Shocked, Two Men Stayed Up All Night!
As he spoke, Ye Jing took out a carefully prepared scroll of drawings from his sleeve and slowly unfolded it before the emperor. "Your Majesty, these are some preliminary reform plans and specific implementation steps that I have conceived based on the current situation of your country."
From tax cuts to ease the burden on ordinary people, to irrigation system upgrades to improve agricultural productivity, and trade policies to promote business development... each measure has been carefully considered, striving to be both suitable for the national conditions and effective in a short time.
The emperor took the blueprints, examined them carefully, and his eyes gradually lit up.
He seemed to see the future vision that Ye Jing had described—a peaceful, prosperous, and thriving country slowly unfolding before his eyes.
"Ye Jing, your plan has indeed given me hope. But with our combined strength alone, I'm afraid it will be difficult to complete such a massive project." The emperor's voice held a newfound firmness and determination.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right; this indeed requires the concerted efforts of the entire nation," Ye Jing replied with a smile. "But as long as we are of one mind and work together, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome. I am willing to be the pioneer, leading everyone step by step towards the light."
The emperor nodded deeply, his eyes filled with approval and trust. "Very well! Ye Jing, I appoint you as special envoy, fully responsible for this reform. I will also dispatch capable assistants to help you ensure the reform proceeds smoothly."
"Alright, I'll help you stabilize the situation first. However, preparations for negotiations with our neighboring country must also begin. Your Majesty, let's withdraw our troops for now!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor pondered for a moment, then his gaze sharpened as if he had made up his mind. "Ye Jing, you are right."
The protracted war has not only depleted the nation's strength but also plunged the people into fear and anxiety. The withdrawal of troops must be carefully planned to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts.
He turned around, walked steadily back to his desk, picked up his brush, and quickly sketched a frontier map on the rice paper, saying as he drew, "Look, this is our important border town, bordering neighboring countries. It has a strategic location, easy to defend and difficult to attack."
However, a prolonged troop deployment not only incurs enormous costs but also strains relations between the two sides. Therefore, we secretly recalled some troops to strengthen internal defenses, and simultaneously dispatched envoys to neighboring countries to express our dynasty's willingness to resolve the dispute peacefully.
Ye Jing took the map, studied it carefully, and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty's consideration is thorough. This move can reduce the pressure on the front lines and create favorable conditions for peace negotiations."
However, the choice of envoy must be made carefully; he must be courageous, resourceful, and eloquent to fulfill his mission.
The emperor smiled slightly, his eyes revealing his trust in Ye Jing. "Rest assured, I will definitely choose a good candidate."
The two then talked for a long time in the study.
Until the first light of dawn!
The neighboring country, Dali, has a vast territory and abundant resources. It has bordered Shang Ling Kingdom times. The two countries have trade relations, but also territorial disputes.
The sudden withdrawal of troops by the Shang Ling Kingdom has undoubtedly caused a great uproar in the Dali court and among the people, with various speculations and discussions emerging one after another.
Inside the Great Li Imperial Palace, Emperor Li Xuan sat on his dragon throne, his brows furrowed, toying with an exquisite jade pendant in his hand. His eyes were filled with suspicion about the actions of the Shang Ling Kingdom. "Why did the Shang Ling Kingdom suddenly withdraw its troops? Could it be that they have other plans?" he asked in a deep voice, a hint of tension barely perceptible in his tone.
Below, the ministers were in an uproar. Some said that Shang Ling Kingdom was in turmoil and had no choice but to retreat; others said that it was using the retreat as a pretext to secretly prepare for a larger-scale offensive; still others speculated that Shang Ling Kingdom had found strong allies and was therefore fearless.
However, none of the speculations had any concrete evidence, which only made the atmosphere in the court more tense.
"Your Majesty," an elderly minister in purple robes stepped forward, "I believe that Shang Ling Kingdom's actions must have a deeper meaning." He was Li Tai, the Prime Minister of Dali, a man of exceptional wisdom and deeply trusted by the emperor. "We might as well observe the situation and strengthen border defenses, just in case."
Li Xuan nodded, but his heart remained uneasy. "What the Prime Minister says is quite right, but I still feel that this matter is of utmost importance. Issue an order to strengthen intelligence gathering on the Shang Ling Kingdom and find out their true intentions."
Meanwhile, the envoys from the Shang Ling Kingdom arrived at the border of Dali, only to be met with an unprecedented cold reception.
They were placed in a simple post station and were delayed in being summoned, let alone given the opportunity to meet the Emperor of Dali.
The news was relayed back to the Shang Ling Kingdom.
Ye Jing and the Emperor of the Shang Ling Kingdom were not surprised.
It would be abnormal if the Great Li Kingdom believed it so easily.
There's nothing you need to do, just wait patiently.
Time will prove their sincerity.
Now is the time when the other party is suspicious; the more you do, the more mistakes you will make.
Their most important task now is to stabilize the situation within the Shang Ling Kingdom.
Otherwise, if this drags on, and Dali doesn't agree to a settlement, we won't be able to hold on any longer!
On the side of the Great Li Kingdom.
In the imperial court, everyone was still puzzled.
Because, judging from the investigation, no matter how you look at it, Shang Ling Kingdom...
The retreat was very decisive.
There was absolutely no sign of an ambush.
Inside the Dali Imperial Palace, the atmosphere became even more tense due to this sudden turn of events.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, illuminating the magnificent hall, but it could not dispel the gloom on the faces of the assembled officials.
Emperor Li Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, each tap seemingly intensifying his doubts and unease.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should." A young and spirited military officer suddenly stood up, breaking the silence.
His Li Zhen, and he was known for his bravery. He harbored strong hostility towards the Shang Ling Kingdom.
"Speak." Li Xuan's voice was deep and powerful, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Li Zhen.
Li Zhen took a deep breath, his voice filled with unwavering resolve. "Your Majesty, the Shang Ling Kingdom's withdrawal of troops this time may seem like a show of sincerity, but it could actually be a ploy to lure the enemy deeper into their territory."
Imagine if our army had seized this opportunity to launch a rash attack, we might have been able to defeat them in one fell swoop and eliminate any future threat!
These words immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court.
Some were surprised by Li Zhen's bold idea, while others nodded in agreement, thinking that his words made sense.
After all, on the stage of war, it's hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and who can guarantee that the Shang Ling Kingdom isn't setting a huge trap?
"General Li, you are mistaken!" Prime Minister Li Tai immediately retorted. He slowly stood up, his gaze profound. "The art of war says, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' Our army knows very little about the internal situation of the Shang Ling Kingdom. To attack rashly would be like the blind men and the elephant, extremely risky. Furthermore, Shang Ling Kingdom has already sent envoys to sue for peace, if our dynasty disregards etiquette and directly starts a war, we risk losing popular support and incurring criticism from the people."
"Prime Minister, you are mistaken!" Li Zhen retorted sharply, "War is a contest of strength, not a contest of etiquette. Since the Shang Ling Kingdom dared to withdraw its troops, it should be prepared to bear the consequences. If our army can deliver a fatal blow at this moment, it will not only demonstrate the might of our Great Li, but also bring lasting peace to the people on the border."