Mu Yunfeng's words were like the morning bell and evening drum, deeply shocking the generals present and making them realize that the cruelty of war is not only reflected in the battlefield with swords and shadows, but also hidden in the struggle for power and people's hearts in the court.
Sometimes the outcome of a war often depends on the grasp and manipulation of people's hearts and minds. This invisible competition is often more deadly than direct armed confrontation. Mu Yunfeng cleverly exploited Qiu Li's hatred of the Gan Kingdom and the internal chaos of the Gan Kingdom to develop a strategy to weaken the Gan Kingdom.
By doing so, we can not only effectively weaken the national strength of the State of Gan, but also transform the Qiu family into a loyal ally of the State of Wei. In this way, the State of Gan will no longer have the extra energy and resources to invade the State of Wei.
Mu Yunfeng continued his speech with a hint of joking in his tone: "So, you little bastards still think that it was stupid of me to release Qiu Li?"
Upon hearing this, the young generals present all smiled knowingly. They replied, "We were not only naive, but also short-sighted. Thanks to the general's teachings, we have come to understand that on the battlefield, we must not only fight bravely but also use our brains and carefully consider every decision."
Mu Yunfeng also revealed a satisfied smile at this time. He began to speak loudly: "You are quite self-aware. In fact, there are some things I don't intend to tell you, but if I don't tell you, you will never understand the deep meaning. Do you really think that everything His Majesty is doing now is just to stabilize the border?
Do you think I released Qiu Li simply to disrupt Gan's internal affairs and prevent them from posing a threat? Wrong! There's a bigger game at play here. Your Majesty is likely to take action against the Xiongnu and Gan. After all, they invaded our borders last year, bringing untold suffering to our people.
If we don't retaliate, how can we be worthy of those suffering people? Your Majesty has long been preparing for a full-scale counterattack, and my release of Qiu Li is a key move in this grand chess game. You must remember that every seemingly small action may affect the entire course of the war.
This group of young generals finally realized the true meaning of strategic foresight. As leaders, they must not only be brave and skilled in battle, but also possess a keen understanding of the overall situation, grasping the profound considerations behind every decision made by His Majesty. Only in this way could they keep pace with His Majesty, avoid losing their way in future wars, and ensure the long-term stability of the State of Wei.
After getting the answer from Mu Yunfeng, they returned to their military camp and began to prepare for war seriously. After all, if the Wei State really launched an attack on the Xiongnu and the Gan State one day, they would need to be in the best condition to meet this battle and show their style as Wei soldiers.
Such incidents have occurred on Blue Planet before. The most famous example is Zhu Qizhen, known as the Ming Dynasty's God of War, the "Gate Emperor," and a student of the Oirat Mongols. His ambition to lead his own expedition led to his capture by the Oirat Mongols, a move that directly led to internal and external troubles for the Ming Dynasty, earning him the scorn of later generations.
At that time, Zhu Qizhen had not yet realized his own problem and was forced by the Oirat to ask the Ming Dynasty's city guarding general to open the city gates. At the beginning, several cities on the border were captured by the Oirat because Zhu Qizhen asked them to open the city gates.
However, upon reaching the capital, the city's defenses remained impregnable thanks to Yu Qian's presence. At court, Emperor Taizong Zhu Qiyu decisively ascended the throne and stabilized the political situation, averting a further disaster. And thanks to Yu Qian's proactive preparations, the Oirat were ultimately unable to breach Beijing.
After Zhu Qizhen was no longer useful, the Oirat people came up with a vicious plan: to release Zhu Qizhen back to the Ming Dynasty, hoping to use him to create civil unrest again and further weaken the Ming Dynasty's national strength. However, this plan did not have much effect at the beginning. Zhu Qizhen was placed under house arrest in the Nangong Palace and could no longer stir up trouble.
However, as the health of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu deteriorated, powerful officials in the court took the opportunity to cause chaos, and Zhu Qizhen, who was under house arrest in Nangong, was released again. Finally, in the first year of Tianshun (1457), Zhu Qizhen was restored to the throne with the support of powerful officials. General Shi Heng and others falsely accused Yu Qian of plotting to establish the son of Prince Xiang, which led to his unjust death.
A loyal and good man died unjustly. It must be said that although the Oirat's strategy finally achieved its goal, Yu Qian's death led to the abolition of many of his decrees, and the national strength of the Ming Dynasty began to weaken.
Some say Yu Qian was a patron saint sent by heaven to save the Ming Dynasty, only to be misled by his own emperor and ultimately die a victim of injustice. His legacy is a legacy of valuing integrity over fame and fortune, valuing martyrdom over personal sacrifice, and prioritizing the state over the emperor. This triad of values stands like a monument through history, inspiring countless generations of patriots and patriots.
Therefore, in many cases, the best solution isn't simply to kill the enemy. Instead, the key consideration is how to leverage their identity to maximize your own advantage. Many things require more than just superficial analysis; we must delve deeper into the underlying interests and power dynamics to truly understand their true nature.
After arranging matters in Japan, Chu Fan's first wedding was about to be held. Because Liu Xueyu was the third princess of Shu Kingdom, and Liu Xueyu was also pregnant, Chu Fan held a grand wedding directly in the palace.
On Chu Fan's wedding day, the entire city of Kaifeng was immersed in a festive atmosphere. Lanterns and colorful flags were hung on both sides of the streets, and the people were laughing and celebrating this grand event together. Of course, because Liu Xueyu was already pregnant, it was not Liu Xueyu herself who performed the wedding ceremony with Chu Fan. Instead, Qiu Ya performed the ceremony on her behalf.
This can be considered as a small compensation from Liu Xueyu to Qiuya. After all, Qiuya has always been with Chu Fan, and because of her identity, she cannot hold a public wedding with Chu Fan. So Liu Xueyu let Qiuya complete the ceremony in her own name, which is both a recognition of Qiuya's years of dedication and a response to Chu Fan's deep affection.
Liu Xueyu's actions were not only a manifestation of gratitude and respect for Qiuya, but also a display of her sophisticated psychological strategy. Qiuya was grateful to her just for a wedding that she could not attend. At the same time, she also cleverly pleased Chu Fan, the Emperor of Wei, achieving multiple goals with one stroke.
Because if Chu Fan, the Emperor of Wei, really married a woman who was already pregnant, then both the court ministers and the people would discuss it and question his character and chastity. By doing this, not only did he maintain Chu Fan's dignity, but he also avoided unnecessary rumors.
As long as Liu Xueyu gives birth to the child in the palace and waits a year before letting the child appear in public, there will be no suspicion.
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