Chapter 1330: Outlining Ideas

## Chapter 1316: Offering Advice

Situ He gave a wry smile: "But Perlu is unyielding. No matter how much we tried to persuade them, they still insisted on having Qingye. The Perlu monarch directly cursed them, ordering the Kan people to get out of Qingye, or he would send troops to attack."

They simply couldn't swallow their pride.

Yu Hai shook his head: "The Kan people did not act honorably in this matter."

The Bixia people had precisely exploited the Kan tribe's greed.

He Lingchuan smiled: "It's pointless to debate right or wrong now. What's most important is to resolve the dispute over Qingye."

Situ He's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "If you have a brilliant plan, Brother He, please teach me!"

He had come today intending to ask He Lingchuan for advice. This gentleman excels at what others cannot, so perhaps he has a way to resolve the allies' crisis?

He Lingchuan pondered for a long time, then asked a question that surprised both of them: "How well do you know Kang Lang? What kind of person is he?"

This was the second time he had mentioned Kang Lang, and Yu Hai and Situ He exchanged glances.

During the last gathering arranged by Situ He for the Original Homeland Association, Perlu's Sixth Prince Kang Lang also came to drink and chat as one of the members. However, he left early in the middle of the night, not staying to get drunk until dawn.

Situ He immediately said: "Kang Lang is a good person; he has a gentle nature and can reason things out. That day, I provoked him a bit, but he apologized to me instead. Oh, right, he's also a bit henpecked. The day we drank, he left early because, I heard, his virtuous wife wouldn't allow him to stay out overnight."

Yu Hai smiled: "Brother He, do you want Kang Lang to mediate? His status is indeed special—"

Kang Lang is both the Perlu monarch's favorite youngest son and the son-in-law of the Kan tribal leader. He holds dual identities and has connections with both sides.

But Yu Hai's next sentence followed: "But I'm afraid he doesn't have enough influence. Both his father and his father-in-law called him in and severely reprimanded him, telling him to divorce. He even came out yesterday to drown his sorrows in drink."

The Perlu monarch and the Kan tribal leader were originally in-laws, but when the two sides had a dispute, Kang Lang became their punching bag.

As Yu Hai said this, He Lingchuan understood that neither the Perlu royal family nor the Kan people took Kang Lang seriously. However, He Lingchuan hadn't originally counted on Kang Lang's influence to achieve anything.

"He cannot divorce!" he said earnestly. "Brother Kang's status is very useful."

Why does he care whether others divorce or not? Situ He and Yu Hai were intrigued: "We're all ears."

He Lingchuan pointed to the sand table and said: "From Qingye's terrain, it's not considered a strategic location. Are the two families currently fighting over it because they value its grain and revenue?"

"Precisely." Qingye is flat and easy to traverse. "Qingye has no natural defenses, but it is an important trade hub."

"In other words, as long as both families can get the grain and revenue, they don't need to fight a big battle, right?"

Situ He immediately said: "That's the logic. We also brought it up during mediation, suggesting that Qingye's revenue be equally split between the two families. The Kan people, knowing they were in the wrong, readily agreed. But Perlu disagreed. We talked until our mouths were sore, but they still had two demands: first, to take over Qingye, and second, that their share of the revenue must not be less than 70%. The Perlu monarch said this was their biggest concession."

Qingye was not originally Kan territory, and they were still getting revenue, so they had no reason to complain. Moreover, the pressure from within the allied army on the Kan people was considerable, so they probably thought it best to accept what they could get.

But Perlu was full of grievances and anger. Qingye was originally theirs, and the Kan people, having done nothing, wanted to take 50% of the revenue. Perlu could not tolerate this.

"The Kan people refused as soon as they heard Perlu wanted to reclaim Qingye." Situ He said with a bitter face, "The two families are already at odds. They fear that Perlu would renege on the agreement and stop giving them a share after reclaiming Qingye."

He Lingchuan found it amusing: "When it comes to fighting, you are masters; when it comes to negotiation, you are far from it. Starting with a 50-50 split right away? What were you thinking? You should have started negotiating from a 20-80 split, otherwise, Perlu, the injured party, wouldn't agree."

"Didn't have the experience, did we? Next time won't happen." Situ He sighed, "Combined, both sides are demanding 120% of the revenue. Alas, where are we going to get the extra 20% from?"

That's why the offensive in the north was stalled.

Yu Hai shook his head: "If the allied army loses, Qingye might be retaken by the Bixia people, and then both families would have worked in vain."

"We've told them this repeatedly, truly with good intentions," Situ He said, his smile gone. "But they are stubbornly set in their ways. Alas, they truly don't understand the meaning of 'long-term perspective.'"

Whenever his father and he discussed this matter, they were frustrated by the lack of cooperation. When their personal interests were touched, everyone only thought of their own gain. There was a reason why the former Yao Kingdom and Bixia could act with impunity and without rivals here.

He Lingchuan slowly said: "Actually, achieving 120% of the revenue might not be impossible."

At his words, both men looked at him sideways.

Situ He exclaimed excitedly: "Brother He, teach me!"

But the expression on his face clearly said, "Brother He, save me."

"Broadly speaking, the allied army's troubles in the north are twofold: first, the ownership of Qingye, and second, the division of Qingye's revenue," He Lingchuan stated straightforwardly. "Regarding the ownership of Qingye, my suggestion is to temporarily set it aside and have both countries agree to delegated management."

"Delegated management?" The term was new, and both Situ He and Yu Hai had an indistinct feeling about it.

"The most important task right now is to unite and suppress Bixia. Since the ownership of Qingye cannot be decided, then let's not decide it for now," He Lingchuan said with a smile. "As for who should manage Qingye, our Original Homeland Association has the perfect candidate."

Yu Hai and Situ He exclaimed in unison: "Kang Lang?!"

"That's why I said Brother Kang cannot divorce." He Lingchuan emphasized, "His status is extremely useful right now."

While Qingye's ownership can be set aside, its management must be implemented. Regardless of whether Perlu or the Kan tribe sends someone to manage it, the other side will not be convinced. Only Kang Lang has connections with both sides. If he manages Qingye, neither side will have anything to say.

Yu Hai clapped his hands and sighed: "Sixth Brother Kang's luck has arrived!"

Situ He thought for a moment: "We can try that! Sixth Brother Kang is still a sixth prince, after all, and the Perlu monarch should trust his beloved son. Brother He, as for the division of revenue...?"

"This division isn't difficult either. It's just 20% of the revenue; where can't we squeeze that out from?" He Lingchuan casually offered two solutions.

Situ He felt there was hope before He Lingchuan even finished speaking. He suddenly stood up and bowed to He Lingchuan, saying: "Thank you, Brother He. I'll go back and discuss this with my father first! I'll consult you again next time about the method for the revenue."

The front line was in a critical state, and having seen a glimmer of hope, he became impatient. With that, he hurriedly left.

***

Lancang City, Riverside Manor.

This was the most luxurious building in the area, built by the water, and had three stories. Normally, there would be clinking wine cups, revelry, and the fragrance of perfume mingling with laughter and chatter. But today, it was exceptionally quiet, with only faint sounds of string and wind instruments.