I, a useless prince, started with the Xiang Yu template.

If you agree to the barbarians' conditions.

This emperor was one who humiliated and destroyed the country.

Once recorded in history, it will be an eternal stain, condemned by all.

But if you firmly refuse.

The barbarian army's renewed southward advance is no joke.

Last time, we were able to hold Jing'an thanks to Chu Yun's ingenious plan to burn the grain supplies.

Luck plays a huge role.

Next time, such a miracle may not happen again.

The imperial court is currently out of money.

There is no food.

An army that has not yet had a proper rest.

Once the army sets out, the daily expenses for food, weapons, transportation, and compensation all amount to a fortune of silver.

The current Qianlong Empire simply cannot afford a large-scale war.

The northern lands could not withstand the ravages of a second war.

Emperor Qian's chest heaved, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and irritation.

Looking down at the ministers arguing heatedly, a deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside him.

Just as everyone was arguing.

Emperor Qian suddenly raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the table.

A loud bang echoed throughout the entire imperial study.

Everyone immediately fell silent and turned to look at the emperor.

Emperor Qian's gaze was icy as he swept across the entire room, his voice low and filled with suppressed anger.

"Stop arguing."

"I absolutely disagree with the barbarian's demands."

"Ceding territory and paying indemnities is a humiliating loss of national sovereignty."

"I cannot afford to lose face, and the Great Qian Dynasty cannot afford to lose face either."

A brief pause.

His eyes were serious as he spoke in a deep voice.

"but."

"Who can tell me?"

"If the barbarian army marches south again, who can stop them?"

With a single sentence, he left all the officials speechless.

The ministers who had been arguing most fiercely earlier all lowered their heads and fell silent.

The Imperial Study fell into a deathly silence.

Only the faint sound of the wind blowing in from outside the window remained.

........

Beijing.

In just half a day.

The news that the Northern Barbarians had proposed a ceasefire spread throughout the capital without warning.

I don't know who leaked the news.

It is unknown who leaked the contents of the cabinet's secret meeting.

In just a few hours.

Teahouses, taverns, streets, docks.

Everyone knew about the barbarians' unreasonable demands.

Three northern prefectures were ceded.

They were ordered to pay five million taels of silver.

They paid tribute of grain and fodder every year.

The news caused an uproar throughout the city.

The public was instantly in an uproar.

The people were outraged and their anger was boundless.

Street tea stall.

A man in coarse cloth slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle and clang.

"Why should I?!"

"The barbarians clearly lost!"

"It was His Highness the King of Qin who routed them!"

"Why should the loser dare to make demands? Why should we cede territory and pay compensation?"

A scholar in a long gown standing nearby, his face flushed, gritted his teeth and angrily rebuked him.

"That savage dog is too arrogant!"

"They don't take our Great Qian Dynasty seriously at all!"

"If the imperial court is weak and compromises, neighboring countries will learn from the barbarians and bully us!"

The streets were packed with people.

People from all walks of life gathered together.

Merchants, scholars, craftsmen, veterans, and ordinary people.

Everyone shouted angrily.

"Absolutely not! Not an inch of land will be given up!"

"Not a single tael of silver will be lost!"

"Barbarians have the heart of wolves; no amount of benefits can tame them!"

"We'd rather fight again than seek peace!"

The streets were filled with shouts and curses.

No one can accept this humiliating treaty; they can't swallow this insult.

Public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of the government.

Advocate for war, reject peace.

We will not back down an inch.

……

Inside the Prince of Qin's residence.

Chu Yun sat on the veranda, holding a piece of paper from the marketplace handed to him by a servant.

The barbarians' demands for a ceasefire were clearly written on it.

He looked down and finished reading.

There was a brief silence.

Then, he suddenly let out a sneer.

I laughed in exasperation.

That's so shameless.

Unable to defeat the barbarian army, they retreated in disgrace.

They immediately turned around and made outrageous demands, asking for gold and silver from the three prefectures.

