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

Chapter 110 Clear sky and thunder
"Your Highness, at court tomorrow, Qianyuan and Beilie will draft a contract, after which you can return home."

This contract is a territorial cession and ceasefire agreement. Mingchen and Qinlou have already discussed it, and the envoy came here to complete this contract.

As for the Beilie envoys going to Qian to exchange land for people, that was another contract and had nothing to do with the current Beilie envoys.

After going through the procedures tomorrow, all these people, except Mingchen, can return to their country to report.

After the joke, Mingchen turned serious and said to Xiao Xinyue as if giving her some advice: "I hope that after returning home, Your Highness will visit the Crown Prince's Mansion more often, share his worries, and learn how to participate in government affairs."

Mingchen said this as if he was making arrangements for his final affairs.

Xiao Xinyue is very smart, has good qualifications, and has great ability and vision, but she still has a lot to learn.

There is more than one country in the world, and we cannot just focus on Qianyuan.

Qin Lou, the monarch, gave Mingchen a sense of oppression. It was undeniable that this domineering monarch was indeed quite good.

The enemy is very powerful.

He had to put some pressure on Xiao Xinyue.

Qianyuan seems peaceful, but in fact it is precarious and undercurrents are surging, and time is running out.

He needs Xiao Xinyue to grow faster.

At the very least, a ruler should not be too bad.

If Xiao Xinyue is not qualified, then we can only give up on her and find other ways.

Xiao Xinyue paused when she heard this and bit her lower lip lightly.

Mingchen's words basically told her clearly what he wanted to do.

She didn't know why Mingchen would make such a decision when his royal brother was still alive.

But she knew very well that Mingchen would not do meaningless things. Mingchen chose her, and she would make every effort to live up to his expectations.

Besides… there were indeed some seeds of reluctance in her heart. This trip north, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she had returned from a dead end, and she had to want to do something.

She didn't want to be a soft persimmon that could be bullied by others like she was three years ago.

Thinking of this, she nodded seriously: "Okay!"

She suppressed all her emotions and looked at Mingchen: "When will you come back?"

She knew Mingchen wouldn't go with the envoys. After all, Beilie had already sent an envoy, offering half a state in exchange for one person.

This is enough to show that the Northern Emperor values Mingchen and recognizes his value, and he will not let him go easily.

Letting a tiger go back into the mountains will cause endless disasters.

Mingchen leaned back in his chair and said nonchalantly, "Relax, Your Highness. I can leave whenever I want."

He was tied up because the delegation of envoys refused to leave.

These people left quickly and he could do whatever he wanted.

It is quite difficult for the macho emperor to keep him.

"Mingchen..."

Xiao Xinyue looked at him deeply.

"Xinyue still has a lot of things she doesn't understand. I'll wait for you to come back and teach me."

She knew Mingchen's abilities.

The white bird flies in the sky, and will always carry this wanderer back to Yueyang.

Mingchen smiled, looked into the other person's bright eyes, and made a promise: "Okay!"

……

The next day, Bei Lie Chao Tang,
The envoy has not yet entered the court for an audience.

The court was a little quiet, and the ministers were respectful, waiting for the person on the throne to speak.

News has come out that Envoy Qian has reached an agreement with His Majesty, and His Majesty will definitely discuss this matter with them today.

"Regarding the peace talks, Mingchen has already reached an agreement with me."

Qin Lou sat on the throne, looking at the ministers below, and said calmly: "Qianyuan is willing to cede another half of the state, with Rongshui as the boundary, and the land north of Lizhou will belong to Beilie."

that's it?
Your Majesty agrees?
Did that arrogant boy drug His Majesty?

Several ministers looked a little surprised.

Qian Yuan's sincerity is still not sincerity.

How could a mere half-state be worth three years of war? Bei Lie's army was still outside Lizhou? And they were even asking them to withdraw?

The soldiers fought so hard to conquer the city, and they wanted to give it up? The soldiers gradually retreated to the land they had won with their blood and lives, which was like cutting blood from their hearts. Wouldn't the soldiers curse their officials for their incompetence in their hearts?
"Your Majesty!"

"Absolutely not!"

A general stood up. He had a broken arm and spoke in a sorrowful voice: "Your Majesty, how can we give away the lands we conquered? How can we comfort the souls of the countless heroes buried in foreign lands?"

The general openly opposed the emperor and his tone was somewhat rude, but Qin Lou did not get angry.

He spoke calmly to the ministers below, "Everyone, winter is approaching. The Mother River is frozen, and food and grass are running low. General Tian's army is blocked. Who among you can lead the army and break through the three passes of Qianyuan?"

"Your Majesty! I am willing to go! Qian Yuan only ceded half of the state, clearly provoking us. Are you bullying us, Bei Lie, who have no one left?!"

The one-armed general responded quickly.

Qin Lou's expression remained calm as he continued, "General Qi, I want to ask you, what's your best strategy? How confident are you? What are your chances of success? Are you confident you're stronger than General Tian?"

General Qi paused: "..."

He gritted his teeth and said, "I have no strategy, but I have courage! I am willing to live and die with my soldiers and will never give in!"

"What if we lose? What should we do?"

"I am willing to die as an atonement for my crime!"

"Humph!"

