Chapter 522 Shen Lanxi: Turning the Southwest Upside Down!
Shen Lanxi: "When His Majesty was seriously ill, Zhou Ruyuan was sent to the southwest. He did not know that His Majesty's health had improved, so he wanted to tie you down to rebel."
Meng Xiangka's gaze suddenly turned fierce.
She continued, "The Southwest Army has only a few hundred thousand soldiers. Even if all the tribes in the Southwest add up to a few hundred thousand, it wouldn't exceed three hundred thousand. My Great Zhou has two hundred thousand troops stationed in the Northwest, two hundred thousand in Dongchuan, and another two hundred thousand fighting against the rebels. These two hundred thousand will soon return to the capital to defend it. Add to that the men I brought with me this time, and you can calculate how many there are. If the tribes in the Southwest unite with Zhou Ruyuan, do they have any chance of winning?"
Meng Xiangka got caught up in it.
Based on what Shen Lanxi said, the Great Zhou army probably has no less than a million soldiers. Wasn't that the purpose of the peace talks with Great Zhou in the first place?
Shen Lanxi continued, "Fortunately, I came this time. If it were someone else, without asking any questions, they would have started a war as soon as they met. I'm afraid the southwest would have been destroyed, with widespread suffering and the people and tribes living in misery, with less than one in ten surviving."
Panic flashed in the eyes of Meng Xiangka and the foreigners behind her.
Seeing this, Shen Lanxi continued to press the issue: "I have experienced the wars in Dongchuan and the Northwest, and they were truly devastating. In many families, only infants crying for food and blind elderly people were left."
"The land was left uncultivated, the children unattended, and the elderly uncared for; all were left to die. The conscripted soldiers fared even worse, fighting to the death with their own bodies, only to die nameless and without a complete corpse. Even those who were lucky enough to survive were missing limbs. When they finally recovered and returned home, all they found were corpses scattered everywhere. In the end, they were filled with despair and took their own lives."
"Every time I think of those scenes, my heart aches!"
Meng Xiangka and her people also listened with heavy hearts.
Shen Lanxi sighed and said gently, "My purpose in coming here this time is not for war, but for the friendship between our two races, so that we can work together to enable our people to live a prosperous and peaceful life. Isn't this what an official and a leader should do?"
Meng Xiangka fell silent. Shen Lanxi spoke so passionately, for the country and the people, but she didn't believe that a person could be without selfish motives.
“I will have someone investigate. If what you say is true, that Zhou Ruyuan is lying to me, I will never forgive him,” Meng Xiangka said thoughtfully.
Shen Lanxi: "According to the previous agreement between your clan and the Great Zhou, the forty people are the best of the best in our Great Zhou, invaluable pillars. They will remain in your ancestral home to continue their mission of cultural exchange. After both sides have made arrangements, I will send someone to bring them back."
Meng Xiangka was alarmed. Wasn't Shen Lanxi afraid that she would change her mind and use the envoy as a hostage?
"Okay." Although he had some doubts, he was inclined to do business with their clan, and it would be foolish not to.
Shen Lanxi chuckled: "After a few days of rest, I will go to the Southwest Army. If Chief Meng wants to contact me, you can send a letter directly to the Southwest Army."
Hearing her say that, Meng Xiangka believed her even more.
After the two separated, the guard immediately reported.
"Suspicious people were spotted spying near the camp."
Shen Lanxi: "They should be from the Southwest Army. Be careful and follow the instructions."
Guard: "Your Highness, will the wolf clan leader suspect us?"
Shen Lanxi revealed a cold smile: "How could I let my Great Zhou envoys off so easily after they were humiliated by being locked up in a cattle pen?"
Although the guards were puzzled, they were not strategists; they only knew how to assassinate and protect. Apart from helping with force, they were not good at giving advice.
The wolf clan maintained tight defenses at night. After instructing her guards, Shen Lanxi took action herself.
All forty envoys have gathered at the Wolf Clan, and their treatment is vastly different from before.
One of the envoys got up to use the restroom at night and suddenly felt something in his hand. He looked down and saw it was a letter.
A day later, all the tribal leaders gathered to discuss important matters. During a meal, several leaders happened to encounter the envoy, and afterwards they all asked Monshanka for something.
On the other side, Bai Qingling sent out three groups of people in succession, but none of them returned.
"They must have been discovered," Jiang Wuyai said with a worried expression.
Bai Qingling said stubbornly, "This princess absolutely does not believe that Shen Lanxi has brought 400,000 troops. The tighter their defenses are, the more likely it is a trap."
Jiang Wuyai pondered, "Since she said she was here for an inspection, why hasn't she shown up yet?"
Bai Qingling's eyes lit up, and she said confidently, "She's just bluffing. If she doesn't come soon, we'll take some people to invite her over."
It would be unreasonable for them not to go and greet the Regent of the Great Zhou when he arrives.
Jiang Wuyai: "We still need to be careful. Send two more groups of people to investigate. If it's still like this, then it's just a deliberate attempt to create a false impression."
Bai Qingling didn't want to wait any longer, but she couldn't refuse Jiang Wuyai's idea. She sent someone out and then immediately sent a letter to Shen Lanxi.
~
"Your Highness, Bai Qingling has invited us to the Southwest Army," a guard reported.
Shen Lanxi gave a mocking smile: "She's trying to lure you into a trap."
"Your Highness, it's too dangerous."
Shen Lanxi's eyes were firm: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"
Soon, Bai Qingling received a reply: two days later, Shen Lanxi went to the Southwest Army for inspection.
“If Shen Lanxi really brought so many people, she would definitely come directly instead of sending a messenger!” At this moment, Bai Qingling was absolutely certain that her guess was true.
Jiang Wuyai: "Your Highness, should we inform the Prince?"
A hint of hesitation flashed in Bai Qingling's eyes. She quickly denied it, remembering the lingering affection in the prince's eyes every time she mentioned Shen Lanxi in front of him.
"No need. His Highness has always felt indebted to Shen Lanxi. I am worried that if he finds out, he will be unwilling to do anything to Shen Lanxi."
Jiang Wuyai's eyes flickered; "Does the Princess really intend to make a move against Shen Lanxi? Shouldn't you reconsider?"
Bai Qingling had long since lost her patience.
"There's no need to hesitate any longer. The prince is just too loyal and righteous, which is why he was forced to leave the capital and go to the southwest. Clearly, only the prince is qualified to inherit the throne, yet His Majesty is still hesitant. This is obviously because he is being controlled by someone else."
Jiang Wuyai: "Shen Lanxi wields absolute power and is domineering. During His Majesty's illness, she eliminated dissidents and has long since taken control of the court."
Bai Qingling sneered, "We should purge the court of such treacherous officials and eliminate them as soon as possible!"
Jiang Wuyai was worried about the relatives of the Prince of Zhennan in the capital.
"What if Shen Lanxi uses Consort Shu and the young master as threats?"
Bai Qingling froze for a moment, then steeled her resolve and said, "I have already planted people. Once the uprising starts, I will rescue Consort Shu and Yu'er."
Furthermore, she firmly believed that she, Yu'er, was the only one in the capital with royal blood. After the prince ascended the throne, her Yu'er would be the crown prince. Who would dare to lay a hand on her Yu'er? Wouldn't they be afraid of having their family and clan wiped out?
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