exclaimed in panic: "Your Highness is indeed wise!"“My minister's weight is natural, even drinking water makes me gain. Even if I eat more than usual on some days, I would never dare to touch the trea...Chapter 858: The World as a Chessboard

Li Chen is telling the truth.

When military deterrence reaches a certain level, one can completely avoid bloodshed and simply station troops on the border. The neighboring country, frightened out of its wits, will have no choice but to agree to the terms and cede territory.

This is a disgrace to any nation.

Such shame, the Qin and Jin states have endured this far too many times, to the point where it's almost become commonplace.

“But if, one day, we were to swallow these six hundred thousand iron cavalry, then the Liao Kingdom would be seriously weakened. Their domestic situation would also be unstable, and they wouldn't be able to retaliate in a short time. At that time, this palace could recover the sixteen prefectures of Yan Yun, and your Jin Kingdom could wash away the shame of that year.”

Li Chen said, patting Gua Erjia Ao Qin's shoulder, and spoke in a soft voice: "Such matters, you can't decide. If your Jin Kingdom were intelligent enough, upon receiving the message you sent back last time, they should have already dispatched someone. Now they should be on their way."

"You send the message and give your Jin Guo master behind you some time to think, then have them send someone to give this palace an answer."

He couldn't believe it, because everything Li Chen said was true.

A big shot has indeed been sent over from China.

He came today just to delay Li Chen.

Everything has to wait until that big shot arrives to make the decision.

And these secrets, hidden deep within the Jin Kingdom, seemed to unfold before Li Chen's very eyes, as if he had witnessed them firsthand. He articulated them with remarkable clarity.

"Because I am the emperor of your Jin country, I would do the same."

"Could such a weighty matter as cooperation or hostility between two nations, something that would depend on your position and status, be decided by this palace"

Li Chen's undisguised contempt made Gualjia Aoqin not only feel no anger, but also found the explanation quite reasonable.

Ignoring Guarjia Aoqin's admiration, Li Chen said, "Alright, go back and deliver the message. Tell the Emperor of Jin that the choice I make is not up to me, but to him."

A single sentence dismissed Guāljia Aoqín's complicated emotions. Lǐ Chén turned and took the towel Wan Jiāojiāo offered, wiping his hands.

"Your Highness, you were so convincing just now, so amazing! That person was completely stunned by you." Wan Jiaojiao's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Li Chen patted the towel onto Wan Jiaojiao's hand and said, "Half true and half false, he naturally can't tell apart, and doesn't know who the Jin country sent. It's unclear how easy or difficult it will be to deal with them."

No matter who came from the Jin Kingdom, or how easy or difficult they were to deal with, Li Chen put the matter aside for the time being.

Dealing with the Liao Kingdom was certainly something that needed to be done, but it wasn't an immediate crisis.

Right now, Li Chen's most pressing concern is resolving domestic conflicts.

Now Li Chen is like a player in a game of Go, strategizing to control the entire board.

For anything or any plan, he always makes arrangements for short-, medium-, and long-term stages.

Attend to matters according to their urgency and importance.

Urgent matters, must be dealt with promptly.

But things that can be handled later, even if they are urgent, cannot be rushed.

After handling the matter of collaborating with the Jin state to scheme against Liao, Li Chen issued an imperial edict in the afternoon, summoning the top three scholars of this year's imperial examination to the Hall of Political Affairs.

"Student, Fu Minqing."

Student, Xu Junlou.

"Student, Zou Chenglong."

"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Prince, may he live a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand thousand years."

Although these three had passed the imperial examination, they hadn't yet received formal investiture from the court. Therefore, they couldn't call themselves ministers, but they were no longer commoners either. Calling themselves students was both appropriate and legal.ok at Li Chen's face. He stammered, "Your humble servant... Your humble servant is here."As a newly appointed attendant in the East Palace, He Kun's official rank is low, but his actual power is immen...