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

Chapter 107: One Strategy for Half a State
"Master Ming, His Majesty invites you!"

Mingchen and Xiao Xinyue's escape caused a commotion, but it was quickly calmed down with their return.

the next day,
A guard dressed in blue with a cold and stern temperament came to the door with the imperial edict.

"Oh?"

Mingchen raised his eyebrows, bowed and said, "I obey your order."

What he did in the court that day was enough for the Northern Emperor to see clearly that he was the leader of this negotiation.

"please!"

……

Qin Lou and Xiao Yu are two monarchs with completely different temperaments.

Xiao Yu doesn't like political affairs, but he is very scheming and unwilling to give up power. He doesn't trust anyone and makes himself gloomy. When you go to discuss matters with him, the room is also dark and eerie.

Qin Lou is a tyrannical monarch who acts without restraint and has volatile moods, but his style is not sinister. He may appear rough, but he is actually a delicate person with a heart of a tiger and a nose for roses.

In terms of monarch rating alone, Xiao Yu is inferior to Qin Lou.

Beiliehu Hall, this is where Qin Lou works.

The decoration is quite grand and bright, completely different from Xiao Yu's Yangxin Palace.

Qinlou is tall, and the tables and chairs are all oversized. There is also a map hanging not far away.

"Foreign minister Mingchen pays homage to His Majesty."

When Mingchen saw Qin Lou, he bowed and saluted.

Qin Lou sat at the desk, chin propped up on one hand, watching the man with interest: "Hey! Mingchen, you made such a scene in my court, how come you know how to behave now?"

Mingchen lied with his eyes open, "Your Majesty, you are joking. Southerners value etiquette, and I, a foreign minister, have never done anything inappropriate."

"Hahaha~"

This kid is still talking about what he said in the court before.

To be honest, put aside the identity of an envoy from an enemy country.

Qin Lou was quite impressed by this young and low-ranking envoy.

Courage, wisdom, magnanimity...all good, very good.

Some talents and traits cannot be learned. If you have them, you have them. If you don’t, you don’t.

There is no one in the Beilie court who dares to do such a thing.

The monarch naturally appreciates talented people.

"May I ask why Your Majesty summoned this foreign minister?"

Qin Lou raised his eyebrows and said, "What's the matter? Don't you know? Let's not beat around the bush."

"The conditions mentioned in the court are impossible to achieve. Now that it's just you and me here, let's discuss the peace talks."

Qin Lou is not like Xiao Yu, who needs guards to protect him wherever he goes.

He thought he was the strongest warrior in the world and was not afraid of anyone harming him.

There were indeed only the two of them in this hall.

He called Mingchen here to find out the truth, as he didn't want this unruly young man to do something unpredictable again.

The next time we formally discuss this matter in the court, there must be a set of rules.

Mingchen said, "Since it is Your Majesty's request, I, the minister, shall comply."

Qin Lou pointed to a seat on the side and said, "Sit down!"

"Yes."

Qin Lou looked at the map on the side and said, "Mingchen, tell me, what does Qianyuan want to cede to Beilie?"

It can be said that Beilie's war emptied out the country's decades of accumulation.

It is to conquer some fertile land and expand the country's territory.

If Mingchen doesn't give in, then Beilie's efforts will be in vain.

Qin Lou would rather devote all his country's strength to fighting Qian Yuan for another half a year. He would not care even if the mother river entered an ice age.

Mingchen shook his head and did not answer the other party's question: "Your Majesty, you must understand one thing. Beilie is no longer in an advantageous position."

"Your Majesty, please do not forget that your Beilie Army just suffered a defeat, losing 13,000 soldiers."

"Your Majesty, are you so confident? If you continue to fight, can you win?"

"Three months later, the Lie River will freeze over. How will you transport food to the front line?"

"The ice age has arrived, and the flat river has frozen over. The city has no river to defend. Our army will bypass Qifeng City and send 3,000 cavalry to cross the river on the ice, directly attacking Kuye City. We will then use this city as a springboard to form a pincer attack with the main army... Your Majesty, what is your explanation?"

Mingchen pointed at the map and spoke calmly to Qin Lou about the proposal that Guo Chongyun had given him earlier.

Guo Chongyun does have the ability. If he hadn't been backstabbed by his own people, he might not have lost.

When the client asked the unlucky disciple for a proposal, the old ghost cursed at him but still gave it to him.

And gave several.

Qin Lou paused, his smile faded, and he looked deeply at the young man in front of him.

Both civil and military.

This person also has a strong military strategic vision and a very clear perspective.

Now it is time to re-examine the value of this young man.

After the peace talks, he had to find a way to prevent Mingchen from going back.

If we allow them to return to the country, they will become a serious problem in the future.

Qin Lou snorted coldly: "Humph!"

"Does Qianyuan have the advantage?"

