Chapter 1672: Only Eternal Interests
Chapter 266: The Empress Has ArrivedChapter 1672: Only Eternal Interests
Wu Qingcang received the newly finished scroll with both hands. Looking at the dragon and phoenix dancing on it, the unrestrained yet imposing handwriting, he looked up to Li Chen and said: "This genuine work of Your Highness will surely be treasured by my Wu family as a family heirloom, passed down through generations."
Waving his hand, Li Chen said: "It's just a few words anyway. Any poem or song, when you boil it down, is just the carrier of the author's emotions at that time. The value lies in the emotion, not in the words themselves. If after I am gone for a hundred years, there are no more new works to be created, then perhaps there would be some value in collecting them... but you can dispose of them as you please. If you like them, frame and hang them up; if you don't like them, keep them in the box. I don't have so many requirements."
Before she could finish her words, Wan Jiaojiao walked in from outside.
"Your Highness, everything is ready. We can depart at any time."
Li Chen responded with a grunt and turned to Wu Qingcang, saying: "Wu Shuai, I'll leave this to you."
Wu Qingcang solemnly said: "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will definitely live up to your trust..."
Seeing Wu Qingcang hesitate, Li Chen spoke up, "General Wu, just say what you have to say."
"Wu Qingcang only then said: 'Your Highness, this time the Golden State Aco Jin Guixian invited Your Highness to inspect the Golden Army, I am afraid there are other ulterior motives.'"
"It's not about sincerity; they definitely have an objective. They just want to show this palace their 300,000 strong Jin army, proving they are formidable and not to be underestimated. They want to flex their muscles and demonstrate their military prowess before me."
Remembering yesterday when someone from the Huangji Tian faction formally delivered an invitation in the form of a national decree, inviting him to review the golden army with them. On the surface, it was said to be to boost troop morale and strengthen cooperation between the two countries, but Li Chen knew very well what that kid was really up to.
The two most difficult steps in the overall grand strategy have already been completed.
The first is how to reasonably send the Moonlit Gate out.
The second is how to make Yelü Shenxuan more rationally chase after.
If these two objectives are achieved, then as long as the Qin army lures the enemy deep and allows the armies of the two countries to surround them, then these hundreds of thousands of Liao troops plus a Liao prince will become trapped like turtles in a jar.
However, for individuals of Li Chen and Huangji Tian's caliber, what matters more than a decisive battle is to divide the spoils beforehand.
Therefore, this inspection is imperative.
Li Chen didn't consider refusing.
It's a must-go.
"What you say is reasonable," Wu Qingcang hesitated, "but I must consider the worst-case scenario..."
"Wu Shuai is saying that Huangji Tian and Yelu Shenxuan are colluding, plotting to stab us in the back" Li Chen seemed to have seen through Wu Qingcang's hesitation and the truth he was trying to conceal, asking directly.
Wu Qingcang nodded and said, "Your Highness, people's hearts are hidden deep within them. Besides, those who are not of our kind must be guarded against."
Li Chen let out a light chuckle, and instead of answering, asked: “Wu Shuai, you've been on the battlefield your whole life, have you ever fought a battle that was guaranteed to be won”
Wu Qingcang said solemnly, “War is a deadly weapon for the nation; it should not be taken lightly. Any battle, regardless of its size or the disparity in strength between the sides, carries various possibilities. Therefore, there is no truly complete and certain victory in this world.”
That's it.
Li Chen said meaningfully to Wu Qingcang: "War is like this, as are the clashes between two countries. There is already a layer of separation between people, let alone countries."
In this world, there are not only no foolproof and guaranteed victories, but also no eternal friends or allies. What truly lasts forever is interest.Chapter 649: Business Tax