Chapter 241: The monarch is devoid of the Dao; why does the young general not rebel?

"How dare this brat deceive me!!"

Upon returning to the General's Mansion, Ji Yihu was immediately consumed by a towering rage.

The Crown Prince had adopted the suggestion of Chancellor Zhang Kaidi to use high-handed methods to forcibly requisition the grain they had hoarded. While this was a means to temporarily resolve the crisis in the face of a national disaster, it was nonetheless a desperate measure.

However, one must know that behind the skyrocketing grain prices in Han Guo during this period, there was the shadow of Ji Yihu.

The Crown Prince's actions were equivalent to confiscating Ji Yihu's personal assets. Ji Yihu had been counting on grain prices to rise for a while longer so he could continue to make a massive profit.

The behavior of the Han Guo Crown Prince infuriated him to the extreme, and at the same time, he could not help but feel a sense of disappointment toward him.

Listening to Ji Yihu's angry voice, the Straw-Cloaked Guest said indifferently, "The young general need not be angry. The Crown Prince's actions are truly like drinking poison to quench thirst. Not only will it fail to resolve Han Guo's crisis, but it will also push this country into a state of total destruction."

Ji Yihu's fury temporarily dissipated as he looked toward the Straw-Cloaked Guest. "Sir, how do you explain this?"

He relied heavily on the Straw-Cloaked Guest.

The Four Fierce Generals of the Night Curtain left behind by his father years ago—the Tide Enchantress was hidden deep within the palace, and following the passing of the Han Wang, she had lost her power. Emerald Tiger was dead, and Bai Yifei had been missing for a long time; it was assumed he had met with an accident. Only the Straw-Cloaked Guest, who possessed brilliant strategies and could help him control the Night Curtain, remained his capable lieutenant. He would also actively adopt some of the Straw-Cloaked Guest's suggestions.

Earlier, it was precisely because he had adopted the Straw-Cloaked Guest's suggestion to drastically raise grain prices that he had made a fortune.

"There are two reasons. Firstly, the Crown Prince adopted Chancellor Zhang Kaidi's suggestion to forcibly requisition the grain stored by wealthy merchants and nobles. While this can indeed collect a large amount of grain in a very short time to supply the soldiers at the front, he fails to realize that this move has deeply offended the wealthy merchants and many nobles within the country."

"When the Crown Prince disregards benevolence and righteousness, and can confiscate the property one has painstakingly managed for years at any moment, who would still be willing to serve such a Crown Prince? Not to mention, he is like this before even ascending the throne; what will happen after he ascends?"

"To satisfy his personal preferences, he wantonly plunders the people. Today, he can use a single decree to take away your family assets; tomorrow, he can take away your life!"

"Such a sovereign is truly a monarch devoid of the Dao!"

The Straw-Cloaked Guest's words were very blunt, stating directly that the Han Guo Crown Prince was truly not a wise ruler.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yihu's eyes could not help but sharpen. "Sir, be cautious with your words!"

"How can you speak so disparagingly of our Crown Prince, the future King!"

"Is the young general truly prepared to remain loyal to him?" The Straw-Cloaked Guest did not stop speaking because of Ji Yihu's words, continuing, "Last year, when the Grand General was murdered, although the Crown Prince urgently summoned the young general back and entrusted you with heavy responsibilities, we all understand now that the Crown Prince never intended to rely heavily on the young general. Over the past half-year, the person he has relied on most is Chancellor Zhang Kaidi, followed by his group of brothers. Although he has superficially treated the young general with great favor, there is one crucial thing he has not handed over to the young general!"

Ji Yihu knew exactly what the Straw-Cloaked Guest was referring to—it was "military power"!

His father, Ji Wuye, as the Grand General of Han Guo, held great military power. However, after Ji Wuye died, the military power was reclaimed by the Crown Prince, and even after Ji Yihu returned, it was not bestowed upon him.

At first, Ji Yihu only thought the Han Guo Crown Prince was waiting until he officially ascended the throne to hand over the military power, but now, he gradually understood.

The Han Guo Crown Prince was truly not a wise ruler; he had never trusted him.

"What is it that you are prepared to say, Sir?" Ji Yihu asked the Straw-Cloaked Guest, a chill flashing in his eyes.

"Earlier, I said the Crown Prince would push this country into a state of total destruction. There are two reasons for this. The second reason is that even if he manages to gather enough grain through plunder to supply the army at the front, can our Han Guo army truly withstand the invasion of Qin Guo?"

"Years ago, when Chu Guo attacked Han Guo, it was the Grand General who turned the tide and repelled the Chu army. In the battle of Baiyue, it was the Blood-Clad Marquis who emerged and captured the Baiyue Crown Prince, Tian Ze. Now, the Grand General has been murdered, and the Blood-Clad Marquis has disappeared for a long time—it is assumed he met with an accident. In the current Han Guo, who else can serve as a general to resist the Qin Guo army, which is even more powerful than the armies of Chu Guo and Baiyue?"

Ji Yihu was silent. He did not boast that he could do it; he knew his own weight very well.

Let alone him, even if his father were still alive, he likely could not withstand the Qin Guo army.

Although his father successfully repelled the invasion of the one-hundred-thousand-strong Chu army back then, that battle was truly a matter of good luck; it was because the Chu general died suddenly that they were forced to retreat.

"The monarch is incompetent, and the army is even more vulnerable, unable to resist the invasion of other countries. Qin Guo is ambitious, and choosing to send troops at this time, while surprising, must be said to be an excellent opportunity. After all, the current situation in Han Guo can hardly be considered good..."

"To put it bluntly, the fate of Han Guo may already be exhausted!"

"Is the young general prepared to be buried along with this decaying country, or are you prepared to seek another path?"

Ji Yihu's eyes brightened as he looked at the Straw-Cloaked Guest, his gaze profound. "Do you know what you are saying?"

The Straw-Cloaked Guest's expression was calm, without any change. "I am merely telling the young general the facts!"

Facts proved that the Han Guo army was truly incompetent.

Even though the Han Guo Crown Prince had used clever and forceful means to seize a large amount of grain from wealthy merchants and nobles to serve as provisions for the front-line army.

However, if the Han Guo border army were truly powerful, Han Guo would not be in this state.

Although Wang Yi had suffered repeated setbacks in the wars of conquest against the Six States in recent years, he was, after all, a Grand General who had once followed Bai Qi. In the Battle of Changping, he was Bai Qi's deputy general; defeating a Han Guo was more than enough.

In just a few days, the Han Guo border army was constantly routed and retreated toward the heartland of Han Guo. Wang Yi was not polite either, directly ordering a relentless pursuit.

Given Han Guo's strength, there was no need to worry about the enemy employing any strategy of luring the enemy deep.

Even if they wanted to employ such a strategy, Han Guo would need to have sufficient strength to ambush them.

Han Guo's territory was constantly falling. Almost every day, Wang Yi's army advanced a long distance. After occupying Han Guo's land, he ordered his army not to harass or plunder the civilians, and even took the initiative to comfort the refugees whose homes had been destroyed by the drought.

The Qin Guo army's change in style left the people of Han Guo feeling suspicious and uncertain. ===== CHAPTER 243 =====