Chapter 527: Winning Hearts Above All: Subduing the Enemy Without Battle Is the Supreme Strategy

Two days later.

Chang'an

The night was as black as ink, cold stars sparsely dotted the sky, the evening wind carried the lingering chill of late winter, sweeping over the lofty eaves of Jin Wang Fu.

The palace lanterns hanging under the corridor swayed gently in the breeze, diffusing a warm yellow halo.

Inside the Shufang.

Candles burned brightly, casting mottled shadows through the carved lattice windows.

On the main seat, Yuwen Hu wore a dark‑colored woven‑gold Brothel, its collar embroidered with dark cloud patterns.

Sitting side by side was his younger brother, Grand Marshal Yuwen Heng.

Yuwen Ze wore a moon‑white long robe, his posture as upright as a pine, standing quietly behind his father.

At that moment, steady footsteps came from outside the Shufang; the palace's personal guards, holding lanterns, led the way, and the party entered in single file.

At the head were Pei Xun, Du Yaoguang, Liu Chaoming, Wei Jianshen, and Shang Ting.

The last to enter was Chen Yan.

The group entered, saw Yuwen Hu on the main seat, and all bowed in unison, their voices orderly and respectful: "Salute the Grand Preceptor!"

Yuwen Hu raised his hand and said in a deep voice, "No need for formalities! Please, sit quickly!"

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor!" the others replied in chorus.

Then, according to rank and age, they took seats on the rosewood chairs on either side.

Yuwen Hu scanned the assembly and instructed the man behind him, "A Ze, serve tea."

"Yes." Yuwen Ze responded, stepping forward with fluid, graceful movements.

He lifted the purple‑clay teapot on the table; warm tea streamed slowly from its spout into the white porcelain cups, steam rising with the fresh scent of tea leaves.

He handed the cups to the ministers in turn.

When the cup reached Chen Yan, their eyes met; they nodded tacitly and exchanged a glance.

Afterwards, Yuwen Ze retreated to his original spot, still standing quietly behind his father, his posture as upright as before.

Yuwen Hu lifted his own cup, took a light sip, his expression growing slightly solemn, and said in a deep voice, "I summoned you all at this hour because an urgent report just arrived from Qi State....."

"On the Jinyang side, to quell public anger, they have already executed the court attendant Wang Cheng Ji, as well as the Left Deputy Minister Guo Now we need to output lines: English!"

"Moreover, the heads of the two have been hung above the city gate for all to see!"

"In addition, many were killed over at Yecheng as well....."

As soon as the words finished, a slight stir arose within the Shufang.

Du Yaoguang twirled the long beard beneath his chin, furrowed his brows, and after a moment of contemplation said, "If I recall correctly, one of them hails from the Taiyuan Wang clan, the other from the Taiyuan Guo clan!"

"Both are illustrious noble families!"

The Taiyuan Wang clan has been a renowned aristocratic family since the Jin era.

Although the Guo clan does not match the famed Five Surnames and Seven Prominences, it is still a multi‑generational official family with many alumni and former officials.....

Pei Xun's eyes suddenly flashed with brilliance, his pupils instantly filled with a bright hue, his mouth unable to suppress a grin; he first let out a low chuckle, then exclaimed loudly, "Well killed! Brilliantly done!"

That shout shattered the Shufang's silence, and everyone's gaze snapped toward him.

Pei Xun clapped his hands and laughed, his brows alight with exhilaration; the prior composure gave way to fervor as he said in a deep voice, "The Gao family's move truly destroys its own Great Wall, undermines its foundation!"

"It is a betrayal of heart and virtue!"

Killing two people is easy, but the cost is enormous.....

I truly don't know which clever schemer did this!

It's not good to push anyone out to take the blame, especially with such backgrounds...

The Taiyuan Wang and Guo clans are not only senior officials at Court, but also backed by local gentry; through generations of intermarriage they have become intertwined beyond measure!

A single hair tug can move the whole body!

Chen Yan heard this, blinked first, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then it turned into an understanding smile.

He lowered his gaze, hiding the brightness in his eyes, and thought inwardly, "I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise!"

Originally, according to Chen's plan, the aim was to stir up the Hu‑Han conflict within Qi State's borders....

