Only, unlike Qian Renxue, his occupation carried greater legitimacy, because these territories had previously belonged under the Heaven Dou Empire.
Moreover, aside from putting pressure on Qian Renxue, there was an even more important reason for this targeted territorial expansion: through this method, he could extend Tang Chen's protective circle into these Kingdoms.
This so-called legitimacy was less for others to see than for Tang Chen to see.
If he acknowledged that legitimacy and treated the newly incorporated territories as part of his own protected range...
Then even if Qian Renxue attacked, they would have Tang Chen to deal with her.
And the key to this strategy lay in speed.
They had to capture as many Kingdoms as possible at the fastest possible speed, and declare sovereignty before Qian Renxue could react.
Of course, doing this carried the suspicion of using Tang Chen, and if it angered Tang Chen enough that he refused to protect them, then this plan would be almost equivalent to failure.
But high risk could bring high returns.
Against the increasingly powerful Spirit Hall Empire, they had to make effective containment measures. Besides, even if they failed, the Heaven Dou Empire's foundation would still not be lost.
Though it would be somewhat stifling, when that time came, they could again rely on Tang Chen's protection to rest and recover until their national strength was restored, then consider how to deal with the Spirit Hall Empire.
An outcome that could not get much worse no matter how bad it became made Xue Ye decide to take the gamble.
And after the plan was made, the next important thing was choosing the timing.
Launching an attack when the enemy was at their strictest level of preparedness would only be sending themselves to death for nothing.
Since that was