The Prodigal Son

The next day, Feng Shu finally arrived at Dapan City.

Feng Shu kept Yan Li's instructions in mind and immediately requested an audience with Empress Murong.

However, he was received by Xiao Baoju, the high-ranking official of Beiqi.

Xiao Baoju greeted him with a smile, "His Majesty went to inspect the Western Capital a few days ago and will not be back for at least two or three days. Would you like to come to Yongping Pavilion with me first, or wait until His Majesty returns?"

Hearing Xiao Baoju's words, Feng Shu couldn't help but curse inwardly.

He didn't believe that Empress Murong had gone to the Western Capital for an inspection!

Empress Murong must be in Dapan City!

Bei Qi must already know about the situation in Yan, and wants to use this to put pressure on him and gain more benefits!

Although he understood the situation, Feng Shu did not point it out. He smiled and said, "I have long admired Minister Xiao's reputation, but I have never had the opportunity to meet him. Now that I have the chance, I would like to have a good chat with Minister Xiao."

"good!"

Xiao Baoju chuckled, pointed to the welcoming carriage, and gestured, "Your Excellency, please!"

Xiao Baoju was very polite and enthusiastic.

But that's not what Feng Shu needs right now!

He needs to reach an agreement with Bei Qi as soon as possible and get Bei Qi to send troops to attack Ning Guo!

Feng Shu quickly boarded the carriage.

Led by Xiao Baoju, the two went to Yongping Hall in Beiqi, which was used to meet foreign envoys.

"Minister Xiao should also know about the Ning people's large-scale attack on Great Yan, right?"

On the way, Feng Shu sighed and asked.

"I've heard about it!"

Xiao Baoju nodded slightly. "The Ning people are indeed cunning. Who would have thought that your country, which was previously on close terms with the Ning country and was an ally, would suddenly launch a surprise attack on your Wangzhou?"

Xiao Baoju was simply stating the facts.

However, Feng Shu felt extremely uncomfortable hearing this.

ridicule!

He sensed a strong sense of sarcasm in Xiao Baoju's words.

It was as if they were saying: Didn't you ally with the Ning people to fight against the Northern Qi? Why are you coming to find the Northern Qi again now?

Although he was deeply distressed, Feng Shu couldn't show his anger since he needed Feng Shu's help.

"Our dynasty also faced numerous difficulties and had no choice but to form an alliance with the Ning people. Now, we have come to this end, which is truly laughable to you, my lord!"

Feng Shu sighed, then suddenly changed the subject, "However, I dare to swear on my life that Great Yan has never done anything to harm the interests of Northern Qi!"

"Of course I believe that!" Xiao Baoju chuckled. "Your Excellency misunderstands. As the saying goes, 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' Now your country is beset by internal and external troubles. I am only worried about your country. How could I possibly be laughing at your misfortunes?"

"Yes! If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold!"

Feng Shu sighed, "Through this incident, we have come to know who our friends are and who our true enemies are! The situation in our dynasty is not optimistic. We earnestly request your assistance! Our dynasty will forever remember your great kindness!"

Feng Shu humbled himself greatly.

At this point, there's no other way but to humble yourself.

The State of Yan is now on the verge of collapse.

Without the help of Bei Qi, even if the Yan state had not been destroyed by the Ning people, it would have been internally fragmented.

The military blows dealt by the Ning people to the Yan state were actually secondary.

The most critical issue is the food and economic crisis facing the Yan state!

Without money or food, how can we fight the Ning people?

"Of course, of course! I've always believed in the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."

Xiao Baoju chuckled, "However, due to your country's previous actions, there are still many ministers in our dynasty who harbor resentment towards your country, especially the Minister of War."

Old fox!

Feng Shu cursed inwardly.

Military Chancellor Xiao Yanguang holds a significant portion of the military power in Northern Qi.

Xiao Baoju specifically mentioned that Military Minister Xiao Yanguang had a grudge against the State of Yan, clearly telling him to first offer more benefits to dispel Xiao Yanguang's resentment!

