Chapter 2161

First he burst out killing people, then he put on a pleasant face—even the Nine Abysses Great Emperor's face-changing has layers.

During the time everyone was reviewing the testimonies, a minister already shouted out everyone's feelings: "Utterly hateful, the surname He has been scheming against our great Mu from the very beginning!"

When the Nine Abysses Great Emperor sent troops to Ya State, everyone thought Bailie's request for aid was just his excuse; the real purpose was to avenge Ya State's invasion before Cangyan founded the nation.

Who knew attacking Ya State was just a smokescreen! Or rather, a secondary goal.

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor's true target was actually Bailie.

And he took Bailie so righteously, because he brought out his identity as the Son of Fortune!

At that time, Lu Zhensheng on the scene had nothing to say, the Commander of Martial Affairs had nothing to say, and now even the Mu Emperor, upon seeing this report, remained silent for a long while.

If He Lingchuan truly is the head of the Lu clan, then his exercising the head's authority in Bailie is perfectly natural.

For over a hundred years, Bailie has substantially been a vassal of Mu State, but nominally it remains free, belonging to the Lu family as their own territory. Theoretically, the Lu clan head can indeed take Bailie to align with other nations or powers. It's just that the Lu clan never would have done so before, because Mu State's thigh is the thickest.

He Lingchuan took advantage of this point.

By taking the position of Lu clan head, he could replace the entire clan and represent Bailie in choosing to align with Cangyan. Legally, even Mu State could find no fault with it.

The Mu Emperor asked Wang Xingyi: "He is a descendant of the Lu clan—this identity, you were completely unaware before?"

Wang Xingyi bowed and replied: "General He concealed this secret extremely well; before seizing Bailie, he never showed a trace."

Guo Shaoping immediately said: "Thus it can be seen, he has long harbored this plot."

Other ministers glanced at him—Grand Tutor, are you trying to exonerate yourself?

Wang Xingyi continued reporting: "When He Xiaojiang first bought Yangshan Archipelago, he already had some conflict with Lu Zhensheng and his son. At that time I saw he had some thoughts on Bailie, but after I warned him on the island, he backed off, later turning to operate the Jinshin Plains. The two places differ vastly in area. If we didn't know his true background, we couldn't have deduced that he has always had thoughts on Bailie."

This is actually saying a fair word for Guo Shaoping.

By common sense, Cangyan's territory is already vast enough—why bother invading a tiny Bailie?

Moreover, geographically, Bailie lies between Cangyan and Mu State; keeping it leaves a buffer zone. Otherwise, bordering great powers easily breed friction.

And if Cangyan arbitrarily seized Bailie, it would surely provoke Mu State's wrath—truly not worth it.

Who knew the Nine Abysses Great Emperor would play a sneaky sword move, actually hiding such a king-bomb hand—once played, he'd seize the moral high ground!

Now the ball has been kicked to Mu State's feet—what should it do?

Soon a close aide said: "Without Mu State's recognition, how dare the Nine Abysses call himself 'Lord of Bailie'?"

Cangyan plays a little trick and wants to take Bailie?

Has Mu State nodded?

Ministers chimed in: "Exactly, exactly—he claims to be Lu clan head, are we supposed to believe that?"

Just as the words fell, another urgent report arrived from outside the hall.

The Mu Emperor took it, glanced twice, and chuckled: "Again, Cangyan."

After saying that, he handed the report to Guo Shaoping for sequential circulation.

The content was just two items:

The Nine Abysses deployed the Dragon God Army outside Daofeng Harbor and sent a state letter, demanding Qing State return Daofeng Harbor to Bailie.

The Qing King held an overnight meeting, secretly discussing countermeasures, possibly seeking aid from Mu State.

At this time, the Qing King's aid request hadn't yet reached Mu Capital, but the Mu Emperor had already received intelligence of Qing State's secret meeting.

"Qing State forcibly leased Daofeng Harbor from Bailie and signed a forty-year agreement." Wang Xingyi still remembered this matter, "but it expired ten years ago."

Assistant Cabinet Attendant You Huan, who had been carefully examining the testimonies of Huang Dutong and others, now looked up and said: "The Lu clan unanimously recognizes the Nine Abysses Great Emperor as Lord of Bailie. If this matter's legal basis is complete, then even stepping back, Bailie wanting to take back Daofeng Harbor is not wrong."

Qing State violates the spirit of the contract; Qing State is in the wrong.

Bailie previously didn't take it back because Bailie was too weak; now Bailie suddenly wants to reopen and take back Daofeng Harbor, which should have been taken back ten years ago—is there a problem?

No, emotionally, rationally, legally—there is absolutely none.

In the past three days, the Nine Abysses Great Emperor has consecutively done two shocking things: one, directly taking Bailie; two, demanding Qing State return Daofeng Harbor—but as long as his "Lu clan head" identity is confirmed, he can occupy the moral high ground, leaving the involved parties speechless and making Mu State beside them feel embarrassed.

If Mu State ignores this, these matters will to some extent affect it later;

If Mu State nitpicks, it will again need to find some pretext to intervene.

Assistant Cabinet Attendant Ji Yingxian spoke: "The Qing King seeking aid from our state will inevitably come with conditions. Moreover, Daofeng Harbor is also our state's most important southeastern seaport; if taken by Cangyan, it would be detrimental to our state's trade and security."

Although Daofeng Harbor is currently occupied by Qing State, it is inherently a free port, Mu State's bulk goods also go there, and it is even linked to the Golden Sea Route—its geographical position is very important.

Left Supervising Censor Qian Bingmao of the Censorate sneered: "He Jiaoxiong gave Yangshan Archipelago to Seeing Fushan Yue, then turned around to seize Daofeng Harbor—he sure doesn't suffer a loss. Cangyan, not long after founding, is already so arrogant and overbearing—how can we just let him have his way!"

Daofeng Harbor and Yangshan Archipelago are just across the sea from each other, not far apart.

This remark hits home. If He Jiaoxiong suffers no loss twice, then who does?

Another close aide also chimed in: "If we don't timely rebuke him, we fear Cangyan will become even more reckless later."

Qian Bingmao glanced at Guo Shaoping: "The last time we already rebuked him—the Nine Abysses Great Emperor is not an easy target to handle."

Before Cangyan was founded, Grand Tutor Guo Shaoping had planned to use the Lu family's name to take Yangshan Archipelago, to give the Nine Abysses Great Emperor some eye drops. Who knew he had anticipated Guo Shaoping's anticipation, played a trick of letting the island fall to Chiyan, and Mu State got a noseful of dirt.

Guo Shaoping hearing this sarcasm, outwardly seemed not to hear, inwardly sighed.

The plan was his idea, Qing Kelin was also his dispatched envoy. The matter went wrong, he naturally bears primary responsibility.

If he doesn't take responsibility, should the emperor bear it instead?

Now the Nine Abysses Great Emperor has already taken Bailie and directly points to Daofeng Harbor. These two places aren't large, but their geographical position is very important. But then, whether to fight or make peace—isn't it just a word from the Mu Emperor?

Now the Mu Emperor turned his gaze toward Guo Shaoping.

The latter flinched slightly, then immediately bowed and said: "In my humble opinion, we should quickly end the war with Ya State, so as to free our hands and properly engage with Cangyan State."

Ya State's ceasefire agreement has already been placed on the Mu Emperor's desk. Since Ya State initiated the talk, the terms offered are not bad.