Chapter 2074: Emperor and Ministers' Secret Discussion

He did not elaborate further. It was precisely because Fu Shanlie understood the full extent of these causes and effects that he, despite his age and illness, personally came to support his son.

“Before today, rumors had already spread in Lingxu City saying that you had defected to Yangshan.” Fu Shanyue had been absent from Beijia for quite some time, and although King Chi Yan publicly stated he had been assigned elsewhere, there was no way to keep such things entirely secret.

At these words, Fu Shanyue clicked his tongue, unable to hide his disgust: “Those idiotic troublemakers!”

“Gossip can be devastating. By securing Yangshan, you will gain great merit, enough to silence those who spread rumors.” King Chi Yan knew well that Fu Shanyue’s incompatibility with Lingxu City mirrored his own youth. “With the great changes in Shanjin, Beijia’s future interactions with Shanjin will most likely pass through the Yangshan Archipelago. Your presence here at this opportune moment means that even if the Emperor wanted to reassign you, no one could truly replace you.”

He patted Fu Shanyue’s shoulder: “This place is practically tailor-made for you.”

This old man clearly didn’t want him to return to Chi Yan, did he? Seeing Fu Shanlie cover his mouth and cough twice more, Fu Shanyue finally couldn’t help but ask, “Old man, when are you going to die?”

Fu Shanlie turned, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly walked off the deck, only one phrase drifting back: “Soon.”

Lu Qinglin and Qi Chuanqing’s reports quickly landed on Emperor Mu’s desk.

A heavy atmosphere filled the imperial study.

Seeing Emperor Mu’s face, dark as a brewing storm, none of the officials dared to breathe.

After an unknown period, Emperor Mu finally murmured, “Cutting off the source, good, good.”

According to Qi Chuanqing’s later investigation, before King Chi Yan’s sudden appearance, the Yangshan Archipelago had been peaceful, with tourists arriving and business continuing as usual, and no armed conflicts occurring.

This meant that King Chi Yan’s claim of “seizing the Yangshan Archipelago from He Xiao” likely involved no military force whatsoever!

The Yangshan Archipelago had changed hands so peacefully?

The only explanation was that He Xiao and Chi Yan had orchestrated this play long ago. The moment Mu Kingdom sent troops, Chi Yan would simply plant its flag.

He Xiao’s calculations were truly far-reaching; while embroiled in the war on the Shanjin Plains, he still managed to secure the foundation of the Yangshan Archipelago!

From the very beginning, he had been guarding against the Mu Kingdom!

“What do you all think?”

Qian Bingmao, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, stepped forward: “Perhaps it’s merely a well-staged play by He Xiao and Chi Yan, and Yangshan hasn’t actually changed hands. I heard that He Xiao befriended the Crown Prince of Chi Yan during his travels in Beijia.”

Wang Xingyi, however, shook his head: “If it were just a pretense, it wouldn’t be worth King Chi Yan personally traveling to the Yangshan Archipelago.”

What was King Chi Yan’s standing? The founding patriarch of one of Beijia’s thirteen vassal demon nations. How could He Xiao persuade him without substantial leverage?

Emperor Mu raised a hand to his forehead: “I want to know when He Xiao made this move. He couldn’t have swayed Chi Yan on short notice.”

Nor could Chi Yan have quickly sent so many troops around to the Mu Kingdom’s rear.

This must have been premeditated, laid out in stages and over time, to achieve a stealthy transfer.

Qian Bingmao said bitterly, “This shows that He Xiao harbored disloyal intentions towards Great Mu long ago, likely beginning his schemes even before he entered the Upside-Down Sea.”

Wang Xingyi mused, “He Xiao ostensibly champions resistance against the Sky Demon and Beijia, but this incident shows he has no qualms about cooperating with Beijia. In the future, we must be even more cautious in dealing with him.”