Otherwise, Xiao Yanguang would definitely oppose sending troops to help the Yan state.

Ultimately, the goal was for the Yan state to offer more benefits to the Northern Qi.

Feng Shu looked embarrassed and said with a wry smile, "I've heard about Prime Minister Xiao's temper! I've heard that you and Prime Minister Xiao are from the same clan. I wonder if you could introduce me to Prime Minister Xiao?"

"That might be a bit difficult."

Xiao Baoju pretended to be embarrassed, "Your Excellency may not know this, but although Prime Minister Xiao and I are of the same clan, we are not from the same lineage. Moreover, Prime Minister Xiao and I have always disagreed on political matters! Just yesterday, I argued with Prime Minister Xiao about your country's affairs. Prime Minister Xiao is probably still angry right now and will probably not give me face."

Xiao Baoju's words were half true and half false.

He and Xiao Yanguang did indeed have many disagreements on political views.

But it's just a difference of political views!

Their ancestors were all Xiao Xun, who had followed Murong Dapan in his campaigns in the north and south.

Xiao Yanguang belongs to the eldest son's lineage, while he belongs to the third son's lineage.

It's normal for people to disagree on political views.

But if anyone wants to destroy the Xiao family, they will be their strongest allies!

Feng Shu lowered his brows, secretly troubled.

He knew, of course, that Xiao Baoju's words were still a way of putting pressure on him.

They simply wanted to force him to reveal Yan's bottom line.

But he doesn't want to reveal his bottom line first!

How can you reveal your bottom line before even meeting the emperor of another country?

If you reveal everything right away, how can you talk about anything else?

But right now, Beiqi can afford to wait, but Yan cannot!

Seeing that Feng Shu was still insisting, Xiao Baoju chuckled inwardly and deliberately changed the subject, saying, "Does Your Excellency know who was behind the series of vicious schemes against your country?"

"It was most likely done by that scoundrel Qin Yu!"

When Qin Yu was mentioned, Feng Shu gritted his teeth in hatred.

Qin Yu, that scoundrel, is truly ruthless!

That series of insidious schemes pushed the Yan Kingdom directly into the abyss.

If he could, he would tear Qin Yu to pieces!

Xiao Baoju was surprised.

He also suspected it was Qin Yuyao?

Xiao Baoju paused for a moment, then pressed on, "Why do you think it was Qin Yu's doing?"

Feng Shu replied, "This scoundrel used every trick in the book when he was negotiating with His Highness the Crown Prince at our border. He not only tricked us out of three or four thousand warhorses, but also caused us to consume a large amount of our already scarce grain..."

Whenever Qin Yu was mentioned, Feng Shu's mouth would go off like a machine gun, calling him "the scoundrel" over and over again.

He felt that the series of poisonous schemes were most likely the work of Qin Yu.

Only a treacherous and cunning person like Qin Yu could come up with such a series of vicious schemes.

"This Qin Yu is also a mortal enemy of our dynasty!"

Xiao Baoju's gaze turned cold and sharp as he said in a deep voice, "To be honest, Your Excellency, when I was on a mission to Ningguo last year, I was thoroughly tricked by that scoundrel Qin Yu!"

Feng Shu immediately said, "Then the person who came up with this vicious plan must be that scoundrel! That scoundrel is our common enemy!"

"right!"

Xiao Baoju nodded and then asked, "What do you think of Qin Yu?"

Feng Shu remained silent, pondering the purpose of Xiao Baoju's question.

After a moment, Feng Shu said solemnly, "This person is despicable, shameless, treacherous, and cunning, both on and off the battlefield!"

"But putting aside my prejudices against him, this man is indeed a rare genius, a commander who appears only once in a century!"

"This person has now become our greatest enemy!"

"If he continues to grow, he might become someone comparable to Zhao Lie in the future..."

Upon hearing Feng Shu's words, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Baoju's eyes.

Zhao Lie!

Emperor Xiaowu of Ningguo!

It seems that the Yan state shares the same assessment as them...