Hearing this, Chen Yu sneered: "Feng Ye, your appetite is too big."

"I am blocking the barbarians outside the Great Wall, and you are enjoying the great kingdom inside the Great Wall. Whose appetite is bigger?" Feng Ye said coldly, "I'm afraid you haven't understood yet. What I want is not just to be a governor and prince. I want these four prefectures to belong to my Feng family completely and forever."

This time, Chen Yu and Shen Hexuan's faces darkened. Originally, Feng Ye's proposal to be in charge of the four prefectures was negotiable, but what Feng Ye wanted now was actually the fiefdoms of the marquises!

Before the Qin Dynasty, the feudal system existed. While the various states were autonomous, they all had a common ruler, the Zhou emperor. Although this common ruler was called "emperor", he actually only managed the military, politics, law and taxation in the capital area. When the Western Zhou royal family was strong, the states had to pay tribute and pay homage to them. Later, when the Zhou royal family declined, the states gradually got out of control. They were enemies at times and friends at times, and they fought constantly.

Since the Qin Dynasty destroyed the six states and unified the world, there were no more vassal states. The whole world belonged to the king. The military, political, legal and taxation powers of each prefecture were managed by officials appointed by the court. The royal relatives or meritorious officials who were granted fiefs actually only had "fiefs" but no "fiefs". Although the glory and wealth could be inherited from generation to generation, they did not own land or people, and were not allowed to own soldiers.

What Feng Ye is asking for now is to reform the national system that has not been shaken for thousands of years since the Qin Dynasty!

Shen Hexuan blurted out: "Ridiculous!"

If the national system is changed, the consequences will be disastrous. Not to mention how powerful the Feng family will become under the nourishment of these four prefectures, this move may cause the princes or local officials to follow suit, causing endless harm.

This is not about granting a fiefdom, this is about dividing the world with the Chen family!

Chen Yu's tightly pursed lips trembled slightly, and there was a sinister light flashing in his eyes. Feng Ye's wolf eyes were equally sharp and cold. The two of them glared at each other, with their swords drawn.

Yan Sikong said slowly, "Except for Hetao, most of Qianzhou is poor and remote. Datong is a barren land and has been invaded by the Mongols for many years. Liaodong has a large area of ​​frozen soil and has been a barren land since ancient times. There are many barbaric tribes such as the Jurchen and Khitan who are eyeing it covetously. Among these four prefectures, only Xuanhua is relatively prosperous, but compared with the fertile Central Plains and the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, it is still a world of difference." He glanced at Chen Yu and said, "Which is more important and which is less important, even a three-year-old child can tell."

Chen Yu said coldly: "If you take over the four prefectures in the northern border, there will be no peace in the Central Plains."

The four prefectures that Fengye wanted were indeed not rich, but they were connected in a line from the northwest to the northeast, and were important gateways to defend against the northern nomadic peoples. They had just been pressing down on the Central Plains. It only took a few days for a fast horse to get from the nearest Xuanhua to the capital. If they were given to Fengye, it would be like a knife hanging around Chen Yi's neck, and he would never be able to sit securely on the throne for the rest of his life.

How can I allow others to sleep peacefully beside my bed? !

"If you and I continue to fight endlessly, there will be no peace in the Central Plains." Feng Ye laughed mockingly, "You don't want to give me the Northern Territory, and I don't want to give you the Central Plains either. Go and get it yourself. Can you get it?"

"Feng Ye!" Chen Yu's face was full of savagery. "Don't forget, it's easy for me to kill you now."

"If you kill me, my uncle will resist to the end. There are still hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses of my Feng family in the capital. The Forbidden City is as solid as a rock and is the most powerful fortress in the world. All the descendants of your Chen family are in my hands." Feng Ye showed a ferocious smile, "Attack, you can't take it down. Besiege, the capital has enough food and grass for three years. After three years, I'm afraid the mountains and rivers will change, and things and people will be different."

Chen Yu and Shen Hexuan looked at each other again with complicated expressions.

Everything Feng Ye said was true. It was almost impossible to capture the capital by force. If the battle continued, it would only consume each other and end up in a situation where both sides would suffer losses. It was also possible that others would take advantage of the situation. Now the only way for Chen Yu to take the throne was for Feng Ye to withdraw the Feng Family Army from the capital.

But if the northern border is really closed off to the wild, it will sow disaster for the country forever.

Yan Sikong advised: "The Wolf King has already made concessions, and the King of Chu must also see clearly that this war has been going on for a long time and the people have suffered terribly. It is time to end it."

Shen Hexuan narrowed his eyes and said in an accusatory tone: "Yan Sikong, do you know that if you want to change the system of the country, it may cause harm for generations to come?"

"I know, but I also know that if this war continues, the country will not last forever." Yan Sikong chuckled, "Everything has its cause and effect. Having come to this point today, if the two kings can stop fighting, rest their troops and take care of the people, and bring peace to the world, it would be the best outcome at this point."

Chen Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I promise you."

"Your Highness!" Shen Hexuan shouted.

Chen Yu stared at Feng Ye and said, "Since you want four prefectures and fiefs, how much tribute will you pay?"

"It used to be taxed at 11th."

"Your Highness, you can't agree to this!" Shen Hexuan was so excited that he almost jumped up from the carriage. "If we let it grow stronger, one day it will definitely..."

"I will never enter the Central Plains in this lifetime." Feng Ye was full of masculine domineering aura, his eyes full of determination, "As long as you keep your promise."