Qin Lou snorted coldly and questioned him, "If you die, what will happen to my Beilie's 100,000 soldiers? What will happen to my Beilie's future? Can your death be enough to compensate for it?"

General Qi: “…”

The general, overcome by the monarch's aura, opened his mouth, but remained silent. Looking at the speechless one-armed general, Qin Lou's tense expression relaxed and he smiled, "General Qi's concern for the country and its people is commendable, and he is truly a blessing to our dynasty."

The one-armed general felt guilty upon hearing this and retreated, blaming himself for his incompetence.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the court relaxed somewhat. Qin Lou continued, "Mingchen's negotiation with me wasn't just about giving up half a state."

"He gave me a strategy in exchange for the other half of the state."

"The value of this strategy is immeasurable. It will benefit us for generations to come, far surpassing the destruction of half a state. If successful, our dynasty's national strength will increase several-fold, our granaries will be filled with grain, and our Northern Fierce Cavalry will dominate the world, no longer constrained by food and fodder shortages."

"You and I will both be remembered in history, forever celebrated, and revered by millions of future generations."

Qin Lou didn't want to hide the fact that Mingchen had proposed this move, and he even wanted to publicize it. It would be best if the whole world knew that Mingchen had come up with a plan for Beilie.

This strategy can change the world, enrich the country and strengthen the people, and make Beilie the most powerful in the world.

According to the calculations of those scheming people in Qianyuan, Mingchen will definitely not be able to stay.

Qin Lou's words made his blood boil, but the expressions of his ministers varied.

I was excited, but more surprised.

Who suggested it? Mingchen?

That ostentatious and unruly young man?
That day in the court, the young editor brazenly killed the highest-ranking leader of his own faction, which left a deep impression on everyone.

Now you have come up with a plan for Your Majesty?
That person is an envoy from an enemy country and behaves strangely. How could he be so kind as to offer a good plan to Bei Lie?

What policy could change half a state? What policy could strengthen their country so much?

Could it be that Your Majesty has been fooled by him?

"May I ask, Your Majesty, what is the policy?"

A civil official asked with a calm expression.

"Develop water conservancy projects, build canals, and divert rainwater..."

Qin Lou briefly explained Mingchen's plan to the court officials: "From now on, barren land will be transformed into fertile fields. How can this not make our dynasty strong?"

As Qin Lou finished speaking, the entire court fell silent for a moment.

This strategy was bold, but it was undeniable that this bold young man was truly a genius. If he succeeded, it would indeed realize the beautiful vision Your Majesty had spoken of.

But there are too many problems in this.

Some people are excited about the beautiful vision, while others are worried.

Some support it, some oppose it.

"Your Majesty, this is a matter of great importance and requires careful consideration. The expenditure of manpower and material resources is immeasurable. Mingchen's intentions are sinister, and he intends to exhaust the nation."

"Someone has to do it. As long as it's feasible and beneficial for generations to come, I must do it!"

"Your Majesty, if our dynasty mobilizes the entire nation to build the canal, what will happen if Qianyuan invades?"

"Does Qianyuan have that kind of strength? Qianyuan is in civil strife right now. They're lucky to be able to hold the city. They don't have the ability to counterattack! Now is the best time to build the canal. It will be too late to wait until they catch their breath."

Qin Lou's position is quite firm.

He was very clear about the advantages and disadvantages of the strategy he had obtained in exchange for half a state. It was precisely because he was so clear about it that he had to do it.

Qin Lou suppressed the objections of several court officials with well-reasoned arguments. Unable to argue, the officials left in dismay.

At this time, an old man with a cane stood up. He was short, hunched over, with an old face and long, silvery eyebrows that covered his eyes.

He trembled and said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you can't do this~"

"Our dynasty has been like this for generations. How can we change the river of our ancestors?"

"The Lie River is the mother river of our dynasty, nurturing the people and bringing blessings to the world. The Lin River and the Xu River are the left arms and left legs of the mother river. Building a canal is like tying iron chains on our mother river, binding her hands and feet."

"It will surely anger the gods and bring wrath upon our dynasty!"

The old man spoke in a sad voice, with tears in his eyes.

Why didn't anyone think of Mingchen's plan?

This is because Liehe is of great significance to Beilie. She is the god of worship, the sustenance of the soul, and the mother of thousands of people.

No one would want to change the river's course.

How can a child tell his mother what to do?
After the words fell, Qin Lou frowned, but didn't wait to speak.

suddenly,
"Boom boom boom!"

It was clearly still a sunny day, but there were bursts of deafening thunder outside.

It seems to be responding to something.

For a moment, everyone was shocked.

It was as if something was calling out to them in their ears.

what is this?
Could it be that the Mother River really has a spirit? Is it really protected by gods?

"This...what is this?"

"Thunder in the clear sky?"

"I feel a little strange..."

at the same time,

Outside the hall, the envoys looked at each other in confusion.

The sudden thunder was breathtaking.

Mingchen raised his head and looked at the sky with interest. Invisible pressure came from the thunder above the clear sky, rippling out in circles.

This world hides many secrets.

What is that? What happened?
god?
"Sir, that thunder... I feel like some special being is casting a spell."

The bird was not in the palace, but the sound reached Mingchen's ears.

(End of this chapter)