Who could have imagined that the Jinyang side would actually give face and cooperate so fully!

They outright killed the heads of the two great clans, pushing this scheme to an even higher peak!

Yuwen Hu cleared his throat and continued, "The current livelihood of Qi State is in such chaos it can be called boundless!"

"Prices are soaring like unbridled horses; although the Court has striven to curb them, issuing strict price‑stabilizing orders that have slightly eased the situation, the common folk remain in dire hardship, barely able to secure food and warmth."

"Moreover, the people of Qi State do not buy the explanations offered by the Gao family....."

Wei Jianshen listened, nodding repeatedly, turned to Chen Yan, admiration shining in his eyes, raised his thumb, and said loudly, "Chen Zhuguo's series of chaotic strategies in Qi, superb!"

Shang Ting also agreed wholeheartedly, his voice resonant as a bell, exclaiming, "Chen Zhuguo's moves in Qi this time are methodical, each step linked to the next....."

"It appears no troops were moved, yet it has stirred the entire political sphere of Qi, causing internal chaos and loss of popular support; this far surpasses a campaign with two hundred thousand soldiers!"

Having said that, he rose, solemnly clasped his hands before Chen Yan, and said gravely, "I admire you!"

Beside him, Pei Xun looked at his own son‑in‑law, stroked the beard under his chin, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes tinged with a smile, his gaze full of unabashed joy and pride, and thought inwardly, "My son‑in‑law truly has remarkable ability!"

Chen Yan hurried to his feet, bowed and replied, "I dare not accept such praise!"

After the ceremony, he did not sit; instead he turned toward Yuwen Hu on the main seat, clasped his hands and bowed again, his posture increasingly reverent, his hair strands lifting slightly with the movement, his eyes full of sincerity: "The chaos in Qi is not due to my efforts at all; it wholly relies on the Grand Preceptor's foresight and strategic planning!"

"I merely obey the Grand Preceptor's decree, contributing a modest effort, and dare not claim credit."

A Yan truly is both modest and eloquent........... Yuwen Hu listened, feeling an indescribable warmth; his approving gaze softened further, his mouth involuntarily curved upward, a trace of pleasant smile appearing in his eyes, and he praised him silently in his heart.

No wonder it's his own child after all.

Talented, knows his limits, repays gratitude, never arrogant from achievements—truly a pillar of the house!

Yuwen Hu raised his hand and gently pressed, "Sit!"

"Thank you, Grand Preceptor." Chen Yan replied, stepping steadily back to his seat.

Yuwen Hu's gaze slowly swept over those seated, the smile he had just shown gradually fading as his expression returned to steady solemnity. In a deep voice he said, "Let's cut the idle talk and get down to business!"

"Tonight I, the king, have gathered you all here to discuss how to strike while the iron is hot (to kick someone when they're down)!"

This is an unprecedented opportunity; if we do not seize it to further expand our gains, to loot while the fire burns, we can make Qi suffer even more......

He, Yuwen Hu, would then arrogantly claim to be the ruler of Great Zhou!

As soon as the words fell, Yuwen Heng, who had been sitting silently, could no longer hold back; he slammed the table hard, a fierce aura flashing in his eyes, and in a deep voice said, "Brother! I think that, given this heaven‑sent opportunity, we must decisively raise troops!"

"Now Qi State's court and people are divided, the livelihood is in decline, it is at its weakest. Our Great Zhou soldiers have been sharpening weapons and feeding horses for years, perfect for marching east!"

"Seizing the chance while they are unprepared, we should besiege and seize territories, at least taking a few prefectures, expanding our borders, and intimidating Qi State!"

Yet before the words finished, Du Yaoguang narrowed his eyes slightly and almost blurted out, "Impossible!"

That rebuttal came quickly and sharply, leaving everyone stunned.

Du Yaoguang slowly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping the crowd, and in a deep voice said, "Grand Marshal, that statement is erroneous!"

"Great Zhou and Qi have not engaged in large‑scale war for many years; although there have been border skirmishes, a delicate balance has always been maintained."

"Although Qi State is now chaotic, its foundation remains intact; its army still has many capable generals, and the border defenses are not completely relaxed."

"If Great Zhou rashly raises troops, it may seem to seize the initiative, but in reality it would be easily drawn into a protracted stalemate!"

