As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 303 Idealists

"Does Your Majesty miss me?"

The majestic generals returned in triumph.

However, the scene inside the Jiqu Yangxin Hall was completely different.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the dignified and elegant emperor in the imperial court was at that moment unabashedly embracing the man's neck, intimately holding him close.

As time goes by, the hearts that confide in each other will grow even closer.

The court officials were speculating about Xiao Xinyue's attitude towards Mingchen.

It's never a good thing to have achievements that overshadow one's master.

What they didn't know was that Xiao Xinyue was much more naive than they imagined when it came to Mingchen.

The Marquis of Jing'an, whose achievements overshadowed the emperor and whose future was uncertain, was currently embracing the unpredictable emperor!
"It's just average, nothing special."

His Majesty raised his head, but this did not go as Mingchen wished.

She is noble yet charming.

The situation in Qian Yuan is currently very good, with good news coming one after another. It seems that Xiao Xinyue is in a very good mood.

After clearing away the fog, everything became crystal clear.

There are no more enemies in the East; the Qian Yuan army can sweep everything away as soon as it appears.

Unifying the world is still a long way off, but at the very least, she can reclaim most of the lost territories. That would give her a satisfactory answer to history, to her ancestors, and to the people of the world.

Mingchen chuckled and said, "Haha, well, I just miss His Majesty in a normal way!"

"kindness?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue immediately stopped smiling, glared at him, and shouted angrily, "How dare you!"

You can't be ordinary!

"Your Majesty, if you can do it, why can't I? This isn't fair!"

"That's unfair! I am the emperor!"

"Hahaha~ Yes, yes, Your Majesty, I obey the decree~"

The two laughed and joked around for a while.

Xiao Xinyue then looked at Mingchen with bright eyes and asked expectantly, "Tell me, what have you done?"

A great victory like the one achieved in the siege is perhaps something Ling Yu is capable of.

However, the collapse of the Great Qi Dynasty was definitely orchestrated by the person in front of us.

There are many inside stories involved, and it is certainly not as simple as the surface information suggests.

Upon hearing this, Mingchen paused, and his smile seemed to fade slightly: "Your Majesty, this matter is not due to my efforts."

"He's just a confused person; he'll figure it out on his own."

Mingchen only offered a few words of guidance at most.

Ultimately, things turned out this way mostly because Wang Huai came to his own conclusion.

"kindness?"

Xiao Xinyue rarely saw Mingchen with such an expression, and she was momentarily stunned.

Mingchen paused for a moment, then said to her, "Let me tell you about him. Perhaps you don't know much about Wang Huai..."

Xiao Xinyue did not deceive Mingchen, nor did Mingchen deceive Xiao Xinyue.

He told Xiao Xinyue the most closely guarded secret about this matter.

This did not cover up the fact that Wang Huai faked his death to escape.

This wasn't rational, but he believed in Xiao Xinyue.

"Emperor Qi is not dead..."

"So that's it..."

Xiao Xinyue was shocked when she learned the news that had been made public.

Now that she knows the inside story, she is even more shocked.

Xiao Xinyue had imagined many possibilities.

She thought that perhaps Mingchen had been maneuvering within Wang Huai's army, using his silver tongue to incite chaos within the Qi army. After all, this guy had a mouth that could bewitch people and talk the heavens out of the earth.

But unexpectedly, the real reason was this.

She was momentarily dazed, and murmured softly, "Wang Huai... truly a righteous man, a hero."

Only after gaining power can one truly appreciate its poison; few can maintain their original aspirations, and few can let go of everything.

With Wang Huai's strength and status, at the very least, he could occupy several cities and become a local tyrant who wielded immense power.

However, he was willing to give up everything.

That courage and magnanimity alone are enough to earn respect.

Xiao Xinyue usually didn't ask much about the relationship between Mingchen and Wang Huai, nor did she pry too much into Mingchen's background. Her understanding of him was mostly based on superficial information and what most people said about him.

Now, hearing Mingchen recount this person's story from a different perspective, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of respect for him.

Now, seeing the dawn of a new dynasty, Wang Huai's ability to let go of everything he has gained, not to become an obstacle to the times, and to push everything toward a bright future, further elevates his personal charisma.

That brave and resilient overlord was a romantic. In a world where people were scheming and corrupt, he always remembered his original aspirations. Like a tragic and generous knight, he sang a sad song. Even if he was alone and surrounded by enemies, he would still rush forward towards the ideal land he believed in.

