Chapter 2189

"Good." You Huan looked at her clear eyes and suddenly asked, "Everyone who sees me has endless questions—why don't you?"

"Haven't you been annoyed enough by others' questions?" Mei Wuniang blinked. "Do you want to add another?"

She knew he was testing her again.

You Huan appeared flamboyant and unrestrained, but in truth he was deeply suspicious, repeatedly probing and verifying any matter.

"When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?" You Huan laughed. "Mou State's wars never cease—don't you ever worry?"

"Worrying or not, we still have to endure. We petty commoners are merely ants beneath heavenly might—if we can get through one day well, that's enough. Why think so much?" Mei Wuniang tilted her head at him. "Senior Minister, Mou State has immortals—it surely won't lose, right?"

Isn't he annoyed she doesn't ask questions? Then she'll ask one.

You Huan gave a faint smile: "Of course not."

"Then that's good."

"I also have something to ask you."

"Hmm, what?" Mei Wuniang looked at him seriously.

You Huan hesitated, then slowly said: "Like you, a beauty—if you wanted to swindle all the wealth from a miserly rich old man, what methods would you use?"

Mei Wuniang's eyes flashed with surprise, then irritation at hitting a sore spot: "Why ask that?"

Isn't her wealth exactly from that? Why does the You family deliberately bring this up?

She knew You Huan must have investigated her background. But why did he have to blurt it out directly?

Did she reveal some flaw, prompting him to confront her?

You Huan grabbed her chin and gently lifted it: "I'm saying 'if,' not that you actually are like that."

Mei Wuniang retorted angrily: "I don't know."

"Then help me think—you're a clever woman with means. If it were you, what would you do?" You Huan tightened his grip, preventing her from turning away.

He set his face sternly, exuding authority without anger.

This also reminded Mei Wuniang that the man before her was no ordinary guest.

He was no longer teasing Mei Wuniang.

"You..." Mei Wuniang couldn't resist him, biting her lip for a long time before managing: "The more you want to seize someone's wealth, the more you must pretend not to be greedy—do what he most wants you to do, lower his guard, then gradually lure him in."

"Not greedy... lower guard... hmm." You Huan actually whispered those lines two or three times: "Is this really useful?"

"How would I know?" Mei Wuniang wasn't angry anymore, giving a hollow smile: "Why don't I go find a rich old man, test it myself, then tell you the result?"

"All right, all right, don't be upset." You Huan rubbed her neck: "I'm asking for your advice, just as the Emperor usually consults me."

"Is your advice useful?"

"Yes." You Huan released her.

"Then I'm leaving." Mei Wuniang kissed him on the cheek, stood up, and went out, her steps betraying haste.

"..." This woman—always so blunt yet evasive.

Does she truly mean well toward others? Of course she does—but you must offer something in return!

Mei Wuniang walked all the way back to the front tea house before revealing a pensive expression.

Could even the civilian draft horses of Moudu be conscripted? It seems the war will continue for some time, not ending quickly.

The question is whether these horses were conscripted for the western front at Beijia battlefield or the eastern front at Yaguo battlefield.

She leans toward the eastern front, because Mou State still has a major city, Xuri City, closer to the western front, making it easier to draft cattle and horses from there.

Heh, You Huan still asked her about swindling a rich old man's wealth.

She believes You Huan fundamentally doesn't care whether she swindled Tao Ying's wealth entirely. This man thinks highly of himself, firmly believing she cannot swindle anything useful from him, possibly even viewing their interaction as a playful little game.

On the contrary, she knows You Huan, as Senior Minister, is under immense pressure lately, often working late into the chou hour without rest, his eyes frequently showing bloodshot.

Mou State has recently been fighting two major powers on two fronts, suffering considerable losses, with court and public opinion in turmoil, all kinds of voices heard, and the Mou Emperor still summons You Huan every few days.

His predecessor Guo Shaoping was removed for inadequate war strategy, You Huan assumed command in crisis, and should be filled with thoughts on how to face the enemy.

Could it be that he's indecisive, unable to choose, and thus asked casually?

Sometimes, when one cannot figure out a thorny problem, asking a random passerby occasionally brings sudden clarity.

If that's truly the case, what would "miserly rich old man" refer to?

Mei Wuniang pondered while working, but still couldn't figure it out.

Forget it—she's just an information broker; why waste her brains on this?

Mei Wuniang tossed her hair. Hey, let the Nine Abysses Great Emperor worry about it!

￥￥￥￥￥

This day, after just finishing breakfast, He Lingchuan received intelligence from the west:

Mou State once again sent envoys to Yaguo, requesting negotiations.

Dong Rui happened to exit seclusion, came to him for food and drink, and upon hearing this news asked: "Is the Mou-Yaguo war about to end?"

He Lingchuan shook his head: "This time Mou State proposed terms—you look yourself."

Dong Rui took the paper he handed over, glanced at it twice, and exclaimed: "Ai yo!"

"Is it really that outrageous?"

A quick scan revealed the listed terms numbered at least sixteen or seventeen, dazzlingly varied. If Yaguo accepted this agreement, it would have to cede at least sixty percent of its territory.

One can imagine: upon seeing this agreement, the Yaguo king's blood vessels would likely burst from rage.

He Lingchuan yawned: "Terms can always be negotiated, as long as they don't rush to end the war."

Dong Rui casually pointed at one clause: "I recall, Mou State previously said the lower Yingbo River could be returned to Yaguo? Why isn't it mentioned this time?"

"The 'previous time' you mentioned is just an old almanac from two months ago." He knew Dong Rui exited seclusion only once every half month or month: "Back then, Yaguo disagreed, immediately attacked Mou State's main camp by the Yingbo River, so Mou State dropped that condition."

After the Battle of Baiqiu Source, Yaguo sent ceasefire requests to both Cangyan and Mou State, because the Nine Abysses Great Emperor on this side nodded first, causing negotiations between Yaguo and Mou State to break off abruptly.

Then Yaguo focused on tearing apart Mou State, both sides fighting until heads bled and wounds flowed, growing increasingly brutal.

The Ya-Mu war had become so entangled that even He Lingchuan was somewhat surprised.

At first, the Mu army repeatedly adjusted their tactics, winning several major battles in succession, morale soaring, and thus continued to advance.

But after leaving the mountainous terrain, the Mu army encountered the frenzied resistance of Ya State.

The plains were Ya State's home ground, and Ya State's cavalry finally performed to their expected standard, bringing the Mu army's victorious advance to an abrupt halt.

Grasslands, hills, and Xihe—all turned into meat grinders; the truly brutal war had only just begun.

He Lingchuan understood clearly: if the Dragon God Army were to clash with Ya State's main force on the vast plains, they would surely fall into the same predicament, and fare even worse than the Mu army.

At this point, the war was no longer comparable to the Battle of Baiqiuyuan; it was no longer something that could be halted by either side simply calling for a ceasefire.

June 1st, happy holiday to all you big friends!

Today we continue to eat well and have fun.