The playboy county magistrate

"You're late." The Khan of the Northern Desert looked up at him, his tone tinged with displeasure.

The Japanese envoy calmly took his seat at the end of the line. His narrow eyes swept over the crowd, and his voice was cold, rigid, and devoid of any emotion.

"Japan is weak and should not make a big fuss, so we arrived late to avoid attracting attention."

The envoy from Gaochang in the Western Regions raised an eyebrow and asked, "Today, the Eastern Ying court did not present beauties to flatter the emperor, nor did it flaunt treasures to curry favor. Instead, it presented cold iron military equipment. What secret scheme is it plotting? Now that everyone is gathered here to discuss matters, you might as well speak frankly."

The Japanese envoy lowered his eyes for a moment, and when he looked up, a faint hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. His tone remained calm and even, yet every word was piercing.

"You are all scheming for palace intrigue, for trade, and for immediate profits; your vision is ultimately too narrow."

The room fell silent as soon as the words were spoken.

Everyone turned to look at him, some with displeasure, others with surprise, waiting for his next words.

The Japanese envoy spoke slowly and deliberately:

"The strongest foundation of the Great Yong Dynasty at present is not the power of the emperor, nor the number of officials, but the clean governance, the stable military, and the orderly system."

"Li Xuanzhi rectified the court, eliminated long-standing abuses, and strictly enforced the law, making the Dayong court impeccable and the borders secure and safe."

"You all vainly attempt to seduce men with beautiful women and profit from trade. These are but trivial matters, a drop in the ocean, and cannot shake the very foundation of the Great Yong."

"Then what do you think should be done?" the Khan of the Northern Desert asked in a deep voice.

The Japanese envoy tapped his knees lightly with his fingertips, the rhythm slow and deliberate.

"A beautiful woman can confuse the emperor's heart and bewitch the women of the palace, but she can hardly disrupt the government. Trade can bring small profits and disturb the borders, but it can hardly shake the foundation of the nation. To counterbalance the Great Yong and break the deadlock, we need to work together both internally and externally, and to do both overt and covert methods."

He raised his eyes and looked around at everyone, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"You gentlemen can use the beauty to lie low in the palace, subtly influencing the emperor and waiting for his mind to relax and for discord to arise in the court. Meanwhile, we in Japan will secretly spy on military preparations and investigate the strength of our coastal defenses. We will accumulate strength and hone our capabilities."

"If the court of Dayong is ever again fractured and the emperor and his ministers become suspicious of each other, then it will be time for us nations to join forces and break the deadlock."

"At that time, the southern border region can reap great benefits from trade, the northern desert region can expand its border territory, the western region can stabilize its voice on the border, and Japan can open up sea routes to all seas. All parties can get what they need and achieve a win-win situation."

His words were clear and logical, progressing step by step. He dissected the interests of all parties thoroughly, revealing a far more profound and dangerous situation than the petty squabbles that appeared to be to the public.

The expressions of the envoys in the room suddenly turned solemn, and no one dared to underestimate this taciturn Japanese envoy.

Only then did everyone realize that among the seven nations, the most patient, cunning, and far-sighted had always been the seemingly law-abiding Japan. While the other nations fought for short-term gains, Japan was planning for the long term.

The envoy from the southern border glanced at him and slowly nodded.

"This plan is sound. It combines overt and covert tactics, and integrates short-term and long-term strategies. By not being hasty in the face of immediate gains or losses, but proceeding gradually, we can secure an invincible position."

The envoys from the three kingdoms of the Western Regions looked at each other and nodded in agreement, acknowledging this long-term plan.

The Khan of the Northern Desert gradually relaxed his furrowed brows, his ambition rekindling in his eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"Alright! Let's proceed according to this plan. We'll lie low for now, each fulfilling our duties. We'll await the opportune moment to join forces and break this deadlock!"

On the surface, the various countries still adhered to the tributary system, remained obedient and subservient, and traded in accordance with regulations.

Secretly, the four forces have already joined forces and cooperated.

The palace, the imperial court, the border, and the coastal defenses—moves were made everywhere, layer upon layer, with ambushes laid.

The flickering candlelight cast a mixture of light and shadow on everyone's expressions, each harboring their own thoughts and schemes.

Beneath the seemingly mutually beneficial alliance, there is still mutual suspicion and checks and balances.