The existence of people like Wang Huai in this era is perhaps a blessing for this land.

Although he didn't do a good job and ruined everything, he really gave it his all. He left nothing for himself, not even his reputation...

Mingchen smiled and asked Xiao Xinyue softly, "Your Majesty won't resent me for acting on my own and releasing the rebel leader, will you?"

"Humph!"

Xiao Xinyue snorted coldly upon hearing this, glaring at him angrily: "Mingchen, are you underestimating me?!"

"Let him change his name and take a position in the court, and I'll tolerate him!"

Xiao Xinyue is magnanimous; she was speaking from the heart.

Wang Huai is a romantic idealist, and so is Xiao Xinyue!

She never forgot her ideals and vows.

Mingchen was irrational, and so was Xiao Xinyue. Mingchen hadn't kept Wang Huai's matter a secret; any other ruler would have harbored resentment towards him and would have secretly been wary of and investigated Wang Huai. The world cannot tolerate two rulers like that. No king would want someone like Wang Huai to live in their territory.

However, this is exactly what Mingchen and Xiao Xinyue are like.

The rules of this world are not cold-blooded; they are full of human warmth.

Mingchen simply smiled and shook his head: "Your Majesty, my elder brother is a little tired."

Xiao Xinyue may tolerate it, but the people below cannot, and the common people of Qian Yuan cannot tolerate it either.

Wang Huai is dead and will not be resurrected.

Let's end the story here.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xinyue lowered her eyes, gently embraced Mingchen, and said in a low voice, "In the end, it is still my Xiao family that has let down the people of the world."

The people of the world have the right to criticize Wang Huai, after all, he did some wrong things. He plundered the people, failed to control his subordinates, and did not realize the grand ambitions he once made.

However, the powerful clans and the Xiao royal family were not qualified to judge him; Wang Huai represented the will and voice of many oppressed people.

If it weren't for the incompetence of the Qian Yuan emperor and the corruption of the court, how could righteous men have been forced to rise up in rebellion?
If a country is stolen, ravaged by war, and its people and grandchildren are killed, it is no one else's fault but their own.

"Mingchen, Wang Huai will come to Jiqu in the future, and you will meet him, right?"

Mingchen nodded: "Yes."

"Then, could you please introduce me to someone?"

"I'd also like to meet you, my elder brother."

Mingchen was taken aback: "Why do you want to see him?"

"Let's talk."

"Don't worry!"

"I won't hurt him."

"My guarantee as the emperor is more reassuring than your words."

Wang Huai entrusted his ideals to Mingchen.

Xiao Xinyue is also an important part of this ideal, at least on the surface.

She wanted to explain her feelings to this righteous hero and put his mind at ease.

"Hey~"

Seeing his empress's serious expression, Mingchen instantly understood what she meant.

She smiled unconsciously: "That's not necessarily true."

He considered himself a realist, a cynical and ruthless person who pursued fame and fortune by any means necessary.

Why are all the people around him so naive, stubborn, and hot-blooded fools?
Ironically, they also radiate light and are full of charm.

Mingchen felt a warm glow on his corpse as they shone their light on him.

"Mingchen!!!"

"It seems I've spoiled you too much; you've become completely lawless!"

"You're finished! I'm going to give you a good beating!"

……

"Oh?"

"So, Bei Lie wants my three trials?"

Ji Qu was overjoyed, and the emperor and his minister were still laughing and joking in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

But when a storm is brewing, things are quite different in other parts of the world.

In the quiet room, you could hear a pin drop.

The flamboyant and unrestrained beauty sat regally in her chair, raised her eyebrows, and looked at the Northern envoy before her with great interest.

Not long after news of Wang Huai's death and the collapse of the Great Qi Dynasty reached the Northern Lie, an envoy arrived.

Clearly, the other party also has good taste.

Qian Yuan is bound to march east, and he will surely reclaim the three passes in the future.

If Bei Lie seizes the three passes before Qian Yuan returns, he will gain the initiative. This situation at this juncture is quite normal and was entirely within Hong Ling Shuang's expectations.

Liu Zhonggu had previously served as an envoy to the Qianyuan court after the Battle of Beilie in Qianyuan, where he offered half a province in exchange for Mingchen.

The peace talks simply failed.

However, Qin Lou still valued him highly.

He was sent again for this negotiation with the Jinglan Alliance.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhonggu shook his head: "Alliance Leader, those are not your three trials, but Qian Yuan's three trials."

