Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 679: Reactions from the Major Empires
At this time, a young official stood up. He was Wanyan Kang, the Minister of Rites of the Yuan Dynasty. "Your Majesty, I am worried about one thing." Wanyan Kang said with a worried look, "After the rise of the Sui Dynasty, its culture and economy may also have an impact on our Yuan Dynasty. Should we strengthen the protection of our domestic culture and economy to avoid being assimilated by the Sui Dynasty?"

This question made the atmosphere in the court even more solemn. After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Yingzong of Yuan said: "Culture and economy are the foundation of the country, so we naturally cannot ignore them. Pass on my order to strengthen the inheritance and promotion of domestic culture and encourage the development of the local economy. At the same time, we must remain vigilant against the influence of foreign culture and economy, but we cannot blindly reject them. We must take their essence and discard their dross."

Afterwards, the court had a heated discussion on how to deal with the trade competition and talent flow that the Sui Dynasty might bring. It was not until the sky gradually darkened that Emperor Yingzong of Yuan announced the end of the court.

After the court session, Emperor Yingzong of Yuan sat alone on the dragon throne, looking at the empty hall, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He knew that the rise of the Sui Dynasty had become a severe challenge that the Yuan Dynasty had to face, and the road ahead was full of unknowns and variables.

At the same time, in the distant Qing Dynasty, a fierce court meeting was also going on in the Qianqing Palace of the imperial palace. The Qing Emperor Aixinjueluo Xuanye was wearing a dragon robe, with a stern face and an innate majesty in his eyes.

"I'm sure you've all heard about the rise of the Sui Dynasty in recent days." Xuanye's voice rang out in the hall. "The Sui Dynasty is located in Liaodong, adjacent to the Qing Dynasty. It is developing rapidly and poses a potential threat to the Qing Dynasty. I want to hear what countermeasures you have."

An old official with white hair stepped out. He was Sony, a cabinet minister of the Qing Dynasty. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think the Qing Dynasty should take the initiative. The Sui Dynasty has just been established and its foundation is not stable. Now is a good time for us to strangle it in the cradle. We can gather a large army and attack the Sui Dynasty to prevent future troubles."

Sony's words immediately resonated with some generals, who all expressed their agreement. However, another minister, Mingzhu, stood up and put forward a different opinion.

"Your Majesty, I think it is not wise to attack the Great Sui at this time." Mingzhu frowned slightly and said, "Although the Great Sui has just been established, it was able to destroy Goguryeo and Baekje in a short period of time. Its military strength should not be underestimated. Moreover, we don't know much about the strength of the Great Sui. If we attack blindly, we may fall into a protracted war, which will be a huge loss for our Great Qing."

Mingzhu's words made the atmosphere in the court even more tense. Xuanye nodded slightly, signaling Mingzhu to continue.

"I suggest that we first strengthen the border defenses and station troops there to prevent the invasion of the Sui Dynasty. At the same time, we can send spies to infiltrate the Sui Dynasty to understand their military deployment, political situation, economic strength, etc. After we have enough intelligence, we will formulate corresponding strategies." Mingzhu said in an orderly manner.

At this time, the Minister of War Aobai, who had been silent, stood up. He was a burly man with a face full of flesh and a fierce look in his eyes. "Your Majesty, I don't agree with Mingzhu's opinion. Our Qing Dynasty has always been a leader in military power. How can we be intimidated by a small Sui Dynasty? If we don't take this opportunity to give the Sui Dynasty a warning, they will definitely become more arrogant in the future."

As soon as Aobai's words came out, the court was divided into two factions. One faction supported Sony and Aobai and advocated attacking the Sui Dynasty; the other faction supported Mingzhu and advocated strengthening defense and collecting intelligence first. The two factions of ministers held different opinions and argued endlessly.

Xuanye listened quietly to the arguments of the ministers, but in his heart he was weighing the pros and cons. He knew that once the war broke out, it would bring great disaster to the country and the people. But he also understood that if effective measures were not taken to deal with the threat of the Sui Dynasty, the future of the Qing Dynasty would be in jeopardy.

"Okay, stop arguing." Xuanye finally spoke, stopping the ministers' debate. "I think Mingzhu's suggestion is more prudent. We should first strengthen border defenses and send spies to collect intelligence. This is the top priority. As for whether to attack the Sui Dynasty, we will make a decision based on the intelligence we have."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The ministers obeyed the order.

