Xiahou Yu's pupils abruptly contracted at these words.
He could barely contain his delight. "My lord, is that really true?"
Shen Tang waved a hand and said coolly, "How could it be false? But Zi Kuan, don't let anyone else know just yet. Especially those few who can't sit still and spend all day picking fights with Gongxi Chou... Warriors are born to love battle, but every war has to end someday. Their temperaments need a little tempering. Keep them in check now, and they'll be less trouble later."
There was a touch of indulgence in her voice, along with a hint of helplessness.
If she couldn't quickly bring this region into step with Kang, she had no idea how much trouble the two sides would have merging later. The bigger the behemoth, the more easily it could destroy itself. Every step had to be taken with the utmost care; one careless move, and they might follow in the footsteps of Wu.
At the end of the day, she still had to blame that old coot Yun Da.
If he hadn't barged in and thrown a wrench into things, Shen Tang could have built her territory at her own pace, fully securing one region before swallowing up the next. Taking a new territory was like scattering a layer of sand over an existing foundation. The fresh, loose sand had to be tamped down again and again with wooden poles. Only with a solid foundation could they build a towering structure from the ground up.
On one side was the looming countdown to destruction; on the other, a new power that hadn't yet stabilized.
And the martial generals at this branch office were all champing at the bit for war.
As their lord, how could Shen Tang not be worried?
For