Chapter 2224: Stop the War Method

"On the surface, Beijia's massive attack on your country stems from two reasons," He Lingchuan summarized. "First, your country adopted your strategy and brought down the State of Ya right under Beijia's nose, causing Beijia to feel humiliated and enraged. Second, your country also suffered losses in the war against Ya, which Beijia sees as an opportunity to gain an advantage. Neither of these reasons alone," he concluded, "is enough for Beijia to fight a life-or-death battle against Mou."

You Huan nodded.

As for the fleet that was completely wiped out on Mou's southern seas, neither of them mentioned it. Everyone knew that was merely a pretext for war. He Lingchuan was even sixty percent sure that Mou was not responsible for it.

"Then let me ask you," He Lingchuan began, "when your country, under Grand Tutor Guo, first started attacking the State of Ya a dozen months ago, did it have a firm resolve to destroy it?"

You Huan's brows furrowed slightly.

The answer, of course, was no. He knew what the Great Emperor Jiuyou was getting at.

"At that time, Grand Tutor Guo decided to attack Ya for two reasons: first, to save face, and second, because he saw an opportunity. How is this different from Beijia's current situation?" He Lingchuan continued. "Now you are in charge. Tell me, why did Mou's objective in the war with Ya eventually become 'to defeat Ya at all costs'?"

Mou's reasons for attacking Ya were not complicated. Firstly, Ya had previously aggressively bullied Bailie to support Beijia's battlefield offensive. This was tantamount to slapping Mou, Bailie's protector, across the face. At the time, Mou endured it silently, but it was bound to seek retribution later. This was not about Bailie, but about Mou's prestige. A great nation's dignity could not be tarnished.

Secondly, Cang Yan's single surprise attack penetrated deep into Ya's territory and even captured Ya's sacred land, Baiqiuyuan. This made Mou's previous forbearance seem like cowardice, and Grand Tutor Guo genuinely saw an opportunity, which is why Mou then launched a large-scale military campaign—

Wasn't this strikingly similar to Beijia's reasons for invading Mou?

The thought sent a chill down You Huan's spine.

He said in a deep voice, "Defeating Ya was a strategic security consideration for our country."

Mou's war against Ya resulted in over two hundred thousand casualties, not to mention the resources consumed over eighteen months. On paper, it was clearly not cost-effective. However, Mou had to do it because it involved strategic considerations beyond mere losses.

He Lingchuan smiled. "What if Beijia thinks the same way?"

"This..." You Huan felt it unlikely, but he couldn't immediately find a counter-argument. Who could guarantee anything on the battlefield?

"You were determined to defeat Ya because, during the war, you discovered its weakness and realized you could do it." He Lingchuan spoke deliberately, "If, as the war deepens, Beijia discovers your fatigue and weakness, and believes that by gritting its teeth and paying a sufficient price, it can destroy your country—given Beijia's nature, do you think it will also resolve to do just that?"

Forget about strategic considerations. Ya had been acting provocatively behind Mou for over a decade; didn't Mou need to consider it then? It was precisely because Mou gained more confidence with each battle, discovered it could actually eliminate Ya, and thus proceeded to do so.

True strategists seize new opportunities as a war progresses. They adapt their considerations to the evolving situation.

To say it's impossible now is too soon.

"Not to mention, the war between Mou and Ya truly left your country wounded and bleeding, and it hasn't fully recovered. This is the best military opportunity Beijia has found in nearly forty years."

That's why Beijia's assault on Mou is the largest in forty years. The aim is to strike while it's weakened and, if possible, deal a fatal blow.

Given Beijia's strength, if it were determined to fight to the bitter end—no, to fight Mou to its demise...

The thought was truly chilling.

You Huan gave a bitter smile. "Great Emperor, if you were to manage this war?"

The Great Emperor Jiuyou's stern words were a prelude to what he would say next, but his warning wasn't unfounded, as war is truly the most unpredictable event in the world. Among other things, eighteen months ago, Mou itself never anticipated that it would eventually go berserk and utterly defeat Ya. You Huan, being the one who orchestrated it, knew precisely how that shift occurred.

"So what you should be considering isn't how to make Beijia cease hostilities as quickly as possible," He Lingchuan clarified, "but rather how to make it deeply understand that continuing the war would be too costly."

The Soul Mirror, nestled in He Lingchuan's arms, let out a sound of agreement. "Isn't that just stating the obvious? Who keeps fighting a war when it becomes too costly?"

You Huan's eyes flickered. "Too costly?"

He was accustomed to drawing inferences, and these few words sparked a glimmer of understanding in his mind.

"The first word is 'drainage'," He Lingchuan said, holding up a finger. "You need to give Beijia some time for its anger to subside, and then the problems will surface."

You Huan immediately asked, "What kind of problems?"

"Which country doesn't have internal problems? Mou has existed for over 150 years—can its court, people's livelihoods, clan territories, or military truly claim to be clean and pure?" He Lingchuan smiled. "You should be clearest about this by now."

You Huan also smiled, then sighed. "Indeed!"

He had entered officialdom as a youth and had long been accustomed to things that would horrify ordinary citizens. However, many of the internal workings and personnel matters he encountered after becoming Grand Tutor still deeply shocked him.

"If Mou is like this, what about Beijia, which has existed four times longer than Mou—do you think its internal problems are four times as great as Mou's?"

You Huan, now more relaxed, leaned against the railing and said, "Far more than that. I'd say ten times as many, easily."

His mind quickly whirred again, considering the Great Emperor Jiuyou's purpose in taking him aside for this private conversation. A great figure like him, in such a setting, wouldn't speak without purpose.

"'The Demon Emperor and the Heavenly Palace restrain each other, the vassal demon states and Lingxu City restrain each other, and demons and human officials restrain each other. From these three fundamental contradictions arise countless intricate problems, large and small.'" He Lingchuan continued, facing the evening breeze from the river, "When Beijia attacks Mou, if it exerts seven parts of its strength, perhaps only two parts will actually reach the battlefield. The rest will be consumed by its own internal friction."

"Of course, even two parts of Beijia's strength is considerable. But don't forget, it initially intended to take advantage. Once it suffers too many losses, it will have to re-evaluate its costs." He Lingchuan had a clear understanding of Beijia's internal conflicts. "Ultimately, war is an economic calculation. Even if the Celestial God wants to continue, the Demon Emperor must proceed from practical considerations."

The Demon Emperor is Beijia's true decision-maker; it is responsible for the final victory or loss, not the Celestial God.

You Huan immediately said, "That is true. This time, Beijia's military campaign draws its main force from the seven vassal demon states, while Lingxu City itself has dispatched very few troops, fewer than seventeen thousand."