Chapter 2165: One That Can't Be Finished Fighting, One That Can't Be Fought

You Huan's mouth corner also unconsciously curved.

Originally, the most powerful contender for the position of Grand Tutor was Tang Heyuan.

However, at the previous internal military council, Tang Heyuan insisted on sending troops against Ya State, and was unaware of Cang Yan, fearing that Cang Yan would take advantage.

This was a major strategic misjudgment, because after the Mu army launched a heavy strike against Ya State, Cang Yan cut off their supply lines.

They had already landed, yet they were still floundering in the mud.

Although the main responsibility for this poor strategy lies with Grand Tutor Guo Shaoping, Tang Heyuan's advocacy also revealed the short-sightedness of his strategic vision.

These series of facts all proved the value of You Huan's advice.

Considering that the Mu-Ya War might not end easily, You Huan believed that if the Emperor held a balance in his heart, then his own weight should have increased, while Tang Heyuan's correspondingly decreased.

Right, isn't this worth celebrating? Let's go to Huanxiang Tower!

Mu Capital has a feature: whenever there is night rain, it loves to pour endlessly. Tonight the rain is so heavy that the guests at Huanxiang Tower are less than half of usual.

The You brothers are regulars here; their usual private room is on the second-floor corridor, located toward the back, facing the entrance. The advantage is that it's not as noisy as the main hall, yet by lowering their heads they can still see the koi swimming in the fish pond at the center of the main hall.

The two brothers chatted about the southern war, and You Su asked:

"Big brother, how long do you think this war will last?"

"Heaven's heart is hard to fathom." You Huan clinked cups with him, "If you could follow my advice, we should fight until victory."

"Big brother is a divine calculator—calculate when Ya State will surrender?"

You Huan glanced at him: "What, another scheming idea?"

You Su smiled ingratiatingly: "Nowhere, nowhere, but war is just one big deal after another—I haven't gotten involved yet, and I really feel some regret."

"Grain, livestock, leather armor, medicine, weapons—these all have dedicated procurement channels for the army. You haven't touched them before, and in the future it won't be your turn either."

You Su knows all this, and there's no room for him to interfere, as people have already assigned the tasks: "Big brother, what else can I do?"

You Huan thought for a moment: "There is. If the war continues into autumn, you'll have an opportunity."

"Huh, not far off. Big brother, tell me?"

"Once autumn comes, the plains of Ya State often see outbreaks of autumn gnats—these are local poisonous insects, their bites worse than fleas, causing people to break out in red sores that itch uncontrollably. Although spiritual power can weaken their toxicity, those bitten will certainly feel unwell, with soldiers unable to sleep all night, affecting combat strength."

"At that time, the authorities will surely purchase large quantities of gnat-repelling and sore-healing medicines or herbs." You Huan advised his younger brother, "If you, like me, believe the war won't end easily, you should start purchasing now. Of course, if I misjudge, these herbs will end up as a loss in your hands."

You Su nodded repeatedly: "Understood, understood!"

He poured another cup for his brother, voice lowering: "I'm on palace duty today, and I heard the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor killed three hundred of our warriors, and Cang Yan still wants to seize the Blade-Edge Port of Qing State, frightening Qing State into urgently seeking help? And there's also the Royal Envoy to be sent to Cang Yan?"

Wow, this morning's explosive news really came one after another.

Every bit of it is related to Cang Yan.

You Huan grunted: "You say Bailie came to demand the return of Blade-Edge Port—fine, that port was forcibly leased by Qing State forty years ago, and now the lease has expired."

You Su asked the question he cared most about: "Will the Emperor help Qing State? Will we, will we end up fighting Cang Yan?"

You Huan without hesitation: "Even if the Royal Envoy to Cang Yan brings back only half the conditions Qing State offered our state, I believe the Emperor will lean toward peace with Cang Yan."

He believed that Mu State and Ya State are unfinishable to fight, while with Cang Yan it is unthinkable to fight.