"Because of the internal strife in Qian Yuan, the Northern Border Army was transferred away, which is why you seized the opportunity to take over their territory."

Negotiation is an art of verbal combat; it requires discerning the opponent's strengths from the details of language and consolidating one's own.

Intimidation, deception, seduction... they use every means at their disposal to achieve their goals without leaving a trace.

Jinglan is an outsider; none of Jinglan's current territories belong to the Jinglan Alliance.

The implication is that he is significantly undermining Hong Ling Shuang's reasoning and disrupting her initiative.

"Hey!"

Hong Ling Shuang scoffed at this, "Since they are the three passes of Qian Yuan, when did it become your place in Bei Lie to come and ask me for them? I like Qian Yuan, wouldn't it be better for me to wait and give them to Qian Yuan?"

Liu Zhonggu was not intimidated by her, and simply shook his head at Hong Ling Shuang: "No, no, no, Alliance Leader, you are mistaken."

"These three passes belonged to my Beilie three hundred years ago, but they were taken away by Emperor Qian Yuanwu."

"Our current act of reclaiming it is also a return of the property to its rightful owner."

"We've already given it to them for three hundred years, why are we asking for it back now?"

Hong Ling Shuang waved her hand: "Lord Liu, as far as I know, Liren City, which you are currently occupying, was once Qian Yuan's territory, wasn't it? Why don't you think about returning it to Qian Yuan?"

"This vast and beautiful land has no owner; it is simply occupied by the capable!"

"Don't give me that nonsense. The place I occupy is mine."

A flamboyant and unrestrained leader, capricious and unpredictable.

This negotiation is destined to be a tough battle, much more difficult to handle than the previous struggle for survival by the old Emperor Qianlong.

Liu Zhonggu had already anticipated Hong Ling Shuang's actions.

However, as a scholar, he was somewhat helpless when faced with Hong Ling Shuang, who had the air of a bandit.

Before meeting the alliance leader, he also bribed several alliance officials.

But not long after, the other party was carried out of the city lord's mansion.

Without hesitation, the leader of the alliance opened fire, sending away several ministers who spoke up for Bei Lie and were afraid of him.

Hong Ling Shuang disliked this kind of scheming communication and said bluntly, "You don't need to threaten me or deceive me. Let's be frank and talk about something real."

What can you offer?

"It's impossible for someone to take my things without any effort."

"As you've seen, trade is free in White Spirit City. If you offer enough, I'll sell it to you; it's not impossible."

Business is business, and personal matters are personal matters.

Hong Ling Shuang will not devote everything to Ming Chen and Qian Yuan simply because she admires Ming Chen and feels a connection with him.

She has a large following, her territory, and her own ideals.

Giving up the three passes to Bei Lie is not a good thing for Qian Yuan.

However, if it is in the best interests of the Jinglan Alliance, Hong Ling Shuang will not hesitate for a moment.

She might even instigate a major battle between Bei Lie and Qian Yuan, vying for the spoils.

Liu Zhonggu frowned slightly: "What does the Alliance Leader want?"

We are not all stupid.

Most negotiations can't achieve the same level of success as Mingchen, where everyone is satisfied with what he got for free.

Although the Northern Lie are powerful, this time it was the Northern Lie who took the initiative to send envoys to contact and negotiate, which inherently makes them inferior.

"What can you Northern Lie produce?"

"I want land in exchange for land, and I also want gold and silver treasures. I want horses too, and I also want several mineral veins."

There are only so many good things, and Hong Ling Shuang had already figured out what she could get in return for those three passes.

With a stern face, Liu Zhonggu said to Hong Ling Shuang, "Alliance Leader, please explain in detail."

"I don't want much. As for land, give me whatever size the Three Passes are. I want Baiyong City to your west."

Before Hong Ling Shuang could continue speaking, Liu Zhong Gu suddenly raised his head and exclaimed in a loud voice, "Impossible!"

Traveling northwest from the mouth of the Lie River into the territory of Bei Lie, you will find Bai Yong City, a city where the Lie River and its tributaries converge.

This city is quite strategically important; controlling it means blocking the waterway and grain transport routes for one-sixth of the territory to the southwest of Beilie.

In any case, it is impossible to hand it over to someone else.

Hong Ling Shuang shrugged: "Tell me, what can you offer?"

Negotiations are a back-and-forth affair; it's impossible to reveal your hand directly.

At first, they all asked for exorbitant prices, so Hong Ling Shuang was just testing the waters.

