian Hall, he said to Eunuch Li, "Little Li, go tell Wen Zhengqing and Liu Wenshan that if the Japanese come to them tonight and offer them enough silver, they can accept it and agree to support the sale of food, fodder, and weapons to Japan at the court tomorrow."
Of course, if the silver isn't enough, tell them to hold their ground and not waver. Only if they offer enough silver will they agree to speak for the Japanese in court tomorrow. Also, have them secretly signal that Wei can send troops to aid Japan, but we'll need a garrison there so we can better control the situation.
The location is set in the forest of Oda City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Because the terrain there is difficult to defend and difficult to attack, it is an ideal place for garrisoning troops. I believe the Japanese will not refuse."
During the court discussion, Chu Fan noticed they mentioned the forests of Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, and a plan of his own emerged. He remembered that on Blue Star, Japan's Tokimi Silver Mine was located in Ota City, Shimane Prefecture. According to the Japanese, the silver mines there had not yet been discovered, and the area was still covered in dense primeval forest. Therefore, no one knew of the rich silver resources there.
Chu Fan believed that Chu Anping's proposal to sell food, fodder, and weapons to Japan was feasible. Only by allowing the Japanese to fight among themselves and other countries on the Shengwu Continent could their national strength be effectively depleted, which would be more beneficial for completely controlling Japan in the future.
Currently, the other nations on Shengwu Continent were only enslaving the people of Wa to gain wealth, without actually killing them. However, once Wa purchased food and weapons from Wei, the people of Wa would have the strength to resist, leading to a larger-scale conflict, potentially culminating in a bitter struggle.
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