Chapter 746 - 28: Schemes and Strife, the Three Kingdoms Compete for Supremacy

"Now that the Song Army is showing signs of fatigue and Wang Yingchen has stabilized his position, the stakes in our hands have become even heavier."

He slowly stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the ministers: "Issue my decree, all frontline units, suspend large-scale offensives, consolidate the territories we have occupied, gather population and resources, train troops and horses, and prepare for action."

"Immediately dispatch two teams of secret envoys, one to the Liao Camp to inform Wang Yingchen that as long as he acknowledges the existing borders of our country and offers annual tribute and trade benefits, our Western Xia can reduce the pressure on the western line, allowing him to focus more on dealing with Gu Jin."

"The other team, go to the Song Camp to meet Gu Jin and tell him that the Liao Empire has secretly promised us great benefits, and if his Great Song does not want to see our Western Xia completely align with the Liao Empire, they should show greater sincerity!"

——This is the mark of a cunning strategist.

Always keeping an eye on the most tangible benefits for oneself!

"Marvelous!" Zhang Pu clapped his hands in admiration, "Your Majesty’s strategy is brilliant! In this way, both the Song and the Liao will strive to win us over, and we can play both sides to maximize our benefits!"

Li Yuanhao was also nodding continuously.

"Indeed." Li Deming sat back in the main seat, sipping his milk wine, his eyes full of calculating brilliance, "Let them fight to the death."

"We only need to sit back and wait to reap the sweetest fruits."

The ministers in the tent were excited once again, this time not with the restlessness of warriors, but with the shrewdness and greed of strategists.

The crackling of the charcoal fire continued, illuminating faces filled with ambition and calculation vividly.

....

Liao Empire.

Regarding Li Deming’s attitude, Wang Yingchen naturally understood what he was up to.

His advisers also understood!

"Chancellor! Li Deming of Western Xia is nothing but a traitor! He used to pay tribute to our Great Liao, and now he dares to make exorbitant demands for territory and annual tribute, utterly arrogant!"

"Such behavior cannot be tolerated! If we agree, surrounding tribes will follow suit, and where will our Liao Empire’s dignity be?"

"Li Deming is treacherous and mercurial. If we agree today, tomorrow he will surely take advantage! Better to send a detachment to join frontier tribes in giving this clueless Dangxiang chieftain a lesson!"

Voices of discontent and reprimand kept rising.

The crowd was agitated, with most generals and officials of noble birth feeling contempt and anger towards the "betrayal" by Western Xia, advocating a strong rejection.

Compared to the Great Song, these people’s attitude towards Western Xia was much more hostile.

For no other reason, simply because Western Xia was originally a vassal state of the Liao Empire.

In the current atmosphere where the unification of Kyushu is popular, this matter cannot be accepted by the public.

Wang Yingchen’s gaze slowly swept over the crowd, not immediately expressing his stance.

How could he not resent Li Deming’s opportunism?

The actions of Western Xia were like a dull knife stabbing into his back during his life-and-death struggle with Gu Jin, not fatal, but unbearably painful and distracting.

His aversion to Western Xia far exceeded that of these ministers who only saw surface humiliation.

——After all, Li Deming was undermining the strategic balance he painstakingly crafted.

However, his thoughts remained fixated on the eastern line at Juyong Pass.

Gu Jin... Is Gu Jin’s desperate assault really just a matter of pride?

This doesn’t align with the usual style of the Gu Clan.

He must consider this point.

That vague sense of unease, like a dark cloud, once again loomed over his heart.

Compared to the potential real blow from Gu Jin, Western Xia’s greed became a temporary minor concern.

The next moment, he raised his hand, and the tent gradually quieted down.

"What you all have said makes sense." Wang Yingchen’s voice was steady, betraying no emotion, "Li Deming is a vile person, disgraceful in actions, and deserving of condemnation."

He first affirmed the crowd’s sentiments, then shifted the tone: "Yet, have you all considered, who is truly the biggest threat to our Great Liao at present?"

"Is it the western clown Li Deming, or the Song Army on the eastern front, attacking our Youyun defensive line with all their might?"