Liu Zhonggu pursed his lips: "My king is willing to give the nine cities of Lizhou to Jinglan, and is willing to establish an alliance with Jinglan, to exchange resources, form an alliance in times of war, and protect Jinglan from foreign invasion."

Hong Ling Shuang rolled her eyes upon hearing this: "You're talking nonsense. If you're not sincere, then get lost."

Lizhou was ceded to Beilie by the Qianyuan dynasty. It was ravaged by war and was originally a desolate place.

Bei Lie didn't feel bad about sending them away.

Moreover, this land has now been occupied by the Jinglan Alliance.

In Hong Ling Shuang's mind, what I have is mine. It's a bit ridiculous for you to take my things and give them to me.

Wartime alliance? Protection?
They talk a good game, but who's protecting whom?
Who doesn't know that you, Bei Lie, want to go south, and now you're dragging me, a mere spectator, into it too?
Liu Zhonggu: ...

Why resort to insults when we're supposed to be negotiating?
He often went on official business, and this was the first time he had encountered such a rogue monarch.

She was a woman...

Liu Zhonggu gritted his teeth, mustered his strength, and said to Hong Ling Shuang, "Alliance Leader, our Bei Lie now has an army of 100,000, led by our War God Tian Hong. We are invincible and ready to fight. We are now poised to attack from the Lingshui River."

"I hope the Alliance Leader will reconsider."

Hong Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Are you threatening me?

"This humble subject dares not."

"Hey~"

"The Northern Fierce Army has 100,000 strong soldiers, how terrifying!"

Hong Ling Shuang chuckled lightly: "Then it seems I'll have to give you all three trials!"

Liu Zhonggu's heart skipped a beat, but he had a bad feeling about Hong Ling Shuang's tone.

Hong Ling Shuang looked at him coldly: "It's not just the three passes. If I, Jing Lan, withdraw from the mainland, all the remaining territory will be yours!"

"What... what does the Alliance Leader mean by this?"

"It's not very interesting. Your Northern Lie has 100,000 strong soldiers, while my troops are few and only good at naval warfare. I can probably only take advantage of your battle with Qian Yuan to divide your battlefield along the Lie River and attack you from both sides with Qian Yuan, causing you some trouble."

Hong Ling Shuang is not one to suffer a loss.

She doesn't like being threatened.

"This……"

Liu Zhonggu twitched the corner of his mouth, speechless.

I felt like I was facing not a monarch, but a bandit thug.

This is what makes Bei Lie most helpless about the Jinglan Alliance.

The Jinglan Alliance excels in water warfare, possessing advanced and swift ships, as well as firearms and cannons, and expands its influence along the rivers.

They did not focus solely on defending the city; they would advance when it was advantageous and retreat when it was disadvantageous, without shame in fleeing.

They are essentially an enhanced version of a nomadic people living on water.

They are forces in overseas islands, with their main base not on the mainland. If all else fails, they can simply abandon all their territories and retreat.

As long as our vital forces are protected, we can always intervene and cause trouble during the great battle between Bei Lie and Qian Yuan.

The battlefield is on Qian Yuan's side, and Qian Yuan is not under much threat.

However, the Beilie people heading south are facing some pressure.

Unless, before the great war between the two countries, Bei Lie launches a full-scale attack on Jing Lan Alliance, chasing them all the way back to their homeland to cripple them.

However, this move would undoubtedly benefit Qian Yuan, and it's the worst possible strategy to completely break with Jing Lan.

This is also why Qin Lou did not directly send troops to annihilate them, but instead sent envoys to negotiate.

As a middle force, the Jinglan Alliance is not as strong as Qianyuan and Beilie in overall strength, but its attitude can influence the situation of the entire world.

If we can fool the alliance well, hiring them to fight against Qian Yuan would be even better.

He'll deal with this troublemaker properly once the world is at peace.

Conversely, if the Jinglan Alliance sides with Qian Yuan, then things will be troublesome.

Liu Zhonggu quickly smiled apologetically, "No, no, no... Alliance Leader, you've misunderstood."

Emotions, attitudes... these are just negotiation tactics and techniques.

He believed that Hong Ling Shuang wasn't really angry and still wanted to continue talking to him.

The next step is for both sides to make concessions.

While the two were scheming and plotting against each other.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, they all raised their heads and looked north.

"roar~"

"Boom boom boom!"

Suddenly, the earth and sky trembled in the distance, and a series of powerful and majestic tiger roars echoed.

(End of this chapter)