The fact that the Grand Yan's Junior Preceptor Yue could control the rain was already giving them headaches. While doing everything possible to silence the people, they had also long planned to use extreme measures to "invite" her to the Southern Yue Kingdom.
Now they were being told that the Divine Maiden could not only control the rain but also possessed superhuman strength, capable of soaring through the sky and diving into the earth!
Upon receiving this news, the Minister of War and the other officials took a while to compose themselves at the government office. Only after their legs stopped trembling did they call each other to report the matter to the emperor.
Such news would likely be impossible to keep secret. In a few days, as merchant caravans traveled between the two countries, the information would inevitably leak in.
What? Close the trade routes?
Even if the emperor agreed, the officials who had all invested in the various merchant caravans would never consent!
They would use the argument that "the ancestral laws cannot be abandoned" to silence the emperor and claim that "refraining from eating for fear of choking" was unacceptable.
The Minister of Personnel shot a glance at Han Qinbao, who was constantly wiping sweat, stepped forward, and reminded the grim-faced emperor, "Your Majesty, the immediate priority is how to minimize the impact of this matter!"
From what they knew, given how much the Grand Yan court cherished Junior Preceptor Yue, once they learned that Southern Yue had attempted to seize her, the Grand Yan ruler and his ministers would surely retaliate fiercely.
Putting themselves in their shoes, if their own kingdom had such a treasure and a neighbor coveted it enough to act, even if the attempt failed, they would still tear a chunk of flesh from the neighbor as the bare minimum. Otherwise, how could they explain themselves to the treasure herself and to the people?
Gan Sheng’s face darkened as he lifted his eyes to glance at the old ministers below. These old relics were all holdovers from his father's reign, arrogant because of their seniority, showing him only superficial respect as the emperor.
If their power weren’t so deeply entrenched in the court, he would have long since purged these presumptuous old fools!
Despite his inner fury, Gan Sheng kept his voice cold, displaying the virtuous demeanor of a wise ruler accepting good counsel. "Then, my esteemed ministers, do you have any good solutions to resolve this?"
The plan to "invite" Junior Preceptor Yue to Southern Yue had been jointly discussed and approved by all of them. Although Gan Sheng had pushed quietly and overtly, everyone present had supported it, so no one could escape responsibility.
Did the Southern Yue ruler and his ministers want to kill Yue Fuguang?
The answer was naturally yes. Over the past three years, they had spent two of them attempting every method to eliminate her.
Unfortunately, after more than ten large and small operations involving a hundred operatives, they hadn’t even managed to touch a corner of her clothing.
Gan Sheng had to admit that Yue Fuguang was even harder to kill than the emperor himself!
"Your Majesty, the immediate priority is to send an envoy with generous gifts and a state letter to Grand Yan." A purple-robed elder with graying hair stepped forward.
He bowed and continued his advice, "Your Majesty could inform the Grand Yan emperor that Southern Yue wishes to spend a great sum to invite Junior Preceptor Yue to help solve our kingdom’s drought."
"Unacceptable!" A middle-aged man in a red official robe stepped forward, bowing deeply with extreme respect. "Your Majesty, I, your humble minister, believe there are issues with Chancellor Li's proposal."
"Oh?" Gan Sheng suddenly showed interest, leaning forward with a smile as he looked at the man. "Minister Fei, tell me, what is unacceptable about Chancellor Li's proposal?"
"Your Majesty, our previous actions have already infuriated the Grand Yan ruler and his ministers. Even if we now seek to mend relations, knowing that we tried to 'invite' Junior Preceptor Yue to Southern Yue, the Grand Yan emperor will not easily agree.
Consider this, Your Majesty: if Grand Yan were Southern Yue, would Your Majesty allow a treasure of the kingdom to take such a risk?"
The others inwardly shook their heads.
Fei Yongxing lifted his head, gazing at Gan Sheng with blazing eyes. "And ask yourself, Your Majesty, if our kingdom possessed a being like Junior Preceptor Yue who could communicate with the gods, and neighboring countries were suffering disasters, what would you do?"
There was no need to ask. Not only Gan Sheng but all the Southern Yue ministers thought the same: "Strike while the iron is hot!"
Helping? Impossible!
"Minister Fei means that Southern Yue and Grand Yan are destined for war?"
Under his rule over the past few years, Southern Yue had grown increasingly strong. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have laid all kinds of plans to swallow Grand Yan.
But given Grand Yan’s recent development, a direct clash would cost Southern Yue dearly.
Gan Sheng’s gaze unconsciously shifted toward Nanzhao. This operation had also involved Nanzhao, which the Grand Yan emperor surely already knew.
Nanzhao could no longer completely wash its hands of the matter. That meant this war couldn’t be fought by Southern Yue alone.
"This is only my humble guess," Fei Yongxing continued, elaborating his thoughts to the emperor. "Your Majesty, our kingdom is currently suffering from disaster, with livelihoods in ruins. In contrast, Grand Yan enjoys prosperity thanks to Yue Fuguang and the high-yield crops she provided.
Under these circumstances, with the enemy strong and us weak, starting a war would be extremely disadvantageous!"
"Then what does Minister Fei suggest?" Although Gan Sheng found the words "enemy strong and us weak" grating, it wasn’t the time to argue. Fei Yongxing was still useful for now—he would settle this account later.
Unaware that his words had landed him on the emperor’s blacklist, Fei Yongxing earnestly offered his strategy for the king’s sake, blurting out a single word without hesitation: "Delay!"
"Delay?" Before Gan Sheng could respond, Chancellor Li immediately seized the chance to interject, his eyes flashing undisguised contempt. "How does Minister Fei plan to delay? Do you think the Grand Yan ruler and his ministers are fools?"
Fei Yongxing gave a perfunctory bow to Chancellor Li. "Chancellor Li is discerning. What I mean is to delay temporarily while we intensify border deployments.
Our people envy Grand Yan for having water, don’t they? My king, we can use their hopes to inspire the youth to enlist. Once we take Grand Yan, will Southern Yue still lack water?"
Fei Yongxing was smug, believing his plan was brilliant—"the people’s will" could be used after all!
Chancellor Li regarded the complacent Fei Yongxing with a noncommittal expression. "Still, Minister Fei, what are you planning to use to delay? And how long can this 'temporary' delay last?"
No one knew how long the drought would continue. If, as their intelligence suggested, it lasted two or three years, and internal conflicts weren’t diverted outward, civil unrest would be inevitable.
Shifting that conflict outward wasn’t a bad idea in theory, but the Grand Yan ruler and his ministers were no pushovers. Grand Yan was no longer a soft target to be bullied!
A sharp glint flashed in Fei Yongxing’s eyes, and he knelt with a look of utmost loyalty, kowtowing to Gan Sheng. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Your Majesty, my plan may require some sacrifice from the long princess."
"Atang?" Gan Sheng raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Gan Tang to be involved here.
"Minister Fei, tell me what is needed of the long princess." He patted the armrest of his dragon throne gently, his voice more gentle than ever before. "Although she is a woman, the long princess is one of the rare, intelligent, and courageous princesses of Southern Yue’s imperial family.
Born into royalty and nurtured by the people's tribute, she understands righteousness and devotes herself to the kingdom. If there is something she can do for the good of Southern Yue, as long as it is not too difficult, I will consent on her behalf.
Minister Fei, speak your mind freely!"