However, at this moment, a young prince stood up. He was Xuanye's fourth son Yinzhen. "Father, I have something to say." Yinzhen said respectfully, "I think we should not only pay attention to the military dynamics of the Sui Dynasty, but also their cultural and economic development. If the Sui Dynasty can rise in a short period of time, its culture and economy must have something to recommend. We can send people to learn from their strengths to enhance the strength of our Qing Dynasty."

Yinzhen's words made Xuanye's eyes light up. He nodded slightly and said, "Yinzhen is right. We can't be complacent and we must be good at learning from others' strengths. This matter will be handed over to you. Select some knowledgeable and insightful people to go to the Great Sui and secretly observe their cultural and economic development."

"Your son obeys your order!" Yinzhen took the order and withdrew.

After the court meeting, Xuanye paced alone in the imperial garden. He looked at the flowers and plants in the garden, but his heart was restless. The rise of the Sui Dynasty was like a huge rock, breaking the originally peaceful situation of the Qing Dynasty. He knew that the Qing Dynasty would face unprecedented challenges in the future, but he also firmly believed that as long as he could judge the situation and make the right decision, the Qing Dynasty would be able to overcome this difficulty.

In the magnificent Taiji Hall in Chang'an, the Tang emperor Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne. He was wearing a yellow dragon robe and a crown on his head. His face was handsome and majestic, and his eyes were full of wisdom and depth. In the hall, civil and military officials were standing on both sides, and the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

"My fellow ministers, I have recently heard that the Sui Dynasty is rising in Liaodong and its momentum is so great that it has already destroyed Goguryeo and Baekje. I am deeply worried when I heard this news. Is the rise of the Sui Dynasty a blessing or a curse for our Tang Dynasty? What do you think?" Li Shimin's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the hall.

Prime Minister Fang Xuanling stepped out, bowed slightly, and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I think the rise of the Sui Dynasty is both a challenge and an opportunity for our Tang Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty is located in Liaodong. Although it does not directly border our Tang Dynasty, it is not far away. The growth of its military power will undoubtedly pose a certain threat to the border security of our Tang Dynasty. However, from another perspective, the development of the Sui Dynasty also provides us with an opportunity to learn and communicate. Through exchanges with the Sui Dynasty, we can understand its advanced technology and culture, thereby promoting the development of our Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin nodded slightly, motioning Fang Xuanling to continue.

"I suggest that we can first send envoys to the Sui Dynasty to express the friendly intentions of the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time take this opportunity to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Sui Dynasty. In diplomacy, we must maintain a flexible strategy, neither making an enemy of the Sui Dynasty nor being too close to it. In military, we must strengthen border defenses and improve the combat effectiveness of the army just in case." Fang Xuanling expounded his views in an orderly manner.

At this time, General Li Jing stood up, clasped his fists and saluted, his voice as loud as a bell: "Your Majesty, I think what Prime Minister Fang said is very true. However, I think we cannot be satisfied with just defense. Our Tang army is strong and powerful. If the Sui dares to invade our Tang border, we should fight back without hesitation and let them know that the majesty of our Tang is inviolable."

Li Shimin listened to Li Jing's words, smiled and said: "General Li is right. Our Tang Dynasty has never caused trouble, but we are not afraid of it. However, before taking action, we must be fully prepared." Then, the court discussed how to conduct trade and cultural exchanges with the Sui Dynasty. The ministers expressed their opinions and the atmosphere was heated.

Li Shimin listened quietly to the ministers' speeches and had a preliminary plan in mind. He decided to send envoys to the Sui Dynasty to establish diplomatic relations, strengthen border defense and military training. At home, continue to implement reforms, develop the economy, and strengthen national strength.

The Xianyang Palace of the Qin Dynasty was simple and solemn. Emperor Qin Shi Huang, wearing a crown and a black dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne, his eyes revealing an innate domineering aura.

"Recently I heard that the Sui Dynasty is rising and is determined to destroy Goguryeo and Baekje. Its ambition is huge and we must be on guard against it. My dear ministers, do you have any countermeasures?" Ying Zheng's voice was cold and majestic.

A minister stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, since the Qin Dynasty unified the six kingdoms, its prestige has spread far and wide. Although the Sui Dynasty is newly established, it is not to be feared. We can send a large army to attack the Sui Dynasty and destroy it in one fell swoop to prevent future troubles."

Ying Zheng frowned slightly and said nothing. At this time, Li Si stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I think it is not appropriate to start a war at this time. Our Great Qin has experienced many years of war, and the people need to recuperate. Moreover, we do not fully understand the strength of the Great Sui. It is too risky to attack rashly."