He was thinking, but he didn't show it on his face. He just said in a deep voice: "Our soldiers can withstand the severe cold and fight fiercely in icy weather. Can your Qianyuan army compare with them?"

"What if my army can defeat you directly on the front line in one fell swoop?"

Ming Chen narrowed his eyes, looking at Qin Lou, his words seeming to be prying into people's hearts: "Your Majesty, General Tian Hong has made outstanding contributions. His reputation among the Northern Lie has even surpassed yours. He has been promoted to the rank of Pillar of the State. There is nothing more to be promoted above. If we continue to fight, we will suffer losses if we lose. Even if we win, Your Majesty is not afraid..."

This person also has a glimpse into the emperor's mind.

He stirs up trouble with just a few words. He is truly a demon.

Qin Lou re-evaluated Mingchen once again.

In a sense, what Mingchen said was indeed correct. The people of Beilie are martial in nature, and the legendary general Tian Hong has a very high status in the hearts of the people of Beilie. If the war is really won, Tian Hong's achievements will probably be passed down through the ages, surpassing the emperor Qin Lou.

There is no more title to be given, and his achievements are so great that they shock the lord.

This is a very dangerous thing for an emperor.

but……

Qin Lou lowered his eyes slightly. Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The heart of an emperor is unpredictable.

He didn't seem to mind it, waved his hand, and said, "Mingchen, don't talk about those nagging things. If it doesn't work, then fight!"

Qin Lou was naturally tall and imposing, his aura of a domineering monarch overwhelming him. "Seventy years ago, my King of Beilie was forced by you, the God of War, to commit suicide as an apology. Beilie has risen from the brink of destruction. The people of Beilie will never surrender. We have experienced the most painful moments, so why not experience them again?"

"Do you, Qianyuan, dare to make a bet with us? The army is pressing on the northern border. In half a year, I will see if your blood-stained rebels can change the world!"

The overlord was so heroic that it seemed as if there were sounds of dragons and tigers roaring.

For a moment, the hall seemed a little cold.

Both countries want to reconcile, but Qin Lou cannot accept it if the benefits are not in place.

Even if fighting would result in both sides being injured, he would just see who would be more seriously injured!

"Then how much does Your Majesty want?" Mingchen shrugged. It didn't really matter to him personally whether the Blood-Clothed Rebels changed the world.

But it was indeed not very polite to Qianyuan.

He was just trying to be brave just now, saying that Bei Lie was incompetent and his own family was in a mess.

He came on this diplomatic mission with the intention of reaching a peace treaty.

Negotiation is the art of compromise, and it is impossible not to take a single step back.

Qin Lou pointed at the map and said, "I want a state."

They had already conquered a state, so taking another state would not be excessive.

Mingchen shook his head: "No."

This world is much more vast than the world in the previous world, and a state is much larger than a province in the previous world. Qianyuan has a total of 39 states, and giving away one state is a lot.

Otherwise, why would the prince worry about his gray hair day and night!

Mingchen pointed at the map and said, "How about this, Your Majesty? The Rongshui River, a tributary of the Lie River, divides Lizhou into two. Let's use the Rongshui River as the boundary and cede the nine cities north of the Rongshui River to Beilie. How do you think?"

"Let the water be our boundary, so that both our countries can defend the river and live in peace."

"Bei Lie has no strategic locations to defend after crossing Rongshui. Even if we give them more land, we can always take it back if a war breaks out."

Mingchen didn't want to continue to argue with the monarch, so he took the most important step in the peace talks.

Qin Lou frowned: "Not enough!"

Almost all the people in Lizhou have died, and the resources have been exhausted due to the war. It has become a dead place with no grass growing.

If we take only half of it, then this little piece of land will require population migration and it will take many years to recover. It is too little.

Mingchen looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and said, "Well, let me offer your Majesty another plan. In ten years, Beilie will be three times more powerful, with abundant crops and a prosperous people. How do you think?"

"what?!"

The voice just fell,

Qin Lou's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he immediately slammed the table and stood up. He stared at Mingchen intently: "Are you serious?"

You can't say this casually.

As a monarch, he had the skills to cultivate his energy. It was basic for him to not show his emotions on his face and not let others see his thoughts.

However, Mingchen's words were too devastating for a monarch, and it was hard for Qin Lou not to be moved. Except for a monarch like Xiao Yu.

"really."

Qin Lou frowned and stared at Mingchen.

This time, what Mingchen said really shocked him.

Does this crazy guy really have the ability to rule the world, or is he just bragging?

This young man from the enemy country, who is less than 20 years old, can always surprise people and raise his value time and time again.

He said, "If it is really as you say, I will agree."

Mingchen wasn't afraid that he would go back on his word, so he didn't sign any written evidence. He stood up, walked over to the map, pointed at it, and said, "Build water conservancy projects."

