Xiao He's words left the entire gathering silent, and everyone sank into thought.
"Surely you're overstating things, sir?" General Li Kang hesitated, then forced himself to scoff.
"Hmph! Whether I am overstating things is something everyone here knows perfectly well! I neither know nor wish to know why General Li would advise our lord to consider Liu Bang's faction and Western Chu!"
Xiao He's expression darkened, and he snorted mercilessly. After a pause, he swiftly continued, "All I wish to say is that General Li is our lord's kinsman, and most of what you possess today came from him. When the lord prospers, his subjects share his glory; when the lord declines, his subjects share his disgrace. Regardless of which faction ultimately succeeds, whether all nine degrees of kinship are exterminated or all boats rise with the tide, General Li falls within the three degrees of kinship. You cannot escape, and there is absolutely no chance of surviving unscathed! You would do well to think three times before acting!"
"Hm?"
At Xiao He's words, Li Kang's face darkened and his anger rose. He was about to retort furiously, only to feel an inexplicable pang of guilt. His expression changed several times, and his lips moved, but in the end, he could say nothing...
Having risen to Supreme Pillar of State in Sishui Royal City, Li Kang was naturally no fool and no incompetent. With Xiao He speaking so bluntly, how could he fail to understand? Moreover, cowed by the prestige of Xiao He, a civil chancellor renowned through the ages, how could Li Kang dare argue?!
Did he really take Li Yuan for a fool?!
Li Yanyan, who never involved herself in politics, hesitated before saying, "Brother... the gentleman is right. Neither Liu Bang nor Xiang Yu is an enlightened