Chapter 1109: Repeated Weighing

He kept pondering and weighing his options.

He Lingchuan had originally planned to take Bai Lie soon, but now it seemed the timing was once again off. Mu State was currently deploying troops within Bai Lie’s borders.

Without these two thousand Mu soldiers, He Lingchuan would have taken Bai Lie with lightning speed. By the time Mu State reacted, they would have been furious but powerless to intervene. The key was speed: to present a fait accompli and turn the struggle for Bai Lie into an internal affair of the Lu family. This way, external forces would find it difficult to openly intervene, at most supporting Lu Qinglin to return and contend with him.

However, acting now, whether through strategy or combat, He Lingchuan’s moves would struggle to bypass these two thousand ready Mu elite soldiers. A conflict with the Mu State army at this time was not a good idea. Furthermore, He Lingchuan couldn't be sure if the Mu Emperor's sudden order for Lu Qinglin to lead troops back to defend Bai Lie was a warning to Yangshan Archipelago, cautioning him against rash actions.

In a state of war, Mu State was exceptionally sensitive to unusual movements from surrounding countries and factions. Yangshan Archipelago's power had expanded too rapidly. Although its elite troops were kept deep within the archipelago, and no one knew the specifics, the prosperity and strength of a region always left traces. Royal Advisor Wang and Lingshan also knew that He Lingchuan was no easy opponent. By and large, a person's ambition and ability always seemed to match. Without strong ambition, how could one demonstrate and unleash their abilities?

Compared to its neighbors Qing State and Bai Lie, Yangshan Archipelago was a fast-growing and ill-intentioned neighbor. It was only natural that Mu State was focusing more attention here. This was exactly what He Lingchuan worried about: if Mu State had already become secretly vigilant, his plan could not proceed as scheduled. Good things take time. What could be done?

He let out a long sigh. Zhong Shengguang’s words last night also made him re-evaluate his own situation and that of Yangshan Archipelago. Was his swift plan to take Bai Lie too aggressive and risky, much like his tactic of luring and ambushing Fu Shanlie in Yuheng City? It had only been a little over a year since he began developing Yangshan Archipelago. Was he truly strong enough? Once he took Bai Lie, he would have no more time to prepare. He would have to step into the spotlight and contend with adversaries like Mu State and Ya State. These were the consequences he had to bear. In reality, no one was there to back him up anymore.

The Mirror finally dared to speak, interrupting him: "Wow, the last time you were this conflicted was, I think, before you returned to Yuan State?"

"Yes," He Lingchuan replied. At that time, he instinctively wanted to distance himself from everything related to Naraka, but reason told him he had to eliminate the hidden danger of the divine seal mark. Otherwise, he would never escape Naraka's grasp, no matter how far he fled. Looking at the current situation, he yearned to expand his influence and claim Bai Lie, but the times were unfavorable. Reason once again told him: "Don't rush!" Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back. He could not afford to make a mistake in this step!

Just then, Wang Fubao knocked on the door of the Shu Yu Pavilion, delivering a letter to him. "A regular dispatch from Ya State," Wang Fubao announced.

According to Panlong City's custom, He Lingchuan categorized external dispatches into several levels. Regular letters and dispatches were the most common, not requiring special express delivery by spirit birds. Several thoughts churned in He Lingchuan’s mind as he casually tore open the letter and skimmed it. As expected, there was nothing urgent: Ya State had once again sent troops to harass Bai Lie's border. This time, Lu Qinglin led the counterattack, and the two sides clashed.

"Monitor Lu Qinglin's battle with the Ya State army. The more detailed the intelligence, the better." This was a good opportunity to observe Lu Qinglin. By observing his fighting style and how he deployed his troops, He Lingchuan, also a commanding general, could assess his caliber and discern his thoughts and strategies. This was to prepare for the future.

Wang Fubao responded with "Yes" and turned to leave. After giving his casual instructions, He Lingchuan suddenly froze, a light flickering in his eyes. The Mirror, familiar with him, knew its master was plotting again.

It was only after Wang Fubao had been gone for a while that He Lingchuan suddenly slapped the table. "That's it, that's it! How could I have overlooked Ya State's ambitions!" Even the wisest person makes a mistake. He had been calculating too many things recently and had directly overlooked Ya State, which posed little threat to him. With this sudden realization, his mind cleared instantly! No more agonizing, no need to be conflicted.

The Mirror was startled by him: "Ya State's ambitions? Doesn't it just like to stir up trouble everywhere?" Other countries lose money fighting wars, but Ya State profits from them. If it were to diligently focus on agriculture and development, it wouldn't be able to feed its many citizens.

"But its attacks on Bai Lie have been far more frequent than before," He Lingchuan said, opening a sandbox map and displaying the topography of Ya State and Bai Lie. "Two years ago, it was usually once a year, after the summer or autumn harvest. Last year, it was already twice a year. This year, it's only summer, and there have already been three border conflicts." Ya State's incursions into Bai Lie were becoming increasingly frequent. Given Ya State's military strength, if it were to truly launch a full-scale invasion, Bai Lie would find it very difficult to cope.

The Mirror was surprised: "Are you saying Ya State intends to annex Bai Lie? Hey, can you really draw that conclusion just from the increased number of incursions in the last two years? Maybe it's just a series of bad harvests."

"It's still related to the current situation," He Lingchuan replied. "Relations between countries must be viewed within the broader context. The last rebellion within Ya State occurred five years ago. In recent years, Ya State's internal politics have been smooth, and its Grand Chieftain has been preparing for war. The awkward thing is, it has already swallowed up all the surrounding territories it could." He pointed at the sandbox map: "Now, to the east of Ya State lies the Glittering Gold Plain. The countries there are one poorer than the next. Conquering them wouldn't be worthwhile, unless—" His finger moved back to Bai Lie and lightly tapped twice: "Swallowing this rich prize would satisfy Ya State for a long time." Bai Lie's wealth was coveted not just by Ya State, but even by him.

"But Ya State hasn't made a real move for many years," the Mirror objected. "Besides, would Mu State just stand by?"

"Mu State is bogged down in war. According to recent intelligence, the long-rumored peace treaty couldn't be signed, and Mu State's front lines suffered losses, enduring two major defeats in a row. Within the Mu court, pro-war sentiment is high, with calls to push the front lines back," He Lingchuan mused. "If previously the two major powers were merely probing and skirmishing, now they are clearly desperate, sinking deeper and deeper into conflict. Ya State was founded less than eighteen years ago. As a nation, it is still young and vigorous. Ya State's Grand Chieftain himself is ambitious and aspiring, so he likely won't easily let go of this good opportunity."

The Soul Mirror exclaimed, "Oh dear, then Bai Lie is in danger, isn't it?"

"That's why Lu Qinglin led the Mu army back," He Lingchuan asserted. "Perhaps he, or even the Mu Emperor, has detected Ya State's strategic shift. If Ya State launches a prolonged, full-scale offensive against Bai Lie, Mu State will be forced to make a choice."

"Will Mu State abandon Bai Lie?"