Li Si's words were agreed by some ministers. However, some ministers believed that the Qin Dynasty should maintain its tough tradition and should not show weakness to the Sui Dynasty.

The court debated endlessly, and Ying Zheng fell into deep thought. He knew that the strength of the Qin Dynasty came from its powerful military force and strict legal system, but in the face of the new situation, he was unable to decide whether to make some changes.

In the Fengtian Hall of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, the Emperor of Ming, sat on the dragon throne, his eyes showing anxiety and uneasiness. The rise of the Sui Dynasty made him feel unprecedented pressure.

"My dear ministers, the rise of the Sui Dynasty poses a huge threat to our Ming Dynasty. Please feel free to speak your mind on how we should respond." There was a hint of fatigue in Zhu Di's voice.

The ministers expressed their opinions one after another. Some advocated strengthening coastal defense to prevent the Sui Dynasty from attacking from the sea; some advocated uniting with neighboring countries to jointly fight against the Sui Dynasty; and others advocated sending envoys to negotiate with the Sui Dynasty to seek ways to coexist peacefully.

Zhu Di listened to the speeches of the ministers, but he was thinking about the domestic situation. At this time, the Ming Dynasty also had some problems, such as official corruption and land annexation. In this situation of internal and external troubles, how to deal with the threat of the Sui Dynasty became a difficult problem for him.

The atmosphere in the Wende Hall of the Song Dynasty was oppressive and gloomy. Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face. The rise of the Sui Dynasty reminded him of the Liao and Jin Dynasties, and he was worried that the Sui Dynasty would become another powerful enemy that threatened the safety of the Song Dynasty.

"My dear ministers, what should we do with the rise of the Sui Dynasty?" There was helplessness in Zhao Kuangyin's voice.

Some ministers advocated peace, believing that the Song Dynasty should show weakness to the Sui Dynasty in exchange for peace; some advocated resistance, believing that the Song Dynasty could not lose its dignity and should fight the Sui Dynasty.

Zhao Kuangyin was hesitant. He knew that the Song Dynasty's military strength was relatively weak and that if he went to war with the Sui Dynasty, he would have little chance of winning. But he was unwilling to bow to the Sui Dynasty and was caught in a dilemma.

Under the shadow of the rise of the Sui Dynasty, the debate in the courts of various countries continues. Each country is thinking about how to deal with the Sui Dynasty based on its own national conditions and interests. The Sui Dynasty is also quietly accumulating strength in this turbulent land of the Central Plains, preparing to meet future challenges.

The capital of the Sui Empire looked particularly majestic under the sunshine. The soldiers on the city wall stood tall and looked around vigilantly. Recently, the envoys of the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty arrived in the capital together, but they were not summoned by Jia Changsheng. At this time, Jia Changsheng was sitting in his study, with intelligence from various countries on the desk in front of him. His mind was not on these two envoys at all.

What Jia Changsheng cares about most are the unique fusion worlds of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Northern Song Dynasty, the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty. The Southern Song Dynasty is the world that integrates the Dream of Red Mansions. In Jia Changsheng's opinion, it has a profound cultural heritage and complicated family power; the Northern Song Dynasty integrates the world of Water Margin, where he once killed Song Jiang, and the Jianghu atmosphere and folk power on that land should not be underestimated; the Han Dynasty integrates the world of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where he once fought against Wang Situ, and the strategies and military wisdom of this world have a long history; and the Tang Dynasty integrates the world of Journey to the West, where legends of gods, Buddhas, ghosts and monsters are intertwined, and the mysterious power hidden behind it makes Jia Changsheng dare not underestimate it.

Jia Changsheng has an invincible defense granted by the listening system, which gives him a solid guarantee when facing danger. However, the lack of attack methods has always been a concern for him. He knows that in this ever-changing world, if he wants to gain a foothold and realize his ambitions, defense alone is far from enough.

"Your Majesty, the envoys from the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty have been waiting for many days. Do you want to arrange a meeting with them?" The eunuch's voice sounded cautiously outside the study.

"No!" Jia Changsheng said coldly without even looking up, "Let them keep waiting."

After the eunuch left, Jia Changsheng fell into deep thought. His eyes fell on the intelligence of the Yuan Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and he secretly wondered whether he should take action against one of the two countries first. The Yuan Dynasty, with its iron cavalry, had a strong combat capability honed on the grasslands and was good at long-distance raids and field battles; the Qing Dynasty, with its eight-banner army, was brave and good at fighting, and the territory under its rule was vast and rich in resources. No matter which one he chose, it would be a difficult battle.

(End of this chapter)