"Why?"

"Qing State's weight is too light." You Huan held Qing State's documents in his hand and weighed them, "No matter how many conditions Qing State offers, it's still insignificant; even if they let us gain more benefits, in the long run it's not worth mentioning. Because the Flash Gold Plain is truly vast, with infinite cooperative potential."

Qing State, a tiny little state, nothing more.

These two states, whether in area, national strength, military strength, development potential, or the leadership of their rulers, cannot be placed on the same scale to weigh superiority.

If Mu State were to turn against Cang Yan for Qing State, for a tiny Blade-Edge Port, it would be completely not worth it.

Ya State took advantage of the Dragon God War to invade Flash Gold, turned against He Hao and declared war, thus provoking the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor's retaliation, even the holy land of Baiqiu Source was humiliated.

After this, everyone knows the Nine Abyssal Great Emperor has a very hard temperament, and Cang Yan State is both poor and domineering, with no intention of enduring insults silently.

Such an opponent, for now, it's best to avoid provoking as much as possible.

"Furthermore——" You Huan hesitated before speaking, "Since Cang Yan established its state, the situation around our great Mu has become unfavorable."

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Originally, the Flash Gold Plain was a loose sand, Mu State even if it couldn't take it, didn't need to worry about it posing any threat. Then in this eastern region of Mu State, it only needed to occasionally strike at the trouble-making Ya State.

This was its rear base.

But who knew He Hao would come, and even unify Flash Gold.

When Cang Yan rose to the historical stage, Mu State's eastern security pattern was completely shattered.

Now Mu State has Between Between Between Beijia to the west and Cang Yan to the east—it is sandwiched between two super-large states.

Whoever stands in Mu State's geographical position will feel chills from front to back.

Although Cang Yan harshly punished Ya State, it also has relations with Between Between Between Beijia—once Cang Yan and Between Between Between Beijia draw close, Between Between Between Beijia fighting on the western front while Cang Yan mobilizes on the eastern front, then Cang Yan wouldn't just be Ya State's second, but a super-sized one?

Could Mu State still win, still have good days?

"If our state again turns hostile toward Cang Yan, that means relations with Ya State, Cang Yan, and Between Between Between Beijia are all strained." You Huan weighed his words, "Even as strong as Great Mu, coping with this situation would be extremely difficult."

You Su scratched his head: "If we just settle these two matters, we sign a new agreement with Cang Yan and become good neighbors from now on? Alas, hearing it feels somewhat stifling, not satisfying at all."

You Huan glanced at him and gave a light laugh: "You say, what loss has Great Mu suffered?"

"Um, Bailie was taken by Cang Yan? That was originally our tribute land."

"Yes, indeed we lost a piece of tribute land, but the Lu father and son managed it poorly, so Bailie's tribute has already been minimal. Besides, it was originally free land—whoever can bear the consequences can choose their own allegiance."

"What does it mean to bear the consequences? It's like now—new patron willing to back it."

"Ordinary people only want immediate retribution, because it comes fast—they just need to stiffen their necks and hard-head against the other side, no need to think. But in great power games, pieces don't necessarily all crowd into one corner to slaughter. Best is you fight yours, I fight mine, point east strike west, don't let the enemy lead you by the nose."

You Huan sighed: "In state affairs, how can it be like commoners venting anger? Besides, if Great Mu truly wants to regain this face, why not seek it elsewhere? In the future, opportunities to deal with Cang Yan will still be plenty, and chances to make mistakes and suffer errors will also be plenty."

In Mu State's strategic game with Cang Yan, we cannot stubbornly cling to where we are in the wrong—it's both laborious and gains no advantage.

You Su pressed his chest, exaggeratedly: "Hearing big brother say this, I feel much more at ease."

You Huan glanced down at the main hall, originally absent-minded, but his gaze swept over the doorway and suddenly tightened slightly.

A few women came together, each followed by a maidservant or a manservant. Among them was none other than Mei Wuniang!