His question left the tent silent.

The answer was self-evident.

Wang Yingchen continued, his tone becoming heavier: "Gu’s military tactics have always been well-considered before action."

"Now, his relentless attack on Juyong Pass, with no regard for casualties, is abnormal and must have ulterior motives."

"What concerns this chancellor is not the current casualties but his follow-up measures."

"If we, at this moment, lack patience and disrupt major plans, entangle ourselves with Western Xia, and even divide forces to the west, would that not be exactly what Gu Jin desires?"

He looked at the elder minister who initially opposed most fiercely: "Face is important, but the security of the state takes precedence. If Youyun is lost, what our Great Liao loses is not just face but the very foundation of the nation for generations!"

These words struck a chord in everyone’s heart.

Wang Yingchen saw that the atmosphere had shifted and then delivered his decision:

"Therefore, regarding Western Xia’s demands, this chancellor proposes to—temporarily agree!"

"Chancellor!" Some people still showed confusion.

Wang Yingchen’s mouth curled into a cold smile: "Agreeing is just a temporary measure, an empty promise."

"Li Deming wants border recognition?"

"Fine, assign those disputed territories vaguely to him, a piece of paper can always be revoked."

"He wants annual tribute and trade?"

"This can also be promised, but the delivery date and specific details can be discussed slowly, dragging it out until the situation becomes clear."

His gaze turned sharp: "The urgent matter is to concentrate all forces to first eliminate the threat of the Song Army and stabilize the eastern line!"

——He indeed still dares not underestimate Gu Jin!

These words left everyone silent.

In essence, Wang Yingchen’s various conjectures were not wrong.

The Liao Empire’s main adversary was only the Great Song.

If this battle could be won, Western Xia could be eliminated in an instant, hardly worth mentioning.

Seeing that no one spoke up, Wang Yingchen made his decision immediately, then again summoned the envoy from Western Xia, informing him of his plan, his demeanor unprecedentedly calm.

.....

Song Army Camp.

"Agree to it!"

Zhao Guangyi looked seriously at the gathered generals, "We absolutely must not cause trouble for the Grand Tutor at this time!"

Gu Jin did not choose to bring Zhao Guangyi along.

After all, he was getting on in age.

But it was precisely because of this that Zhao Guangyi at this moment became an asset.

Faced with the treacherous Western Xia.

Only he, the emperor’s uncle, along with several direct descendants of the Gu Clan, could calm the excited soldiers.

No choice, how could the soldiers not be agitated?

Days of fierce assaults on the pass.

The ones who died were their brothers.

They would not blame Gu Jin, nor would they blame others.

But for Western Xia, a nominal ally, to choose this moment to bargain, it enraged them!

However, at this critical moment.

Zhao Guangyi and others clearly could not allow these soldiers to act rashly,

Gu Jin had already set off, and there could absolutely be no accidents now.

Any accident could jeopardize Gu Jin.

If something happened to Gu Jin, and this battle was lost again,

Then the Great Song’s realm....

Zhao Guangyi’s attitude was very firm, and several direct descendants of the Gu Clan stood up at this time, finally calming the excited generals and soldiers.

Meanwhile, in the rugged terrain of the Yan Mountain region.

Gu Jin was leading his troops through the mountains and wilderness.

What they traversed was not so much a road, but the traces left by wild beasts and herb gatherers, winding between cliffs and deep valleys, difficult and treacherous, with many parts barely wide enough for a person to pass sideways.

The thirty thousand elite soldiers personally led by Gu Jin had abandoned their horses to proceed on foot, biting wooden strips in their mouths, wrapping their horses’ hooves, silently moving under the cover of night and thick fog, like a silent dragon, struggling arduously.

These people were the true elites of the Great Song.

In this endless wilderness, they continued to maintain their absolute will, their gaze always fixed on the figure, already streaked with gray hair but with unwavering determination ahead.

This was their foundation.

As long as Gu Jin stood, this troop would not waver!

....

(Ps: Begging for monthly tickets, asking brothers for more support, Yu is extremely grateful.)