Qian Bingmao sneered, “He’s no good guy; he outwardly resists the Sky Demon but secretly colludes with Chi Yan. Ha, he’d rather give his Yangshan Archipelago to his enemy, Chi Yan, than to our Great Mu!”

Guo Shaoping, the Grand Minister, who had been silent, suddenly spoke: “There are indeed tangible benefits for him in handing the Yangshan Archipelago to Chi Yan. At the very least, Beijia’s sanctions against the Yangshan Archipelago will be lifted.”

The Mu Kingdom had been aware of Beijia’s previous ban on the Yangshan Archipelago and had welcomed it. Being shut out by the world’s strongest nation meant that Mu Kingdom would become Yangshan’s largest and most important trading partner, leaving Yangshan with little bargaining power. This was supposed to be the price He Xiao paid for his ambition in annexing Shanjin; one couldn’t have it all.

But now things were different.

With the Yangshan Archipelago annexed by Chi Yan, it would essentially become Beijia’s territory. Why would Beijia impose sanctions on its own territory and industries? If Chi Yan were to lobby Lingxu City even slightly, the ban would likely be lifted very soon.

He Xiao’s move was a classic “killing two birds with one stone”: it severed Mu Kingdom’s future control over Shanjin and lifted Beijia’s ban on the Yangshan Archipelago. The price paid was merely an archipelago he had bought for a few tens of thousands of taels of silver—after all, he already possessed the vast territories of the Shanjin Plains, an area hundreds or even thousands of times larger than Yangshan.

Moreover, by pulling such a maneuver, he heightened the tension between Mu Kingdom and Beijia. The Yangshan Archipelago, now occupied by Chi Yan, would be a constant thorn in Mu Kingdom’s side, keeping it restless. This created greater room for maneuver in both domestic and foreign affairs for He Xiao currently, and for the Shanjin Plains in the future.

Qian Bingmao, filled with righteous indignation, declared: “Yangshan’s location is too crucial to fall into Chi Yan’s hands! Why not strike while they are not yet firmly established, dispatch troops directly to expel them, and eliminate future trouble?”

Grand Minister Guo Shaoping glanced at him. This fellow clearly knew his suggestions were radical, even reckless, yet insisted on voicing them. The characteristic demanded by his office was "directness" in advice.

Guo Shaoping could only shake his head: “King Chi Yan personally confronting Lu Qinglin was meant to assert his authority over Yangshan. For us to act against King Chi Yan would be tantamount to declaring war on Beijia. The Yangshan Archipelago already flies Chi Yan’s flag, and Beijia will not readily abandon that place. This would only escalate our war with Beijia.”

War requires a balance of offense and defense, knowing when to advance and when to hold back. Being forced to accelerate the pace against its will was absolutely not what the Mu Kingdom desired.

“Beijia has extended its reach right behind the Mu Kingdom; are we just going to stand by and watch?” Qian Bingmao asked indignantly. “Besides, King Chi Yan won’t stay in the Yangshan Archipelago forever.”

With every additional remark, this fellow deliberately targeted Guo Shaoping’s weakness, as sending Lu Qinglin’s troops to seize Yangshan by force had, after all, been Guo Shaoping’s idea. According to his original plan, this move should have allowed them to control He Xiao.

Regarding the Yangshan Archipelago, there had indeed always been a dispute over agreements between Bailie and He Xiao. Lu Qinglin’s move to reclaim the Yangshan Archipelago while Shanjin was in chaos and He Xiao was preoccupied in the west was an action taken by Bailie, so He Xiao couldn’t blame the Mu Kingdom. Sometimes, reasons and excuses were just that important.

Yet, He Xiao couldn’t directly send troops to reclaim Yangshan either, because he clearly knew that Lu Qinglin’s actions had been instigated and supported by the Mu Kingdom. He was still engaged in a decisive battle with the Yao Kingdom; dared he openly defy the Mu Kingdom at such a time? He would most likely have to hold his nose and swallow this loss.