He paused, stroked his beard, his tone growing heavier: "Continuous wars drain a nation's strength. Great Zhou has spent several years recuperating to achieve today's prosperity. How could we, for a fleeting profit, plunge the people back into war again?"

"Moreover, Northern Qi's internal turmoil has not reached its climax; although the aristocratic families bear grievances, they have not yet completely broken with the Gao family......"

"Deploying troops now might instead cause them to set aside past grudges, unite, and resist my royal army, leaving Great Zhou at a net loss!"

Liu Chaoming sat upright in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop, his gaze solemn as if weighing matters repeatedly.

After a moment, he looked up at Yuwen Hu on the main seat, his brows already settled, and slowly said, "Grand Preceptor, I think the Grand Marshal's plan to raise troops is indeed bold, and Lord Du's counsel to hold steady is also reasonable; the most appropriate course now is to take a middle path between the two."

He paused, seeing everyone's eyes on him, and continued, "Qi State's internal unrest is just beginning, the people's hearts are wavering; this is the prime moment for a psychological attack."

"We could send a group of eloquent agents fluent in Qi's local dialects back into Qi's territory; no need to mobilize an army, just covertly spread rumors....."

"We would claim that Chang'an now enjoys stable livelihoods and abundant harvests; more importantly, Great Zhou has implemented the equal‑field system, so all subjects receive land, have no worries about food and clothing, the elderly are cared for, and the young are educated."

"In this way, without a single soldier, we can make the already anxious people of Hebei more suspicious and discontented, further undermining their foundation!"

Liu Chaoming's words were gentle yet highly persuasive, and the others nodded in agreement.

Pei Xun stroked his beard, a flash of brilliance in his eyes; after a moment's deliberation he rose and added, "Lord Liu, your words hit the crux of the matter!"

"We must not only make them uneasy, but also let the people of Qi learn of Great Zhou's clarity and wealth, so they understand that surrendering to Great Zhou is their only way to survive; thus, subtly, the hearts of Qi's people will turn toward Great Zhou!"

"When their people's hearts are completely lost, the Gao family will be left isolated, and then our next scheme will achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

"Exactly!" Shang Ting immediately echoed, slapping the table, his eyes full of agreement, "Previously Chen Zhuguo's arrangement already caused internal chaos in Qi State; now adding this psychological attack, a combined internal and external strike will plunge Qi into even greater disorder!"

"They are too preoccupied to have any energy to confront Great Zhou."

"Compared with rashly raising troops, this plan is more prudent and far more brilliant!"

Hearing this, Chen Yan slowly nodded and said, "Lord Liu, you are absolutely right! Winning the hearts is supreme; subduing an enemy without fighting is the highest strategy."

"However, beyond that, Great Zhou's most urgent task is to swiftly absorb the surplus resources we have plundered from Qi State."

"We must truly convert these external goods into Great Zhou's agricultural labor, armament benefits, and treasury strength; only then can our national power steadily rise, providing the confidence for Great Zhou's future campaign against Qi."

After hearing everyone, Yuwen Hu's mind was fully decided; he slammed his hand down and said, "Since we have reached consensus, let's proceed accordingly!"

He then looked out the window; night had deepened, the halo of the palace lanterns in the corridor filtered through the carved windows into the room, adding a hazy glow, and said, "You all have labored for days; it's time to rest. Let's end today here!"

"We take our leave!" the group rose together, straightening their robes, and respectfully bowed to Yuwen Hu at the main seat.

Afterwards, the party turned in order, walking outward along the path they came, their footsteps steady and orderly, gradually fading away.

Chen Yan also followed the group to the Shufang doorway, about to step over the threshold, when Yuwen Hu's voice suddenly came from behind, low and clear: "Chen Zhuguo, stay a moment!"

Chen Yan's steps halted; he slowly turned, bowed toward the main seat and replied, "Yes."

Once everyone had left, the Shufang door was gently closed by the personal guards.

The interior instantly returned to silence, leaving only the faint crackle of the candle flame.

Yuwen Hu slowly leaned back in his chair, an unfathomable depth swirling in his eyes, and in a deep voice said, "A Yan, one cannot allow others to snore beside the couch......"

"It's time to cleanse the parasites of Chang'an!"