It's obvious they've seen through the fact that the Great Qian Dynasty's treasury is empty and its troops are exhausted.

They wanted to take advantage of the Great Qian's weakness to extort some benefits.

They bully the weak and fear the strong, and are insatiably greedy.

[Ding! A new system task has been triggered.]

[Mission Name: Guard the Northern Wilderness, Take Up Residence in Northern Liang.]

[Mission Objective: To formally assume fiefdom in Beiliang Commandery.]

[Accept the mission?]

Chu Yun was suddenly stunned.

Northern Liang?

He was still struggling to decide where to choose his fiefdom, but the system decided it for him directly.

He frowned, his mind racing.

Northern Liang.

The northernmost military town of the Great Qian Dynasty.

It is a harsh and cold place, with sandstorms everywhere, barren land, and scarce food.

It's no exaggeration to say that it's a desolate place.

Even more deadly is...

The Northern Liang region was located right next to the border, and it was constantly at war and plundering.

The war has never truly ended.

The country was in chaos, bandits roamed freely, the people were impoverished, and the soldiers were exhausted.

No official in the court was willing to serve in the Northern Liang, and scions of powerful families avoided it like the plague.

Whoever goes there will be unlucky.

To outsiders, going to Beiliang to serve as an official was tantamount to being exiled in disguise.

Suffering, poverty, and danger.

All three are present.

Chu Yun took a deep breath and calmly analyzed the pros and cons.

The disadvantages are obvious.

The environment was harsh, resources were scarce, war was constant, and the city was far from the bustling capital, making life difficult and miserable.

But the benefits are equally enormous.

the first.

The emperor is far away and the sky is high.

The Northern Liang was located in the far north, far from the central government.

The power struggles among the princes in the capital, the factionalism in the court, and the scheming for imperial power had no effect on him.

There was no one monitoring or checking them.

He was in Beiliang, where he could train troops and expand his army as he pleased.

Unbound by the rules and regulations of the capital.

second.

Full military and political power.

He had complete control over civil affairs, military power, taxation, and personnel.

A true local tyrant.

third.

The formidable enemy from the north is right before our eyes.

In chaotic times, powerful enemies are never a bad thing.

With barbarians around, he has a legitimate reason to conscript, support, stockpile, and manufacture large numbers of soldiers and armor.

It will not arouse suspicion from the court, and there is no need for deliberate pretense.

To openly and honestly develop one's private power.

The Xuanjia Iron Cavalry would only arouse fear elsewhere.

If placed in Beiliang, it would be a sharp weapon to guard the border and protect the country.

A single thought brings clarity.

A sharp glint flashed in Chu Yun's eyes.

Others disliked the harsh and cold climate of Beiliang.

He felt that Northern Liang was the most suitable place for him.

He had no intention of vying for the crown prince position.

He only wanted to hold military power and be a carefree and powerful prince.

He couldn't be bothered with the quagmire of the capital.

The desolate wilderness of Northern Liang was his training ground and the true foundation for his rise to power.

I've figured everything out.

Chu Yun had already made up his mind.

"System, I accept the mission."

[Ding! Host has accepted the mission.]

[The mission rewards will be distributed uniformly after the fiefdom is established.]

Chu Yun raised his eyes and looked towards the northern horizon, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

So what if it's Northern Liang? So what if it's bitterly cold? So what if it's barbarian?

Others are afraid of war.

He is not afraid.

Others find it barren.

He doesn't mind.

In chaotic times, only military power holds true.

............

The next day, early in the morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Inside the Golden Palace, civil and military officials stood in neat rows, their expressions solemn.

Within the imperial court, the two factions remained divided.

The peace faction was dejected, while the war faction was filled with anxiety.

A gloomy look hung over everyone's face.

Emperor Qian sat upright on the dragon throne, his face cold, his fingertips resting on the armrests, remaining silent.

I had a sleepless night last night.

Ceding territory is a crime that will be condemned for centuries.

Going to war is an overextension of national strength.