Shen Hexuan stared at Feng Ye in a daze. He wanted to say something but hesitated. Finally, he remained silent.

The pros and cons are actually all clearly laid out in front of them, but how to weigh the pros and cons is a huge problem.

Chen Yu chose to sit on the throne first and then conquer the northern border. However, even he himself didn't know whether he would be able to truly rule the country in this lifetime.

Chen Yu took a deep breath. His face turned pale, but his eyes became even colder. "Okay, I agree, but the fiefdom requires more than just tribute. Someone must come to the court to report on their duties."

The implication is that Chen Yi wants a hostage.

The first person Feng Ye thought of was Yan Sikong. Sure enough, Chen Yu's eyes also drifted towards Yan Sikong. Feng Ye bared his fangs and said, "Don't even think about it!"

Chen Yu sneered: "Why, since it is a fiefdom, you dare not send people to Beijing to report your duties, Fengye, are you harboring evil intentions, and are you still looking for an opportunity to seize my Chen family's kingdom?"

"If that's the case, I won't give it to you now."

"Then send someone you truly care about to come to Beijing to pay tribute and pay homage every autumn harvest season!" Chen Wu shouted sternly.

"For the rest of your life," Feng Ye gritted his teeth and said, "don't even think about touching a hair on his head again."

Chen Yu grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. His smile was cold and vicious. He said, "You can't bear to part with Yan Sikong. Fine, then I want him." He raised the whip and pointed it at Yuan Nanyu.

Yuan Nanyuhun's body froze, and then his eyes widened as he unconsciously grabbed the sword at his waist.

This time it was Yan Sikong's turn to shout, "Don't even think about it!"

Feng Ye said without hesitation: "Impossible, I will send..."

"Who should we send? Send Feng Changyue? How can his dying bones withstand the hardships of traveling? Or should we send your son? I'm afraid we'll have to wait for more than ten years." Chen Yu sneered, "Who do you want to send?"

"I will send General Wang Shen to report on his duties. He has followed my Feng family for thirty years and is the commander of my Feng family's Shuairan Army. He is highly respected."

"Not enough." Chen Yu mocked, "I said, I want what you really care about, the northern border, the tribute, I'll give it to you. If you don't agree, I will surround Guangning until all the food and grass are gone, and then we can talk again. But by that time..." He showed murderous intent, "You can only save your own life."

Yan Sikong only felt anger rising in his chest.

Chen Yi was right. If the battle was really dragged on until Guangning was forced to surrender and Chen Yi was allowed to enter the city, perhaps Feng Ye and himself could be saved, but Liang Huiyong, She Zhun, Que Linghu and thousands of Feng's soldiers might all die in Chen Yi's rage of revenge.

With Chen Yu's ruthlessness, there is nothing he cannot do.

But what Chen Yu wanted was something he could never give her. It was his...

"Okay." A deep voice suddenly interrupted the crowd.

Yuan Nanyu, who had been silent all this time, uttered these words which seemed simple but actually carried a heavy weight.

Yan Sikong widened his eyes: "Yu'er, you..."

"I will go." Yuan Nanyusi looked directly at Chen Yu fearlessly and said clearly, "Every year after the autumn harvest, I will bring tribute and go to the capital to pay homage to you and report on my work."

"Forget it!" Feng Ye said sternly, "I order you to shut up."

Yuan Nanyu's face was calm, "Don't worry, Wolf King. General Feng is old and can't travel by car. My second brother can't go either, so I'll go." When he said this, he didn't look at Feng Ye, but looked at Chen Yi coldly, and said sarcastically, "Chen Yi, do you think I'm afraid of you and I don't dare to go? I only regret that I didn't shoot you down with that arrow."

Chen Yu laughed and said, "I know you are not afraid of me, but no matter whether you are afraid of me or not, or hate me or not, you must kneel down before me and submit to me. How wonderful! Otherwise, why would everyone want to be the emperor?"

Yuan Nanyu pulled the reins tighter, his palms turned red from being tied, but he was completely unaware.

Yan Sikong growled, "Yuan Nanyu, I don't allow you to go, and the Wolf King doesn't allow you to go either, how dare you make your own decision!"

Yuan Nanyu got off his horse, half-knelt in front of Feng Yema, clasped his fists and said, "The soldiers have suffered too much. We cannot make more unnecessary sacrifices for me. This battle should end. Let's end it. I beg the Wolf King to allow me to do so."

Feng Ye frowned and said nothing.

Yuan Nanyu looked at Yan Sikong again and said, "Brother, the rules of the fiefdom must be followed. You know it in your heart. I am the most suitable person to go. You taught me to recite 'no distinction between relatives or strangers, no distinction between nobles and lowly people, all shall be decided according to the law'. This matter is of great importance. You cannot cover up for me."

Yan Sikong was angry and anxious at first, but when he saw Yuan Nanyu's firm and fearless eyes, his mood slowly calmed down. He couldn't always treat Yuan Nanyu as a child. Who can live a safe and smooth life without making sacrifices? Perhaps this is Yuan Nanyu's destiny.

He closed his eyes weakly.

Feng Ye said in a deep voice: "Quewang, you better think it through."

"I would risk everything for the Wolf King, why would I hesitate?" Yuan Nanyu glanced at Chen Yu and said contemptuously, "Not to mention this is such an easy task."

Chen Yu had a smile on his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes. He looked at Yuan Nanyu like a beast looking at its prey.

Feng Ye sighed and said, "Okay, forget it, I will leave this matter to you."

Yuan Nanyu clasped his fists vigorously and said, "Yes."