"Ok?"

He pointed to a long river on the map and said to Qin Lou, "Your Majesty, please look. The Lie River is the mother river of Beilie. The water flows from the Fairy Mountain in the far north and flows into Beilie. It has several tributaries and nourishes hundreds of millions of people in Beilie."

"But the land of Beilie is vast, and there are many marshy and salty areas. Without the blessing of the mother river, no crops can grow. If disaster strikes, there will be no harvest."

Mingchen's words were concise, but a few of them hit Qin Lou's sore spots, and his expression became a little gloomy.

Beilie has little fertile land, the land is solid and saline, and there is a shortage of food.

This is also the reason why Beilie generations wanted to go south and attack Qian.

The Qianyuan era was auspicious, with a suitable climate, vast fertile fields, and abundant rivers. If there had been no major disasters, or a foolish ruler or corrupt government, the people would have lived in prosperity, and the dynasty, which had lasted for five hundred years, had its own reasons for existence.

Mingchen tapped his finger and drew a line between two rivers on the map. "Your Majesty, please look at these two rivers, the Linshui River and the Xushui River. The Linshui River is high, while the Xushui River is low. We can dig a canal between the two rivers to connect them. Then, we can build a weir on the Linshui River to block the river, raise the water level, intercept the Lin River water, and divert it into the canal. The end of the canal will eventually connect with the Xushui River, forming a large canal."

"At the same time, the three small streams of Zheshui, Baishui, and Liangshui were connected to the canal to increase the water volume. The canal water was diverted downward to irrigate the marshy and saline land below."

"Once the canal is completed, the marshy land will be transformed into fertile fields, and the people here will no longer suffer from the extreme cold and hardship."

This was something that would require hundreds of thousands of people to accomplish, but Mingchen easily explained it in just a few words.

He looked up at the burly emperor, his eyes as bright as the stars in the sky, and asked with a smile, "May I ask, Your Majesty, can this policy of mine multiply Beilie's national strength several times over?"

A genius who changes the world, with the world in his heart, shines brightly.

Qin Lou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up and walked quickly to the map. He stared at the place where Mingchen had copied it, and kept muttering softly, "The marshy land has been transformed into thousands of acres of fertile fields..."

"Really? Really..."

He believed it.

His Majesty is quite tall, so you have to look up to see him. His muscles run horizontally, giving off an oppressive feeling.

Mingchen was not afraid of him, but simply asked, "How?"

With a smile on his face, he asked jokingly, "A king's promise is as heavy as a mountain. Your Majesty will not regret it, will he?"

Qin Lou came back to his senses and said to Mingchen, "My words always count."

Now Qin Lou no longer wants to worry about that half of the state.

The man in front of him and what he said seemed more important than the land of half a state.

"Why are you telling me?"

He believed that once the canal was built, the marshy land could be transformed into vast fertile fields, thus promoting a qualitative leap in Beilie's national strength.

If this matter was brought up by Beilie's minister, he would be very happy.

But it was this envoy from the enemy country who proposed this. This man is so smart that he is almost a demon. He is not someone who is easy to deal with.

They are enemies.

It is absolutely impossible for him to come up with such a plan to aid the enemy. It will do him no good at all.

Qin Lou didn't believe that the other party would be so kind.

That day in the court, he made sure no one got any advantage.

How could he possibly consider Beilie in all aspects? The worse Beilie is, the happier he should be.

Mingchen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, didn't we agree that this foreign minister would propose this plan in exchange for that half state?"

Qin Lou shook his head.

He didn't believe that the other party just had this idea.

Mingchen didn't want to hide anything. He simply said to the other party as a reminder, "Your Majesty, this is no small matter. This canal must be at least three or four hundred miles long. Do you know how much manpower and resources this will cost?"

"The Lie River is the mother river of Beilie. Linshui and Xushui are the mother's left arm and left leg, respectively. Will those old-fashioned traditionalists of Beilie allow you to touch this ancestral river?"

Mingchen just came up with ideas, not giving the finished products to the other party.

A project that takes ten years is not that simple.

These problems are obvious and do not need to be hidden. Qin Lou would have figured them out after taking a closer look without Mingchen pointing them out. He was just so excited that he was dizzy.

This was a "strategy to exhaust a nation" in the brilliant history of another civilization, considered by many to be the most foolish strategy. But now it was being used by Mingchen.

The two terms "策" and "策" all mean the same thing, but people are alive.

If he were in another place or under different conditions, perhaps he would not be the stupidest one.

Mingchen's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Qin Lou's head. He was shocked when he heard it, and his head, which had been boiling with blood, gradually returned to rationality.

He frowned, his mind tangled in thoughts, and finally his eyes fell on the young man in front of him.

This freak, he knew the other party's purpose.

(End of this chapter)