No one truly trusts each other; their alliance is merely a temporary binding of interests, a forced collaboration.

Regardless of the complexities of human nature and the intricate calculations, the overall strategy against Dayong has already taken shape.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Li residence.

Li Xuanzhi removed his court robes and changed into plain, everyday clothes. Shedding the sharp edge of his daily court intrigues, his expression softened and peaceful.

There were no piles of case files or complicated official duties in front of him, only a cup of clear tea.

Pei Qingyuan sat quietly by the window, holding An'er in her arms. The little boy was soft, sweet, and well-behaved, nestled in his mother's embrace.

Pei Qingyuan looked up at Li Xuanzhi, who was standing by the window. She noticed that although his expression was calm, there was a faint hint of melancholy in his eyes. She then spoke softly.

"What happened at today's court assembly? You haven't looked relaxed since you returned."

Li Xuanzhi slowly turned around, his gaze falling on his wife and children. All the calculation and ruthlessness in his eyes melted away, leaving only tenderness.

He stepped forward slowly, sat down beside the soft couch, and answered softly:

"It's nothing more than the four surrounding vassal states each harboring their own selfish motives, vying for profit, nothing to be afraid of."

"But even in times of prosperity, there is never lasting peace." He sighed softly. "Open conflicts are easy to quell, but undercurrents are hard to guard against. Today, the various countries are offering gifts and people, seemingly showing submission and obedience, but in reality, they are laying their plans step by step. In the future, whether in the court, the palace, or the borders, I'm afraid peace will be hard to come by."

Pei Qingyuan was always insightful and intelligent, and never interfered in court affairs. Yet she knew her place and how to advance or retreat. Upon hearing this, she nodded gently and offered soft words of comfort.

"You have always been thorough in your planning and knew when to advance and retreat. You are able to maintain order in the court and keep the balance in place. You are also able to stay true to your principles and protect your country. There is no need to be too tense; just do your best."

……

The imperial city, night falls.

The moonlight poured down, covering the undulating glazed tile roof.

The grand celebrations of daytime courtly rituals and political maneuvering, with bells and drums beating and all other festivities, have fallen silent. The treacherous undercurrents that had been lurking beneath the surface have finally broken free from their overt constraints and are now quietly churning within the quiet depths of the palace.

Envoys from various countries put aside their old grudges and secretly forged an alliance. They worked together, both openly and covertly, to devise a plan to counterbalance the Great Yong Dynasty.

The beauties from all directions who were housed in the Zichen Palace were their pawns planted deep within the palace.

The emperor, having a keen understanding of human nature, had long been prepared and deliberately placed women from the four regions of the South, the North, the West, and the East in four separate side halls.

Special access control and palace staff were set up to prevent collusion and gatherings. While it appeared that everyone was treated equally and with equal courtesy, in reality, layers of security were in place.

High walls may separate people, but they cannot imprison the ambitions rooted in the bones of nations, nor can they stop the secret battles within the confines of the palace.

As night deepened, palace lanterns lit up one after another. The warm yellow lights adorned the secluded palace paths, adding a touch of languid softness to the solemn and austere imperial city.

The lights in the four palaces were still on, and a silent game of chess between beauties had quietly begun.

The first to shed their docile facade were the five women from southern Xinjiang.

Southern Xinjiang has long relied on major powers for survival, and its people are adept at assessing situations and using softness to conceal their strength.

Before the palace in broad daylight, five women dressed in turquoise gowns stood. Gentle and graceful, with lowered eyes and meek demeanor, they appeared as innocent and guileless women from a foreign land, instantly putting all the officials and soldiers in the hall at ease.

Alone in the palace courtyard, all the gentle and soft-spoken expressions on everyone's faces vanished, replaced by a shrewd and worldly-wise demeanor.

Mei tide, who was in charge, was a noblewoman carefully cultivated by the royal family of Southern Xinjiang.

At the tender age of nineteen, she possessed a delicate and gentle appearance, and a slender and graceful figure. From a young age, she had learned the arts of playing musical instruments, chess, singing, dancing, and the art of reading people. She was also well-versed in the survival strategy of flattering superiors without vying for power, and enduring hardship while waiting for an opportunity.

She entered the palace this time with a heavy responsibility. She was the key person in opening up the Southern Frontier to the Great Yong Palace, securing trade rights, and gathering intelligence on the court's movements.